A Christmas Vignette Wrapup

 All the Christmas decorations have been removed for another year.

 What of this Christmas will remain with us won't be the

 lovely decorations or the childhood memories that are evoked,

The memories that will carry over into 2015 will be those

 special interchanges with each other that touched a heart for some unexplained reason at the time.

 It will be remembering those who weren't here this year.

 It will be remembering how we experienced the New Born King this Christmas through worship, music or giving of ourselves to others.

 Those special times around the table sharing memories and what was important for us at that moment to share with others we can trust.

 We will remember traditions that carry us from one year to another with anticipation.

 Christmas memories that will last are those that never change.

It is the sharing and receiving of cards and letters from friends we may see every week and those our lives touch only at this special time of year.

 It is fun things that send special messages only at this time of year.

 Those little gifts that we know were chosen or made just for us because someone thought enough of us to do something personal.

 For Hubby and I it always includes a trip into Amish country even for a couple hours where my camera lens tries to find a little something different each time.

 "A Pretty Place" that wasn't so pretty except for the ice-covered pond.

 A lonesome old horse that was smart enough to get on the backside of an old barn to shield himself from the biting cold wind.

 Yes, the decorations are out of sight now, and we've put out new calendars with dates marked for new appointments and some continued events from the past year.

How long we will carry the memories of Christmas 2014 with us will be determined by how important it is to hold on to them.

I think I will be selective and look forward to the new year with only those that bring JOY and HOPE for the future.

"If you seek it like silver and search for it [wisdom] like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom from the mouth come knowledge and understanding."  Prov. 2:4-6