Christmas Day Celebrations...

The Christmas prayer and blessing by the oldest - patriarch. Always a Christmas tradition before we open our presents. Keeping "Christ" in Christmas...

The other grandparents loving the special grandson... The handing out of the gifts and WAITING to open them...
Fun and gag gifts are always part of the exchange...
Sisters sharing their gifts with each other...
A new car...

uh oh car!
Final stages of breakfast preparation
More car time-taking everything possible for a ride...
First Christmas as husband and wife ....
Fun new toys ....and sharing and playing togetherChristmas outfit and yummy new books..
This says it all!
A great and wonderful Christmas with family and loved ones (and of course delicious food!)

We pray that you were blessed this year with love and joy and may the New Year bring blessings that abound exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ever ask or think!

Merry Christmas!

We are off to see the grandchildren and Christmas! We have been staying in the home of son#2. He and his sweet wife and precious little girl have gone to Michigan for the holidays.
We spent time last night with son#1 and his expecting wife and her family. We have had a wonderful time already. Can hardly wait to get over to see the little ones and enjoy their Christmas day. Both daughters will be there.
I pray that this year you have a blessed Christmas and be with ones you love. And remember whose birthday it is as we celebrate.
Blessings and love!

It's Friday... almost Saturday musings

So, is this "fantastic Friday" or satisfying Saturday"?
They are predicting snow this weekend again. This is about the 4th weekend in a row of predicted snow. But THIS snow is supposed to be"blowing" snow. hummm, I'm learning new things. This week we had 3 days of 68 degree weather! What's up with that? How do our bodies ever get used to this strange weather?
Today was my last day of work for the year. Sounds sort of sad. I am not sad at all. I am looking forward to a couple of weeks off.
This has been the strangest Christmas season. I have not been very much in the "spirit". I think it is because I'm not really going out and buying presents this year. I love the hustle and bustle of shopping and finding just the right gift, wrapping it and putting it under the tree.
Giving a gift of money is always nice for the recipient. They get to decide how they want to spend it. It is always the right color and they can't complain about the size. Although it would always be nice if it were larger. It is just not fun to wrap and open and put under the tree. It doesn't make the tree look prettier. Oh well, I guess those are very selfish reasons.
I almost feel like Christmas has already come and gone. I had the huge build-up and after it was over, I felt like the whole season was over and wanted to pack up everything. I have resisted the urge and left everything out.
I am very excited to be heading north on Sunday. It will be a mixed emotional day. The celebration of Communion with Christmas - then dinner - then a funeral. It is always so sad to lose a loved one during the holidays. That is very often the case. I can't remember a single Christmas that we did not have at least one funeral...
Then after the funeral, we will be going to visit the kids. One son and his wife and daughter will be going to visit her family in Michigan. We will miss them. The other three will be in town and we get to visit with them, and watch grandchildren open presents.
After Christmas, we will head to visit my parents and family.
Life is good. Life is busy. Life is full.
Hope your life is happy and merry and bright!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen of my favorite Christmas Decorations (of the ones I have out this year)

1. My Santa Claus that says "Merry Christmas" that lights up is also a favorite of the children who come to visit.
2. Our very first Nativity Scene... the little lamb climbing the stairs is missing a front paw, thanks to a puppy who loves "lamb"... also, the donkey in the loft is mysteriously missing an ear and "nobody" ever knew what happened to it.
3. Another version of our oldest Nativity... this one was given to us in thanks for many MANY visits and prayers for a newborn son who was not supposed to live... he is now 4 years old and doing wonderfully. This is a testimony and reminder of God's love and healing power.
4. This is my hugsum's least favorite of everything I have. He hates it. I bought it almost 20 years ago with my $25 bonus from my part time job. It has several broken paddles that just barely hang on. I didn't find the candles this year. It tells the whole story of the birth of Jesus, complete with the angels, and shepherds and wise men... and it goes round and round.

5. This is my "newest" bought ornament. I got it at the local craft/antique store. It is a bright lime green in case you can't see... it glitters. It was just fun and I didn't have anything else like it. It was all of 75 cents... :)
6. This was given to us this year. It is a picture of the little white church in the snow, a sweet gift of love.
7. My Santa worshiping Jesus is precious to me. It was a gift from our youngest daughter many years ago. I have gotten lots of criticism from people because they don't think that Jesus and Santa should be together. I, obviously, disagree. St. Nick was a godly man who set the example of Christan love and generosity.
8. These are just some ceramic figures I got years ago that have a special place in my heart. One of them got cracked in the move, but, I just sat it out anyway. I also love the topiary...

9. The table decoration from our open house is still beautiful even though the candles and scrunched tablecloth are missing. I think it still looks pretty on the green place mat.

10. A very special chip and dip dish that I have not had the courage to use yet. I can't imagine trying to get the dip out of all the detail crevices all over it. It usually sits on my mantle, but this year, we don't have a mantle, so it just sits on my counter (or stove top as it is now - since I don't cook much)
11. My Jim Shore nativity set and ceramic tree that lights up. The tree is special because hugsum loves it. He literally stopped mid street to show me one in someones window because he loved it so much. When I found this one at a church bazaar for 50 cents I grabbed it up one July.
12. These are the Jim Shore wise men. The entire story of the birth of Christ is carved into them. They are so pretty to me and quite large. They stand on the floor. I'd love to have the entire Nativity set, but am thrilled to have these!
13. The Jim Shore Santa... he has the 12 days of Christmas carved on him. I didn't realize that until just the other day when I had an opportunity to sit and stare at him.
Merrie Christmas!

Open House Ready!

Well, the big day is here! I can now breath.... almost!

My day started early so that I can make sure that I have everything in place. I'm doing a "first" for me. We have a covered dish lunch today after church and I did not fix anything! I just ran out of time.

God had mercy on us with the weather and our snow was all blown away before noon. It is still cold, but we didn't have ice and snow to deal with on top of that. I am very thankful.

Now, we have 2 church services, a children's program and Christmas party,a covered dish meal (which I'm praying for an abundance since I am not doing my part ... which is to carry dishes and bring them back home almost untouched). Then there is the band concert and the church across the street is having an open house and then our open house and then another Christmas party at our other church.... yeah, a busy day, but a blessed and happy one!

Here are some pictures of my humble attempts at decorating.

This is a picture of my kitchen table. A friend came over and decorated it for me. Those little green dishes were my mother's and they have tea lights in them, which I HOPE to remember to light!

This is the den/kitchen... you can see I have the bar set up and ready for the food... also, Andy is in his favorite spot on the back of my chair.
The living room with my skinny tree and a few presents so it doesn't look so bare.
The master bedroom
The corner of living room with my flute - which I even played when I took it out of it's case. Of course, it was not a song I played... only some flute sounds - not exactly notes.
This is the day the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be glad IN it, (and when it is over!)

Merrie Christmas!!!!

So THIS is 9 inches???

We had our big snow storm last night! I can't believe it! Here are a few pictures I took first thing this morning...

So, this proves it... trampolines collect snow before pavement...

My backyard... what you see on the patio is paint, not snow.
The view from my front door...
View of the church's roof from the living room.
View from my den... probably the only snowman I'll see...
Merrie Christmas ...

Snow??? I don't think so!

Well, today all day "they" were talking about all the bad weather we are expecting. Everyone seemed to be excited because it had been predicted that we would be getting 9 inches of snow!!!! Well, some people said that it would only be 6 inches, but the general consensus was 9 inches.

There was all kinds of talk about it. The basketball games were even canceled because the other team didn't think they would be able to get back home after the game.

Okay, so it is after 10 tonight. We have had rain, rain and more rain. No snow.

I'll post pictures tomorrow of all our snow!

Goodnight, I'm going to bed because I'm tired of waiting for it and I have LOTS to do tomorrow to tie up all the lose ends before the OPEN HOUSE! (insert much panic here)...

I'll apply my favorite scripture at this point... "this too, shall PASS"...