December 25, 2025
Morning Reflections
A Flyby of Light on Rain-Washed Venice…
Venice greeted me early this morning in holiday colors. The neon sign glowed red and green, reflecting off the rain-washed sidewalk like a watercolor painting come to life. Christmas doesn’t always need sunshine to sparkle — sometimes it needs rain to reveal the reflections we would’ve missed otherwise.
I walked toward the pier with clouds softening the sky on both sides, like wings opening just for the day. And right on cue, the birds arrived — circling overhead, swooping in from every direction, little flybys of excitement and connection. They always know where to find me, and somehow, they always know when I need them most.
Honey girl landed on my shoulder, warm and familiar, like a gentle reminder that I’m never walking alone. And the baby — oh, the baby — with her big, soulful eyes, made sure I saw her today. She stole the moment without stealing the peace. She simply shared it.
I stood there, ocean humming beside me, wind brushing through me, wings swirling around me, and felt it all so deeply — the joy, the rescue, the love, the little miracles that orbit the ordinary until they’re impossible to call anything but sacred.
The best gift really is realizing how much we already have. And today, Venice wrapped that truth in clouds, Christmas lights, and feathers.
--April
Capturing Beauty, Sharing Light
Morning Gratitude Thought:
If joy had feathers, it would look like a morning flyby. If gratitude had colors, it would shimmer in reflections after the rain. I came to the ocean for peace — and the birds brought celebration.
