Author: Rebecca

Christmas memories

/ Rebecca / 9 Comments

One of my favorite Christmas traditions every year is going to Santa’s Village at the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Ag. Pavilion.  On the top floor of the pavilion, you can walk around and look at crafts and wares for sale.  The lower floor is decorated with a maze of Christmas lights and also has amusement rides for the kiddies, live Christmas music, a toy train display and a petting farm.  When our daughters were young, we use to sell homemade bread dough Christmas ornaments on the top floor while the girls, along with their cousins or friends, enjoyed all the fun events on the bottom floor.  Now that they are all grown up and living elsewhere, my husband and I still enjoy going and walking around, seeing the lights, listening to the music and looking at the crafts.  But I think the sweetest thing about being there is the memories — precious memories of fun, laughter and togetherness.

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.”   ~Bob Hope

Checking to see if the coast is clear

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We startled this little squirrel as it was searching for food at the base of a tree in a state park.  It frantically scampered up the tree trunk and hid on the other side.  As we continued walking, I looked back and caught it peeking out to see if the coast was all clear.

“When I die of heart failure the next time you frighten me like that, you can put that on my gravestone — ‘I didn’t mean to startle her.'”  ~Patricia Briggs

Side by side

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While driving along the Mississippi levee, we spotted these two eagles sitting contently together in the trees.

“Contentment is a state of the heart, unaffected by outward circumstances.”  ~Crystal Paine

Autumn Reflections

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A few weeks ago, my husband had a heart attack.  It was the last thing that we had expected.  He was only slightly overweight and at his last yearly checkup, all his tests had come back perfect.  Thankfully, he is doing well now and we are learning to adapt to a few life-style changes.  Times of crisis tend to cause you to reflect upon and appreciate the good things in your life and the people who are there for you during those times.

“If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It’s a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it’s time to reflect on what’s come before.”  ~Mitchell Burgess

Among the fallen leaves

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On a hike in the woods, I caught sight of this tiny frog hopping among the fallen leaves.  Eventually, it settled in a spot that had been flooded by some rain water.

“A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summer’s wave goodbye.”  ~Unknown

Times past

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We came upon this barn on one of our country road excursions back in January.  For me, there’s something about seeing an old barn that instantly transports my mind back to the people and fond memories of my childhood — a quick glimpse of times past that makes my heart smile.

“At the end of the day all that matters is love and memories so make sure you give it and make sure you make them.”  ~Trent Shelton