Christmas Day 2013

It came

It went

It's over for another year...

The sign above was given to me by my son and his wife

who apparently know me well!

The Gift

When we have been around the Bible

and it's wonder all our lives,

we sometimes become jaded and familiar

with its stories.

Sad, but true, for we have been

graced with the opportunity

to immerse in it like very few do in our

fallen world.

Every year at Christmas I ask

God to please help me to see it fresh

and new again, this old, old story,

and each year He gives me

what I have asked.

This year it was through a brand new

Christian, who came to know Jesus

two weeks ago!

Her observations and questions

about Christmas and its' story

brought a spark of light into

the season for me.

She saw in it's simple words

profound truths, 

which she stated very bluntly with no 

flowery "church speak".

In Joseph and Mary and their visions/dreams

she saw faith lived out.
In the shepherds how unmerited grace truly is. 

In the Wise men she saw foolishness

that they would actually go ask King Herod!

In their gifts she saw why we give gifts at 

Christmas time,

and in the flight to Egypt she saw

the liberation of Israel from slavery there.

Let us too bow down and worship with fresh

and simple faith that does not have to develop

over time but is whole from the moment we

realize that Christ is a gift to us personally!

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

All through the House

 On the tree this year I used only white,

cream and other soft neutrals.

For the garland I used scraps of fabric 

and knotted them on twine.

the idea for the cars w/ trees came from 

Carmen Q

 I just love a mason jar snow globe

and had to laugh when my grand son (2 yrs)

said the people inside were stuck! He was

quite concerned about how they might get out:)

 Christmas card holder...just getting started, it will be
all full soon!

May peace and grace reign this Christmas season...

Christmas on the Porches

It is so fun to do up a porch for 

the Christmas Season,

and I have 2:)

Right after I finished decorating the weather dropped
into the teens and the water froze in my
antique canning jars and they all broke:(

Funny story for my sister Faith...
I was out in the ditches again cutting branches
and berries. I was in the mud and water so deep
that I was kind of wondering how I was going to get
out. Just then the mail man pulled up, stopped
and asked "do you want to be in that ditch
or are you stuck?!"
I quickly said "no, I'm ok!" and he drove off
shaking his head, I just laughed
and laughed thinking of how crazy I must've looked.
(see post)
Up to my boot tops

I'm Dreaming of a...

Cozy Christmas Bedroom

 The white pillow sham was made from a

vintage tablecloth and came out just

wonderfully crinkly and soft.

Catch Lights in Her Eyes

I used a great idea that I found on Pinterest,

in which, as an indoor studio you 

use your garage with the door open.

This is where I did my 5 year old 

grand daughters' photo shoot.

I was able to catch the light in her eyes

as the lighting was great. 

We just had to go in and warm up every few minutes

as it was in the low 20s that day.

She was a delight to work with 

and came up with creative ideas for

ways to pose;)

The back drop is a sheet that I covered in ruffles

and the floor in the top photo is strips of

pine paneling I painted to look weathered.

Ombre Cake and Birthday #5

My Grand daughter is 5..

so it was mermaid time.

The cake was fun as it was my first try at ombre. 

The mermaids were from the DT

and I just added the glitter so they matched.

5 year olds are so cute because everything

about a birthday is so exciting!