Mission Accomplished

 I set a goal for myself to write a blog post every day in 2012.

I'm proud to say I accomplished my goal.  365 days of memories, recipes, thoughts & sometimes nonsense.

Now I have a record of what happened in 2012.  Some day I would like to get my blog printed in book form.

Now an update on the deconstruction of our Christmas bling.  It has been slow going, but we are making progress (even though it doesn't look like it).

One tree is ready to be bagged up & put in the attic.

Hubby got the outside lights & wreaths from the front yard taken down.

I'll get started after lunch with more deconstruction.  Hopefully I'll be finished before the new year begins!

Happy New Year everyone!  Wishing you a blessed 2013!

Weekly Words To Live By #126

As 2012 comes to a close we look forward to welcoming 2013.  My daughter-in-law, Kari, asked me Friday night if I had any goals for the new year.  I named  the typical things, lose weight & get organized.

I think this is a simple mantra for me in 2013 . . .

For I know the plans I have for you,

 declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil,

 to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 

Wishing you a day filled with hope for the new year . . .

Dinner & Surprises

Last night the kids took us out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary.

Afterwards they came over to give us two surprise gifts made by Kari.

This timeline canvas has important dates in our family history.

So special.  Kari did a wonderful job!  

It will hang in our bedroom.

She also made a photo album to go along with the timeline canvas.

What a treasure!

Thank you Bobby & Kari for treating us to dinner & giving us the gifts that will become family heirlooms.

"D" Day

Tomorrow is "D" day. 

This morning before Hubby went to work he asked,

 "Do you want to take down Christmas tomorrow?'.

I immediately agreed. 

So, tomorrow is deconstruction day.

This is the part of Christmas I do not enjoy.

The house looks so bare without the Christmas bling.

I used to get really depressed when Christmas was over.

Now, I enjoy the challenge of decorating for the new year.

A few days ago I noticed another section of lights went out on the grandkids' tree.

The lights went out a few weeks ago.  Hubby worked on it but could never get it fixed.

Should we fix these trees before we pack them away?

  Naw, I don't think so.  LOL

I won't put this sign away.

Maybe it will bring a little snow our way.

Some of my Facebook friends have posted this morning that it's snowing in their part of Oklahoma.

Have a mentioned I love snow?

Check out my Pinterest board, "I Love Snow".

Thirty-seven

37 years ago weddings were simple events in my social circle.

Homemade dresses.  

Receptions consisted of cake, punch, mints & nuts.

Happy #37, Bob!

Love you!

Christmas 2012

Merry day after Christmas!

We had a wonderful time together on Christmas.

Before we opened gifts we had a munchie brunch.

The kids had fun ripping into their gifts and of course we enjoyed watching.

Ethan's favorite gift was his Spider-Man drum set.

He already has the beat, following in Daddy's footsteps.

Snow was a no show for our part of Oklahoma, we were all a little disappointed.

Did you have a white Christmas?

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

The reason for the season . . .

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

The gifts are under the tree.
Stockings are stuffed & ready to be hung tonight.

We bought this little snow shovel for Ethan at the grocery store yesterday.
It looks like the chances are 100% we will have a white Christmas.
I admit it, I'm like a little kid when it comes to snow & especially if it snows on Christmas.

I believe we're going to have a wonderful Christmas!
Have yourself a merry little Christmas . . .

Long Time Ago in Bethlehem

We watched the Andy Williams Christmas show on PBS last night.  Andy sang a beautiful, moving song about the birth of Jesus.

source

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.”

Luke 2:6-12

Wishing you a Sunday filled with hope, peace & love . . . 

I'm Dreaming

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas . . . 

just like the ones I used to know.

This is the snowfall from Christmas 2009.

The weatherman keeps teasing us with the ever changing forecast. The newest prediction says 70% chance.

I don't want a blizzard, just an inch or two would be nice.

Time will tell . . .

In the mean time I'll keep wrapping gifts . . .

Welcome Winter

Happy first day of winter!

This is my sister, Sue's house yesterday.

She lives in Missouri.

I'm so jealous she got snow.

“Winter is the time for comfort,

 for good food and warmth, 

for the touch of a friendly hand and 

for a talk beside the fire: 

it is the time for home.” 

~ Edith Sitwell

Be Warm

This was the picture on my Mary Englebreit calendar Tuesday.

Perfect for today because it's VERY windy & cold.

source 

I lit my Mother's kerosene lantern to add a little warmth to the kitchen table.

The weatherman keeps going back & forth with the forecast for next week.

We may get snow sometime around Christmas.

I would love it if we had a white Christmas, or even the day after.

I haven't wrapped one gift.  Time to get busy!

Be warm, friends . . . 

I'm linking with . . .

Christmas Trees Past & Present

I'm joining Vee for her 'Note Card Party'.

Christmas Trees

Click on the year to see the original post.

 

red, white & blue 

2008

Nativity

2008

first tree

2009

posing by the tree

2012

Thanks for hosting the party Vee!

Away In A Manger

The first Christmas song I learned in Sunday school many years ago . . . 

One week more week!

Are you ready or are you way behind like me?

I'm linking with . . .

Sunday Snapshots

We enjoyed the wonderfully warm weather on Sunday.

The grandkids enjoyed playing in our front yard.

We even played outside after dark.

Emma loved exploring all the Christmas decorations inside the house.

Yes, we had a wonderful day!