The decorations are finished!

Wow, we have been so busy. We have three college age girls staying with us for a week. They are the Encounter Team and we have been enjoying their music and fellowship. Besides the fact that I had a lot of things to put away and clean up before finishing up my Christmas decorations.
 I finished the porch this morning and the wind was whipping in all directions, luckily is was the upper 40's so it wasn't too cold. I have the pictures taken for daytime viewing so tonight I will snap a few pics of the night view and post those tomorrow but for today I will share some of the other decorations.

 I am sorry that the close up view was a little blurry...are my hands shaking?? lol It is similar to last year when I made the socks. You may have notices the fireplace is not lit but it will be shortly (with bulbs that is) I will take a few pictures once that is done too.
 To the right is my dd piano...these are the decorations.

 All the windows have wreaths...

Now I know what you are thinking...how do you have sparkly with prim decorations...I don't know but I love the mix and match at Christmas and I love the glitter feel of the room so..go figure!
 The wreaths I have had and I put them up each year. sometimes outside sometimes inside. I saw that the White House has them on the inside and from then I put my inside too. The decorations on the wreaths switch each year. This year I used what I had on hand to glam them up!

The tree beside my stitching chair usually has my vintage ornaments on it but this year my dd wanted to use glass balls with glitter that I found on clearance last year so...I think it is so pretty.

 I did splurge on two new glam pillows. I found them at Home Goods in Columbus and I thought a long time about whether to pick them up or not but in the end I thought I could leave them out all winter and since they are white they could go almost anywhere so I  brought them home.
  Tomorrow I will post more pictures we are not even half way around the room yet! I will visit later.

Sharing a Life Changing Moment

  This morning while I had a few minutes I took a few pictures of my decorations but my mind was wondering. I thought of a life changing moment that I had years ago and I feel like I wanted to share that story today instead of my Christmas photos. Not to worry, those photos will be coming soon too.
  When our dd was only 18 months old there was a tragic car accident and our neighbor and her children we terribly hurt.  Their small baby was killed and their other children were hurt too. I had gone to high school with them and the father was not only our neighbor but a friend.
   When we went to the funeral home my dd looked at that little baby and thinking that she was sleeping, started to sing her a lullaby. When I reached to stop her the baby's daddy said...let her go..it is ok.  So there she stood..her little back to us..facing that baby and she sang that little baby to sleep. Needless to say, I cried all the way home. A life changing moment for them and for me.
  They had lost their baby but were thankful that eventually the other children would be ok...I was grateful for my child and the compassion she had shown for that little baby.
   We eventually had 2 more children but that moment is forever with me. Even now, as I think about that moment I cry.  I cry for all the moments they missed...I cry because I am so blessed.
   When our oldest children was ready to go to kindergarten ( remember I was teaching then) I knew that I could not send her. I had been given an awakening. Our days are precious and few. I wanted to spend them with my children...teaching, loving, laughing. I was not willing to give that up...even for a pay check.
   Why am I sharing this story??/ I am not sure...I am hoping that we all hold our days dear...we count our little blessings..we cherish the time with our children. Our dd is now 22 and their little daughter would have been almost 21...
   Sometimes our life changes in a moment, for me this was that moment. I went from a working mom..taking classes to get my Master's degree in Supervision ...in that moment I started to reevaluate how I was spending my days.
   Within a few years I was home with my children and a home schooling mom.  This is now my last year of home schooling. My children will all be graduated from our little school..we have two in college and one heading that way next year. Maybe another life changing moment is coming...Have a blessed day with your family..Rejoice ...Our Redeemer Lives.

Has the decorating started?

  Here we are in the midst of another weekend. What are you up to? I have a few more lights to put up outside and then I will be finished with the decorating this year. Every year I read so many blogs that show all their decorations and I wonder if I should go with a different style?? Well, of course this season would not be the time to do that...not in a recession.
  Tomorrow I will try to start to share a few pictures of our home and maybe I will share a picture of my new start too!!!
   Blessings.

Final Thanksgiving Thoughts!

 Dear Friends,
 After we watched the Macy's Day Parade dh decided to go to the garage to get the turkey ready for cooking. Here he is working his fingers to the bone!

It did turn out to be a nice turkey. We usually only have turkey once a year but it is almost my favorite food!

I guess all the food was good!!yummmmmm.
 But I did have a  final few words aboutThanksgiving. After the meal and when things were more quiet I took a walk and then dh joined me and we walked for about an hour. It was cool but not cold and it was a pleasant time together. We even had a few raindrops fall on our heads but nevertheless it was a nice time
 I know I have been posting since October about Thanksgiving but I guess I think it is just that important. Not only in November and throughout the holidays but year around. I am thankful that dh has a job and that we were together as a family. Most of all, I will try to think daily about the blessings that I have and pray for those who are struggling. I am thankful for those of you that visit me and leave your kind comments!! I am honored and humbled. May your Holiday season be filled with more blessings than you can measure!

 
  And now we are moving on to the most wonderful time of the year!

Thanksgiving beginnings

 Happy Tuesday!! I have been busy with a few beginnings for Thanksgiving. The dinnerware has been cleaned and shined. The cutlery is clean and waiting for their use. I have made the fudge, the pasta salad, cookies and I have boiled the eggs.  I went ahead and made the insides for the deviled eggs and placed it inside a zip lock baggy, with just a little snip on the corner I can fill the eggs without any mess!
 I was contemplating what it means to be thankful. It is easy to be thankful when things are going good..we are then thankful but maybe it doesn't have as much meaning. When times are tough or when times are trying it is easy to be disgruntled...to grumble....to feel like we have it worse than anyone else. Truly, being thankful is a start of mind not a statement about where things are going. Count your blessings daily...one by one.  Rejoice this Thanksgiving!!!!
 

Thankful thoughts

Dear Ones, What a wonderful day of praise we had today. Our worship team worked together for the soul purpose of praise and when that happens it is so magical. I am so happy to have spent time in praise and worship.
  Today I want to tell you that my dad just had hip replacement surgery. He came home on Saturday and is doing well. Home Health care will meet his needs and my Mom will be there to help all she can. Their dear neighbors have offered to bring in Thanksgiving meals and that will be such a blessing to them and to us. I am so thankful that this kind of hospitality is still alive and well. What a blessing they are.
  Look around and see if there is someone in need close to you. Sometimes it just takes a kind word or a warm meal to change the life of someone else. If you are in need, please make yourself known to those closest to you, don't rob them of the blessing. Have a wonderfully blessed night.

Thanksgiving...giving...

Dear Ones,
 Don't you just love the vintage turkey and it's little keeper?? How sweet they are! My thoughts are continuing to be with Thanksgiving. I have been thinking of the sights and sounds of Thanksgiving. When our children were little they used to be so excited that the cousins would be home for Thanksgiving. sometimes my sister and her family would stay in our home so they would get there on Wednesday evening. The house would be a flurry of activity. First,  I would have all the girls help me get most of the baking done before the cousins arrived. We would spend the week before getting all the groceries and all the little gifts purchased.
  We would always have an ornament exchange on Thanksgiving that way everyone would have something new to place on the tree each year. The kids also would each get a Christmas book to read during the upcoming holiday season. It was such fun, much squealing, as each child rejoiced with their new books and new ornaments. Once the kids had outgrown the books (does that ever really happen?) we then only exchanged ornaments and do so to this day.
  We spent many a holiday season reading those books over and over again. After Christmas I would tuck the books away and by the next Thanksgiving it would be a delight once again to pull out the Christmas books and read them anew.  My children have all those books safe and sound so they can take them to their own homes once they have finished college and start their own families.
  I am richly blessed with those memories. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of year for families to celebrate with the ones that love them and to count all the blesses we now call memories. Thanksgiving is a time to draw near and pause to give a prayer of Thanksgiving to the Holy one who has so lavished us with his blessings daily. Hug them, hold them, pray for them. Blessings to each of you!

Thanksgiving Moments

 Hello Dear Ones,
  We are now counting the days till Thanksgiving.  The time is drawing near. Thanksgiving has always been a magical time at our home. A time to celebrate our blessings with our family.
   When our children were younger we would have a large game of football that we named the Turkey Bowl. We  would spend hours out in the yard giggling and laughing and just plainly having a wonderful time. One year it rained and the Turkey Bowl went on as planned...everyone was drenched but we loved it just the same. Somehow,  that  yearly tradition faded away but  nothing can remove the memories and the sounds of the laughter in my heart. Much more simple times...now the kids are just edging on the twenties..some a little over...some a little under...where have my sweet small children gone? Now, they are busy young adults and the thought of a football game is no longer fun.
    I am so thankful for the memories and for the time that we continue to share together. When the Aunts and Uncles and cousins gather together for stories and laughter...for games of Mario brothers bring cheers....yes...I am thankful.
   Dear Ones, draw those you love close to you and hold them tight...don't spare on the kisses or the compliments. Let peace reign the day....joy and laughter be the memories when the day is over...cherish it...

   This week I will continue to share my thoughts and memories of Thanksgiving...be blessed.
  

A little glimpse!

 I want to thank all of you for your kind words and thoughts but mostly for your prayers! My dad is doing well after his hip replacement surgery. They will keep him under medication for most of today due to pain and then if all goes well he will be home in about three days with home health care coming in to get him on his feet. Praise the Lord!!!
 As for the picture...well just wanted to share the first Christmas decoration for the season. I love this sign. Today it has been cool but mostly rainy, I am thankful that there is no snow yet!
  I wanted to share a few pictures of the little shop I work in. It is called Bella's Gifts. I usually work about 2 days a week. I didn't realize my batteries were almost shot so I only snapped a few pictures but there will be more coming but this will give you a little glimpse.

  This is where I lost battery power but you can see we are all decked out for Christmas in some of the rooms. I didn't even get a chance to take pictures of the front display or all the jewelry but when I work on Friday I will take a few more so you can get the feel for the shop.
  Today, I decided to put the wreaths on the window because I see that were are having a weather change and it will be much colder very soon. Every year I freeze when I decorate the front porch sooooo today I took on the wreaths and I am pleased so far. It was a nice beginning to holiday decorating.
   I don't know if anyone is following the blog hop that is going on but if you can't find it go the the side bar and visit With Thy Needle and you will find some wonderful free patterns. What a kind and generous way to start the holiday season. I will be visiting. Please continue to pray for my dad (and mom).

Wow, It has been a while..

I am so sorry that I have been away so long...I guess life just gets in the way. We had our Open House at Bella's Gifts and I will post the pictures tomorrow. We had a beautiful day and lots of friendly people.
  It has been fun getting to learn some new things about the store and the owner. Everyone has been so friendly and willing to help. We set up a half price room and are hoping the clearance everything so we can get all new stuff after the holidays....we will see/
  I have started decorating for Christmas. Since we had an early Thanksgiving I decided to move on and put out what I could when I had a spare minute...that might be another reason that I have not been posting...I am tired! lol
  My dad is having surgery tomorrow morning, would you say a prayer????
  I will post more tomorrow. Blessings to you.

Hannah Montana came for a visit!

Yes, Hannah Montana and the Garden Gnome visited us on Halloween and I think they were the cutest little tikes. They were the only two tricksters we had but they are so sweet. Thanks Amy, for bringing them by, I know it was out of your way but it was a delight to see them.
 If you think they look like you have seen them before...yes a few posts back you will see them without the costumes....too cute.

I have started a Christmas cross stitch design that I will be sharing (as soon as I get more done). I decided to work on putting all the decorations away and doing a little cleaning before I start with the Christmas decorations. I always have all the decorations out for Thanksgiving so it really is not that far away. It is amazing how little time it takes to put the decorations away considering it took me days to put them in just the right places.

 The little shop that I work in has  been putting out all the Christmas decorations. It is our open house on Nov. 12th so we have been making the place shine. If the owner doesn't care I will share a few pictures from the shop before the Open house.
 And finally,  my parents made it to Florida safely and I am so happy about that but I am sad that they are gone again...missing the holidays once more...and so far away. It doesn't matter how old you are, you still want to share the holidays with your parents. But thankfully they are settled in for a warm winter. Until next time, be blessed.