The Simple Woman's Daybook - My First Entry

 

This post was supposed to go up on Monday, I think, but I just discovered it so I am putting it up today. The premise is to slow down and enjoy the moments of today as we go through life.  If you would like to read other Daybook comments, you can go visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY: Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Outside my window...snow! Wonderful snow!
I am thinking...of my family in Mississippi - my Aunt Mary had a melanoma removed on the 21st. They think they got it all, but she will have a follow up procedure in 3 months. I would appreciate your prayers for her.
I am thankful for...the fact that my children get along with each other & are close.
From the learning rooms...no school this week - yahoo!
From the kitchen...pizza tonight - the nephews are here. Ron made a yummy salad to go with it.
I am wearing...Chico jeans, red turtleneck, handmade necklace, tennis shoes, dangly earrings
I am remembering....Christmases when I was a little girl and noticing that I don't remember presents as much as I remember events and people.
I am creating...purses - spent a couple of hours in the basement organizing and getting ready to sew.
I am going...nowhere today- yippee!
I am reading...So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobsen
I am hoping...for enough snow to go x-country skiing close to home with my dh & dd
I am hearing...my new Gladys Knight and the Pips CD - a Christmas present from my ds
Pondering these words... "He (Jesus) didn't talk about church as a place to go to, but a way of living in relationship with him and with other followers of his." Taken from Why I Don't Go to Church Anymore an article by Wayne Jacobsen
Around the house...trying to slowly start cleaning up the Christmas mess
One of my favorite things...my sewing machine given to me by my dh a few years ago - it works like a dream!
A few plans for the rest of the week: Sew, ski, work out, make art and spend time with my family!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My dh and me on Christmas Day

Merry Christmas and Happy Pink Saturday

I want to wish all of my blog friends a very Merry Christmas today.

Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

And have a very happy Pink Saturday tomorrow.

Here are my two little angels standing guard in my entryway.

 

Some of this year's new ornaments....

And our tree laden with gifts.

 We are so very blessed this year with family, faith, friends and financial blessings. We are truly thankful to the Lord - giver of all good gifts.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

And some of my very special presents that I received from my family. My dd made the beautiful apron. I have so many other gifts that my generous family gave me, but the greatest gift to me of all was just to have them all here and spend a wonderful day together.  Now tonight we are heading over to my in-laws house to share Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas, and may God richly bless you, everyone!

Be sure to stop over at Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound to share other Pink Saturday posts.

Art compliments of Penniwigs .

Christmas Decorations & Outdoor Wednesday

Today, I am joining the group over at Outdoor Wednesday to share our Christmas tree and some Michigan snow. We recently had our first snow of the year - and while it isn't enough to really go skiing, it makes everything look fresh and white and clean. I'm hoping for more by Christmas Day and then we can try out our new x-country skiis - Yay! If not, we'll take a short drive North to the X-Country Ski Headquarters and ski to our heart's content! It is soooo beautiful up there. And only a little more than an hour's drive for us. They are in the snow belt and we are just south of it here. What a difference a few miles can make.

Our Christmas tree

 

OUR FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR!

 

And here is Fezzik, our family dog, enjoying the now - he really is enjoying it!

So if you'd like to see more Outdoor Wednesday posts, go over to A Southern Daydreamer and enjoy!

Yellow Shutters - Outdoor Wednesday

shutter –noun
1. a solid or louvered movable cover for a window.
2. a movable cover, slide, etc., for an opening.
3. a person or thing that shuts.

I was just testing how to post photos from Photobucket. This is a photo from our trip to Quebec City last summer. It was so beautiful there, probably the most romantic place I have ever visited. This is one of my favorite photos. As a matter of fact, I can't believe that I actually took this photo myself. Sometimes I surprise myself.

Christmas Traditions - Pink Saturday

This week Miss Beverly over at How Sweet the Sound has asked us to share a favorite Christmas tradition. One of our favorite traditions is to read aloud The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.

This started many years ago, but it always makes us think about the true meaning of Christmas and just how fresh the story looks to new eyes that haven't ever heard the story. To many of us the story becomes old hat, but the story of the Herdmans and their invasion of a local Christmas pageant always gives the story of Jesus as a newborn baby a fresh look. This year was extra special because our local theater group put on the play and some of my favorite people were in it. I laughed so hard my face hurt and I thought my ribs would break. They truly did a fabulous job with the play.

"The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

None of the Herdmans have ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale (the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating) has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever."

 

My best friend, Brenda, playing the role of Mrs. Armstrong. She was hilarious!

The final scene of the Christmas Pageant, the crowd is quiet as they watch the Herdmans, who are in total awe of the story and the newborn king.   If you have never had the opportunity to read this story, I encourage you to try it this year. It is one of our family's favorites.

Another thing we like to do as a family is watch It's a Wonderful Life. I imagine there are many out there who watch this wonderful story which helps us to realize that we touch many, many lives and the world is a better place, just because each of us is in it.

My Favorite Christmas Ornament - Pink Saturday

I am late getting my Pink Saturday post up today, but it is Christmas time, after all. We finally got our Christmas tree decorated last night. For this week's Pink Saturday post, Miss Beverly over at How Sweet the Sound has asked us to write something about our favorite Christmas ornament. You can also swing by her blog to find other Pink Saturday posts today.

I can't really pick one favorite ornament, but I will share a couple of ornaments that are especially meaningful to me. The first one represents what I hope our family will always remember about Christmas - that even though Santa is lots of fun, the season is really about the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope to always keep Christ in Christmas and even Santa stops to worship the newborn King.

The two ornaments that follow are ornaments made by women in Thailand. Our church has helped to develop jobs for women who have been brought out of prostitution and make things that we sell here in the U.S. to help them provide a living for themselves and their families. I don't know if you can see the detail, but the needlework on these ornaments is absolutely exquisite. I bought these ornaments many years ago, but they still are very meaningful to me.

And for today, the blog I would like to highlight is Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.  She has a lovely blog and has just made it back to blogland after some difficult surgery. Please stop over to her blog and enjoy the sights and sounds of a lovely Southern Bungalow and share some get well wishes.

I hope all of my friends in blogland have a wonderful and generous and meaningful Christmas season!

And one last ornament - My vintage Barbie in the Red Silken Flame outfit.

Christmas Countdown at Ten Two Studios

Lisa Volrath of Ten Two Studios and Go Make Something has created a countdown to Christmas. Each day from December 1st through Christmas Day, a new sheet of free printable images will be revealed. These images are fun and free so head on over to Lisa's site linked below for some beautiful images to use in your artwork, Christmas cards, crafts and more.  

Original Printables Holiday Countdown

Here is one example of the many images you can find at Lisa's site.

Enjoy!

Christmas Memories and Pink Saturday

Today's Pink Saturday post is supposed to be about a favorite childhood Christmas memory. You can check out Beverly's blog at How Sweet the Sound to read about a wonderful give-away and to read other's favorite Christmas memories.

I don't know if this is my favorite Christmas memory, but it is probably my earliest Christmas memory. I was six years old and we spent Christmas with my Aunt Mary and her family. When I went to bed on Christmas eve, I was really worried that Santa would not be able to find me, since I was not at home. I still remember walking down the hallway on Christmas morning, worried that there would be no Christmas presents for me under the tree. Imagine my elation when I spied a Barbie doll just for me! I can still remember the thrill and the relief when I saw that Barbie. It was one of the earliest Barbie dolls, since they only came out in 1959 and this was 1961. It was the "Bubble cut" Barbie and of course she was brunette, since I had dark brown hair. I no longer have the doll, but I did search the web for a couple of pictures to share.  I understand that she was patterned after Jackie Kennedy, since President Kennedy had been inaugurated that year.

I purchased this reproduction and have it on my shelf. I did have the Silken Flame outfit, too.

I have also included a picture of Jackie Kennedy in her inaugural dress to show the comparison. She is beautiful, isn't she. Quite different from what we see in fashion today, but she is classy and gorgeous.

I know that this isn't a profound memory, but we didn't have many toys when I was growing up and we would have only one or two presents at Christmas. My parents always sacrificed so that we could have something under the tree. This particular year, my brother was only one and it was a particularly hard year for my family financially, so this doll was really special. She was one of my most prized possessions and I played with her constantly. My grandmother sewed her doll clothes, since we couldn't afford to buy outfits. But I did have the Silken Flame red outfit!  I do remember that her head fell off quite often! LOL! But that didn't make her any less special to me.  It was several years later before I got Midge and Ken.

Another challenge from Miss Beverly is to pick out a blog to highlight each week. It is so difficult to choose just one, but this week I would like to highlight MizMollye, shezaDoozey. Take time to visit this wonderful, funny lady. She will add a little Louisiana charm to your day and you will be blessed, I am sure.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful pink Saturday. It is snowing here in mid-Michigan and I think we just might have a white Christmas this year. Blessings to you all!

Outdoor Wednesday and REDnesday

My dear husband decided to paint our dining room before Thanksgiving and I was absolutely stunned that he was willing to paint it RED. I think it turned out beautifully!

Here are some beautiful, RED, fall trees around our city! In December the trees have dropped all their leaves, but they were in their splendor not very long ago!

 

 

Stop over at A Southern Daydreamer and visit the other beautiful Outdoor Wednesday posts!

 

And make your way over to It's a Very Cherry World to see REDnesday posts.