NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO YOU ALL

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here we stand at the door of the year

And feel some apprehension

There are troubles and some problems 

And things often causing tension.

Our world is very troubled

Her people in much pain

With earthquakes and mud-slides

And deluging flooding rain.

Bushfires ravage our land

Taking homes and kin

We seem to be fighting a battle

That we somehow cannot win.

Yet there stands before us

A year unstained and clear

And what I wish for you

Is a year untouched by fear.

I wish you health and happiness

A calm and restful sleep

I wish you days of family 

And memories to keep.

I wish you sunshine’s warmth

Some rest and friendship’s care

I wish you many happy hours

A comfortable soft chair.

A book to read – some chocolate,

Nice meals and homemade bread

Rain upon your window

As you snuggle down in bed.

I wish you food upon your table 

And a welcome at your door

I wish you a calm and sweet release

And health so sweet and pure.

Happy New Year to you.

© Linda J. Vaughan

December 2010

Love and hugs,

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AND SO THAT WAS CHRISTMAS

Good morning from Adelaide and me and a much cooler morning than yesterday.  And so that was Christmas................. and what have we done - dishes, put food away, vacuum, tidy up and all those post Christmas things.  Sorting out of things left behind.

I had a beautiful day with my family and friends around me - there was an immense calm and lots of laughter.

As we said grace and held hands I realized these were the hands that hold me safe and these were the hands that had done so much for me.  I was indeed very thankful to be here with these special people. 

My younger daughter proposed a toast to those we love our family and friends and we drank to absent friends - for there are many - some only recent and some now years ago.  There were tears in some eyes - especially mine.  I looked with pride on the babies I bore and raised and gave thanks for them.

Sharing this piece I wrote some years ago and "fiddled with" this morning.

AND SO THAT WAS CHRISTMAS……

Well my friend it’s over again

Time to pack up the tinsel and holly

Time to put away the tinkling bells

The lights of the season so jolly.

No more presents wrapped 

And tied with ribbons red

And is oh so much easier

To get children to bed.

We have feasted and dined

And eaten more than our share.

We have had turkey and ham

And all sorts of Christmas fare.

Our tables were dressed and adorned

With linen we had pressed for the day

Candles and ribbons and sparkling things

Will now carefully be put away.

And so that was Christmas

And what did it bring?

Such joy and such laughter

It made my heart sing.

I saw the children of my heart

On this Christmas Day

Washing the dishes 

And packing away.

We all worked together

And cooked and created

To say it was lovely

Would be understated.

The gifts were bought with care

And wrapped with thought

In boxes and bags 

To hide what had been bought.

When I looked around 

At  paper everywhere,

I was reminded that we 

Wrap each other in our care.

The ribbons and the bows

Remind me of the ties

That bind us as a family

"Neath the southern skies.

And so that was Christmas…

With phone calls to friends,

So many happy memories

It seems it never ends.

And now that it is over

And I am putting things away

I am reminded of the joys

That are mine  every day.

So as I sit between Christmas

And a year that is new

I want to remind you 

That you are important too.

You are part of my network,

My support group and my friends

I wish you happiness in the New Year

And Joy that never ends.

© Linda J. Vaughan

3oth. December 2003

and adapted 26th.December 2010

Have a wonderful Boxing Day - rest and restore for in 364 days we get to do it all again - and I am planning in my head already.  I have lots of projects I want to complete by next Christmas.

Thank you to all who have faithfully followed this blog - I intend to keep it up all year posting as often as I can and finding lots of hints, recipes and craft ideas to share with you all.

Enjoy your day - be safe and be thankful.

Love and hugs,

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CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA

CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA.

It is Christmas time once again

And memory brings us near

To those we often think about

And those that we hold dear.

We draw to the end of another year

With days of trouble and pain

And once more we stand at the threshold

Of a year filled with sunshine and rain.

We don’t have Christmas snow in Australia

But we have days of endless sun

No snowman with his corn cob pipe

But we have holidays and fun.

We don’t wrap ourselves in thick coats

To sing Christmas Carols outside

We sit on blanket in the park

And light our candles with pride.

We don’t have a blazing Yule log

Nor does the snow fall on our day

We have an outside barbeque

And the children splash and play.

We sit in parks and gardens

With umbrellas for shade from the sun

We eat our prawns and salads

And our children laugh and have fun. 

We don’t wear thick and woollen coats

Nor hats and gloves to keep warm

We smell the scent of eucalypts and pines

And it is Christmas on the farm.

We sit beneath the Southern Cross

And sing our Christmas Cheer

And hold the thoughts of those

Who are no longer near.

It’s Christmas in Australia

And very different for you to understand

Those of you who come from

A cold and winter land.

It’s summer in Australia

And days are long and bright~

Please remember Christmas “Down Under”

And think of another “Silent Night.”

A silent night beneath the Southern Cross *

With an endless open sky ~

Don’t try to understand

Nor ask the reason why!

Just accept that this is Christmas

Throughout the entire world

And pray that Freedom’s flag

Will very soon be unfurled.

So at this special time of year

When we all draw close and love

Let’s try to release into our lives

Heaven’s Peaceful dove.

Let’s love a little more, and care

And open friendships door

These are the things I ask of you

I cannot ask for more.

©  Linda J.Vaughan

December 12 2003

* a small conspicuous constellation in the southern hemisphere in the Milky Way near Centaurus

Love and hugs,

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A CHRISTMAS CARD FOR YOU

A Christmas Card for You.

I’m sending you this Christmas Card

To let you know I care

I wish you joy and happiness

And friendship everywhere.

I wish you love and laughter

And happiness and health

Enough of all the little things

For you to think it wealth.

I wish you special family times

At this festive time of year,

I wish you cherished precious times

With those you hold most dear.

I wish you courage in your heart

As you stand at the door of the year,

Peace and quiet contentment

To take away your fear.

My friendship and care I send to you

All wrapped up in love.

I wish you the joy of living

And peace from Heaven above.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.

© Linda J. Vaughan

Love and hugs,

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Sharing something I wrote.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

The tree is decorated

And lights are in the hall

Simple reminiscences of days

When the children were small.

Cards have been received

And I have mailed my share ~

Functions to attend

and busy-ness everywhere.

Lights are in my windows

and tinsel sparkles too

I take some time apart ~

And I remember you..

Merry Christmas Dad !

What would I give to see you

To sit and chat a while

And share a drink with you.

You would see some changes,

The children now quite grown

Stepping out and now making

Lives of their very own.

In memory I wander

To the days when I was small

When you were indeed my hero

And I loved you best of all.

You were my Santa  ~ I saw you

As you knelt beside my bed

You loved me very much

I heard the words you said…

The years have changed

And my children too are grown

My how quickly the years fly –

How could I have ever known?

There is a space in my life

Which belongs alone to you

I was blessed indeed

To have a Father like you.

Merry Christmas Dad

As you sail on an untroubled sea

I am so very happy

That you were Father to me.

Merry Christmas Dad,

©  Linda J Vaughan

I miss my Dad everyday and especially at Christmas time.

Love and hugs,

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IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

It’s almost Christmas day

And my heart is very sore.

I have been lately thinking

Of how things were before.

I am sitting by my Christmas tree

With its tinsel and its lights,

I have been thinking very long

About other Christmas nights.

My memory is straying back

To youth and childhood days.

I remember certain presents

I remember tradition and ways.

I remember the smells of cooking  ~

A goose and traditional fare.

I remember a visit to Grandma

I remember brushing her hair.

A Doll’s pram and hand sewn blankets

And Doll’s clothes knitted with care,

A box of beautiful chocolates ~

A doll with flaxen hair.

A walk in the park with my Father

While I pushed the doll’s pram with pride

The look on his face as he watched me

I can still see the love and the pride.

The cot that he made for my “baby”

Big enough for even me

I remember the wrapping of presents

I remember the Christmas tree.

I hold in my heart these memories

Of Lollipops, candles and canes,

I remember riding my pony in winter

Down crisp and cold English lanes.

So now that I am older and wiser

Somewhat tempered by time and its ways,

I cherish the memories of Christmas

As it was in my childhood days.

I remember walking through markets

I remember him asking me

“Is this what you want my darling?”~

I remember him giving it to me.

Nothing was too much trouble

Expense was never spared.

If he thought I wanted it – I had it

I remember the ways he cared.

So as I face life without him

And go on day after days

I remember the love he showed me

In very special ways.

I remember the love and the laughter

The way we would debate and cajole.

I remember how much he loved me

I remember it feeding my soul.

I hope I can be what he wanted   ~

Generous and kind to the core,

I hope that I can be loving

And open friendships door.

So as I stand at the gate of Christmas

And behold the bright New Year,

I clearly wish to acknowledge

That at times I feel some fear.

My life has changed and is different

And courage is what I need

To face the future before me

And blessings my soul to feed.

Linda J. Vaughan

December 22^nd 2003

Love and hugs,

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CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL WISHES

Christmas Tree Angel Wishes

I’m sending loving wishes
As you trim your Christmas tree ~
And now I'm sending special love
And a caring hug from me.

I wish you love and laughter
And the touch of a hand that's near.
I wish you special memories
Of those who you held dear.

I wish you music and comfort,
And compassion to fill your soul.
I wish you days of finding yourself
And forgiveness to make you whole.

I wish you Angels to guard and guide
And touch you with their wings.
I wish for you a safe journey -
I wish you so many things.

I wish you a welcome at a friend’s door
And a path that is easy to walk.
I wish you a patient friend with a listening ear
When you want to talk.

I wish you Christmas memories
Of days that are now gone
I wish you a quiet acceptance
That for them the battle is done.

I wish you hope and strength
As you stand at the new year's door.
I wish you Heaven's special love
I cannot wish you more.

I thank you for your friendship
And the joy its brought to me
So take the wishes I send to you,
And hang them on your heart's tree.

©   Linda J. Vaughan ~


Love and hugs,

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COOKIES FOR SANTA

COOKIES FOR SANTA

When the days of anticipation are over

And Christmas Eve dawns for you,

I wonder if you remember the things,

That you and your children would do.

Do you remember the excitement

Of looking out for a sleigh?

Can you recall the excitement

Of waiting one more day?

Remember how very hard it was

To get your children to bed,

Waiting and hoping 

That Sugar Plums would soon fill their head.

Remember the bucket of water

You left out for the reindeer,

Recall the carrots you left there

And the knowing that Christmas was near.

The milk and the cookies for Santa,

Some left him fruit cake and cherries,

Think back and remember the colours

The green and the holly red berries.

I wonder what Santa himself thought

And I am sure it brought him some mirth,

To eat all the cookies and drink the milk,

Would add to the size of his girth.

So when the children are sleeping

The cookies and milk are all set,

With love and compassion in your hear,

You can make it the best Christmas yet.

© Linda J. Vaughan

November 2006

Love and hugs,

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A POEM - MY MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS

MY MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS

My childhood Christmas memories are lovely ~

And memory is kind.

What do I remember of Christmas 

And all the years that have flown?

I remember things in my stocking,

I remember a puppy to own.

A box of paints and a paintbrush ~

A magic colouring book

I can still see the wrappings and ribbon

If in my memory I look.

I remember a doll and her clothes

All hand knitted with pride.

There is also a red chain driven tricycle

And roller skates for me to ride.

A new riding hat velvet covered

In a deep and regal blue.

New riding boots for me to wear ~

I remember the leather so new.

These are the things I remember

And there are people who feature well

In my picture book of memories

And lots of stories I could tell.

I remember the market place visits ~ 

Just my Father and me.

I remember the goose and the turkey

And dragging a big Christmas tree.

I remember the pelting of snowballs

Both of us getting wet.

When we made a snowman he would say

“This is the best one yet.”

I remember a pair of fur mittens

With leather palm and thumb ~

We put them on the Snowman

Something we shouldn’t have done.

I remember his booming laughter

As he was a child once again,

] I remember a small toboggan

I remember walking in the rain.

I remember the box of chocolates

And the people he’d take me to see

His Mother and his Grandmother 

I remember the love they had for me.

He would push my doll’s pram or my trike,

Make me smile and wave.

I remember the “little talks”

And how that I “should behave”.

So amid my childhood memories 

Of tinsel and toys and things

There is a special memory of my Father

And oh what joy it brings!

©  Linda J. Vaughan

18th. December 2004

Love and hugs,

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