Snowy Morning (Many Years Ago)

When things are not all going well, I tend to turn inward and stop journaling and communicating with people. Things are not all going well, but at the same time many things are going right.

I love Christmas time, the lights glowing in the long dark nights, especially here in the great Northwest. The past two years I have been working virtually full-time in Seattle, and the city experience at holiday time was marvelous. This year I am at home in Kitsap County and enjoying a quieter, more slow-paced season. Unless, of course, I head to Silverdale and am within a mile of our mall.

We had our first snow of the season last night, and the grass, trees, and rooftops are blanketed. Snow lightens up the nights and silences the neighborhood. There is something of a reverence in the air when we have a snowy morning. I love it!

Holiday Traditions

I love the lights, music, and happy spirit of the Christmas season. Making gifts, decorating, baking and cooking, and watching heartwarming movies makes the holiday time fun and cozy. I sometimes become overwhelmed at the thought of all the presents to present to offspring, but I believe I have overcome that hurdle this year (more on that later).

In the past singing in various choirs has been a wonderful way to bring the holiday mood up. I haven't sung in a holiday choir for a few years, since I tend to get a bug in my throat at this time of year; I'm not fighting it, I am just lying low and enjoying everyone else's fabulous singing.

Here in the Northwest we have a situation that doesn't happen in every part of the country (though more in other parts): It's dark here A LOT. It gets fully light at about 8:00 AM, and fully dark by about 4:00 or 4:30 PM, depending on how cloudy it is. This makes for enhanced enjoyment of Christmas lights. Bless all of you who put up light extravaganzas and even leave them on until morning! I have been taking a 1-hour walk early in the morning (dark) and give many thanks for the lovely front yards and rooftops that have interesting, colorful shows, seemingly just for me. I have read this season comments on various blogs and news establishments about how un-green Christmas lights are, and how much it costs to have them going. Bah humbug to that! When you barely have 8 hours of daylight, Christmas lights are more than simply a way to celebrate the season, they truly light up lives. Mine, at least.

Do you have holiday traditions that help you enjoy the season?