Tag Archives: Christmas

The Best Gift of All

Earlier in the week, I walked to a friends house for coffee. We had agreed to exchange gifts this year, but keep it below $20. It’s humorous how well she knows my heart. She served Christmas cookies with our coffee.

She flung open the front door and yelled, “Happy Christmas, Barbara!” I grinned at her knowing full well, we don’t say that in Texas and gave her an accusatory glance of being from California, but she’s one of my best friends.

I went from there to run some errands, but I’ve learned the value of having a few good souls in your life and to spend as much time possible with them. I was talking myself out of something and sharing my thoughts with my friend when she saw right through me. Lady A, nudges me to make decisions. She highlighted my choices, gave me permission to do either, but encouraged me to pick one as she unraveled each end result. As the day unfolded, so did the decision.

I simply wanted to pause here a moment and wish ya’ll a peaceful holiday season. It doesn’t matter the amount of presents under the tree, but rather the names written on each tag is what counts. They are the true blue souls who share your life and spending time with them my darling is the best gift of all.

Merry Christmas lovelies. Barb.

Not Quite Ready Yet

I have a friend who keeps me stocked up in a certain coffee flavor. After meeting with her in October, she gave me the coffee for my birthday alongwith a sweet travel mug. I told her, “You’re my Texas Pecan bean dealer”, and she loved the title.

As mentioned in this post, I stopped by Starbucks on the way home and walked inside. I don’t use drive thru’s because parking gives me a chance to walk to the destination. This time of year Starbuck’s is so festive inside with Thanksgiving and Christmas adorning every shelf. Pretty soon it will become all Christmas, but I noticed they’re already using Christmas cups for their drinks. Looking up at the menu they were also offering Christmas flavors which arrived early this year. There’s one season of the year I’ll step into a Starbuck’s, and it’s the holiday season. They’ve nailed it.

I ordered my favorite holiday flavor, a white chocolate, peppermint mocha. Returning to my truck, I sent my daughter a photo of the cup revealing, “It’s Christmas!” The drink was as delectable as I remembered, but there was something not quite right. It was the first week of November and here I was drinking a Christmas flavor. I made a vow… the next time I step into a Starbucks to order a fall flavor instead. It would be a little weird drinking it out of a Christmas cup, but overall it would feel right.

In the meantime, I’m content sipping this coffee from my bean dealer. Peppermint Mocha will have to wait while I enjoy the season we’re in. From fall to winter goes quickly in Texas so I’m not willing to rush. After drinking the Christmas flavor in the holiday cup, there’s a peace in knowing… I’m not quite ready yet.

Life is Designed to be Fun

There are pieces of me that are trying to find their way home. Over time little pieces fall away, or become buried by circumstances, but if they truly want to live in your heart, they’ll find their way back. For this to happen, we need to slow the pace, so stillness is on the schedule for the remainder of Barb’s year. This may sound insurmountable considering the holiday season is speeding toward us, but I want to step into the new year on solid ground with clarity.

One of my recent FB memories was a cheetah print pillow from 10 years ago that I was giving away. It was my daughter’s and from the photos shown that day, I was trying to find homes for things she’d outgrown.

Earlier this year I was visiting a local shop and a cheetah print pillow sham caught my attention. The front was a soft, t-shirt-like material, but the back was a solid color that felt like linen. I carried it with me through the store while chatting with the shop owner because it was the only one for sale. She offered a down insert for it, but out of all the pillows I’ve collected over the years, surely I had one to use. This pillow is a cherished addition to my home.

I had forgotten cheetah print makes my heart happy. It’s a simple pleasure that fell away like I was supposed to outgrow it, but obviously didn’t. While writing this I recalled some of my favorite Christmas ornaments are cheetah print and if glitter, or sequins are added…even better! If you feel pieces of you have slipped away that you used to enjoy, then set an intention to start saying yes to what sparks your heart and say no to things that don’t. Your heart song doesn’t age.

My daughter visited and as we sat chatting she laughed at every daily occurrence conveyed. The things that naturally occur seem normal to me, but I could easily write fiction because most are unbelievable.

It’s a well kept secret…life is designed to be fun.

All Is Calm

I walked into my local bakery to take a break. When working from home you need to take breaks outside of the home. It does wonders for your sanity and the people around you will be thankful.

While waiting for my drink, I perused the shelves of merchandise. My eyes fell onto this coffee mug and it was love at first sight. My mantra from this year is written on it in gold lettering which read, “All is Calm.” The barista who has become my friend said, “Oh yeeeesssss. That’s our holiday collection.” I sat it on the counter, paid for it along with my drink and became the happy owner of yet another coffee mug!

I made a cup of coffee for it and sat it on my desk. My daughter was sitting across the room at the kitchen table, and commented on the cup. She knew it was Christmas, which I thought was odd, but didn’t question it. Sitting at my desk the cup read, ‘All is Calm’, but I failed to look at the other side, and that was the side facing my daughter. Turning the cup around the other side read, “All is Bright.”

I thought it was funny how I originally noticed the one side and became focused on it, but from across the room where my daughter was seated, she saw the other side and realized it’s true meaning. In our daily lives and with coffee mugs, it pays to look at both sides.