Greetings!
Several years ago, we were decorating our annual tree when I pulled out a box that was stored next to the ornaments. In it were our sons’ baby shoes. Instead of neatly wrapping them back up, I decided that they needed a new life, and hung them on the tree.
Later, I added my own little shoe, along with Ken’s. As it turns out, they make perfect decorations, and looking at them reminds me about babies and families and also about all the steps we each take between the seasons, about how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.
Those shoes, along with the ornaments that we’ve collected over all these years together make our tree feel like our history together. So, we wrote this song to celebrate it, and now we’re passing it along to you, our kith and kin.
Not only do we have shoes, but over the past several years, my beloved friend and artist Joy Fisher Hein, has sent me a new “cat angel” each year. Here is one of my favorites.
Let it be merry, ya’ll!
And merriest of merry, and happiest of happy holidays to you, dear Kathi!
Thanks Bobbi!
You’ve made my day!
Merry Christmas!
Penny and Rod
Thank you. What a wonderful song.
Merry Christmas to you and all your family!
Lovely! I especially love the line, “I’m reminded of the angel standing right here next to me.” *sniff*
Thanks for sharing.
Wow – what a great song. It makes me happy and sad all at the same time. Merry Christmas to the Appelts from the Hunters!!
Merry Christmas, y’all. I have Michael’s baby shoes on my tree! So sweet…
Beautiful, beautiful, oh oh oh…beautiful.
Thank you for this.
xxoo
What a wonderful song! It makes me happy and sad all at the same time.
Merry Christmas to the Appelts from the Hunters!!
Tears roll down my face and my hearts more open after listening to Ken sing. You are an angel Kathi. Thanks for making the world a place of love.
We send ya’ll three big hugs – from me, David and Willow – our angel dog (almost wrote god!)
Happy Solstice!
P.S. Hi Texas! Take good care of this family
What a lovely gift — thank you for sharing this. Merry Christmas to all!
Kathi,
Besos grandes y muchas abrazos
from both to both/
D&S
Thanks everybody!
Lovely and elegant. Thanks so much, Kathi and Ken! Lookin’ good, Ken!
Wow! Beautiful. Made me smile for a long time. Thank you.
What a lovely tune — and a wonderful sentiment. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas.
What a lovely song and sentiment. I’m touched to be included in this sharing.
Beautiful lyrics, lovely melody. Thanks, Kathi and Ken, for writing and sharing. May 2012 be your best year yet!
Beautiful idea…beautiful song…beautiful family!!
Many blessings,
Debbie
Guys that is just delightful. Now I see where all that talent flows from. Thanks for sharing with us.
Lovely…now I’m thinking about baby shoes and wondering where to look first — which closet, shelf, box.
All good wishes!
It sounded lovely – thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas!
Kathi,
Thank you for the loveliness!
Kathi and Ken,
I had a quiet moment to listen to this beautiful song and admire Ken’s nimble fingers too. I will now get me out the baby shoes, Marsh’s are red!
Lots of love,
hd
Kathi and Ken – This is lovely. Makes me very teary and miss you!!
Happy New Year to you two lovebirds. I believe this is my favorite new Christmas song. “There ARE angels among us”.
This is simply lovely. Many thanks.
[...] author friend whose heart is deeply sweet and whose words are silky and rhythmic on the tongue: http://www.kathiappelt.com/blog/books/the-angel-next-to-me/ As I listened, what I thought about…again…was losing the Christmas box in the flood [...]