only five sleeps to go!

I'm not really a bad blogger, just super busy, along with most other people, I suppose. I took some me time tonight, to create this layout, kinda for the theme challenge at Digiscrap Divas, and kinda cos it's been in my head for several days now, since I listened to my new Sara Storer album, Firefly, and was touched by the beautiful lyrics and harmonies in her song Angel. (you can listen to a snippet here, track 14. I have no idea how to get music onto my blog - that would be really pushing the limits of my abilities!)

thank you dear friend you were calling me
you had to say goodbye so unexpectedly
and I know I got a little lost along the way
but don't you know I love you

and now I'm surrounded by angels

I've an angel who's a friend

and I've two angels that can sing like me

and now I'm surrounded by angels

I've angels with my blood

and one who's now above me in peace

Sara Storer, Angel, from the album Firefly

papers by Denise Docherty (Cloud Nine), paper by Rhonna Farrer and brush by Anna Aspnes from DWD cd

It's so hard not to miss Mum like crazy - Christmas was her favourite time of year, she loved everything about Christmas! She loved getting family and friends together, she loved to give gifts, she loved to cook and bake treats, she loved the magic involved for children, she loved all the trappings and trimmings, and most of all, she loved the opportunity to celebrate God's gift of love at Christmas, the frail baby born in a dirty stable. She taught me to love all the things she loved, to do the things she did. Every single thing I see and do reminds me of her, so this time is bittersweet - amidst the laughter and the preparations, there are a few tears to shed in missing her.