Home for the Holidays!

http://www.scenicreflections.com/media/401927/snow_cottage_Wallpaper/

The was once a man who married a woman and they lived in this house.
Life was simple.
The house welcomed three children, extraordinary love, laughter,
tears, anger, joy and hope.
It held hockey bags, dance shoes, costumes, soccer equipment, suitcases, backpacks,
 and one happy dog.
 The time for high school came and went, universities were selected and graduations attended.
And the house grew quite again.
There was the man who married the woman and they were, once again, alone in the house.
When the soft snow of December came,bringing Christmas to their door, the house was again expanded  to  hold three children plus more, filled with love, laughter, family and three happy dogs.

Merry Christmas

Life is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing!

 Whistler BC, breathtaking!

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. 

 Helen Keller http://www.brainyquote.com

Rescue Me!

You never soar so high as when you stoop down to help a child or an animal-Jewish Proverb

Have you ever wondered who your most dedicated friend is, the one who never judges you, who stands by you no matter what, who comforts you when you are sick, who lifts your spirit when you are sad, the one that greets you at the door after a long day at work. 

A few weeks ago, as we walked through the campus of Union College, we spotted this tiny little dog trotting alongside his owner. It was a bitter day but he was undaunted by the weather conditions as he frolicked in the remaining autumn leaves. He was so tiny we lost sight of him a few times. 

He eventually made his way to where we were standing. Liana bent over and scooped him up. Once he was nestled in her arms he began to lick her face. He was skin and bones, shaking as much from the cold as he was from the excitement of being held. 

"I rescued him from the shelter," his owner said. "They found him in an abandoned home, weighing only two pounds. His fur was gone. But he's much better now." 

Tears welled in our eyes. How could anyone do that? Sadly, these incidents happen everyday. Why not drop them off at shelter instead of abandoning them, without food, a home, and someone to love them. 

How do dogs trust people after being so mistreated?
You would think that they would be reluctant to be near humans.

Dogs are the teachers of  unconditional love.
People stand to learn so much from them..

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

The single most amazing thing about the holiday season is that it brings family and friends together. For a short time we all take a break from the madness of life and we celebrate our blessings.

Happy Holidays wherever you may be!

How Many People Would Sit Beside you on this Snow Covered Bench?

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=romantic+winter

When I looked at this photograph it made me feel lonely. The snow covered tree, the path devoid of footsteps, no birds, squirrels or people and I thought of this.

 If I asked you to sit on this bench and invite three people to sit beside you who would you pick? Then, I would narrow your choices by telling you that it had to be three people that you wished you had shared more time with, three people who you argued with, three people who made you think "what if...", three people who you forgot to say I loved you to. How full would your bench be? 

 I suppose the message would be to fill your bench with no regrets!

 Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice well. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regrets. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. 

Mary Ann Radmacher

He was Old, Wrinkled and Round and he was Magnificent!

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-14270158-cookies-and-milk-for-santa.php

The aroma of freshly baked chocolate chips cookies lingered in the house long after my mother had tucked us in for the night.

Snowflakes hit the windows in our bedroom beckoning us out to play but they would have to wait for another day. Sleep was what we needed to do before he arrived. I could hear the logs in the fireplace crackling and Niko’s soft sighs as he settled into his soft puppy bed for the night. 

Ten cookies sat next to a glass of cold milk on the mantle. These were Santa’s favorite treat. 

My sister and brother were nestled on either side of me.  Their gentle snores told me they'd already drifted off no doubt dreaming of the toys that would soon come their way. How could anyone sleep on such a glorious night? I threw back the covers and hoped over my sisters legs. I just wanted to take a quick peak.

I tiptoed to the end of the corridor and looked over the railing. The grandfather clock at the end of the corridor struck midnight. It was time! Certain that no one else was awake,I made my way down the staircase.  My progress was slow. I rounded the corner leading to living room and much to my utter surprise he was there.

I watched in fascination as he gobbled his treats, the crumbs clinging to his whiskers. Then he lifted the glass of milk and drank it in one long gulp.  He was just as I had imagined! 

Old, wrinkled, and round!

Unable to move I gasped as he opened his sack and pulled out three beautifully wrapped boxes. He laid them carefully under the tree. 

Surveying his work he turned toward the fireplace. He was ready to go. I adjusted myself moving ever so slightly so I could watch his ascent. The gentle rustling of my night coat caught his attention. He turned!

“Merry Christmas little one,” he whispered. 

“Merry Christmas, Santa,” I replied.

He tiptoed toward me, placing a finger over his lips. He opened his hand and in it rested the last of the cookies. I marveled at his magnificence as I reached for his offering.

The Person Who Lives with an Open Soul Sees the Beauty of Life

This would appear to be a rather simple picture to post on a blog that highlights breathtaking moments. How could a woman who's face has been marked by the passage of time, the superficial signs of youth long gone, be breathtaking?  

 If we see her with our souls instead of our eyes then we would know how truly breathtaking she is.

This remarkable woman lived through the second world war, helped raise six siblings, became a seamstress, married, gave birth to two children and then lost her young husband to cancer.

She cried, she laughed, anguished, praised and she lived.

When all her child raising was done she met a man who caught her heart and they married. He was her companion, best friend and confident but God had other plans and he took him as well. 

When her cup seemed almost empty, her beloved daughter was diagnosed with cancer and she too passed barely 50.

And although her heart was broken she forged ahead and saw two of her grandchildren married.

She survived a horrific earthquake.

During her life she buried her parents, two brothers, and a cherished sister.

Last year she turned 80. Some said she would not see 81 for her health was failing.
She needed a pace maker and although the doctor was hesitant to perform the procedure she insisted.
Despite all of life's trials, her spirit would not be defeated.

This past summer she turned 81.

Is she not truly breathtaking?