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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

What's Better Than a Bow?

Why a little bit of Rag Garland of course!


Everything you see here is thrifted, or items I already had on hand.
The fabric is leftovers from adorable Christmas wreaths that my daughter made for everyone, and of course silly me forgot to take a picture!


This was the last little bag of goodies for my nephew and his sweet wife.
I am joining DIY Day over at ASPTL, so head over to check out all of the other wonderful projects.
Jackie

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The children were nestled............


....all snug in their bed


while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas!
Jackie

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Revealing the Mystery

Remember when I gave you a little peek at a few things for a project that I have been working on here and here? It was finally complete around the time my computer decided to die. I can now share the details since the new computer is here.

For several years I have decorated a table for a Ladies Christmas gathering at the church where I participate in Bible studies. It was so neat to watch it all come together. This year's theme was" Wise Women Seek Him" and our speaker was Jan Silvious. In the beginning I committed to pray for each lady that the Lord wanted me to invite and I did just that. It was neat to see how He showed me specifically each person that I should invite.

 I initially started looking at table decorations, figured I would pick out a picture, and go with it, UNTIL.......the Lord gave me another idea. I went back to thoughts of my grandmother. She has been gone for quite a long time, but I still miss her, and am reminded of the wisdom that she showed, and thus my table idea began. This wonderful blog friend took her time to send her wonderful ideas, and helped me to know that I was on the right track.

The picture you originally saw was my grandmother's sewing machine. This one I happened upon at our thrift store, my husband encouraged me to purchase it, and I did, for half of what they were asking.This way he did not have to dismantle my grandmothers to display. This was my table centerpiece. I spent many times at her sewing machine pretending that I could sew just like her.


The quilt piece that you see was an old pillow w/ quilted top that I purchased from the thrift store for .49. The number 28 was my table number, so I stitched it on an old piece of embroidery also purchased from the thrift store.


These were pin cushions that I made for the place cards. I was even able to stitch each lady's name.


Here's a look at the table with a few of my guests. I couldn't get anyone to look at the same time, or smile together. I wanted to use plain dishes, which I realized after the fact that I did not have 8 of everything, so I headed to Wal-Mart and purchased some plain off white dishes that they had in the Christmas section. I knew that I would use these regularly. By the time I figured I would purchase them, they had no coffee cups to match. What was I going to do? I went to the Dollar Tree, and they had mugs in the same off white color with similar beading around the top. Hooray!  Everything on the table was a reminder of a wise woman that I knew, my Grandmother.


 These Christmas cactuses were similar to the ones my grandmother used to grow. At Christmas when we would visit she had a room full and we always enjoyed seeing the beautiful blooms. I guess without realizing it,  I have inherited her love for growing these. I have six, all in full bloom, and I had purchased a small one to sit on the table. Along with the pincushions, and an old thimble each lady received a cutting to take home with her. I wrote a letter sharing about my grandmother, and shared a small portion of the story that she wrote to us before she passed away. Her letter closed with the words,"May all of you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior is my prayer." I had so much fun preparing this table and was so blessed by the ladies that accepted my invitation. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Jackie

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Back in Operation!!! Finally.

I am thrilled to be back in full swing, with a computer that is, and have many things to share since my last post. It has been raining almost non-stop here, with the exception of a beautiful sunny day on Thursday. Our backyard was beginning to look like a pond, and considering it is on a slope, that is a LOT of rain!


Yesterday, it was party day at the school that I have subbed at all year. I did the party for one class, and made goodie bags for the class I subbed for this week. Those kids have just grabbed my heart, and one little girl in particular. It has been so exciting to see positive responses from her.


These are the little goodie bags that I put together for that class. When I arrived, she ran up to me, put her arms around me, and said, " I am not going to let you go" I was so blessed by this simple act of love from a child that was responding so differently  in the beginning. Just another wonderful gift from the Lord. Some of these kids just desperately need some positive attention and a little love.

Look around and see where there is a little opportunity to give, and I guarantee the Lord will bless you for it.

I will close with a quote from my boy. We were discussing Christmas presents, and the stress it often presents us with this time of year. Trying to find the perfect gift, wanting everyone to be totally thrilled with what we have given them, and the list of expectations can go on and on. Both of my children have asked for nothing until I pressed them. Our family has found pure joy in just being able to be together for Christmas.
Our gift giving will be very simple, and with no expectation whatsoever from any of us. Explaining I had gotten very little for him, I said," isn't there anything else that you just want?" to which he replied, "Mom I am so over the  whole Christmas present thing! This year we are going to have an attitude of  thankfulness every day, and give the entire year, not just waiting for Christmas." I was struck by his honesty, and how true that  needs to be for everyone of us. People don't just need at Christmas. There are those around us that the Lord wants us to bless, everyday of the year. So, this year I will be thankfu,l and giving the whole year, not just at Christmas. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, and wish each of you have a blessed weekend!
Jackie

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I'm Back, Sort Of

Waiting on the arrival of the new computer. My sweet husband says he thinks it should be here by the weekend. Yeah!!!!! I am going to try  to share a few pretties with you on this dinosaur.

Life has been busy at the Holder house, much more so than I would like for it to be this time of year. Last week I had a little project that I was working on for a ladies event, and that took a lot of time. Traveled to Savannah yesterday for annual check ups. Subbing several times a week, and have not even been able to check on all of you.  Today looks like stormy weather, so I plan to stay in and hopefully start looking a little like Christmas around here.

I am joining Kimba for a little DIY day late to show one little project that I worked on last week. I will send a package of the Hot Cider Mix to the first one that guesses what this was for. I will give you a hint. Remember the post where I showed you a few pictures and asked you to guess what I was doing? This went along with that little project.

Oops looks like I have told you a story. Pictures will be coming and I will still send a little goodie to the first one that guesses. The dinosaur is not hooked up for me to load pictures!!! I promise I will be back soon with lots of pretty pictures. Hope everyone is enjoying a blessed Christmas Season!

Jackie