I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

We have snow in Redding today and even had some fall here in Cottonwood.

It was amazing to see snow, even when you are told it will come to see it in the yard is so surprising.

I went to the grocery store at 10 this morning and it started to rain as I left, the snow came down about an hour later and it is still snowing in the area.

My girls went to Redding to see a movie and took the camera, I am looking forward to Jo's photos.

My new job is going well, it is a real change to be working a full 40 hour week.

I am so thankful to have a job when so many are unemployed.

Our Christmas celebration is small and I really never know what we will do for Christmas.

So many people have this grand plan and many gifts to buy, many parties to attend, and many fancy food to eat.

Our Christmas is simple. 

The tree is small.

The gifts are often homemade or necessities.

The parties are church celebrations with cookies and caroling.

No fancy clothes or food.

I made Latkes and Applesauce for the kids and Wes for Friday night, I wouldn't be home in time from work, so I made them the night ahead.

Last night we went to the Anderson Cottonwood Neighborhood Church annual caroling and cookies.

Abbie played her violin at the end with Ellen. 

I love to hear them play together.

My favorite part of the caroling is coloring a picture for my friend Molly.

For the last 3 years I have colored her a picture and made it a Christmas card to her and she puts it on her refrigerator.

Christmas is truly simple to me.

Tree in the corner

Cookies in the jar

Fire in the wood stove

Cozy robe and Slippers

Jr (Corgi) eating popcorn tossed to him by Ian

Carols in the background

Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The highlight of the Christmas season is going to church on Christmas Eve and listening to the story and scriptures while hearing the old traditional carols and some newer ones. I hope Ora will sing "Mary did you know" this year some time.

That is what I like about Christmas.

This year I will be working  Christmas Eve and December 26th, so on Dec. 29th, I guess I will take down the tree and things and clean for the New Year. Some times I will leave the tree up until January 1st. We will see.

Additions to yesterday

Just when you think it is all working out, something happens to put a bend in the design

That is the way it is with me and my phone pictures

They look great when they are 2 inch squares...

But on my blog they are a blur

The tree below is an example

These pictures warranted retakes as they were some special parts of the Christmas Decor

My Grandma made these carolers and their sled in 1979 for my first Christmas away from home

The retake of the tree is leaning a little

actually, I think it is leaning,
because the sewing machine should be  level
under the shawl from my wedding day
Oct. 17, 1987
25 years ago

We have never been big on Santa
We read the stories and
told the History of Santa Around the world
My children know that all gifts come from God
The nice St. Nickolas from ancient times
gave gifts provided by God


AND WE HAVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

(Luke 2:1-21 ESV)

How Many Days Until Christmas?

My Mom's Christmas Decorations

   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those upon whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14





My decorations are up and now we wait.

Clean around the decorations and wait until Dec. 26th or January 1st for the deep clean again.

My son said, "Mom, why are you decorating so early?"

"Because I can?"

Son, "Why didn't you decorate earlier before?"

"Because we had school, then I would go into a rush of getting things up before Christmas."

Son, "Why is it different this year?"

"Because I am not teaching you (my children) or going to school myself. This is the first time since 1996 and before that I had a baby and toddlers running around".

WOW! I would not have thought that out if he hadn't asked.

This year I cleaned all the kitchen shelves with the Baking Makin's and cookware using old Christmas wrapping paper for shelf paper.

I cleaned the windows, deep cleaned the dog crate area (including de-flea spray), washed and blow dried the dog before the rain hit and gave him a de-flea treatment, and put away most of the non-Christmas nic nacs.

Then the Christmas box came out last Saturday night.

Johanna's Stocking was on top where it had been put when we found it this summer.
(It was lost last year on Christmas and we had to improvise) 

The stocking are hung behind the wood stove on
Mary's welded horse shoe bookcase side pieces

Snow People came out the week before
This cutie was a secret pal gift when Debbie was my  Prayer Pal

I can't remember where we got him, but he followed someone home
to go with the lady, cuz he has a hat like Wes (Giggle)

I could just have this up and would be happy.
My menorah with the white candle to represent the
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
and
the nativity I made my mom in 1975

Mandy and Rachel are Abbie and Johanna's American Girl Dolls
They now will become Christmas Tradition to set on JR's Crate
(He is hiding in has little den)

I bought this little set when I was 14.
Mary is in the picture  behind, age 6.
The kids use to make Lego and block stable and churches
for these 3 pieces.

Finally, my choir boys again.
One Christmas after my mom's death
my Dad and Step-Mom brought me
these along with a number of my mother's
other decorations.

So, what are we waiting for?

I am not waiting. I chose to celebrate Christmas and Resurrection Sunday every day. 

The exchange of gifts are not going to be a stressor for me this year, I chose to bless everyone I can all year around. "See a need, ask God if He wants me to do something, meet the need."

Blessed Holiday Season.

P.S. Special Offer on Tracie Miles Book, Stress-Less Living. The Book is only $14.99 and you get 7 free gifts.

Abbie's House

"and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24 ESV) Proverbs 31 Devotion for today

My memory verse for the week:

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV)


On Saturday night Abbie got out the ruler and scratch paper and made her ginger bread house from "scratch". (The pictures above were swiped from her Facebook.)
JR, our Corgi, was watching every moment for the occasional dropped crumb.
We had the Christmas music on and I decorated the tree to the fresh baked smell of ginger cookie.
In the next few blogs I will take some pictures of my decorations and share Christmas memories that go with them, but Abbie's house is already history. She and Ian have enjoyed about 1/2 of her little 4" x 4" masterpiece and the other half is waiting for consumption in the cookie jar.
For today I am remembering baking with my girls.
Sometimes we would invite a friend or two and bake in the church kitchen where there is the luxury of 3 ovens and lots of counter space. This is were we learned that left over candy canes can make excellent hearts for Valentine's Day Cookies.
They will always remember the disagreements about decoration techniques, but in time those will be things to laugh about. They should remember Mrs. Silvers inviting them to decorate Fall Cookies when we went on the Hay Ride with the JV, Christmas Cookies with M. Johnson, Ginger bread house kits from the store, Eatable California Missions and now Abbie's 4" x 4" house from scratch made in 2012.


Joy Dare for December is out.

Today: Dec. 3 ~ 3 Gifts Shinning

1) The star over the place the babe was laid (Luke 2)
2) The lights on my little Christmas Tree
3) Jesus robe on the Mt of Tranfiguration (Mark 9:3)

  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

(Luke 2:12)