:MeRrY ChRiStMaS:

MeRrY ChRiStMaS

The tree is trimmed, the stockings hung, presents wrapped, birthday cake made... It's time for the celebration of our Savior's birth. Roderick and I are looking forward to enjoying a Christmas celebration with just the two of us this year. However, the Lord has worked it out for us to go home to Colorado later. We both wish you a very Merry Christmas. May you have a very joyous time celebrating with family and friends.

I'll leave you with our favorite

Christmas carol this season...

When Love Came Down To Earth

Stuart Townsend

When love came down to earth

And made His home with men,

The hopeless found a hope,

The sinner found a friend.

Not to the powerful

But to the poor He came,

And humble, hungry hearts

Were satisfied again.

What joy, what peace has come to us!

What hope, what help, what love!

When every unclean thought,

And every sinful deed

Was scourged upon His back

And hammered through His feet.

The Innocent is cursed,

The guilty are released;

The punishment of God

On God has brought me peace.

Come lay your heavy load

Down at the Master's feet;

Your shame will be removed,

Your joy will be complete.

Come crucify your pride,

And enter as a child;

For those who bow down low

He'll lift up to His side.

Christmas Tour of Homes

ChRiStmAs ToUr oF hOmEs

Here's a little tour of our home all ready for the holidays. This year in lu of a wordy post, I decided to do picture post and save us both some time! Hope you enjoy!

As I mentioned in my last post I hope that you are finding ways to remember the true meaning of the season. (Well, actually every season!) Jesus Christ - a perfect God in human form- humbled himself and became a slave for us. (Phil. 2) He did not stay a baby. He came for the express reason of dying a horrible death on the cross to save US from our own depravity. However, he is no longer dead, he rose from the grave and is currently at the right hand of God!

I was reminded on Sunday that we can reflect in the wonderful gift of salvation in all the sparkling lights of the season. John 1 tells us that Jesus was the light of men. He came as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in Him would not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)

If you are visiting from the Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes, be sure to leave a comment telling me where you are from. I'd love to see how visitors I have from different states. Plus I've decided since there are SO many different homes to pick from I'll just visit the "homes" of my visitors. =)

These are calling my name....

I'm not sure why, but these M&M's are calling my name. I've eaten way too many of them. I'm usually not a huge fan of candy. It typically sits around my house for WAY too long uneaten. At one point about 2 weeks ago the container held 2 bags. I'd venture to say it holds about half of that now. I've eaten almost a bag worth! WOW!!

I thought the color of these little wonders would add to my decorations this year and be a nice touch for visitors. The fact that I could get a whole bag for $1 made them seem like the perfect choice for a candy dish. However, I think it's about time that I use them in monster cookies. That way I can give them away rather than eating the entire container myself! I want to try to avoid gaining the 9 lbs. Pastor Dan said the average American gains between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What is wonderful treat is calling your name?

:Polka dots: Lime Green: Red: Korker ribbon: Love:

Christmas tree last year....

This year's Christmas tree...

We decided to change up the colors of the tree a little bit. The inspiration....

... made for one of the craft fairs last year. This one did not sell, but that's okay it looks great on our tree! Who knew last year as I was planning the new tree in my mind that the look would be so popular this year. I've tried to severely limit my purchasing and only use what I have on hand. It's been hard because there is some extremely cute lime green/red stuff out this year. (Even some really cute polka dotted stuff!). I've made it for the most part and only have new things that were purchased from garage sales or I receive as gifts.

We really had fun making the korker ribbon accessories. Korker isn't just for little girls hair. It's for big girls trees! I created them in my mind for this tree last year, even went as far as purchasing all the supplies, but didn't get to until we were actually decorating. Around here we don't refer to them as Korker ribbons though, they've been dubbed "dingle hoppers." I think they add so much to the tree. I think they are my favorite part.... or maybe my favorite is all the little words like Joy, Hope, Peace, Noel scattered throughout the tree or..... I guess I just love it all!

Hope you are enjoying this Christmas season and remembering to celebrate the reason for the season. All the colors and decor are fun, but the true gift is Jesus Christ coming as a babe -perfect God in human form - to save us rotten sinners from ourselves and our depravity. What an amazing gift!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

... in the house at least.

Here's a look outside today...

Definitely a no coat kind of day. I guess I'll just have to listen to songs about having a white Christmas without experiencing one.

It was SO nice having my parents here for the last 10 days! It is a ton more fun to decorate with someone else. They left today and although I see their handiwork everywhere.... on the computer that has been updated, "cleaned" etc by my Dad, the curtains and pillows my mom taught me how to sew in our bedroom, the Christmas music that has been loaded painstakingly into the computer by my dad is playing, the decorations in every room that Mom and I did together are sparkling.... however I'm certainly missing my parents presence and company tonight. Mom and Dad come back right now... before this keyboard is drowned by tears!