Time for reflection

Time for reflection

Hi there.
Well here it is, Merry Christmas!
As you know, my Mutti is German, so
we celebrate Christmas this evening here – on the 24th.
The house is filling up with family,
busy fingers are last minute wrapping,
and I shall soon leap into action in the kitchen and serve our traditional German meal of 
Bratwurst, Stampfkartoffel und Sauerkraut.
But before I shoot off,
I would like to stop for a minute and think about those of us 
who aren’t in a good space,
who are very ill, or whose loved ones are poorly.
Those who are alone, with no family;
who struggle with this time of year because it isn’t happy for them,
because somebody has gone on ahead, 
and Christmas brings up too many memories. 
I know many of you personally, and we speak often. 
And just because I’m tearing around this week and the kids are home and life is all of a bustle here,
please know that I think about you more than you know,
and how I wish things were different for you.
My parents and I were talking this morning, over breakfast,
and it hit me how lucky lucky lucky I am to be able to do that. 
So this evening at 9pm, 
I shall quietly say a little hello to you in my head,
and wish you a peaceful Christmas Eve.

Love and Peace,
Barb
xxxx

86 thoughts on “Time for reflection

  1. Merry Christmas Barbara and to all your family too. Thank you for making my life better this year your Groovi products have givin me the chance to run away from myself and my illness so for that i will always be grateful xxxx

  2. Beautiful sentiments Barbara, as always. Have a fabulous evening with your family and friends. We should all take a moment to think of those for whom Christmas is not quite such a joyous occasion. I for one and very lucky to have my family around me and my two gorgeous grandsons will be here with us on Boxing Day. xxxx

  3. Merry Christmas to you and all your family. I'm just taking 5 with a cup of mint tea in the middle of Xmas food preparation. Counting my blessings tired but warm and breathing lol..
    Enjoy joy your family time see you in 2017 xx

  4. Lovely words for this time of year, let's hope peace really does come to many. Excitement here as we await our 5th grandchild, due yesterday! Who knows could be a Christmas baby. Peace and Good wishes to you all. Xx

  5. I am still trying to catch up with my list, my grandson came over and did so much I wanted to do but couldnt. So I too am blessed with a lovely family and will all be here starting from tonight.I need just 5 minutes for myself.will think of all my friends hopefully sharing Christmas with a loved one.

  6. Thank you Barbara , wonderful post as usual , don't know what I would do without your blog every day . Enjoy all your Christmas festivities with your family. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and all at Clarity x

  7. Thank you for a lovely post. Happy Christmas to you and everyone involved in the Clarity family. I hope that you have a happy, successful and peaceful New Year xxx

  8. Hi Barbara, just a big wish for you and yours have a good time and thank you all you and your team have achieved this year.
    I came out of hospital on Thursday after having a hernia operation what was waiting to great me was my monthly club parcel oh how it cheered me up.
    I have a loving family and friends to look after me and so thankful for my lot.
    To you and all on this blog have a good time the best you can and I am sure you will bring us all wonderful things to look forward to in the new year.
    A happy and peaceful Christmas and new year to you all.
    Lynn xx

  9. Thank you for such a lovely thoughtful post. It did bring a tear or two but I want to thank you for all the support you have given me over the last three years. It means more than you could ever know. Thanks to you, I have met such a lot of very special people who have added to the support. Being a Clarity fan really feels like and wonderful extended family where there is always someone to listen. I am lucky to have a wonderful daughter and son who are always there for me, so I am not totally alone. Enjoy every moment of your lovely family Christmas. Love and best wishes to you all. Maggie xxx
    PS I hope everyone reading this has the best Christmas possible, and remember there are so many of us here if you need to talk.

  10. What beautiful words Barbara, very touching . I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a healthy new year. My sister struggles every day with her health and with out health you have nothing.
    Lots of love
    Trudy xx

  11. I hope you all have a lovely evening and a very Merry Christmas. You are fortunate to have your parents to celebrate with you, I lost mine a long time ago but I have just been out and bought a couple of bunches of solei d'or as my mum used to bring me some when she came to stay on Christmas Eve so now I buy them and the smell brings her back to me. But in compensation I have the next generation to spend Christmas with and that's magic. We have had a lovely sunny day here in Cornwall, almost like spring,very lucky. xx

  12. Thankyou for all you have done to create the amazing Clarity community that supports us in lots of ways. My life is very much richer for the experiences at workshops and at Layburn and all the friendships I am building through them and online.
    My husband thanks you for my small bank account, over flowing craft stuff and the peace and quiet he gets when I am crafting with all my beautiful Clarity products!
    Have a fantastic time with your family, creating new memories to cherish in the coming year. xx

  13. Aw, brings a wee tear to my eye and lump in my throat does that, Barbara special lady, to be thinking about others at this family celebration time for you. I'm thinking about you too, knowing today is your Christmas, and hoping you are all having the besest time ever.

    Merry Christmas to you Barbara, Dave and all your family.
    Merry Christmas to all on the blog, hope you all can celebrate/have some special time with your loved ones and friends.

    Love Brenda xx

    Barbara has had a similar thought to me. I was going to ask if anyone was up for taking a minute out of your festivities at some point tomorrow to give a thought/say a wee prayer for, and send positive energy to everyone in the world who is worse off than we are? Xx

  14. Thankyou for all you have done to create the amazing Clarity community that supports us in lots of ways. My life is very much richer for the experiences at workshops and at Layburn and all the friendships I am building through them and online.
    My husband thanks you for my small bank account, over flowing craft stuff and the peace and quiet he gets when I am crafting with all my beautiful Clarity products!
    Have a fantastic time with your family, creating new memories to cherish in the coming year. xx

  15. Wishing you and yours a peaceful Happy Christmas. You are such a kind, thoughtful lady. So generous with you time and your talents. I am lucky to have a loving caring family with me this year. But I will be remembering those who have left us and those less fortunate.
    Peace and blessings to all x

  16. A beautiful but poignant blog. Yes, we must think of those who aren't as fortunate as we are at this time of year and I'm sure we all will, not a happy time for everyone. Just want you to know how much we appreciate you doing this blog, it has been a lifeline for many of us. You are one in a million with all the help and inspiration that you give us, sales and offers that are second to none. no other company would come anywhere near you on your service, friendly staff who go that extra mile for us. I wish you Barbara, Dave and all of your family, friends and splendid team a wonderfully Happy Healthy and Peaceful Christmas and all the very best for 2017. xxx

  17. Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes, friedliches und gesundes Neues Jahr liebe Barbara.
    Wenn wir auch nicht immer einer Meinung sind, ich schätze Sie sehr.
    Um es mit Loriot zu sagen, ein Tag ohne Ihr blog ist möglich, aber sinnlos.
    Haben Sie schöne Tage mit Ihrer Familie.

    Merry Christmas to everbody.
    Bonne Noel
    Buon Natale
    Feliz Navidad

  18. Hi everyone, just to say Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for all your kind comments throughout the year. This time last year we were preparing for hubby to start his radiotheraphy treatment in January, we came through all that fairly unscathed and must think ourselves very lucky. xxx.

  19. und viele gruesse fuer euch auch. i hope that is correct german! i think it is greatthat you celebrate on the 24th. i know thatthere are several countries on the continent that do that. hugs xx

  20. Thank you Barbara for your heartfelt good wishes. Your little video was lovely, and if that was Dave playing in the background, that was a joy too.
    Anyway, to you and yours and all at Clarity God's blessings and good wishes for 2017 .
    Love to all. Maureen x.

  21. Thank you Barbara for the lovely video and your good wishes. The beautiful musical accompaniment was very moving too.
    I hope you and all your family enjoy a wonderful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.
    May Clarity go from strength to strength.
    Tonbridge Sue

  22. Merry Christmas Barbara and a happy new year x
    I for one won't be sorry to see the back of this one.
    I'm looking forward to my family being together tomorrow as it doesn't happen very often. We have a few empty seats this year so it will be hard x

  23. What a lovely blog Barbara. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2017. I too will give a prayer at 9pm to you and all our blog friends. Love and Hugs xxx

    Wishing all of my blog friends a lovely, peaceful day. Love and Hugs to you all xxx

  24. May we all have a Peaceful and Harmonious Christmas ! Thank you all, for your contributions to the blog, your loyal custom, support and friendship throughout the year…. xx

  25. Thanks for that Barbara. I lost my beloved mum on Christmas Day last year. She was 94 and in poor health but it was still very sad. Your blog today was so nice and caring. Just what I needed. I too will be thinking of those less fortunate than me. Have a lovely Christmas. Love. Rachel X

  26. Happy Christmas Barbara to you and your family
    It is just me and my 3 cats at Christmas now, wish my husband and dad were still here in person but they will always have a place in my heart no matter what.
    So at Christmas I always buy myself a present from each of them.
    Can I also say a huge thank you Barbara for all the lovely groovi plates you have brought us this year, and to your fabulous clarity team nothing is to much trouble for them.
    It was lovely to finally meet you at Harrogate in October, hopefully they will do that exhibition again next year.
    Have a lovely time tonight hope you all get some lovely presents.
    All the best xx

  27. Wishing everyone here on the bestest blog/bestest blog family a Christmas that brings you what you need most. Whether it be the latest gadget, more crafty goods or for so many better health, friendship and love. Lynne m xxx

  28. How kind of you to take time out from your family Christmas to comment on your blog.To be thinking of us all as well means so much. Have a wonderful evening. I will be thinking of you and your family at 9pm.xx

  29. Like you Barbara we are blessed to have my Mum and StepDad with us (both 86 yrs young!!) for Christmas Day, also our two grown up children and our joy a Grandson who is 3 and likely to be the only one we get……….a Happy Christmas to you and your family and to all the Clarity family with lots of love from Jackie and a Groovi John xx ps we do think of others less fortunate than ourselves xx

  30. Hi Barb,
    Very thoughtful blog tonight. I hope you and your family have a wonderful night and at 9pm, I will join in thinking of everyone on the blog and especially to those who are not as fortunate as Dave and I. I wish everyone on this wonderful blog a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year. Love and hugs to all Alison xxx

  31. Thanks for your kind words and rememberance of others not quite so lucky. But hey, we must be thankful for what we have. Hoping you Barb and your lovely family have a fabulous Christmas & a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
    Luv Yvonne x

  32. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas Barbara, and I guess that was Dave playing the guitar so beautifully on your littled video piece and how lovely to see all those fabulous cards. I hope you have a lovely traditional German meal this evening and I say a Happy Christmas to everyone here too and also personally know of several people for whom Christmas will not be so happy having just lost a loved one, so I will be thinking of them too. x

  33. How lovely to see your face and hear your message. Thank you so much. The music was enchanting. Enjoy your Christmas with all the family. I am looking forward to seeing you sometime, somewhere but you are always dear and near to me.
    Lots of love
    Anne (Reading)

  34. Thankyou Barbara. And a fabulous Christmas wishes to all yours, and everyone else. At present my mother is extremely ill, and recently has come to live out her last days with me, so that she can be surround by her family and also her good friends. There is never a good time for this, but Christmas makes it doubly so. So a special Christmas wish to all those who are about to, or already have lost a loved one at this time. Lots of love. Xxx

  35. As I read your blog I got to the end and shed a tear it is now 9.09 and I thought of you saying your silent prayer thank you Barbara xxx
    And Merry Christmas to you all

  36. Dear Barbara your messaged brought tears to my eyes so thoughtful to think of others so many beautiful works of art to look at may I say a very big thank you so heartfelt for you bringing us this blog it has kept me going each day so many wonderful crafting people the groovi has given me a new skill that I can do anywhere.
    I send Christmas hugs and lots of wishes to you Dave and all your family xxx💐

  37. Hi Barbara, such a thoughtful blog at a time that can be frenetic to say the least. Much appreciated. May I wish you all at Clarity and all readers a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. X

  38. Hope your meal went well lots fun laughter it's so special being all together I always shed a few tears and find it hard as Sandie just loved Christmas she new once we had a holiday in summer she would start asking for the tree 🌲 and by her birthday October we gave in and her pink tree would be up in her bedroom but would be totally happy till the big one was up she used to hug it every day but boy did I feel guilty when we packed it away she would have such a sad face. In few hours of to Rebecca's for our Christmas dinner and seen the grandchildren opening all there presents may be noise as Rosy wanted a flute. Enjoy your Christmas Day everyone sending hugs and lots love clarity is such an amazing family lots e you all xx

  39. Liebe Barbara,
    ach wie schön, dass ihr bei euch die deutsche Weihnachtstradition beibehaltet.
    Wir haben hier auch ein Weihnachtsessen und dies gibt es jedes Jahr am 24. Dezember schon viele Jahre lang (und es sind nicht Würstchen mit Kartoffelsalat).
    Ich wünsche dir und deinen Lieben eine schöne Weihnachtszeit und lasst es euch gut gehen.
    Herzliche Grüße sendet Sabine

  40. MERRY CHRISTMAS Barbara and to all your family

    Beautiful and thoughtful words from your heart and very much appreciated, thank you

    Continue having a great time with your family

    June x

  41. Merry Christmas Barbara beautiful blog today straight from your heart have a great time with your family and wish you all love health and happiness oh and another great year for Clarity God bless you all…love Dot.xx

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