Let's Look Back a Bit

  Visit Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for   the  party...
   Welcome to  2013...   such an odd sounding  year to me,  at least... I   do wonder what it will bring??
   Since I still have   Christmas   everywhere  about the house I  am   revisiting   some of my  2012  posts 
Some cloche    vignettes included these
 

       

 Then   there were  some   various mantels...

 




 Just a few  tabletops of 2012!

Makes me Wonder

   For more   visit Smiling Sally.

I was   passing through my  December photos and ran           across this one taken  early  in the month.... just about the time I developed this hideous  virus  that Ive had  for weeks now... I remember thinking then,   goodness,  there have been  a lot of  chemtrails in the sky lately.... now it really makes me wonder!

Holiday Food

To return to Mary's      Little Red House   click here!  
Hioliday food  is  jsut so tempting  in color,    texture,  taste, and    unfortuantely calories,   but   it's just so delicious!

Happy Homemaker Monday

Visit the Diary of the SAHM for more!

So 2012 is coming to a close... is it me, or are the years speeding past.... I'd say it has been a good year.... bittersweet in many ways... with my aging parents.... I have certainly learned a lot this year.... taking responsbility for their finances, health and living decisions, getting their home ready to sell has been something that, at first, seemed so overwhelming to me that I remember sitting and crying in reluctance.... I just didnt feel up to the challenge.... but day by day God gave the strength and power to do it.... step by step... in this I am truly grateful.... knowing how He provides. 

So as I contemplate 2013 I am stronger and more able to deal with whatever may come!

The Weather:::

31 degrees cloudy and cold. It is now 10:30 am and we have just returned from taking the kids to meet their train for their return home to Boston....We were up at 4:30 preparing to get them from the inlaws and take them back to the station about an hour's drive away....yes, I cried as the t rain pulled out of the station!

Right now I am: 

Enjoying a large cup of tea and enjoying getting back to blogging... I have been hit and miss lately due to my horrid laptop which has now been so nicely replaced.

Thinking:

Wondering, really, about what the new year will bring... I refuse to dwell on the what ifs... and hope for good things to come our way 

On my reading pile::: 

I am finishing my Christmas anthology of the year, Christmas Angel...by Jo Beverly. Soon I will be back to working on my Community Bible Study on the epistles... studying Ephesians, and Im excited to be nearing chapter 6 the study of spiritual warfare! 

On my tv::: 

Lynn and I just finished the season 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey last night that our daughter gave me for my birthday. Now I can not wait for season 3 to begin January 6th!!! 

Favorite Blog post this week (mine or other)::: 

I really enjoyed this post!

Something fun to share::: 

THis blog really pulled out the stops this weekend giving us some end of the year eye candy! 

On the menu for this week::: 

Monday -We had a lovely breakfast at Cracker Barrel and will sup this evening on our final Diner's club coupon of the ...place undetermined! 

Tuesday - Beef Stew 

Wednesday - hamburgers 

Thursday - Chicken Stirfry 

Friday - quiche 

Saturday - Pizza 

Sunday - Our favorite Chinese restaurant 

On my to do list::: 

Return the kids to the train 

Laundry - as always 

check out how much we blew the budget yiKes!! 

40 WINKS 

Homemaking Tips::: 

As I begin to take down the Christmas decorations I actually intend to throw out the unused, unwanted, broken items tht are clogging up the storage bins! 

Looking around the house::: 

I see Christmas everywhere I look... the start of my after Christmas blues..... I have always hated to see Christmas end! 

From the camera::: 

Our dear daughter, research scientist from Boston, willing to play carols for us on Christmas Day....what a blessing that was! 

On my prayer list::: 

Our hostess says it so well... I agree completely.... 

Always praying for my husband and my children. 

Prayers also for my friends both off and online, for whatever it is they may be needing or going through right now. 

Bible verse, Devotional::: 

Psalm 42:7 

Deep calls to deep 

in the roar of your waterfalls; 

all your waves and breakers 

have swept over me.

One Thousand Gifts (302-309)

Ann  Voskamp     @  A Holy Experience   wrote the  book   One Thousand  Gifts....   which  I  absolutely  love...    and  I share in  the   gratitude   journal   beginning  today  with 
I am so thankful 
302.   for    my savior and   my relationship with Him....He is my provider, my strong tower, and  the lover of my soul!
303.  That my  whole family   got to spend the holidays together....   With mom approaching 90 and dad, 94,   we have no guarantees....   it  was   very   special that we all  got to celebrate here   at home this year! Praise the Lord!
304.  That Amanda and Joshua   were able to  spend    quality time with  both sets of parents without   losing  very much   time at work....   We so enjoyed their visit!
305.  ..the precious hours  Lynn and I spent this week watching 2 seasons of Downton Abbey.....   we both enjoyed  the program so much and  getting to enjoy it together made it all the more  sweet!

306. I am so pleased to   have a new pc.....   my old laptop  was on its very last leg!   This is such a blessing!
307.  We get to spend  yet another hour with the kids  today  as we drive them to the train...  thereafter, I pray for grace to   say goodbye   without a tear  knowing that    they  are  always in God's hands!
308.  The Lord  gave us   good weather  throughout  the    family time   this season....   we were able to   travel  safely and   in a timely fashion....   God knows how to give us the best gifts!  he knows   best what we need! 
309.  for the amazing testimony  given at church yesterday.... making us all consider   who we are in  the Kingdom  of God....     to  study and show ourselves approved  of God....  to work out our  salvation  with awesome reverence and   surety.

NO SNow

Pink Saturday

For more  PS   visit Beverly here!!
   This year on PS  we are celebrating  snow,  

but, alas this year we none!!

Oh, how in other years it was so pleasant to  see the new fallen stuff out of every window!

 to step outside ankle deep in the stuff!

If I could I would,,,   but not now,  not yet this season.... and  we do need it so!!!
But I'll enjoy   what  you have to share this week!

Merry Christmas from our Home to Your's

  I'm  joining the   party  at   Rooted in Thyme   to share  about   our Christmas..

 On the night before Christmas all was a lit

and  all was   merry  as   Lynn  chanced to sit

   at the table,  bright

finishing the gifts for

one and all!

The morning of Christmas dawned  dark  but cheer

as  I hurried downstairs to   set about  my chores..

I could barely wait until I heard  feet  coming down the

stairs

 Our Christmas brunch  menu  was a waiting   the cooks....

Amanda,    our cranberry scone baker ,  hadnt arisen from her sleep...

 So I hurriedly  worked on the brandied fruit  so the flavors would have time to steep.

 It was  grand  when at last  the children  were up

 Time to  get the quiche in the pan

set the table  with    English Crackers and punch

 A festive morning in store for our wonderful  bunch!!!

 The English crackers revealed crowns for each one

 My crown was gold, lovely to behold..

 Queen Mother  wore her's the whole day long,

while dad donned his Santa''s cap  to  entertain our throng!

 Princess Amanda  played a set of carols as  we sang in our hearts the  tunes of the season

Prince Joshua  reclined in his repose, an article in hand  as his reason.. 

while  gifts awaited to be opened...  

 but that is  personal   let's just say  with  delight,, 

 everyone  was  very  happy that night!!!

Christmas with Friends

Katherine's Corner is home to this blog party!

Yes, I am days behind....     I  got a new pc and  am learning the ins and outs....

I love  the   gatherings of Christmas with friends and    family...   This post is   designated mainly to friends...   the Thursday before Christmas  Lynn and I celebrated  with our  choir from  church. We always  meet a t our  pianists  home for  a potluck following our   Christmas   concert..
     

I am so  pleased that since retirement Lynn has joined our  chorale 

On Saturday  my prayer sista's  met at Lynne's   for  brunch! 

 We  always  feel the presence of God  at Lynne's   because of the many prayers   we have shared  there in our group.....

These are truly my sisters.....   God put us together  and   oddly enough  not one of the 6 of us have  a sister  and always wanted one...   We serve such a loving Father!