Blessed. Joyful. Healthy. Thankful.

(I wrote this on the first day of the year.  Just didn't get around to typing it into a post till now)

I am sitting here in my warm, cozy living room with my coffee. it is the first day of the New Year, 2012. What used to be the distant future that we thought surely could never come. But here we are. Blessed. Joyful. Healthy. Thankful.

We have just spent a week and a few days with family whom we only see a few times a year. My brother, and my sister and her family. The almost 900 miles between here and where they live makes it that much sweeter when we are together. It's a long trip. 15+ hours with kids. They hadn't been here since last Christmas and we were only out there for 6 days this past July.

(all of the kids during their Christmas pageant and Grandma's.  Don't you love where the quilt landed when they uncovered the 'multitude of angels'?!)

  We were all very ready to see each other again.  my sister has a daughter a year younger than 'The Teenager' and a son 6months older than 'Middle Sister'.  Middle Sister and Little sister stayed all night at Grandma's house on Monday night after the cousins arrived and didn't come home till Saturday afternoon!!  So fun that they could spend all the time possible with them:)

'The Teenager' and Miss R. went back and forth between Grandma's and here.

Tons of fun was had by all!

 My 'little' brother is a highlight for all my girls.  They love Uncle J.!  We were sad when he moved 900 miles away to the same area my sister moved to when she got married.  But we are happy for him because he loves it there.  And we are thankful it IS the same place our other family is so we only have to travel one place to see them all!
We get pretty used to having him around again really quick and it was sad to see him go again.  But hopefully we will travel west this year and see them all again.  As you can most likely tell from the photo above this family is a Colts fan family!  That would be thanks to Uncle J.!!

Sanctuary Decor

So I know Christmas is over and it's high time to move on!  I for one am way past Christmas and thinking about Valentines.  And Easter.

But I never got the pics of our church sanctuary posted so here they are.  Bear with me for one last Christmas post:)

Poinsettias in the most beautiful shade of pink.  I like them so much better than the traditional red.

Not the best photo but the best my ailing camera could muster.

The wall of our sound booth.

There are double doors here and they both had a wreath.  I somehow managed to not take a picture of both of the doors when they were shut.  Maybe because they are rarely shut?!

And for on top of the piano up front I bought this nativity here.

It might have to go somewhere in my house next year though!

Packing it up

I pretty much took all week to get my Christmas decor all put away.

The first thing I did was to take it all down and pile it on the dining room table.

I think that was on Monday.

I thought it looked rather pretty and fun seeing it all piled together before I started tucking and wrapping it all into it's boxes.

Lots of glitter.  Lots of white.  Lots of color.  Just LOTS of everything!  I love Christmas decor!

Here is one of the 3 new ones I purchased after Christmas.  At 50% off I couldn't leave it there.

It's covered in Glitter.  It's a star.  It's for Christmas decorating.  It's Wendy Addison! 

What's not to love!!

Another Wendy Addison ornament.  Also 50% off.  I'm sort of sad that I didn't have time to get to this shop BEFORE Christmas!  Imagine the other Wendy stuff that they were most likely sold out of!

Oh well, at half off I got a couple deals:)

And another blown glass ornament. 

Purchased at The Ivy League

Honestly I took all week getting it all wrapped, packed, tucked, and trundled back to the basement.

Stored for another year!  And as time seems to fly faster all I have to do is turn around and it will be time to haul it all out again. 

Let's keep the Christmas spirit and the Love of Jesus alive in our hearts, minds, attitudes and actions all year long!  Blessings to you all.

Christmas ornaments

My blown glass ornaments are some of my favorite Christmas decor.

Most of these came from the days of McMaster and Storm's brick and mortar.

A couple were from earlier than that - back in the days of The Clay Pot.

I miss both shops.  And I miss adding to my collection of ornaments.

There are several spots on this tree that are filled with other ornaments just to fill it up.

This year I went 'shopping' for some more.  Then my sister asked if there was anything I wanted for Christmas.  So I sent her the list of a few I'd found that I knew would be a great addition to my collection.  And she got them for me!!!  Yay for sisters:)

Yule log.  If I had to pick a favorite from my new ones it just might be this one!

This swan is darling too.

Bold, Proud, and Haughty.

Saint Francis.  I thought him a beautiful addition.

Bambi.  Just because he's so cute.

And the Christmas cake I made that I said I'd post pics of. 

Chocolate Gingerbread Toffee Cake.

From the December issue of Southern Living.

I searched high and low for my own copy of this issue.

So happy it is now in my stash of Christmas magazines:)

New Year's Ramble

Christmas is over.  The New Year is here.  The let-down from the holidays is upon me.
I sit here with my coffee watching the blowing snow.  The fact that we sailed through December without the deep cold and inches of snow of years past means I'm ok with the snow - for now.  By tomorrow I will no doubt feel differently.  (tomorrow I have to get out in it)

My girls are still in bed. (it’s 8:53 as I pen this)  I just got myself up half an hour ago.  So much for my determination from last night to rise early.

I suffer an acute craving for sleep.  Somehow my brain never got the memo that my girls FINALLLY all sleep through the night.  I guess 6 years of getting up at night created a habit of needing to roll over and go back to sleep when the alarm rings.  Which follows years of sleeping till noon whenever I could (as a teenager).  Which followed sleeping till noon as an infant. 

I have some serious sleep issues.  Advice??

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions??  I didn’t.  Not firm resolutions written down and taped to the refrigerator anyway.  I do like the feeling of a clean slate. 

I want to be better scheduled this year – starting out GREAT on that one huh??!!

I am getting pumped about spring cleaning and reorganizing – easy to be into that while snuggled on the couch with my coffee.  Planning is the best part!!  Well, having it FINISHED is really the best part but I’m still at the planning stage.  I will enjoy that part for awhile most likely:)

I’m planning to purchase a GOOD camera and a laptop this year.  Thanks to, no, not santa (he’s not real remember?), but to a very generous Grandma.  I feel very guilty about the nearly nonexistent time spent with her when she hands out checks at Christmas.  So if I’ve made anything close to a New Year’s Resolution it is this – ‘We WILL go see both of my Grandma’s more this year.’  No matter how busy we are.  No matter how tired I am from school.  You can hold me accountable.  Ask me in a month if we’ve gone yet.

Oh and that is NOT the camera I am going to buy.  But isn’t it just the most adorable thing??  Pricey but oh so cute:)

Enough of my New Year's Ramble.  Time to rouse the troops and crack open the school books. (it's also time to get some socks and boots on my feet.  Sitting at the computer is nowhere near as warm as sitting on my couch.  Laptop can't come soon enough.)

Say a prayer for me - I'm less ready than the kids to get back at school.

Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees;  then I will keep them to the end.  Give understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.    -Psalms 119:33&34

Christmas Pageant

My girls and my niece and nephew performed a Christmas Pageant for us.  It was quite cute and quite amusing.  Doncha just love where the quilt landed??!!

There were plenty of giggles:)

They really did a great job and it was delightful to watch.  They even have a curtain made out of a rope and shower curtains that they talked their Grandpa into putting up for them last year when they did this.  Amazing what Grandparents will do:)  So thankful their Grandparents are so involved in their lives and enjoy spending time with them.

I'd share more pics here but as you can probably tell my camera is not getting any better.  And santa didn't drop a new one off here.  If I can get any more of my photos edited to the point they are viewable I will try to post more.  But now I'm off to spend time with my Sister while I can!

My Brother left today:(  Sniff Sniff.  I miss him already.

"Away in a Manger no crib for a bed.  The Little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head!"

Dessert

Did you have a wonderfully, delightful dessert for Christmas??

Are you whipping up something exciting for New Years??

For Christmas I made the Chocolate Gingerbread Toffee Cake that was on the cover of 'Southern Living'.

For New Years I haven't decided yet.  Depends if I'm home enough to have time to bake.  And if I have any ingredients around to make something:)

If you've made something yummy, leave me a comment with a link to your photos of it!!  And I WILL post pics of my cake sometime in the New Year.  Right now I'm enjoying having my brother and my sister and her family here. 

~He's Everything to Me~

In the stars His handiwork I see, On the wind He speaks with majesty. 

Tho' He ruleth over land and sea, What is that to me?

What is that to me?

'Til by faith I met Him face to face,

And I felt the wonder of His grace,

Then I knew that He was more than just a God who didn't care

That lived away up there and now He walks beside me day by day,

Ever watching o'er me lest I stray,

Helping me to find the narrow way,

He's everything to me.

He's everything to me.

I will celebrate Nativity, For it has a place in history,

Sure, He came to set His people free, What is that to me?

What is that to me?

'Til by faith I met Him face to face,

And I felt the wonder of His grace,

Then I knew that He was more than just a God who didn't care

That lived away up there and now He walks beside me day by day,

Ever watching o'er me lest I stray,

Helping me to find the narrow way,

He's everything to me.

He's everything to me.

                                       ~Ralph Carmichael

{WISH}

Sew a Fine Seam would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!



Legend of the Poinsettia

'The Legend of the Poinsettia'

Maria and Pablo lived in a tiny village in Mexico. Because Christmastime at their house did not include many gifts, Maria and Pablo looked forward to the Christmas festivities at the village church with great joy and anticipation.
To honor the birth of Christ, the church displayed a beautiful manger that drew crowds of admirers. Villagers walked miles to admire the manger, bringing lovely, expensive gifts for the Baby Jesus. As Maria and Pablo watched the villagers place their gifts in the soft hay around the manger, they felt sad. They had no money to buy gifts for their family and no money to buy a gift for the Baby Jesus.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo walked to the church for that evening's services, wishing desperately that they had a gift to bring. Just then, a soft glowing light shone through the darkness, and the shadowy outline of an angel appeared above them.
Maria and Pablo were afraid, but the angel comforted them, instructing them to pick some of the short green weeds that were growing by the road. They should bring the plants to the church, the angel explained, and place them near the manger as their gift to the Baby Jesus. Then just as quickly as she had appeared, the angel was gone, leaving Maria and Pablo on the road looking up into the dark sky. Confused but excited, the children filled their arms with large bunches of the green weeds and hurried to the church.
When the children entered the church, many of the villagers turned to stare. As Maria and Pablo began placing the weeds around the manger, some of the villagers laughed at them. "Why are those children putting weeds by the manger?" they asked each other. Maria and Pablo began to feel embarrassed and ashamed of their gift to the Baby Jesus, but they stood bravely near the manger, placing the plants on the soft hay, as the angel had instructed.
Suddenly, the dull green leaves on the tops of the plants began to turn a beautiful shade of red, surrounding the Baby with beautiful blooms. The laughing villagers became silent as they watched the green plants transform into the lovely star-shaped crimson flowers we call poinsettias. As they watched the weeds bloom before their eyes, Maria and Pablo knew they had no reason to be ashamed anymore. They had given the Baby Jesus the only gift they could--and it was the most beautiful gift of all.
Today, poinsettias are a traditional symbol of Christmas, thanks to young Maria and Pablo and their special gifts to the Baby Jesus. -- By Stephanie Herbek

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A Delightful Glow

Click the link above.  You will be glad you did.
Merry Christmas.



"Christmas is love tugging man back to God with the powerful clasp of a tiny hand reaching out from a bed of straw."


This quote is from a Christmas card my parents received years ago.  I remember my Dad using this in his preaching when I was just a wee lass.

Story of the Birth of Jesus

An angel told Mary that she was going to have a special son from God. Then the angel went and told Joseph. Then Joseph got upset because- well I'm not  sure why- and then they got married.

Then Caesar Augustus charged taxes and everybody had to go where they were born. So Joseph and Mary got all their stuff packed and went to Bethlehem for the taxes. And they needed a place to stay. So they searched, like, all Bethlehem. But then they found a man that said there was a stable. So there in a manger, er, a feeding trough, I guess, baby Jesus was born.

 And on the hill there were shepherds tending their flocks by night and behold an angel came to them and told them do not be afraid for baby Jesus was born and this will be a  clue to you-he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then a multitude of angels began to sing glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill. And so they went and seen baby Jesus and then they went and traveled everywhere telling about the good news, right?

And in the east three wise men were following a star to see God's king, er, to see baby Jesus. And when he was about two or three years old they got there and presented their gifts to him. But then they went away really fast because Herod was wanting to kill baby Jesus. Fortunately he did not kill baby Jesus for a long time.

This was an English assignment done by my nephew.

you can find his mom's post here.

Christmas Cards

Have you mailed your Christmas cards?  Mine went out on Saturday - finally.

I started out so strong.  I had them printed and stapled and halfway hand-stamped back at Thanksgiving.  Then I got tired of putting 5 stamps on each card and let it slide.

I didn't have pictures taken of the girls yet anyway.

I let the pictures go WAY too long.  My poor photographer.  She probably wishes I was a better friend and didn't let it go so long.  Sigh.

But now they are done, in the mail, on their way to their destinations.  Well, except the 2 that I really felt like I needed to add letters to.  I'm terrible at writing letters:(

So do you send Christmas cards?  Or do you wait till Easter to send cards like my sister does?

Or do you just opt out completely?!!  I'm considering that option - every year I think about that one I think.  Then the cards and pictures start rolling in and I remember why I send them.  I love getting updates from so many of my friends I seldom see.

The Reason for the Season

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

When I was but a youngster, Christmas meant one thing,

That I'd be getting lots of toys that day.

I learned a whole lot different, when Mother set me down,

And taught me to spell Christmas this way:

C is for the Christ child, born upon that day,

H for herald angels in the night.

R's for our Redeemer,

I means Israel,

S is for the star that shone so bright.

T is for three wise men, they who traveled far,

M is for the manger where He lay.

A's for all He stands for,

S means shepherds came,

And that's why there's a Christmas day!

Another song from my school days!

Peace Carol

The Garment of Life, be it tattered and torn,

The cloak of the soldier is weathered and worn,

But what child is this that was poverty born,

The Peace of Christmas Day.

The branch that bears the bright holly,

The dove that rests in yonder tree,

The Light that shines for all to see

The Peace of Christmas Day.

The Hope that has slumbered for two thousand years,

The Promise that silenced a thousand fears,

A Faith that can hobble an ocean of tears,

The Peace of Christmas Day.

The branch that bears the bright holly,

The dove that rests in yonder tree,

The Light that shines for all to see,

The Peace of Christmas Day.

Add all the grief that people may bear,

Total the strife and the trouble and care,

Put them in columns and leave them right there,

The Peace of Christmas Day.

The branch that bears the bright holly,

The dove that rests in yonder tree,

The Light that shines for all to see,

The Peace of Christmas Day.

This was one of my favorite songs from all the Christmas programs I was in at the school I attended.  It's a little abstract, a little quirky, and I love that about it.  I also really like the melody - sorry I can't share that with you here.  I can't find much about this song online.  Don't know who wrote it.  Just know that I like it:)

As the Angel said: 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men'

Helping a Friend

I love decorating my house.  And I especially love decorating for Christmas! 

This year I had the privilege of helping a friend dec out her home.  ( I actually had the privilege of helping more than one friend but I only got pics of this one)

The first thing we decided was that the wall above her fireplace needed a new paint color.

She was the one who mentioned painting it.  I just encouraged her to do it:)

The insiration for the color was this cute little end table.  She painted this for her photography studio so she had the paint.  Why not add a pop of color?!  It's only paint and a very small wall.  It can be repainted when she gets tired of it:)

So while she spent about 10 minutes painting the wall I worked in her basement.

This table you see as you walk down the steps. 

Basement sideboard.

Shelf in the basement kitchen.

And the finished mantle.  She added lights later since I had used all the working ones in the basement.  It looks darling all lit up now!

Centerpiece for dining room table. I just love this!  Might have something to do with the fact that it' white?!  She had made the paper ornaments.  I just love them:)

Cupboard in living room.

She had made this banner too and I thought we had to use it somewhere.  I really like it here.

Another cupboard in the living room.

(excuse the poor photos.  still no new camera.  add that to the list santa.)

Beautiful Nativity

Inside of Cupboard

This was one of my favorite spots!  So fun.

I adore Willow Tree Nativities. 

Cupboard in the kitchen.  Wish I'd have got some close-ups of some of the stuff inside.  It is really cute.  See the adorable puppy on the top shelf?  That's my kind of animal - no mess, no fuss!:)

And another paper ornament that she had made.  We added the cute vintage ornament to it with hot glue.  We set the large pear in her kitchen bay window.  It looks fabulous:)

It's fun to work with other peoples stuff and make their house look festive!