....about the holiday season.

The holiday season is upon us once again.  There are so many delightful aspects to this time of year that warm me through and through.  The colorful decorations bring such joy to our senses, as does the smells of fresh trees and traditional cooking of pies, cookies, turkeys, hams or whatever one's tradition might be.  As in every season, I embrace the joy of diversity...the enlightenment that we all don't have to celebrate the same way or share the same beliefs.  Some of us are more about our own inner feelings and memories, some of us are about our religions, some of us are about getting together with family, ...the list is infinite.  I feel one of the most important ideas I like to embrace is understanding and respect for all people.


For example, I have always called my decorated tree a Christmas tree, but am not bothered in the slightest by anyone who calls theirs a holiday tree.  I have always wished folks of the Christian faith a Merry Christmas, and those of other faiths a happy holiday.  I am not offended if someone wishes me a happy holiday.  I feel so blessed that the person took the time to share a heart felt greeting with me.  I feel sad for the souls who are so persistent that their religion is the "right" religion and everyone HAS to adhere to their faith or else!  How utterly closed minded that is.  There is room on this beautiful planet for everyone, every faith, every ethnic background, every color of skin, male or female, gay or straight, fat or thin, tall or short, old or young, educated or uneducated, rich or poor, ...gosh, the list is infinite.  We are all here together and have it within ourselves to love masses of people no matter who they are.


So to all of you, I share any greeting that fits your belief system and I do so with graciousness, thankfulness, sincerity, and love.  Life is much too short to be excluding anyone who is different from me.  I feel comfortable and caring enough in my inner soul to embrace all peoples with honesty and simple joy.  That is what Christmas means to me.

Take care,
Liz

...about my brother who just passed away.

Just got the news this evening from my niece Sarah that my half-brother Tom passed away.  I am in shock even though I did not know him very well.  Tom was a strikingly tall man...around 6'5"...and had a face full of character.  He could look quite serious, but when he smiled, his face beamed.  I feel so blessed that I got to meet him and that Marc and Ralph got to spend time with him also.  This is all due to my niece.  Although she lives on the west coast, she came across country and got us together.  Not only that, but Tom came to spend another special day with us after Sarah was back on the other side of the country.

Ralph, Marc, and Tom

Tom was on his way to California to live out his remaining years near his daughter and his grandchildren.  Since he could not bear to part with his Harley, he was crossing the country by motorcycle.  He checked in with Sarah every evening so she would know he was safe.  Last night, he did not check in, and although she called his cell several times, there was no call back.  Late today, a detective found my brother.  Tom had passed away in his motel room.  He had diabetes, and probably other conditions that he had shared with none of us, and died of natural causes.  He had made it all the way to Arizona so was not that far from his destination.  

Sarah and Scarlett

I am so very thankful to Sarah for approaching me by email and bringing my brother and me together.  What a very special lady she is.  I feel honored that she felt comfortable contacting me and feeling secure in knowing that Ralph and I would always be here for her, and welcome into our home warmly.  I had wished for a lifetime that I would get to meet the other half of my family and Sarah made a small part of that wish come true.  So in our grief, I also feel thankfulness and joy because Sarah made the impossible possible.  I am sending her all the love and understanding I can muster.  Bless her heart.  May my brother rest in peace.



Take care (and hug your loved ones!).
Liz

about the nice furniture my husband is making...

While I have been playing with my stained glass, my husband has been building furniture.  So far he has completed two beautiful chests/coffee tables and a nice rolling cart to hold our bird cage holding eight parakeets.

Presently, he is framing one of my stained glass pieces so it can be hung in the window in one of the bathrooms.  Next, he wants to build a tall unit to hold all our electronic devices that go with our living room TV.  It will be wonderful to have all that stuff behind doors in a beautiful cabinet.

...how nice it is here at home.

Lucy

Zac with his frisbee

Jazz in the leaves

I am a strong believer in diversity.  It takes all sorts of people to make an interesting world and I, for one, am glad we are not all the same.  My husband and I enjoy a simplistic life, and like it that way.  No bells or whistles.  We are thankful waking up each day relatively free of pain, having a predictably friendly day, then snuggling in to a quiet night.  We are not into having a million gadgets, traveling all over the world, or having our home full of tons of activity.

Sam

Many people would find having seven dogs anything but simplistic, but for us, it works.  Our lives, although probably dull to others, are very fulfilling to us.  Now that my anxiety is getting back under control, life feels so perfect, so right.  So while many others are still searching for their place in the world, we have found ours, are comfortable with it, and hope to enjoy our simplistic existence for many years to come.

Take care,
Liz