Tuesday, November 29, 2011

"Father Christmas"

Many of our Christmas decorations have sentimental value to us. Our Father Christmas is new this year. We bought him to put outside on our top porch beside the Christmas tree we put up. He didn't show up very well so we brought him inside. I'm so glad we did for I love looking at him! He has such a kind, gentle face.

We really enjoy the musical "Scrooge" and love the song, "Father Christmas".
And two of my favorite Christmas books are Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas, both by Robin Jones Gunn. Great reads for the season!
I read them every year!
So you see "Father Christmas" is special.

Day 5 of Christmas decorating

I'm in the homestretch! Woo hoo! Here is a glimpse of Christmas around our house.
Meet Father Christmas! He's staying with us this year!

Monday, November 28, 2011

A "Charlotte" Christmas!

Isn't she just the cutest thing you ever saw? She is quite the charmer, looking up at you with those sweet brown eyes and that adorable face. And inspite of all that, she has made Christmas decorating a challenge! Yes I am crating her and putting her in the side room where she can play and run around without getting hurt BUT Charlotte is a people dog and she wants to be with us so when she isn't with us, she is crying but now I do believe she has fallen asleep in her bed of all places. Usually it's on one of us!

I've actually been a bit STRESSED OUT these past few days. I'm on a tight shedule this week and not a whole lot has gone according to plan. Bless Mike, he's put up with me, helping all he can.
Started out this morning calmly even after getting up at 5:30 to take Charlotte out and start breakfast.
Everything going smoothly until I knocked a glass bowl off the counter. Charlotte wasn't near it but I grabbed her up and put her in the side room to protect her and then she started her crying and barking.
I swept so carefully and then even vaccumed and by the time I was finished, she was asleep and quiet!
Wow! I do believe we've turned a corner!

On to attack the day and accomplish great decorating feats and hopefully to finish. This is day 4 of Christmas decorating...surely I can finish by tonight!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Twas...

the day after Thanksgiving and all through our house
were too many Christmas containers scattered about!

We worked on the outside hanging garland and lights,
making bows, donning doors with wreaths-quite a sight!

We worked in the sunlight. We worked in the dark.
Are we done? Did we finish? No we aren't!

Garland was missing, and colored lights too
so we are heading out tomorrow and planning to choose...

a fresh tree for our den, a Fraiser fir perhaps
and get all the stuff ...then  probably a nap.

Hopefully by next week all the trees will be up and each room
decorated- Christmas spruced-up!

Then onto some parties that we will be hosting come Friday
and Saturday... good apple cider toasting.

Then comes Nutcracker week and the fun never ends.
It's more Christmas ventures and I can't pretend

that we won't be tired, desiring some rest
but enjoying Christmas is something we do best! :)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms has blest us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given;
the Son and Him Who reigns
with them in highest heaven;
the One eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore."


This is part of an old hymn I grew up singing. As Thanksgiving...a day set aside to give thanks to our Father God, approaches...I've had this song on my heart.

Tomorrow is a day set aside to count our blessings, show our gratitude to the One Who loves us best
and gives the most. But in truth, every day should be a day of "thanksgiving"!
We have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Charlotte's newest photo

She ran straight under here when I gave her a treat!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Tis two days before....

Indian Summer Thanksgiving and things just aren't the same.
There will be no bouncer, no cool games to claim.

Many will be missing including the host but there'll be food aplenty
delicious treats, I boast!

Guests in the 30's will descend upon our door...my parents and sisters, husbands and children
by the score.

We'll shower Bill & Brittany and sweet Maylena too even though she won't see the gifts...
there will be quite a few!

Then on to feast and fellowship, roasting marshmallows by the fire. Children running all around,
parents hoping that they tire.

So the rides back home will be peaceful, uneventful and quite calm
while the hostess puts things back in place with the help of her son.

She will then kick back with Charlotte sleeping in her lap, awaiting the arrival of the host...
and that my friends is that!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Adjusting

Here is Charlotte awaiting her first outing...a run to the bank! The music and ride put her to sleep!
I strapped in the basket and she did great! Here she is this morning; computer time!
And we're already devoted to each other!
ANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDD, Mike loves her and she loves her new Daddy!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Bringing Charlotte home

Here she is asleep on my lap coming home. Ahhhhhh......
And here she is on "Aunt" Patti and "Uncle" Roy's gift to her!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Bringing Home Baby

This is Charlotte!
(Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice...Lizzie's best friend... keeping it in Jane Austen's "family"!)
Mike and I decided that we had to keep it in "the family". It's tradition! (Right, Makenna?)
We are going to get her tomorrow afternoon and I can hardly wait!
Of course I will be posting pictures of her homecoming and all the cute things she does. Doting on her? Absolutely! Our sweet baby girl!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Recognize these guys?

You will if you play the game! Yes! It's the angry birds! Except the guy on the end seems to be smiling.
Mike brought these guys to me as a surprise from Lord and Taylors and he has never seen nor played the game. Me, I enjoy the game! Our oldest grandson, Christian put it on my phone and I must admit, it's addicting!
However because it runs my battery down I do limit myself and do not play every day.
It is fun and challenging!
Now what I  need is a big slingshot and build my own buildings out of really big Leggos, oh yeah, and have got to find those green pigs somewhere!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A bit of sad news....

Mr. Bingley came down with puppy strangles and I won't be getting him now.
I'm already cried out.
There is however a blonde female that I will go and see Sunday. She's fine.
Will let you know then.

Bringing Home Bingley!

Woohoo! Sunday afternoon we're bringing Mr. Bingley home! I am quite beside myself and feel I've waited such a l-o-n-g time for him! As you can see we're ready...thanks to my sister, Denise who gave us the crate and crate bed. And yesterday I wandered all over the Dog section at Petsmart and came home with the rest. Oh, yeah- Monday night after Makenna's ballet class, April, Makenna and I went to Target and I found two doggie outfits...a Christmas sweater and a blue hoodie that has a snowflake and says "Let it snow"! Cute! (Mr. B will model them for you at a later date.)
Yes...I'm going to spoil him but plan on being firm and fair in "bringing up baby"!
I'll post pictures of his homecoming Sunday night so get ready to see the cutest puppy ever!
(okay, I'm prejudice but hey, I think all baby animals are adorable!)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Autumn

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."

William Cullen Bryant

Monday, November 7, 2011

"Morning" glory

This morning as I pulled back our bedroom curtains at 7 am, this is the view that greeted me. Morning glory!
Wow! I am SO in my element! I feel that I am surrounded by God's majesty at every turn...looking out every window, driving down every road. His holiness pervades me, encircles me and I just bask in it.
There are no words to really describe these moments and I so delight in them. I feel as though I pass from one "magical" day into another.
It's wonderful to have these days especially when the "busyness" of life tugs a bit harder. It reminds us to "stop and smell the roses"...to enjoy the journey.
Our calendar for November and December are practically full, every weekend has its festivities already lined up with activities we enjoy...sharing meals with dear friends, celebrating with our families, The Nutcracker Ballet, Clara's Tea which this year is a dinner at a farm and is next Saturday for April, Makenna and I; preparing Thanksgiving baskets at our church for those who need a bit of help this year, getting ready for our Indian Summer Thanksgiving we host for 40+ in our backyard with my side of the family complete with bouncer for the children, delicious food and a marshmallow roast on the 19th, then Thanksgiving lunch here with Mike's side of the family and our girls and their families; and that evening I will begin to decorate for Christmas, transforming our home into a winter wonderland! I enjoy it all! Is it hard work? Of course but it's so worth it to me. The results..."magical",
quite "magical", ushering in the beauty of a merry Christmas...reflections on the birth of our precious Savior and how His one solitary life has impacted a world...our world.
Now that I think on it, His life makes each and every season special...reflections of His holiness abound...day in and day out. You just have to slow down... open your eyes and your heart.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

An Autumn Afternoon Tea

Yesterday afternoon I attended a special tea with some "old" friends and some new ones!
My dear friend, Ruth hosted a table at her church and invited me and 6 other friends/family.
As you can see, Ruth's table was beautiful and so reflected Ruth! The food, fellowship and the guest speaker were all blessings. I even won a door prize!

There were 15 tables, each uniquely decorated by their hostesses and the ladies at their church created such a beautiful setting complete with heavenly fragrances! Lovely way to spend an Autumn afternoon......hmmmm.

Friday, November 4, 2011

A Favorite Prospect!

This has been my favorite place to be in the late afternoons, just before dusk.
I just sit and gaze out at Fall! I watch the leaves dancing down to the ground and ponder the majestic
colors unfolding. Such a peace comes over me; I delight in the sweet presence of my loving Father
and think on all the blessings that are mine.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Confessions of a.....

Hallmark Movie Channel junkie! Yikes! Okay I know many of these movies are "fluffy" and "gooey" but sometimes I'm in the mood for that! Ever since I had heard there was a special channel I wanted it.
But with the satellite service we had it was more expensive and we were already paying too much.
We had suspended our service for some months and then several weeks ago a Time Warner Rep knocked on our door. I liked her immediately and she made us an offer we couldn't refuse!
We're getting HD TV at no extra charge and yes...the Hallmark Movie channel at no extra charge!
(all of which was extra with our old service) And a DVR! Woohoo!
Now the true confession time...OMG...I find myself being drawn to the TV too much. After I realized that I could sit and watch 2 movies in a row and that the fairies weren't cleaning the house I am rescheduling myself. I may even have it playing and wander in and out of the room while I'm doing what needs to be done in the house but I am getting back on track!
Another point to make is that I can only do this during the week since Mike cannot stand Hallmark movies! It's working! I get my "fix" and the weekends are his!
Except I just remembered that this weekend is the Winter Wonderland preview...CHRISTMAS movies and I love Christmas movies. Oh well, they will come on again...during the week I'm sure!
Actually beginning Monday, November 14th from 10 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Maybe I should finally figure out to to record on our DVD player!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Tuesday, November 1, 2011