Dutch Shoes, Santa's Elves, and a Heavenly Kiss

Christmas holidays bring out the child in me.  Years ago, a glimpse of Christmas past was at the heart of finding these old wooden Dutch shoes at a neighborhood yard sale.  Just my size.  Childhood memories of colorful fields of tulips in Holland, windmills, and a love of cheese made it a done deal.  

Anxious to restore the patina, I grabbed a bottle of lemon oil and swabbed the old wooden clogs. Soon dark ugly streaks stained the wood, hardly the look I'd wanted. Why hadn't I done research on-line before jumping in thinking I knew best.  Oh well, it was too late. I'd ruined the natural wood.

 

Hoping for the best, I let the pair dry out in the warm sunshine. The old Dutch shoes were salvageable, and, on a whim, made cute holiday "boats" for my childhood elves to ride around the Christmas tree.  

 

Caught up in a wave of holiday decorating, I found Mom's old Santa Claus stocking tucked away in a box.  Wonderful memories of Christmas flooded in...

 

And, it was our first Christmas since her passing.  

 

 I found my hand reaching inside of that empty Santa stocking with childlike hope of finding a surprise from her... What happened next caught me by surprise, I pulled out a tiny piece of crumbled paper.  It was a Hershey's Kiss banner from a foiled candy Kiss. I laughed. Mom always had a sweet tooth. The chocolate was long gone, but in that special moment I felt a love that went beyond time and space.  A sweet heavenly kiss.  Thanks, Mom.  I smiled, through grateful tears, feeling lighter and  brighter.  

 

Yesterday at Angel Thrift, this smiling red ladybug planter was a sign Mom was near.  The bright red planter now holds my  Christmas cactus, the one I thought was a goner last year.  It resurrected with little help from me bearing a gift of a big pink love blossom. During the holidays, it's comforting to know that our departed loved ones are with us in our hearts, now and always.  Life will blossom again.  And, our loved ones, like angels, draw near and bless us with love pats, heavenly air kisses, and moments of surprising joy.  God is Love and has sent His angels to watch over us. 

Love and blessings,


Rae Karen

Let there be Light! Angel Message

      O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

You set my heart a singing.

Like little stars, your candles bright

Send to the world a wondrous light.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

You set my heart a singing.

 

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

You come from God, eternal.

A symbol of the Lord of Love

Whom God to man sent from above.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

You come from God eternal.  

  (English version by Ruth Heller)

 

When our Christmas tree is decorated, I like to sit in stillness and bathe in the beauty of its glow.  A quiet time to be grateful for the gift of Light.  Angels gather round in an atmosphere of peaceful joy.

Years ago, I learned about the entanglement phenomenon.  I'd just hassled with unwinding our tree lights that somewhat dimmed my joy in decorating the Christmas tree. 

 

Funny how my entanglement phenomenon lesson was a sign to lighten up.  I laughed, welcoming a brighter perception.  Gazing at the tree, I could see how each Christmas light-bulb seemed to be individual and separate, but in reality they were united and powered by light from the same source. I could plug in one cord and light up the whole tree at once. 

 

In quantum physics, the scientific term entanglement explains how at one level all light particles seem to be in touch with all others. Experiments to measure this entanglement phenomenon revealed that light photons in one location are immediately entangled with ALL other light particles. And distance played no role in the interconnection.  It doesn't seem to matter if the photons are coming from the glow of a campfire or from a distant galaxy, made up of billions of stars.  

 

From light's perspective,  ALL light particles seem to be touching one another instantaneously in what scientists call  an "entanglement" phenomenon. In reality, between Point (A) and Point (B) there is no distance in the universe.  If all entangled light realizes that, and fills the universe, then it's possible for all light to be in touch with all other light instantly.   

Isn't that a wonderful thought--you turn on a light, and all the light photons in the entire universe lights up instantaneously. 

 

Even more wonderful, Christ, the Light of the World, came into this dark world to bring peace, joy, and love.  Let our spirit bear witness to His in the light of Truth this holy season. May your heart be filled with light and peace. And, may you feel my heart-light touching yours in unity and peace.  God is Love.  

Love and peace,

 

Rae Karen

 

 

 

tree photo: web

December Super Cold Moon

 At dawn, when I went outside to fill the bird-feeder, a glimmer of the super Cold Moon peeked through the treetops next door.  I'd forgotten all about the December full moon.  I grabbed my camera and walked down the driveway hoping to see her full face aglow in the stillness and quietness of the season. Wow! I wasn't disappointed.  A big, bright, radiant Bella Luna lit up the pasture with a burst of joy bringing warmth in the chill of winter.  

Here's a close-up of the last super moon of 2025, and the second largest of the year.

I was thankful for the angel nudge to seek out the full moon in her glory.  A reminder to expect the unexpected.  Out of the darkness, Light shines illumining the way.  Whatever we may face, angels light the way bringing peace and harmony in the stillness.  We are never alone, God has given His angels charge over us. 

Love and peace,

Rae Karen

Daily Advent Calendar Door: An Angel Message

 Growing up in Germany, I welcomed the count-down to Christmas by opening a daily Advent Calendar door.   The numbered doors were hidden in a glittery winter scene of snow-capped trees, glistening rooftops, and happy children gathering in nature around a decorated tree.  

 

The past few years, when December 1st rolled around, I've silently asked the angels to open the advent door for today and reveal a gift in nature... But it could be anything in celebration of the light and joy of the Christmas season.  A childlike expectancy sets the tone for the day and an eagerness for the happy things of God to come to me.   A surprise.

 

Yesterday on the first day of Advent, the angels opened and delivered door Number 1, catching me off-guard.  I was out in the garage looking for Christmas decorations. Distracted, when I closed the garage door, carrying a big cardboard box, LOL, I almost bumped into the tall stately sandhill crane family waiting outside the door.   

 

I was so happy. They were long overdue to visit.  I welcomed them and marveled that now they stood equal in stature, about 4-ft. tall, with golden eyes, red-capped heart-shaped gray heads. What fun it had been to watch the family raise their little colt this year. He was exceptional, always curious, shaking things up. He dared to go where his parents never did.  

 

And he did it again  yesterday!  We watched him fly for the first time! Animated, he flew down the long driveway. Never mind the construction work.  Then he turned back to the front yard. Expansive gray wings hugged the sky flying in a happy circle to spread holiday cheer.  Junior seemed to proudly call out... "See me, I can fly!  I finally did it"  His parents boasted with a trumpeting call and, then, the crane family was in flight together. A beautiful advent door on Day 1.  Junior fledged, he'd come full circle.  A joyful celebration of the stages of life we grow through to reach our full potential.

This morning, December 2, the advent door popped open at dawn...A beautiful heavenly view.    The sky tinted in hues of golden orange and pink in the east, silhouetting the trees in the dark with the promise of a new day.   

The advent calendar pictured here is symbolic...a doorway to heaven is open, and the angels are descending with gifts of love, peace, and light during the darkest season of the year.  Remember you are never truly alone. God has sent His angels to watch over you and guide you in all your ways.  They draw especially close to earth during the Christmas season.

Jesus Christ said:  "When ye pray, believe ye have it. Become as a little child if you would enter the kingdom."  In other words, have the expectancy as a little child and your prayers will be answered.

Love and peace,

Rae Karen