He is with us!!!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord....Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

The Stockings Were Hung.....

I just didn't get it posted on time!!! :)

Inspired by our childhood stockings, years ago, I made Snowmen stockings for my sister and her family. They are really cute!

For Dave and I, I thought I'd start a "Gingerbread" theme for our stockings....starting with the Bride and Groom......

My parents put a fireplace in their living room this year, so Dave thought they needed stockings too......they now have a "grandma" and "grandpa" gingerbread stockings at their house! (I need to get a picture of them hung on their fireplace....these are taken on my sewing table)

There's something about the snowmen stockings I like better....maybe they are just more simple. And, I'm sure the gingerbread people will grow on me! :)

Christmas Week Memories

For the first time ever, I was here to attend my nephews Christmas Concert at school! I was so excited to be there. :) I hadn't been in this school gym since I last performed in it......1990! Even though my nephews could have found many others things to be doing (rather than singing in front of people), I was delighted to be there. It was an excellent show! 

This morning, I had a "surprise" waiting my youngest nephew and his best little buddy. They had to go over the my mom's house, where I met them with a gingerbread house kit. The reason for this is that Caden is only 7 years old, but because he is quite a bit younger than his brothers, we all often forget to keep things young enough for him. Christmas is still magical in his young eyes! He was delighted to use the icing and candies and put it all together. And I had fun experiencing it through the eyes of my camera. :) 

Seven year old perfection! :) 

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I continue to work on stockings this week (though, obviously, not with too much gusto!) It need not take this long to do what I'm doing! Hopefully they will be ready tomorrow......to hang by the "chimney" with care....and I'll post pictures too!

Baking

My husband loves to bake......I just don't let him do it very often! I think we may have found a new "Christmas Morning Tradition"! :) These are so yummy! Orange Scones......

Sun!

The sun has got his hat on today! Hip, hip, hip, hooray! (this is the little ditty Dave sings on days like today)    :)

Reindeer Games

I have a fun, silly husband.....who is always making up games. The latest is to take my hair clip and pin it onto the Christmas Tree somewhere.....and I am supposed to go find it. Silliest game I've ever played!!! :)~

Can you see it?

Why there is delight in this for him, I'll never know!!!

Catching Up.........

As assumed, it's not the taking of a picture every day that's difficult....it's the carving out time to download them that I find no time to do! Good thing this "December Photo Project" is just for December! ;)

So, here's a random smattering of shots from the past couple of days:

 Sent.

I enjoy sending out Christmas cards....if for no other reason than I'm actually giving the USPS some business! :) With online bill-pay options, I truly rarely use a good ol' fashioned stamp! Seriously though, there's something about sending some handwritten notes, filled with the Hope of the season, to those I hold dear. Maybe some year I'll get clever enough to write a jingle filled, humorous family newsletter.

On second thought, don't hold your breath! :)~


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For being a tiny little town, Morning Sun does a great job at holding Holiday festivities. Here's the entrance for the "festival of trees".....the night before was a soup supper complete with horse and carriage rides through Main Street. 

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Here's our Christmas Tree in the daytime.....did I mention I picked this up for $3 at a garage sale??!! Gotta love a good deal! :) I think it could use something different though....not for sure what.....I'll be curious as to what next year brings. 

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Toy Donkey.

When I opened up my essential oil package this month, inside I found a little toy donkey. Random?! I think so! I have no idea how or why it was there! But, it sure made me smile! :)

Preparations

This is our Jesse Tree thus far.....we're a little behind, I think, but no doubt we'll catch up soon! :) I LOVE retelling God's story in anticipation for the fullness of Christ! 

Glowing

She'll need more lights next year....and maybe a full make-over, but for now, she's looking quite festive in our living room!

Shipped

Here's what my table has been looking like lately.....getting things shipped to friends in far away places, specifically to England and Texas! :)

Snow!

This is what we woke up to this morning.....

The first snow (that sticks) is sooooo pretty! And exciting and peaceful and calm. Of course, it's even more wonderful since I don't have to go out today! :)~

I should probably go take some more pictures...that really show the loveliness of it all.

Stitched

 

Making "jingle anklets" for a blogger friend's two young children. Her idea. :) Let the *music* begin! (I'll be attaching 5 jingle bells on each one). 

Candlelight {day 3 December Photo Project}

Love this time of year when it's dark and gloomy and having candles light makes it seem more magical than it probably really is! :)

Chocolate

We don't have an awful lot of chocolate at our house, but sometimes, there's nothing so wonderful as a glass of chocolate milk, or a mug of hot chocolate or some sauce poured over homemade ice cream. :) Here's the recipe I use for all those yummy treats!

Chocolate Sauce
1 2/3 C sugar (I use sucanut, or raw cane sugar)
2/3 C cocoa (I probably use a little more)
1 1/4 C cream

Heat all ingredients in a saucepan until just boiling, whisking at first, then stirring constantly. Add in 1 tsp vanilla and let cool. Use a Tablespoon or so, according to taste, for chocolate milk, hot chocolate or chocolate sauce for ice cream. Yum!

December Photo Project, 2011

There's this idea out there on the web......of taking one picture per day during the month of December to savor the season. I can't imagine taking one picture per day of my life....just doesn't seem that exciting, but I think that's the whole point....to capture the beauty of the mundane. So, I think I'll give it a whirl. And, I suppose the hardest part won't be to actually take the picture, but to actually post about it!!

Here's Day 1:

I'm preparing the house today for Christmas....or at least to begin our Jesse Tree. I love the focus on our Coming King!

This comes from the free download from Ann Voskamp. Cut and paste the below link to find it for your family. (I need to learn how to link up things here!) :)

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/11/free-jesse-tree-advent-family-devotional/