My Happy Christmas Morning

I had a marvelous Christmas morning. I woke up early (we say here “woke up with roosters!)  and my mama and I went to church. The Christmas was felt everywhere – in the air, in the snowflakes slowly falling down on my cheeks and even the frost made me feel happy.

 I usually forget my every day problems when I am at church. I am feeling like I am almost in Heaven. I wonder what it really feels like to be in Heaven. It must be beautiful there. If I am lucky, I’ll experience it one day. But today I felt a little piece of Heaven – with happy people around, all smiling and sharing their honest joy with each other. I wish I could describe you a real Christmas face.  I don’t know if any artist would be able to create it. Maybe it’s impossible.

I’m grateful for my great morning joy. It was really amazing to drive along the snow with my wheelchair and feel this real Christmas spirit in the air. I’m grateful to God for His mercy to me and people I love so much.

Merry Christmas! God bless you!

Christ is being born, let’s praise Him!

Today I got three Big Joys:

1. I had a great morning walk to our church, admiring the snowflakes and the first sun rays.

2. I was honoured to receive Holy Communion. So, today I’m feeling really happy. Far away from all my troubles. I’m loving this moment. My moment of joy. Real joy.

3. I had  a wonderful family Christmas Eve dinner. My dear mama cooked 12 traditional Ukrainian dishes, all of them are lenten. It means our dinner included no meat, no milk, no eggs, no milk. But it was still extremely delicious! 

My main joy of today is – Our Savior, Jesus Christ is being born tonight. And I’m happy to be born. To feel this joy. To be a part of His greatest love. 

                                   A Joy from Africa!

As I’ve already told you, I’m extremely nosy and mega curious to receive some letters or postcards. So, today I received a little parcel from my dear friend who lives far away.  I was blown away by what I saw! It was an African knife for opening envelopes! Therefore, now I’m ready to open all the letters!

I love such moments of curiosity when I open something unknown. I must tell you this childish feature is still with me and it seems like it’s going to stay with me forever and a day! ;)

I’m grateful for this wonderful surprise I got today. I’m happy to have some big-hearted friends all around the world. And once again I see – friendship is the best heater during such nasty weather! 

A Miracle, Snowfall and Almost Cough-Free Day

Yesterday I missed to post my joy news, so I’m really sorry!

My day was calm but filled with a miraculous event! My mom and I went to church and honoured the newly arrived icon of Saint Nickolas. As soon as the icon arrived, it started to snow heavily! 

This day I called my former first school teacher. She sounded so grateful for my call since she had “lost” her mobile and my sudden call helped her to happily find it! This “found” joy made me feel delighted! ;)

I’m grateful for this source of strength I have so close – our little village church. I’m grateful for this miraculous snowfall. I’m grateful for my work that keeps me away from all the dull thoughts! I’m grateful for feeling better! My cough is not so annoying anymore (or maybe I’m falling in love with it, huh? ;) 

          Let there be the Light! I am Free!

This afternoon we finally welcomed “the Light” back. I mean the blackout kingdom is over. The life is going on. I’m very happy everything seems to be in order after yesterday sudden electricity tantrum!

Today I’m grateful for receiving some very special messages from people I love to bits! I’m grateful for my usual working routine. I’m grateful for my wonderful journey to some books. I should better stop now. I’m tired and should complete many things tomorrow with God’s help.

I’m happy to see the smiles that really make my heart dance for joy! 

My Romantic Evening With A Candle or How I Was Kidnapped!

Yesterday I vanished without a trace…I was kidnapped by a great blackout on our street.  This unexpected “crime” happened during my English lesson. But thanks to my mom, my lesson was “lighted” by a candle with some mandarin peel.

I felt stormy inside. I didn’t really like an idea of staying in this complete silent darkness all the evening. Thanks to God, this darkness was not so scary. On the contrary. My evening was warmed by a lovely chat with my mom in our kitchen. 

Then there was a piece of miracle. I got mail! Well, the thing is I am on cloud nine to receive something. It doesn’t matter what. It might be even a small letter from a friend of mine. What really matters is this warmth I feel whenever I open an envelope. That dark evening I received a wonderful bunch of sunrays: a book from my dear friend who despite being so far away is really close to my heart, and some amazing greetings cards I didn’t expect to get! 

So, I spent my dark hours with my curious nose into the book and cards: smelling and absorbing them all. (Haha, hope you don’t consider me now a nosy maniac!) ;-)

I’m grateful to God for this rare chance to be in silence with my mama. For the evening peace. For some very dear people in my life and even people I don’t know but whose big hearts make me feel so alive. 

I’m the happiest recipient in the world! Well, at least in our village for sure! :-P

                     PATIENCE EXERCISES OR MY FIRST DAY IN 2013

Today I am lazybones. Can you imagine when I opened my eyes today? Well, I peacefully enjoyed staying in bed till the very late afternoon. I simply loved feeling myself free of any chores. As a kid I tried to get up early to look for gifts from Did Moroz (our Ukrainian Santa Claus) under our New Year’s tree. Now I’m slowly learning to look for and enjoy other sorts of gifts one can never buy for money.

Since yesterday we’ve been hosting some relatives. Honestly, our worlds are totally different. No real connection between us. No path we could share. Some of their life attitudes really play the keyboards of my nerves piano. I dislike its melody. But it’s within my power to listen to this melody or just ignore it. I cannot say I’m perfectly patient. But I’m on my certain way to it. I had some very brilliant opportunities to practise my weak patience. Let’s hope one day I’ll really master it! ;-)

This day I went outside for the first time this year and for the last 14 days. It was really breathtaking to watch the sky and breathe in some fresh January air.

I have also made my resolution list for 2013. I have no idea if I am strong enough to complete it successfully or even somehow but let me share my brave ideas with you:

1. I want and hope to get rid of some of my fears and prejudices.

2. I want to learn to play the piano well enough to smile in my heart.

3. I want to travel somewhere I have never been to.

4. I want to meet some people I really care for but have never met for real yet.

5. I want to try to do something really new I have never done before.

6. I want to improve my German, Spanish and Polish (English too!) dramatically.

7. I want to do some more physical exercises and swim. I also hope to get a new bike!

8. I want to go out somewhere without my parents’ assistance. This point is really unlikely to take place since I do need much help when I go out. But dreaming does not harm, doesn’t it? ;)

9. I want to try to change my every day activities a bit.

10. I want to master cooking.

11. I want to change something about my appearance. I don’t mean any surgeries. Just simple style changes.

12. I want to read more and try to turn my travelling thoughts into something people might enjoy reading.

I’m grateful for my patient sources, for my dear parents who make me feel loved and special. I’m grateful for going outside and admiring the endless blue sky. I’m grateful for the sunshine of hope blinking in my heart.