Angels

Angels 

have always appealed to me.

In Paris, angels are easy to find, without really searching for them.
Famous ones dressed in gold finery top the Opéra House.

The sky on this day in Paris was reminiscent of an Impressionist painting

casting a glow to the top of the building and highlighting the

dazzling golden angels.

On this day, the sky was brighter and the angels
~ s h i m m e r e d ~  in the sunlight.

Such splendid finery reflecting the sun...

Over the years I've received and sent Christmas cards featuring

angels.

Without consciously working on it,

an angel card collection was born;

it is displayed year-round.

An angel ornament collection, however, was and is a deliberate

collection for which new members were and are routinely eagerly sought!

Porcelain, wood, metal, fabric, paper, but no plastic or resin, please!

For the past ten years, I've displayed my angel ornament collection

on a Christmas tree with only angels 

(well, almost all angels) 

in the breakfast sunspace.

Each angel has a special memory 

which I mentally recount as I hang it on the tree.

The white Lenox porcelain tree topper was a gift 

from my husband one Christmas.

For many years, I displayed her year-round on 

a special stand covered in

blue velveteen that he made especially for her.

More than one ornament was a Christmas package decoration 

before becoming a tree ornament.

Some were gifts from friends and family.

Many came from an 

Ornament Exchange 

with colleagues at the high school where we all taught.

It's been held annually for almost thirty years now.

Such good memories!

Some ornaments are handmade.

This was my first attempt at handmade paper angels this fall

using instructions compiled from multiple blog sites.

I love the ragged edges, the thickness of the paper, 

and the details in the design.

Perhaps angel images appeal to me because they are reminders of 

real angels.

Let brotherly love continue. 

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

 for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:1-2

May you be blessed with angels in your life.