By Elke Houghton
Once in a while I just have to let my thoughts go and write what’s on my mind just this moment. I want to forget about rejuvenating myself and you and instead let my mind go where ever it wants to go. And that makes me feel so great.
When that happens, my daughter looks at me and says ‘Mom you are looking so much younger than usually. You are my beautiful Mom!’
What does that tell me and you? It’s rejuvenating to let the thought of it go and just enjoy life and what’s in your heart.
It’s Christmas time again. Oh, how I love this time of year. One home after another slowly realizes that Christmas is around the corner and they start setting up their Christmas lights.
I love to have my whole family in the car and drive around just to see and enjoy the different but lovely Christmas decorations. It’s one of our traditions and we have many.
We have our house decorated since about a week after Thanksgiving. It blows my mind when I drive into our driveway and see all the beauty of Christmas. And the great thing is that our neighbors started decorating their homes soon after we started. What wonderful neighbors we have. I love them all.
At Christmas time my mind also travels back to my little home town in Sweden. We lived in a modest little apartment. But it was my home with my mother (my father died in World War II), my safe haven.
We always had a fresh Christmas tree with real candles. I can still smell the woodsy tree and feel the warmth of the candles. It was the best times of my childhood life.
At the center of our little town there was a big Christmas tree decorated with candles of different colors. The whole town would meet there the night before Christmas Eve. We children would dance around the tree and sing Christmas carols. The grocery store had a Santa give each child a big bag of candy. Everybody was happy children and adults.
What wonderful memories.
I wish you a wonderful, joyful and peaceful Christmas with those you love.
Elke Houghton at Juvele
