A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold, December morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. (This is the condensed article..Please go to Jeanne’s post to read it in full)
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell played for a sold out audience in a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.00 each.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
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What are our priorities in life? Would I also have been busily going about my hectic schedule, and not notice the extraordinary gift which was being offered?
Would I have not stopped to listen to one of the best musicians in the world play some of the best music ever written? I don’t know... I would hoped the sound of the violin would have stopped me in my running tracks, as I too played this beautiful instrument for three years in high school. But I really don’t know...
This article has made me contemplate on how busy my life is, and am I letting the busyness of it over shadow that which I value the most?
This morning while reading I was reminded of a favorite Bible passage in Philippians 4: 8 when Apostle Paul is instructing the saints, "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." I have to ask myself am truly seeking these things more than things of the world?
The 13th Article of Faith, which I memorized as a child, in part reads;
" If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
As this New Year approaches I want to enrich my life a bit more and look more upward and outward, becoming so much more aware of each of the beautiful gifts which surround me daily.
You all are part of those gifts which have enriched my life, and from whom I have learned much!
For this, I Thank each of You!
For our own Christmas Eve pageant our figurines are were grandchildren 2 years ago:) Our little sheep this night was the best baa baa-er around:)!!! We adults had to try to keep our giggles to our selves, which wasn't easy!!!) 
All too often we grown-ups think we are in charge and have all this wisdom to impart to our children. The truth is, it’s the children who have so much to teach us. They teach us that life is joyful, that happiness is easy to find, and that is it the small things that matter. And they teach us about pure love. 
These two are simply so wonderful and sweet. He could hardly keep his emotions under control during the ceremony...just like our son exactly two weeks before. We have tender men in our family.
Kate and her four beautiful daughters in front of the tree Kate 
They served a large dinner buffet with the gingerbread men cookies being a hit with my grandchildren. 
This was a special moment before they left for their honeymoon when her new 
To see more Trash to Treasure surprises, please visit 
Our living room is mostly decorated for the reason we celebrate this magical season. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his birth... along with lots of family memories:)
Our tree has lots of angels, nativity ornaments and Santa’s.
My large angel was a gift from a good friend.
My favorite angel is really a porcelain doll which belonged to my grandmother more than 100 years ago.
I love this Noel pillow a friend gave to me... because when I see it, I see my dad’s name. Noel spells my dad’s name backwards...I miss him. He passed away over 20 years ago and the holidays bring sweet and tender memories of him playing his harmonica as we all sang carols on Christmas Eve.
The large gold ornaments are truly a Trash to Treasure and were rescued as they were being thrown away
This green chair is the same one I posted a few weeks ago which was a wedding gift to my same paternal grandmother whose doll adorns my tree.. 
I made the gold stars from gold wrapping paper. 
The winter scene from my kitchen window
