The most important things in life aren't things! Faith*Family*Friends

Friday, December 28, 2012

The Celebrations Continue

I've got to say I am SO impressed by my fellow bloggers who went right back to blogging without missing a beat after Christmas.  I spent most of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sitting by the fire. I did manage to cook a small Christmas Dinner with just the breast of a turkey. Those two days were really quiet at our house.  Our family had come and gone and the weather had turned frightfully cold and we had.....a WHITE CHRISTMAS.  No kidding.  After basking in the warmth of north Texas for the entire fall season (I still had geraniums blooming Christmas morning)  Christmas afternoon our yard looked like this and it was COLD.



That's the guy I'm married to (just short of FOREVER) braving the wind and cold for some pictures while I snapped one from the doorway and closed it again.

December 26th we were both right back to work.  We spent Wednesday evening with a group of good friends and neighbors laughing and celebrating some more.  (then going back to work Thursday after 6 hours of sleep)  Zzzzz  But it was worth the good time, we'll catch up on sleep eventually.

After work on December 27th, my SuperDave and I went out to dinner because we have been married 33 years. (and who wants to cook after a day at work?)  Yes, 33 years, people!  During dinner we tried to name all the people we know who have been married longer than us and toasted to 33 more!  We are very blessed - two of the couples of our list are our parents - both sets married over 55 years! 



I got him us a DVD for our anniversary.  It is a movie called Paradise Alley.  It's not a great movie, but my sweetie thought it was a pretty funny and clever gift.  It is the movie we saw on our FIRST date.  I figured we should own it and watch it again.  The only thing I remembered about the movie was the title and that it starred Sylvester Stallone.  It wasn't as bad as we remembered, but it wasn't that great either, we won't be watching it again any time soon.

Our cold wet weather is continuing today. Tomorrow we'll be driving six and a half hours round trip to have Christmas with my family.  So we'll be off once AGAIN, bearing gifts and food for another whole day of noisy family fun. My family is sort of loud, but in our defense any group of people that large is noisy, right? (20 to 40 depending on who can make it)

I'm thinking Sunday I'll be sitting by the fire all day again resting up for my New Year's Eve "not" party.  It's not going to be a party - just four or five couples trying to stay awake until midnight.  Unless friends hanging out eating and drinking and laughing until midnight IS a party - then it IS going to be a party.  I'm going to need a nap when 2013 gets here.

Cheers!

Laura

my apologies for any typos, transposed or left out words....the short nights and Christmas cookies are starting to addle my brain


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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The True Meaning of Christmas



And there were in the same country 
shepherds abiding in the field, 
keeping watch over their flock by night. 

And, lo, the angel of the Lord 
came upon them, 
and the glory of the Lord 
shone round about them: 
and they were sore afraid. 

And the angel said unto them, 
"Fear not: for, behold, 
I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people. 
For unto you is born this day 
in the city of David a Savior, 
which is Christ the Lord. 
And this shall be a sign unto you; 
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in 
swaddling clothes, 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, 
good will toward men." 
                   
Luke 2:8-14

Merry Christmas,

Laura


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Friday, December 21, 2012

An Old Fashioned Family Christmas and Other Stuff

My Christmas/Anniversary/Birthday/New Year's 
celebrations start TODAY and continue
through January 1st.  





My in-laws are coming for the weekend and my kids will be home Saturday for our day of Christmas food and fun. 

My husband and I were married on December 27th so my wedding anniversary is next week.  I have something small and special planned for that evening (after we work 'til 5:00 pm sigh).  By the time we get through Thanksgiving and Christmas and make it to our anniversary, neither want of us want to eat anything rich or heavy.  We usually have a nice date night in January.


One of my good friends is turning the BIG 5-0 on December 29th.  (don't tell her I said so, she thinks turning 50 is bad) Unfortunately I will miss her party, it is the same day that I will be back home celebrating a crazy good old fashioned family Christmas with the clan.  So I'm going to miss her party, but she and I will celebrate together when possible. 

That's one great thing about special occasions - they are aren't tied to a day - you can celebrate any day your heart is full of JOY.



I most likely won't be blogging for several days, maybe a week, I have no definite plan. I'll be "not" busy hanging out with people I love and celebrating the birth of our Savior so I may not turn on the home computer very often between today and January 1st. (I will be working a few days, so I'll have to turn on my WORK computer, I suppose)  I'm excited about a new year - a year full of promise and blessings for my family and hopefully yours also.

Hope, Joy and Peace to you.


 





Laura


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Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Christmas Wrap Up - Home Tour

Our Not Formal Dining Room
I love Dr. Suess. He's my favorite children's author.  His books are awesome for kids learning to read and have some pretty good messages too. I love How the Grinch Stole Christmas - THE BOOK.  The movie is good too, but the book is classic.  Holding a child on your lap while you read a book to them is one of life's greatest joys.

Our Christmas Village
I would like to share a tour through our home at Christmas and a little bit of the "The Grinch."  Follow the links below the some of the pictures to see more.

 

Living Room and Memory Tree

"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer.
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"



The Entry Hall

Counting Down the Days

 Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!



Joyful Christmas Family Room

Our Breakfast Table

The Stable made by my Dad

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled and puzzed, 'til his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!


"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store"

"Maybe Christmas.....perhaps.....means a little bit more!"





One of our dozen or so Christmas Trees


Christmas Blessings to you and yours,

Laura








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