New Years Eve...

Its New Years Eve! I love this day, not only because it's my birthday and it is my day to celebrate the fact that I was born to the most amazing mother! but it' also a day of reflection.  A day to remember all the accomplishments and challenges of the year before.

I have had many of them this year.. both accomplishments and challenges.  There were many, many happy moments and some really tearful days.  But, as my dad once reminded me - "joy cometh in the morning."

I won't go into what the details of these ups and downs were my friends, as I am certain you have many of your own.  Remember this however - there are many, many people who love you and life is full of roads to choose.  It is we who create our own destiny.  It is we who are the creators of our lives.

I encourage all of you to take the time to reflect, even for just a little while.  Reflect and love the world you lived in 2011.  Accept it without judgement. And even better, take the time to ponder the creation of 2012.  You deserve it!

It is my hearts desire to achieve all that I can dream of in 2012 and to continue to talk with all of you and share your hopes and dreams, sorrows and joys together.

With Love and Light,

Kimberley

The Quiet Days between Christmas and New Years

I felt really compelled to write this piece tonight as the winter silence outside is only broken by the distant sound of a train and perhaps a few cars on the road.  The deep, dark, midnight blue of the sky is the backdrop for the sliver moon and the brightly shining stars.

Christmas Day has passed.  That saddens me to some degree. I look forward to that day all year long. The magical spirit of the season brightens my spirits and things somehow appear a bit more hopeful. The hustle and bustle of the gift buying, the wrapping, the family celebrations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are done.

And now, we rest.  We rest and savor the kindnesses that have been shown, the renewal of the human spirit, the children that were made happy by strangers generosity, forgiveness that was shown, healing that began and a new love discovered.

These "inbetween" days we review the past year, perhaps with judgement on ourselves, perhaps with recollection of happy times with friends, perhaps with uncertainty and worry, perhaps with celebration of a new life, a new job,  or an increase in business.

Rest and contemplation. Be kind to yourself, "love the questions", be still and know the answers to your problems will come.

The New Year will come. Our confidence and our energy will be rejuvenated and we will once again, march toward the fulfillment of our dreams.

Bet still my friends and allow yourself this time.

With Love and Light,

Kimberley

O' Holy Night....

This night is truly Holy.  It gives me shivers every year to celebrate the birth of Christ.   There is a sacredness about it. Ever since I was  a little girl, I have had a close relationship with God.  It was my fourth grade sunday school teacher who was my spiritual leader and mentor.  I think of her often and somedays I even hope that she would speak to me as angels do.  For it was she who inspired me to begin my writing career. 

No matter what your religious beliefs are, one must feel the magic that is sent through the air by so many of us whose hearts and minds are focused on this special occassion.

This night truly does deserve silent meditation and love sent from all of us to one another - no matter, rich or poor, black or white, gay or straight, young or old.

May God and his Angels be with all of you tonight as the clock strikes midnight, the sky shines brightly with the abundance of stars and love comes down to us all.

Enjoy this beautiful rendition of O Holy Night, sung by Josh Groban, it will give you goosebumps.

http://www.godvine.com/Josh-Groban-s-Breathtaking-Performance-of-O-Holy-Night-952.html

Kimberley

Christmas Eve will be here tomorrow...

I am so happy and excited yet sad at the same time.  I love this time of year.  Full of magic,love,forgiveness and joy.  My christmas wish this year is that this feeling would last throughout the next eleven months and the earth would feel the love of this magical spirit.

The next few days of my life will be filled with wonderful family and friends . For this , my heart is full of gratitude.  I cannot imagine my life without all of them in it.  Each person unique unto themselves.  They are my christmas gifts.  I wish they all knew how much they mean to me. 

Merry Christmas to all of my friends and family, I love you more than you know.

Kimberley

Peace on Earth

Its five days until Christmas. And for most of us the stress mounts with each day.  I encourage you to create something different in your life this year.  Create a sense of peace and calm in your life.  Take a few moments out of each day to reflect and meditate on what is the true spirit of this season - love, forgiveness, kindness. 

The gifts will get wrapped, the tree will be decorated, the food will be prepared for the holiday meal.  It all gets done, it always does, but at what expense?

I encourage you this year, to give yourself moments of quiet reflection each day, to soothe your soul and warm your heart.  Truly the magic of Christmas is to be savored and cherished.  It only comes around once a year - should we all not drink every drop of this most treasured cup of joy?

I promised myself I would be peaceful and joyful this week and let the worry and anxiety just float away.  I promised myself inner calm and to let the spirit of the season radiate from me.

Won't you do the same?

Kimberley

Why are some people sad during the Holiday Season?

I have asked myself this question many times over the years and I am not certain that I have
"the answer."  But what I do know is that this time of year seems to call out the deep seated feelings people have inside themselves.  If someone is lonely, the lonelines appears to feel that much deeper. If someone feels lost,without purpose - the world with all of its hustle and bustle at this time of year seems to swirl around them while they are in the middle trying to figure out where to land.  If someone is feeling unloved, suddenly all they see are couples holding hands or kissing. Families are all around them laughing and buying their christmas trees. 

Elderly people sit in nursing homes some have visitors, others not.  Some people's families live millions of miles away and suddenly the holidays don't have the special meaning they once did.  Some people are going through difficult financial times and asking themselves how they can even think about buying presents when they cannot pay the mortgage.

Well.. here are some things I do know. There are angels unaware in our lives.  They appear as a smile from a stranger, a person you meet randomly at the grocery store, the store clerk who says they owe you money, a friend who offers to fix your computer for free, a chance meeting with a person who gives you words of wisdom and then they disappear out of your life.

There are positive aspects to everything in our lives. Everything!.. And sometimes we get so caught up in what is going on in our lives that we cannot "see" what is really around us.  The lonelines is replaced by the love of a friend who stops by unexpectedly with a christmas gift.  In the quiet moments of your day, a thought comes to you and you remember what your passion and purpose has been and still continues to be.  Suddenly, life calls you to answer it and the path is lit up for you.  Your heart is made full by your house abundant with family on Christmas day.  And somehow, someway, additional money comes to you in ways unimaginable.

I send you love (and chocolates) to all of my readers to let you know how truly amazing you are!






Kimberley

Are there Christmas Angels among us?

A friend of mine sent me a "chain text" yesterday.  It went something like this:
   I sent an angel to watch over you last night and that the angel had come back because "angels dont watch over angels!" The text went onto say that Twenty angels are IN your world.  Ten of them are sleeping, nine of them are playing, one is reading this message...Send this to ten friends including me if I don't get it back guess I'm not one of them. As SOON as you get five replies, someone you love will quietly surprise you xxx :) God has seen YOU struggling with something. God says its over.  A blessing is coming your way.  If you believe in God send this message on, please don't ignore it, you are being tested. God is going to fix two things  (BIG) tonight in your favor. If you believe in God, DROP EVERYTHING & PASS IT ON.  TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. SEND THIS TO 14 FRIENDS IN 10 MIN.  Lifes a mountain enjoy the climb.

I don't typically join in on these chains, however, as I was pushing my cart through Target amongst all the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers, I thought it is the season of magic and love, I should forward this.  Surprisingly, many of my friends sent it back to me - one right after the other- sending me their love.  That felt good to know that so many people cared about me.

I looked at that text chain about every twenty minutes last night, focusing more on the later part of the message.  And I waited.  I sat up and watched Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel and much to my surprise as I got up to turn the TV off, it was past midnight.  My thoughts drifted back to the chain text.

It was "the next day" - what were the two BIG things that God would fix for me?  I certainly had my own ideas of what he could do for me (and they are BIG trust me!), but I would go to bed and wait to see what he had in store for me.  Why would I believe in a "chain text?"  Its not the text itself, its the love and message it sends among us. Its the energy of love that is emitted through all these people. 

So, now it is almost midnight on the next day and I haven't yet quite figured out what those two BIG things are.  Perhaps they will be revealed to me as I sleep or in the following days.

Angels played a large roll in the story of Joseph and Mary and the birth of their son Jesus Christ. I wonder what roll they will play in all of our lives as we journey through this Holiday season?


Kimberley

What are your favorite Christmas Cookies?

Christmas cookies have been a tradition in my family ever since I can remember.  My mother used to make dozens and dozens of all different kinds.  And to this day, I make this a priority on the "christmas to-do list" every year.  I love spending time in my kitchen, it gives me great peace and grounding.

Our family's holiday favorites are M&M cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms and Chocolate Walnut Balls.  The house would smell soo good as my Mom baked each batch to perfection.  However, she wanted to freeze them and save them for guests and family to indulge in during the Christmas and New Years weeks.  Well, as you can imagine, that was torture to children who loved cookies.  Especially those chocolate walnut balls.  This is a very special family recipe that I happen to love! 

In fact, one year, I decided to sneak into the freezer to grab some of those little treasures.  We had one of the refridgerators with the freezer on the top.  It was placed in this small backroom off the kitchen that also housed two closets across from it.  I remember the room being cold and this ugly shade of green - lol.  I am sure if I asked my Mom, she might correct me on this detail.  So, one day, when I thought my mother wasn't watching, I quietly walk into the backroom, open the freezer and pop open that plastic lid with those yummy little chocolate balls covered in confectioner sugar glaze.  I excitedly grabbed two of them just as the entire refridgerator begins to tip and fall toward my little body. 

So, what do I do? Panic! and Yell - "Mom!"  and just as I did, the refridgerator tipped and the top hit the other wall and was tettering there as my Mom came running.  Well, needless to say I got in some trouble!  I don't actually remember if my Mom let me eat the cookies.  No matter, it is a story I will remember for years to come.

What are your favorite Christmas cookies?




I would love to hear them.

Kimberley

Finding Love at Christmas Time

Tonight I don't write about traditions.  Tonight I write about matters of the heart.  My heart.  You see,  I have always believed in the magic of Christmas.  There is something in the air during the four weeks of December that is unique unto itself.  We give a little more, care a little deeper, share a little more freely and love a bit more unconditionally.

This Christmas my wish is to find love.   The love that has been waiting for me all these years. A love that is so deep and connected that we just know.  We just know we are meant for each other.  I have been single for a very long time and spent many a Christmas wondering when "He" would appear.

I pray that God (and Santa -lol) in all of the magical spirit of Christmas will grant me this one, heartfelt wish.

An old fashioned, hand-written Christimas Card

What ever happened to the Christmas card that used to have a hand-written address on the front of the envelope and a special, heartfelt note inside?

I pondered this thought tonight as I was looking over my Christmas to-do list and writing out my christmas cards was still in the top five things yet to be done.  I really enjoy sitting down with a steamy, hot cup of  Baileys and coffee, my pen and a box of Christmas cards.  I set aside time each year to write a special note to each one of my friends that I have not seen in awhile and to my family to let them know how much they mean to me.

In my mind, these cards represent little gifts in an envelope.  I thoughtfully think of what I want to say and try to pour my love and caring into each word.  It is my hope that as my friends and family open their mailbox and see that card inside, that somehow, someway, love gets released into the air and fills them with happiness.

Now with the advent of e-cards and apparently cards sent via text, won't some of us still continue on with the old-fashioned tradtion of a handwritten christmas card?  Afterall, how many of us love to go to our mailbox to discover a hand-written letter from a friend?

Goodnight,

Kimberley

 

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."
~ Charles Schulz (1922-2000), American cartoonist 'Peanuts'.



So, as I write this Christmas blog, I am reminded of the Charlie Brown Christmas special that is aired each year.  It warms my heart - why? because it reminds me of being a child all over again and more importantly, it reminds me of the love Charlie Brown had for that scant, almost barren tree. 

As we celebrate this season of giving, let us be reminded of those less fortunate, those who might just need a hug, or a warm meal or a friends ear to listen or perhaps a lonely little tree that wants to be decorated and crowded with presents for those children on Christmas morning.

May God Bless All of You this Season,

Kimberley

Twas the Night Before Christmas

What are the memories that you all have the night before Christmas?

Well..my sister and i would think about Christmas Eve for days before it happened!  In fact, one of the fondest memories I have is of her and I drawing out a map that would lead us from our bedroom, down the stairs, to the Christmas tree discovering which presents were ours.  And sometimes we would even try to rattle them a bit to see if we could hear what was inside!

Each year, we would get out a piece of paper and a pencil and draw out which stairs creeked and where so that we could gingerly maneauver around them.  We strategically planned all of our moves, to be implemented in our pajamas at 5am without our parents knowledge of course! That was the whole point - don't make any noise so Mom and Dad don't wake up!

Did we execute our plan successfully every year? Well.. I think our parents let us get away with it for the first few years and then they caught on and told us to "wait until we get up!."  Somehow, we always seemed to get up at 5am anyway, skip the creeking stairs and go right to our parents bedroom and just get them up - lol!

It is a fond memory for sure. Christmas through the eyes of children.  The innocent excitement.  The belief in something they cannot see.  Its nice that at Christmas time, we can roll back the hands of time and for a few weeks, bring back that innocence we once had.

Hope you are enjoying these blogs and the Holiday Season,

Kimberley

The Magic of the Christmas Box

I thought for quite awhile about what tonights blog should be.  And then it came to me.  The tradition of sharing ones favorite books as gifts each year to  special people in your life that you feel would  need them most. How could I forget that as an author?

Each year, I think of the people in my life and what their hearts really need for Christmas.  Books are marvelous things, amazing how they can heal, inspire and comfort.

I have many favorites that include: Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach,  A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and The Laws of the Spirit  written by Dan Millman.


But there is one very special book that is at the top of the gift giving list every year and that is The Christmas Box written by Richard Paul Evans.  Just the mention of this book as I type these words fills my heart.




Here is a description from the authors website that describes the book:

        Summary

So begins The Christmas Box, the touching story of a widow and the young family who moves in with her. Rick, Keri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jenna, are hired as caretakers and are welcomed into the Victorian home of Mary Parkins, an elderly widow, just before the holiday season. As the relationship between Mary and the family develops we learn that Mary’s past sorrows are compelling her to share an important message with Richard. But will he understand her message in time? A heartwarming story of parental love, healing, and Christmas.

Richard Paul Evans wrote this story expressing his love for his two daughters.  He never envisioned that it would grow to the success that it has, selling millions of copies.  He wrote the book in less than four weeks!   I can really appreciate what that means!

I would encourage all of you to buy the book this Christmas season.  Perhaps it touch your hearts as much as it has mine and millions others.   And here is a link to the authors website - check out his other books, they are all so wonderful!  I have read them all and could only wish that my stories will touch people as much as Richard's has.  http://www.richardpaulevans.com/