8

It's 8:00 am

December 24, 2010

I awake to find it

A shell

A shell of a life once lived

Now gone

His spirit soars forevermore

With Christ

Alone, I sit

Tears

Somehow un~phased by the 

Flurry of people in and out

My life, Ours Lives

Over

Nothing will ever be the same

Empty

And now

December 24, 2018

8 Years 

The kids have grown 

Moved on to Bigger

And Better Lives

You know the story

Alone  Empty

I know tomorrow is Christmas

When we remember 

His Love

His Birth

His Purpose

However today

I feel forgotten

Alone  Forsaken

BUT

I Promise

I'm remembering the Good

The Blessings

The JOY

2018 Ornament Exchange

My dear sweet friend Stephanie

The Enchanting Rose

Hosted her first Ornament Exchange

When I heard she was doing this

I knew I wanted to participate

Everything Stephanie does

Is done with Excellence

And this was no different

I was excited to meet my new friend

Anne Marie of

Musings of a Vintage Junkie

I scoped out her blog and tried 

To choose items that were vintage in nature

And fit with my holiday color scheme

I think I succeeded but I forgot to take photos

Before I wrapped everything

So, here are a few I took

Once my package was wrapped and ready to sent

It was such a pleasure to receive my little package

I seldom receive 'happy mail' so this was fun

My new friend Abby is a talented crafter

I could tell when I opened the envelope

She blogs at: Little Birdie Blessings

She cut this beautiful bird out of chimney flashing

So cute

And designed this treasured advent calendar

Each day has a wonderful scripture

Printed with sweet details 

The little bird hangs on ribbon

Love the hand crafted booklet

A very sweet and now treasured gift

I will always remember my first ornament exchange

Thank you Stephanie for Hosting

Thank you Anne Marie and Abby

For Participating and Being a Blessing

Happy Jesus' Birthday

The Son of God became a man to
enable men to become the sons of God.

-C.S.Lewis

Where there is faith, there is love;
Where there is love, there is peace;
Where there is peace, there is God;
And where there is God; there is no need.

-Leo Tolstoy

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
but all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.

-John Greenleaf Whittier

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:

You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths,

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, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:11-14

Merry Christmas Friends
May God's presence be with you

For 30 Years ~ I Am Grateful

This Christmas Season

Has Been Better

This Day is HARD

For 30 Years ~~

I AM GRATEFUL

December 31, 1949 ~ December 24, 2010

My Life ~~ My Joy

In The Presence of Jesus

Miss You Forever

Grateful for Eternal HOPE

JOY

Hello Sweet Friends

I have been MIA because my internet was hacked by Century Link

Or something like that

I thought I was having trouble with my lap top

All the while,

My internet company had put a block on my internet???

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out Why

AND, have my bill credited for the 3 weeks I had no internet

So, I'm back

What have I been doing?

Honestly,

Enjoying the Season

Doing a small amount of decorating

Trying to find JOY in each day

Even while I was sick for an entire week

Living by Faith

While going through the tough season

Keeping my eyes and heart focused on God

Rather than loss

Finding respite in my bedroom

After long and stress~filled days

And remembering

There are Blessings of JOY

To be found in God's Word

And in every situation you face

Rejoice in the Lord

and be Glad!

Ps. 32:11

Blessings for the days Ahead!!

Staying Positive!

Good Sunday Evening

Sweet Friends

I cannot believe it has been 2 weeks since I last posted

I guess that is what having a tiny space

At an antique/gift shop will do to you

It seems as though it's been longer than 2 weeks

I work on items every single day

And drive to the shop at least 3 times a week

I'm trying to Stay Positive

So far, only 1 item has sold

I have added lots of little things for Christmas

My prayer is that this venture will bring JOY

Into my life and not disappointment

I've struggled with tears the last few days

But I'm putting positive thoughts in my head

And holding on to them

The time between my birthday and Christmas

When Mark passed, are tough ones for me

Working HARD at focusing on HIM

The JOY of this season that is now upon us

I do hope to share, in the days ahead

A few Really Great Finds

And hopefully some other good news

Many Blessings to you All

December ~ Reflections

 

Well Sweet Friends

 

We have come near to the end of

This Holiday season and

The day is approaching toward a new year

 

As I reflect on December and 2015

I am thankful for the many new blog

Friendships I have made

And the on going ones that have been

Created over the years

I have been so very blessed

 

 

God has touched my heart in new ways

While guiding me through a season of change

2016 holds many unknowns for me

And possibly for you as well

 

However

I Know that my God Never Changes

His Love and Faithfulness

Will continue to guide our lives

 

 

I pray that as you navigated all the

Hustle and Bustle of the Christmas Season

You were able to take time to

Focus on the ONE true meaning of Christmas

Christ Himself

 

 

And as you pack away the décor

And prepare for a new year

May you Keep Christ front and center

In your life and heart

 

I know that is the goal for my year

To focus on Him

His Love

His Promises

His Faithfulness

His Sovereignty

His Tender Mercies

His Total Forgiveness

HIM

 

May YOU Be Blessed by HIM

 

 

 

 



{24} December Daily ~~ Mark

 

 

 

My Mark

 

 

 

December 31, 1949

 ~~~

December 24, 2010

 

5 Years

 

Missed Every Day

 

 



{20} December Daily ~ Linens

 

 

Hi Sweet Friends

 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by

 

I happen to Love linens

Mostly table cloths and quilts

But linens in general

Usually catch my eye

 

 

Although I cannot recall where or when

I purchased this piece

It's a four foot square table cloth

In my favorite colors

 

 

I don't know how old it is

Or what type of design it is

But I absolutely love it

And it's in the center of my Christmas table

 

 

This piece is a lap size quilted piece

It has all of the seams turned out

Which adds a fun texture to the piece

 

 

I found this a week ago at an antique mall

For only $15

I'm using it this Christmas season

On the back of my big black chair

 

 

I haven't been to Stein Mart in years

As they closed the one near my home

But I happened to see one the other day

So I decided to stop by

 

 

They had what was left of their Christmas items on sale

I spied this queen size Christmas quilt

Since it was the only one left in the store

And had to be removed from the bed display

I snatched it up for only $25

Yay

 

 

I also picked up the only sham they had left

I love that it is reversible with a red/white stripe

So I can use it any time

Not only at Christmas

 

I've been really under the weather the past few days

I guess it's the Christmas time yuck

I'm hoping to feel better tomorrow

Have a busy schedule

 

One good thing is that since I didn't really

Go any place this weekend except to work

I was able to get most of my wrapping done

And feel like I'm more ahead of the game (for me)

Rather that behind

 

I am going to attempt to get by your blog this week

My lap time crashed so I have to do

Everything in my office with my PC

 

Christmas Eve is nearing

The most difficult day of the year for me

I'm working so hard at focusing on others

Yet, my heart is tugging

 

May you enjoy all that is Christmas

This year and in the new year to come

 

Blessings

 

 

 

 



{17} December Daily ~ Selfless

 

 

Hi Sweet Friends

Selfless
Not me
But my oldest son

The man who sits with his precious family
 

Gave
Twelve years ago today
A kidney
To his adopted father

I've shared the story previously
How he had left home
Never wanting to see us again
So we began to pray

"God whatever it takes"
To help him realize that our family
Is exactly where you planned for him to be 
 

 

Three short weeks later

Mark was diagnosed with complete kidney failure

His only hope of survival

A transplant from a perfect match

 

God had a plan

For 9 months later

Our sons perfectly matched kidney

Was transplanted to Mark

Which gave him

7 years and 7 days of new life

 

And our son

Well, he heard directly from the Lord

This IS the family I've chosen for you

 

Yes

God heard our prayers

Through trial

He brought our family back together

Never Give Up

 

And Now

 



 

K~Baby

 



 

K~Bel

 



 

K~Bug

 



 

Have a Hero for a Father

Who selflessly saved a life

And gives of himself daily

For his precious girls

 

Mr. A

Your momma will Always love You

And will Never forget your Gift of Life

 

And so it is with God

Who selflessly Gave Jesus

His precious Son

For us to have

Life Eternal

 

If you don't know this Jesus

Please allow me to pray with you

I'd love for you to meet Him

 

Blessings

 

 

 



{16} December Daily ~ Personality Counts

Hi Sweet Friends

A Special Night for my Nieces' Children
They each had solo's in their church's 
Children's Christmas Program

I'm thankful that I was able to attend

First though
I found this vintage {1967}
Piano music book that I purchased for my sister
I gave it to her tonight
And told her she needed to have all the songs
Prepared for Christmas day singing
 

Then

My Niece in Love

Volunteered to 'play' one of the ice breaker games tonight

She's a brave and fun soul

And now

It's the personality that counts

Here are my nieces three children

Each with their own personality

And their own solo in tonight's performance

Little Miss 'E'

The sweetest donkey ever

Mr 'Z'

The happiest kings attendant

The outfit he is wearing

Was made by my sister 

When her now 38 year old twins

Were very young

They worn them as did my boys

When they were young and in 

Church programs

Now our grandchildren are wearing

These same costumes.

Lot's of shepherds and kingsmen

In our family over the years

Miss 'G'

Better known as 'Mary'

 

During the most difficult of seasons
I'm so very grateful for these precious 
Memory Making Moments

May you see Jesus 
In the Moments God Allows

Blessings