It’s almost Christmas!

The choir I am in just finished up the week of performances and I sang valiantly despite a head cold.

One of our songs is a traditional tune with the line ‘Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the old mans’ hat’.

There is no better time to give a little extra to those who serve in our community. Even with our tight times, it is rewarding to bless someone else down the line.

On a particularly cold day last week I gave a young man $5 for carrying my groceries to my car, it was all I had on me but it made his day!

The joy of seeing his surprise gave me more pleasure than whatever that five bucks could have possibly bought me.

There is a happy middle ground between doom, gloom and frivolous spending. There is that place where we lock down budgets and pay more attention to what we are spending but during all of that, don’t forget to be charitable.

Charity can come in the guise of many things from donations of money, time and talents. A neighbour would love a hand made gift or treat and you can imagine how thrilled someone would be to be invited over for an evening of games and snacks!

If you have a roof over your head and heat in your home, then God bless you – use these blessings to reach out to someone near.

I have spent years working at improving clients’ living environments and have spent thousands of dollars improving my own spaces.

The joy and sweet memories come from sharing that place with others; when someone can curl up on my couch in front of a roaring fire and look like they’ve been there for weeks brings my heart happiness. For years, I was very focused on having the exact home environment and I am happy that those days are behind me.

Safe, warm and loved has replaced perfectly co-ordinated and immaculately designed and I couldn’t be happier.

Does the fireplace get messy with ash and wood bits?

Sure it does but the hours spent there with my loved ones is a worthwhile trade for those few loose pieces of debris.

To see the kids park in front of the fire with a coffee as we spend time visiting warms my heart like no custom drapery or imported area carpet could ever do and I can’t imagine life any other way. It seems that I have missed out on years of neighbours and people just ‘dropping by’ and my heart has been filled with many heart touching conversations from random and unexpected friends.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

May the joy of the season wash over you and may you hold those you love close and may you feel the heart warming satisfaction of a charitable act, no matter how small.

Give and receive as freely as you can and look for creative ways to bless someone this season. You are precious creatures, every single one of you and I thank you for reading from the depths of my heart and soul. Sharing weekly with my readers is a joy that I selfishly indulge in and am so thankful that you enjoy the stories that I have to share.

Kim Wyse is a Central Alberta freelance designer. Find her on facebook at ‘Ask a Realtor/Ask a Designer’.