The Long and Short of It ... Our Christmas. It's Now or Never!!!

Christmas has now come and gone and we are standing at the brink of another new year! So many good times were crammed into the past few weeks, but most importantly of all, a celebration of our Savior's birth, which is what it is all about.

Jack read the Christmas story to us.

We made a visit to a local church for a visit to Bethlehem.

Live Nativity was pretty active.

A petting zoo filled with kids and animals.

Plenty of activities in the Bethlehem market place including

wreaths, ornaments, leather bracelets and cinnamon bread.

One of the ornaments they made.

On Christmas Eve, DH and I attended our Christmas Eve service at church and then spent the evening at the home of our dear friends, Alice and Fred and their big family! What an enjoyable evening it was with good friends and lots of delicious foods, including Wedding Soup. Although we had planned a quick trip to Oklahoma, we made a change due to the weather forecast of bad storms coming in.

Christmas morning

Sweet kids all excited about Christmas.

Finally get to open the big box.

Iron Man

What a gorgeous day it was for the kids to ride the new bicycles.

Grandpa just wants to know when do we eat.

Brady and Noah came to visit

They are experts on the hover board. 

Go-Kart for Christmas.

Our gift to them was a trip to iFly.

Wow! What an adventure!!!

They went to see Uncle Jason at the fire station.

We had so much fun playing games, Bingo, Hearts, Farkle and the air hockey game that I bought for entertainment here at the house. Good thing too because the day after Christmas turned very nasty cold with thunderstorms.

Unfortunately, the day after Christmas was tragic for many in North Texas. So much destruction for nearby residents who lost family members, their homes and belongings. In thinking about all the excitement which led up to Christmas, the shopping they had done, the decorating, preparations, after all is said and done, none of those things mattered after the storms came through. It is truly heartbreaking.

It's that time of year

Where you're either feeling sappy sentimental, a little down, or just not caught up in the spirit of the season!

I have fluctuated between these feelings all week! And I'm too old for it to be "that time of the month" so it must be "that time of year"!

Today I'm baking a cheesecake and blueberry sauce for somebody very special. Jay's son, Jason! One of my many bonuses in my marriage to my DH.

Sara and Jason greeting Dad right after he came home from the fire station. 

I think he smelled like smoke!

This is how Jason was when I first married DH.

He always wanted to be with his Dad.

And he always had his thumb in his mouth until 

the day he broke his arm and could no longer reach his thumb!

Our little blended family.

So thankful for them.

We've had a lot of fun times together.

This one was memorable because it was so cold and most

of the time we were skiing through whiteout!

But it was Christmas and we had a great time. 

They grew up.

Jason followed in the footsteps of his

Dad and Grandpa's path.

He is one of the finest men I know.

And naturally, one of the finest men

would deserve one of the finest women! Right?

And, of course, two of the

greatest kids ever!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Jason!

We love you!

Here we are at dinner.

Looks like we are about to get run over by some cowboys!

Nostalgia has Set In

Last night I served in Preschool and because it was our last Wednesday night before Christmas, we told the Christmas story and sang Away in a Manger. Listening to those sweet voices sing Away in a Manger took me back. Waaaayyy back to Christmases when I was that little child loving Jesus. And I still do. Singing that song brought sweet tears to my eyes.

Liking this doll - guess it tasted good!

The angel costume my Mother made for me

to be in the Christmas play at church.

Mother made the little bears my sister and I are holding.

Their Christmas greeting, probably 1954-55.

My family above and

with my Granny and Grandad and cousins

at Great-Grandmother Sander's house.

Going to my Granny and Grandad's home was always a treat, but my Great-Grandmother's home ... well, that was another story. Very strict rules there. Pretty much sit in a chair, keep your hands to yourself, cannot go upstairs (a place which held great mystery for me) and only speak when spoken to. Now doesn't that sound fun?

Grandma and Grandpa McCoy lived in the hills of Arkansas out in the middle of nowhere. But my memories of Christmas are of a crowded living room because everyone was sitting around the pot-belly stove trying to keep warm. Warm lights and lots of talking ... later, big feather beds loaded with quilts in a very icy cold room. If you got up your courage the next morning to get out of bed and touch your feet to the cold floor, first place to run would be the kitchen where the big wood-burning cook stove would be blazing heat.

My brother and sister and me around 1960.

Christmas was not complicated when I was a child. The main thing was the excitement as you waited, the tree, candy, some presents and lots of good food. 

Christmas Brunch 2015

The Ladies of Grace Christmas Brunch may be the best one ever! Although I confess I think that every year!

This group of ladies had fun decorating tables on Monday! 

Honest! I was there. I took the pic! :-)

Although there were ten tables decorated, I am going to share only a few in the interest of saving space.

 This one was animated - the characters lit up and music played.

 A family of tiny people reside in the tiny house on this snow capped mountain.

This table was so feminine and sweet. I'm sorry I didn't get a pic of the border of the delicate tablecloth. Attached to each of the Christmas cards on the table was a handmade bracelet. So pretty.

This table was simple with its red and green - a balsam fir wreath surrounding poinsettias. The crosses and the cards were gifts for each lady.

I did a few collages of some of the lovely ladies present. 

What a joyful and fun time we had together. I love my Ladies of Grace Bible Study group. It has been a great year and I believe next year will be even better as the Lord draws us closer to Him and each other in fellowship.

Looking at these pics, you can get the teeniest, tiniest glimpse of what Heaven will be like.

"A great multitude that no one could number,from every nation, 
from all tribes and peoples and languages, 
standing before the throne and before the Lamb."

Revelation 7:9

I love my church!