MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

From our house to yours...wishing you a Christmas full of wonder, joy and blessings!

2008 Christmas card
(I deleted names for privacy)

See you in a few days...like many others, I am spending time with my family, but will return soon!

Sunday Rest

  Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
       your faithfulness to the skies. 

Psalm 36:5

Garland Show & Tell

Happy Wednesday!

Wanted to join the all the fun everyone's having over at The Nesting Place. If you haven't been to the party, get over there! She continues to inspire me and is one of the reasons I started this blog.

I didn't go too crazy with my Christmas decor this year. We have some on-going construction and things are a bit displaced right now. Plus, I am finding as the years change, my taste does as well. I have so many fabulous blogger friends that challenge and inspire me to really think outside of the box!

This is the mantel in the den - the only mantel is this house that is really decorated this year. I didn't remove the painting in the background and have mixed feelings about leaving it there...what do you think? Please be honest...it certainly won't hurt my feelings! I am kinda thinking it may need to go...

Very simple - no lights, no ribbon this year. I added some pinecones and a few branches from my front yard tree that you can barely see in the pictures.

I really love the glitter snowflakes - cheap buy at Wal-mart! The reindeer are from Big Lots and they have such a pretty presence on the mantel.

Two of the stockings are missing...hoping my friend will be done making them this week so we can get them monogrammed and hung with the rest of the bunch.

If you have any suggestions for me on how I can tweak the mantel...fire away. Would love to hear from you guys!

Some holiday cheer!

This is such a fun video. If you haven't heard of Straight No Chaser, they are a fantastic a cappella group which got its start at Indiana University. The guys gained national attention on YouTube with this video. I think they sound absolutely fantastic and would love to hear them in person. Enjoy!

A Little Something to Ponder...

Howdy ya'll!  I have been a busy bee lately...trying to catch up from being gone for a week and getting some Christmas cheer put up around my house!  I have decided not to go all out this year....we have several home projects going on and things are a bit scattered.... plus, I have a 19 month old that gets in to everything.  Do you remember that stage?  I forgot, too...how quickly I am reminded - ha!

I am so ready for some order to my house.....it can get really discouraging. We have painters coming next week to paint some built-in bookshelves in the den and our roof has been an ongoing process now for nearly 2 weeks.  It's a big mess!  However, I have decided as of today..I am NOT going to lose my joy! My children are healthy, my husband has a job, we have a lovely home and every need is met. I was over at 4 Reluctant Entertainers today and she posted about joy and priorities - thanks, Sandy! In fact, she added this little quote... 

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
And today is a gift.

Today is a GIFT - we only have this moment and can never get it back!

My mom emailed this video to me...how timely!  It really speaks as to what is truly important this Christmas season - spending time with loved ones, making sweet memories, giving of ourselves and of course, Jesus! 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13