The Christmas Spirit

So my idea of "capturing the season" didn't really pan out - We've been too busy

• dancing
• singing
• driving
• shoveling
• wrapping
• sewing
• creating
• sneaking
• scheduling
• baking
• snuggling
• drinking cocoa
• looking at lights

The kids have been busy making homemade gifts and I've loved it  - it's given them a differnt focus this year.
 Have a wonderful Christmas!

The Christmas Spirit

Gleaming

The primary children were the inspiration behind today's post.  Isn't Gleaming a great word?

carol of the bells

christmas trees

Nothing quite like those first nights after the tree is up.

unplanned moments

bright

As I have been slowing putting up my Christmas decorations - little by little (and being okay with it) instead of making a huge mess and staying up too late or too early to get it done, I've been thinking about the meaning behind them - specifically the lights. Light remind me of hope. They're bright, cheery, and just make everything look a little more festive. The first night I get my tree up I have this urge to just make a cup of hot chocolate, grab a blanket, and stay there all night. It just make you feel good.

Day 30... and a new challenge

30 days of gratitude.

Although there are so many things to be grateful for it is hard to make yourself sit down every night and express them. And to be something new each day.

Today I an grateful simply for the fact that I did this. I has prepared me for the holidays in a way that I hope helps me as we try to change our perspective of and approach of this season.

Somehow I want to continue that momentum so I have given myself a new challenge. Over the course of the year as I have learned a little (a very little) about photography I have noticed that seeing things through the camera often makes me look at them differently. When I combine that with the little bit I have learned about photo shop and my continued fascination with word art, I am finding that I can take something ordinary and make it special.

My challenge for this Christmas season is to capture the season... through photos, textures, word art, etc. Something that I see each day that maybe I can see again through a new perspective.

Capturing the season, and finding the beauty each day. Here's to December.