A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Christmas Dreams

There's always been a little game I've liked to play in December. It basically goes like this: everything is perfect. Great game, say what? No one dies; no one is ill; everyone prospers; the weather cooperates, and all is well in the merry land of Christmas Dreams. Ever get caught up in playing that game?

Perhaps that's why I am especially enjoying this Christmas song...another by Amy Grant...her version is my absolute favorite. Yes, I may be on an Amy Grant kick this Christmas.


Molly our little poodle is doing much better after her visit to the Vet last Saturday. We were told that she is failing, has lost two pounds (a lot for a miniature poodle), and that her major health issues can't improve. Some of you may remember that Molly was my parents' dog and, more specifically, my mother's. She was the last promise I made to my mother and so emotions are running a little high where Molly is concerned and I'd really like to hang on to her as long as I can without being cruel. There is no need of cruelty where animals are concerned.

There are bigger issues in the world today, of course. Some are in hospital beds, some have suffered the loss of family to death or divorce, some are concerned about money, some are concerned about the state of the country and treachery in high places, some have lost jobs. As far as I can tell, when I take off my holly berry glasses, all is not perfect in December.

                                ♪ Time would heal all hearts♪

                                   ♪Right would always win♪

 ♪Love would never end♪

♪Now Heaven surely knows that packages and bows
   can never heal a hurting human soul♪
                                                 
            ♪What is this illusion called the innocence of youth? Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.♪


Do you have a Christmas song that is speaking especially to your spirit this season? There always seems to be one.

Blessings...

49 comments:

  1. Vee, I am sad to read about Molly. Harriet, our mini dachshund, belonged to my late mom. I have always dreaded the time when we have to say good-bye.
    This song sung by AG is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing it.
    God bless, Mildred

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope Molly fares well through the holidays so you won't have to deal with her loss at Christmas. I have my mothers cockatiel, who must be around 20 yrs old! I've had him since 1994 ~ who knew he'd live so long.

    I was listening to Josh Grobins Christmas CD last night ~ all beautiful, but I always love I'll be home for Christmas the best.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Christmas Shoes" has particularly hit me hard this year. It's been 2 1/2 years since our daughter passed away and yes, she was a shoe-aholic! Her son is 4 1/2 and he's been talking a lot about his mama and I can just imagine him wanting to "buy Christmas Shoes for her last journey." I'm like you and would wish everyone have a perfect, loving, and happy Christmas--we can wish, XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am sorry to hear about Molly....sending you hugs...

    My favorite song is O Holy Night....
    Hugs,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wishing you and Molly well.... Hugs ....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, Vee, I sometimes play that game too...wanting everything to be perfect, and everyone to be happy...as if that is the meaning of Christmas. Sigh...

    My son posted this quote on his Facebook page last night, and it resonated with me. It is so very true...

    "If Christmas does not mean everything in July, then in truth it means nothing in December. If I need a cooling in the weather and the sight of familiar decorations to cause my heart to leap like a lamb- if my heart cannot celebrate today as I consider the birth of our Lord Jesus, then Christmas reveals a problem in me." ~ Michael Card

    Hugs to you...and prayers for Molly...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, yes. I've played that game too! I'm sorry about sweet Molly. It's not easy to know when to say goodbye to our furbabies. I held on to our Buddy as long as I could. It's hard to believe that he's been gone over 5 years now. I still catch myself looking for him.

    I love all of the traditional Christmas songs. I'm such a sentimentalist when it comes to holidays, LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm sorry to read that your wee Molly is struggling - but what a lovely, safe and loving home she has had with your mother and then with you.
    Thank you for posting the Amy Grant song. The CD is going on my Christmas list. O Holy Night, Silent Night and Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel are my favourites.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a precious illustration, for this particular post. :-)

    Sorry about Molly, but so glad you have the same view as I do, about how long to "hold onto" pets.

    Also wish this (Molly) didn't have to be kind of front and center, at Christmas Time, for you. Seems you can't quite escape from some form or other of sadness, at this time of year. -sigh- Not fair! Not fair! Not fair! "Auntie" sezzzzzz...!!! :-)

    A particular Christmas song, which speaks to my spirit, this Season? No, not really. :-) Oh sure, I have my favorite Christmas songs. But not one in particular...

    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amy Grant's Christmas album is one of my favourites and so is that song...I play the same Christmas game, every year. I think many of us do, it is such a highly emotional time of year.

    I'm sorry to hear about Molly, keeping you and her in my prayers.
    hugs
    Niki

    ReplyDelete
  11. One of my favorite songs. December brings out a lot of emotions in people, some good and some bad. As the mom I try to make everything just perfect and happy for our kids, even sheltering them sometimes a bit too much, but inside sometimes I just cry because I do see the real world.

    I'm sorry about your Molly. Pets certainly do find a place in our hearts, especially when one is as sentimental as Molly. Thinking of you.
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am so sorry about Molly. I hope this is a joyous Christmas season for you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My favorite Christmas song is "Mary, Did You Know?". I turn into a puddle every time I hear it.

    I'm so very sorry about Molly's illness. I know how much you want to keep her, but we don't know for sure that our animals don't join us in heaven. I like to think they do. Maybe that's where she wants to be this Christmas...with your mom. If something should happen to my mother, I have also made that promise and would be taking in a poodle that could be Molly's twin. These little 4-legged furbabies are truly family.

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh, poor molly! people sometimes undervalue the worth of
    a sweet companion. molly stands for three, and she is even
    more valuable.

    as a Christmas song fanatic, my favorite depends on the day
    or the time of the day. i especially love a song that placido
    domingo sings called, "o joyful children."

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynyAksTBfYE

    ReplyDelete
  15. I play those wishing games too Vee. I think we all do because we want peace through the holidays, when we should be wanting peace in our hearts throughout the year. I'm so sorry about Molly. We had to have our great companion, Annie, put down this year. But, God blessed us with Grandma Chickie's, dog when she went into the nursing home. Hugs to you and your hubby and Molly!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Vee,

    I'm so sorry to hear about Molly. You have a tough decision ahead of you. I went through the same thing with one of my cats and it tore me up inside. I pray you are able to spend a little more time with her before saying your goodbyes.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am glad that Molly was doing better she you took her to the Vet. I will pray for your sweet friend. I love this song, I clicked on the link and came back to leave a comment. Amy Grant has always been a favorite since the 80's when I first discovered her music.

    I have so many favorite Christmas songs I have lost count.

    Wishing you a beautiful day.

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  18. So sorry about Molly. I can live in the Jolly Christmas dream world if I just don't turn on the news. I do have to focus on God being in control and trusting Him. After all think of the world when Jesus was born and that evil leader Herod killed all those little ones just to try to kill Jesus. Things weren't all Holly and Berries even when Jesus came and now because of what He did on the cross we have Hope, the Hope of Heaven when all will finally be put right...
    Blessings on you and yours...
    You asked about a song. So many speak to me...I've got my cd's all in a row, Twila, Amy, Nat King Cole, I love a more obscure one I have called The Holly and the Berry, Messiah, etc. etc.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I LOVE this song, Vee. I am terrible with names of songs (and the talented folks who sing them sometimes). I feel bad about little Molly and I know how you feel about it. I believe we will all be reunited, pets included, one day. xo

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love Amy Grant, that song, in fact that whole Christmas album! I think we all kind of play that Christmas game...so much hope this time of year. Sorry to hear about Molly...praying you make all the right decisions. Enjoy your day!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm sorry about Molly. I don't have a problem thinking about animals in heaven. I always say that heaven is more, not less, than earth, so why wouldn't they be there? I think celebrating Christmas despite the imperfect circumstances can be a celebration of the fact (and hope) that one day things WILL actually be perfect. And that will truly be a great day:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I usually do not have music on in our house but this year...this season...hymns are soothing my soul. Any thing by Marty Goetz is especially healing, but we also have jazz arrangements of Christmas tunes playing as well. Helps lighten the mood.
    I pray you will know when the right time for Molly comes...maybe she will be a Christmad gift to your mom in heaven. Yes, I am one of those who believe our pets will be with us up there!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Poor Molly. Tears for you. We love our pets so much - especially those that that have the added attachment of being loved by those gone before us - that last link that is different from still having our siblings. (I have my mother's animals.) Hugs, Dear Vee.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'll Be Home for Christmas was always my mother's favorite and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye when I hear it even though she's been gone from us and home for 35 years. She loved Christmas. My own favorite is O Holy Night, it also brings a tear to my eye. I realize when I hear that beautiful song that Christmas is not about me and my sadness over the loved ones no longer here or over the state of the country now, etc, but it is a time of celebration of the one born on that holy night who will return some day and take us all home with him and wipe away all our tears.
    So sorry to hear that Molly's not too well. I'll say a prayer for her.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Right now, I'm sitting in a public place so I'll have to click later. It sounds like the kind of song I need to sing, though. I am just like you in that I like to play "perfect" and it never is. The one thing that I learned during my (several) Christmases where things were far, far from perfect was to always remember that not everyone needs to see my slap happy face just because it's Christmas. Some might just need to see a quiet smile or nod. I try to read people more now, if that makes sense.

    And I'm so sorry about your Molly. I feel the same way about cruelty. My uncle just made a painful decision about his LONG TIME companion. It broke his heart, but he wasn't willing to be cruel.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'll Be Home For Christmas always does it for me. I lost my dad on Dec17th and my mom two years later in Jan. So the holidays have always been a little sad for me. But when I start to decorate the tree memories flood back and I smile. I have their ornaments mixed in with mine and the warm feeling prevails.

    I am so sorry to here about MOlly and what you are going through. But I know she has your kindness at heart. Take good care.

    ReplyDelete
  27. That is one of my favorite Amy Grant Christmas songs....

    I am sorry about Molly, and I understand. We had to put Sam down yesterday. She was so bad and wouldn't get better....hard stuff. Lindsay got her as a puppy 10 1/2 years ago. Faithful and loyal dog. Lots of sadness and tears here...Kyle told me last night when I tucked him into bed "We'll always have her in our hearts." He is one dear boy!

    Praying....

    Deanna

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh Vee, I am so sorry to hear about little Molly. Our little furry friends have such a way of becoming much-loved family members. I can completely understand why emotions would be running high for your right now.
    The game you talk about is one I am quite familiar with. If only Santa would grant our "grown up Christmas list."

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hugging you in my heart. Praying that Molly doesn't suffer and that she decides to hang on a while yet. I know these connections. Its one of the reasons we still have a very old and rickety car for Jonathan to drive. It had been my Dad's.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is one of my very favorite songs at Christmas. I was listening to Amy this morning, her albums for Christmas are at the top of what I play all through December. Here's a link to my Christmas blog from another year...

    http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/2010/12/gift-ill-never-forget.html

    You'll remember and love this one too!

    My heart hurts for your heart about the precious Molly. So much emotion tied into her well loved life.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Vee,
    I've been thinking about your list of things to be doing, enjoying this season. Thank you for bringing such a list to mind. I've thought of it today as I've played Christmas music.
    God bless little Molly, and you and John and the vet with wisdom and knowledge in her care and preserving her quality of life.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awwww, I pray little Molly will be better. One never knows....she COULD get better...at least, for awhile.
    All the Christmas music is speaking to me this season...so enjoy every one I hear.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Vee,

    I love to hear this song during the Christmas season, and Amy Grant's version is my favorite. She does a beautiful job with this beautiful song. I also love "Mary Did You Know;" that one really speaks to me spiritually.

    I'm so very sorry that little Molly isn't doing well. And I understand about the promise to your mother; the same thing happened to a friend of mine several years ago. I know how attached we get to our pets; we love our MacDuff, but I agree that you don't want to be cruel. I'll be thinking of you.

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm so sorry that your little dog, Molly, is not doing very well. I pray you will have wisdom to know 'when the right time is'. Such a difficult decision and we will soon be making it for old Marshall. And yes, 'life' happens, even in December and at Christmas. Things that make us sad and don't go as 'we' planned. As you know, our friend passed suddenly last Sunday and we will be attending his funeral tomorrow. A young wife and 6 children are in mourning. My heart aches for them. The song "I'll be Home for Christmas" is not a favourite unless our daughter and her family are coming home. Not this year. This year a favourite song is "Now Behold the Lamb" by Kirk Franklin. Something with praise and worship to encourage my soul. Blessings and hugs. Pam

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a beautiful song. I don't often click on the "musica" as Susan Branch says, but I like the option. The lines you've included from the song are so apt and true. But the gift of Christ can do all that and more.

    This year, when I read my Advent readings and walk downstairs in the morning, the song that comes to me is "O Come, O Come Immanuel." That may change over the days, but I'm loving the longing in that song just now.

    Glad to hear that Molly is doing better. Hope your day is marching along just fine.

    ReplyDelete
  36. So sad when an animal is not well I hope she improves sometimes that happens and they end up as good as gold.
    Merle........

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hello Vee
    I wouldn't want a perfect world, it's nice to have the ups and downs that create who we are. It's not hard to become attached to our little furry friends and you know your mother is at peace knowing you're doing all you can for Molly. You'll know when it's time, and then she'll be scampering off across the rainbow bridge to be with your mom again.
    I grew up with Bing Crosby's Christmas songs always playing so I'd have to say 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas' would be my favourite. We also watch the movie every year. :-)
    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  38. So sorry about the little dog. Pets are so precious. I hope she rebounds, you never know.

    May favorite of all favorites is Amy Grant's "Emmanuel"
    Second fav is Emmy Lou Harris's "Light of the Stable". So beautiful it brings tears!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Dear Vee
    A beautiful post thank you - I clicked on your link to Amy Grant's lovely song "Grown Up Christmas List" and started to read your post.
    I haven't heard of her before and I enjoyed it!
    I'm sending very special hugs and wishes for your dear Molly.
    I understand how difficult it must be for you holding on, yet ready to say the word when life becomes too much for her.
    Yes, sadly I agree Advent can be a desperate time in many families lives, as we look forward to celebrating the greatest feast of the year Christmas, we can only hope and pray that 2013 brings an abundance of blessings for those less fortunate and in need of health, comfort and the very basic needs of life.
    Joyeux Noël
    Shane ♥

    ReplyDelete
  40. I hope Molly will feel better soon, but there is no need to prolong if she is suffering. Your love for her will be carried in your heart forever!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm so sorry Molly isn't doing well. It's hard to know what to do. We've been down this road with two pets.

    ReplyDelete
  42. A pretty song!!
    So sorry about Molly. Our pets are family too and we love them dearly.
    Life may not be perfect down here, but our home in heaven awaits us. : )

    ReplyDelete
  43. wow, i try not to read other comments - & then sometimes i do ... & some of these folks here have had some rough goes lately. wow... tears. need tissues. wow... so my comments... i had a point here. i love & will always love O Holy Night ... brings me to tears every time ... no matter when or where ... it has such meaning. i dream of standing in front of some where & singing it to the heavens. not sure my voice to go to some of those ranges but GOD (wishing he would bless me with the chance one day) i wish i could ... i think i could rock it well. good post. ( :

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Vee

    This year "I'll be home for Christmas" is ringing true for me. I'm missing our Texans sooo much and wishing that they could be with us.

    Wishing you the strength to get through this with sweet Molly.

    Leann

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm glad Molly is feeling a little better -- love her and keep her comfortable, Vee, and she will let you know the right time. That is what I am doing for my cat as he is entering his elder years

    "O Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas hymn and for some reason Jonny Mathis' version of "Sleigh Bells" has been buzzing around in my head these days.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi Vee!

    Oh boy, those darn Christmas dreams . . . I have them too. This is such a hard time of year. My husband and I work at a local humanitarian center once a week, and we see so many who are struggling with things I have have never even had to worry about! But, they always come to the center with a smile on their face, and willing to work and serve others, which translates as "hope" to me . . . they are my heroes!

    I love the words to this song - thanks for sharing!

    Give your sweet little Molly gentle hugs from me....

    Hugs,
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  47. We were at a Michael W Smith concert this last weekend and his song Immanuel has been near me ever since.
    So many struggles for so many. Sweet hugs to Molly!

    ReplyDelete
  48. No all is not perfect in my world this December either. But 'what matters most' won't ever change. He is the reason for the season. Love that song by Amy Grant...such beautiful words. I was at the same Michael W Smith concert as Lovella over the weekend...and am singing his tunes as well.

    Sorry about Molly. Glad to hear she is doing a little better.

    ReplyDelete

🕊
If comments disappear, please don't fret. A simple "hi" will do. The platform surely needs some maintenance.