THe Week Before Christmas

Over the river and through the woods to   granddaughter's house we go...

Every day we wonder if there will be snow!!!

We  wait patiently for Christmas   by reading many  books....  and  baking   old fashioned   molasses cookies,, YUM!!!!

  

Our sweetheart, Birdie ,was  a  vision of sweet dreams last year and now she  is old enough to watch Charlie Brown Christmas!!!!  They grow up too fast  for  grannies who live  so far away!

                

Make it Pretty Monday

Grace at Home

Thursday Favorite Things

Home and Garden Thursday

Home Sweet Home

December 21~Peace

December 21~Peace

Luke 2: 13-14

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 For us  this Christmas Season, our family is  expectant   and filled with peace that only  comes form on high... as we  await the birth of our second grand daughter. 

We are   so happily  enjoying  Christmas  with our children  as  we   are   enjoying    the love and wonder of our first grand daughter's 3rd Christmas....  So many wonderful   things  for   Grandma and Grandpa to do  with  our  precious Birdie...... crafts,   baking,   singing,   AH!!!!

I am sorry I haven't  posted  a lot lately...   and I am very sorry to  have lost  2  followers     this week....  But nothing is  more important than  this  peaceful and  magnificent   time in our lives..

Hodge Podge The Week Before Christmas

1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?

My worst "first world"  problem,   is  storage, just like   our  host's  but  not in the same way....I  love  English china....  and I  am a huge collector...but I have  no  new places to store..  three hutches and new cabinetry in my kitchen and still it is all filled to the brim....  My daughter tells me now if I buy a new piece, I must  dispose of an old one....   dilemma,, dilemma!!1


2. Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse....done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year?

Obviously,  Time's choice wouldn't be mine....  I  confess I had to look  Angela Merkle up to know  who she is...I mean she is  alright...  I guess.. I didnt actually read  too much about her and  her stance on  things of import.
 I  probably would have chosen  a  man of  Bi Bi Netanyahu's  stature... as a  political leader...A man who cares deeply for his people and    in my opinion serves them well~

3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.

My nativity is in a box at home,  but today I am  not  at home... but visiting my  sweetheart granddaughter....and  hubby and I gave her her nativity for her birthday  a few months ago...  and she loves to play with it and  retell the story....

This morning we made a craft of the nativity together!!!

4. Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?

Aside  from the various extra giving we   practice  to the usual  charities and   wounded veteran organizations....  my husband and I  for several years have made  it our   joy to  give  unusually more and  unexpected  tips to  those who  serve us....      praying that in some   special way the extra money would  really    be useful  in  allowing  these folks  to  have  a  happier  holiday  or bless others...We also    look for ways to love  on  people  who  appear to be lonely or   forsaken at this time of year... We love to pray for and with   people  whom the spirit leads us to pray  with ...  

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?

For me,. it is also  my granddaughters...   one who is 2 and one who will born  any  hour now...  the waiting is what is so hard!

6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?

Well, just a couple of minutes ago, hubby offered me  one of those special Ritz crackers coated in chocolate  that are only available  this time of year.. pretty  yummy stuff, and I didnt have to  make it myself!

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is__________________.

Allowing the light of Christ and    the  spirit of Christmas to resonant within us....  If  we call ourselves children of God, then His word calls us to be image bearers of Christ....  do do and act like Christ did...  in love, mercy, compassion, and joy!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

May the spirit of Christmas    burn brightly in your lives and  and circumstances  this  wonderful season!  

Merry Christmas! 

December 17~Presents

 

  I dont know about you  but  I have so much to do.....  especially when it comes to presents....

Nothing is wrapped yet!!!!!

A bare  tree looks very sad indeed!!!!
But it does look like  some of  Santa's elves have been  very busy!
Merry, merry!!

December 12~A Beautiful Sight

December 12~ A Beautiful Sight

I love decorating the sunroom!

Friday Favorite Five

 

Time for  FFF  over at  Susanne's Place!

1.  I must be one of the  most fortunate  women in the world....  my hubby is so dear... and  caring...  yesterday while I  was celebrating  (see last post)... he was  vaccuuming the house.  And today he is   scouring the  bathroom....     Now that  says "I love you"  better than anything I can think of!!!

2.   Tomorrow  is going to be so much fun!!!  Our   SS class  is  going  to celebrate    Christmas   by  going to  a  beautiful local  landmark...

This gorgeous hotel is the Christmas  destination of  our community!

 Various civic organizations  decorate trees and    the community comes by  throughout the season and votes on their favorite!  The  trees are   amazing!  There are hundreds of them!





Our   brunch venue is   amazing  and the food is sublime!

There are several stations  with everything  from  carved  entrees
to  sweets of every  imaginable   shape and size!

3.  I cannot believe the temps today...  bright...sunny... and 70 degrees!
4.  I am still in the throes of planning  Christmas   treats.... I know   some family favorites  are  Sausage Balls,  Pecan Tassies, Soft Molasses Cookies,  Peanut Butter with  Reeses cup Cookies,  7 Layer Cookies,  Chez Mix.  and Puppy Chow....  But  surely.... we  can change that up a bit... or  are  treats  supposed to be just that??  ..  traditional...  and  absolutely expected  at Christmas.... any thoughts on that one??
5.    A few years ago  our class did  a progressive dinner   and it was  so  much fun to see how everyone decorated  for the holidays...











That year our   home looked like this! 

Wow... I am much more subdued this year.

December 11~Green

December 11~ Green

My favorite  green at Christmas  is  my  beautiful daughter  decked out in  her  verdant  holiday sweater!

Greens  also deck the  house   during this    yuletide season...
  over the bookcase!

To decorate   gifts!


The   green of garlands   make   all things   more festive!!!



The sunroom   is  donning  the greens of  Christmas!
The   piny scents of the tree  fills the air with   the  smells of    Christmases  of  my youth!