Privet and Holly

{Monday} Moments: Tag Team

2012-01-29T22:20:00.000-06:00

Recently I was tagged by

Tiffini, author of the blog

The House of Belonging,

to answer a series of

questions about myself.

Normally, I would shy

away from a proposition

like that.

But here's the thing. Tiff

is kind and friendly. She

shares her hopes and fears

in the most unselfconscious

and generous way.

And it's good to share.

So here it goes.

The first part of the tag

is to list 11 fun facts

about myself.

1. The Genius app on my i-pod

{suggests music based on
what it perceives as your taste}
is very confused, as my music

collection ranges from Billy

Holiday to Lady Antebellum,

Green Day to Mercy Me.

2. Since high school, I have

been five feet, ten inches tall.

Until last year, when I began

measuring in at a quarter inch

taller. {Pilates? Yoga? Hmm....}

3. I get tears in my eyes when

I sing hymns at church or the

National Anthem at ball games.

{Am I alone here?}

4. I cannot talk on the phone

with a friend for less than half an

hour, unless we are making plans

to meet. Not possible. My mom

or my out of town friends know

this and will schedule a phone

date with me on the calendar.

5. I am half city mouse and

half country mouse.....the energy

of both places appeals to my spirit.

6. I love to dance.

Weddings, fundraisers, black
tie events.....If there is a dance
floor, I'm there.

7. I do not like roller coasters.

The last time I rode one was nearly

ten years ago in Las Vegas.

It was the type that goes upside

down and it was on top of a

hotel. I was humoring my hubby

on his birthday. Never again.

Never.

{Sorry, honey!}

8. I fall asleep and wake to

the sound of the ocean or a

thunderstorm every night,

thanks to my sound machine

alarm clock.

9. I am a sucker for actors with

English, Irish or Scottish
accents!

10. I adore nice soap. I find

beautiful Italian olive oil and

lavender bars at Homegoods and

TJ Maxx. My little indulgence.

Still with me?

The second part of the tag

included questions created by

Tiffini. I'll keep these brief....

Are you a hugger? Oh, yeah : )

What is your favorite color?

Blue ~ any type ~ sky blue,

sea glass blue, cobalt....

Dream vacation? Rent a little

cottage in Scotland for a month.

Read, drink wine, take long

walks. Heaven.

What do you want to be when

you grow up? I always wanted

to be a stay at home mom, so I'm

already in a happy place. I also

wanted to be a writer and my

blog allows me to pretend.

Favorite indoor and outdoor activity?

Indoor: cuddling with my family

and watching movies. Outdoor:

walking or biking.

If you could change your name,

what would it be? Mae, an

old-fashioned family name.

When you eat out, do you usually

order dessert? Not as often as I

want to {which is nearly always!}

What is your favorite day of

the week? Friday.

What was your favorite food as

a child? Pancakes.

What is something you learned

in the last week? Things to do

while visiting Vancouver, BC.

Gorgeous Vancouver

Do you have a nickname?

I have the usual suspects

from childhood ~ Suzy and Sue,

as well as Tuti. My teenagers

still call me Mommy, which

I love.

So there you have it.

My tag-team confessional.

My daughter visiting a school in Vancouver.

I am supposed to tag more

people to keep this game going,

but it's late Sunday night and
I've only been home a few hours
since Friday, when I left to visit
colleges with my daughter.
I'll start catching up with all
of you in the morning : )

Thank you, Tiff, for encouraging

me to share a bit more of myself.

And thanks to all of YOU, for

listening and for participating in

Monday Moments over the last

three months. I've enjoyed our

chats at the water cooler and

hope you will leave a comment

or link up a post to this one,
sometime this week.

This will be the last in this series,

but I'm looking forward to sharing

other moments, on other days,

with you.....

Have a wonderful week!

Suzanne

PS: Also, a HUGE
thank you for all the
very, very supportive words
regarding my new venture.
Made my homecoming
that much sweeter!
There is still time
to enter the giveaway,
here.

Lift Off and a Giveaway

2012-01-26T22:30:00.000-06:00

Without leaps of

imagination, or dreaming,

we lose the excitement

of possibilities. Dreaming,

after all, is a form of planning.

~ Gloria Steinem

Via

On the first Friday

of January I joined my

friend Lisa in a monthly

challenge that she kicked

off that day, called

Before & After.

The idea was to publicly

write about a project idea

{Before} and then on the

last Friday of the month,

reveal the progress that

had been made {After}.

In other words, move
the ball forward by

making ourselves

accountable

to our readers.

It worked.

My mom and I have been

talking about marketing

a product we devised for

the last several years.

Talked about a sturdy design.

Talked about a name.

Talked about price.

Talked about craft fairs.

Talked about an Etsy shop.

Basically, a lot of talk.

Oh, we'd had moments

of fired-up inspiration.

Mom scoured the markets

for the highest quality

components and tested

quite a few. Eventually,

she placed orders and we

had what we needed to

begin creating our product.

Still, we stalled out.

Why?

Things like forming an

LLC, obtaining a Tax ID

number, creating a logo,

brainstorming a name that

hadn't been taken.....

Details. We let details

derail our plans.

In the meantime, whenever

we used our product, we

got compliments. We were

asked Where can I get one?

We were told how clever

and how organized we were.
{Loved that!}

Where all ideas start ~ a cute note book!

When I read about Lisa's

Before & After challenge,

I knew this was the year.

So, without further ado,

I introduce you to the

Card Keyper.

The idea for the Card

Keyper came about when

Mom and I got tired of

keeping track of all of the

cards in our purses. You

know the ones I mean....

library card

book store card

Anthro card

REI card

grocery store card

gas station VIP card

pet store card

etc. etc. etc.

We each had over 25 cards

like this at the time. Too many

to squeeze into a wallet and

way too many to have roaming

around the wilds of our purses.

Inspiration was born when

I saw my daughter's Latin

flashcards corralled on a

silver ring, keeping them

handy as well as easy

to switch out.

I mentioned it to Mom and

off she went to the office

store to buy loose-leaf rings

to hold our cards.

Houston, we have a problem.

A typical one-hole punch

might work on index cards,

but not on plastic ones.

Houston, we have another

problem.

The rings available at the

office supply store aren't

meant to be opened and

closed on a regular basis.

They are thin and lose

their ability to stay closed

fairly quickly.

This is where our Product

Development Team {aka,

Mom} came into play. She

sourced terrific, durable

rings and the mightiest little

one-hole punch that cut those

plastic holes like butter.

She also found these sweet

lock and key charms to

give this ring some bling.

That was a year ago.

The Marketing Team {aka,

Me} went to work three

weeks ago on the logistics

end, applying for our LLC

{limited liability corp}

designation and setting up

our new Etsy shop.

Last spring I'd asked several

kind friends to test drive the

CK and their feedback helped

me to write instructions to

include with the product.

And now, we have
lift-off!

To celebrate the launch

of the Card Keyper, we are

giving away three sets to

Privet and Holly readers.
{Retail value: $9.95}

Just leave us a comment,

sharing your thoughts on

our product. That's it!
The giveaway will be open
until February 3rd.

{And if you would visit

our Etsy shop and mark

this little invention as a

favorite, we would be

oh-so-grateful.}

Out of clutter, find simplicity.

From discord, find harmony.

In the middle of difficulty

lies opportunity.

~ Albert Einstein

Suzanne

{Monday} Moments: You Just Never Know

2012-01-22T20:00:00.000-06:00

You just never know

what moments

will make up the fabric
of an ordinary day.

On Friday, as the

snow drifted down

steadily outside our

windows, I opened

an e-mail from a

complete stranger.

She had written to

ask me a favor.

Why? In her own

words, Heather wrote:

Your visitors are the

exact type of people

I am trying to reach

out to; the kind of

people who could

gain something from

my story.

And what a story.

Heather and her husband

were blessed with their

only child, Lily, in 2005.

When Lily was just

three and a half months old,

Heather was diagnosed

with a type of cancer called

malignant pleural
mesothelioma.

I'm sure you've seen

the ads on TV for people

suffering with this cancer.

They show retired miners,

construction workers or

factory laborers, because

there is a link between a

substance called asbestos,

which many products used

to be made from, and

mesothelioma.

In those ads, I've never

seen a 36 year old mom

with a newborn.

Heather and Lily, 2005

Turns out this self-

proclaimed daddy's girl

had a father who worked

in construction and brought

dust home on his clothes.

Dust mixed with asbestos.

Nobody knew then that

something as innocent as

a young girl throwing on

her dad's coat and boots to

run outside and feed her

rabbits would lead to the
word cancer being written
in her life story, later on.

And what a cancer.

Malignant pleural

mesothelioma is 90-95%

fatal. Heather's thoughts

immediately went to her

baby. I won't see

her grow up.

But her story had
a different ending.

She is one of

the 5-10%.

Her diagnosing doctor
suggested the new mom
consider consulting with a

specialist in Boston, who had

pioneered a surgery for

pleural Mesothelioma. Since

the cancer had not spread

to her lymph nodes, Heather

was a candidate for this
major surgery and chemo.

She credits that surgery,

along with faith, gratitude

and a strong will to live,

for being cancer-free,

six years later.

Would you consider placing

a link to my blog on your site

as a resource for your readers?

She had me at hello.

Read more about Heather's

journey and her campaign
to spread hope for
Mesothelioma survival,
here.

Heather and Family, today.

You just never know

what moments will

make up the fabric
of an ordinary day.

Suzanne

Share your own recent
moments, here at our
virtual water cooler, by
leaving a comment or
linking a post.

Don't be shy.....we'll make

room : )

What Don't You Love?

2012-01-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

I'm taking you to see a sunset.

I love sunsets!

.....in the pickup truck.

She pulled on her fleece

jacket with the hood.

I love pickup trucks.

He laughed.

What don't you love, Kavanagh?

Twenty-five-watt bulbs in reading

lamps.....cats that throw up on the

rug after devouring a mouse,

age spots.....

The usual, he said.

~ Father Tim Kavanagh and his

wife Cynthia, in Jan Karon's

Light from Heaven

Are you a glass half-empty person

or a glass half-full sort, like the

spirited preacher's wife, Cynthia?

In the Mitford series, Cynthia

exudes a love of life that is

infectious. She finds many

things to love, everyday, from

sunsets to ducks, pickups,
good books, cozy beds and
so much more.

Father Tim loves this about his wife,

but enjoys teasing her by asking,

What don't you love?

Without missing a beat, three

items roll off her tongue,

every

time.

I've rarely been prepared

with snappy comebacks,

so these exchanges make me

smile. Then I wonder.....

What don't I love?

Of course, the obvious things

come to mind, like war and

poverty, cruelty and illness.

{Don't we all hate those?}

But Cynthia isn't talking

about those types of issues.

She's referring to petty little

annoyances, that when

mentioned to a friend, would

garner a rapid head nod and
I know just what you mean!

Jangling alarm bells,

telemarketers at dinnertime

and the flu.....any time.

Sequels to mediocre movies,

snooty waiters, US flags made

in China......

Mean girls, picky eaters and

middle seats on airplanes.....

Hey, I'm getting

the hang of this!

A half-full girl doesn't dwell

on the negative, though. No,

like Cynthia, I believe that

life is more fully lived and

appreciated by focusing on

the abundance of things

there are to love.

Those are easy to list : )

I love {evening snowfalls}!

I love {a warm, sleepy dog}!

I love {my freshly-shaved husband}!

I love {that first sip of coffee}!

I love {a letter in the mailbox}!

I love {libraries}!

I love {the smell of fresh laundry}!

I guess I'm a lover,

not a

do-not-lover.

But, just for fun

~ play along with me ~

What don't you love?

What don't you love,

Kavanagh?

Road food, magazine ink that

comes off on my skirt, and

lovers who can't find the

courage to love.

~ Home to Holly Springs,

by Jan Karon

Suzanne

{Monday} Moments: Circles

2012-01-15T23:00:00.000-06:00

As the music

rose and swelled

and seemed to

swirl around me

like fallen leaves,

I peered down the

row of theater

seats and smiled.

Sitting next to me,

my daughter, my

friend's daughter

and my friend were

mesmerized by

the color and action

of the spectacle

unfolding before them.

Earlier in the production,

the song Circle of Life,

with it's timeless

message of beginnings

and endings, had

pricked my eyes

with tears.

But at this moment

in The Lion King,

African music lifted

my heart and made

me consider how

my own circle of life

had led me here.

The Lion King musical

made it's debut in 1997

at this very same theater,

so in a way, this touring

production was a home-

coming, of sorts.

Circles.

In 1997, my little girl

was two and Mary's

youngest daughter was

four. We lived several

states away from one another

and our circles had not

intersected since we

graduated

from high school.

And they wouldn't

until her four year old was

13, when I returned to

that small town for a

milestone high school

reunion.

Ironically, I met Mary

when we were both 13 and

my dad's job brought us to

her town ~ which became

mine, for five years ~ on

the Canadian border.

Circles.

We've reconnected since

Mary reached out and

{gently} insisted I attend

that class reunion.

I'm so glad that she

was persistent, and happier,

still, that I overcame my

trepidations and took her

up on it.

My daughter is now

perched on the edge of

the nest, and Mary's lives in

our metro area, a freshman

in college.

As the drumbeats

shake the theater, I close

my eyes for a second and

see her mother and myself,

13 again. Sometimes,

when I am excited or caught

up in the happiness of

an evening like this,

I still feel 13, inside.

Circles.

Hers & Mine

During our visit this

weekend, Mary shared

news about births, deaths

and other happenings in

my old town. Success

stories, tragedies, love....

Life.

Like this moving musical,

the circle of life plays itself

out, over and over again, in

that small place.

Me & Mary

I'm so grateful to

have been part

of the story.

It's the circle of life

and it moves us all

through despair and hope

through faith and love

'til we find our place

on the path unwinding

in the circle,

the circle of life.

Suzanne

Please join me

here at the water

cooler and share

some moments of

your own. I might

even hum you a

few bars of

Hakuna Matata : )

The Pause Button

2012-01-12T21:00:00.000-06:00

If you could touch

the pause button

on your life ~

freeze frame ~

and document

some of the small

things from a certain

date, wouldn't it be

fun to look back on

them in the future?

Many people do

this with a daily

diary or journal,

but I'm bad at

sticking with things

like that....

Instead, I thought

it would be cool to

choose one day

each month and answer

a series of questions

called Right Now,

that I've read on

other blogs.

Just to reminisce.

Someday.

To smile and nod and

be transported back

to then

{which is actually

now}.

I'm going to jot each

month's entry in this

little book.

Since today is Thursday

and it's the 12th of January,

the 12th of each month

will be my Right Now day.

Here it goes.

watching: Nothing. I'm

listening to Smooth Radio

London on my internet radio.

It's such a treat to tune

into stations around the

world. The British accents

are making me smile.

eating: I've been enjoying at

least one orange a day since

Christmas ~ crave them.

drinking: My favorite tea,

Harney & Son's Paris. I've

steeped it in a pretty pot given

to me by a close friend. In my own

small way, I'm celebrating

Fiona, as today just happens

to be her birthday!

wearing: A yoga outfit. It's as

comfortable as pajamas, only no

one gives you an odd look when

you leave the house in it.

avoiding: Entering receipts into

our financial program, Quicken.

I've let them pile up too long.....

feeling: Cozy. There are teeny,

tiny snowflakes floating down

outside and my home is snug and

warm. Doesn't get much better.

missing: My GiGi's phone calls.

We shared some wonderful laughs

over the years before dementia

stole her memory of me ~

and our relationship ~ away.

thankful: For the extra-mild

winter we've had, so far. It was

53 and sunny on Tuesday with

no snow on the ground. Felt like

spring! Last year we had snow

from November 13th until late

March. Makes for a

loooong

winter!

weather: 11 degrees F, cloudy,

dancing snowflakes.

praying: For my mom and dad

as they prepare to travel. Always

worry a bit when they are away

from home.

needing: To finish my book for

Book Club, next week. I'm reading

The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obreht.

thinking: About spending the day

on Saturday with my high school

friend, who is coming to visit, and

our daughters. Vintage shops and

tea and Lion King, oh my......!

loving: All the kind, kind, kind

comments and e-mails I received

about my last post, Because I Can.

Many brought tears.

That's my first

Right Now.

A little slice of life

to press between the pages,

once a month.

What are you writing in

the pages of your own life,

right now?

There's something happening

every day, but I'm too tired and

too lazy to write it all down.

~ Anne Frank

Suzanne

{Monday} Moments: Because I Can

2012-01-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

His name is Jack.

He's 16 years old, with

dark brown hair and eyes

and in photos he wears

a great big smile.

I don't know him, but

as I power my way through

cycling class, I can't shake

his image from my mind.

On December 30th, this

local jr. varsity hockey player

laced up, no clue that

it would not only be his last

hockey game, but the final

time he would ever stand

on his own two feet.

Jack sustained an injury

in that game that severed

the spinal cord in his neck,

paralyzing his arms and legs.

In a split second, life

for Jack and his family

was altered, forever.

People around the world

are praying for him,

including me, as I grit

my teeth and pump my

legs, a middle-aged woman

doing what one vibrant

boy will never be able

to do, again.

Sadly, I also pray for

two other young men in

similar physical situations

as I pedal; we have family

connections to both of them.

Mark's life changed forever

several years ago when he

was in his early 20's. He dove

off a dock at the lake resort

where he'd been vacationing

with his extended family since

he was a baby, only to realize

too late that the dry summer

had rendered the lake much

shallower than was normal.

Mark is now a quadriplegic.

His life and the life of his family,

will never, ever, be the same.

Aaron graduated from Notre

Notre Dame and was in his first

year of medical school when a

bad decision changed everything.

At a party a few autumns past,

he dove into a swimming pool

and hit his head, injuring

his neck.

Aaron hasn't moved his

arms or legs, since.

So as I hold turns on this bike,

pedal into sprints and follow

the teacher in handlebar push ups,

I welcome the challenge,

celebrating the fact that when I

wake up in the morning, I can

still put two feet on the floor

and they will take me wherever

I choose to go.

While I huff and puff and glance

at the clock, I think about

Jack,

Mark

and Aaron.

I pray for them and for

their families.

I also reflect on my own son,

who is able to ski, run bases and

jump into a pool, realizing how

very

very,

lucky I am.

Please, for those of you who have

a goal of shaping up this year,

just do it as Nike implores.

If not for you, then for them.

Because you still can.

Suzanne

{Thank you to my family
for choosing the activities
they would miss if they
could no longer stand on
their own ~ and the shoes that
go with them ~ for these pics.
I love you.}

PS: What's on your mind?

Any and all thoughts ~

deep or light-hearted,

informative or just fun ~

are welcome as you make

your way into our virtual

chat around the water cooler.

Before & After: Dreaming into Doing

2012-01-05T22:00:00.000-06:00

It was wonderful catching up

with so many of you at the first

{Monday} Moments

of the New Year.

That virtual water cooler

was certainly humming

with a distinct energy that

shone through in every

linked post, comment and

e-mail I received.

Some of your names

for 2012 included

The Year of ....

calm

joy

doing

embracing

connections

risks

forgiveness

listening

achieving

prayer

healing

artistry

growth

simplifying

organization

grace

order

In fact, that positive spirit has

propelled me into participating

in a monthly challenge called

Before and After,

hosted by a dear blog friend.

At the beginning of each

month, Lisa is asking readers

to set a goal, making it

public by linking it to her

post or sending her

an e-mail with a picture.

{Monday} Moments: Sign of the Times

2012-01-01T17:50:00.000-06:00

For the last five

years, the holidays

in our family have

concluded with Chinese

food on New Year's Eve.

One thing that is

always fun when

we visit our local

Chinese restaurant

is reading the

Chinese Zodiac

on the place mats

that grace the table.

Year of the Rat

The Chinese Zodiac,

Sheng Xiao, is based

on a twelve year cycle,

with an animal assigned

to each year.

After our order is placed,

we all squint in the dimly

lit restaurant at the tiny

numbers surrounding

each of the twelve animals,

to see which one is

assigned to our birth

year.

Year of the Dragon

2012 is the

Year of the Dragon.

I was born in the

Year of the Tiger : )

The idea of this little

place mat stayed with

me long after the fortune

cookies had been snapped

open, fortunes read and

cookies consumed.

Year of the Ox

I kept returning to the
image of this little paper,
considering how I might
view my own life, if it were
laid out in neat squares
in front of me.

The Year of the First Steps.

The Year of the Driver's License.

The Year of the Wedding.

The Year of the Big Trip.

Year of the Tiger

Or maybe, the place mat

of my life would have

general themes, with dates

below each to signify

when they took place.

The Years of School.

The Years of Pets.

The Years of Dating.

The Years of Work.

The Years of Marriage.

The Years of Children.

The Years of Travel.

Year of the Rabbit

Or, like the place mat at

the restaurant, my life

place mat could be grouped

into twelve year cycles.

The early childhood years.

The young adult years.

The young family years.

The older family years.

Etc, etc......

Year of the Snake
{Painted by my daughter}

But when I take stock

of my life, to date, and

think back on the years,

it isn't particular activities

or specific dates that come

to mind.

It's feelings.

Year of the Horse

And so, the place mat

that represents my life

would include something
similar to these

twelve squares:

The Years of Joy.

The Years of Sorrow.

The Years of Discovery.

The Years of Learning.

The Years of Befriending.

The Years of Loving.

The Years of Striving.

The Years of Giving.

The Years of Humor.

The Years of Affection.

The Years of Change.

The Years of Creativity.

Year of the Sheep

With the exception of

sorrow, I would hope

that all the years of my

life, so far, would be

listed under

each

and

every

square.

Another interesting

exercise would be to

write down every year

of your life and to dub it

The Year of......

Year of the Monkey

2011, for me, would be

The Year of Letting Go ~

of my arms around

our daughter, as she
{and we} prepare for her

high school graduation
in 2013 ~

of the sense that I should

be living somewhere else,

other than right where

I am, this very moment ~

of pre-conceived notions

about people, places or

things ~

of habits that no longer

serve me well.

Year of the Rooster

And 2012?

That I am calling

The Year of Possibilities.

What about you,
my friend?

Year of the Dog

Do you know your
Sheng Xiao sign?

{You can find it, here.}

What will you call 2012,

on your own

life's place mat?

Year of the Pig

Sending you warm

wishes for a Happy

New Year.

Now, go
make it

one

remember.

Suzanne

PS: It's been a few weeks,

but {Monday} Moments is

open again for you to link

up any post that you want to

share around this virtual

water cooler.
Please Be generous!

{Monday} Moments: My Gift List

2011-12-18T19:00:00.000-06:00

I was standing in the shower,

eyes closed, hot water

cascading over my head,

down my shoulders and

beyond to the drain.

Something I carelessly

take for granted each

day, now suddenly

in focus.

What a gift, I thought,

to turn a handle and have

this luxury, when others

in the world still have to

go to a well or a river

and carry their water home.

As I lathered the shampoo,

I pondered other gifts

that I had received on this

chilly morning. My first

gift of the day.

I'd awoken, sleepy in

the pre-dawn, to attend

a spin class.

Gift two: great health,

something to be thankful

for each and every day,

but seldom lauded until

it ducks and hides.

Back from class, I'd packed

lunches for my two kids.

As I spread peanut butter

and jelly, I smiled.

I was making lunches for

my healthy and happy

children that, at one time,

I was told were unlikely

to ever be conceived.

And I had two.

Gifts three and four.

While I was powering

through exercise class,

my mama, visiting for

Christmas, was already

up and baking, and the

sweet smell of delicious

cookies greeted me as

I stepped through the

garage door.

And it occurred to me

that 100 years ago it

was doubtful that a

relative would travel

1500 miles for Christmas.

The ease of transportation

in modern times means

that we can hold loved

ones close, more often.

Gift number five.

Checking my e-mail, I

noticed a sweet comment

that a reader from Norway

had left for me earlier. A

new, lovely friend from

across the globe.

Gift number six.

Shower turned off and

embraced in my terry robe, I

considered all these gifts.

And it was only 8AM.

The rest of the day lay

ahead like an endless roll

of beautiful wrapping paper,

waiting to be filled with

more gifts, if I just slowed

down enough to
receive
them.

I did.

Sweet tangerines from

Florida, nestled in a bowl

in this Midwest home, far

from the groves where

they were grown.

A text sent from a

dear friend.

Electricity when the

sun went down.

A good laugh with

my husband.

Precious gifts,

each one.

My wish for all of you

in 2012 is a heart that

is open to receive all the

gifts that are there, in your

own lives, every single day.

You certainly have been

beautiful ones, for me.

Merry Christmas

with love,

Suzanne

PS: Please link up your

own special moments,

below, or leave me a

comment about them.

I'd consider it a very

special gift : )

Meeting Angels

2011-12-14T20:27:00.002-06:00

Remember when

Linus read passages

8-14 of the second

chapter of the Gospel of

Luke in the animated

film Charlie Brown's

Christmas?

Everyone stopped

dancing and acting

crazy and a peace

descended over the

crowded gymnasium

stage.

I've always loved

those verses.

The little child in me

has contemplated the

idea of meeting one

angel, let alone

a great company of

the heavenly host,

as long as I can

remember.

Ethereal, larger-than
life, glowing and
winged, beautiful
beings.

It wasn't until I was

older that I understood

the phrase angels

among us.

It happens when you are

lead to someone you

would not

usually have met,

at the exact time and

place that you need

them the most.

And that someone

touches your life in

a profound way.

Angels among us.

The word angel has

its foundation in the

Greek and Hebrew words

for messenger.

They are considered

to be God's instruments

or ministering spirits.

The term has been

expanded across many

religions to mean a

spiritual being.

In addition to serving

as messengers, angels are

thought to protect, guide and

carry out God's tasks.

Angelology is the

theological study of

angels. Although in

art seraphim and cherubim

are depicted with wings,

there is no mention of

wings in the Bible.

Most often, when angels

appear in the Bible, it

is in the form of a man.

In my own life, angels

have taken the form of

hair dressers

concerned friends

bus drivers

care givers

policemen

relatives
animals

and more.

The common link?

They provided guidance

or were an answer to

a prayer.

Have you been touched

angel?

I'll put the kettle on,

light the fire and plump

up the pillows. I'd

love to hear your story.

Suzanne

PS: See you Monday

for the last

Monday Moments

of 2011.

And there were shepherds living

out in the fields nearby, keeping

watch over their flocks by night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around

them, and they were terrified. But the

angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I

bring you good news that will cause

great joy for all the people. Today in the

town of David a Savior has been born to

you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will

be a sign to you: You will find a baby

wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly

host appeared with the angel, praising God

and saying

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace to those on whom his favor rests.

~ Luke, 2: 8-14