Remembering Moments

December 27, 2011 by 2 Comments

go to site Remembering Moments © 2011 Bo Mackison

https://vbmotorworld.com/wvt36gbos We do not remember days, we remember moments. ~ Cesare Pavese

https://trevabrandonscharf.com/qec3nyw5ycq Moments from the past few days:

  • Sitting in the darkness before the fist hint of dawn, tree lights on, absorbing the beauty of light and color.
  • Many moments spent adding tinsel to the tree, a strand at a time, and with each strand I expressed gratitude for one thing — big or small..
  • Telling my kids how I added tinsel to the tree this year, and then noting how they followed my example by saying a “thank you” every time they replaced an errant piece of tinsel from carpet to tree.
  • Following a long-standing family tradition, each person made hors d’oeuvres for the Christmas Eve table. No sit down dinner for us. The Christmas table is always a part of the entire evening. We opened presents, visited, slowly ate a delicacy or two from the table, revisited memories from Christmases past. We took our time and enjoyed ourselves.
    • When my kids were much younger, there was a variety of offerings on our table — mozzarella sticks from the freezer case at the nearby grocery, meatballs from the same freezer case, cheese and crackers. We greeted each person’s contribution with enthusiasm and love.
    • This year, the kids are all practiced veterans in their own kitchens, so we had true delicacies prepared with their hands and their love — Asian shrimp balls, pot stickers, homemade meatballs, oysters on the half shell and sauces, a plate of delicate Christmas cookies, and more. What pleasure to see how they have matured in the thought and preparation of their culinary offerings.
  • As I wrapped each present this year, I took my time. I thought of the intended recipient of each gift and sent an intention into the Universe for that person. For example:
    • If the gift was kitchen-oriented, I asked that they experience a sense of accomplishment while preparing food for their loved ones and an attitude of gratefulness for their food.
    • If the gift was a humorous book, I asked that they experience lots of joy and laughter in their lives, not only while enjoying the cartoons, but throughout their days. It made wrapping gifts a deliciously uplifting time.
  • A walk around the neighborhood with Sherpa, enjoying nature in the balmy December weather, and chatting about the day’s small events which, when totaled, make up the precious gift of our life together.

follow site This truly was a season to be grateful for all the goodness that surrounds us, and a time to show our appreciation to family, friends, acquaintances, helpers — to all who touch our lives and humanize our existence.

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go here Bo Mackison is a photographer, owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is taking time today to give thanks for the little things and the big things in her life.

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Reaching Out to Others this Holiday Season

December 5, 2010 by 5 Comments

source link Empty Chairs © 2010 Bo Mackison

see Yes, my family has always made charitable donations during the holidays, and my children were always included in many “giving-to-others” traditions. But now that all of my kids are out of the house, and mostly on their own, it seems time to focus even more on those whose needs are much greater than my own.

click A friend is having a “gratitude party” next week. She is gathering her friends together to reflect on the last year. Each person is bringing a gift for a child who has nothing. It’s a tradition you could put into practice too.

https://marcosgerente.com.br/n1v6a55j I, too, have been to several neighborhood parties that charged “admission” — one year it was a gift certificate to neighborhood grocery stores, another year it was a backpack full of school supplies, a third year everyone brought a baby outfit and a carton of diapers. Maybe you could consider starting one of these traditions, or consider one of your own design.

https://livingpraying.com/nz4yqv8ku Here are a few other suggestions:

https://www.parolacce.org/2024/09/18/4xoxfyh Call the domestic violence coalition in your city or state (Google them using your state’s name) and find the “Contribute” page. Contribute through PayPal. Here’s the page for the Wisconsin Coalition of Domestic Violence contribution page.

go to site Most shelters need basic household supplies–paper goods, shampoo and other toiletries, baby diapers, crayons, coloring books, baby food. Bring some hand lotion, lip gloss. Mittens, hats, scarves, socks, in all sizes. New blankets, robes, and slippers. Gift cards for local grocery stores, restaurants, even theaters, are greatly appreciated. Bring them a bag of needed items on your way home from the grocery or department store.

https://www.drcarolineedwards.com/2024/09/18/vkpnvs8z6 Here are the names of a few other Madison area agencies that I have supported throughout the years. They can always use your help to spread the good they do just a little further:

https://semnul.com/creative-mathematics/?p=fas59w10nl Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in southwestern Wisconsin, serving over 14o,000 people annually, 43 percent of whom are children.

https://www.thephysicaltherapyadvisor.com/2024/09/18/ftilxk47i6 Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) is a community based program that provides food, clothing, and housing assistance.

https://www.drcarolineedwards.com/2024/09/18/xpcob06v Your gifts to the YWCA help women through their housing, employment & training programs. A list of needed donations is included on their site.

go You can make a difference. The smallest action on your part will resonate a long way. Shop for someone else today. Call an agency who provides help to those in need and donate some of your Holiday budget to those who have little or nothing. Write a blog post for your own local area. Or just link to this site from your blog. Everything helps.

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A Christmas Rummage Sale

December 23, 2008 by 9 Comments
Ornaments and More Ornaments

go to link Ornaments and More Ornaments ©2008

https://vbmotorworld.com/gjda3gjs All my kids are finally home for the Holidays and I made them all promise that, at the first available moment, we would all gather together for a special ceremony – Mom’s De-cluttering Hour.

enter site In 33 Christmas seasons, my family has amassed an alarming array of Christmas decorations. When I went into the basement at the beginning of the month, I was surprised to find eight boxes marked Christmas Decorations. There were three boxes of tree ornaments alone. Way too much stuff as far as I’m concerned. After we decorated the house, gently decorated, not crammed with bric-a-brac everywhere, we had five boxes of decorations that we had once happily used, but that we no longer wanted nor needed. I immediately had visions of throwing all the extras in the car and dashing to Goodwill, but then inspiration struck.

go here My kids had grown up with these decorations. Just because the Santas and sparklies didn’t fit into my celebration mode now, it didn’t mean they held no importance for my children.  So I gave each of my kids a call, asked them if they’d be interested in a Christmas decoration rummage sale – with one special clause. There would be no price tags. They could come, browse, and take whatever they wanted. Then whatever remained we would donate to others looking for new holiday decorations. All three kids were enthusiastic about the idea.

https://ragadamed.com.br/2024/09/18/4bhmcgh1o And so we gathered this afternoon.  In less than 30 minutes, all the decorations were sorted into four boxes – older daughter, son, younger daughter, Goodwill. And in those 30 minutes, I discovered a little something about the different personalities of my three 20-something children.

https://trevabrandonscharf.com/g1rkslee My eldest picked up everything that caught her eye, loved the bright ornaments and table decorations, and often took a trinket if I told her it was something her great-grandmother had crafted. She even took slightly imperfect ornaments, certain she could make the necessary repairs.  (And she can – she supports herself as a maintenance person while going to school.)  She easily filled two boxes and then some. But at one moment, when she picked up one of the few items her brother showed an interest in, she quickly gave it to him without a quibble.

follow url My middle child gathered the few things that were specifically his: a Baby’s First Christmas ornament engraved with the year of his birth; a miniature baseball slugger; an Oscar the Grouch in his trash can ornament.  He picked up an Advent calendar and remarked how he remembered moving the little mouse from hole to hole until the 24th hole was reached and he knew that the next day would be Christmas Day. He wanted that calendar. Then he remarked that he didn’t really want stuff to just have stuff. He filled a small shoebox, and he was more than satisfied.

https://traffordhistory.org/lookingback/dhqvx5nttg My youngest picked all the basics: place mats; tablecloths; a dozen, plain gold baubles for the tree.  She asked for the tree skirt, the one I had embroidered more than three decades ago as a young wife preparing for my first married Christmas. She filled a box, but her items were quite bulky and all rather sensible.

https://semnul.com/creative-mathematics/?p=gq8ko2tl4 It was interesting to see how each reacted in their own, different way, what things each one found to be important.

https://boxfanexpo.com/rwzvnqxa At the end, we filled another 3 boxes with very usable items that we will deliver first thing to the neighborhood Goodwill store. I know it’s very close to Christmas, but maybe some last minute shopper will be able to find a few decorations to add to their Holiday celebration.

Buy Diazepam London And after the first of the year, when we return everything to the basement shelves for another year, I will have successfully done some serious de-cluttering. That’s a grand way to celebrate this season as far as I’m concerned.

https://www.parolacce.org/2024/09/18/eg02sec As the years start to accumulate, I find that the simpler is the better.

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