T is for: December Reflections

T is for thankful.  

Tonight I am so thankful for our friends and my parents.  We had ice on Monday and Jeffrey drove Sloane and I to school.  A big truck hit a patch of ice and t-boned Jeffrey.  Jeffrey is going to be fine, though we can't say the same for our car which was totaled.  Jeffrey's knee was fractured, and he'll be on crutches for at least six weeks.  This morning our friends came over and climbed up in our attic so that we could get all our Christmas decorations down.  Then, tonight my parents came over to deliver a Christmas tree so we wouldn't have to clamber around and deal with that.  Oh yes, T is for thankful.

leaves: December Reflections

I just couldn't post a picture of tree leaves in December. So, here's my odd version of leaves. This is the view out the plane window when Sloane and I went to Savannah.

Red: December Reflections

“The nutcracker sits under the holiday tree, a guardian of childhood stories. 

Feed him walnuts and he will crack open a tale...”   ― Vera Nazarian

Best Day of 2014: December Reflections

I took this picture the Saturday before Sloane's 13 birthday.  We had planned the entire weekend around her favorite things.  So we spent the day in the woods where Sloane is happiest.  I think she could walk for hours as long as there trees overhead.  Our picnic of corned beef and mustard sandwiches tasted as good as anything we've ever eaten.  I had a wonderful time taking pictures and watching Sloane and her Daddy talk and talk and talk.  They were in heaven to be outdoors and in each other's company.

Light: December Reflections

Christmas arrives in my heart in a different way each year.  Last year Christmas came while we were shopping at our local market.   Sometimes Christmas comes at church.  Sometimes Christmas arrives before Thanksgiving, and at others, not till Christmas Eve.  This year, Christmas arrived via Facebook.  My friend, Dawn, posted a video that I cried all the way through.

And, as I cried, Christmas came.  That ever repeating miracle arrived, and I felt again the bone deep knowledge of light, of truth.  The real light, not only of Christmas, but of the world, came as a babe.  He lived a sinless life, and died an innocent man.  For me.  And, joy of joys, He rose again.

Merry Christmas, everyone.  May His light be yours.

Post by Carman Licciardello.

Drink: December Reflections

 Susannah is at it again, and I am playing along.  Each day in December I'll post a photo to go along with her prompt. Today's prompt is drink.

 My school district has something called late start for mornings when the roads are bad, but will clear up by mid-morning.  Every year for our first late start, I toss out all the plans and have a snow party.  I make my class hot chocolate served with mini-marshmallows and candy canes.  We read snow books together all morning.  For a little science we learn about Snowflake Bentley.  After that, I teach them how to cut really fantastic paper snowflakes.  We end the day by hanging a blizzard in our classroom. Best day of the year.  Every time.