WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

1. What's your worst food memory?  How about one of your best?
WORST:

McDonald's surprised me with broken light bulb in my "two all beef patties special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion s, on a sesame seed bun"...thankfully it didn't cut my mouth...my parents were NOT happy.  

BEST:

What fun it was on a date with my first boyfriend and his family at a 'swanky' restaurant her in town...ordered escargot for the 1st time...blown away by it's wonderful garlic butter, panko crumbs and cute little 'plucking' fork...what a GREAT night that was for me at the age of 16...one of the first times feeling 'big'.

 2. Do you appreciate people telling it like it is, or would you rather a speaker temper his/her words and maybe beat around the bush a little?  How about when you're the one communicating...which type are you?
My appreciating speakers varies sometimes according to my time limitations...sometimes my ears are needing to move on to other things; however, truth and common sense play into it also for me.  Blowing smoke and deception turn me quickly. 

Over the years I've had to become more of a 'driving' speaker to my husband, because he doesn't want to hear a lot of fluff, hahah!  I can be wonderfully flowery with my gal pals though!


 3. What's your favorite place to hang out?

My blue leather recliner fits my body very nicely...and there's a sweet spot on the loveseat in our parlor at church. 
 4. When do you most feel like you're a slave to time?
Having dinner on the table between 6:00 and 7:00...sometimes bittersweet now that collegegirl is out on her own; always have someone missing from the table now.
5. What was the last concert you attended?  Who'd you go with? Was it any good?
July 4th our chancel choir at church performed their "Independence Day" celebration with full orchestra and Biblical readings/vignettes.
 6. Reality TV...harmful or harmless?  What's your guilty pleasure when it comes to reality TV?
There is no such things as reality tv; they've convince so many people that tv is real...believe me, it is not. 

I entertain the silliness of DUCK DYNASTY and their continuing in witness as they visit churches and give their testimonies.

7. What's something you think is overrated?
Being on reality tv is overrated...look deep at the many who have done it...certainly doesn't seem their lives are better because of it

kind of like politics and its ability to ruin someone's decision making.

8.  My RANDOM THOUGHT:  our MIRACLE!

MY GREAT NIECE, KATIE, WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL

8 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING A NEW HEART!  

THIS IS HER HEART SURGEON...

Thank you, Dr. Kogon











FIRST OUTING in the sun, 8 days post heart transplant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Charles and I are so proud of you FOR: 

keeping the doctors and nurses on their toes

and loving on them like you love on US! 

 

I'm so eager to see you but I have a cold and don't want to share the germs with you. 

 

You keep loving on MoMo until I can see you for REALZ, okay? 

 

(I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice. To worship You, oh, my soul rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what you hear! May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear!)



 

CITY PRAISE

We had a night-out last night...it was lots of fun as we decided how and where to meet, whether or not we'd eat before we got there, etc.
We pushed the hustle and bustle of this month aside to take a few hours to HEAR "The Story: A Christmas Spectacular".  Have you heard of it coming to your area?

Driving through all the traffic while talking to my friends is much more stressful remembering back to the many years of driving downtown to my full-time job.  


There's much more traffic on the road these days...and it's only been 10 years since I was working full time.  

Driving through the downtown streets, we enjoyed seeing all the lights and decorations up in their towers.  Their decorations certainly are making this time of year a wonderful time to go to an event down among the high rises.

Motorcycle policemen in their 'furry' leather jackets with toboggans sticking out from under their helmets, street musicians pounding their drums and the homeless greeting all walkers for some help during the season... reminding me of people I encountered on lunch breaks during the Christmas season while working throughout the 80's and 90's.

Back in those days, I would skip breaks in the morning and afternoon, so I could add 30 minutes to my normal hour lunch...then I'd grab a girlfriend to join me...running downstairs to the rapid transit train, riding three stops south and jumping off at Peachtree Center then walking to Macy's or Rich's.  


We'd watch out for each others' belongings while paying cashiers and/or bagging our 'finds' then RUN back to the train for our return trips to beat the clock.

Those were fun times...yet, stressful times.  I don't miss all the traffic and the LONG train/bus/driving issues I ran into throughout the years of working 'inner city'.  

Last NIGHT was not stressful though.
We enjoyed Christmas carols from several known musicians
preaching from Max Lucado and
original songs/written by Nicole Nordeman...

(sorry for the blurriness...these are phone pics from about 100 yards from the stage)

MAX LUCADO                             




                 NATALIE GRANT

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN              

                                                                                                     SELAH  

If you get a chance to see this show...go.

Their talent with word/video/song was awesome...and so was time with with my girlfriends as we sang, praised, listened, cried and prayed.

It gave me a 're-awakening' of the true meaning of why Jesus came to this world...why He loves us and intercedes for us...and that ONE DAY, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess "Jesus Christ is Lord!"

Blessings,

THREE STAGES of EXHAUSTION...preparing, during, & cleaning it up!

CLICK THE PICS FOR A LARGER VIEW

What a week we've had...and it's NOT over quite yet.
A week ago Sunday, the junior class decorated and hosted the 'goodbye' banquet for this year's seniors...LOST/SURVIVOR were the themes. We were in the jungle with the lions, tigers and junior jungle guides.

Saturday was our BIGGEST DAY EVER in this household...we hosted an Romanesque "Italy-Awaits You" open house for DD eating many delicious goodies and BS&K's BEST punch (ginger ale, pink frozen lemonade, frozen cranberry juice). Our biggest hit: red velvet cake lollipops!

The secretary in the living room was used as our 'senior' display with memories from birth to senior year. It's overwhelming trying to thank all the people who have blessed us mentoring our kids through these years; talking, guiding, praying, giving advice..."I thank my God for every remembrance of you."

THE BEST part of our gathering was catching and having fun with friends from school, church, family and the neighborhood. And.....I got my FIRST time to hold our BabyKatie...there have been many posts about her struggle with a congenital heart defect. Well, she is now 3yo. Se ran up to me saying "Hugs?".

WOW...in the past she has been sooooo ill and very susceptible to infection as well as dealing with 'shyness' and being accustomed to 'momo', so getting to hold her hasn't been very easy. Hugs were ALL around and it was GREAT!

Some friends have moved away and we haven't seen for quite a while; isn't it great catching up and seeing how much we've changed?!!

My Praying Mamas were there serving for us during the entire event...what would I do without them?! God's blessed me with 'extra' sisters!

YES, how blessed we are! EXHAUSTION has set in...Lord, I continue needing your help getting us through the remainder of our parties, writing of cards, and attending the graduations. Thank you for being our rock when we are weak, for then You are strong!! Amen

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."Blessings,

RETREAT...REJOICE...REPEAT!

Lather, rinse, repeat...we've all read it many times on the back of our shampoo bottles.

It's kind of catchy...bouncing off your tongue. Well, while showering today after returning from youth retreat, I'm compelled to come up with my own new phrase because it's a 'life or death' situation, a limited time of availability...we must be diligent about what we do.

Three R words kept jumping into my head...retreat, rejoice, repeat. My 3 R's...the Rcubed, you could say...RETREAT, REJOICE, REPEAT.

It's important to RETREAT from the world...get into study...READ His Word and ponder His plan. During this year's RETREAT, we studied and discussed the prodigal son story...Luke 15...known to many... usually emphasizes the youngest son.

Yet, the older brother was lost in his own way, too, for not recognizing the compassion and love of his own brother AND father.

By giving the youngest son his inheritance and freedom to go 'discover' his worldly life, to discover what was TRULY important...the FATHER mirrors our loving God, our Father in Heaven.

As children ARE their parent's joy, even in the struggles, WE ARE GOD'S joy...WE WERE GOD's JOY before we even WERE...

WE ARE NOT A COINCIDENCE...HE ADOPTED US BEFORE WE "WERE":

(EPHESIANS 1:3-6)

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.

Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!)

He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.

HE SAVED US...PAID THE PRICE FOR 'OUR' SIN (THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM):

^(7-10)Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds.

And not just barely free, either.

Abundantly free!

He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making.

He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE OF WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOUR PURPOSE IS...SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIM...HE LOVES YOU AND IS ONLY A PRAYER AWAY...

^(11-12)It's in Christ we find out who we are and what we are living for.

Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

THROUGH CHRIST's RISING FROM THE DEAD and SITTING AT THE FATHER's RIGHT SIDE INTERCEDING ON OUR BEHALF, our excitement is spilling over the rim of our hearts...

After studying the lessons and discussing the issues many understandings were found and shared...then came the REJOICING!

We celebrated being His...being with each other

...being loving toward one another...just as the Father and son rejoiced together.

sharing god's love and promises to "his creation" is ours to complete...

That's where the REPEAT comes into our 'to do' basket.

REPEAT His Word when you see pain, when you see need, where you see hurt...they may not have heard THE GOOD NEWS...

We DO HAVE A REASON TO REJOICE...HAVE A PARTY

...Our Savior is ALIVE!!!

ALL IT TOOK WAS "ASKIN' "...

Joining Mary @ LIttle RED HOUSE...

FALL brings...

HOMECOMING football games and dances...

(dinner/movie with BESTEST girlfriends)

and memories of GRANNY and her knitting needles...

BS&K and I had just finished pounding these bodies into the ground in the dungeon (working out in the basement) and returned upstairs to sit our bones in a chair because we were EXHAUSTED (taking a moment to catch up before getting on to the rest of our day)...

"I've been using these knitting needles with this baby yarn, but they are too
big and the weave is too open...so, I'll have to find my Granny's knitting
needles to use on this baby blanket."

When I made the above statement I KNEW where to go in my house (to get the needles I received when she passed away 15 years ago)...or so I thought. My first problem...I thought.

In these days of surgically-induced menopause my brain has been obliterated from the possibility of remembering things correctly just doesn't keep up anymore. I have to make notes to myself in any split second to remember my next simplest move.

Even though my head was telling me I KNEW where those needles were, I charged upstairs to my 'beautifully engineered craft area' my guest bedroom and began pilfering through the sewing box stowed under the bed... knowing I would be able to grab them and traipse back downstairs to 'begin again' on my baby blanket.

Yet, they had walked away WEREN'T there...where my mushy, unable-to-sometimes-put-together-a-sentence organ taking up room in my skull brain told me they would be waiting.

Working my way through many containers and bags...do you have as many bags of STUFF as I do?...NOTHING, NADA, empty...geez! I KNOW I saw them recently. When was that?....oh, they're in this room...somewhere, I KNOW IT! On to the closet, looking through more containers and bags...found the wire snips I had been looking for last week(that I NEVER found last week, obviously) but NO NEEDLES.

All the places in the craft room bedroom left me empty handed. The master closet, maybe I saw them in the organizer on the shelf in the master closet.

This is what was running above my eyeballs as I began putting back ALL THE CRAP AS MY HUBBY CALLS IT each container that's supposed to HELP me keep things organized.

Out the bedroom I walked, down the hall and into the closet rustling through the organizer, still convinced the green steel needles would happily greet me...NOT! Ugh...nowhere in here either.

"How many times do I have to go through this circus of wasting time KNOWING I KNOW WHERE TO FIND SOMETHING?

So many times I have looked and looked to no avail...then, I REMEMBER there is ONE who KNOWS where it ALL is.

ONE who can take me right to it. So, like a little child being taught a lesson, ONE MORE TIME...I stopped and had a talk with Jesus.

"Lord, You know EVERYTHING...You even know where my Granny's needles are. Would you take this over and do this for me? You told me to seek You and I would find...and You've done it so many times for me in the past. I just keep FORGETTING to ask You FIRST."

I literally turned on my heels after uttering this prayer OUTLOUD...and a flash went behind my eyes like a quick bolt of lightning...

"They're in the plastic travel container in the basement, you used them on your last Emmaus weekend."

I began to laugh, really...and talk to myself about how He's getting quicker and quicker with answering this prayer for me.

While I was talking to myself about being amazed over His specificity in guiding us, I ran down the stairs, through the door to the basement, around the corner, reached right into the travel container and pulled out GRANNY's needles...right where He said they would be.

"God, You are SO steadfast and true...You were standing right
there with me, probably wondering how long it was going to take me this time to
ask you AGAIN. Thank you for AGAIN coming to my rescue, in this oh-so-important event brief moment of frustration, once again
turned to a PRAISE EVENT."

Amen & Amen

Whatever YOUR NEED today...Talk to God about it FIRST, He'll answer.

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

p.s. Go here for great post and neat giveaway...

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/09/welcome-to-37th-metamorphosis-monday.html.s.

U GOTTA SEE THIS PIC...THANKFUL THURS.

JOINING SONYA today for THANKFUL THURSDAY

1. SO, SO THANKFUL: Our little social bug Katie is on the mend and is happy again...They had their appointment back at the hospital...This time she enjoyed some of her favorite things:

therapy dogs

the library

lobby fish tank

dancing clowns

garden

“storybook fairy” (little old lady/pink princess gown/crown)

2. so, so thankful for doctors...The main reason for visiting: to see Dr. K, the doctor who has bee n trusted on ALL her surgeries (the first @ a mere six pounds...a very tiny heart, indeed). Dr. K has placed her heart in his hands,

literally--he certainly isn't 'just another guy in a white lab coat'! (The heart surgeons are like Elvis — everyone knows when they’re in the building!)

Thank you, Jesus, for providing Dr. K the knowledge and expertise in caring for Katie!

Surprise (and joy) overtook Katie as her mommy snapped this precious photo:

UPDATE:

3. so, so thankful...Katie's incision, post-infection, is continuing to look better and may not require stitches

4. so, so, thankful....she may not have to have followup surgery to re-do the wiring around her breast bone!

5. so, so, thankful...God built an inate LOVE in us...our God hole..in such a special, saving way. We can share His love with others throughout our lives, during good and bad situations!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Blessings,

WORDFUL WEDS. & OUTDOOR WEDS.(sawdust savoring)

*Wordful Wednesday with Angie

and Outdoor Wednesday with Susan

is to showcase photo(s)

when we can't keep our mouths shut about them.

If you'd like to play along,

post a photo on your blog, and let the words roll.

HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED A CAMPMEETING?

Our CAMPMEETING was last week...

Many elderly, middle-aged, married, single, teenager, tweens, kids, toddlers, newborns, puppies, THE HOLY SPIRIT, and a cloud of witnesses came for.....

well,

watch and listen

to see what the Lord provided...

(click on the video, then be sure to click on VIEW HQ VIDEO just above and to the right so you get the higher quality...

WE WERE BLESSED, indeed!!!

p.s.: that altar is a precious place indeed.

(one of my fav pics of dd--she was in 7th grade...youth had stayed up all night under the arbor, singing, playing games and just talking...once all others had gone home and while I cleaned & packed, she fell asleep while lying on the kneeling bench of the altar in front of the lecturn

("sleeping at His feet" is my subtitle

...i think it will always be my favorite :) p.s.: thx for continuing your prayers for Katie.

Out of Surgery

Posted 7 minutes ago

Katie is out of surgery and is in CICU. K*mama and J*daddy are with her now...don't know much more at this time.

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

PROJECT 365 & iSing'09

Continuing Project 365 with Sara

Earlier this week

we enjoyed our yearly chorus show...

it was actually Saturday night, 5/9/09, but close enough.

I've been busy with "senior stuff" this week and hadn't had a chance to post it.

(kidding around between numbers)

and dd sang in a trio!

:)

they sang "ONLY HOPE"...

they hit all their hard

harmony sections, woo hoo!!!

I'm so eager to see and hear

the DVD that was professionally recorded.

She also sand/danced during the "junior/senior combined" numbers...

needless to say...they ENJOYED it and so did WE!

sorry the quality isn't so great...

let me know if you can see them...especially those who are friends of the family and don't usually leave me a message ;)

PRAYING THROUGHOUT THE DAY...

www.prayitsayit.net

*p.m. Update: I drove home tonight from a meeting while listening to 91.5fm -- listening to prayer after prayer after prayer uplifting our nation, its leaders and its citizens to return to Jesus' throne of grace for His forgiveness, healing and guidance ... it was AWESOME!  

Praying you, too, had an uplifting, prayer-filled day!

Lord, You are the true and living God, forgive us for ignoring You.
You rule over all things visible and invisible, forgive us when we forget You're in control.

There is nothing that catches You by surprise, forgive us for not trusting Your presence.There is nothing beyond Your reach, forgive us for thinking your arm is too short.You know our rising up and our sitting down, forgive us for not seeking Your input at the beginning of our day and at the closing of our day.

Lord Jesus, You are the prince of Peace to OUR NATION...may we claim it, right now.We ask Your presence would be more real than our fears. We rebuke fear and anxiety, for we know they are not from You.  We cancel the fallen angel's schemes to tear down faith and hinder destiny.

Lord, Your word says, "The righteous cry out, and You hear them and deliver them from all their troubles." We claim your promise this day and KNOW You will provide.

Thank you for delivering OUR NATION and we cast all our cares upon You.Fill us with Your Holy Spirit...empower us to fight fear with unwavering faith in You.
in Jesus' mighty name,
Amen & Amen! 

HE'LL RESTORE US...TOGETHER!

2 Kings 10:15 "Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?" Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand".

Just like Jehu asked Jehonadab, God stands at the door of our heart, asking us to give Him our hand, daily. Let's join our hands with His...in quiet time. It's difficult to have a 2-or-more-are-gathered moment when you are alone. So...if you haven't had your quiet time today, join with me now...letting go of our peculiar opinions or differences of how we worship or how we pray even. Quoting John Wesley "What matters is having a heart rooted in your love, believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior."

Lord, be with us in this moment, THIS MOMENT, as we read and blog together...renew our hearts to reach out to ALL your children, you made each of us. It's easier to love those we know--and those who are strangers often don't get a second look, much less an outreached hand or a kind word.

Lord, lead our minds to think THE BEST about people first instead of being quick in our judgments of their appearance or their actions...we don't KNOW where they've been, but YOU DO!

Rededicate us to love each other as you loved us, compassionately caring for EACH person WE MEET TODAY... IN THAT MOMENT.

Wesley's Hymns

UMH 554:1,2

All praise to our redeeming Lord,

YOU join us by YOUR grace,

and bid us, each to each restored,

together seek YOUR face.

YOU bid us--build each other up;

and, gather into one,

to our high calling's glorious hope

we hand in hand go on.

AMEN & AMEN

WHAT IS YOUR "HIGH CALLING'S" GLORIOUS HOPE TODAY?

APPRECIATE COMMENTERS...4 Tomorrow They Twitter!

Greg's post made me think...

about how the personalities of people drive blogging habits

...whether or not people comment

...whether or not they post pictures.

Have you ever studied the 4-quadrant personality assessment tables?--charts used in human relations departments throughout the world to teach people how to "read" personalities, others' and their own.

The major quadrants: "askers", "tellers", "task-oriented", and "people-oriented". (Falling in the middle of the quad is me...an amiable/expressive. I worked hard during class to learn to be more demonstrative and telling, especially since I was headed to a new management job when I took the class.)

Greg and I agree comments are valuable, especially for people-oriented bloggers wanting to interact and understand others' points of view.

Comments are also valuable to task-oriented bloggers wanting to challenge themselves with each blog. Several "drivers" I know won't blog because it's a "waste of their time"...have you ever heard that from anyone?

From MY HANDS...HIS GLORY!

So, with all the personality types in mind and the possible loss of bloggers to TWITTER, copy and post "Lizard Man" on your site as a reminder, then take the Blogger Vow with us :

I vow to:

• appreciate visitors
• read visitors' comments
• visit visitors' sites
• leave comments on their sites
• share Christ's love
• encourage, challenge and inspire myself and those I read

Don't leave us for Twitter...it wouldn't be the same without you!

ARE YOU CONTEMPLATING LEAVING BLOGGER FOR TWITTER??

Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

SAFELY HOME...HAPPY EASTER!

TO SAY WE HAD A GOOD TIME IS AN UNDER-STATEMENT.



I'LL BE BACK MONDAY WITH MY 200TH BLOG AND A GIVE-AWAY!

PRAYING FOR A BLESSED WEEKEND...

HAPPY EASTER...

CHRIST IS RISEN...

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!!

Ephesians 6:13-18
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,

you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything,

to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

LITTLE GIRL-2-BIG GIRL!! & PINK SATURDAY...

Thanks to HOW SWEET THE SOUND for hosting PINK SATURDAY

I haven't bought anything pink in a while...until I saw this at a local thrift store and I HAD to have it. It has markings on the bottom which I will one day look up on the net to find out more about its originations, but for today, it will stand alone in its "prettiness"...

&

WE'RE CELEBRATING THIS WEEK...

YES, IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN--is it my imagination, it was just here, wasn't it??DD'S BIRTHDAY is this week...hhhhhhmmmmm, memories:

My once-little-sleeping, 11-day old bundle in my doctor's arms --doesn't sleep so much due to 7am school bells...and looks down at her now-shorter mother.

My once-cooing, 2-month-old enjoying a Virginia pool on her first vacation to Jamestown --is saving for her first trip to Italy next summer (without her mother).

My once-rocking-with-her-auntie four-month old , --now babysits 2 newborns and 4 toddlers each Thursday while Christian rocking to The Less.

My once-slapping-on-the-table, newly-walking 13-month old --is now climbing ladders while helping roof houses for a church mission projects.

My once-running-across-the-street-with-her-mother 4-year old (to meet her newest playmates) --is now driving HER car to enjoy a french-onion-soup lunch with friends at Panera.

My once-taking-her-first-airplane-trip-to-Southern-California 6-year old -- just returned from a high school choral singing performance on the INTREPID, @ the TOP OF THE ROCK, and @ ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL in New York City (without EITHER parent as chaperone).

My once-hard-throwing, first-base, softball-playing 9-year old --is now finishing her 3rd year of Latin, 4th year of chorus and doesn't want to play softball anymore.

My once-16 will now be "17"...this is going entirely too quickly!

Enjoy your Birthday week, Skoot...We have certainly continued to enjoy you!!

1 Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

BARGAINS...& REFLECT ON WHAT OTHERS MIGHT SEE...

Did some post-Christmas shopping for DEALS...got a few at Wally World.
Do you enjoy Wally World after the holidays?

Wally World is fun after Christmas...especially when you get to do it with your sister and great niece! Here in my living-room side chair are the fun things I bought.

Probably the best deal I got was on the Christian Christmas cards ($1.50) and a new Rooster cookie jar ($4.50) that I didn't picture because he's definitely NOT Christmassy...


My daughter asked me "why" I bought the stuffed reindeer with the animated smile (that lights up)...
I looked back at her with a quizzical look...
well, of course, I bought him becuz he's funny...
you push his button, he sings "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" as his sled moves back and forth and then spins in a circle...now, wouldn't you buy that, too??!!

The other cool thing I got is a set of "Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer" cookie cutters...the cookies have cross sections you bake as well, so once you decorate the cookies, they STAND UP! Right next to the gingerbread house I'm gonna make next year...thanks for the inspiration, Liddie, at 2nd cup of coffee, you've laid down the gauntlet and we should all have a gingerbread competition online!

Pencils with snowmen and snowflakes...I usually give my kids in youth something throughout the Winter-blue months. And, of course, I had to buy new tissue paper for bags 'cause I usually DON'T wrap with real paper anymore...the tissue paper is snowmen, Santa, red and white polka dots...($.50, yeah!) I'm one of those people who sometimes irons tissue paper...especially if it is really neat and I want to RE-GIFT with it!

Not that we NEED any more "nativity" ornaments on our tree, but I couldn't pass up the golden rectangular one or the painted ball one shown on the left. We always look for new shapes and new colors...it's becoming a nativity tree.
The little angel on the right is part of the FAITH sign...it has a little angel on each end of the sculpture. I got many stick-on decorations for gifts as well as lots of scrap booking pieces, and gift card boxes in cool colors with ribbons included.

Many other blogs I have visited recently have either shown a video or a picture of one of their favorite gifts...well, I received a ceramic penguin tea set for one...it now resides on my "penguin" village table in the dining room. The person who gave it to me didn't even know I had a penguin collection new to our Christmas this year! Something about penguins always make me giggle.




The more I looked at it I became very aware at how much the middle one resembled Danny DeVito when he played Penguin in Batman Returns...now, I'm a little creeped out!

... and I just realized I need to go back through my boxes because the one of the right doesn't have a hat and I'm not sure if he's supposed to have one or not! Oh, man, it would be just like me to throw away his hat!

The other thing I wanted to do in this post is wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR! So, please read below and ponder into the new year about what others may see in you, I know I will be pondering it and asking for Christ's guidance along the way.

Harbingers of happiness, awake!

And dreams abandoned, return from restless sleep!

Past hopes, whom bitter wanderers forsake,

Promise once again what will might reap!

Years turn and turn, at each new turn reborn,

New imagined by redeemers new,

Each in turn vouchsafed a festive dawn,

Wind driven towards a sky of darker hue.

Yearning is of innocence a cause,

Embracing with delight what ought to be,

As once a year even truth takes pause,

Reflecting on what other eyes might see.

(by Nicholas Gordon @ poemsforfree.com)

Exodus 40:2 “Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year.