Brightly colored gorilla fairies arrive in MainStrasse Village in Covington, Kentucky to celebrate Christmas!!

TODAY . . . I danced in the aisles at Walmart

Okay - so I'm doing a lot of my Christmas shopping this year at Walmart - trying to buy practical gifts that the people on my list really need. With a slowdown in my business, money is definitely an issue this year and so, while I am standing in the wrapping paper aisle (at the back of the store I might add) trying to decide if I can afford the $4.88 wrapping paper or if I should just settle for the $2.88 wrapping paper, a particularly beautiful rendition of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" comes on the store speakers. Suddenly I felt a warm rush of pure joy and happiness - so much so that I could not help but begin to dance and twirl in the aisle! For that moment, all was right in my world - beautiful music eliciting happy memories, gratitude that at 66 years of age I can still twirl!, thankfulness that I have family to spend Christmas with and love for My Creator! It was a moment of pure joy that passed as quickly as it came but this Christmas I intend to find more of those moments and string them all together like lights on the Christmas Tree

Can We Reinvent Christmas?

I find myself engaging in thoughtful fantasies this year with regard to Christmas. With the emphasis on a fumbling economy and families trying to make ends meet, I am reminded of how very commercialized our holiday season has become!. I know, it's an overused phrase but this year, it seems to take on additional meaning. When I think of desperately trying to purchase a gift for people on my list who "need nothing" or are "hard to buy for". I think of the absurdity of the antics we go thru at this time of year to make it Christmas. What would Christmas feel like if it was reinvented without the frenzy of piles of gifts under the tree? Could we be content with a Christmas centered around music, food, family, fun (games), a time to slow down and enjoy our time without the pressures of getting to the office, etc. These thoughts ramble thru my head as I engage in my own Holiday shopping frenzy. Your ideas?