Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Just a few more days until Christmas.  The shopping is done, the packages wrapped and put under the tree.  Must leave a space for Munchie and Noodles though, they love to lay under the tree.

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The Christmas program at church was wonderful with the choir singing in the choir loft, Funsize playing the piano, the kids with their little choir robes on sang too and really sang their hearts out.

It’s nice to have the shopping done early so I can enjoy the season and not feel frantic and worn out.  The cooking will begin tomorrow for Christmas Eve Day, evening and Christmas Day. We are doing lots ahead this year for Christmas Day and having a buffet instead of a big formal dinner.  I don’t want to come home from church and then spend the rest of the day in the kitchen even though there are people that help it still takes a long time to clean up when you put on a huge dinner.

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I’m enjoying the Christmas shows, even the ones that I have seen over and over.  A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorites and I went to YouTube to put one of the songs in this post but couldn’t figure it out.  That’s nothing new for me.

It’s fun running into the stores just to look around at all the decorations and listen to the Christmas music.  I am very aware of the stores that do play Christmas hymns and those that don’t. Also the stores that allow their sales staff to say Merry Christmas and the ones that don’t.  LL Be*an staffers were told NOT to ever say Merry Christmas, just Happy Holidays.  Sad. I may not shop there any more. I don’t think that will put them out of business. ha!

 

I even get a kick out of the ads on television that only come out at Christmas time.  Remember the Clapper?  The Chia Pets?

 

I enjoy my Nativity set.  Every time I walk by it it makes me spend some time thinking about the real reason for Christmas. Growing up we had this little Nativity set that had a cardboard stable and plastic people and animals.  I loved that set and could play with it for hours as it didn’t break, thank goodness. I rearranged the people over and over but always had Baby Jesus right in the front.  I don’t know what ever happened to that set, I hope someone in the family has it still.

 

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Sunday when we were singing Christmas hymns it took me back again to my childhood and how I loved the Christmas songs.  Away in a Manger was my favorite growing up.  My grand daughter was sitting between me and her Grampie and I loved watching her sing the songs.  We used the hymnals as the screen couldn’t be down as the choir was up in the choir loft and it seemed good to use them.  We didn’t have screens for the first 50 years of my life and I’m still not quite used to them.  I think it makes people lazy, they don’t have to look up the verses that the Pastor is talking about in their Bible as it’s right up there on the screen.  I prefer to look them up, I know, I am old-fashioned.

 

Joy

We have been enjoying the lights around town too.  It’s been so mild here this winter it hasn’t been hard to get out and put up the lights and decorations.  I remember one year in my last house my sister Linda and I put the lights on the shrubs in a blazing snowstorm!  We had a blast even though we were covered with snow.  We still talk about it and laugh.  Fun memories.

 

Hanging Stockings

When I look at my perfectly shaped fake tree it makes me think back to the trees we had as kids.  I don’t think they had fake trees back then, Dad used to bring one home from the woods and we would decorate it.  It wasn’t perfectly shaped but we loved it.  I loved the bubble lights that my mother used to have for the tree.  You can get them now, they call them ‘vintage’, I guess that makes me vintage……. :o)

 

My grandchildren have been making up bags for the Homeless Shelter in youth group.  I gave them all the little shampoos and bottles of body wash that are in our hotel rooms that we don’t open.  I learned that from Barbara Bush who said in one of her books that she used to save them and donate them to the shelters.  I think it’s a great idea, just the right size to pass out to the folks that stay there, not too big to carry around. 

 

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Doesn’t look like we are going to have any snow for Christmas this year but we are keeping our fingers crossed.  It actually was rather cold today and very windy.  The horses didn’t even go outside as it was so blustery.  They can run around the inside arena for some exercise and still be out of the wind.

 

Merry Christmas everyone!  xoxox

12 comments:

Needled Mom said...

It sounds like you are really enjoying the reason for the season!! It is such a special time of the year.

I think we are getting your cold weather this year. Fortunately, we are not getting the snow, but I am sure the mountains wish we were.

So the bubble lights are vintage???? Maybe I should save the ones on the tree. LOL They may be worth something!

Enjoy all of that pre-entertaining cooking. It will be nice to have it done ahead of time.

Merry Christmas!!! xox

dickiebo said...

A VERY Merry Christmas to You and Yourn!!!
Dickiebo

Cliff said...

And the best to you and yours and have a Merry Christmas.
I sent an email to you explaining how I accidentally deleted your nice comment. thanks for the visit.
In what I've read here quickly it sounds as though you guys lead about the same kind of lives.
Yes we too have church and then a lot of company, we have 3 married kids 9 grands my wifes parents and a host of others to be here on after church. We (my wife and daughter) have waaaay too many horses and we farm.
I'll be back. Have holly jolly Christmas.

Dawn said...

Wow, two posts in two days, and I missed Monday's entirely! I heard yesterday that it is very very cold at Kev and Angie's place - inside and out. I hope they can afford the propane to keep their place warm! We'll sure miss them coming home for Christmas, but none of us could afford the airfare, and I'm not sure how much time they'd have had off.

Your nativity set is lovely. I posted pix of all of my collection this week.

We're having a cold buffet for early Sunday evening instead of a big meal, too. Can't celebrate Jesus' birthday in the kitchen after church!

I was sad that we didn't sing traditional Christmas carols last Sunday - hopefully we will at the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. What fun is it to sing a brand new Christmas song that NOBODY knows except the director??? I don't get that at all. "Contemporary" isn't so great sometimes! Or lots of times.

Oh, well, enough of that rant. Have a blessed time with your family - glad Mr. D is getting better.

I still have a few things to get under the tree. Some of the girls' and Kristen's gifts are in those huge bags and will not be brought up until time to open them. I have a sign on the basement door that says, "Do not enter unless you are at least 64 years old." They got a kick out of that. Hayley asks every day if I've put anything new under the tree so she can go down and arrange them. She's such a character.

Sharon said...

It sounds like you have been busy and I am glad that you can now take a little time to enjoy the season.
I remember those bubble lights on our tree as a child,I loved them.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Lauren G. said...

It seems your holidays are smooth sailing! Merry Christmas!

Carole Burant said...

My Christmas wish for you, my friend
Is not a simple one
For I wish you hope and joy and peace
Days filled with warmth and sun

I wish you love and friendship too
Throughout the coming year
Lots of laughter and happiness
To fill your world with cheer

May you count your blessings, one by one
And when totaled by the lot
May you find all you've been given
To be more than what you sought

May your journeys be short, your burdens light
May your spirit never grow old
May all your clouds have silver linings
And your rainbows pots of gold

I wish this all and so much more
May all your dreams come true
May you have a Merry Christmas friend
And a happy New Year, too .. xoxo

Donna. W said...

You just jogged a long-forgotten memory when you mentioned looking up scriptures. In Sunday School class when I was a kid, sometimes we'd have races to see who could find a certain verse in the Bible the quickest. I don't really care for the screens either. There is a certain comfort in holding a Bible and looking things up.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I am still enjoying those old bubble lights you spoke of. Every time I go up to the attic and switch on the lights there they are. Years ago my boys strung the old Christmas lights up there in the stairway to the attic and I've enjoyed seeing them so much that I have just left them there. I hope you do have a Merry Christmas!

Hollie said...

Merry Christmas my friend! Our cat, Tori loves laying under our tree!

Rising Rainbow said...

Merry Christmas! MM!

I love the kitty so relaxed under the tree.

Rachel said...

Well it's Christmas Day now and so I'm sure you are enjoying the family time, and hopefully the clean up is about done!

I must be vintage too. I like looking up the Bible verses at church and not using a screen. We don't have the Bible verses on screen yet, but sometimes they do put a song up there. I like the old fashioned way best.

It was the same for us at Christmas with real trees. They smell so good!

Your horses are so beautiful. I love your header. I can see even the veins in spots! I just want to wrap my arms around their necks!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!