“January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons.  Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell:  cold, crisp, woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savory suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys.  Outside the temperature drops as the snow falls softly.  All of nature is at peace.  We should be, too.  Draw hearthside.  This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead and the journey within.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

As I read the above quote over and over sitting inside Panera Breads watching the sunset on a very cold winter’s day with remnants of yesterday’s snow, I am experiencing such a filled cup of joy, love, and gratitude.

Sometimes just being in the moment noticing the beautiful sights, sounds, and smells is all the self-nurturing I need for the day to fill my cup with joy, love, and gratitude … putting me in place of peace.

Oh I am filled to the brim with what I see, hear, and smell.  I wish that I could share it with all of you.  In this moment winter has such a romantic feel to it that I am spellbound and I don’t want the spell to be broken.

Yesterday was not quite as cold so I went for a walk in the snow, which is something I rarely do.  It, too, filled my cup to overflow with all of its winter beauty caressing my cold cheeks.

January gives us a fresh start to our journey.  Winter gives us a time to slow down, to hibernate, and to go within and nurture our hungry souls in warm, snuggly ways.

Allow this time of the year to lay the foundation for your 2011 journey.  It is a fresh start.  It is a time to dream.  It is a time to fully embrace your self-nurture practice in peace and warmth.

Related Posts:  Winter Storm Beauty

For the next few minutes as you watch this clip from Charlie Brown Christmas, be still. Let everything go for the moment, and allow this simple message to penetrate your spirit. Allow the simple message of Christmas to bring you Christmas joy and peace filling your soul with hope.

What does the message evoke inside of you? What does it cause you to want to do? How might you relate to the different characters, even to what we refer to as the “Charlie Brown Christmas tree”? I love it when Linus says, “… all it really needs is a little love”. The gang proceeds to give the ugly little tree some love and suddenly the tree shines. What might we learn from this?

Again, be still in the moment and be blessed by this little 5 minute clip. Don’t judge what might come up .. just let the thoughts come and go and in the moment let all be right in your world.

You can make your own little Charlie Brown Christmas tree as a reminder that there is always hope and with a little love, anything can shine.  Let us remember that even about ourselves … offering ourselves love in a way that will allow us to shine!  Click here for instructions => Instructibles

As I sit at the window seat with a hot cup of tea and a warm blanket, I am gazing out at the wonders of His hands.  The beauty that bestows me is breathtaking.  There is a peace, a calm that has blanketed the earth.

Yes, I live in an area that has been hit with the winter storm which, left us with two feet of snow.  There are issues and problems at hand to deal with; yet, I have welcomed the storm in all of its beauty.  It has allowed me to step out of the rat race and the norm to be in the moment in order to take care of the simple things of life in which we need to survive.

Being snowed in reminds me to be grateful for all that we have.  Although we have not lost power, we did lose our TV, phones, and Internet for a while.  It was a strange feeling to not be plugged in to the outside world, but it felt good at least for a short time.  I suddenly became so grateful for all of our technology today as it has only been a few short years ago that we all lived unplugged.

In these moments of quiet stillness, I cannot help but be in awe of His beauty.  What I am seeing out of my window is His masterpiece. Who can create such a masterpiece as this?  Truly a reflection of  His glory.  After all, anytime an artist creates a piece of art, that artwork is a reflection of the one who created it.

When I ask, Lord, what parts of you are you reflecting, all I can hear are things like, quietness, peace, stillness, beauty.  And then I hear, “Be still and know that I am God.”

If you have never seen the work of Snowflake Bentley, you are in for a real treat. He has an amazing story that will leave you thinking about the awesomeness of God our creator.  Enjoy!