Before I forget the post link above is about a lesson I learned in 2017 when a Jewish friend invited me to a lighting of the menorah candle service. It was a heartwarming experience so I wrote about it. Sadly that friend is passed but he remains an inspiration to me as he always strove to do his best. He would arrive at his bakery at 3 a.m. and he made amazing breads which I especially enjoyed dipping them into his homemade soups.

I hope you enjoy “A Lesson about Light I learned this week” it by clicking into it; it was originally posted December 21, 2017 and Ben was a special baker and man.

Dear WordPress friends, my morning today started when I sat in the dark living room and soaked up the glow from our Christmas tree.

It was a brief time of contemplation which quickly lead me sending off a few notes of gratitude to people in my life.

The trees are bare of leaves this time of year and bending from the stiff breeze so I made some holiday spice tea (it has a sweet cinnamon taste) and decided to tackle some of my overdue reading of blog posts. Perhaps this evening will lend itself to a ride and this afternoon a walk along Okanagan lake.

Jane’s post “Peace on earth, goodwill towards all” was the perfect inspiration for my day. Link HERE

Jane’s post was of light, candles, and hope. Hope is so important and as we head into 2025 I hope we can all look forward to it seeing opportunity, and invitations rather than something other.

It seems to me that I rarely go a week without telling my “Two Percent story” and that perhaps is my “candle” story. Link Here

I told the 2% story to an IT person for Interior Health last week and it lead to a chat where we will meet in person and have lunch in the New Year. We had so much in common as both of us grew up in Vancouver in the 70’s and were even carhops at White Spot (different locations).

I told it again when I said yes to a first time experience in a radio play on Valentines Day in 2024. It was very fun and I met the author of the radio play ten minutes before we recorded the play. A treat and it turned well and it lead to an on-air interview where I told the “Two Percent” story again – all about hope that my wife inspired when I told her my doctor’s news.

It’s December 24th, the stores are filled with men doing their last minute shopping. Perhaps the stores should be “men only” on December 24th. 🙂

In the last two weeks we have had beautiful weather and nothing like the minus temperatures that my dear relatives face in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

It’s been glorious to be out and enjoy on my bike on a walk – see below.

A few days ago I was crunching snow and admiring the calm lake waters and wondering if the lake birds were loons as I watched them dive. Some other ones in black and white and I wished again for a real telescopic lens on my camera.

It’s a mild winter here and I was riding my bike on ice free streets last night in the dark. ♥

I was lit up in lights on my jacket and on my bike. I was riding with my son singing “Hark the Herald Angels sing” with a big smile on my face (behind the balaclava which kept it warm).

The pictures above are all local and taken recently. The light tunnel at the bottom is a delight to walk through and I do it often.

Thank you readers for inspiring me in 2024 to smile with your posts and comments. I feel that if I had the opportunity to chat with you in person I would feel immediately comfortable because I already know you a tiny bit.

As I scoot about my day and week – I will remember Jane’s invitation to be a candle and take a moment to shine by slowing down, taking a breath and soaking in the glow of what and who I truly have to give gratitude for in the past and always the hope of what lies ahead.

♥♥♥ David