Thinking of a bright shiney New Year

Wow, fast away the old year passes, eh?

Thinking about the New Year today, and I just can’t get really excited. And as I read blogs as per my usual this morning there is just no moment of connection on thoughts of the New Year. Just not feeling the whoopee.

But here's a neat note: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/12/091230-blue-moon-new-years-eve.html That's sort of fun isn't it! Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone...maybe somebody will fall in love or write another song or something!

I always make resolutions, I am somewhat goal oriented along with being a creative. I do love it when it all comes together, when it is actually done.

And if my attention span lets me get to that point I am all aglow at least for a minute, then I am distracted by a new project and find myself in the middle of the process again. But this year my resolutions are late in coming to life.

Or maybe they are becoming realistic. I mean how many years can you vow to lose weight and still LIVE in flannel pants at every possible moment. There has to be a different take on this.
Hope you are in the middle of a wonderful end of the year. It’s nice to stop. . . Close my eyes, listen, think. As a matter of fact those sound like some darn good resolutions for me,

stop

listen

think.

And I pray that you will have some quiet moments before we are sweeping up confetti and recycling champagne bottles. I personally think we should celebrate the new year on December 26th. We should say “Happy New Life!” after the birth of Christ in our hearts, that’s where new begins.

Happy New Life!

John 10:10
I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. (NIV)

Nora's verson is signed, 'love, Jesus'
http://www.topverses.com/?verse=32450

Well here’s a little belated present for your perusal that I did come across. Good grief there’s a lot to look at here. http://www.designspongeonline.com/

And here's a sneek peek at my new look for 2010's labels. Do you like?

And to prove that I sincerely want your opinion, anyone who leaves a comment will get a free sample mailed to them! ha. Happy New Life!

And last but not least NEW ART! It will be listed on etsy tomorrow in honor of the CAAT team's monthly challenge. Fun.
Sweet huh?

The challenge theme is portals/doors.

"He who wants to do good knocks at the gate;
He who loves finds the gate open. "

Nice! Wish I'd said that.

And..."the butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough."

Yup, so sweet. Be blessed!

Good tidings of great joy

Luke 2:9-14
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Matthew 2:1-2
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

http://www.morganweistling.com/
Matthew 1:21
And she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.

Oooo one more day till the eve of the big day!
I'm so excited.


Thank you to http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1841740668 for finding this lovely Christmas waltz.

I love goji berry juice, it is tartish and packs quite a whallop with flavor. Wish you were here, we'd have a hot cup.

It's nice to just enjoy some holiday internet stuff.

Wishing you the Season's Blessings!

Hey! What's on the menu this year for you? Ham...deviled eggs...fruit...veges...dip...chips?

I made homemade pita and tortilla chips last year, so easy! Much healthier too...I took wheat pita chips and flour tortillas and seasoned them with salt and seasonings and sliced them into 1 inch ribbons and baked them till crispy.

The time is fast approaching...

I just love these, and this is an especially gorgeous one found here

I made one one year, and used all (let me repeat, all) of my beautiful vintage glass ornaments that I've collected over the years, placing them lovingly on a huge wreath form with hot glue. I honestly have never seen anything more beautiful other than the birth of my children and grandchildren.

http://2008jessetree.blogspot.com/2009/12/frugal-finds-vintage-ornaments.html

It was magical. It just glowed. The colors, the placement of the bulbs, the variety of the bulbs.

I hung it outside and our white icicle lights absolutely danced off of each and every bulb. I was mesmerized.

http://tidymomof2.blogspot.com/2008/12/glass-ball-ornament-wreath.html

After a while I came inside as it was ffrrreeeezzzzzing outside and just stared at it through the glass in the door for the longest time.

I'm telling you, vintage 50's pinks and blues and reds and golds and silvers, stripes glitters...it was just enchanting as old glass ornaments are. Eventually my attention turned to the tv.

http://prized-possessions.blogspot.com/2008/11/vintage-christmas-ornament-wreath.html

In the background, I heard a tiny little . . .* . . .** . . .*pink* . . .*pink* . . .*pink* and wondered, is it raining?

more, pink pink pink pink pink...then I thought, that's coming from outside... I was so curious, I went to look.

http://www.eddieross.com/

As I opened the door I saw at once that the pink pink pink was coming from my wreath, and below on the cement porch was what was left of it, a pile of shattered ornaments. Apparently the cold, had shrunk the hot glue from the wreath form. The whole thing let loose like little Scrooge bombs. I was crushed, like my little beauties strewn below their former glorious home.

Those were the days before grandbabies. I ended up getting rid of all my glass stuff and buying plastic and felt and more plastic. It makes a pretty tree, and leave it to my grandsons, unbreakable is in no way unbreakable, they can break anything. Oh well, you have to destruct before you can construct, and we are a constructing family.

So in fact, I have made a new outside wreath with plastic ornaments and this time, no hot glue. I've used pipe cleaners and just wrapped them on. It is lovely enough, not as lovely as my first attempt, but lovely enough!

Text:
Waiting. It is not attractive word. It seems boring. What if you were waiting for something that would change your life? How would you get ready for it? Would you make yourself busy, filling your life with noise and distraction? Rushing to get gratification. Would you spend all your time doing everything but slowing down? NO?

Well this is what we do every year. Each year we have an opportunity, to dramatically change our life. But most of the time we miss it. We spend our time running around, trying to get everything done in time. When most of us forget, to get the most important thing ready. Our Heart.

This is what Advent is all about. Slowing Down and Waiting. To get our Heart ready... To bring Jesus into our life A bit more fully, than before

Advent. slow down. take time. open up.

Warmest Season's Greetings!

Silent Night Holy Night

Today reminded me of snowfall. Now... it's is not snowing... our temps were in the upper 40’s and it was a yukky gray day not a snowy white one but the day had that magic all the same.

DH and I went out in the madness to get some last minute Christmas items, and even in the hustle and the bustle it was a snowfall kind of day.

Have you ever been in snow fall? So you know what I mean... huge flakes of frozen water drifting softly down, piling gently on top of each other when they hit earth, changing the landscape altering the entire world as you know it. All sounds are muffled by the snowfall itself, yup, snow makes a noise or a non noise as it falls, your ears know its snowing just like you do when your face is embraced by little frozen kisses.

Snowfall is like the stars on a clear night, your gaze upwards is overwhelmed as it tries to focus on a single flake, it's just impossible to pick just one, the sky is littered with them as they plummet towards earth. There is a moment of total quiet when peace descends if you will allow the envelopment to happen. Myself, I am usually secretly panicked, somewhere far from home and to drive in it scares me, but there’s always that moment for a deep breath and then I give in. To the snow moment.

So today I am grateful for the peace that I had. I had a peaceful day. My gift from God. Thanks for asking! And, how was your day?

I love Lori Stanley Roeleveld , I love her style of writing, she's so honest.

She writes about some of her year end devotional practices:

"So, that is what I did last year and what I will do again this season. I set aside time and asked the Lord to bring to mind all the things I had to confess and all the things I was holding against others and against Him (even though we know we have no right to judge the Lord’s ways, most of us still hold some things against Him when His ways are not our ways). I acknowledged the gravity of each of my sins, asked for forgiveness and agreed to change.

I acknowledged the pain of other’s sins against me, agreed to forgive them and leave judgment in the hands of the Lord. I acknowledged any anger or disappointment in the way God had worked things out in my life and let them go, reaffirming my trust in His character and His wisdom in my life, reaffirming that I have given my life to Him and it is now His, not mine. And I put 2008 under the blanket of His forgiveness, just as I will put 2009 under the blanket of forgiveness."

http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2009/12/like-house-ablaze-further-adventures-in.html

That sounds so peaceful, 'putting 2009 under the blanket of forgiveness'. That reminds me of snowfall also, giving in, succumbing to the peace that the Lord has to offer me. It is a discipline to daily take stock and realize how short I have fallen from the mark that God has set for me, that I create my own chaos apart from God. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The "sin" word that is used most frequently in the Bible is hamartia, "missing the mark".It is the most comprehensive term for explaining sin. The Apostle Paul used the verb hamartano when he wrote, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

So you can be a great person (I am a wonderful person) and still fall short of the mark, or miss the target that God has set for you personally. I am trying to develop that discipline, to take stock daily. With a whole lot of help from God.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

I hope you are getting your fair share of metaphorical snowfall days, I wish you moments of peace where you really feel the love of God falling gently all around you. I hope you take the moment to look up into the endless sky of falling blessings and just smile as you receive your snowflake kisses.

Gingerbread house

Gingerbread house update!

Welllccccoooommmmmmeeeeeeee. . . . .
Doesn't it look like you could just step inside? Gotta love picnik.

Well I glued and trimmed and stuck stuff on with frosting and by some miracle it stands! It has cookies and candies and yes there really is a gingerbread base below it all.

Today my grandson and I will finish it and maybe add some marshmallow snowmen and some vanilla wafer trees. Christmas fun!

Fluff and fun and sugar enough! I am thankful that there is meaning for me beyond the decorating and baking and present wrapping, I want to share a spot of soul.
http://www.deb-onestepfurther.blogspot.com/

Grab your cup...tea, cocoa, coffee you will want to read these and pass them on.

Eee gads!

It's fast approaching.

The big day. And after that . . . it's all over! On December 26th I really will wish there was a Santa Clause with elves to help me take down the tree and pack it all up!

I always wanted to be that kind of holiday celebrator that has a gingerbread house as part of their Christmas memory pack, so this year I finally had the time to make the time to attempt a gingerbread house.

Oh yes, I have a gingerbread house baked, ha, hearty chuckle, no really I do... it is just not quite put together.


Oh funny funny me, there is a reason I have never made a from scratch gingerbread house before, and that is...I am no baker. A total failure at this I am.



I know you are saying, "don't be so hard on yourself! Not a total failure...

It might look a little goofy, but it's a really sweet thought..." or something . . .

And I too would have taken your advice and iced on some color in the shape of windows and doors, and merrily with the help of my grandkids dotted candy gleefully here and there, dot plop, dot plop, (the plops are the ones that hit my mouth) but for the fact that about 20 minutes after I walked away from this powdered sugar frosted fantasy to let the icing dry, we had a small meltdown.

Literally, it melted down to a gingerbread rubble pile. I just have to laugh, perhaps because I plopped a few more garnishments into my mouth...

The several fun types of candy I bought to decorate with, are dwindling. shock! ha, hearty chuckle with stuffed cheeks. That's what happens with candy around here.

Funny me, on a good day I am telling my friends that I am on a fruit kick, "just make one small important change"...lalala... My friends like me no matter if I am lying or not.

I crack my self up because I was the only one who knew about the dwindling gingerbread house candy stash.

Until now... yes, the elves are pitching in with the candy "problem".

Well, one thing about me is I never give up. Plan B is some graham cracker structural reinforcements and more icing, I'll keep you updated on my progress.

But for now, I am just dropping in for a minute in case any of you stop by to see what's the latest in my world. Hope you are all hangin in there and enjoying all your moments, even those silent moments of gingerbread meltdown. Now you see it, now your don't!

James 1:5 says, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously...” God is filled with solutions for any and every situation we face.
Wishing you Merry Blessings!

Frozen solid

Brr. It's been cold here in Oregon, finally it has warmed up to 34 degrees. I don't know if you can make it out or not in the picture but the food in the hummingbird feeder is frozen! It is a solid block of ice.


Poor little birdies and poor little me. I don't know what it is about this little creature trying to get food, that just sets me on edge. Makes me feel like I need to do something to help mother nature out somehow.

Well Father Nature stepped in. My Dear Husband went out every morning in that 17 degree fridg of iceburg weather and take a pitcher of hot water and try to thaw it for them for a brief (underline brief in 17 degree weather) moment. Cue applause. Big applause.

They kept at it- trying to get a drink, I hope they got a little something. It would thaw in the afternoon for an hour most days, but I think the am is when they feed the most. They kept trying and trying.

I think our temp forecast is up past freezing for the week, thank goodness! I can't take too much more of this.

Seriously, the coldness, and the grayness, and the worry about my family and the ice on the roads. It has really worn me out. Makes me feel blue. So can you imagine my delight and surprise when I went to my mailbox today and found that my sweet online friend had sent me a Christmas present!!!

She sent me a beautiful pair of earrings that I'm sure she made herself, and yes I am wearing them as I type! They are just perfect. As they would be here's a link to her shop, she has the most beautiful items.

I drool every time I visit.

And just like a secret sister, she packed the box full of fun and whimsy.

She is a master craftsmistress of whimsy as she is a graphic artist by trade. She has the most reasonable prices for the most wonderful designs, if you need business cards, banners, blogheaders, she will have exactly what you want or make it to order with your own pics. She's awesome along with her husband who handles the web design end of it for your online business needs. Find her online here

Look at this one, SO SWEET. How does she do it? If were for my shop I would leave it up all year long. That font! I am so jealous, I just love it.

This is one of my favorites, I love how she pairs the font with the pattern, but I just love the harlequin pattern anyway. I've had a lifelong love for those little diamonds. So European! So French! So Italian! So Mardigras!

And just like a true friend she even enclosed BUTTONS!! tee hee, they are crafting buttons and I got ideas as they spilled out of the plastic. Fun fun fun for me.

The package had a super sweet star lollipop that was confiscated in the blink of an eye by my number one grandson. What a fun treat for us to open that box on this gray cold miserable day.

You can't really tell in the pic above, but the little yellow flowers to the left are mini crocheted daisies and to the right are 4 yellow daffodil buttons. YUP. Me and my buttons. I know you sense a smile curling at the corners of my mouth don't you. Yup.Vanessa you made a gray yucky icky day bright and filled with fun. Thank You so much for your kindness and may God continue to bless you and hold you close!

At times I find life difficult because I am trying to do it on my own. The Christian life was not meant to be lived that way. We were meant to be yoked to Jesus. He said, “Take My yoke upon you. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28)