If - - -

Continuing with thoughts of Christmas:

If you could shop at only one store for Christmas gifts, which store would it be?

Hands down, no question about it - that store would be a bookstore for me!  Nearly everyone that I shop for gets a book and some of them get several.  This is a little glimpse of the books that I gave to our children and grandchildren this year.  I love that everyone can have a book to read in the days immediately after Christmas.

So - do tell!  What store must you shop at?

Creating

Last year I sewed two Christmas banners - and gave them both away!  So it was time to make one for our house this year.

I used 15 different patterns and had to cut one piece upside down to make it work!  The other side has the trees right side up.  

My projects to share with many friends and family members this year were sets of pillowcases.  I think I sewed 16 sets - and still have fabric for a few more.  Some of them were sewed under pressure - and given away before I could snap a photo!  These few pictures give you a peek of what they looked like. 

I really loved making - and sharing them!

Happy Last Day of 2011!!

My last week of December has not been one for blogging!  I've been enjoying family, friends, food and visiting - and the computer has been shut off.  Sometimes living life is just more important.

Thank you, dear readers, for visiting and for reading about my family, my faith, my passions and my adventures.  I hope that we will continue to be friends in 2012!

May your celebrations and memories be filled with joy and happiness!
May you enjoy good health and loved ones in the days ahead!
May God's presence fill your days with light and love!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!

"Joy to the World,

The Lord has Come!"

Merry Christmas!

Gratitude Gifts Today

In our family, this week in December has a habit of being ultra busy and filled with special events - other than the usual Christmas ones, that is!

Nine years ago Naomi and Jerry were married on December 21st - how in the world can it really be that long ago?!

This year, Darrin and Kelsey just moved into their beautiful new home.  I was so happy to be able to go and help a bit - and stay overnight too!  (And I was so disappointed with myself when I realized that both camera batteries were dead - and the charger was at home.  So I truly lived in the moments and saved up the pictures in my mind.)

There are so many special things to add to the counting this week.  And there are so many, many reasons to offer Him my thanks during this last week of Advent.



#3452 - #3472

- sunlight streaming in the church windows
- listening to little ones tell the story
- special costumes to make the story real for them
- thinking again how very much God loves the little ones
- remembering that I am His child too

- helping our children
- watching as they work and make decisions together
- friends and family who pitch in to help them
- the little special touches that turn a house into a home
- a Dad who brought a special gift to his daughter

- Samuel's voice thanking us for Christmas gifts
- hearing how he is enjoying each item
- finishing sewing projects
- anticipating their reactions
- giving gifts as a way of honouring Him

- lights in the darkness
- Nativity scenes
- candles burning brightly
- Christmas trees
- the birth of our Saviour

Christmas Shopping At The Mall

Thanks to Mary at Owlhaven for sharing this!

Five on Friday

1. Meadow and I finished a surprise Christmas present for her mom today.  She is so excited to see Naomi's reaction for this project that she dreamed up all by herself.  I'm so happy that she asked me to help her.  I hope it will be the start of many more creative days we can spend together.  I love the idea of our grandchildren creating with me :)

2. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with some of my family to deliver Santa's Anonymous gifts to families in the city.  It's such a great way to help out at this time of year.  As my sister would say, "We made a memory" by doing it together. 

3.  Jennifer wrote, over at The High Calling, this week of "A Very Mary Christmas", her memories of waiting to be chosen as Mary, in the Sunday School Christmas concert.  If you've ever worn a bathrobe or  dishtowel costume (and even if you haven't!) , you will see the amazing eternal message in her writing.

4.  Christmas baking is non-existent at this house right now.  I have made several batches of poppycock - but they've all left the house, which is probably a good thing!

5.  There are some beautiful displays of Christmas lights in this area.  It's so much fun to wander around through the towns and countryside looking at them.  I hope you take some time to do the same in your community.  It definitely makes me smile and remember that Jesus came to be the Light of the world. 

Happy 4th Sunday in Advent this weekend!

It's Beginning to Look - -

A Lot Like Christmas!

A winter storm blew through central Alberta on Saturday so I stayed at Heather and Jonathan's, safe and snug.  We had to get some groceries and along the way, a few Christmas items were added to the cart.

Helayna was absolutely thrilled to get her very own little Christmas tree.  She picked the jingle bells to add and they have such a lovely sound.  She rearranged them all evening.  After supper, she presented a little play she made up, "The Two Trees", for our viewing pleasure.  She is so, so excited about Christmas.

It was a good day to acquire Christmas decorating items - 50% off for this beautiful wreath, which looks lovely on the dark green door.

And Silas' favourite was his Advent calendar with it's tiny morsels, all stamped with CARS images.  That morning he ate Sally :)

Heather has an old hutch that was my grandmother's first set of cupboards, about 60 years ago.  She creates the loveliest displays on it.  And Helayna moves her tree all over the place :)

The Christmas decorations came out of the boxes and this little creche found a home on the mantle.

For one of their Advent traditions, Heather wraps all the Christmas books and everyday through December they open one or two.  They love to cuddle with Mommy and read these "new" books.

And outside?  Everything was frosted with a fresh dusting of white snow - which Helayna and Heather kindly swept off my car.  It's December in Alberta!

Creating

I always start my December Daily album on the 1st Sunday of Advent so I already have a few pages created.  But I've been working the last 2 days and getting a good photo of the pages hasn't happened yet.  Progress is being made on a few sewing projects but again no pictures.  Do you sense a pattern here?!

But perhaps in the meantime you'd like to play in your kitchen and make a batch of this delectable shortbread.  I guarantee it's easy and 'melt-in-your-mouth' good.

Whipped Shortbread
(from Country Woman magazine, November/December, 1992)


3 cups butter, softened slightly
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
candied cherries or colored sugar (optional)

Using a heavy-duty mixer, beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Gradually add dry ingredients, beating constantly until well blended.  Mixture will be stiff.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and dip in colored sugar or place a small piece of cherry on top.
Flatten tops of cookies slightly and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 300 degrees F for 20 - 22 minutes or until cookie is set but not browned.
Let cool slightly on sheet and then carefully transfer to cooling rack.
Yield - 10 - 12 dozen cookies (recipe may be halved for 5 dozen)
May be stored in airtight containers in the fridge for 1 - 2 months.