12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas ~

So you've all heard the song, every day as we approach Christmas Day the measurements of people, places and things grows and grows. Every year I hear the same questions being asked all around me, "what do you want?", "what do you need?".....etc....etc....... Every year I find myself not having a solid answer to respond, I guess that makes me bad, or perhaps I should only look for that lump of coal in the Christmas sock (but just think what happens to coal......it can be the diamond in the works, yes it takes many more years than I have to watch but it does). I hear repeatedly, ohhh, I cannot do portraits now, I need to lose 50 lbs and get a face lift, have my hair grow out, blah blah blah (here again, some more of my own responses to those crazy questions). Talk about a reflection of me........

This year meets me with a flood of emotion. I have sadness, I have happiness, I have excitement and I have dreams. My sadness as this is the first year without my Mother, it's a very difficult time, I don't feel like celebrating, decorating, entertaining because I'm sad, cannot everyone see that.......my happiness as we celebrate the expected birth of Christopher (my grandson), the absolute joy Issy and Evie bring to my life every day, the love of my family and wonderful friends and the celebration of Lyle receiving his masters degree from Regis........ my excitement from soup to nuts, as I like to say, horse bites to butterfly kisses, simple pleasures of dark chocolate and good coffee to that every day feather and a nice glass of wine, to being part of wonderful groups of artists coming together for common interests, like Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep to Help-Portrait to Thank a Soldier.........to my dreams, which drive me to that special place that give me hope, hope that I can share the scenes of the world with my friends, family and clients, dreams of travel to special places near and far, dreams of sharing, dreams of caring, dreams that one day may come, but they still are dreams. So, I'm not really Scrooge, I have my tree decorated, I am planning the celebrations of graduation and Christmas with all the joy and excitement, celebrating Christ. it is not about me...that's the raw truth, that's the message that feeds the fires of all the dreams and plans.....it is giving back, capturing memories, sharing moments, celebrating successes, embracing grief and sadness.

So back to the 12 Days of Christmas....I'm going to close with this, don't wait, don't delay, grab hold of your TODAY, as today becomes your story and tomorrow becomes your dreams. you don't need 12 days to celebrate, you need only your desire and hopes and dreams. If you want it, just ask! I did and I am so glad.

Merry Christmas Everyone, may your holiday season be all that you dream and wish for.

Keep Seeing The Light,

Katherine