cookie "disc"

On Dec 3, Judy, posted this wonderful and creative idea for giving cookies......in paper CD sleeves! I knew immediately it would be perfect for a "little something" for our co-workers. So, I told my sweet girl and as they say these days
she was "all over it"! :-)

We chose snickerdoodles because they are simple and everyone likes them. Judy used rub-on designs....I bought stickers. My girl decorated the sleeves while I baked the cookies.....teamwork!!
I used (per Judy's instructions via email) an ice cream scoop for the dough and it makes just the right size cookie.
We took them in today and they were a HUGE hit! Everyone thought they were very special. I was sure to give Judy the credit...even though they don't know her! :-) It made us very happy to bless our friends in such a cute way! Thanks Judy!!!

a tree tour

One of the things I enjoy the most about decorating the tree is remembering the history of the ornaments.When our children were growing up, I bought them an ornament every year. They were also given ornaments from others and they made them in Sunday School. When they married, they took their box of ornaments with them to their new homes. So, you won't see any handmade beaded candy canes or bells made from red paper cups or "My First Christmas" engraved brass baby beds... but there are still some old ones and some new ones.

This is a new one. I found it at Cracker Barrel this year... a restaurant here in the south. Do you have them where you live? A tiny teacup and a cardinal...I couldn't resist! :-)


This one is about 25 years old. I made it from heavy cord and many coats of craft glue. The glue made it stiff so it would keep it's shape and it also made it shiny. I took some to an ornament exchange way back then. Nobody knew what they were Doesn't it look like a shepherd's crook to you?



A life long friend gave me several of these...country angels for my country tree...perfect!


My daughter and I each bought one of these when we went to Niagara Falls to celebrate her college graduation in May 2009. We bought them in a Christmas shop in a cute little town called Niagara on the Lake. He's a Snow Mountie!


About 5 years ago, my hubby made the comment, jokingly, that HE didn't have any ornaments on the tree, so our sweet girl went shopping! This a "Handy Moose" because J can do almost anything around the house.


Probably his favorite thing to do is fish and he is getting a little older (I mean he has retired, you know!), so I had to get this for him!


A long time friend gave me this a few years ago. An "old" wooden toy top....I like the way it hangs.


Back in the 80's, a friend of ours went to Israel as a missionary. She brought many of these back with her to share with folks in our church. They are made from olive wood.


J's sister was stationed in Germany for two years back in the 80's. She sent this to us one of the years she was there.



I bought this about 2 years ago on a girl's weekend with a friend to the northern part of our state. That is one cute fat bird!


This came from a Christmas shop on the coast of North Carolina when I went "home" with a friend to visit her mom.



This is one of my all time favorites. My "other" mom gave it to me many years ago. I love what it says and it always has a prominent place on the front of the tree. Yes, it is Him...Jesus!

I love my tree!! Thanks for taking the tour and enduring the history lessons!! Hope you have a blessed weekend!

coming home

It has been a long week. I haven't felt well and we have been short handed at the office. I am happy to help out, but it has made for longer work days and I have been behind in my own work all week. Every day, I just looked forward to coming home.

But, I did do something fun last night. One of my friends and I had our Christmas together. We went to dinner and then to a play at a little theater in a nearby town. They were doing "The Homecoming". If you aren't familiar with it, it is based on a book by Earl Hamner and was the inspiration for "The Waltons" TV series.

The story is set in the hills of NC during the depression era. Daddy has had to take a job 40 miles away and is only a home on the weekends. His family is expecting him early on Christmas Eve, but he is late, very late. Mama sends the oldest son, Clay-Boy, out to look for him. During his search, he learns a lot about his daddy......that people respect him and depend on him. Clay- Boy didn't think that his Dad understood his desire to be a writer, but he discovers that his dad knows him much better than he thought. There's no money and little food, so no one is expecting much for Christmas, but of course Daddy shows up at the end with a bag full of gifts and saves the day!!
Made me think of our "Heavenly Daddy". As we seek Him and learn more of His truth, we get to know Him better (and find out how very well He knows us!) and the result is many wonderful gifts.......faith, grace, mercy, wisdom, forgiveness.....and the list goes on and on. And the Word also says He "rejoices " over us when we "come home". How much we have to be thankful for this Christmas! I want my mind, heart, words and actions to be set on that these next two weeks.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. And from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace."
John 1: 14 & 16

well, it's a start....

The tree is up! Hopefully, there will be more soon!

tulips in december?

Tuesday, as I was lying on the sofa, in my pj's snuggled up with a blanket, feeling pretty crummy, I started to hear this crinkling sound. I was curious, but I didn't feel well enough to change positions to see what was going on. In a few minutes, the hubby came around the corner with these! Bright, happy, lovely yellow tulips! Didn't know you could get them this time of year....but I'm glad you can! ( The crinkling sound was him removing the cellophane they were wrapped in.) They are still cheerful today and I am trying to be!! Hope you all have a blessed and happy weekend!

family time...

One of the greatest blessings in my life is that our family enjoys being together. Whether we are.....working together.....









resting together....

playing together....













or being creative together.....


It is ALL GOOD!!!!

"Children are an heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them." Ps 127: 3&5

how to "handel" a surprise!

I think you are going to enjoy this........imagine what a surprise it was! It would have been great to be there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

I hope you have some unexpected blessings today!