5 simple rules to be happy.

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

I was sent this list via email. It is so true.

Silent Night

Best kids ever.

White Christmas

I would rather

be curled up in one of these chairs with a new book beside that incredible fire

Check out the Southern Living article for this image here.

than on my way into the operating room.

Winter Wonderland

I am thankful

...for health
...for happiness
...for memories
...for friends
...for change
...for love
...for you

Your turn.

Must be Santa.

On my mind.

"There is more to life than simply increasing its speed."
~Mahatma Gandhi

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
~Annie Dillard

"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
~Bertrand Russell

Mary Did You Know?

May you always

What Child is This?

A hippo!

Holiday movies.

A perfectly popped bowl of buttery popcorn.
A cozy blanket and fluffy pillow.
Enough room on the couch for everyone to squish in or everyone curled up snug in their space on our bed.
That's the usual scene we settle into for a holiday movie.

There are favorites.
Rudolf always gets his hour around here. I love the Silver and Gold song sung in this one.
Snow dogs has been on the last few weekends and I gave it a couple of my tears.
As a Tom Hanks fan, The Polar Express is a must for the season. The blustery winds and just bizarre enough animation draw me in every year.
I remember when Home Alone and Home Alone 2 where the hit movies to take in. The turtle doves, the toy store, the fan and feathers and the spider are all very classic.

What are some of your favorite holiday movies?

Baby's First Christmas

Patchwork.

One week today I will be on my way into an operating room for some fixing. After sustaining multiple sports related injuries over many years, my knee isn't working so well. The doctor has a good history and certainly does enough of these fixes that I should be calm.

But I am not. I'm nervous. I'm worried. I'm scared. I haven't been able to say these things out loud. Somehow it seems that giving voice to these thoughts will give them substance, something which I continue to refuse. I continue to struggle with understanding why. In fact, I busy myself with other thoughts to deny this one any attention. But rather than diminish, this worry continues to percolate like a rich dark roast. Drip. Drip. Drip.

I'm hoping recovery will be quick with nothing unusual to report. I'm putting together a rehabilitation plan that involves recovery time and some awesome physio. I'm pretending that focusing on the recovery will mask the worry of the actual procedure.

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

On my mind.

"Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree."
~Charlotte Carpenter

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."
~W.T. Ellis

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect."
~ Oren Arnold

Ding-A-Ling the Christmas Bell

There are some songs that spin my way back . This is one of them.

Mission: December

It's never too late to post a plan. Here's what my ideas were for this month. So far, I'm not doing too bad.

1. Absorb the magic that December is.
2. Rip out a realistic study strategy.
3. Get those books cycled. Put away what needs not be out.
4. Christmas - decide what it's really all about.
5. Get that tree up and d.e.c.o.r.a.t.e.
6. Clothes, move out! Too small toys, you too!
7. Wrap up and reflect.
8. Plan, dream, brainstorm for 2011 and all the promise that it holds.
9. Pray for a smooth surgery.
10. Spice up my locks.
11. Write. Define. Design.
12. Try and finish reading a book.

I'm going to ring out 2011 my style!

Away in a Manger.

Little Drummer Boy

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

Let's Play# 203

Well, Friday Fillins Christmas Style are up again. This week had me really thinking about the carols. There is also the normal fillins up there as well. You're playing right?

10. YKDADAPAVCACADAB:
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

11. ISMKSCUTMLN:
I see mommy kissing Santa Claus undeneath the mistltoe last night

12. CSBSDIHS:
City sidewalks busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style

13. HTHASGTTNK:
Hark! The harold angels sing glory to the newborn king.

14. GGROBAR:
grandma got run over by a reindeer (ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES EVER!!)

15. OHNTSASB:
Oh HolyNight, ths stars are shining brightly

16. AIWFCIMTFT:
I am stumped. What did everyone else come up with?

17. DTTSIAOHOS:
Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh

18. WTKOOA:
We three kings of orient are

Ave Maria

Do you hear what I hear?

Team Up: December

December was this week's theme. I think Puna and I captured the contrast of the month well in our images.
Puna has a chilly snap from the icy outside.

I went with a warm twinkle from our Christmas tree.

I so look forward to seeing what her and I come up with. Thanks for another fantastic week Puna!
Melody and Megan are having a team up contest challenge. Won't you go over and check it out?

Silver Bells

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Hark The Harold Angels Sing

On my mind.

Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.
~Baltasar Gacian

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.
~Keshavan Nair

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is the true test of moral character.
~Margaret Chase Smith

O Holy Night

Dominic!

Let's Play #202

Three posts in one day! Now this feels more like what I had in mind when i decided to blog.

It's Friday FillIn time and gosh it has been too long since I've played along. To my delightful surprise, there is a new spin on things over there. Quick! Go see what it's all about. I absolutely love Christmas carols.

1. HYAMLC: Have yourself a merry little Christmas

2. TFNTADS: The First Noel the angels did say (or is it sing?)

3. GRYMGLNYD: God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay (or at least that's how I sing it :)

4. ICUAMC: It came upon a midnight clear

5. SNHNAICAIB: Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright.

6. OTFDOCMTLGTM: On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me

7. DTHWBOHFLLLLLLLL: Deck! The halls with boughs of holly fa la la la la la la la la

8. YBWOYBNC: You better watch out, you better not cry

9. JTTWTLHC: Joy to the world, the Lord has come

Hello December 3.

There are changes afoot. Sorry...I like that word. I think it might stem from my adoration of the movie Ever After or perhaps with The Brothers Grimm tales. Stick around and let me know what you think.
Moving along, today is exam day. It's a monster. Who writes exams on Fridays anyways? Here's hoping. :)
This month is full. Things on the horizon include:

• My missions
• Christmas stuff
• Shout outs
• Happy things
• Music - a carols day until Christmas
• I might even get adventurous and get some photos up
  
  Go out and spread some love. Sparkle. Be.
  

Christmas Shoes

Team Up: Here

This week it was my choice of theme. So HERE it was.
Puna came up with something fun. At a drive through and that employee has got it just right. HERE.

These are my travelling shoes taken at an airport. There was some time between flights and I was having some fun.

HERE.
I am HERE.
I am right HERE.

As always, Puna, thanks for a super fun week. I love how you think on the fly.
Pop over to Melody or Megan's places for some more inspiration.

The Christmas Song

Carol of the Bells