'Merry Christmas!

"Maybe this is the year you get everything you want! Or maybe this is the year to appreciate everything you have."  Teresa de Grosbois 

The last years have been very difficult with the pandemic, wars, world wide weather disasters with floods, fires, eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and financial issues.  We can't change what has happened but we can appreciate what we do have.  We can find much to celebrate when we look around and find our family and friends, neighbors and our communities reaching out to each other with love and peace. 

The two goals that have the greatest impact:  Love God, and love others as we love ourselves.  Everyone is suffering in some way.  The care and concern of others can make our own burdens easier.  

"Humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others."  Gordon B Hinkley                                                       

I wish you humble and meaningful holidays filled with the wonder of loving and sharing our lives with others. 

Please check out my artwork and books on my website illuminangels.com                                                                                          

      After We Are Thankful

"Oh, Heavenly Father,

We Thank Thee for food and remember the Hungry.

We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.

We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.

We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.

May these remembrances stir us to service.

That thy gifts to us may be used for others. 

Amen"

Dear Abby column

I hope that we remember there are many ways to share love for the holidays and the rest of the year.  We can reach out to the hopeless, homeless, friendless, those who are disabled or sick, and anyone we observe who are sad or lonely. It takes time and effort to meet these needs that are not able to be purchased. It is the type of gifting that melts the heart and makes us feel that we are making a difference.  I hope that you have "melt the heart" holidays.  Physical gifts are forgotten but gifts of the heart are remembered and cherished.  

Please check out my website, illuminangels.com for inspiration.  There you will find original artwork, and books, and framed and unframed vinyl prints.