Reflections on Life

The New Year is nearly upon me.  I am always surprised by how fast the old year went by.  My days seem to run together... where did they go? 

My mind travels in strange patterns this time of the year.  I find myself missing those who have journeyed on from this life to the next.  I allow myself to feel regret at what was, what wasn't, and what will never be.  A life not lived to the fullest, feels like a life not lived at all.  Night dreams have been haunting me with hopes just out of reach... roads not taken... and roads I wish I'd never taken.  There is a sorrow in saying goodbye to the past that leaves an ache in my throat and in my heart.  Fighting to hold back tears I sit with it for a time, that burning ache, and then I let it go. 

Memories will revisit me again, but for now I lay the past down.  I gaze toward the future, but it is unclear, hazy, hidden in clouds of uncertainty.  The best thing, the only thing, is to live this day.  This beautiful day full of hope and promise.  When I am in the moment, there is no room for doubt, regret, or fear.  There is just thankfulness for everything I see.  Family, friends, and a beautiful world which, on this morning, is covered in a blanket of freshly fallen snow. 

As I leave you to go make myself a cup of hot tea, I hope you are releasing the old... not fretting over tomorrow... but living this moment, with your whole heart.



Copyright 12/30/2009 ajj

Merry Christmas!

  I just wanted to take a moment to wish each one of you a Very Merry Christmas! 

I hope you are tucked in with your family sharing food, music, games... making memories!  At my home, we are having a simple Christmas with just my immediate family. 

We are getting ready to watch a movie while Christmas dinner cooks.  These are the times we will remember when we look back on our lives... simple times, sharing our faith and our love with friends and family! 

Blessings and Love,

Nita Jo



Oh, before I forget... please feel free to take a copy of the beautiful angel image, compliments of Dover's Free Samples.

Give Away, Warning, and Update on Lucky13

Hurry to sign up for a wonderful give away at Castle And Cottage Signs.  Paula is giving away one of her signs, pictured here... "Believe"

To go there, just click on her highlighted blog name (above).  All you need to do is leave a comment. Go now because the drawing ends Sunday evening at 7 PM!  While you're there, take a look through her beautiful blog!

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A Warning Note:  Donna, of Made in Heaven had her Yahoo Mail and FaceBook Account hacked!  They now have the name of the hacker.  She was able to have her mail restored, but her FaceBook is still shut down.  A reminder to be cautious of unsolicited email and of FB applications.  I am choosing to stop most applications on FB for the time.  You can read about what Donna has gone through by clicking on her blog name above.

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While I'm online, I want to thank each of you for your prayers for my son.  The diagnosis was Epstein-Barr Sydrome, which began as a virus last spring.  It can be a long road before it is out of his system, but we are trusting in God to carry him through this.

He is in less pain, but the dizziness and exhaustion are persisitant.  We had to withdraw him from High School which was hard because it's his Senior year.  The school district provides a free online school.  He began classes a couple weeks ago.  He'll take one or two at a time.  So far he has all A's!  How all this will empact getting into a university of his choice, we just don't know.  We were counting on his involvement in Orchestra to help, but there is no way to do that online.  Lol! 

One of the greatest blessings in all of this... his online school counselor has been through Epstein-Barr.  Her daughter was housebound for a year with it.  The counselor had to take a leave of absense to care for her.  She said she will do whatever it takes to support Evan and make sure they accomodate him until he graduates.  We are so blessed!

Christmas Memories

I'm overwhelmed with Christmas memories today.  So many wonderful times, and high hopes for another amazing time with family this year.  My childhood Christmases were filled with magic... fun decorating the house and the tree, music, caroling, lots of family, great food, and there were the presents. 

Grandma used to let sis and I help decorate a special tree for the dining table.  It started with a Styrofoam cone, then we covered it from top to bottom with colorful, sugary gumdrops.  We used toothpicks to secure them, so when dinner was over you could pull a gumdrop off the tree and it would be on it's own little stick.  We would keep filling in the blank spots with more gumdrops, till there were no more in the bag. 

When Christmas was at our house, the grown-ups sat in the dining room and the kids squeezed around the kitchen table.  I remember when the kids table got too full and I was promoted to the grown-up table!  It was so exciting.  I now got shrimp cocktail for my appetizer, instead of fruit cocktail like the little kids! 

I find that most of my memories are not of the packages I received, but of the gift of family and friends... I remember the love.

Have a blessed day my friends...
Nita Jo

Fantastic Giveaway!

Dawn, of The Feathered Nest, is hosting a Giveaway to celebrate her 1200th Post!  There will be multiple winners.  The prizes are:

A Sweet Nest Baby in a jar

and

A French themed journal! 

She will add trinkets and treasures to both of these gifts! Three egg soaps to go with each ..... and, the winner can pick the color they love, ivory or blue.
 
The Giveaway ends December 13 at 6pm EST! 
Click The Feathered Nest to enter.