Christmas Music

“… Ohhho tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy…”  The Christmas music played on the radio as she wrapped her first couple of presents.  She wrapped and labeled as she went so, she would not forget any gifts.  She marked off the names from her list of who to buy for and looked at who was left.  It was a little over two weeks until Christmas and she didn’t want to be shopping at the last minute, not with the virus still rampant.

She silently wondered who was going to like their gift best.  Hoped everyone would be happy on that special day and then sighed.  This would mark the second holiday without her dad and the tenth without her mom.  She missed them both so much.  But they were still a part of her holiday.

For her Dad she would listen to a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Christmas CD and her mom’s tribute would leave her with tears every time, from the Oak Ridge Boys first Christmas album it was the song of theirs that she loved the bast, “Thank God For Kids.”  Mom’s favorite member, William Lee, sang this one.  And as a special tribute had added a lyric to the end by thanking God for grandkids too.  She cried because she missed her mother so and she had a beautiful daughter that made her so proud every day.

She wiped the tears and turned off the stereo.  This ends another day of shopping and wrapping.  Now it was time to think about dinner.

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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – comfort

Slow Dance

I don’t want to twist and shout

Or do the hustle

No tango or a waltz either

All I want is to sway in your arms

Letting our bodies move to the music

Slow and easy

Your breath on my neck

My head rested on your chest

Feeling it rise and fall

This is where I feel most at home

With you in the moment

The world melting away

As we dance in the moonlight

 

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – hustle

Your Voice

I woke today much the same
As I do most every day
But deep inside my heart
I knew something was astray
I always think of you
But this was more like fear
A nagging premonition
Of danger that was near
I gave you a phone call
Just to hear your voice
And set my mind at ease
I had no other choice
Nothing was wrong
But I had to make sure
Your comforting voice
Was the only cure
So now I feel better
But still I wonder why
My day could be so disturbed
That it almost made me cry

A Friend Indeed

Your words become lost in my ears

It’s a soothing sound that drowns the pain

I focus on your eyes to read their sincerity

I study your hands as they aid in your message

It all adds up to make me feel more at ease

It is not what you are saying as much as how

With emotion hidden behind the words

Implied love and support showing through

Your friendship means the world to me

I’d be lost without your encouragement

It Is Not Your Fault

Tonight there is something

Heavy on my mind

A friend with a particular problem

And answers I can’t find

He blames himself

For his brother’s death

But there is no way

He’s the reason for his last breath

I tried to comfort him

With a few kind words

But it didn’t seem to matter

It’s as though I wasn’t heard

All I can do is lend an ear

And try to mend his heart

At least he has happy memories

And that’s a good place to start

Happy and Grateful – Day 303 and 304

The month of October is upon us.  Fall is in full swing with the leaves gathering on the lawn… maybe a pile or two to run through even.  The evenings are getting dark earlier as the days grow shorter.  And a few of us look forward to a good scare with Halloween coming this month.  Everyday has at least some small portion of good in it.  I am looking for that good with this challenge to find my happiness and gratitude every day.  Join in with the challenge by commenting or writing your own blog… let’s find some goodness today.

Monday was an ok day… it was a little difficult as it would have been Mom’s birthday but I stayed pretty busy so I didn’t dwell on it as much.  We went to the store and restocked the cupboards and refrigerator.  I was happy to get some more fruit to snack on, much better than the left over Halloween candy.

Then after the store we had a creative time in the craft room.  My boyfriend finished mounting a peg board for me to organize some of my supplies on.  I was grateful he did that for me.

Today was all about comfort.  I started some old-fashioned comfort food simmering on the stove around 2pm when I had all the veggies cut up for the homemade chicken noodle soup.  I was grateful to have something that would wait while I helped my Dad out with trick or treaters at his house tonight.  It was Dad’s comfort of not getting up to answer the door whenever the kids came looking for goodies.  We only had 23 kids and 4 sorority sisters looking for canned goods donations.  But I was happy to help Dad out and see the cute costumes.  I would have to give the best costume to the mother daughter combination of spider (daughter) and spider web (mom).   It was a pretty good way to end the month.

Now I sit with some music playing softly and hope for sleep soon.  Sorry the fatigue got the best of me last night, but I am winning so far tonight.  Remember to find your happiness and feel your gratitude.  Have a wonderful night/day!

Happy and Grateful – Day 275

The month of October is upon us.  Fall is in full swing with the leaves gathering on the lawn… maybe a pile or two to run through even.  The evenings are getting dark earlier as the days grow shorter.  And a few of us look forward to a good scare with Halloween coming this month.  Everyday has at least some small portion of good in it.  I am looking for that good with this challenge to find my happiness and gratitude every day.  Join in with the challenge by commenting or writing your own blog… let’s find some goodness today.

I spent some time trying to comfort a friend today.  Her son lost his battle with cancer.  There is not much to do other than offer a shoulder to cry on and arms to hold onto each other.  We shared a lunch at a local park trying to continue with some sort of normalcy.  My heart breaks for her,  but I was happy to be there for her in any small way possible.

My Dad has had no change in his leg.  The swelling has not gone down, nor has the pain.  He had to do a blood draw and the ladies at the lab were concerned about him.  They arranged for an appointment with the doctor for Tuesday.  I am grateful that they look out for him.

Once again the fatigue got me last night but this is not as late as the last two days were.  I think I may be headed back to on track.  Now to read a few posts before I have to take my Dad to his appointment.  Remember to find your happiness and feel your gratitude.  Have a good night/day!

Happy and Grateful – Day 86

As March begins I continue with my goal to find happiness and gratitude every day.  There is at least some small thing that can bring a smile and give you a moment to be grateful for.  Please join me in looking for the good moments of the day … it would be great if you would share them in the comments or on your own blog.  Be aware of the little wonders of the day!

Today was a comfort day.  I started a batch of my homemade chicken noodle soup around noon and let it simmer all day.  The apartment smelled so good.  Fresh carrots, celery and onions in a rich chicken broth with nice thick home style noodles.  My daughter came over when I told her we were making it for dinner (one of her favorites).  And as usual I made enough extra to give some to her to take home, have some for my Dad and still enough for us to have another meal of it.  Yummy!

As usual it is always good to see my daughter and we did some more catching up on the soap with the DVR.  We are within 9 episodes now.  Of course that will go to 10 tomorrow but still…  So todays happiness came from some good comfort food and I was grateful my daughter had the time off to come over and share it with us.

Let Me Hold You

Retreat into the comfort of my arms

Let their warmth melt away your pain

Let them bring you the safety you need

Let them become your home

I will not allow this world to destroy you

Because I cannot live without you…

100 Days of Happiness

Another night got away from me.  Fatigue and insomnia… it is a coin flip on which will happen.  Last night it was fatigue and who knows what tonight will have in store.  So once again here is yesterday’s and today’s post for my happiness days in one blog…

Day 67 – There are times you just have to cave in to cravings, even if they are for food that is not good for you.  My daughter called last week and was sharing a craving.  She said she had been wanting pigs in a blanket for a while now and I should invite her over for dinner and have that… no, she is not subtle at times.  So tonight was pigs in a blanket with cheese inside all ooey-gooey and melty.  It is one of those foods that is far from gourmet, but sometime you just have to do it for the good of comfort foods!  And because your daughter asked nicely.

Day 68 – This may seem strange but my happiness today came from a sweatshirt.  In the fall when the crisp is in the air but I am too stubborn to turn on the furnace yet there is nothing like the feeling of a warm soft fuzzy sweatshirt to keep the chill off.  My boyfriend bought me one for my birthday last month and it was just the thing to wear most of the day to stay comfy and cozy in.