Christmas Greetings from Our Home to Yours

It's become tradition to share a holiday house tour here on the blog, but with all the past year has dealt for so many, I don't really feel right about writing a post for the purpose of sharing my festive little home.  I do, however, want to thank you all for giving me a platform for sharing my passion, my writing, and my view of the world.  I have the most dedicated followers, many of whom take time regularly to write me in response to blog posts to tell me my words or photos were particularly moving that day.  I can't begin to explain what that means to me.  

The world is a little upside down these days.  Covid-19 has taken so much from so many and has literally changed how we all live day-to-day.  Some days it's difficult to keep positive and not get stuck in the trenches of despair.  Having the beauty of nature around me and my camera to capture it and having you all to share that with gives me purpose and some days, a reason to get up and 'go'.  I'm so thankful to have things that make me feel alive and thankful for every blessing in my life - despite the things we and all of you have given up the past two years.  

Thankfully Christmas still comes on schedule.  It's exactly the medicine we all need to remind us of the good times, old memories, traditions and the people in our lives - some here, some gone - who mean so much to us.  While Christmas will still be celebrated in the Welter household, it certainly won't be like Christmases past.  There won't be any Holiday Open House, or a flow of visitors coming and going.  (Thanks to Covid). Our family is smaller than it used to be, even with the addition of our grandchildren.   Great aunts and uncles are long gone, both of our dads and John's mom are no longer with us. Our family unit is pretty immediate but I'm thankful for each and every one of them.

My Dad (left) and his first girlfriend back in 1932ish

One might wonder why my Christmas wonderland isn't scaled back under the circumstances.  The answer is simple - as always - I do it for us.  We love Christmas and all that goes with it.  So even if we're the only ones to enjoy it, it's worth the work.  But I do love to share, so I hope you'll take a moment to view a little Christmas video I made for You Tube, with a short house tour and a Christmas message courtesy of Alan Jackson, whose words are as relevant today as they were in 2002 when the song first came out. Merry Christmas (YouTube Video) Click the link to the left to watch!

The cats, as always, are not stirring.  They are not excited with the anticipation of Christmas morning like John and I are to see the grandchildren's joy as they open their presents.  Back in the day, John was serious in his anticipation of Santa's arrival (below), checking the fireplace for any sign his arrival might be imminent and I sure seemed captivated by the big guy back then....as I still am today.

My wish for you this holiday is that the days ahead are filled with people you love, good health, peace and more joy than your heart can hold.  I thank you for your continued support, your friendship and pray that the coming year will bring you and all of us an end to the crazy carousel we're on and hope for a brighter future.  Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!