Christmas lights have always been something I loved about Christmas. The lights twinkling on the trees, decorating the streets, and houses around my hometown. It made everything seem magical a special time of the year where everyone seems to be so cheerful, family gathers even if they do not see each other all year, and a time of year where everyone gives to others rather than takes for themselves. Giving without expecting to receive. Giving just like God gave to us. Showing one another love!
To some the sparkly bright lights are to make sure Santa can find their house, to others it is simply a decoration, to me it signifies the bright light that God gave the world the birth of Jesus! Just as the star came into the sky on that night the Christmas! Lights shine and celebrate the coming of his birthday. Just like candles on a birthday cake.
Christmas lights and decorations make the season feel so right. Without them it would not feel like Christmas. It would not feel so magical. It would not feel warm and fuzzy. Yes, I know people are most important, but Christmas lights are the crème de la crème! They sparkly and twinkle give me warm and fuzzy feelings and bring me back to my childhood!
When I was little, my dad would decorate the Christmas tree. I would watch him carefully place the lights around the tree. I would sit and watch, and he worked so diligently will waiting and excited to help him. Even though at times I was more in the way than I was a help. But he never seemed to lose his cool at me. I enjoyed so much helping him decorate the tree.
When the tree was all decorated. You would find me with my feet sticking out from underneath the tree and I stared up at the lights twinkling much like someone laying on the ground staring up at the stars. It was exciting and peaceful laying there was something about it that just made everything feel right. Even today as a middle-aged mom… I still find myself wanting to climb under the branches of the tree and remember the magic that was found there so many years ago.
I would often sit by the tree and admire some of my favorite decorations. Three of my favorite decorations were the Candyland themed strand of garland, a stuffed carousel horse, and the angel that went on top of the tree. My dad spent many years and many hours rewiring and fixing the lights on this little angel. I loved it so much the idea of them putting another decoration on top of the tree was not really a tolerable idea. My dad did all he could to fix it as I loved it so. I still have this same angel today. But as the years go by the gentler it becomes, and I keep it save but love to pull it out each year to see it glow and carefully but it back in its keepsake box.
Under the tree I would love to set up a nativity and remember the story of Christ birth. The lights from the tree were of course the imaginary star in the sky! I would play with them there until they were moved out and room was made for presents.
Giving presents is the BEST! Giving fills me with so much joy! Giving to others is a magic that is so hard to explain. When you give without wanting to receive back it fills you up from the bottom of your soul to the top. It is exciting! It is so much fun! I grew up in a house that only celebrated the birth of Christ. The presents that we gave to each other was a representation of the gift of Christ that was given to us by God. God provided for our needs. The gifts also provided for our needs and a few wants too. 
My parents could not afford a whole lot of extra when I was younger. Special memories were made around our Christmas tree and going for a drive is down through the Christmas lights in the Topeka Potwin area, driving in circles around the Christmas tree that is always placed on the main street in my childhood hometown of Valley Falls, and Christmas eve service at church where we all held lite candles and sang songs to Jesus!
David ,my brother, asked me last year what pictures I was planning to take in December as we were working out a plan for launching My HB Creations. I said well I am going to take pictures of Christmas lights of course! I was not prepared for his next question.
He replied, “Why?…”
I quickly replied with a frown on my face, “Why what?!!”
He says with patience, “Why do you want to take pictures of Christmas lights?”
I responded a little irritated with his misunderstanding, “WHY NOT?!”
I was staring at him in complete shock at his question! It had never occurred to me that someone may not understand my love for Christmas lights. Everyone loves Christmas lights. Right? Feeling under pressure to explain this love I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, “Because they are sparkly and bright and make the season right!” And with that one blurt #sparklybrightright was born.
Majority of my Christmas memories are surrounded by the lights of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’s Birth! So why do I love to take picture of Christmas lights? Because they make me feel #SparklyBrightRight ! They bring back all these wonderful memories and feelings.
I want to share those memories and feelings with you too by taking pictures of all the Sparkly & Bright lights in hopes to make your Christmas feel joyful and right!