Christmas Greetings

I needed a touch of red 

and since my camera is collecting dust

it was Pinterest to the rescue

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the tree is trimmed ~ finally!  

better late than never this year I say

the halls are decked ~ cookies made

menus planned and I wrapped the final gift last night

the house is clean and ready for company

thanks to hubby for the help with that one

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tomorrow night we will gather around the table

both mom's and one brother

then we head to church

everyone is spending the night

not sure if that was a good idea but we will make the best of it

then we will have 7 on Christmas Day

as the girls will join us

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that night we will go to my mil's

for munchies and gifts

I am sure I will reflect on past years

and miss Lee just a little more than usual

I purchased little pewter frame ornaments this year

and put a pic of him in each

ours in on the tree and I gave my mil hers on Sunday night

she cried ~ she loved it

I am so glad that she did

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tonight I did some food prep

and checked my list

I am cozied on the couch with my family

and watching the tail end of Polar Express again

love that movie

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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

and the happiest of holidays

the magic of Santa

and blessings as we celebrate the real reason for the season

Happy Birthday Jesus

xoxo

Comparison

I have been on the blog trail this week

looking through all the beautiful homes on a

holiday house walk

it can inspire you or deflate you

a little green with envy at some

then I went on instagram and read these words

Comparison is the thief of joy...during this time of year when you see so many gorgeous homes decorated beautifully from top to bottom, it's easy to fall into the comparison trap and feel 'less' or not 'as good' etc. It just happened to me...But it's so important for us to keep the focus on why it is we adorn our homes in the first place. It's something that during the chaos of boxes and lights and pine needles and gift wrap and good store deals gets too easily lost. We have been given Christmas to spread the good news and to sprinkle love, kindness and compassion to those around us...it is my hope for you and me to keep this front and center as we enter the holiday season. xoxo

Wow ~ she nailed it ~ she really did

the person that said it was Lucy from Craftberry Bush

she touched on it again in her blog post as she was part of the holiday house walk

I have not been following her feed for a long time

but that night I was so glad I did

you see I decorated the house last weekend

all but the mantle and centerpieces are done

and we will only go out on Sunday for the tree

my house will never be one to participate in a house walk

but it is home ~ the little trinkets I placed out on Saturday

spark a memory and bring me joy

and you know ~ that is what Christmas is all about

so year after year

I will put basically the same things in the same spots

I will put my tree up 2 weeks before Christmas

I will bake cookies ~ the ones we love

and only seem to make this time of year

I will buy my Mom cherry chocolates

because my Dad used to buy her one every year

and I love carrying on that tradition for her

I will wrap the gifts and curl the ribbon

listening to Elvis Christmas music

because I love it so

when I take these ornaments out of the box

and place them in this big vase I will remember that they hung

on the big tree at the farm

and be grateful that my Aunt gave them to me

this year we will make new memories

there will be an empty chair

we will miss my father in law like crazy

but we will be blessed because we will be together

Happy weekend.