Christmas time. Remember when the anticipation, the fun for Christmas morning was almost overpowering? I think of...

Laughter, hugs, unexpected company, wrappings, bows on heads, fresh smelling Christmas trees.

Remembering loved ones lost, tears, sweet memories, photographs from long ago.

Lovingkindness, cinnamon, smells from the oven, Russian tea made Christmas Eve, toys, Christmas cards, phone calls from far away.

Peace, prayer, meditation, rites, all to send love to our fellow man.

Long warm hugs, Christmas films you always cry over again and again, eggnog with bourbon, making pastries from grandmother's recipes.

Christmas wreaths on the doors, and snowmen in a globe that light up, but don't seem to work as it should! Dreading the clean-up after Christmas!

Tears, loneliness, memories of love lost, what might have beens circling in the air.

Presents piled for each friend and family member, all wrapped and ribboned. The crumpled paper and ribbon afterwards. The fun and laughter from surprise presents you didn't expect.

The get togethers with friends, the warmth of a roaring fire, the memories of pets present and past who were there to share.

Hopes of snow, snowmen, snow fights, throwing an unexpected snowball at your sibling.

Friends, loves, family, church services, the reason for the season, baby Jesus.

Church nativity services that make you laugh, poetry and prose only read once a year, making it more precious.

Relatives and friends that may not be here next year - to enjoy every day and feel blessed to be here to live it.

Christmas movies, vampire stories, reading independent authors' books, time for me, you and all to do what we want, after we do what we must.

The unexpected. The anticipation, the disappointment, the triumph, the love.

All this and more make parts of Christmas.

Saying Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to strangers who smile, and spread the warmth of the season to other strangers, the caution, the reserve, the shyness that blossoms into the spirit of Christmastime.

The blessing to be alive, to be with others, the anticipation of loved ones coming to share Christmas, the sadness when they leave.

The memories of Christmases, past, present and future, with many memories, and memories to come.

New beginnings, endings, openings and closings, all on our journey of life. It all goes hand in hand.

Christmas thoughts and words that live in our hearts.

ellen george