Christmas Eve Gathering

Every Christmas Eve we have a gathering of family members at my home. We have food to eat and gifts to open. My daughter wore a Santa hat. Mom was the one who always wore a Santa hat at Christmas. She loved having all the family together. It has been twelve years since her passing and I still miss her greatly. My Dad is sitting in the foreground in the photo and my sister, Janet, from Writing in the Blackberry Patch, is shown to the left.

Since our family has grown so much (and not our pocket books), we decided a couple of years ago to just bring a gift for a male or female (whichever one you are), and we would then choose from the gifts. This year, we decided to draw names instead. These are my three granddaughters, my grandson and his wife, and my oldest daughter, Tania.

There were eighteen of us this year. Everyone came at different times, and we had to wait for the last ones to show up before we could open gifts. There was also an "almost" family member with us this year for the first time......one of my nephew's fiance. She got to meet a lot of her "to be" in-laws. The last ones to arrive, shown here is Charley and his fiance, Jennifer.

My granddaughters loved passing out the gifts. I think everyone was pleased with their gifts, especially since everyone had a gift list written with their name when we drew names at our Thanksgiving gathering. It was fun finding out who had whose name. My daughters and their families, as well as John and myself, also opened the gifts that we had gotten each other.

My other sister, Connie, and her husband, Steve, who don't have

children of their own, always seem to enjoy watching our grandchildren open their gifts.

As you can see, my photos are very candid. I like to catch what's happening instead of getting a posed photo.

I think everyone had a good time, but all had to leave in the rain.

You've met some of my family......I'd love to meet yours.

Christmas Cards

I love to get Christmas cards.


Most of the cards that I get are from my friends at church. We have "mail boxes" at church that we put the cards in. There is one box for each letter of the alphabet and we go through the box having the first letter of our last name.


A few cards are received in the mail. Some of these are from friends whom I have not seen for years, but they always send me a card for Christmas. Those are special friends.......the ones you will always remember and hold a special place in your heart.


One special friend who now lives in South Carolina, was the first friend that I made when I was first married and lived in Cleveland, Ohio. I also received a card from a very new friend who lives in Oklahoma.....Denise, of Samaritan Women. That card was a blessing to me. I like making new friends.

Some of the cards that I receive are ones that are hand delivered or placed in my mail box that is by the road.

I display all the cards that I receive on the inside of my front door. As you can see, it is usually completely covered.

I usually distribute a little over 100 cards each year. Of course most of them are hand delivered, only a few are mailed. To me, Christmas cards are one way we let our friends know that we still remember them and that we wish the best for them.

What about you? Do you send and receive Christmas cards?

Birthday Sunday

Birthdays in our family are usually celebrated on Sundays. I will cook their favorite food and have a birthday cake for the one who had a birthday during the week and everyone will come for dinner. This Sunday was my birthday Sunday, since my birthday was on Wednesday. Instead of cooking my favorite meal, I cooked spaghetti for my grandchildren, two of which I don't see very often. I didn't have a cake but one of my daughters brought cake and ice cream. (really good)

My girls always get me a gift. I will share with you below:


This one is from Tania. You will need to click on the picture to enlarge and see the detail. She knows I love birds. The cardinal on the bird feeder on the left is a Christmas tree ornament. I love the cardinal sitting on the pine cone. In the middle is an owl pin. And, the gift bag matches so well with the tree and cardinals. I was very pleased with this gift.




This one is from Terri. She, too knows I love birds. These little birds are so cute. I love them. And she packed them in such a pretty bag also.


I had a really good day yesterday even if I was miserable with a bad sinus cold. I just love my girls and my grandchildren.

Aren't those gifts so cute!

GETTING OLD!

Well, ladies, today I turned 61.

It's an ol' dreary rainy day and that's about how I feel.........old and dreary.

My oldest granddaughter called from school this morning and said "Happy Birthday, MaMa. I gotta go, the two minute warning bell just rang, I'll call you later."

My dear hubby didn't even know it was my birthday until he asked who called and I told him.

Both my daughters emailed me from their jobs and said "Happy Birthday".

I think most of us will agree that we like to be remembered by our family and friends, and shown that we mean something to them.

You know, I was just thinking while I was composing this post and feeling all down and depressed. I wonder how Jesus feels when His people don't have more than just maybe a casual thought about what Christmas really means. It is a day set aside to acknowledge His birth and the purpose of His birth. Christmas has become just a "holiday" for most people to celebrate in any way they please, except the right way. More attention is placed on Santa Claus than Jesus. We, as Christians, should focus on the true meaning of this special "holiday". We show our love to others by our giving, but let's not forget to show our children and loved ones what Jesus gave for us.

I am truly thankful that God sent His Son to die for my sins. I am so thankful that His Holy Spirit drew me to Him and caused me to realize that I needed to be saved. I received Jesus into my life over 32 years ago and He is still with me. Praise His Name!

I feel better now.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

I'm back, but I haven't been anywhere. Just busy and not very inspired. I thought I'd try to get back into posting with some of my decorations. I don't do a whole lot for Christmas. This is the first time I've put up a tree in years. I just don't have room.

The tree is just a little 4 ft. white tree that came with lights already on it. I bought a few bulbs and thiink I will add some more. The tree is sitting on a table between my two recliners.

As you probably already know, I like to make flower arrangements. I made a new one for Christmas this year that I will leave out all winter. It sits on my coffee table.









The one on my dining table is one I made last year.






On my counter top I have a little village that I really can't take a picture of since there is a mirror behind it. I did manage to take a picture of the ceramic tree that sits in the middle of the village. Someone also gave me the ceramic tree. I really like it and display it every year.







A few years ago, my youngest daughter, Terri, made a wreath for me. I hang it on the back door. (Everyone enters through our back door.)








Also on the back porch, by the door, I display a little wooden tree with lights that someone gave me.










On the outside back porch, is a little nativity scene. You may notice that I do not display the wise men, as the wise men did not visit Jesus at the stable. They did not show up right when Jesus was born. When they got there, he was in a house with Mary. (Matthew 2:11) The Bible also does not indicate that there were three wise men, only three gifts. So, that is why I don't display the wise men in my nativity scene.

Just inside my back door, I display a few things. I really like the bird house that Terri also got for me a couple of years ago. I also display it all winter.









The snowman that I hang on the door knob in my living room was also a gift. That is the door that I display all of my Christmas cards that I receive. I will post it when it is covered. So far, I only have one.







The only lights that I have outside are wrapped around the lamp post.






There you have it. Now, I'm looking forward to seeing your decorations.