Take a Breath

Can the world just take a breath,

and focus on ...

...kindness,

giving the benefit of the doubt,

controlling the knee jerk response,

respect,

dignity,

benevolence,

setting our opinions aside,

looking at one another as brothers and sisters,

throwing away narcism,

treating others as you would like to be treated.

Just for one moment.

Please.

I know it's out there in ENORMOUS quantities...

...trying to fight the

cynical,

petty,

judgemental,

false,

snarky,

selfishness,

swimming around us.

Should we start a kindness movement?

: )

Martin Luther King

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. 

Sending 

Hugs

and 

Loves

your way,

my little 

whippersnappers!!!

xoxox

~d

Vince G.

Charlie Brown: [Charlie Brown and Linus stop at a wall on their trip to the pond for ice skating] I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.

[begins to walk with Linus again]

Charlie Brown: I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Patty: Try to catch snowflakes on your tongue. It's fun.

Linus Van Pelt: Mmm. Needs sugar.

Lucy Van Pelt: It's too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January.

Linus Van Pelt: They sure look ripe to me.

Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about.

[shouting in desperation]

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

[moves toward the center of the stage]

Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.

[a spotlight shines on Linus]

Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not:"

[Linus drops his security blanket on purpose]

Linus Van Pelt: "for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

[Luke 2:8-14 KJV]

Linus Van Pelt: [Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown] That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

The full Vince Guaraldi album.

Enjoy!

I love you Charlie Brown!

I would have been your friend.

xo

Here's a big hug for you, from me and Snoopy!!!

Hope you have your Christmas

prep all complete and are able

to bask in the love of this 

wonderful

celebration of

the birth of our wonderful 

brother.

Sending love

and Christmas cheer your way...

xoxoxoxo

~d

It's a Barbie Christmas!

Barbie reminds me of Christmas.

Why?

I got alot of Kewl

Barbie stuff for Christmas!!!

Barbie's outfits have numbers on them.

These are some of the outfits I either had 

or wanted as a tyke.

So elegant, Miss Barbie!

The fam at Christmas

Family Christmas Card.

My only concern with this picture is that Barbie is

one of the original Barbies of 1959,

the man standing next to her is Ken's friend Alan from the mid 60's,  her little sister Skipper is from early 60's, little boy is Ricky Alan's little brother of the late 60's (my mind is wandering...)

so this looks like either....

1.  Ken is dead or divorced from Barbie.

2.  Barbie has taken on Ken's younger best friend Alan as either an adopted son

or a cougar town romance.

3.  Barbie is supporting her sister Skipper, Ken's friend Alan and Alan's brother Rickie and

leads a life of obsessively making their lives perfect.

4.  It is obvious that Barbie is no longer a teenager model

(although I thought she never looked teenage)

and is getting extensive/expensive plastic surgery to maintain her

1950's look...for Alan of course.

Oh Barbie. 

How things have changed 

from when we hung out together in the 1960's.

Seriously, these old Barbie pics just make

me so happy.  

; )

Whilst I was looking at Barbie stuff, I stumbled upon this

cute little deer card.

It really appealed to me!

So....here it is.

From me to you.

Just pretend it doesn't say 'Mommy".

; )

9 Days to Christmas!!!

(my grandson reminded me this morning)

Yay!

Sending love and extra joy your way

my elfie-kins!!!

xoxox

~d

December 13...Santa Lucia Day

Santa Lucia Day 

is considered primarily a 

Scandinavian holiday

that starts on December 13,

what ancient Scandinavians considered

the longest day of the year according to

an ancient calendar.

It is often referred to as the 

Festival of Lights.

Although it is said to have Roman origins.

It is also celebrated in different forms across Europe.

It is primarily known as a

Scandinavian holiday, though.

I have always paid attention to it as it falls on my birthday,

and starts the 12 days of Christmas!

Who is she?

Saint Lucy was working to help Christians hiding in the catacombs during the terror under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and in order to bring with her as many supplies as possible, she needed to have both hands free.  She solved

the problem by wearing a crown of candles so she could carry

more supplies.

The tradition is that she carries buns and hot chocolate

and delivers them to neighbors.

There is another tradition that

the eldest daughter wears the crown of candles, wearing white with a red sash, and delivering cinnamon buns and hot chocolate

to her parents while they are still in bed on the morning of 

December 13.

Little boys and other children celebrate too by 

wearing pointy hats and carrying stars.

They also sing the Santa Lucia song....

which has Italian origins!

It is a very sweet, Christian holiday.

And basically very adorable....

So 

Happy Santa Lucia Day!!!

Let's go eat some 

buns and hot chocolate!!!

Have a 

Lovely

and 

Tasty

Lucia Day,

my little

cinnamon

buns

(with raisins....)

Sending love and joy your way.

xoox

~d