Greetings from snowy Colorado!  We’re here with Peter’s sister and her husband, who also have four children.  They live on a gorgeous 20 acre farm with horses, chickens, rabbits, cats and dogs.  The kids are having a blast and Peter and I are soaking up all of the goodness.  It’s going to be hard to leave!

This time with family and close friends is so precious.  We’re able to relax and enjoy togetherness. I didn’t realize how much our family needed this reprieve.   It’s been a gentle reminder to truly feel the joy in the moment.  Not to worry so much about future goals, deadlines and silly things that in the big scheme of things really mean nothing…but the value of togetherness and living for NOW.

As the new year approaches, I have these two words in mind.

Peter’s family amazes me with their perpetual expression of love and kindness.  Just the way they interact day to day with each other is a true inspiration.  I’m so grateful for them and couldn’t have asked to marry into a more loving family.  Next door to their farm lives a lovely lady who is a sheep farmer.  She is 85 and full of life.  Her name is Miss Nancy.  Miss Nancy’s husband is temporarily in a nursing home recovering from an injury, so she has been alone as of late.  Every morning, Peter’s sister , Mary Ann, wakes up early to help feed Miss Nancy’s sheep.  After dinner, Mary Ann walks down the snowy hill to put her sheep back in the barn for the night.

Last night, on Christmas Eve, we packed up part of our crew and a guitar then headed over to do some caroling for Miss Nancy. When we arrived she had just returned from visiting her husband in the nursing home.  She quickly made a fire and nestled in her afghan-covered chair listening to our songs.  Her face was filled with pure joy and the flicker of the fire gave her smiling eyes a sparkle.  Her expression was so sweet that I could barely sing the first song…I was too choked up!  Miss Nancy said it was the best Christmas Eve she can remember.  I share this story because it was a reminder to me of how good it it is to share joy and simply live IN THE MOMENT.

This is the true spirit of Christmas.

As a new year approaches, I hope to express more love  and simply live in the moment.

Warm holiday wishes from our family to yours.  Be back soon with some pics from our visits.

[illustration by artist katie daisy]