Celebrating Health

 

For the last two years, I’ve spent my holidays recovering from procedures and surgeries. It’s not been fun or easy. But I’m here. Sitting in my chair writing and looking at the twinkling white lights on my holiday tree. 

I’m alive. Even though some young doctor told me, “You remind me of my mother, there’s nothing wrong with you.” Yeah. Right. Major surgery was required but it took almost a year to get there. 

But I’m here. Now. And today, I’m snacking on homemade shortbread, cherry cake and  chocolate candies. 

Letting the light in. 

Remembering staying up into the wee hours sewing Winnie the Pooh characters into felt tree decorations for my little children. (They officially came from Santa.)

Packing up race cars, paints, books and a very tiny ‘Hungry Caterpillar’ to put under the tree for my children’s little children.

Sighing with relief. All is well. (Maybe not in our country right now). 

But right here. Right now. In my small space on this big planet. 

All is quiet. All is bright. 

And I am well.  

My Christmas wish: For everyone, everywhere to have enough food, warmth and love. 

And Health.

Now that’s really something to celebrate. 

I’m alive. 

And I’m thankful. 

‘

Now that’s really something to celebrate. 

Twinkle Twinkle

 

I look at the lights on the Christmas tree and years of collected ornaments but what I really see is love. Handmade ornaments made by my children, my husband and me bring back so many good memories. And over the years, Santa put ornaments in the children’s stockings too and now those ornaments are decorating their own family trees. 

One year, I made ornaments of all the Winnie the Pooh characters. My children were enchanted with the stories and I wanted them to see Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger on the tree. Since ‘Santa’ brought everything, I had to sew and embroider the ornaments after they were asleep. It was fun, and sometimes exhausting, to be Santa’s helper but it was also a gift to bring joy to their little faces. 

Seeing the light. 

Right now, I know seeing the light is hard. There’s a lot going on around us that fuels anger and fear. I know those feelings well. Because, I’ve been recovering from almost a year of feeling ill before the cause was finally found, and healed with a major surgery.  

As I recover from all of this, I try to focus on the light right in front of me. 

The lights on the tree. 

The books I read to my children and they now read to their little ones. 

The characters from Winnie the Pooh who teach us all a few life lessons. 

Wonder and wandering. 

As I wander through my recovery. And we wonder what happened to our country and lives, maybe we can see some light through the lessons of Winnie the Pooh. 

Be in the moment: Pooh takes life one day at a time.

Be kind: Pooh doesn’t always have the answers but he helps his friends as best he can. 

Be brave: Even if all seemed lost, Pooh and his friends found a way. 

Seize the day: Make the most of what you can do.  

And see the twinkle: Always be open to the light whether it’s on your tree, in someone’s eyes or inside your heart.  

Making it merry. Again.

 

It’s been a difficult few years, right? And I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this holiday season. So much has changed in our world, cities and homes. If you’ve been reading here, you’ll know my home has been through a lot of changes. Some bad. And some good. That’s why it was even more important to me this year to make it all merry, again. 

Most of my downstairs due to water damage has been completely reconstructed. All the floors, counter tops, cabinetry and wall colors have changed. So using the decorations from previous years was a challenge. Some fit. Some didn’t. 

Tweaking the tree. 

Before we even set up the tree, I knew I’d need to change my color scheme. With the burgundy wall painted grey and the mantle painted black, it was time for new ideas. 

White reindeers now sit along the mantle driven by a black sleigh surrounded by white trees. 

Bold black and white check bows went on the wreath and stairway. 

More black and white check ribbon encircled the re-usable tree. 

The challenge: Do more with less.  

Before the reconstruction, we used to have more room. The nook hutch was taken out and the demolished old desk area shelves were deeper and wider. The new combined cabinet and desk area is beautiful. But it gave me a lot less display space than before. I was determined to find a new way to do more with less. 

Childhood Christmas books found a new place alongside a newly edited Santa collection. The teapot collection still features the Spode teapot alongside just a few teacups and teapots.

Finding new ways to use old favorites. 

The change from a white tile island to a black quartz countertop is a big one. But it does work with the new black, white and red theme, too. And my white porcelain leaf, jars in red, white and black and the red porcelain bowl keep the island looking merry and bright.

White and red poinsettias look good by the sink. 

Yes, the house was flooded and broken. 

But now, it’s all reconstructed and redone.

And I’m so grateful.   

We are all well and together. 

And making it merry. 

Again.