#HolidayHope

[harmonyhealinghub]

The Widow's Winter Shaina Tranquilino November 14, 2024

The first snow of winter lay thick over Diane’s yard, blanketing the small house in a cold quietness. Diane stood by the window, her gaze lingering over the dark branches of the bare trees, coated in frost. This was her first winter alone. The weight of the season pressed heavily on her heart.

Her husband, Jack, had been gone for only a few months, but his absence felt like an eternity. Every small thing reminded her of him—the plaid throw on the couch, his books stacked by the fireplace, the snow shovel leaning against the porch that he would have wielded to clear the driveway. She had dreaded this time, imagining the loneliness of cold nights and quiet days.

But in the days that followed, something surprising began to happen.

It started with her neighbour, Meghan, who stopped by unannounced one icy afternoon with two steaming mugs of cocoa. They sipped the drinks by the fire, and Meghan shared stories of her late husband, chuckling as she described his quirks, his stubbornness, his kind heart. Diane found herself laughing, the sound almost foreign to her, yet comforting.

Days later, Joe, an older man from down the road, showed up with a box of firewood. “Figured you could use some more,” he said with a nod, avoiding eye contact as he stacked the logs by her door. Diane smiled, feeling a warmth that went deeper than gratitude.

As the weeks passed, the small acts of kindness continued. Ellen, a friend from her book club, came over one Sunday afternoon with a stack of novels and a bottle of wine, and they spent hours laughing and talking. Diane’s memories of Jack were there, but they no longer felt like weights around her heart—they felt like gentle reminders of love, of life.

On Christmas Eve, Diane’s little house filled with the warmth of friends, neighbours, and laughter. Meghan brought cookies, Joe made his famous stew, and Ellen read passages from one of the books. They toasted to love, to friends, and to the small acts of grace that made the cold winter days bearable.

Sitting by the fire that night, Diane realized she was no longer alone. Her grief was there, but so was something unexpected—a quiet, powerful gratitude. Winter had once seemed to her like a season of endings, but now it felt like a season of new beginnings, marked by the warmth of friends who had become her family.

For the first time since Jack’s passing, Diane felt at peace. Winter had come, but it had brought with it a new light. She knew that, somehow, Jack was a part of this, too—smiling with her, laughing with her, grateful with her. In that gentle realization, Diane’s heart filled with a warmth that would last through many winters to come.

[achou277-blog]

"My Ultimate Christmas Wish for All of You" #ChristmasWish #HolidayCheer #SpreadLove #JoyfulSeason #FestiveVibes #MerryChristmas #SeasonsGreetings #HappyHolidays #ChristmasSpirit #WishUponAStar #GiftsOfLove #MagicalMoments #CelebratingTogether #SharingLove #BlessingsForAll #ChristmasMagic #WarmWishes #PeaceAndJoy #HolidayHope #SantaClausIsComingToTown

[marcusmonroe22]

#writer #writersofinstagram #wordporn #waybackwednesday #perfect #designedforme #holidayhope #onedaysoon #hewrites #silentknight #darkknight #dreamweaver https://www.instagram.com/p/CXygUHyrEWK/?utm_medium=tumblr

[newsdurham]

Hayden Turcutte,4, pushed a teddy bear through the camera hole in the glass at the Tribute Communities Centre Dec. 2, during the 21st annual Teddy Bear Toss during the Oshawa Generals game. The annual campaign collects new teddy bears to be collected for the Holiday Hope program with the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation. Bears are tossed onto the ice after the first goal that the Oshawa Generals score in the game. December 2, 2018 Sabrina Byrnes/Metroland #teddybeartoss #gogensgo #holidayhope #durhamchildrensaid #oshawagenerals #giving #teddybear #photography #photojournalism (at Tribute Communities Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq-CPGYAo2n/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14mvvvkyjefup

[lubashivaya]

#MetaCauses ~ #WorldPeace 🌍🕊 #holidayhope 🍀 15.11.2022 "Sei que à tarde sob as árvores do azul.  Pressentes o espectro. Que oculta da vida que tens, o amor."  ~ Cyro Pimentel. 🌎🕊🌎🕊🌎🕊🌎🕊🌎🕊🌎🕊🌎🕊 #Repost @tinkahat —— tinkahat I have a small toy astronaut in my studio office. The astronaut is glued to the top of a table lamp. Just a few days ago I was watching on TV the latest atrocities going on in Ukraine. 🇺🇦 At some point I noticed the little astronaut and decided to draw it. As the drawing progressed I decided to make a statement about world peace and added in Eastern Europe as seen from space at night. After the drawing was complete I thought that it made a wistful, contemplative and hopeful statement about world peace. The drawing has been minted as an NFT (*) and made accessible to anyone who would like to repost it and also download it for free. I hope it strikes a chord and becomes a positive symbol for world peace with as many people as possible. (*) most welcome, papi @tinkahat!🙏🏾 🤎🌎🕊🤎🌎🕊🤎🌎🕊🤎🌎🕊🤎🌎🕊 🎶🎙✍️🏽 "In my heart" by @moby (em USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck_lg9SuqeH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wsbloyer]

So excited about this special tree and what it means. The Remember Tree is for those that have lost someone. Ornaments for people to write a name or names on for the Christmas season. #remember #lostlovedones #care #holidayhope (at Elevation Christian Church) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ft195Bqce/?igshid=16jwwncijplq0

[moonleaflove]

Hope helps the most when you simply hold onto it. If you’re struggling, hold on the tightest! Keep your mind steady in belief—brighter days lie ahead. Weave that single thread of hope into ALL you think, do and say, and live inside of the peace that comes with hope’s power. #liveinsidehope #hopebringspeace #threadofhope #dontlosehope #tuesdayblues #holdhopeinyourheart #holidayhope #hopeispowerful #hope #moonleaflove #brighterdaysahead #keepyourmindsteady 🍃💛🍃

[old-man-withers]

TONIGHT!!! So many artists and awesome vendors! It’s gonna be the best, don’t miss it! #oldmanwithers #holidayhop #galleryhop #ensotattoo #fleamarket #shopping #holiday #shortnorth #asseenincolumbus #columbusohio #art #gallery #party (at Enso Tattoo)

[earnmysong]

@ingridmusic summed this afternoon up pretty well: 'i have big feelings!' #holidayhop #fullorchestramode 💕🎄

[naturalelementsby-l-blog]

Shop Eco- Consciously This Season Natural Elements By L Copy & Paste Link To Order➤ https://Naturalelementsbyl.com FOLLOW ME @naturalelementsbyl WEBSITE LINK IN BIO⠀ FREE GIFT FROM CORK LIFE COLLECTION WITH 1st PURCHASE @prilaga #happyholidayseveryone #subscribe #holidaycheer #happyholidays2018 #holidayhope #happyholidaysga #happyholidaysbitches #happyholidaysvipclub #happyholidaysfromus #holidaydecor #happyholidayseason #happyholidaysfolks #happyholidaystome #happyholidays🎅 #christmas #happyholidaystoall #usa #happyholidays #msactivist #happyholidaysyall #happyholidayseverybody https://www.instagram.com/p/BqulpTmlump/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uyrsmku6igru

[buckienaked]

✊🏾 #Repost @views_andrestyles ・・・ Be at @viewsbar | 24200 Grandriver All Volunteers 8 or 9am Food Distribution Starts at 10am It’s not too late to donate money, goods, or services.. We will impact the culture, our neighborhood, and this city today! Thank you to everyone who participates... It’s our blessing to be a blessing! From the staff, partners, sponsors, donors and recipients may God Bless you... #HolidayHope #detroit #giveback #love #viewsbrothers https://www.instagram.com/p/BqXR65egwqO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16tnxx156mq7y

[loriglessner]

A very Merry Christmas to you. . . #christmas2017 #christmascactus #holidaywishes #holidayhope

[joyffree]

Join us for the #NewRelease Tour with #Giveaway

Holiday Hopes

A Starlight Inn Novel

by Jessica Anne Renwick

Genre: Sweet Holiday Romance

She's tethered to her past until he rescues the horse of her dreams . . .

Kelsey Simone can’t wait to have a tradition-filled family Christmas. When the vet school dropout’s sister invites her and their mom to stay at the idyllic Starlight Inn, Kelsey plans a holiday just like Grandma used to create in hopes of bringing their family together again. But she didn’t have a handsome stable manager with a Grinchy attitude on her Christmas list—nor the sick mare who reminds her of a past she’d rather forget.

Dane Clark has no time for seasonal frivolity. He has a stable to run, a lame horse to look after, and more than enough family drama to deal with. But the more the chatty guest with the pretty brown eyes and a way with horses gets under his skin, the harder it is to remember why he put himself out to pasture in the first place.

While helping the mare together, they start tearing down the fences of their pasts—until a storm hits and the Simone Family Christmas plans go awry. With the mare’s future in jeopardy, will Kelsey’s and Dane’s old wounds rear their heads, or can the warmth of Christmas melt their frosty hearts?

Holiday Hopes is the third title in the clean and wholesome Starlight Inn series. If you like flawed but hopeful heroes, charming small town romance, Christmas cheer, and family ties that sometimes bind, this is the book for you.

#SweetRomance #Holiday #Christmas #Romance #HolidayHopes #StarlightInn #Win $20 Amazon #BookTour #Giveaway #BookBoost #Sweet #Holiday #Romance #HolidayHopes #JessicaAnneRenwickAuthor

@SDSXXTours

@JessicaAnneRenwickAuthor #OnTour with @SilverDaggerBookTours | #SilverDaggerBookTours

[rdtechy]

Tweeted

Hope everyone is having a blast getting ready to celebrate their holiday! Here's a *chill* song to help you enjoy the cold weather ^_^ Not apologizing for the bad pun ;p https://t.co/tmdpT2gdAM #puns #chill #December #holiday #HolidayHop #indiegame #indiedev #penguin #space #fun

— SpacePenguin (@space_pengu) December 10, 2017

[lubashivaya]

#holidayhope 🍀 15.11.2022 Claiming for #globalpeace 🌍✍️🏽🕊 #Repost @tinkahat —— tinkahat I have a small toy astronaut in my studio office. The astronaut is glued to the top of a table lamp. Just a few days ago I was watching on TV the latest atrocities going on in Ukraine. At some point I noticed the little astronaut and decided to draw it. As the drawing progressed I decided to make a statement about world peace and added in Eastern Europe as seen from space at night. After the drawing was complete I thought that it made a wistful, contemplative and hopeful statement about world peace. The drawing has been minted as an NFT (*) and made accessible to anyone who would like to repost it and also download it for free. I hope it strikes a chord and becomes a positive symbol for world peace with as many people as possible. (*) @tinkahat =》 I am definitely willing to download that #NFT for free! Please, let me know how. Thx!!! Luiz.- (em USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck_f-VLv3GU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=