"Twas the Saturday Before Christmas..."

(Our front door-mat)

And all through the house not much was happening...except for taking two naps already today, which tells me that my body is saying enough already...slow down and rest or you won't make it until Christmas!  I've had such good intentions this Christmas and have really tried to get more things done, but I've reached my limit and I have to know when to say stop and take a break before you break. However, there's still gift-wrapping to do and baking and...the list goes on...but what is most important will get done, and the rest...well if it happens it happens, and if it doesn't it doesn't. 

I had good intentions of going Christmas caroling with a group from our church last evening. They were going around to sing at the homes of several of our church members who are homebound either by illness or "old-age", and I really wanted to be a part of that.  But as the day wore on I knew I wasn't going to make it for various reasons, mostly physical.  So I stayed home and prayed for them to have a good turn-out and a happy time for those who would be blessed by their singing. I've heard that it was really wonderful.

I don't know that our group looked quite like these folks, but this was how I imagined it in my mind...

I found these vintage carolers at a consignment market this past week for a very very cheap price and I couldn't resist them.  It's a little early Christmas gift to myself. LOL.  

One thing I did do was go to the Candlelight and Carols service at the little church out in the country on Thursday evening.

It's always a highlight of our Christmas season. Our church choir sings a couple of songs and so does another church choir, and it's a wonderful time...

We close by gathering around the Nativity scene outside with our little candles and sing Silent Night. And then the church provides a delightful time of food and fellowship afterwards.

Another reason I am trying to just rest and take it easy today is because tomorrow morning at church our choir will be presenting this Cantata:

It requires standing and singing (with a couple of quick sit downs and back up again between a couple of songs) for at least a half hour, and although I love to sing and enjoy doing this every year, it can be quite exhausting if you aren't feeling quite up to par. So I am praying that I will feel MUCH better tomorrow morning and that God will give me the strength to get through this without any difficulty. I'm concerned that I may be getting a bit of a relapse either of the walking pneumonia or something since I am so tired...so please say a little prayer for me to be able to do this tomorrow without harm to myself or anyone else around me.

Here's a few photos of Blackie for the Blackie fans out there...I know some of you have become real fans and are hoping he will someday be able to move into our house where he will reign and rule...LOL...

Here's one of his favorite places to hang out during the day and watch the world go by...

He feels safe up there in that tree when there are loose dogs running in the neighborhood, like there were today...

But when I came outside to get the mail he saw me and came right down to see me.  

Like all cats, he loves high places, and that's one reason I'm not sure he'd do well in our house as we have a lot of things up on high places above the cabinets and other shelves, etc., and I can just imagine things going crash all through the night.  Time will tell who wins out...

I know some of you who have been my friends for a long time may wonder why you don't see much of "Baby Elva" anymore...well she's still here, "alive and well", so to speak, and here she is all dressed up for Christmas:

For those who don't know about Baby Elva, HERE is a link to her story from the beginning.

If you look at her older pictures in the link, you will notice here that her hair is a bit different. That's because over the past 15 years! (I can't believe we've had her that long!!) that we've had her, her hair started to kind of "rub off" and get thin. So I finally decided it was time to give her a new hairstyle, and I found this wig online for her. It really changes her looks to more of a toddler look than a baby, but that's okay since she's 15 years old now! LOL.  Anyway, Baby Elva is a special part of our lives and I wanted you to see her all dressed up for Christmas!

Oh, here she's sitting with my little "Bear Bear", which was a special gift from my hubby when I was in the hospital one time.  He's now also a special part of our lives...

And of course we can't forget Lily Grace and her dog Bailey...she wanted to be in the Christmas picture too...so here you go...Merry Christmas from Bear Bear, Baby Elva and Lily Grace and Bailey to you!

While we're at it, we might as well add Lily's friends, as they are getting ready to have their "Happy Birthday to Jesus" Christmas tea party:

And here's the Martin Sisters, ready for their Christmas tea...

And Santa and "Pammy"  Doll...

"Pammy Doll" was a gift from my mother many years ago. 

She made the dress for her to resemble the dresses she made for my sister Doris and me when we were little girls...

Doris on the left with her Bride Doll "Florence", and me with a baby doll on the right.

Here is the note my mother wrote in the little card when she gave this to me...

Not sure if you can read it and it's starting to fade, but it's pretty special to me to have this sweet gift from my mother.

HERE is a link to a very special TEA PARTY that I had with all the dolls a few years ago.  I hope you enjoy it as I had fun doing that. Actually, this was before Lily Grace came to live with us, so she's the only one missing from the group.

But here is the greatest group and celebration of all...Here is the reason why we celebrate and sing and rejoice...Jesus! The Savior is Born!!!  None of the rest of this means anything without Him.

Luke 2:14 NKJV

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

I believe! Amen.