Thursday Throwbacks and Grace

It's Thursday.  It's snowed a couple of inches overnight, and Christmas is coming soon, so I found a few throwback photos to post this morning. 

My, those triplets have grown, and, no, there's not THAT much snow on the manure spreader, but what we do have is the most we've seen this season.  

This is an okay snow because Christmas is coming and because it does not disrupt the usual daily chores.  

No shoveling required.  Barn doors open easily.  It was still easy to push the full cart to the manure pile. 

Plus, it's pretty outside.  Our bareness and blahness of the past two days has made it a bit difficult to get into the proper Christmas spirit.

Now, however, those colorful lights on the deck seem to twinkle a whole lot more with the snow than they did yesterday. 

And, I replaced the usual Irish music on my computer with Christmas CD's this morning. First I listened to Mannheim Steamroller's 25th Anniversary Collection.

When that ran out, I slid the Three Tenors Christmas CD into the slot.  When it was time to head outside for chores, the tenors were singing "Amazing Grace."  

When I arrived at the barn and opened the door, Joan Baez was singing "Amazing Grace." I assumed there must be a message in that morning parallel.  

Yeah, I'm often a wretch, and, yes, surely it would take some pretty amazing grace to change that.  

I am getting a little blind but happily am still seeing well enough to embrace beauty wherever it exists. 

There have been enough dangers, toils and snares, and I figure there may be many, many more before this flesh and heart shall fail and mortal life shall cease. 

For the most part, I do believe---maybe a bit in my own way---but there is definitely belief within this old soul. I can also proudly say that grace has led me on many a time. 

And, for the most part, life is filled with joy and peace. 

Lots to think about these days during this season.  Lots of moments of wistfulness, especially erupting whenever those beautiful tunes are playing and when those little twinkle lights are sparkling. 

I think one of the true joys of this season exists within the Throwback Thursdays or whatever moment when we journey back to those special times which always seemed more innocent (like those little darlings above) and so sweet like the image I saw this morning of my siblings enjoying a big laugh in my parents' living room during a Christmas past. 

I also saw a couple of photos of my mother squeezing some cool whip onto a pumpkin pie, and, yes, I did cry but in a sweet way, knowing her spirit and that of our dad do reside "there" for at least the next 9000-plus years, bright shining as the sun. 

Yes, "Amazing Grace," already heard twice this morning by two giant musical talents, has its messages for us to interpret as we wish and to guide us as we move on through our day. 

Plus, it's a mighty pretty song.  So, I'll leave you this morning with my crazy thoughts and with hopes that you'll have a little amazing grace within your day.  

By the way, that little darling up above in the pink blouse?  Her name is Grace, and she's pretty amazing too!

Happy Thursday.  Hope you enjoy this Celtic Thunder rendition of "Amazing Grace."