Monthly Archive: December 2024

I was trying to avoid posting for Christmas. It’s a lot of pressure to come up with something that hasn’t already been said “many times, many ways.” But then my biweekly Tuesday post day fell on Christmas Eve so now what?

There’s always the grateful thing… But I’ve done that (maybe ad nauseum), and I did not want to make you endure yet another telling of how grateful I am. (Very!)

Favorite Christmas movie? So cliché.
(Charlie Brown’s Christmas, with A Christmas Story as a close second.)

Favorite Christmas song? So many great classics, but the relatively new (1989) Grown Up Christmas List moves me every time with its touching and relevant lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jax1ZmfOXE

How about a simple Merry Christmas? I do hope your Christmas is all you want it to be. And, I sincerely wish you and your loved ones good health in the new year.

Extra prayers and thoughts for those of you who are struggling this holiday season as I know it can sometimes be a tough time of the year.

I also want to thank you for reading my blog and indulging me as I practice my writing. I so appreciate the support.

S.

The saying goes something like, The best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.

I was reminded of the line from the Burns poem when the best laid plans of our recent European vacation took a couple of left turns.

It was a good opportunity to remember my favorite advice/mantra/lesson about control and how little we ultimately have. I try to focus on the most important part of that lesson, which is that we do have control over how we choose to react to those left turns. This choice can make the difference between things going “awry” or not.

So, ask me how my vacation was and I will tell you, Wunderbah! The primary purpose of the trip –the 60th birthday celebration of a favorite German family member – went as planned in a fabulous villa on the sun kissed jewel of the Mediterranean that is Mallorca, Spain.

The vibrant city of Barcelona did not disappoint with its incredible churches, cathedrals and city history, not to mention the Sangria and the great fun that was paella making.

And, finally, the winter wonderland of Bavaria – to me one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Being there so close to Christmas made it even more special. Some folks thought us crazy for visiting in winter, but even for this Floridian who does prefer to be warm, it was a welcome change, especially since we were properly outfitted by the best hosts ever.

We were treated so kindly by all, had great fun along the way, arrived home safely, and the cat survived!

What left turn?