Advent Thursday Thankfulness

This has been a busy week, filled with lots of Christmas activities and blessings!  

Yesterday (Wednesday), was our church United Women of Faith's annual Christmas luncheon and fellowship!  We also call it our "Happy Birthday to Jesus" party, and there is always a special cake for the occasion and we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  That was a tradition started many years ago by a dearly departed and much loved woman in our church, and our ladies have carried on that tradition in her memory.  Her name was Elaine, but everyone lovingly called her "Miss Elaineous" (miscellaneous). When we first came to this church "Miss Elaineous"  was still living, but I never really got to meet her or get to know her before she very suddenly passed away one Sunday morning. It was a shock that left everyone at a loss for words, except for to continue to say how much "Miss Elaineous" meant to them. She had made a huge impact in our church that continues today.  And actually our church is greatly indebted to Miss Elaineous, as she left her house and the bulk of her estate to the church, which turned out to be an amazing gift.  It took some time and a lot of effort to settle the estate because her will was lost in the shuffle of many things in her home, and also because certain things had not been updated as per her spoken wishes.  But thankfully, over time and with God's help, the estate was settled, and her gift was a very big part of helping our church to have the necessary funds to get through the disaffiliation process from the UMC.  And now we are officially a part of the Global Methodist Church and so very thankful to God and also to "Miss Elaineous" for her gift that keeps on giving.  I am certain when "Miss Elaineous" made the decision to leave her estate to the church she never had any idea of just how much that gift would bless our church for the future generations.  We know that God was certainly the impetus behind her in making that decision.  We give thanks to God for His marvelous gift...as you see in the picture above: "Amazing Love, God's gift for all".  Jesus, the Baby born in the manger...the Savior of the world!

Just one of the little decorations at the church.  I thought it was photo worthy.

And here is the collage of pictures of all the ladies who were present for the party:

(plus one man, our Pastor, who came and gave the blessing and then graciously left without even getting any food! )

Yes, such a lot of happy faces and warm embraces! We had a wonderful time.

Here's a few extra pictures that were taken that I thought were fun:

This is me with my friend Pamela...We are "P1 and P2", or double trouble. You can tell there's always mischief brewing...

And I was SO happy my sweet daughter in love Rose was able to attend. She sometimes has to work and can't always get the day off, so it was great that she could be there...

Someone kept snapping these pictures as we were enjoying a mother-in-law, daughter-in-law moment:

Someone said something about "don't stick your tongues out at each other, and got Rose to laughing...

I think it made it her blush because maybe she was thinking about doing just that...LOL.  She's a sweetheart and I thank the Lord for bringing her into our family right when He did. He knew how much we needed her and would love her, and also of course how much our son needed her and would love her. Such a joy and blessing to us.

In keeping with the ladies Christmas party theme...Here's "The Martin Sisters" having their Christmas tea party. I've told you the story about The Martin Sisters before HERE.  

And of course Lily Grace and her friends are having their Christmas Tea party too. They even have a birthday cake to celebrate Jesus' birthday!

Here's my little coffee/tea station...

Yes, that's my morning cup of tea there, waiting on me to finish taking pictures, hopefully before it gets cold!

Just some pictures of some tea settings that are ready for a Christmas tea...

And here's some close ups of the little teacups on the the Teacup Tree:

My sister Doris has gifted me with these wonderful little tea cups and tea pots throughout the years.  She always finds the best little gifts, and she knows me so well. 

I am thankful for my "little Big Sister".  I call her that because she is littler than I am, but she is my "big sister". LOL.

One more thing. On Tuesday night we went to the annual Candlelight service at a nearby church in Florahome.  They are also a small Methodist Church, (and yes! They have also disaffiliated from the UMC and are now a part of the Global Methodist Church!  Actually every UMC church in our country (that should have said COUNTY*) has now disaffiliated!  We are so thankful to God for the faithfulness of our people to His Word.) *Roughly 35% of the UMC churches in America have disaffiliated from what I understand. 

Anyway, I love this pretty little church and it is always decorated so beautifully for this special service.

We sing carols and our choir and another church choir sing songs from our Christmas cantatas 

and then we proceed outside for a candlelight walk to the outdoor Nativity Scene while we sing Silent Night.  It's very special and moving.   Afterwards we are invited into their fellowship hall for a wonderful little time of refreshments...lots of good finger foods and they even had hot cider! It was great!  One of the highlights of the season for us out here in the country churches!

Well, I must apologize because I need to get a move on. Still working on Christmas cards and shopping and on and on...hubby is waiting for me to finish this so we can go to town and do some shopping.

I have been lax in getting around to visiting and participating in the Tuesday 4 meme, etc....

But the most important thing is that in all the rush to get things done, I am so very thankful for these precious moments we have to do the extra things with others that are so meaningful during this season.

Christmas is coming, and Jesus is coming too!

So let us prepare Him room in our hearts today.

Until next time,

Peace and Joy unto you!

 

Christmas Remnants

Well, another Christmas has come and gone...and here it is all packed up and ready to be put away...except for the tree...still waiting on someone to take off the lights and take apart the tree limb by limb (yes, it's still that same old tree, but we love it). Oh, there's my helper...sitting in his recliner having his morning cup of coffee! Well, that's fine...I'm having my morning cup of tea while I write.

Actually, while I write and walk around and check to see if I've missed anything that needs to be packed up. Not this tree! It's a real live little Norfolk Pine that our sweet daughter in love brought to us way back in December. It's still happy and growing strong. I guess I should take off the red balls so that it doesn't look like a Christmas tree...maybe I need to add some Valentine hearts? That's an idea!

And I can't pack away this amaryllis, that did finally get it's 4th blossom (and then the first blossom fell off, leaving 3), but isn't it still beautiful?

And if you look a little closer you will see another stalk growing up on the side, so it will eventually bloom again! Now that's a gift that keeps on giving!

I hope someone will come eat up all this Christmas candy that is sitting around here tempting me...

You may not be able to see it, but the cups are full of Hershey's kisses and Dove Christmas candy...remnants of a very sweet Christmas indeed...

Maybe I'll just sit back and have another cup of Christmas tea...and reflect on how good God's been to me...and how blessed we are to have Jesus here with us..."Emmanuel, God with us!"

You know Jesus doesn't leave us when Christmas is over. Let us be careful not to pack Him away with our decorations and forget about Him until next Christmas...no...He stays right here with us, blessing us with His comfort, peace, and joy...

Remember when I shared THIS POEM WITH YOU HERE?

Well, that message still holds true.  I like what the last paragraph says:

"If God gives me strength and courage,

When the way grows steep and rough.

I'll not ask for other blessings,

I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,

to help others bear their loads.

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,

Cause my cup has overflowed."

Author: John Paul Moore

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of the Christmas Remnants from my house this morning. Yep, you can find me right here if you need me, 'cause "I'll keep drinking from my saucer,  cause my cup has overflowed."  

Have a "DELIGHT-ful" day my friends!

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul."

Psalm 94:19

 

Wednesday Treasures: Joy in this Place

Good Morning!  (I started writing this this morning, but had a busy day, and it is now afternoon)

and Welcome to:

I know you've seen this story before, about the history of my Grandparents' cabin in the Cook's Forest of Pennsylvania.  If not, then click HERE for that story, but please come back and enjoy today's story too.

This year our little family from Pamela's Victorian Cottage have come to the Cabin for a wonderful Christmas vacation:

They are having a great time exploring everything around the cabin.  It looks really cold and wintry there. Too bad our little children don't have any winter clothes...

But they don't seem to mind. They are loving the fresh beauty of the new fallen snow as they dance around the cabin...

They've been busy making snowmen and talking to the old Santa sitting on the front porch, whispering all their special dreams and hopes for Christmas into his ear.

And they have enjoyed exploring the old tree house and swinging on the tire swing left there just for them to enjoy.

They enjoyed watching some of the neighborhood children sledding on the hillsides

Some even got to take a sleigh ride and see some beautiful deer!

All in all, a grand time was had by all at their "Christmas at the Cabin" vacation:

Back to my little old world...I've been enjoying my own little "Christmas at the Cabin"

If you recall a couple of weeks ago I told you I was trying to get a more "cabin feel" for Christmas by covering our flowered couch with sheets and blankets. Well I did finally order a real slip cover for the couch, and it came and it is now under the blankets, but it looks so much better than it did before. I am really happy with it.

It's been a bit chilly here lately, and we've been wearing a lot of flannel shirts. I love the feel and look of flannel, don't you? Especially at this time of year.

I know this isn't real cabin-ish, but I wanted to bring out a few of my dolls in their Christmas outfits for the season...This is my "Margie Doll", so named for my Aunt Margie who gave her to me for my 7th birthday. My mother made her this beautiful dress many years ago, and I love to let her wear her winter finery for Christmas.

And then I brought out my other little Christmas doll, and I've probably shared her story before too.

Yes, if you click on this LINK you will see all these special friends from before.

My mother made her pretty little taffeta dress to match the dresses she made for my sister and me many years ago.

This is the card my mother wrote with the picture of my sister and me in our pretty little taffeta Christmas dresses.

And the "Martin Sisters" have come for a tea party and are gathering around the piano to sing some Christmas carols.

And Valerie is having a tea party with Santa in the kitchen.  Looks like he brought her a special doll for Christmas!!

And we are having some cinnamon rolls for breakfast...

That always makes me smile, even if they are just poppin' fresh. It's just fun to do something different

once in a while!

Yes, I think we need to "Let there be joy in this place!"

That's the title of our church Christmas cantata that we are working on.  The theme song is:

"Let There Be Joy in This Place"

Chorus:

"Let there be joy in this place,

Let there be joy in this place,

Let there be joy, exceeding great joy be in this place...

Let there be joy in this place, 

Let there be joy in the place,

Let there be joy, exceeding great joy be in this place.

"After Mary heard the angel's news 

She rejoiced in God her Savior,

She began to praise and magnify His name.

Mary sang to God Almighty, 

"Lord, You've done to me great things,"

Now let us feel the joy that Mary felt on that day.

Chorus

There were shepherds on the hillside

Who were startled by a bright light.

The angel bro't good tidings of great joy.

And the wise men and the shepherds,

And all the host of heaven

with thankful hearts they praised the Christ Child Baby Boy!

Chorus

"Let there be joy in this place,

Let there be joy in this place,

Let there be joy, exceeding great joy be in this place...

Let there be joy in this place, 

Let there be joy in the place,

Let there be joy, exceeding great joy be in this place."

(Written by Otis Skillings)

 

Getting Into the Spirit of Christmas...Listening to the Angels Sing...Sights and Sounds of Christmas

I am enjoying listening to the above rendition of "O Holy Night" by the Hillsdale College Choir.  It is so lovely and inspiring as I sit here typing and listening...I find myself singing along and becoming lost in the reverie of the music and the message it brings.  I hope you will enjoy it as well...

Perhaps you would like to sit and have "A Cup of Christmas Tea" with me while we listen?

And as we visit, let us "hear the angel voices" on this "night divine"....

When "O Holy Night" is finished, please continue listening to this beautiful presentation of
"Angels From the Realms of Glory"

 I hope you've enjoyed this little time of "Getting into the Spirit of Christmas" with me, with some sights and sounds of Christmas.   Tomorrow we plan to go out into the woods and cut our Christmas Tree like we did last year...so I am looking forward to placing these lovely angel ornaments on the tree again (pictures of angels in the tree here are from last year) along with all the other special ornaments that bring back happy memories of Christmases past. Be sure to check back later to see the results!!

Have a blessed and wonderful weekend as you continue to prepare your hearts for Jesus!!