Fa-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra....

The shiny tree...I try to collect the mercury glass ornaments...

Bubbe made the wreath...it has toys from her childhood, older ornaments, fun, the print is the free printable from Jones Design Company...

Rook drew this when he was 4...It is Santa brining baby Jesus presents...I had to frame it...

Rook wrote this in school when he was 5...Thanks Mrs. Armentrout...It is one of my favorites

Kris brought this back from Israel this last trip, it is carved from olive wood and is about 12 inches...

Santa pictures from the last 11 years, and our engagement on Santa's knee pic in the middle...

Kris bought me this sled on our first Christmas...he was so proud...

Front room decor..."He will be called wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace..."Isaiah 9:6  I love the names of Jesus and praying through the names of God by Sylvia Gunter.  My favorite is The Prince of Peace.  I feel like I rely on that name more that any...He never leaves my side or yours, I need this peace each moment to live out His plan.  Thank you God for the gift of your Son, the Prince of Peace.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Here are some Christmas decorations in our family room....

The Fun Tree...every year we have a fun tree that has some of the decorations from when Kris and I were little, our travel ornaments that we pick up everywhere we go, and the made creations of Rook and Molly...it is usually a flocked tree, red flocked last year, I like the silver one better because one year it was a blue flocked tree...I'm just sayin'

This parrot = Christmas to Kris because his Mi Mi always had a red parrot on her tree??? So, we have always had a blue parrot on our fun tree.  He is molting, having already lost his tail feathers...and is 2 feet tall.  This is proof that I really love my husband.

Mi Mi, Cha Cha and Gina all worked on this nativity.  On every piece there is a Bible verse describing the Nativity story.

The olive wood nativity is from Bethlehem.  A family friend gave it to my family when I was little.  I was in charge of setting it up every year, now Molly takes that task really seriously.  Baby Jesus had a Kleenex for a blanket yesterday...so sweet.

Molly (2) and cousin Ruthie(3)  desperately wanting to play with the baby Jesus at church one year..Love this pic...In the back ground is Big Bird dressed as Santa with 3 of the grandkids 4 years ago...

Bubbe made us crazy quilt stockings last year...such treasures..

Advent started this week for our family devotionals...The Prophesy Candle was lit first...

Rook and Conner (Chad and Dani's son)  were publicizing wrapping it up!  One salvation last night!  Praise the Lord!

Christmas Card?

Yippee! It's Christmas....Kris showing off his toe touching skills over Thanksgiving...didn't even stretch!

Advent means "Coming." I love the Christmas season because it does lead everyone to ponder Christ and his coming to earth.  It has been exciting to hear the conversations at wrapping it up with people as they come to prepare for the Christmas season.  Yesterday a sweet lady from our church named Ruby, shared a Bible with a Buddhist woman and there was one salvation!  The first candle of prophesy and hope was lit this week for advent.  Hope that God keeps His promises because He is faithful and true.  We prayed for spiritual renewal and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit for his work in our lives and opportunity to share that hope with our friends.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String...

The Helpers Wear T-Shirts to Advertise...

Kris and Chad Were Driving the Golf Cart Around the Strip Mall

On the Highway...

On the Store Front

Cathy Stroud and Dondie Decorated the Store Front So Beautifully...Cathy made the tablecloths

This is Rook's Math Teacher, Mrs. Howell, It because of her that He actually likes math now...

In Action...over 70 volunteers the first weekend..

The Hospitality Team makes goodies...even Whoopie Pies!

Dr. Pepper Helped Sponsor Drinks for the month!

More of Cathy's Creations!

The Publicity Team strolls the Parking Lots Inviting People

For 31 days or church is on a local mission trip.  The city of Wylie has provided the church a store front at a local strip mall for the purpose of showing Jesus love in a practical way by wrapping presents free of charge!  There were over 800 packages wrapped the first two days.  There are 4 teams: Hospitality provides baked goods and hot or cold beverages, Publicity hits the parking lots inviting people, Wrappers wrap the presents, Encourager sit and wait at the tables while the families are getting their packages wrapped and talk to the people about Jesus, share their testimony and invite them to church or just listen to the people and make new friends.  Please pray for our church this month and we wait on Christmas, wait on our community and wait on Jesus.  I'm so thankful that I have a creative husband.  Psalm 143:8 says, "Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."  Thank you Jesus, that I see Kris listening to You as you show him the way he should go...

We Gather Together, to Ask the Lord's Blessing...

Charades!

Charades!

More Charades

Breakfast at the Hotel, and indoor swimming!

The Macy's Parade...A Dream is a Wish...

Buddy Dog Welcomed Everyone to Bubbe's

Cousin Doggies, Maddie and Maggie

Molly Set her table For Her and Katie

My Mom made these velvet pumpkins for her tablescape!

Bubbe the Wassail Extraordinaire

The Presentation of the Turkey Bowl Trophy!

Rook, Jack, and Ben...cousins

The Lone teenager...He plays the bag pipes!

Aunt Mary and Tommy fixing the world!

cousins!

5 pounds of potatoes!...again I was hungry!

Rolls!...I was hungry

My sister's family, the Campbells

Grand Bill and daughter, Jenni

My brother and sister in love, Sharon

Chipmunk face!

Mom and Aunt Mary

the Blakeman Family

The first grandchild!

The menu!

Mom's hallway is adorned with all the grandkids....10!

She has a chalk board hallway!

Bubbe and Grand Bill

Jenni and Michael Morris...they are smart!

Cathy came too!  Or new friend! She's brave!

Molly and Katie!

My Nemesis...Cranberry Relish!

Kris led the entire family in the Lord's supper, Collin played Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes!  Bubbe cried...

Brian and Staci...They are so nice!  Staci took all the families photos and Brian cooked the turkey and washed dishes! 

Bubbe scummed to paper plate peer pressure!

Psalm 116:17 says, "I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call on the name of the Lord."
I'm learning that if you want to have a thankful heart, you have o protect it.  It is so difficult when living in a world of sin, to keep my heart and mind focused on good things.  I'm trying to look for blessings when darkness fills my mind. When I'm weak, He is strong...There is always a silver lining...