Christmas decorations packed away for another year

Christmas has come and gone once again.  It seems to come faster and faster every year.  With all we have been through this year, we are truly blessed.
 Christmas was wonderful because of the mere fact of being with family and friends, and seeing the looks in the eyes of the kids when they opened their presents.
I look back on the New Year's goals I made last year about this time and realize that I haven't held to them very well.
This year has really put life in perspective.  We almost lost Chris in the car accident, but thankfully from it he has stayed off of drugs since it has happened.  He's still not in church but the seed was planted what short time he lived with us.  So I know it's just a matter of time before he completely turns his life over to the Lord.
Then we almost lost Linda (my mother-in-law) her stroke has left her blind.  We complain about the small things, yet when I visit with her I am so humbled as to how thankful she is.  She says she tries not to be selfish, because God has been so good to her.  And if it's His will that she doesn't regain her eyesight back she accepts that.  But she believes in His timing it will come back.  Christmas Eve she told Scott what time it was while he was holding his cell phone in front of her, and then she told her other son what color shirt he had on.  She says she can't explain it, that it's fuzzy and it's not always there.  But she's trusting God for His will to be done.
She lost her husband while in the hospital and  she says it seems so surreal to her.  She's just ready for closure.  I told her that most people their closure probably comes at the time of the funeral, but we haven't had that.  His wishes was to be cremated so when she's gets out of the hospital and feels up to it we're going to have a Memorial Service. 
In which by the way, she is suppose to get out of the hospital this Thursday.  She will be coming to stay with us however long it may be.  I asked her if she was worrying about that and she says no.  So I told her that we all know the stigma that goes along with in-laws.  But that with her she's like a second Mom to me.  
I started off thinking I was going to post about Christmas and New Year's goals, but I guess that will wait for another time and another post.

Merry Christmas

I first heard this on the radio yesterday morning and just had to look it up.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family – it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.




Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!!!

Give This Christmas Away

How Many Kings?

It seems like it's been so long since I've blogged.   I miss catching up with all my bloggy friends to see what's been going on in ya'll lives.
Linda (my mother-in-law) is still in the hospital in the rehab wing.  She amazes me each time I visit with her.  Her mind is becoming clearer and clearer.  There is still things short-term, and long-term memory that she doesn't remember.  But at our age there's things we don't remember either.   She says the first thing she wants to do when she gets home is sleep in.  That it feels like they get her up at the crack of dawn to get her therapy started.
I hope to post a Christmas song each day leading up to Christmas but if not.  I hope each and everyone of ya'll have a very Merry and blessed Christmas.

Christmas 2009

Christmas has once again come and went.  I packed up all the decorations today and finally downloaded all the pictures.  Ours started the Saturday before Christmas when we traveled almost three hours to pick up Brianna and Kenneth my step-children, and then traveled another almost two hours to get to my father and step-mother-in-laws house.  After much eating it was time for the kids to open their gifts.

Makayla was so excited with her Project Runway Set.  It's a traditon there that when you turn 18 that's the last year you get a gift.  Therefore my step-mother-in-law makes a quilt for you.  This was Michael's year to get his.  He loves music, more specifically guitars.  Not many pictures, because everyone is opening their presents at one time.  It's one big whirlwind of paper and squeals.
This was Makayla Christmas morning opening her Wii.  She got so excited that when she hugged me so hard, I thought she was going to knock me down.   They were so excited that they almost forgot their stockings.

Then we were off to Megan, Denny's and Emily's.  Look who's already standing up for a few seconds on Christmas Day.  It won't be long now before she is taking her first steps, and then walking.

Caught Megan reading the manuel to her new camera.  Denny totaled surprised her with a new Nikon camera. 

This is my Mom.  We don't get many pictures of her because she hates for her picture to be taken.  Needless to say I had to sneak this one I'm sure she thought I was taking one, of one of the kids.  She would probably be devastated if she knew I put it on my blog.

Then Christmas afternoon we picked up Brianna and Kenneth and had Christmas all over again.

The following pictures were taken at my Mom's the day after Christmas.  I didn't get pictures of it because we were all so surprised.  But the journal jar that I gave her last year for Christmas.  As mentioned in an earlier blog, she has wrote her answers in books.  I have a second blog where I have been writing her answers because she gave me my book when she finished it.  But now each of my other four siblings also have one, her grandaughters have one, and even a sister-in-law that was once married to my oldest brother but has always remained a part of the family.  My book has been re-written because she said the more she has wrote the more she has remembered.  In which it has kept her memory sharp by doing this.  Also this year we did something we had never done at her house, we opened our gifts one at a time.  I think it was so much more fun that way.

Joy To The World

Merry Christmas to you and your families

The video of this one is absolutely awesome.  As ya'll know by now.  I love Christmas and Christmas songs. 

Top 20 of all time

Merry Christmas Troops

Thank you for your selfishness of giving so we can be safe with our families this Christmas.

Christmas Shoes

One more sad one today and then I will end it with a more joyful one.

Sometimes Christmas Makes Me Cry

I think I could listen to this one over and over and never get tired of it.  It brings back all the happy memories of  Christmas pasts. 

Finding my favorite Christmas songs this week, made me realize one thing I don't like about Christmas.  Only hearing the Christmas music from Thanksgiving to New Years.  Then it's all put away until the next year.  Such wonderful music to only be enjoyed for such a short time each year.  Kinda sad isn't it?

Merry Christmas with a Capital "C"

I haven't heard this one this year, but heard it plenty last year.  Most people seems to have gotten the message apparently.  I notice while shopping more people are saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. 

Another one of my favorites this year..........Merry Christmas

I really enjoyed this video with this song.  This is another song that I have first heard this year and have just loved it.
This is truly what Christmas is all about.  Not the hustle and bustle, and going here and there.  But giving from your heart.   As a friend told me when anything becomes a burden then it's just not fun.  Christmas should be fun.  The look in the eyes of those recieving the gift should be priceless. 
Our gifts to Him may not be re-gifted, but are we giving Him our all.  He gave His all for us, and we should do the same for Him.

One of my New Favorites .......Merry Christmas

I have such a busy week.  I've decided to put a video each day of new Christmas songs that I have heard this year, and absolutely love.  Also I hope to post a couple of my candy recipes. 

I hope ya'll are all enjoying this Christmas season, and remembering the true reason we celebrate Christmas.  For God giving us the greatest gift ever.  Because without Jesus we have nothing.