This one is for you Minnesota.

I will get right to it. Freezing rain and I had to use a scrapper for the first time in three years.  What was going on here in South Carolina.  Smile on family. Spring will be welcome with open arms.

Bottom of the front window.

God Bless all those travel through my little blog.
Carol

Picture day....

I decided to try something else and think it's a little too cute.  What do you think? Hummm

God Bless all who travel through my little site.
Carol

Sadness is it bad?

I don't believe a journey is always where you go, what we say, and do.  I think it's also how we feel and what we do with it.

Whether we are happy, sad, depressed or angry we must choose how to proceed forward.  I haven't spent much with anger, and feel blessed for this.

Depression has darkened a very small amount of time in my 60 years.  It's ability to eat away at rational thought is truly frightening. But I'm not here today to talk about something so serious and often all consuming for those in the depth of depression.

Sadness on the other hand is like the Grinch that sold Christmas.  Instead of growing his heart three times it's size, with love, my heart feels as thought it weight is three times heavier.

Is feeling sadness bad?  I don't believe it is. We are on a journey of good and evil.  We need to feel and know that things around us are not right.  That a wrong took place. It's not denial, it reality and that draws on our feeling. Just like our good times, we must grab it and own it. 

When I accepted sadness, I could see others that were sad. It gave me the ability to reach out.  To let them know they are not alone.  I have reached out and in return been reached.  Not with words but often with a true warm smile, and knowing I'm not alone.  There is peace in knowing that.

How wonderful it is to see it as just another step in my journey through this life.  To what I hope is more understanding, to see other's pain, warming just a small part of their day as they do mine.

To all that visit my little blog, step out, smile when you are sad and all around you will win.  Maybe you will warm someones day. 

God Bless
Carol

Warm Winter Thoughts

Winter in the South is a real change for a gal that spent most of her life in Minnesota. 

This is what I looked out upon in our Minnesota home.

This is our third winter and everyday is an experience worth having.  We've only enjoyed one real snow fall.  It was only three or four inches of snow that graced our warm southern soil.  We knew it wouldn't last but we treated it as though it was a holiday. 

Our community is ill equipped for snow removal and why should they, it only snowed once in the two full winters we have been here.

Children and parents alike pulled out the sled they store from year to year in hopes for just that, a sliding holiday.  Also knowing that the road we drive on is turned into a sliding slop and will be safe for at least one day. 

If the snow doesn't come we enjoy our gardens of winter plants and marvel at their growth.  For example, Saturday two weeks ago, I worked in the garden at my Home Depot.  Because it was 76 degrees, I sold more pansy's than the full week and in between I sold Christmas trees.  At the end of each transaction I wished the person "Merry Christmas," as I peered into their eyes I saw a smile, they also knew the weather wasn't matching the season.  But with a warm smile on their face Merry Christmas was their reply. 

With every experience, I find a memory that will be mine.  It's my gift to me.

Advent equals Event

I always loved the lighting of the Advent Candles. I thought of them as a candle calendar that would remind me of how much time I had left to get everything done leading to the big event...Christmas.

I made sure all was done before the fourth candle, which is light purple, was lit.  I believed that the week before Christmas was for me.  To watch Christmas movies and stay out of the last minute shoppers way.  I believe that most don't have the Christmas spirit, how they treat others around them proves it. 

Last Sunday as the first candle was proudly shining and Father Joe was finishing his Homily it hit me like a rock. It was as if I had never heard it before.  Maybe it was the way it was said. I don't know but my ears and my heart was really open for the first time. 

Here's the scoop. 

Every Advent we take the time to reflect. What you ask?  If you died, or simpler if God came to see YOU, would you be ready? 

Also, the Christmas season for Catholics start on Christmas day, while others are calling the holiday over we start it.  I hope your family has tradition that warms your heart. Brings tears to your eyes when you think on the previous holiday.  But most of all I hope you give Jesus a little time during your festivities.

For me I had better get to reflecting.  I too have far to travel before He comes to see me.

God Bless all those who travel through my little blog.
Carol