Wordsmith at work

  Gratitude - Now and Forever        I could have a complaint for every single day of the year. Would I care to count my blessings? I’m afraid I neglect to.  Yet, if I were to examine my life there is a great deal that I must be grateful for, not only in 2023 but always. As I write this post, I'm reminded of the hymn 'Count your blessings...which we sang so often in school.        I walked into 2023 grieving for my mother who had passed away a few days before Christmas 2022. It has been difficult coming to terms with the loss of Ma.  I was blessed to have this resilient and patient woman steering me through the ups and downs of life. Mom and Dad were humble and hardworking folk and I give thanks for them. How excited was I, when my brother came into my life!  Travel rejuvenates and I give thanks for the mini vacations I was able to take in 2023. Precious sights and sounds are now added to that treasure trove of memories. T...

  Festive routines that I love   I don’t prepare for festivals like my parents and grandparents did. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I shall rewind to my childhood when the excitement began building up at least a month before Christmas. The spiritual preparation begins a month before with a season of reflection called Advent. The Christmas service in church is held on Christmas Eve and also on Christmas morning.. Clothes – New clothes are a big part of the Christmas festivity. I remember Mom sitting at her sewing machine and painstakingly tailoring my Christmas outfits. She turned out some beautiful stuff. As I grew into my teens and early twenties shopping for fabric with my mom was something that I looked forward to. Once we had decided upon and purchased the fabric, it was time to finalize the style and pattern and get it tailored. The early bird catches the worm and hence the earlier you stood outside the tailor’s door, the better your chances of getti...