Christmas Days Continue...

 Two days after Christmas...are these the "Twelve Days of Christmas"?  I believe they are, from December 25th until January 6th.  

Regardless of what we believe or don't believe about the 12 days of Christmas and what they represent,  these twelve days are special and somehow I just can't shut down "Christmas" too quickly. I am still enjoying the sweetness of the moments shared with loved ones and the happy memories made and the smiles on each face as we enjoyed the day together.

Today I didn't do a whole lot...just continuing to kind of clean up and put away things, washing up the new gifts that need washing...(any clothing articles, etc.) and simply enjoying the beauty of the twinkling lights on the tree and around the house. It was a rather dark and gloomy day, and we even had some light drizzly rain this afternoon.  I was thinking to myself that we haven't seen much of the sun or a sunset recently as the days have been rather cloudy. And then I looked out the window in my "room with a view" as I sat down to write...and this is what I saw:

The evening sun was breaking through the clouds and casting its reflection upon Still Waters Pond, brightening up the horizon and bringing a feeling of peace along with it.

One last look before the sun slipped down behind the trees and the clouds overtook it once again. 

Thank You, Lord, for smiling down upon us for a few brief moments. Sometimes we just need to see that!

I looked on my desk and saw this new coaster that I received as a little gift...it reminds me of my "One Word" for 2024..."Strength"...

And I was reminded that I also received this little card with this verse on it from a dear friend in Minnesota who sent some thoughtful gifts...I called her up when I opened this and asked her if she realized that strength was my "One Word" for 2024, and she said, "yes, I've read that in your blog".  (I didn't know she read my blog...she's not one of our blogging friends, but the sister of our dear daughter in law Rose, and a dear friend to us as well.) That really touched my heart.  It reminded me also that we do not know who all reads our blogs and just how far our words may be reaching!  I know of a couple of dear blogging friends from the Netherlands area, and one from New Zealand, but beyond that I am not sure.  But we just never know who is reading and what speaks to them.  A good reminder to always speak truth and life and light.

Going back to the coaster with Proverbs 31:25, "She is clothed in Strength and dignity..."   made me think about this very precious gift I received from my sweet daughter in law Rose...Bless her dear heart, she crocheted this for me! I asked her when did she have the time? She's been working long full time hours for the past several weeks, and I know she also has so much to do at home for their home business of creating and painting items that they sell on Etsy, etc. ...when did she find the time?  I am so blessed to have this dear girl for my daughter in love...

This is the back of it. Isn't it beautiful?  And it feels so nice and warm on my shoulders on these chilly, cloudy days.  What a thoughtful and beautiful gift from our thoughtful and beautiful daughter in love.

Back to special gifts...Here's another one created lovingly from our son and daughter in love:

I had seen a sign like that in a store and took a picture of it and told them that I liked it, and lo! and behold! They made it for me!

The "cozy up" theme seems to be catching on...

They also gave me this "cup of cozy" tea mug to go along with the sign and the cabin theme I am kind of developing here little by little.  

(the plate was something I found at our local flea market last year).

In my post HERE yesterday, I told you about the gift of the restored garden bench.  I thought there were some pictures taken of the boys with me after they set the bench down in the garden. They weren't in my camera,  so I asked Benton and Rose if they had them in their camera, and sure enough they did.

Thanks to Rose, who was standing up on the back porch taking these pictures, we do have them!

She was snapping pictures of Scott taking pictures of me on the bench: (LOL, look at him having fun with this)

Oh, we just discovered she was taking pictures...

Hi Rose! Come on down and join us!

I'm so thankful for these kids!

And thank you for praying for Rose. She is much better today finally, and hopefully will be able to go back to work tomorrow. And thankfully, none of the rest of us have gotten whatever bug she had. Praise God for that!! She was pretty sick! 

And I'm thankful for these "kids" too, happily playing with their new toys...

Talking about cozy, I took this picture looking inside the glass doors from out on the porch while I was watching the sunset.  I love how cozy the little train village looks beneath the tree...

Speaking of the train village, hubby and I received a couple of vintage Plasticville buildings to add to our little village from "Santa".  They are circa 1952 buildings, in their original very old and fragile boxes. Thankfully the buildings themselves are in excellent condition...

Hubby wanted the school house, and I do remember having that same building as a child in my parents' train village...

And this is a replacement for our train station building, because ours had a very badly cracked roof and the building was patched together with scotch tape and glue to keep it from falling apart.  

Here are the new buildings set up in the village:

The little red school house:

And the new train station:

Since I was down on the floor anyway, I decided to take a few more closeups of the other buildings in the village.  I had to scoot my way around the tree/village on the floor on my behind to get to all the places, and then, well, we won't talk about how much "FUN" it was for me to get back up again. Thankfully hubby wasn't holding the camera...

You can see some of these old buildings are still in need of some repair...but most of these are probably almost as old as I am, and I am in need of some repair too! LOL.

All is calm...all is bright...

I can almost see myself enjoying walking around in that peaceful little village. Wouldn't it be so nice?

"O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary

And gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim thy holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And peace to men on earth

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight"

Well, that's all for this third day of Christmas.  Tomorrow is another day, and maybe if I have time there will be something else interesting to share with you.  I've been enjoying getting around to reading what many of you have been sharing about your Christmas day. We are a blessed people. Very, very thankful, and praying for others who are struggling right now...the people in the mountains of the Carolinas and Tennessee especially. May we not forget them,  and do whatever we are able to do to help financially or whatever we can.