Christmas Always Finds Me

For My Mother

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

What if Christmas, he thought, ...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Christmas Always Finds Me

- Ingrid Andress -

Is it too late to celebrate Christmas?

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill,

to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”

― Calvin Coolidge

Hello Beautiful World!

Happy Wednesday to all. I've decided that it's never too late to celebrate my mother's favorite

time of the year, Christmas.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”

― Hamilton Wright Mabie

Since my mother's passing back in April 2017, Christmas has become the hardest time of the year for me.

I go into deep depressions and anger. I truly become the Grinch during the holidays.

Many times I wished that I could just fall asleep during that time and wake up when everything Christmas-related

has been completely cleared out, and no sign of it is left behind.

It is crazy how my mind works, since my mother loved Christmas, and she seemed to always be the happiest

around that time of the year. But really, my mother was always the happiest person I knew,

kind-hearted and so full of love and joy for life that it was hard not to get contagious

by her beautiful soul.

Now, the happy memories of my mother so lovingly celebrating Christmas are bittersweet.

I smile and cry, and cry and smile, and sadly, crying beats the smiles because I know I can

never have her again in my life to celebrate Christmas together.

“Christmas ghosts visit

rearranging emotions

tears waltz among smiles”

― Susie Clevenger

My Steppenwolf tries to cheer me up every Christmas by decorating our home with

lights, poinsettias, and a Christmas tree, among other things. If he plays Christmas music, I mute it, and I learned to ignore all the holiday decor as if it were invisible to me. Every year, he tries to talk me

into opening my heart again to this beautiful holiday and letting the Christmas spirit in, unsuccessfully!

And unsuccessfully, he had been all these years until now. This past Christmas, my husband said something to me that I am sure he has said to me every year, but I had dismissed his words as he was saying them. This time I listened.

"Baby, honor your mother by celebrating Christmas, which she loved so much."

That's all he said, and his words were perfect and enough.

they gave me room to think and fill the rest once I let them into my heart.

They made me think that my mother is in every Christmas light and in every note and lyric of a Christmas song. She smiles through every happy smile on people's faces during the holidays.

My mother is the most alive during the holidays, and she has been waiting for me to continue to

celebrate all Christmases together. So I have decided that in my mother's memory, I will continue to honor her by celebrating Christmas with a heart full of joy and love, for her and the holiday.

Merry Christmas my Virita, my beautiful mother!

“Want to keep Christ in Christmas?

Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted,

care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

― Steve Maraboli

Lori Novo

♥

Credits

VCO ~ JANA Hair ● :: pm :: Vixen Outfit

Hell Of A Journey

“Butterflies are beautiful,

but the process of emerging from the chrysalis and spreading your wings can hurt like f*cking hell.

But still, you will survive the transformation (over and over again) and you will fly.

Remember this when it hurts the most.

This is the metamorphosis, the going down to liquid, and the rising again.

It’s no joke – but damn, it’s one hell of a journey.”

― Jeanette LeBlanc

Ummet Ozcan X Otyken Altay

My eyes can only see as far as I allow them.

It is fear that sets the limit to how far I can go, causing blindness to what lies ahead.

Fear of the unknown is what deprives me of experiencing and enjoying new and different gifts

that await me beyond the boundary line.

These precious gifts that are on the other side of my comfort zone are tools to help me improve my life.

But what if I get hurt in the process? 

That is the fear in me speaking again,

limiting me, stopping me, dominating me.

Fear is a disability that imprisons my soul to a non-growing state of mind.

How little I am for listening to the fear that lives inside my head, when I could be growing

and growing and roaming with the giants. Instead, I hide under their shadows.

So I break the chains in my head that connect me to my fears.

I set myself free and accept the challenge.

I will go as far as I have to go, enduring any pain that may come my way,

with my head held high and proud. Undefeated, strong, and brave.

And I will grow like a tall Buloke, with iron running through my veins.

I will be the fiercest storm,

And I will be the gentle butterfly emerging from the pain of transformation

like a queen, with a smile and ready to take over the world.

No more tears of pain or fear. Only tears to water the earth below my feet

to help the flower grow.

One day, I will arrive at the final destination triumphant and joyous.

Wearing scars and heartbreaks like medals of honor.

And I will be pronounced a survivor, and a brave warrior, but never a victim.

What a hell of a journey!

Thanks For Reading!

Lori Novo

♥

Credits

(NEW) - :: pm :: Sloane Coat -Folk Edition @ Anthem Event (Ends January 30 / Gallery)

VCO ~ SOONI Hair ● KUNGLERS - Boheme Earrings ● KUNGLERS - Chaya Necklace

Memories Made

Ummm... does my face look like a chubby roach?

Once again, I am starting to see Lori looking like a bug. I don't know why. [Gregorina Crescendo]

I have always had this problem with Lori's face, no matter what I do or how much I change it,

after a while, the bug resemblance comes afloat, and once again I feel like a roach or a bee, etc.

Anyway, let's move on...

Lil Darlin

ZZ Ward ft. The O'My's

Earlier today, I was remembering something my mother once said to me.

She said it was sad to see how people on the internet spent more time with the people they met there

instead of spending more time with their loved ones in real life. At the time, I really didn't

understand or truly give much importance to her words. You see, my mother was full of life, and there

wasn't an ounce of stillness in her soul. She always wanted to be out, enjoying life and making

everyday unforgetable. Every day, she would come up with some exciting things that we could do

together. For example, once she dragged me to a dance competition to see who could dance the longest.

Even though neither one of us won, she surely beat me by far. Another idea she came up with was to go

to a dollar store and buy as many flowers as we could and then visit the cemetery and leave a flower and

a prayer on every grave that seemed to be forgotten. That was my mother, full of life, with beautiful and

fun ideas. Now that she is gone, I miss our adventures together. My mother wasn't just the best mother,

but she was truly my best friend. I adored her and admired her and only wish I could live my life by her

example.

In the last years of her life, I found myself spending more time than I should have in Second Life

instead of giving my mother more time. I regret it so much, and the saddest part is that I can't go

back and fix the mistake. That time is lost forever.

I just hope that no one makes the same mistake I made. The people in our real lives are a priority.

They must come first, always! They deserve our time in full, with no rushes or limitations.

They are too valuable to be given scraps of our time and attention.

"Oh, please, please, please,

Quit dragging my heart through them coals,

Oh, please, please, please,

Stop trying to fix it 'cause, baby, it's broke,

When it's late at night and you call me,

Cause I've got another man fixing my blues,

You should never, never worry 'bout nothing, baby,

'Cause I'll never love someone new the way I love you..."

Beautiful lyrics from today's song Lil Darlin by ZZ Ward.

But I think it should be...

"Oh, please, please, please,

Quit looking at my face cause I look like a roach,

Oh, please, please, please..."

Anyways, TGIF everyone. Get ready for this weekend's specials, and don't forget to check

for earned credit at your favorite stores that you can use towards this weekend's purchases like

TRUTH among many others. Have fun everyone!

Over & Out

Lori Novo

♥

ON SALE THIS WEEKEND

Kheops  /\ - ALUNA - Dress - Camel

Kheops  /\- ALUNA - JACKET - Chocolate

Kheops  /\ - ALUNA - BOOTS - Brown

Other Credits

VCO ~ ARINA Hair ● VOBE - Bilion Earrings Gold

Sister, You've Been On My Mind

For my SL sister Valki <3

Flickr

I met my SL sister Valki through one of my closest friends at the time about nine years ago.

He had just started dating her and was so excited to introduce her to me. I waited for them 

at my home and when they arrived I received them both with open arms. I was so happy to

finally meet this beautiful girl which I had heard so many wonderful things about. However,

she was very quiet and I immediately sensed her distancing herself from us. Of course, my

first thought was that for some reason, she did not like me.

The Color Purple - Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)

I could have not been more wrong.

Actually, she was nervous about meeting me but the more I talked to her, the more she started to see me

for who I really was, just a simple girl.

Soon, very soon after, we became good friends, then best girly friends, and finally SL sisters.

Sister,

You've been on my mind

Sister, we're two of a kind

So sister,

I'm keepin' my eyes on you

I betcha think

I don't know nothin'

But singin' the blues

Oh sister, have I got news for you

I'm somethin'

I hope you think

That you're somethin' too.

-song lyrics

She is the sister who could never be replaced. The measure in which she has shown her love for me 

is beyond any measure. She always wants to protect me from any sorrow even when she is hurting

herself, she truly puts me before her own sorrows. I feel very blessed to be able to call this wonderful woman my sister 

and I just hope that she knows how much she means to me.

At the moment she is going through hard times in real life.

I haven't seen her for a while now, but there is not a day that I don't think of her and send all my

love and blessings her way. She needs time to get better and I promised her that I would be waiting

for her with open arms for the day when she returns. <3

Much Love,

Lori Novo

❤

Flickr - Flickr

Credits
VCO HAIR - MOMOKO
●(NEW) *LODE* Head Accessory - Lunaria Wreath [bleached] (Details)

Earrings - PurpleMoon Creations (Store Closed In-World)

*OAL* Vesta Sandals

● eXxEsS : LANA Halter Dress

Location: OSTA NIMOSA - SOLO ARTE  - Art gallery di Melania e Terrygold (Moderate)

Catwa Head

Maitreya Mesh Body

Model & Photographer Lori Novo

Thanks to my wonderful ●Sponsors for their kind support!

❁

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eXxEsS : LANA Halter Dress

Freya - Hourglass - Petite - Maitreya