Kimberley Barker

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 [...]

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." ~ Charles Schulz (1922-2000), American cartoonist 'Peanuts'. So, as I write this Christmas blog, I am reminded of the Charlie Brown Christmas special that is aired each year.  It warms my heart - why? because it reminds me of being a child all over again and more importantly, it reminds me of the love Charlie Brown had for that scant, almost barren tree.  As we celebrate this season of giving, let us be reminded of those less fortunate, those who might just need a hug, or a warm meal or a [...]

What are the memories that you all have the night before Christmas? Well..my sister and i would think about Christmas Eve for days before it happened!  In fact, one of the fondest memories I have is of her and I drawing out a map that would lead us from our bedroom, down the stairs, to the Christmas tree discovering which presents were ours.  And sometimes we would even try to rattle them a bit to see if we could hear what was inside!Each year, we would get out a piece of paper and a pencil and draw out which stairs [...]

I thought for quite awhile about what tonights blog should be.  And then it came to me.  The tradition of sharing ones favorite books as gifts each year to  special people in your life that you feel would  need them most. How could I forget that as an author? Each year, I think of the people in my life and what their hearts really need for Christmas.  Books are marvelous things, amazing how they can heal, inspire and comfort.I have many favorites that include: Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach,  A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and The Laws [...]

Yes Virgina, there is a Santa Claus.  Believing.  Do you believe in Santa? in Christmas Miracles? I have always loved the Christmas season - it fills my heart with joy.  I even got married in December, many years ago. My husband was my christmas miracle that year.  I had waited a long time for him.  He was and still is a good man.  We are no longer married to each other, but it is still something that I believed with all my heart would happen someday and it did.  God answers our prayers in ways we can't even fathom sometimes.As a young [...]

Believe it or not there was a time when there wasn't 250 some channels to chose from on TV.  There is probably more than that now, but I don't watch much television so I am not certain.  When I was a child there were only three or four major stations.  Each Christmas my sister, brothers and I would anxiously await the christmas specials.  My mom would scope out the paper for the days they were on and on those days, we would happily get our pajamas on early so that we were ready when it came on.Our favorite was of [...]

It would be right about this time that my Mom would ask my brothers, sister and I for the infamous "christmas list."  When I was a child, the toy commercials waited until the day after thanksgiving and the stores would be waiting to bring out their holiday wares that weekend as well.  That's not true anymore is it? Why is everything so rushed? Why can't we slow our world down to savor each of the holidays as they come and relish those times? They only come once a year.  I digress, I'm sorry.  Back to the childhood christmas list.  We [...]

So, my friends, I decided it would be a silver and gold themed Christmas tree this year!  And I have invited my girlfriend and her daughter to assist in the creation today!  I am curious to see what this collaborative effort will look like.  The thought of it just makes me smile.And yes, when it is all done, I will defnitely share the pictures with all of you.  What will be your inspired tree this year?  Will you invite some special people into your family holiday traditions? Our family has always opened our home and holiday celebrations to friends, especially [...]

So what does everyone do the day after Christmas? Shop? Eat Turkey sandwiches? Well, not me!  I think about the Christmas decorating theme for this holiday season and get the house and Christmastree decorated.  Yes, I might eat some left over turkey while decorating but my focus is most certainly on Christmas!I have to hand it to my Mom yet one more time as she started this tradition.  My mom would decorate every room in the house, even the bathrooms.  She would start early in the morning on Friday and would work right through to the evening.  And the kicker was, [...]

Ever since I can remember my family watches the Macys Day Parade on this day.  It has been a tradition since I was a little girl and I am so happy that my nieces and nephews cherish that holiday event as well.  When I was a little girl, I remember my parents turning it on and letting us eat our bowl of cereal in the living room watching the parade while they prepared the turkey.The smells of pies and stuffing were still lingering in the house from the night before and now the smell of turkey would join them.  We [...]