From a children’s EP by Ellie Holcomb…
To The Wild Sky
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 of my favourite episodes 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.”
…and a song to hope with.
The Wood Between The Worlds
We’re in that week between Christmas and New Year, when everything seems to stop (or at least slow down…) We’ve had the glitz and bustle of Christmas, and are drifting into a fresh year. It’s a time to rest and to take stock of what’s past before travelling on.
If you’ve read the Narnia books, especially “The Magician’s Nephew”, you may think of the Wood Between The Worlds, a place where you land while using the magic rings – a peaceful, drowsy but “rich” place, a stopping place between worlds.
We’ve been reading, catching up on things, mostly resting so far this week (also eating far too much chocolate!). It’s been lovely cool weather, so it’s easy to dream… Soon enough it will be back to the daily round. At the moment –
But what about next year?
and
😀
This Is The Story
Here is the story, from the beginning…
I haven’t seen the full clip of this – you have to buy it from the Skit Guys – but this is the Christmas story up until the manger 🙂
Peace On Earth
A memory, from another Christmas…
A turbulent time – but peace was still possible.
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
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
Tree’s Up!
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.
Peppermint Ponderings
It’s been SO HOT lately, hasn’t it? I find it hard to get into the Christmas spirit sometimes when I’m melting into the ground and the air is shimmering heat waves.
So this week I’ve had a bit of a peppermint overload!
I also enjoy gingerbread, but peppermint has that “cool” feeling about it as well. I’ve indulged myself with a white chocolate peppermint chiller while out shopping, and shared various peppermint (and chocolate!) permutations with friends. Christmas flavours are galloping in to December – yay!
The tree’s not up yet, but I have other decorations up. Most of the big tasks are done. I’ve been re-reading the gospel of Luke (there are 24 chapters, which fits into the advent period), and I’ve downloaded a new Christmas album.
Time to settle in with a cuppa and listen to it!
Hope you can have a quiet bubble of peace, with a snack/drink of your choice, and a chance to reflect in the stillness on what’s important in this glitzy, busy season!
❤
Tinselly Curtains, A Cactus, And A Fantasy Bake…
On the way to church yesterday we were driving behind a caravan – one of the old round metal ones. Didn’t think too much about it, until I looked in the back window. Across the side window was some sort of curtain, with long bits of tinsel interspersed with cloth. On the other side was… the top of a large cactus! I can imagine the owners getting to where they’re going, then setting up their home with tinsel and a cactus…
Got me thinking about home. We’ve been where we are for seven years now, and I’m still pleased to be here – I still remember how overwhelmed I felt when we first moved in, and all this space was ours! Over the years, though, that’s faded a little bit… this place is quite small in comparison to others, and I feel I can’t stretch out enough for some things. Obviously it’s huge compared to what others have access to, and I need to remember the feeling of walking in here for the first time…
Wherever we live can be home.
I share this place with a beautiful family, and we have all the amenities we could need or want. We have enough food, we’re close to most places we need to go, and over the years I’ve added decoration (and lots of books!)
Christmas is just around the corner, so I’ve started putting some bits and pieces up.
Mini gnomes!
(And fancy houses 🙂 )
Some of my decorations are up all year round…
I have quiet spaces to read and reflect – this morning was lovely and cool after the rain last night.
I rounded off lunchtime with a book on Fairytale Baking and a “Fantasy” ice-cream 😀
Houses tend to be static.
Homes can be quite portable.
Even if it means carting round tinsel and a very large cactus!
Frangipanis And Chocolate Cake
…well, chocolate cheesecake, anyway 🙂
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…
