Merry Christmas Friends!

Hello Friends,  it's been a long time since posting here.  Life has been busy for us but very good.  As we are getting older now it's quite interesting to decorate and bake and get ready for family visits.  Grayden and I are team workers for all of our current jobs even though we learned recently that we are elderly!   

On a recent visit to our very young medical provider she mentioned that she recommended to her elderly patients, like us, something I can't even remember now.  All I heard was elderly!  Yes, I know we are, but I don't think of us that way.  I know we are but I still think of us as being young-that is until my knee reminds me!

 We are thankful to be spending another Christmas together with our family.  Our daughter and son-in-law will arrive on Sunday morning after traveling here from New England by train.  The station is close to our home so Samuel will be picking up his parents early morning.  

Our son and grandsons will be joining us Christmas Eve and then spending Christmas with us.

The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator and the ham has been bought.  There is hardly any room left in our new refrigerator.  Our old one certainly had a larger capacity that I really miss as I play Tetris each time I place something inside.  We are blessed with abundance to be able to buy what we need.  

This morning Samuel and I baked chocolate chip cookies as they are family favorites.

Our daughter and I eat low carb so I made a large batch of low carb peanut butter fudge for us to enjoy.  I also made a simple treat of sugar free chocolate chips and peanuts for us to munch on.  Our daughter's birthday is Christmas day so I will be baking a low carb cheesecake for her birthday.

There is comfort in the traditions we have as a family.  Come to think of it we are blessed to have children and grandchildren come to join us as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.  I pray you have a wonderful Christmas friends!

Finding Joy at Christmas

 

This year has been a challenge for all of us.  We've been following the guidelines to stay safe.  Covid-19 reminds me that life can change in a moments notice.  I've always been a person that tried to roll with the punches.

Believing tomorrow will be better has always helped me to face difficulties.  My faith has taught me to rely on the One that is in control.

Still, with all that said,  I've been in a funk that surprises me.  I'm an introvert so the isolation doesn't bother me like my friends and family are experiencing.

Finding joy posting my thoughts here for the last six years has been a goal to share.

How can I do that when joy seems elusive?

I have experienced problems with depression throughout my adult life.

Why on earth would I share these thoughts with you today?

 

Because I know it is important to be real.

Because I know that I'm not the only one to have these feelings.

Because I know it will pass.

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is a mere two weeks away and we've been busy decorating.  I know you have as well as I've seen on your lovely blog posts.  This year we have had a few roadblocks along the way.  As we are getting older we have considered paring down on some of the decorating, but I've resisted this notion so Grayden and I have persevered through problem issues with our so called Christmas pre-lit tree.  

We worked for three days trying to resolve these issues and then decided we needed to either buy a new tree or buy new lights.  We opted for a strand of new lights for the top.  

Our birds flew in to take their place on the small little tree in the living room.

I made this little ceramic tree in 1979.  It now has helped us celebrate Christmas in our home for 40 years.  Do you remember these trees?

 

We've had this Nativity set for many years now and have placed it on the mantle to remind us of the reason Christmas is coming. 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:6

 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

♫ It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ♫

December brings great joy and happiness to our family.  Both of our children were born in December so festivities begin with our son's birthday on the second.  It's a given that the grands want to take their Dad to the Japanese Steakhouse for his birthday.  It seems this is the place for everyone to enjoy good food and the entertainment that sends happiness to the grands.  Who doesn't want Happy Birthday sung to you in Japanese?  So much fun!

What little boys don't want to eat their Dad's birthday cake?

Of course it's time to decorate for Christmas.  After Thanksgiving we usually start bringing out the boxes of decor that we have collected through the years.  Our decor really tells a story about our family.  Do you find yourself placing ornaments on the tree that have been in the family for years and years?  We have ornaments on our tree that belonged to our parents along with those that we bought our very first Christmas as husband and wife.  So many Christmas'... so many memories.

Grady made this ornament for me when he was in Cub Scouts.  Would you believe I'm sentimental?

Grady

My Mother-in-Law crocheted this little frame around this photo when Grady was born.  She had it on her tree for years.  Now it is on ours.

Grady and Noël

I always bring out this Santa.  He was mine when I was a baby.  That makes him old!  He also used to play music, but he has long tired of that.

We always find a spot for this ceramic Christmas tree that I made in 1979.  

Do you have items that you bring out for Christmas--decorations that you're not ready to downsize?  My sister gifted me a lot of her artwork on various occasions.  She made beautiful Christmas items.  Susan passed away six years ago.  I decided to give those items to her children last Christmas.   Admittedly  I missed those things as I began to decorate this year, but I know Susan's children will receive great joy as they begin to decorate their homes with their mother's art.

Many memories come flooding to mind as I prepare for the season of JOY and LOVE.   I wish for you a most wonderful time of the year! ♥