Friday Foto Friends~And Just Like That, Christmas is Coming!

Happy Friday...the day after Thanksgiving. (I don't really like the term "Black Friday". It sounds so dark and melodramatic!)  I woke up this morning with the resolve to put away all things fall and Thanksgiving in the way of decorations, and do laundry and put away the Thanksgiving tablecloth, towels, napkins, and anything else that looked like autumn, and then start preparing for the Christmas season.
 

I pulled a box out from under the bed in the guest room, not remembering what was in it, and this is what was there, carefully packed away from last Christmas!  It was a gift to us last year from my sister in law, and I had forgotten that I had put it in that location! So I was happy to find it and put it out as our first Christmas decoration of the season! I'd say it's THE most important decoration...the Nativity of our Lord!

It's a beautiful snow globe that lights up and the figures are illuminated. It is so beautiful!

What a perfect way to prepare for the celebration of the Advent of our Lord! 

Actually, a little earlier in the morning hubby and I decided to take an early morning walk, as it was scheduled to rain later in the day and get much colder. We decided to do our woods walk today. I love the fragrance of the woods in morning, don't you? So fresh and piney scented...

This pine cone just speaks Christmas to me...

These reddish orange leaves are on a sumac bush...such a pretty contrast against the green trees...

I love taking pictures of my hubby walking on ahead of me in the woods. I bet if I went back through my photos over the past 10 years, I could probably find at least 10 pictures in different locations. But this one will do fine for now. 

Well, maybe one more:  Here's one from 2021, on the walking trail in our little old historic part of town...which is the other walk we like to take now and then.

And just one more, I promise, walking down the road to our old house in Salt Springs, in the Ocala National Forest. We walked that road every morning and most every evening while we lived there.  Here hubby is wearing our son Matthew's special jacket...the one thing my hubby asked to have from Matthew's personal things after he passed away in 2014.  So this is a very special picture.

But I digress...sorry about going down that little rabbit trail...one thing leads to another when your brain is kind of scattered like mine is! LOL.

Let me get back to where I was going with this post! Now where was I?  Oh yes! Christmas is coming!

After cleaning up the fall decor and putting everything back in the shed, I said I only wanted to put out a few things that I already have stored in the house.  We will get the rest of the many tubs of Christmas decorations out of the shed probably next week, as it is a big job and I don't really feel like overdoing it right now. We will put up our tree then as well.  So today I found a few little things just to add a little bit of Christmas and change the mood of the house from one season to the next:

Of course I still have the sweet little church set out that had a pumpkin patch for October, but now it is decked out and ready for Christmas!

"The Cabin" is getting its first snowfall of the season...and is getting ready for another 
"Christmas at the Cabin".  If you haven't read that story yet, you might want to read it HERE. Of course, it's a story that is well worth reading over and over again...

And here's the other "Cabin" scene, with the skaters out on the pond already

Mr. Snowman is enjoying all the snow too...

And I've had my first official cup of "Christmas Tea" to usher in the season...

And last, but not least, a piece of pumpkin pie, combining the old season with the new...

That's all for now as far as decorations go. It will be a work in progress probably for the next three weeks.  This Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent, which to me is the official start of the Christmas season...  Let's sing this wonderful old hymn together, which is perfect for the beginning of Advent...

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Verse 1

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of ev’ry nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Verse 2

Joy to those who long to see Thee

Day-spring from on high, appear.

Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse,

Of Thy birth, we long to hear!

O’er the hills the angels singing

News, glad tidings of a birth;

“Go to Him your praises bringing

Christ the Lord has come to earth!”

Verse 3

Come to earth to taste our sadness,

He whose glories knew no end.

By His life He brings us gladness,

Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

Leaving riches without number,

Born within a cattle stall;

This the everlasting wonder,

Christ was born the Lord of all.

Verse 4

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child, and yet a King,

Born to reign in us for ever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1744 (Verses 1 & 4)

Mark Hunt, 1978 (Verses 2 & 3)

Music: “Hyfrydol” by R.H. Prichard

5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:5-7

Have a blessed Advent season as we prepare for "The Desire of All Nations", Jesus Christ, to make His entrance.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if He chose this Christmas to make His long awaited 2nd coming? I'm ready, are you?