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

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

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

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

Keeping It Real!!!!

This Christmas will definitely be one to remember, that I did not have it all together. I think we could safely say that this is may qualify to be the Christmas that I was least prepared!

This would be the scene in my kitchen at this very moment.....

so I can prepare these for friends.

A quick but delicious gift to give.

Remember, I won this a while back from Kate at My Messy Nest.

It has been the inspiration and instruction,so I could make these for my sweet daughter to give as gifts.

Lastly I will leave you with this recipe for the Cranberry Almond Coffee Cakes above. A classmate of my daughters mother made this for us one Christmas probably about 12 years ago, and I have been making and giving them at Christmas every year. They are simple, delicious, and relatively inexpensive to make.

Cranberry Almond Coffee Cake

1 Cup Margarine 1/2 Tsp. Almond Flavor

1 Cup Sugar 2 Cups Plain Flour

2 Eggs 3 Tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 Cup Sour Cream 1/2 Tsp. Salt

1 Can Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds

*Cream margarine & sugar until fluffy *Add eggs and almond flavor*Continue beating*Sift together flour, baking powder and salt*Add to creamed mixture alternating w/sour cream *Pour batter evenly into 2 pans*Spoon cranberry sauce on top*Sprinkle w/ almonds. Bake 350 for 35 to 40 minutes.

Top with the following glaze: 1 Cup Powdered Sugar * 1/2 tsp vanilla * 2 Tbs. Milk

Drizzle over cooled coffee cakes.

It is may prayer that each of you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour. I will be away until Monday. Jackie

Unexpected Break!!!!

This is how I have felt for a large part of December! Please don't misunderstand, I love the REASON that we celebrate, but expectations of myself and others tend to overwhelm me. I miss the traditions that were in place when I was younger, because those I love are no longer here. Definitely a much simpler time, but they are experiencing a continual celebration. I have learned over this past year.... I have not learned to do the Empty Nest thing very well at all, and that has to change. God has been showing me this very clearly, so I will be listening to HIM more carefully than I have in the past month. It is definitely not about me but about HIM.

The tree is finally up, but I will not reveal the actual date this finally happened. Let's just say my wonderful son, the artist helped me. After several set backs while stringing lights we finally have a Christmas tree, with some presents!

One of my favorite ornaments. A little blurry, but it depicts the wise men. My sister gave me this several years back.

Another favorite.

This is what my sewing machine looks like right now, so I had better run! Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas week. I will be back next week to hear about all of the wonderful ways you celebrated the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Blessings to you all and Merry Christmas!

Jackie

Christmas Cheer

I am finally getting with the program, Christmas that is. Yesterday and today, I have cleaned and began adding some little Christmas touches here and there. This little wreath is hanging above my kitchen sink. The pictures seem to be extremely bad today, you see I spent all my camera money at the vet. Stella is still on the mend and is slowly coming around. She is still not quite herself, and sparing you the details some things are not quite like they should be.

This is in the corner of my counter in the kitchen.

I love these acorns that I found at HL for .29 each after Thanksgiving.

Remember that 90% off day.

I stitched up these little red and green napkins to go with the red place mats on the breakfast room table.

I promise my mantel looks much better in real life!


A close up of my garland.

I added red berries, bird nests and feathers to this wispy pine garland.

I promise that mirror is not dirty, the glare just makes it look that way.

Hopefully by this evening a tree will be joining the other decorations.

Have a wonderful day!

Jackie

A Thanksgiving and Christmas Story in One

This little boy.............

.....is now this young man!

I am so thankful for the wonderful children that God has given me. They are as different as night and day, and have their own unique and special talents. I am thankful for the adults that they are becoming, and their desire to walk with the Lord in all they do.

Now for my story. My boy came in last night and we were talking, and out of the blue he says." I was thinking about giving away the sofa and chair at my house." To which I replied, "what are you thinking, absolutely not!" Now keep in mind we have gone to great lengths to furnish his place on a budget, but these are two nice pieces that were given to us in like new condition, from friends. We won't happen upon a bargain like this again. Then I asked,"What would possess you to just give away your sofa and chair leaving you with no furniture in your living room?" Then he says,"Our church is getting together things to help a family this Christmas. A grandmother raising four grandchildren and they have nothing. They need my sofa and chair much worse than I do." Still thinking there are surely other things we can give besides the sofa and chair, I said we needed to think about this a while. I had definitely burst his bubble. After I settled down and went to read a while before going to bed, the Lord quietly spoke to me and said do you think it is too hard for me to provide you with another sofa and chair? I am then thinking to myself, O ME of little faith! I have been blessed to raise a child with a heart to give to others and I am discouraging this opportunity. When my husband came in this AM and I told him about it, he said " let him give it". He reminded me, that we have plenty of other things that we can give too. Would I dare miss this opportunity to truly be a blessing to someone else? I think not.

We will be calling this afternoon to see what items on the list we can provide, and I am excited about being able to have this opportunity to bless someone this Christmas season. After all God gave His most precious possession for me, His Son. I do not deserve to be so blessed with a wonderful son, material possessions, good health and so much more!!!!! A chair and a sofa is a small thing to give!

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33

Just a note.. I had things underlined in my Bible and the note I had written was ...things we need to live.

Have a wonderful, safe and blessed Thanksgiving. Jackie