Winter Hello's and Christmas Wishes

I'm being a busy gal today...getting
last minute stuff wrapped up, made
one batch of fudge and have one more
to go.  I also have two more loaves of
Banana Bread to get made for Family
Gifting and then start on my oodles of
cookies...Hershey Kisses Peanut Butter's,
M&M Chocolate Chip, and Sugar Cookies
all decked out for the Grands...and maybe
the Adults too, lol.  We will be on sugar
overload I'm sure.

Several years back I started a photo book
for my Daughter and Son...a picture legacy
from the time we began up until now...
The catch is...they have to return their book
at some point within the year so that I can
add to it, to be ready for Christmas.  This
year only my Son returned his.  So I'll be
going through photo's today finding more
to place in his photo book and then I
thought I'd begin making small stories or
comments to add to it, and slip those in
there...like things they mispronounced that
were so cute, and songs they loved to sing,
you get the picture, lol.

For the Grands I made new Drumsticks for
their Drums and gifted them with my Turtle
Shell Rattles to add to their music bags.
My Grandaughter has to pick mine up each
time she comes over so she will be way
beyond excited to know she now is
bequeathed Grandma's Sacred Rattles.

I also made her a Dreamcatcher with an
Angel in the middle, made out of corn husks,
stuck a little bell on that hangs from the top,
and used some beads with a Goddess Pendant
to hang from the bottom.  I have to look and see
what else I can add to it before the day is
over.  I am going to call it Angel Dreamcatcher
and tell her 'every time a bell rings, an Angel
gets her wings.'  She's been bugging me to
release my Dreamcatchers to her, so I thought
I'd make one for her instead.  I know she will
appreciate it. 

As for Firekeeper he is getting older and wants
new books so I found some at the Local Library
that are like new...one is written by Ashley Hopgood
entitled 'Winddancer' and is so beautifully illustrated.
It tells a story about Sage, a young Indian girl,
who must live through the loss of a Mother,
and lives with her Father and Brothers on a rez, and
the challenges her Family must go through.  I think
it will be a good read for him.  In looking back on
Firekeeper to this time last year, my heart swells
with so much pride for him...he has walked a million
miles in his short life...at this time last year he
was just coming home from the Childrens Hospital
in Milwaukee after having attempted to take his life.
He was nine years old at the time.  Today he is a
happy, vibrant child who has gone from barely
making it to 100 percent in school, is coming out of
his despair with the help of so many in the school
sytems where he attends (he goes to a school that
is structured for children who have endured much
and help them to learn how to cope and process
life), and he has learned to use his voice.  That is
huge for a ten year old who has lived the life he has.
So when I say my heart swells it swells hugely!!!
Now, we are on a different walk together entirely,
as I see him becoming the preteen he is, his views
changing, growing up and away from Old Grandma
a little more (that was sad until I realized it is
exactly what needs to happen), and the biggest
challenge of all was to let him do it.  We cannot
hold them safe in our arms forever...at some point
the Momma Bird kicks the Babies out of the nest,
doesn't she?  Being a Grandmother is a little
different but I am learning to embrace it all.  :)

So this Christmas we are living it very simplistically.
No fancy gifts under our trees, as we face the
challenges everyone is facing in our world.  We
learn to appreciate more, and love our family
more than before, as we don't know what tomorrow
will bring.  It makes me happy.  All the years of
being stressed because of lack have vanished out
of the window for me.  I did appreciate those years
don't get me wrong, and I did appreciate family but
I think it has awakened even more for me this year.
It's a Good Thing!

So as I make my way now through the last few days
before Christmas, and remember the reason for this
season of Love and Compassionate Kindness, I wanted
to take the time to Wish All of my Blogger Friends
the Most Happiest of Holidays...may your heart grow
bigger, may you be touched in magical ways as you
go through your days, may Love abound in your hearts
and homes and may Mother/Father God enfold you deeply
in the Their Wings.   You've enriched my life by your
thoughtful comments when you visit, and touched
me more than you will ever realize.

Merry Christmas and Love Be With You!
May Peace Prevail On Earth...