A warm breeze.

It seems the season of life I find myself in is dry, sad, and frustrating.

Even writing or celebrating anything feels empty and strained.

I know there are times in life that will simply be gray. But I love the few rays of light that bring warmth into the seemingly overwhelming and deep darkness. I have a hope that is greater than any darkness I find myself in. I hope you do too. And, my sweet but quiet confession, is that lately the light has been small but present, bursting forth in the simple things.

Today I found light. Or maybe it found me. I walked outside and found myself enveloped by a warm breeze. I took time to sit and quietly welcomed the warmth in. The soft rays of sunlight were even strong enough to reach in and warm my heart. It was as if the sun had compassion on me.

My hair gently brushed against my face. My eyes closed themselves. My shoes were disguarded. My hands lay loose in my lap. I didn't even know someone was taking a picture of me in such a beautiful moment.

Here's to the other "warm breezes" I graciously encountered the past few weeks... a sweet acoustic serenade of "Stand By Me", truly enjoying each sip of hot chocolate, reading words I needed for that particular moment while bundled up in a soft blanket on the floor of my laundry room, accepting failure then taking a step to move on.

Let's celebrate the kind warm breezes. Simple, temporary, and so gentle.

Our "Family Thing"

It's December 22, and Christmas is ever before me. Christmas is the only time of year my parents, siblings, and I get together anymore... Our family feels so mature and grown since none of us live at home. I having older siblings whose lives have been in full swing for years (that means they're big kids, with real jobs and rent to pay). We grew up about as fast as it takes my dad to assemble our phony Christmas tree (i mourn the year we reverted to a fake tree... and still hold some bitterness in my heart when I can't smell the fresh pine). With one in The Netherlands, another in New York, myself in California, and our parents in Texas, we just don't get to "bump into each other" all that often.

I love "family things".. It seems like every family has its own quirks and quibbles, but I love seeing a family have that one thing that is unique to them. The thing that sets them apart. Ours is cookie decorating.

We keep a few holiday traditions, but the one that stands out to me the most is our annual Christmas cookie decorating extravaganza, which could more appropriately be named "I can 'decorate' at least 20 cookies in globs of icing and eat them ALL without barfing before the night is over" extravaganza. My brother has probably never decorated as many cookies as he has eaten... but, between you and me, I'm pretty sure I come in a close second to him. And since Christmas is so wisely and strategically celebrated right before everyone's new years "no sugar" resolution begins, I have no remorse for the amount of sugar I intake.

I call it a homemade heartattack. I'm not a chef or baker. I don't know a food recipe from a grocery receipt, but I appreciate my mom's homemade brilliance when it comes to this tradition. Homemade red and green icing. Homemade cookies. Way too much butter and powdered sugar. We would be at a loss if one year she decided not to make them.

So here's to my families cookie craze. Even though the red icing looks pink. Even though I've never figured out why our Christmas cookie cutouts include a sheep, a plane, and a windmill. Even though my sister wins "most creative cookie" every year... I can't help but celebrate our "family thing" and those deliciously deadly sugar packed treats.

What's your "family thing"? And don't you think it's about time to celebrate it?