"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.

Wednesday Treasures

 It's been a busy few days since I last wrote. Got a little Christmas shopping done, but still not done. It's coming together slowly, but I am trying not to stress over it and just enjoy the journey.  I've also been busy with decorations and am pretty much done with that, with the exception of the train and village under the tree. We shall see if that even happens this year. At this point, it pretty much depends upon whether or not the kids will come back and help put it together or not. If not, then it probably won't happen because that getting down on the floor business (and then getting back up) is a little more than us old folks can handle these days. LOL  

So here are a few snippets of what has been accomplished. Every day is kind of like opening a new window on the Advent Calendar! I may not show you everything at once, and save some things for the rest of the days to follow.  That way you won't be too overwhelmed with pictures!  

For today's Advent window we are looking in on the Carolers singing their songs:

I think they must be singing "Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King..."

"Let heaven and nature sing...let heaven and nature sing, let heaven and heaven and nature sing..."

Have you ever gone caroling?  I'm afraid it is becoming a lost tradition...but we truly enjoyed going back a few years ago, going around to the homes of people we knew who were shut ins, and we stood outside and sang Christmas carols to them. They'd come to the door and sing along or sometimes cry because it meant so much to them to be remembered. It's a lovely tradition, and it would be nice to keep it going.

And then this arrived today in the mail as a big surprise!  It is from a dear blogging friend who loves to send surprises in the mail! I am always amazed and humbled by her thoughtfulness and giving spirit.  

It's like a giant snow globe with carolers singing outside a church...really really sweet!!

Here is a video of it in action. 

The Carolers remind me of our choir...we are currently practicing for our Christmas Cantata, which will be presented on Christmas Eve morning at church.  Last night we practiced the cantata all the way through, and it really is going to be special.  We are very small in number this year as several choir members haven't been able to participate with us, but for those of us who are there, we are singing our hearts out! We pray that God will be glorified by what we offer in song, and that hearts will be blessed with the Christmas story once again.  We will be recording it the week before at our dress rehearsal, so maybe I'll be able to share it with you then.

Speaking of our church, if you recall I mentioned that we have recently been approved to  disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and we are becoming a part of the new Global Methodist Church, which is Biblically conservative and follows the Wesleyan Tradition.  Since we are no longer affiliated with the United Methodist denomination we must remove all signs that have the logo of the UMC, which is the cross with the red flame beside it.  I am sad we have to remove the red flame, which signifies the Holy Spirit, but it is a requirement of the agreement.  So today our Building and Grounds manager planned to remove the small signs on the sides of the church bell tower. 

 He knew that I like to take pictures of all church events for our church Facebook page, so he invited me to come and watch and take pictures!  The Pastor was also helping by holding the ladder, and my hubby was there giving moral support.  It was a very chilly, windy day, but the job got done.

This little plaque will remain on the church as it gives historical information.  We may change the wording eventually to put the correct name, which is now Interlachen Methodist Church. That is actually the original name of the church. It didn't become a United Methodist Church until the denomination merged with the United Brethren denomination back in 1968. So now we have come full circle back to our original beginnings. There's a LOT of history in this little building. It has always stood strong for Christ in this community, and we pray it will continue to do so for many years to come.

Well, I guess that's enough for today's Advent Calendar Window.  We have great hope and joy in our hearts at this Christmas season. God is blessing our home and family with His peace and health and healing, and He is also blessing our little church with a glorious new beginning.

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

2 

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

And now to close this post with a little "levity"...The darkness in this photo is a little bit enhanced, but this was our sunset one day last week.  After I shared it on Facebook, my sister wrote and said it looked like Santa and his reindeer were already flying up in the sky...Do you see him?  "Well, you'd better watch out, you'd better not shout, you'd better not cry, I'm telling you why! Santa Claus is coming to town!" LOL.

And with that I will bid you good night my friends. 

Santa Claus may be coming to town, 

but Jesus is coming too...so we'd best be ready...

Until next time,

Good night and God bless you all.

Let's Go Caroling!

Today, 12/20/16, is the 24th day of Advent! I hope you will  enjoy going caroling with us in this delightful Christmas village of yesteryear!

Open the Window today and what do you see?  Ah! Yes! We are going caroling! There is nothing I can think of that evokes more pleasant Christmas memories than going caroling with our church friends and family ~ and don't you just love this vintage caroling book? I discovered a real treasure trove of these old familiar caroling booklets in the bench of the organ that came from my parent's home.  Some of them go back to my childhood and beyond...

Those of you who grew up with me will recognize the advertisement on the back of this caroling book...from the Bank of Tavares...which used to be the only bank in our little town back in the day...the kind of bank where everyone knew you by name...and the tellers and bankers went to church with you and their kids were your friends and school-mates.   Ah! yes...such memories!

Sing along with me as we ride along in our "one-horse open sleigh!"

I hope you are enjoying this caroling experience as much as I am! It's a shame that more people don't actually go out caroling anymore, from door to door, house to house...and get invited in by the grateful people to have a cup of hot cocoa and some Christmas cookies, or some Christmas wassail and fruitcake...as our little group warms up by the fire while visiting with the people and having such a merry time together...

And then it seems that we always close our little concert with:

"Silent Night, Holy Night, 

All is calm, all is bright,

'Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace..." 

followed by a joyful chorus of:

as we gaily dance out the door and onto our next place to start all over again!

What a wonderful way to continue to prepare our hearts for the Advent of the KING!

"Rejoice! Rejoice!  

Immanuel

shall come to thee,

O Israel!"

"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon HIM,

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit of counsel and might,

The Spirit of knowledge and of 

the fear of the LORD.

His delight is in the fear of the LORD,

and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,

Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

But with RIGHTEOUSNESS He shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

He shall strike the earth with

the rod of His mouth,

and with the breath of His lips 

He shall slay the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the 

belt of His loins,

and FAITHFULNESS the 

belt of His waist."

Isaiah 11:1-5

"And in that day there shall be

a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be 

glorious."

Isaiah 11:10

I hope this little caroling adventure has brightened your day!  Perhaps it will inspire you to actually go out and do some caroling for real!  I am sure there are people around you or in the local nursing homes, hospitals or retirement homes who would love to hear some Christmas carols.  So gather up some of your friends and go out and cheer someone up today!

Merry Christmas!