WINTER GREETINGS (Part One): Counting My Blessings!

Greetings of the Season!

Which, coincidentally, is my favorite season of the year.

And though this year's celebration has seen our activities curtailed somewhat due to my need for rest and recuperation and Mr. Magpie's hectic work schedule...

It did not curb our enthusiasm for Christmas. No, indeed, it did not.

Just as the lack of snow in Florida doesn't curtail my love for snowmen...

 And all things snow-related...

They are all part of the wonder, the color that is Christmas which is why I love the season so!

It's a season where those of us who are no longer young in age, can easily find excuses to indulge our inner child with reckless abandon! I mean, come on... is there any other way to do it?  Nay, I think not. ;-)

It is the one time of the year I allow myself to sing (outside of the shower) with gusto, whether in church or locked out of my car at the gas pump!

Yes, indeed, it happened.  Right across the street from the Police Station.  And it was raining cats and dogs, too.

But I?

I was singing!

"O, Come All Ye Faithful" and any hymn I could think of to serenade the gas pumping hordes.

Were they enthusiastic?

Well, let's just put it this way, "You've Got Talent" has not come knocking, but that doesn't mean they won't! 

Ever the optimist, here.  ;-)

Oh, how I love Christmas and the hub-bub surrounding it! From shopping for other people (which took place mostly online this year)...

To searching high and low for the things I think they will enjoy...

To finding just the right gift wrap to match the gift or the giftee...

From decking the halls like the Little Drummer Boy and friends did here...

To decking the walls...

To simply decking our hearts with what is important sans the glitz and the glitter, which is exactly what we did this year...

 I give thanks for all!

I also give thanks for you.  You put much of the "joie" in my joie de vivre!  So in honor of you,  my blogging buddies, a slight revision of a special poem:

'Twas the night before Christmas,

And all thru the town,

The revelers were shopping and running around,

The Magpies were happy,

All snug in their beds,

As visions of Christmas danced 'round in their heads.

On presents,

On turkey,

On gravy,

And dressing,

From 

Takeout

to 

Pigout

to

Hallmark

to 

Blessings

to

Calls from the family

to 

Calls from the friends

to 

Parties we made

and

to

Others, amends.

 'Tis the season 

of 

Peace,

'Tis the season 

of 

Joy,

'Tis the season

of 

Thanks

 for

The life

of 

The Boy!

And we also give thanks

For the new little ones

Whom the Lord brought to stoke

Many future years' fun.

And we're thankful for memories

of 

Christmases past,

For loved ones long gone, 

but

of

 Love that will last...

Through the ages,

And seasons,

Through the days of our lives,

And the laughter

And smiles

That sweet memory revives.

Just as quick as a wink,

The day might be gone,

But the true joy of Christmas

Renews with each dawn!

--  by Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)

(With my sincere apologies to Clement Clarke Moore for altering his masterpiece!)

Wishing all the blessings of the season to each and every one of you.  As an Anglican (actually a Presbypalian with my parents being the "Presby" part and my husband, the "alian"), our twelve days of Christmas begins on Christmas Day and ends with the Feast of Epiphany in January which represents the day when the Wisemen came to visit the Christ Child with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  That is fine with this little magpie who wishes the spirit of Christmas could go on all year.  I do my best to make sure that happens.  

Well, maybe with one notable exception.

TRUE CONFESSION TIME:   Shameful as this is to confess, like George Washington and my first grade self who told on myself that I had crawled under the work table with the boys when they got caught and I didn't, I cannot tell a lie. Yes, I (Mrs. Magpie) actually rendered a "salute" to the grinch who honked obnoxiously (laying on the horn), scared me half to death, and nearly ran me down in my sleigh as I, who had the right of way, attempted to turn left to rendezvous with the good folks at the takeout counter at Cracker Barrel!  You know, a friend who is a minister says the "Spirit of Slap" comes over each of us from time to time. I guess the trick is to resist it. But while we can't all be perfect like Mr. Magpie is, we do try!

Love to each and every one of you and to all a "Good Night"!

xoxox

Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)