PUSHING LIMITS

Happy New Year!

I am going to start the new year pushing some personal limits by posting some pictures of myself (with other family members).   My feeling about posted pictures of myself is similar to the feeling of intense reluctance (terror) that some people have of public speaking.  I wrote about it in one of my earlier posts, and it is something with which I am trying to become comfortable. 

There are many bloggers who prefer to never post pictures of themselves or their family members. I read and enjoy their writing.  There are other bloggers who often post pictures of themselves and their families.  When something that they wrote comes to my mind, I can visualize them.   Seeing their faces, and the faces of their families, makes me feel a kinship with them.

These pics are from Christmas Eve at my daughter's home.  Our tradition has always been Christmas Eve with my husband's side of the family and Christmas morning with my side of the family.  My son was not able to come home for Christmas this year.  He is in the Air Force.  Thankfully, he is stationed in the United States at this time.  I miss him so much.  The last time he came home for Christmas,  he drove half way across the country through blizzard conditions.  I was worried the whole time he was on the road. 
 

You have seen my little grandson on my blog before.  That is my son in law in the Santa hat, and my daughter next to him.  My husband's sisters are behind my daughter.  That is me in the black and gold print shirt.  My father in law is in the plaid shirt.  My husband is behind me.  Our nephew is next to my husband, and brother in law is in the Missouri sweater.

No, he wasn't sleeping.  He had just told me, "Grandma, I love your blouse!"  He was rubbing his face on the smooth satin fabric. 

Definitely not sleeping.  I love seeing his little hands on mine in this picture!

My husband and daughter.

My daughter and me  

Well, for someone who doesn't like pictures of  one's self, I sure managed to post plenty of  them.

It was a wonderful Christmas!  I love Christmas and celebrating with family; but always, for me, as it is happening, it feels like it is just on the verge of being too much, of everything. I stay in emotional overdrive.  And then...whoosh....it is over and we are moving into a brand new year.....

January 1, 2014.  Mary wears a mantle of freshly fallen snow.  My husband took this photo while he was out sweeping snow.  It is a night time picture taken while it was snowing hard.  "Unusual" water spot down in the right hand corner of this picture, isn't it?


Virgin of Guadalupe With A Mantle Of Freshly Fallen Snow

  And so the New Year begins; sparkling, fresh, and filled with possibilities and pushing limits.