A Letter To Santa

Dear Santa,

My parents told me I had to write you a letter about what a good girl I have been this year. My brother told me I had to write a list of all the things I want you to bring me for Christmas. He said make it long to make sure I get a bunch of toys and not just a dumb old dolly. I'm not sure where he gets the idea I even want a dolly. I've been looking at this really cool science lab kit where you can make slimy creatures and even a volcano. Some of my classmates tell me to list one big thing and several small things, that way I would be sure to get the big thing. Some of my other classmates tell me you aren't real and the list is for my parents so they don't have to put much thought into what to get me. There was this commercial on TV about kids in other parts of the world that don't get anything for Christmas, they don't even have enough to eat and the most precious gift you can get is helping out someone in need. My best friend's family celebrates a different holiday and you don't stop at their house. I would like you to. My friend is really nice and she is my best friend. The man at church says we are celebrating our savior Jesus Christ's birthday. So why don't we have birthday cake with a gazillion birthday candles on it, since Jesus was born so long ago? I would like that. A big cake for the whole world to share with so many candles on it all the bad people would look at the bright light and stop being bad and everyone would sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles and be kind to each other.

Love,
Elizabeth





Merry Christmas from Sherry Lynne

Two In The Morning

It happened again last night!

I woke up at two in the morning.

The room was dark. The dogs were asleep. The house was still.

I lay quiet, waiting to drift back into the soft embrace of sleep when the whisper of a sound slipped through the air and tickled my ear. I froze. There was nothing to be heard. I relaxed and rolled onto my side.

I felt the light kiss of breath in my face. My eyes flew open.

My mouth opened to scream until I recognized my daughter hugging her teddy bear waiting to be lifted up.

Finding your way

Wow! It has been more than a month since I found (took) time to write. For something I want to do, I seem to find all kinds of reasons not to. What’s up with that?

Then someone posted a quote on Facebook that said ‘You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need’ by Jerry Gillis and it got me thinking about the choices I have made over the course of my life. I have hesitated to pursue the things I want to do for fear of being called out as a fake, because developing practical skills and making money was emphasized in my family, and fear of being laughed at. Not that I am opposed to making money but as long as I can pay the bills shouldn’t ‘t I be doing something that energizes me, that inspires me and brings a calmness to my life that didn’t exist in all the other things I have done in my life? Shouldn’t I let go of the fear and insecurity I have let control my life and live free?

I just don’t believe life should be an endless list of chores or controlled by fear. That the work each of us does should be meaningful to each of us and bring a sense of well-being to our lives. That the fear can and should be let go until it no longer dictates the choices we make or not make and that the best choice is foraging ahead despite the fear.

So, no more hiding behind the chore list and filling my days with the perpetual activities of day to day life which ground me, miring me in the repetition of endless routine and holds me hostage to my personal fears.

Its time to soar!

Remedy

Achoo!

She made a quick grab for a tissue. The cold virus that had invaded her home, reducing her husband and children to irritable, aching puddles of stuffy heads, had finally broken down her defenses.

Achoo!

This can’t be! I have too many things to do! Her thoughts swirled, losing coherence as her body prepared to fight the invisible invaders. A slow creep of fatigue and filling sinuses sent her shuffling to the medicine cabinet. If only it was so simple. She closed the cabinet and made her way back to bed knowing sleep was the best remedy of all.

Backyard Sighting

Up above, the spreading reaching limbs of a hundred year old Oak tree created a rugged edge to the spot of blue sky visible to the children standing in the backyard. The older boy stood with his arms crossed, his feet firmly planted as he waited to see where his younger sister would go. He had planned on spending the day advancing his video game character, not babysitting, and certainly not hanging out in the yard.

“David. Look!”

He turned in the direction Elizabeth was pointing and caught sight of a quick flash of silver. It couldn’t be, could it?

For A Second

She stood in the hallway, her body numb with fatigue and closed her eyes. Around her flowed the sounds of her colleagues as they made their way between one hospital room and another, dispensing care and making reports.

When asked to work a double shift she said yes. The extra money would help in a budget that seldom stretched far enough for her and her five children.

“Sarah?”

“Got it. Just needed to close my eyes for a second.” She said renewed energy flowing within. She acknowledged the flashing light of one of her patients and headed toward the room.

First Snowfall

New fallen snow covered the back yard. Two toddlers stared out at the winter wonderland. Daddy helped first one then the other into snow-pants and boots. Next came winter coats, hats and mittens. Ready at last, bundled up against the cold, they push against the door eager to explore the novel groundcover.

Frigid air greeted them as they stepped outside. Cautious at first they squatted down to brush at the white fluff. A snowy mitten was raised for closer examination. A curious tongue touched it. Eyes opened wide at the cool freshness and a smile lit up the tiny face.