Winter

doesn't have to be dreary!  Tommy read a line from a book by GK Chesterton to me this morning about Santa Claus.  "He is something that gives new meaning to the white world and the evergreens, so that snow itself seems to be warm rather than cold."

I LOVE that!  

For all of our married life I have decorated for the different seasons.  I think it started when I taught school and changed my bulletin boards to match the season.  Actually, I was known for my bulletin boards and the school supervisor for the county used to come in while I was teaching and sit in the back and copy them.  Of course she was probably grading my teaching ability as well!

That decorative spirit carried over into my married life.  Every time we have a season change we have a decorative change both indoors and outdoors, at the Oaks manse!

I have written before about coming home once after we had been gone several days, and when we drove up our tree lined driveway, I felt like I was getting a hug.  When I walked inside our home, I felt like I got another hug.

That's what it feels like every time I have been away and walked into whatever place we currently call home. 

Right now we have a huge painting of a snowman that is back lit with blue lights. Jason did it for an event at the place he was working at the time, and was going to throw it away.  I said absolutely not!  This painting stays in the back of a closet except for the cold snowy months, when it graces our living room wall.  It definitely makes our world "feel warm rather than cold!"

So, if this January is starting to get you down, and you feel you just might need a hug,  Step into my house,  Go room to room.  Each room will give you a hug.  So will I!!!!  

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