Happy Monday. Time for that Monday morning thought to start the week which we are calling a SPARK. If you don’t know what posting a SPARK is all about, here’s the history! SPARKS is a Monday tradition – how did it start and what IS IT? “SPARKS” was started by Annie McGuffy of McGuffy’s Reader but ended when her blog was hacked some time ago. It was meant to be a way to start out each week with with a meaningful thought – something that spoke to each of us and hopefully everyone else who read it. Although Annie isn’t currently blogging, a lot of us who enjoyed her SPARKS decided to keep posting SPARKS of our own. Why? Because sometimes we need a little “spark” in our lives and these posts were meant to at least be a PART of that effort. Please feel free to post your own SPARK on your blog and let everyone know you have…….we get energy from each other that way.
Having spent the weekend on various “getting ready for Christmas” activities I thought I’d share a SPARK for those of us who are missing special people in our lives who we’ve lost – in my case I always remember my parents especially this time of the year. Not because they passed away in December but both of them had birthdays in December. Our tradition in my family when I was growing up was to get our Christmas tree on my Mom’s birthday – December 19. I’ve seen enough funny movie scenes of families out searching for the perfect tree to make me laugh whenever I pass a Christmas tree sale and see Dads holding out a tree for inspection – Mom walking around to see it from all angles – kids playing hide and seek among the trees or throwing snowballs at each other paying NO attention to the trees. I remember that my mother was VERY particular about what the tree should look like. We always had a beautiful tree though as I remember. The only time we didn’t have a tree at all was when my Dad was stationed in Taiwan. I think we had a palm tree for those two years! Anyway, I tend to think about the friends I’ve lost and the family I’ve lost a lot more this time of year and this SPARK really says it for me………………..I just love it.
To those of you who have lost someone special and – like me – tend to think of them more this time of year – take heart in this saying because I think if you look among the stars there will be one or maybe two that are a LITTLE BIT brighter – JUST FOR YOU!
This spark is very poignant and made me feel wistful…but its a beautiful and inspiring spark too.
For me its certain (classical) music pieces that make me think of some of my more precious loved ones, no longer with us. I heard one today, and right away I saw my Mother in my mind’s eye.
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Music – certain music – does that to me too. It’s like getting a HUG………
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Yes. It is.
Katie Isabella and Mom
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that is sweet… and we believe that those we miss become a star and we can talk ro them efurry night… and specially in THAT night…
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Yes and I know that you and I have special Angels we will be talking to THAT night…..and every night. ❤ ❤
Hugs, Pam
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This is a beautiful Spark. I always look out of the window at night when I go to bed, and the stars do indeed shine so much brighter at this time of the year.
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I used to think the stars shone brighter this time of year because the atmosphere was clearer and cooler but these days not so sure that applies!
Hugs, Pam
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Searching for the perfect Christmas tree sounds like a fun time as a child. I missed those memories because my parents, as much as I can remember, always had a fake tree. During my younger years, it was an ugly silver tree. I guess that was a thing back in the sixtes.
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Oh heck yes – there were pink, blue, silver, gold trees all over the place. I never quite “got” that and my parents never had a fake tree. As soon as I was on my own I got a fake one – small though….easier to handle on my own.
Hugs, Pam
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I think if I was on my own I would get a small, Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
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Yep – same here……
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🙂
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I haven’t looked for a tree in many years. Too much for me to do these last 11 years. So, I try in other ways to keep the Christmas spirit.
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I think we all have our ways to keep the spirit going during holidays. And THAT’s the important thing!
Hugs, Pam
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Pam and Teddy what a beautiful Spark…
Hugs cecilia
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Awwwww…..thanks – glad you like it Miss “C”!!
Hugs, Teddy
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What a beautiful Spark. It made Mom kind of leaky eyed.
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Same here on the leaky eyes…..MANY of the SPARKS that are posted on Monday by those participating are very touching and meaningful – just as a SPARK should be I suppose!
Hugs, Pam
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I love this spark. Have a nice day. XO
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You too Ellen!!
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That’s beautiful.
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Your sparks are always a good way to start the week. Cheers to traditions – but the palm tree in Taiwan made me laugh.
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It was pretty silly and we didn’t have any ornaments of course so made some out of paper and ribbon. Well you do what you have to do right?
Hugs, Pam
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A perfect spark for this time of year.
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Yes and so true about this time of year prompting more thoughts about those losses. Thanks for a lovely and comforting saying. Happy Monday.
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🙂 ❤ Glad you like the SPARK today!!!
Hugs, Pam
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At Christmas dinner the bipeds raise a glass to loved ones (two-legged and four-legged) that are no longer with us.
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My Mom and Dad do that too……….so they can include EVERYONE they love – then and now. 🙂
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My peep remembers a Christmas where it was hot and humid. He was stationed near the big ditch.
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Panama Canal?
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yup
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THat sure is a pretty Spark!
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thanks Brian…..we like this one a whole lot too!
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Love the whole thought of searching the stars on Christmas night. You know you can name a star for someone. I don’t know how legit it is but I did google it once. Lovely Spark for today.
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Many years ago I named a star for David……we received a “star map” showing us where “David” was. Very cool.
Hugs, Pam
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What a beautiful Spark. This time of year always brings thoughts of those no longer here to the forefront.
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The SPARK was very touching and true. How can we help not thinking about those that have made other Christmases fun and happy for us? Even if we didn’t see them at Christmas…..their spirit was within us.
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Such a sad but sweet Spark.
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Bittersweet an beautiful SPARK Pam… I have many loved ones I miss & I too, look to the *stars* to see them up there…
BellaSita Mum aka Sherri-Ellen & **purrss** BellaDharma
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That’s a lovely thought.
My spark today was more Hanukkah themed, even though it’s over now.
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That Spark is so heartwarming. What a wonderful way to express how we feel about the loved ones we are missing.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
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❤ ❤ ❤
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I LOVE the Spark and I loved hearing about your Mom! My Mom was the same about being particular about the tree. I’ll never forget the year my Grand Parents (my Mom’s parents) got an Aluminum tree and how my Mom ranted about it, except in front of her Mom. Thanks for the wonderful memories!
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Christmas memories are great to “re-run”…..sometimes it “tests” our sense of humor to remember some of the things (ha) but it was all fun. I remember the aluminum trees – especially the first time I saw a PINK tree. EEEEK!
Hugs, Pam
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