Life of Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas

What does Christmas mean to me?  My entire life, I have been taught that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  I believe this with all of my heart and am more than grateful.  It is very difficult to always have this in our focus and to be consciously aware of it all throughout the holiday season, or throughout our daily lives.  God knows it's a struggle for us and he loves us anyway.  This year, I am trying to focus on my Lord, God, my family, and the blessings that I have been given in my life.  This year, more than any other, I am celebrating my son.  Almost four years ago I was given the most precious gift, the ultimate blessing, my little boy.  He warms my heart and makes me smile.  He creates a new purpose for my everyday life.  From the time he was very young, I wasn't like most of the other mothers I had been around.  I loved my Lil Man at every stage, but I always looked forward and anticipated what he would be like when he was older.  I'm excited every year that he grows bigger, and am in love with the different person he is shaping out to be.  I cherished my time with him as a baby, but I wouldn't go back to that time and stay in that stage if I were given the choice.  I want to just keep moving forward.  This is true for every aspect of my life... moving forward.

At almost 4, he is extremely inquisitive, intelligent beyond any measure, and probably the most observant person I know.  His car seat is in the back on the passenger side, and that's where it has always been, and he can tell me, turn for turn, how to go to the places that we go everyday.  Like school, Mommy's work, Grammie and Papaw's house, Daddy's house, etc.  After so much time of him sitting back there looking out the window he memorized what he saw and associated that with the place we arrived to at the end of that drive!  I laugh every time he tells me where to go. 

My life is more complete being his mother.  Given any amount of money or wealth, I would never change a single thing about my life because it would change him.  Being a parent should be the greatest joy in my life and I feel as though I'm there now. He is the greatest joy in my life.  He's my Lil Man, my heart, my love... and this year at Christmas I am more grateful than ever before. 

"Thank you, my Lord and Savior, for my many many blessings." 

The Colors and Textures in My Life

The massage therapist that works in my office gave me this very neat plant.  It's called clovers, and blooms these extremely small white flowers.  Everything about them is so delicate and pretty.  They are about the size of the tip of my pinky finger.   

My secretary is one of the greatest women I will ever know.  She's so thoughtful and kind.  She bought me this orchid as a thank you gift for the year we've spent working together.  I love it, I just hope I can keep it alive!

Another dear friend got me this bouquet as a thank you gift and my jaw almost hit the floor when I saw it.  Very intricate and different looking with a very beautiful combination of colors.  Not resembling Christmas at all!! :)  You can't see everything in this picture but it also had an orchid as well as some bamboo sticking out of it. 

Ivy is so beautiful.  I love the shape and color of the leaves. 

This house plant was the first one ever given to me and all I was given was a single leaf that had a root growing off of it.  Today the plant is about the size of a basketball with four long vines stretching off it that are over a foot long each. 

This is a leaf on the clover. 

Here is another plant that the massage therapist gave me and I've never seen anything quite like this before.  The leaves look like lily pads and are each very different colors.

This little plant came from Walmart but it's turned out to be pretty exotic looking.  Hot pink veins!! 

This is my Christmas cactus with another little bud on top that's getting ready to bloom. 

I was in the picture taking mood the other day but it was pouring rain and I couldn't go outside.  So, my little flower/plant garden was my inspiration.  I was really getting intrigued the closer I was looking at them because of all the different colors and textures.  I absolutely love growing all these flowers and plants! 

Recent Pics in My Life

December has been a busy month so far and ,sadly, I have a little bit of an uphill climb before it calms down.  Even though I get a two week holiday from work, I will still be stopping by the office to check the phones and possibly deal with a few emergency patients.  I fully intend to rest and rejuvinate my mind, body, and spirit during this time but, even the time I will be spending with family can be all-consuming and tiring.  I am looking very forward to it though.  During the past couple of photo shoots with friends I have taken a few shots that I thought were cool, so, naturally, I am going to share them with the world of blogging.

This is Entergy Arkansas!  All the time I have lived here I have never seen the source of my energy.  I was pulled over on the side of the road almost in awe at how cool it looked at sunset. 

Can we say freak of nature!  What a shocker it was to wake up a week ago, right after Thanksgiving, and see a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground.  Ok, well, maybe just a light dusting... but still beautiful.

Sunset over the golf course.  I was out there taking pictures of my boss' family and couldn't resist a shot of the sunset with my tripod in view. 

Slowing Down Our Time in Life

Only two more weeks of work until the holiday break!!!  I can’t believe it!  For the very first time in my life I have experienced the sense of time going by too fast.  All my life I’ve listened to people say over and over again that time really does go by too fast and before you realize it your babies are all grown up and your loved ones have passed on.  Just like everyone else listening, I just nodded my head and agreed in order to pacify whomever I was listening to.  Well, I can very humbly say that those wise people knew exactly what they were talking about and if I would have slowed down and paid better attention maybe I wouldn’t feel the slight loss like I do right now of time. 

This year is almost gone.  GONE!  As in, it will be no more in a mere 4 weeks.  I have been in the same job, and in the same situation with my personal life for almost one entire year.  My son and I have went through so many changes and adjustments this year but somehow in the midst of turmoil we have finally found peace and stability.  I can honestly say that I am happy.  I may not make as much money as I prefer, and I may complain that I wish I had nicer furniture, but when I step back and take a moment to really look at the big picture of this past year I am so humbled.  I achieved what I set out to, and we are doing ok.  I want time to slow down just a little so that I can enjoy every minute of it, but I am anxiously awaiting the future and what it will bring into our lives.  The possibilities are endless! 

My family and friends have been anchors for me emotionally and I absolutely do not know what I would have done without them by my side.  It’s incredible to me that I am so blessed to have such supportive friends and family.  I know there are people out there who don’t.  So, ‘thank you’ to everyone… you know who you are, and I wish everyone a great holiday season!