12.22.2010

A very, merry Christmas!

I wish you all a very, merry Christmas! We plan to spend the holiday weekend with family in our hometown and then hope to squeeze in a few days of R & R at the lake. I can't wait to curl up on the sofa next to a warm, blazing fire!

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the reading of this Christmas story. The birth of Jesus. Our extended family read it each year before we opened gifts. I remember being so excited when I was old enough to read it to the whole family. Surprisingly, the room full of 20+ people (12 being very excited kids) was very quiet as this was read. We started to do this in our own little family a year or two ago...when Miss A was old enough to sit through it and perhaps grasp part of its meaning.

I hope you all enjoy a very, merry Christmas. Remember the reason for the season. Share your family traditions. Take some time to quietly soak it all in. And sing "Silent Night" by candlelight at least once:)



Luke 2:1-20 (New International Version, ©2010)


The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.). And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Little Bo Peep...

has lost her sheep and doesn't know where to find them. Leave them alone and they'll come home, wagging their tales behind them.

I think I got that right. I should have it fresh in my mind. Miss A's kindergarten class studied nursery rhymes in October. They were able to choose their favorite character to dress up as for the day before Halloween. Not surprisingly, Miss A choose Little Bo Peep. I was ready to tackle a costume but thankfully a little break from school and a couple days at the lake made it possible for Grandma to take over and finish the dress. It made a very cute costume paired with a cane from great-grandma's house and a sheep from a fantastic 2nd cousin from California (a gift a couple of Easter's ago). The entire class got to ride the bus to a local retirement home where they all recited several nursery rhymes. It was fun for the kids and the residents seemed to enjoy it as well. I even got to ride along and help out...yeah!

Here are a couple of pictures. The girls both attempted to sleep in curlers (Miss K didn't last very long!).


Drum roll please.....presenting Little Bo Peep!


Thank goodness for Mother Goose!

12.08.2010

Words

I'm a big fan of words. I love quotes. I find them very interesting. I love things with words on them, artwork, blankets, pillows, a cute end table I found for the lake, jewelry. I have a tray in my kitchen with the alphabet scrolled on it. I love paintings with words. Right above the computer now is a painting from a local street fair with this phrase, "Your wings already exist...all you have to do is fly." There are pictures in my living room that say, "How we spend our days, is how we spend our lives," and "Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." I have a cute tray propped up on my kitchen counter that says, "Candy Cane Kitchen & Bakery." You name it and I probably love it. I think I'll take some pictures and try to get them posted although I'm not sure when that will be. It is the holiday season so cut me some slack.

In the mean time here are a few good quotes that I revisited recently.

There was an old owl lived in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
O, if men were all like that wise bird!
-Punch magazine

If you think education is expensive,
try ignorance.
-Derek Bok

I have generally found that a man who is
good at excuses is usually good at nothing else.
-Benjamin Franklin

Well begun is half done.
-Greek proverb (I think Mary Poppins borrowed this line)

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.
-William James

What matters is in a character is not whether one holds this
or that opinion: what matters is how proudly one upholds it.
-Germaine de Stael

Send me your favorite words!
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