'Tis the season...

...that I pause and share my random thoughts.

Christmas lights need snow to twinkle brightly.

Dreams of Santa do not motivate teenagers.

Suddenly, I miss the dreaded Christmas music that seemed to be playing in every store I entered for the last six weeks of every year...until now.  Now I have nothing to complain about, AND I miss it.

Brightly colored flowers should only be in bouquets adorning the holiday table.  Did I mention my daffodils are blooming again?

I scraped the first light frost off my window this morning in my flip-flops.

I intensely dislike shopping after Thanksgiving and every day for the rest of the year.

Thus, I apprehensively started shopping yesterday. Imagine my delight to discover that procrastinators are fun to shop with--they smile, wait patiently, and even chat!  (Very unusual in the Bay area).  It was just like my favorite childhood song, "Silver Bells."

Though I have discovered my favorite Christmas carols do nothing to ease the tension of 6 lanes of gridlock on the freeway.

One more day of school left this year!  No homework over the break!  Yipppeeee!!!

I am freed from my nagging mother role for two weeks.

Now, about those presents that need wrapping.

I suppose I should get started before my children start nagging me!  Though tormenting them is tempting...and I am tired...

Top Gun

At the 75th Police Explorer Academy Graduation this evening, our daughter was awarded Top Gun.  She was also honored for placing third in physical agility amongst the female cadets.

As she accepted her trophy, the audience applauded and whooped appreciatively at her accomplishment--though I think I love the smile her comrades have for her the most!  Teamwork is an essential component of the Academy, as it is in the field!

After the formal ceremony, her local police captain asked a family member to pin on her new badge!

Congratulations, Nikela!  You embraced the challenges of the academy and excelled!  We are so, so proud of you!

Yellow Thread

Once upon a time a little girl was transformed into a butterfly on a cold Halloween night.  That butterfly had bright pink, blue, and yellow spots.

The primary yellow thread from that project still sits in my sewing box.

Yesterday, I carefully threaded that bright yellow thread through my sewing machine.  Then I meticulously stitched the the patches on my daughter's police uniform for the Academy graduation.

Threads weave through our lives in the most unpredictable ways.

Thus a yellow thread as bright as a summer day is wound gently around my heart.

Paper

In grade school, I would spend hours carefully folding the paper, meticulously cutting creative designs, and unfolding with anticipation the snowflakes I was creating.  I loved it.

In grade school, my son crafted beautiful paper stars.  He made me one the other night.  I carefully hung it by an unseen thread to twirl and dance next to twinkling lights.  I need another one for the column on the other side of the fireplace, yes?

He makes little ones too.  I want a whole snowstorm above the table.  I want them to twinkle in the low light, so I am off to in search of sparkly paper for this project.  Then with an evening fire, it will be perfect!

Just a bit o' paper and a little boy's love for his mom and...holiday magic!

Toasty Memories

The little blaze dances and leaps while making toes in cute socks toasty.

For me, this is what December evenings look like.

Then the strains of familiar carols should drift from the radio.

"Oh the weather is so frightful,
but the fire is so delightful,
and since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"

Of course all my favorites include the images of snow and cold, frosty air because that is where the child in me grew up.  Bundled like little snowmen, my brother and I would trek outside to play for brief intervals--and then tumble back in the door wet, snowy, and cold.  One of my favorite treats was my grandmother's hot chocolate.

"Dashing through the snow
On a one horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way"

Though our one horse open sleighs were replaced with snowmobiles.  My grandfather loved to load the grandchildren up and cruise around the farm, but my dad was more fun, as he zipped over the fields!

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know..."

The ones I knew as a child...I want my children to experience.

I love to play in the snow.

One of the teenage neighbor boys was asking what it was like to go sledding and it never "truly" occurred to me that many kids really don't get to go flying down the steepest hill their brother can find.

There may have been a day when I would have willing traded my ornery brother, but now that it is merely a memory I cling to it.

Perhaps a bit like the snow itself.

Early Hours of the Morning

The shroud of fog moved into the Bay area in the night...and in the early hours of the morning a young lady lost her battle with cancer.

Eighteen months ago, she was standing on the beach in Santa Barbara with a few girls from the track and field team.The girls walked down the beach in the warm sunshine with the waves lapping at their feet.

Before we reluctantly bid the beach farewell, the girls posed for one last photo!

Then they tumbled into the suburban for the trek home.

Nancy was 17 years old and a senior in high school with a vivacious personality.

My heart aches for a young life cut short...for her dreams...for her family...for her friends.

Amidst the sadness, I am thankful she touched my life...to remind me to live with courage and zeal.

My Hubby

Thanksgiving morning found my hubby relaxin' and chattin'.

Of course, all good things must come to an end!  Then he donned the traditional turkey apron and started carvin' the turkey!

The next day brought us to Mount Lassen for some wintry fun!  The daredevil took a tumble,

but he recovered in hot dog style!

A wonderful Thanksgiving weekend wrapped up with a birthday...today.  Happy Birthday!  I love you!