Lady Traveler ~ No place like home for Christmas

Lady Traveler is home for the holydays!  

I'm re-posting this blog from last year (2016) because the message is the same.  

Enjoy, and I'll chat with you next year.  2018!

Christmas in our first South Carolina home in Fort Mill, 2006
The mural painting was in the house when we bought it.
The canal reminded us of when we lived in Uppsala, Sweden in 1991-92
so I kept it and created a little cafe where the Le aRtist's Studio
met each month to share our dreams. 

There's no place like home for the holidays,

No matter how far away you roam...

Fa-la-la-la-la, la la la la!


On the other hand...
For a few moments while we were on the road

traveling cross country in Moon River, our 40-foot motor home,

the thought came to me,

I could do this...full-time.

Everyone is so busy at home...

No one would miss me.

Everywhere Moon River took us,

the wide open roads seemed to be 

beckoning me,

from Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri

across I-70 through Kansas and Colorado.

Even on the I-15 from Utah to California,

the desert, the hills, the blue Pacific

I heard them calling...

Come, stay with us.

Like my Daddy, I have a spirit of wanderlust.

I'm a happy wanderer.

A gilded gypsy.

A vagabond.
A sojourner.

I've traveled the USA by bus, bike, train, plane, car and RV

HOWEVER, like my sweet southern Mama,

I'm a homebody.

I love to nest.

I adore my little treasures

from around the world.

Russia, Siberia. Latvia. Estonia.
Turkey. Greece.

Sweden. Norway. Finland.

England. France. Spain. Italy. Germany.

Israel.

There are more countries but I can't seem to remember.

That's what treasures are for, 

to remind us of those places where we first saw them, brought them home, and 

found a special place for each one.

beLeaf in your dreams and they will come true.
Believe.

Some day I might have to part with these treasures, but not today.
And the highways and byways will have to wait.
Because for now, I'm singing ...


There's no place like home for the holydays,
where
family and friends gather
to celebrate
the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.


No matter what you believe,
I wish you oceans of holyday blessings!


And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son,
and thou shall call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people
from their sins.
Matthew 1:21


and He still does.

Lady on the Sea is available:

www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

sharonleaf.com

I Dreamed I Traveled to Paris ~ Part 2

NOW, moving right along ... 

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel

until he comes home and rests his head on 

his old, familiar pillow.

There is the city life,
and there is the country life.

I like the city, but I love the countryside.

France has the best of both worlds

and for eight days I experienced both.

It was a breath of fresh air to leave Paris for a day

and travel through the Seine Valley

to the village of Giverny.

Claude Monet's home in the village of Giverny, France

Monet Gardens, Giverny, France

Monet Gardens, Giverny, France

Meanwhile, back in the city ...

Paris Opera Garnier

                                    Paul McCartney performed at this beautiful opera house.

I would have bought tickets if he had been in town.

Oh well.  

I shall be content with memories of Garth Brooks in Las Vegas.

When I ask someone, "How was your trip?"
I'm disappointed when they answer, 

"It was okay. Actually, a waste of time and money."

How sad.

Every trip has its ups and downs.

Choose to embrace the ups, and let go of the downs.

That way, you will have sweeter memories.

On the other hand, I'm disappointed to arrive at a destination

that everyone has exclaimed,

"Oh, it's perfect!"

when in reality I'm thinking, No its not!

There are usually downsides on every journey.

When we were in Costa Rica in May the mosquitoes followed us, 

along with the humidity.

As for Paris? Well, the crowds were bothersome; followed us everywhere, 

taking away from the romance and ambiance of the beautiful city.

And I will share this fact with those who ask

in order to prepare them ahead of time.

However, I still choose to cling to my fond memories.

And I close by saying with a sigh,

There is no place like home.

So, wherever you travel,
whether to the market or to another country,
Think of each journey as a fond memory.

Now I must fly away!
Until we meet again, 
I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings!

I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content.

Philippians 4:11-12 NIV

www.sharonleaf.com