Happy Christmas!

To all my dear friends who celebrate whatever you celebrate this time of year - Happy It!

Today we go over to my cousins for another round of food and merriment, and TheHubs®, the Mater and I are going to see Saving Mr. Banks, which we've heard good things about. Boxing Day is for doing absolutely nothing, and that sounds nice too. We have a mountain of leftovers, so we don't even have to cook. We'll just graze for the next few days.

On Christmas Eve, after three frenetic days of cooking, working and cleaning, the family came and ate and laughed and went, and TheHubs® and I sat quaffing cups of water and planning for the sequel: Christmas In June, when we will actually wrap and give one another presents. Work simply dried up after Thanksgiving, and we didn't have enough left over to actually wrap and give one another anything. We're actually not all that bothered, to be honest, but I think he was a little more bummed about it than me.

I was just overwhelmed with all the lovely gifts and cards you sent. Every day we'd both rush to the mail box to see who had sent a card - thank you, thank you, thank you for all the gorgeous cards. I keep them, and each year I re-read them. The only one that didn't make it in one piece (and wouldn't you know it!) was the stunning card from akatnamedeaster, which got mangled in transit. It came in one of those Post-Office-wrapped cellophane bags with a huge chunk bitten out of the side. Bless her, though, she's sending me another - it was so gorgeous (what little I could piece together that didn't get destroyed), and it was her own artwork, and beautiful. All the others came through with no problem.

Thank you for your gift of friendship. This has been a very difficult year for many of you, and I don't pretend to know what you're going through or how you are managing to cope with it so well. And yet you have always taken the time to write a word of encouragement and support. That means more to me than I can say.

I hope your Christmas is full of joy and wonder and laughter; I hope you find magic in small moments, and contentment in your heart. I wish for you every good thing, and hope you are enjoying whatever you celebrate. We always herald the coming year with hope and yearning; it is my second most fervent wish that 2014 will be the one you look back on and say, "That was the best year of my life!" My first most fervent wish is that from 2015 and beyond, you can look back and say, "Compared to this year, 2014 was alright, but this, now, this  is a great year!"

"We wish you light snows and twinkling lights
A home alive with cookie smells
A child to play with
A dog to pet
And the hope of unanswered prayers."

Lands End

(no subject)

All is quiet in the house,
The last, least task is done.
And sleep has descended on all but one.
And she who shined the silver
And wrapped the gifts with care,
Goes to the open window
And breathes in the star-kissed air.
Anon

Peace and joy and serenity to you all now, and in the new year to come. Ya done good.