Haiku My Heart–Making my Season Merry and Bright

I’m checking the list.

Doing only what feels right.

Love, joy, season’s bright.

 

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I think the perfectionist of old in me has finally truly got it.

There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas.

No amount of decorating, baking or fretting will make it so.

And there is no way to make someone else’s Christmas perfect either.

What there is is joy in giving wherever you can and without expectations.

Little things that make someone smile.

And not expecting everyone to smile, either.

Just giving because your heart feels open to do so, and because you know that it is part of your purpose on this Earth.

And loving what is.

And fiercely loving the people who are in that close circle around your heart,

not with the packages under the tree,

but in the kindness,

the loving gestures,

the real Love giving

that lets them know they are deeply loved by you.

This is what Christmas means to me now.

If it brings my heart joy, I will do it.

If it brings me stress or worry, it will be off the list.

I am making my season merry and bright !

Big Love to all of you, Beautiful Ones !

Be kind to your awesome self today !

 

for more haiku love, visit rebecca at recuerda mi corazon.

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time…

David and I were blessed with a Christmas time filled with beautiful sights,

cold and wintery, but oh so cozy nights.

Tickles and giggles,

and smiles and good loving…

The time went so quickly but was very full of all the good stuff that gathering together with loved ones brings.

We have spent a couple of days at home now, cleaning up from the big snow, and we are off on our next adventure soon.

Coldplay at Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Uncasville, CT !

Merry Christmas & Happy 12th Anniversary to US !!!

We will be home just in time to ring in the New Year.

Have you been thinking about a Word of the Year for 2013 ?

I like this ritual very much.

My 2012 word was “Live”. It was a good word to refer to and to help me come back to the present moment.

My 2013 Word of the Year is percolating under the surface right now.

I will grab hold of it when it is clear and of course, make myself a Rock my World rock with it to keep as a talisman for the year.

If you are interested in having a Word of the the Year Rock in a Box with your own word, I have these sweet little gifties available in the etsy shop again this year, with a new design for 2013.

There are also a few of the stitched wool felt cuffs that I have so loved making available now as well.

I hope that you are finding this in between/winter wonderland/full moon timesweet, Beautiful Ones, and full of moments that make your Soul hum….

Big, big love to you !

Haiku My Heart–Solstice 2012

Solstice, darkest day.

Celebrate the light inside.

Let your Soul light shine.

 

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The winter solstice comes in with lots of wind and heavy rains here in New Hampshire.

I will get my white Christmas up north in La Conception, Quebec, where they have a snow day today and are expecting about a foot of of the white stuff. So far, our travel time to head up there is looking clear, so that is a relief.

I have been describing the whole vibe around this holiday time as tender. Hearts feel tender, and the balance of light and dark feels tender and tenuous. Tender isn’t bad. It just means staying as present as possible and paying attention to actions and words, I think. I am working on it !

Today is for gift wrapping – making it simple with lots of reusable gift bags.

Between packages, I am baking cookies to give as gifts to the in-laws. Again, a simple recipe that is festive and works for everyone except my sister-in-law, Sue, who has celiac disease, and who will receive a special batch of gluten free chocolate chocolate brownies just for her !

All in all, I feel satisfied with my Christmas preparation this year. I have limited the stress and the expectations really well, I think. And a few of my gifts have that special Kim-touch that means so much to me. (Like that little embroidered wool pouch pictured above that will hold eco-dyed silk “Sweet Dream” herb and dried flower sachets that I have made for some special ladies !) That has worked to keep my heart light and my joy front and center.

So, I and my tender heart, wish you and yours a beautiful and bright solstice ! Keep those Soul lights burning !

Big love !

 

For more haiku and more solstice celebrating, join me at recuerda mi corazon.

Share the Joy Thursday–Cozy At Home Joy

From this week’s Joy List :

Little porcelain boxes that I have decorated and filled with a tiny “shh…” rock and left as anonymous gifts as I went about my errands around town.

Twinkle lights that shine above Little Happy in the studio.

Naps.

An early prezzie from Santa ! Momma got new red Ariat Cowgirl Boots !!! (50 % Off !!!)

Stitching little gifties for loved ones.

New hair do that frames my face and the sweet time I had with my hairdresser, Deb as we made me pretty.

Christmas shopping done. And one gift in particular that I am thrilled with giving to a certain 21 year old niece of mine.

A day for stitching and card writing today.

A day for baking tomorrow.

The anticipation of some sweet family holiday time and Christmas morning with some of my favorite kiddos.

Life definitely has its fair share of joy, even in the face of many sorrows. It is our work here to focus on it and celebrate it !

Enjoy your day, Beautiful Ones !

For more joyous celebrating, visit Meri at Meri’s Musings !

Haiku My Heart–Tender Spirit

Our hearts in our hands

Ready to give or receive

The sweet gift of Love.

 

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I am starting to feel it just a little.

That Christmas spirit.

It is very different this year.

It is a tender, soft, maybe even fragile thing.

At least until I choose to infuse it with the spirit of LOVE.

Working on that here as I put up a few simple but special decorations for David and I to enjoy,

and as I go out early in the day to purchase the few store-bought gifts that I am buying this year (mostly for the kiddos).

It is feeling good, like I am ready.

Keeping the LOVE in focus is making my spirit bright !

Sending out the gifts of love and light to you and yours, Beautiful Ones.

 

More love, light and haiku at recuerda mi corazon.

Holiday Preparations…

Before :

After :

David and I opted for a table top tree this year.

A little less maintenance and a lot less cat adventures.

It, of course, had to have our favorite ornaments on it,

like this puppy we got the same year Chica came to live with us.

Or this fat angel cat, black, to remind me of my best cat ever, Georgie.

I love that the tree has my handmade touches too, like these paper love birds.

And that it is topped with something David and I created together; this stained glass star.

Little traditions that make the holiday decorating feel like home.

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I was a little awed this morning by the fact that it is only 11 days until Christmas Eve.

I haven’t really done any shopping yet.

But I have made a promise to myself that this year, I will do my very best to take the stress out of the holiday.

My Christmas 2012 mantra is “Do it with Joy, or don’t do it at all !”

It has helped a great deal when I have completely taken the focus off of trying to find the people I love “the best gift ever” which I used to do in the past. Instead, I am thinking of little things that will make them smile, and let them know I love them. This feels so much better !

So I know it will all get done however it gets done, and that will be okay.

The important thing for me this season is to have a chance to put my arms around those I love and squeeze them tight.

And to bask in the joy and gratitude that we have this time together.

Now that sounds like a perfect Christmas to me !

Happy holiday preparations to you, Beautiful Ones !

May you find sweet Joy in all you do.

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So In Love with You, Baby ! and Some Christmas Alterations

Hey there ! I am back ! Man, being away from Blogland for 4 or 5 days sure means a lot of catch up when you get back ! You guys have all been up to such creative stuff ! And the pace of the holidays is rolling into high gear, it would seem. I don't think I could ever catch up so I have really decided to give up trying. It will be what it will be... I give myself permission to do things in Kim Time and not feel guilty about it !

So, I am completely and totally in :

(art journal page- December 08)

******** CAUTION ******** Baby Photos Alert !!!***********************

How could I not, though ? Check out some of the many faces of Kate :

She wakes up singing...

She is The Princess of Wet Raspberries !

She has discovered her innner voice and uses it full force whenever possible !

She has happily mastered the fine art of choosing

Cheerios over mango chunks with delicate fingers.

She has great taste in music - her favorite right now is

"If You Are Happy and You Know It" !

But this Baby is not all fluff !

She has her serious moments of deep thought too.

But it's that sense of humour that gets me every time !

(I dare you to not giggle out loud when you look at this shot !)

Okay, that's done ! Baby Photo Alert is now over !

(feel free to grab this image if you want it - it is a free sample from Dover)

So I have been asking around and it would seem that I am not the only one that is not feeling the Christmas Season as per usual this year. I honestly think this is a very good thing. I think that between the scary economy we are dealing with and the scary world in general, many of us are feeling the need to get back to what is real and what is important. What could be bad about that ?

This will be reflected in the decorating, the gift buying and the tradition building in our house this year for sure ! I used to be pretty Martha-esque in the old days, but this year, I am especially conscious of only doing what brings me real joy.

A little tree, a few strings of white lights on the pines trees in our front yard, and a little shrine to the season on the hutch. A few evenings with eggnog and spiced rum as cocktails will set the mood too. Candles and some gentle Christmas tunes to create by will make my nest a cozy place to winter...

David and I will even be skipping the usual Christmas Eve 6 hour drive up to Montreal and actually spend our first Christmas alone together at home in 8 years of marriage. We will head up and have a Boxing Day Bonanza of Family Fun for the whole weekend after the 25th. (Tobogganing, potluck meals and lots of time with the wonderful nieces and nephews !). My two sisters and I are so excited about the extended time we will have together and the fact that we no longer have to run around trying to make every one else happy ! Taking away that pressure to make it all "perfect" on that one day is the best gift to our family we can give and we intend on maiking it a new tradition !

Our only extravagance, (and I mean extravagance !!!!!) is the gift what David and I bought for ourselves as a couple this year. Now keep in mind that we don't have kids. And that we have been married for 8 years as of this December 30th. Remember that and try to keep your jealousy at bay when I tell you that we bought this :

SANTA BABY !!!!!!!!

along with all the bells and whistles, two additonal lenses and the case, etc...in a great deal on Cyber Monday !!!! (Way to Go, Computer Geek Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire !!!) I am so excited ! Just wait to see what Katie Photos come out like with this baby !!!!

Our new addition, Rebel Rebel, as I call it ( love Bowie !!), will play a central part in the festivities on Christmas day too. David and I are planning a special Christmas photoshoot outing on the day, taking Rebel for a test drive !!! I am thinking Elf Hats for us ( David will so love an elf hat ! ;-)) and maybe reindeer antlers for the Chica-Dog ?!

Are you altering your Holiday Season this year ? I hope whatever you do, that it is a magical one full of memory-making moments !