ANGELS-SOME THOUGHTS

Angels have become a topic in my social circle lately. A person I know brought an interesting topic to light. Butterflies were symbolic to that person for the longest time. This year in my garden there are several varieties. Many monarchs as I do grow milkweed which is their favourite food. I mentioned it. No not seeing butterflies but feathers everywhere! Curious as I found a huge feather on my porch table a couple of weeks ago. Some meaning maybe. Apparently feathers can be the angels way of letting us know thy are near. So this morning found two small feathers in my driveway. Okay there are always birds around so there could be feathers. But I normally do not find feathers anywhere so why now? Let me digress. Did I ever tell how I found my first angel book? Many years ago I was on my way home from work driving north up Dufferin Street in Vaughan. The light was red but about to turn green. A little girl about 6 or 7 started to ride her bike across the east/west crosswalk and could hardly be seen by the cars stopped at the light. who would be heading south. Our light turned green but the little girl continued against the light. Fearing a fatality about to happen the car heading south had started to move but then stopped on a dime! Literally almost jackknifed. The little girl was allowed to continue because those of us going north just waited until she cleared the intersection. I remembered saying out loud to myself. Little girl, your guardian angel just saved your life. The next day I was at the Coles bookstore and was browsing the shelves when my hand happened upon a book about angels. Of course I bought it! In the next few years bought other books on angels too. They sit on my bookshelf. I just don't think much about their presence but do hear stories periodically from people about interesting occurrences. Sometimes coincidences in life! Or are they? So feathers- a nice thought or is it a reminder? Paying attention to one's surroundings and looking for symbolic meaning brings a different dimension to life. So do you have a story? An angel story?

WAS THE KINDNESS OF A STRANGER AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE?

Kindness comes in many forms. During an emergency some people step up to the plate and help. I have experienced such kindness periodically. Like the time I had a flat tire and a man stopped changed my tire and would not accept any money for the work, then drove off. My daughter experienced the kindness of a wonderful woman yesterday who stopped to help her on the side of the road giving her and her 3 little children a ride home. She called her an "Angel." So kindness comes from our earthly angels. But were these angels sent by the heavenly ones! Life has some magic moments. If we look for the good or we ourselves try to do good things for others, do we honour the good soul inside of ourselves! I think-yes! Or did our Guardian Angels give us a little tap on our shoulders to go ahead and do something kind! Hum-don't have all answers! What do you think? Have you experienced the kindness of strangers that may have been an Angel in disguise?

ANOTHER WINTER WONDERLAND

Occurred last night. Before I began the day, I could not resist the urge to take some last minute winter photos before Spring arrives in a few weeks. Although we are all getting tired of winter, it is a season with its own beauty and outdoor activities. Do we stop enough in our lives to enjoy the simple moments presented to us?

My angel chime in the plum tree, had a small dusting of snow. It was this image that enticed me to grab the camera. Do you see moments in your life that are a photo opt? Do you take advantage or let the moment slip away?

CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL

We used to put a star at the top of the Christmas Tree as a child. Then Tree angels became popular. When my Natasha was 5 she made a sweet little toilet roll angel for the tree. For years it was the only angel I put on the tree until I bought a pretty store one that had lights. The little angel still goes on every Christmas tree beside the new angel as reminder of the art of little hands. Do you have some special family items that are displayed every year? Do you treasure those items made by little hands or your hands?

SNOW ANGELS

A favourite childhood snow activity is making angels in the snow. Today with the help of my granddaughter- one was made.

Years ago I wrote a brief poem about them.

Angels in the Snow

As I watched the snowflakes gently drift to the ground,

I thought of Angels in the Snow.

The inner joy of laying on Virgin snow,

Waving arms and legs creating those

white angels.

I wonder if the real ones watch?

At this time of year we do think of the Christmas angel. There are so many stories with angels in the bible. People in modern times often quote angel events. Many of us do believe children must have guardian angels to survive the many near misses they experience. Do you believe in angels? Do you have any angel stories? Do you feel their presence in your life?

THE ADDRESS BOOK

Over the years our address book needs changing. Our teenage friends make way for university, work mates and relatives. Moves make new additions to our books. There are new pretty books. My current ones are Friends- with whimsical sayings about friends and Angels- notations about angels. I make entries in my book now to indicate who the people are- my cousin, my parents, my insurance agent. I have had calls from families asking who I am as the loved one has passed away and they do not have a clue about me. Some members in my family have moved so many times that whole pages have crossed out addresses. Now I put a label over the name and write in the new details- much neater. Children's names are added as Christmas cards to Mr and Mrs and family seem impersonal when they have been friends for years. Do you find you forget the name of one child out of three? So it is better to include the names. I also note when someone has died, it is interesting that as time passes it is easy to forget the date. There are two address books in the house- one by the telephone and one by the computer. Many people now use the address book or contacts in their computer, telephone or other device. I still like a hard copy as the fear of a crushing system and needing to find those names and contacts would become too tedious. The address book fills a need of belonging. Here are people important to me. I know people and they know me. Do you have people in your book who have been there for years? Do you add new ones regularly? How many different ways do you keep information about your contacts?