Kimberley Barker

Its New Years Eve! I love this day, not only because it's my birthday and it is my day to celebrate the fact that I was born to the most amazing mother! but it' also a day of reflection.  A day to remember all the accomplishments and challenges of the year before.I have had many of them this year.. both accomplishments and challenges.  There were many, many happy moments and some really tearful days.  But, as my dad once reminded me - "joy cometh in the morning." I won't go into what the details of these ups and downs were [...]

I felt really compelled to write this piece tonight as the winter silence outside is only broken by the distant sound of a train and perhaps a few cars on the road.  The deep, dark, midnight blue of the sky is the backdrop for the sliver moon and the brightly shining stars. Christmas Day has passed.  That saddens me to some degree. I look forward to that day all year long. The magical spirit of the season brightens my spirits and things somehow appear a bit more hopeful. The hustle and bustle of the gift buying, the wrapping, the family [...]

This night is truly Holy.  It gives me shivers every year to celebrate the birth of Christ.   There is a sacredness about it. Ever since I was  a little girl, I have had a close relationship with God.  It was my fourth grade sunday school teacher who was my spiritual leader and mentor.  I think of her often and somedays I even hope that she would speak to me as angels do.  For it was she who inspired me to begin my writing career.  No matter what your religious beliefs are, one must feel the magic that is sent through the [...]

I am so happy and excited yet sad at the same time.  I love this time of year.  Full of magic,love,forgiveness and joy.  My christmas wish this year is that this feeling would last throughout the next eleven months and the earth would feel the love of this magical spirit.The next few days of my life will be filled with wonderful family and friends . For this , my heart is full of gratitude.  I cannot imagine my life without all of them in it.  Each person unique unto themselves.  They are my christmas gifts.  I wish they all knew how [...]

Its five days until Christmas. And for most of us the stress mounts with each day.  I encourage you to create something different in your life this year.  Create a sense of peace and calm in your life.  Take a few moments out of each day to reflect and meditate on what is the true spirit of this season - love, forgiveness, kindness.  The gifts will get wrapped, the tree will be decorated, the food will be prepared for the holiday meal.  It all gets done, it always does, but at what expense? I encourage you this year, to give yourself [...]

I have asked myself this question many times over the years and I am not certain that I have"the answer."  But what I do know is that this time of year seems to call out the deep seated feelings people have inside themselves.  If someone is lonely, the lonelines appears to feel that much deeper. If someone feels lost,without purpose - the world with all of its hustle and bustle at this time of year seems to swirl around them while they are in the middle trying to figure out where to land.  If someone is feeling unloved, suddenly all [...]

A friend of mine sent me a "chain text" yesterday.  It went something like this:   I sent an angel to watch over you last night and that the angel had come back because "angels dont watch over angels!" The text went onto say that Twenty angels are IN your world.  Ten of them are sleeping, nine of them are playing, one is reading this message...Send this to ten friends including me if I don't get it back guess I'm not one of them. As SOON as you get five replies, someone you love will quietly surprise you xxx :) God has seen YOU struggling with something. God says its over.  A [...]

Christmas cookies have been a tradition in my family ever since I can remember.  My mother used to make dozens and dozens of all different kinds.  And to this day, I make this a priority on the "christmas to-do list" every year.  I love spending time in my kitchen, it gives me great peace and grounding.Our family's holiday favorites are M&M cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms and Chocolate Walnut Balls.  The house would smell soo good as my Mom baked each batch to perfection.  However, she wanted to freeze them and save them for guests and family to indulge in during [...]

Tonight I don't write about traditions.  Tonight I write about matters of the heart.  My heart.  You see,  I have always believed in the magic of Christmas.  There is something in the air during the four weeks of December that is unique unto itself.  We give a little more, care a little deeper, share a little more freely and love a bit more unconditionally.This Christmas my wish is to find love.   The love that has been waiting for me all these years. A love that is so deep and connected that we just know.  We just know we are meant for [...]

What ever happened to the Christmas card that used to have a hand-written address on the front of the envelope and a special, heartfelt note inside?I pondered this thought tonight as I was looking over my Christmas to-do list and writing out my christmas cards was still in the top five things yet to be done.  I really enjoy sitting down with a steamy, hot cup of  Baileys and coffee, my pen and a box of Christmas cards.  I set aside time each year to write a special note to each one of my friends that I have not seen [...]