Glimpses of Christmas

The tree is up and very sparkly it is...some glimpses into my favorite images from the tree.

 This is the ornament I picked out when I was five.  It's ANCIENT!!! and full of memories.  My Mom...sweet dear woman...would give us a new ornament every year.  Sometimes we would get to pick out our own.  I still remember going to Valbourgs gift shop with Mom and getting to pick out an ornament for my collection.  I thought this red plastic star was the most BEAUTIFUL of all.  The way it glows and reflects the light had me mesmerized.  I have treasured it every year since.  More the memory than the ornament...but it's the ornament that holds the memory for me...it reminds me of a sweet time I shared with my Mom.  Now we carry on the tradition and buy or make our boys ornaments every year that they will some day have for their own Christmas tree.

this one... and

this one...

and this one too.

I just love everything that sparkles at Christmas time.  The other night I was looking at a pillow my sweet Sister Larinda made for us last year...it sparkles too!

Isn't it beautiful!!!  Thank you sweet Sister!  I just love your amazing handiwork!

To top off my sparkly post, here is a picture of something we did the other night. Our family went to a really fun, free event on the island...the Christmas Ships.  I have always wanted to see them but haven't until now...they are very sparkly too!

The boat has professional singers on it and when the come into the Harbor they just stop for about 20 minutes and sing to the crowd on the shore.  I cried...I always cry at things like this.  You should see me at the 4th of July parade.  There's just something about nostalgia that gets me every time.

I hope you're having a sparkly Christmas...full of wonderful, memory making times.

Much love,

Meagan

p.s.  I also cried when Frosty the Snowman melted...Karen and I had a good cry together! :)

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone.  Thank goodness for a little time away to celebrate the Lord's birth with family and friends.  We left on Christmas Eve to drive to Eastern Washington  where we spent time with my family.  It was great to see everyone.  My Father is suffering from dementia and it is very difficult to see how far downhill he has gone but my Mom is doing a great job as his sole caregiver.  The weather was cold and sunny...beautiful...I love it when the sky is so blue.  My guys had a really fun time on the day after Christmas.  They were able to go with my brother-in-law and nephew to ski at Schweitzer Basin.  The pictures are...well, amazing...They look as if they are...on top of the world. 

My sister and I stayed behind to hang out with our Mom and have a little girl time.  It was so strange at dinner time because it was just my Mom, Dad, Sister and Me... We haven't done that it in...lets see...23 years!  It was good to be with family.  Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season and looking forward to 2010.  I have lots of great paintings planned for spring and look forward to sharing ideas with you. 

Blessings,

Meagan