It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” – Charles Dickens, from A Tale of Two Cities.

This quote hasn’t meant a lot to me until this year.

This Christmas has been ‘the worst of times’  because three of my close friends have lost their husbands this year.  I just found out about two of them this week, from Christmas cards.  My heart breaks for them.  I admire them for the grace and courage they’re showing in trying to “keep on keepin’ on.” I can only imagine what they’re going through, and will do what I can to be there for them.

One of my very best long time friends is ill now and is having a very hard time.  I’m trying to send her my love and strength in every way I can think of.

One of my artists – (a wonderful friend, as well)  from my website, Creative Artworks, died recently.  We’ll miss her love of life, her humor, her talent, and the special light that emanated from her.

“It was the best of times”  because our son is home for about a month, getting ready to go to Shanghai for as long as he can get them to extend his visa. He was in Chengdu about 2 years ago and loved it. He wants to be fluent in Mandarin, and living there is the best way to do it.  He also simply loves the culture and the people.

What I’m learning from this holiday season is to be especially thankful for everything  I have and learn to “LIVE IN THE ‘NOW.’”

I’m so proud of our son. He’s a man I admire for his goals, his courage, and his determination. He’s loving, sensitive to others, and makes my stomach hurt from laughing at his humor. One of his goals while he’s home this time is to fill up my ‘hug bucket’ so it’ll keep me until he returns.  :0)

I fell in love when I was 14. I’ve loved this one man for 51 years now – and we’ll celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary in June.  We have SUCH a wonderful life together, our love growing stronger each year. We don’t even use the same SALT, so our life together is anything but boring!

One of my long time favorite quotes is from Winnie the Pooh -

“if you live to be a hundred, i want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so i never have to live without you.”

I found this picture in an email sent to me recently, and I see my husband and I when I look at it. (Can you see ‘me’ on right?)

I hope that you, too, can make the BEST of  ”the worst of times” this Christmas.  There are things we can’t change. We have to learn to live with our losses and try to comfort the people we care about.

But most of all, REALIZE how very much we all still have.

LIVE IN THE NOW. Hold your friends and family close to you. Reach out and give them a huge HUG – literally or figuratively.

NOW is all we really have.  One of my New Year’s Resolutions this coming year is to make each day I have count – to glory in the good things and deal with the bad things the best I can – one day at a time.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the best new year ever!