Here’s a song that’s been going round Facebook (and presumably other social media?), and for good reason…
It’s a beautiful song, with a heartbreaking backstory, and touches the spirit as well as the tear ducts. I am old enough to be looking from both sides of the generational circle, and pondering the cycles of life… I could try to wax eloquent here, but I don’t think the song needs my commentary. We’ll all hear with our own histories.
For some reason that song reminds me of this song – even though it’s completely different, and joyful as well! If you need cheering up, have a listen, and enjoy the cheeky cameo 😀
Live life forwards,
mindfully,
cheekily 😉
and with joy and camaraderie!
❤
It’s a new day, new year, and the dawn of the new ’20s.
Will we be dancing the “new” Charleston whilst quaffing champagne? I don’t think I’ll go with the champagne, but dancing seems the thing to do…
We saw in the new year by drinking Grapetise with the boys, and pulling Christmas crackers that I’d bought cheap from the post Christmas sales. We toasted to new experiences, then went to bed. Such excitement!
I don’t do New Year Resolutions, but it’s still a good time to think about what this year can bring. To say goodbye to the dying year, and look ahead to the dawning light.
My Aunt sent me a card, which references Tennyson’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells” – here’s the full text.
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Seems like a call to wipe out the old year entirely… I’m sure some of us feel like doing that!
Yesterday I binged on some ofmy favouriteepisodes of Doctor Who. Looking back, it seems like they all talked about feeling lost in this world, unnoticed and unappreciated by others, and feeling like you have nothing to give. Happily, each ended with the respective characters finding their worth in one way or another. This is one of my favourite scenes!
If there is anything I want for this year, it’s that we all find where we’re meant to be – our place in the world, our worth, and the people who love and need us.
Let us arise and soar into the wild sky!
A quote from Vincent – “Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all.”
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men
And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells they’re ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we’ll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they’re ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men
Finally got the tree up!
We’re a bit behind with decorating this year, but it’s looking cheery now 🙂
Even Fred got in on the celebrations…
Someone asked about family Christmas traditions the other day – we thought we didn’t really have any. On reflection, there are things we do every year, even now the boys are so much older.
We always put the tree up together. The boys put the lights on the tree, then I put the angel on the top. I do the breakable decorations, then they do the rest.
Christmas Eve we have a family lunch, and we go to the Christmas Eve service in the evening. Christmas Day morning the boys bring the stockings in to our room, then we all sit on the bed to open the stocking presents. We then have a special Christmas breakfast – this year we’re planning to have chocolate marbled brioche…
Everything else is decided on depending on how we feel. Even if we do different things later in the day I still feel happy if we’ve had our breakfast and stockings!
Another thing I like to do in the Advent season is listen to some new Christmas songs. I try to, at least once, sit with my cup of coffee and listen without any other distractions. Today was that day 🙂
I was blessed with a cloud heart as I listened.
…and I enjoyed some new songs.
Here’s one for anyone feeling frazzled by the Christmas rush.
Two sweet blessings from my morning!
Yesterday a lovely friend dropped off a frangipani branch, which I planted in the back yard. It was a bit top heavy, so I broke one bit off and planted that as well…
My Babe had to go for a meeting this morning, and came home with some chocolate cheesecake for me ❤
My garden has been growing (mostly)! There’s been some losses – something ate all my original sunflower seedlings as soon as they came up – but I’ve planted some more.
Hello, little babies! 😀
The melons and cucumbers are flowering too; we’ll see what actually becomes fruit soon…
…and I have my legless flamingo (salvaged from kerbside pickup) to watch over things!
Here’s the song this post’s title makes me think of…
Thursday we went to a school workshop – art, drama and music – fun! The music component involved each age group of kids learning “How Great Is Our God”, either singing or percussion (Sweet Bean did some nice work on a drum box, or cajón ), then coming together at the end for a big, glorious finale.
Before the lesson, they played this clip.
Some days are power days – nothing is too hard, you feel invincible and as if you can knock out your entire to do list, and start on next year’s…
Yesterday was one of those days.
Consequently today is decidedly less “power” and more “endure”. Yesterday’s invincibility led me to do a bit more strenuous activity than I’m used to, and today’s me is just ouch… with swinging moods to complete that special feeling.
(Sample conversation for today –
Random family member – “Do you want coffee or tea?”
Me – “DON’T MAKE ME HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION!!!”
*copious sobbing ensues*)
I can do some things to cheer myself up, but it all seems a bit like this.
Thankfully I have some low energy things on my list, and a sandalwood and rose incense stick.
Also – writing a Christmas list 😀
a bit of creativity, a bit of eco consciousness, a bit of inspiration.... hopefully not a lot of pompousness and blathering :D
i'm not entirely sure what's going on here... let's travel along and see...
