Simply Christmas

Some of the ornaments on our tree.

This speckled chicken was a gift from Pen of Jen last year.

This little guys been around a LONG time. Don't remember where I got him. Before the string on top broke I use to hang him on an entertainment center knob or on the hutch.



Don't remember where or when this one showed up either. The red bulb to the right is one of our vintage bulbs.

This black stocking was a gift to us from Aric last year. Another vintage bulb by it.

A single bell on a paper clip!!!

A key chain from JJ Realty, the real estate company Mickey & I had from 1976 to 1983. The bell and this key chain were in the box and we were desperate for "ornaments" this year!!!!

Angel bell gift this year from friend, Wantha Ann.

Three blind mice. Don't recall where this one came from but it's a fairly recent addition.

As mentioned above we have quite a few ornaments from the late 50's and early 60's. They are now considered "Vintage" as are Mickey & I!!!!

Another vintage bulb.

We are simple people, who live a simple life.

SIMPLE adj. 1) having but one or a few parts; uncomplicated. 2) easy to do or understand, as a task. 3) without additions; as the simple facts. 4) not ornate or luxurious; plain. 5) without guile or deceit. 6) without contention; natural. 7) of low rank or position; common. 8) foolish; stupid. (Webster's New World Dictionary 1971 printing)

Our simple little Christmas tree in all it's glory. I made the 12 days of Christmas tree skirt back in the 80's. It is felt applique and trimmed in rick-rack.

We did not get the big metal box with a lot of the long time Christmas decorations out of the storage barn this year and just made do with the ornaments and decorations that we store in a special closet in the house. Consequently we did not have our Angel that usually tops our tree. This little ornament, a "thank you" from 2006, from The Salvation Army was on the tree and Mickey placed it here on top!!!

The tree lights are the rotating type and that is why no lights on the top section in this shot. Hey, get a load of those burgundy socks!!! I did not know Mickey had me in this picture when he took it. I thought he was getting a photo of the tree.

This Jolly Guy greets you from the window sill in our guest room.

May your life be simple but adorned with the beauty & glory of Christ.

"If you keep it simple, it will stay pure" (one of the quotes on my header)

A Gift & My Camera Update & Happy Birthday Jacque!!

I participated in Pay It Forward by signing up for it at Pea's Corner many months ago. I had actually forgotten all about it after I sent along my 3 Pay It Forward gifts. Then last week in the mail I got this:



A lovely refrigerator magnet Teapot made by Pea her self. Isn't it just adorable. It even has a tea bag in it!!! The tag on it reads:


The Christmas Teapot - On Christmas Day at half past three, Brew yourself a cup of tea, And I'll think of you, While you think of me, Sitting beside the Christmas tree.


Pea, you can be sure that I will be drinking my cup of tea at half past three on Christmas day. Thanks so much and what fun!!!!

Well, guess what????? My co-worker at the Klothes Kloset ministry at church on Tuesday's found my old camera!!! It was in the storage room. We had been working in there for about 4 hours last Tuesday. Thelma needed to find a small piece of paper and while she was looking for that.....low and behold here was my camera.


At first I thought I'd just return the new one I'd just purchased but........I just love my new one. Mickey wanted me to keep it so I made him PROMISE that this new camera would be my Birthday & Christmas gift this year. After some arm twisting he finally agreed and I could not be more pleased. I told him I'd give it back so he could wrap it up and put it under the tree!!!!


My blog friend, Chrystal, suggested that I could take a picture of it by using a mirror. Now I would never have thought about that. Thanks Chrystal!!!



So here's my new little camera and me!!! Get a load of the manicured nails from Saturday's birthday celebration. By the way, the shirt says "Jingle" and has a bell on it. A gift to all the girls from Suzette. She was wearing her's in the picture's at the salon & cafe.


Just sharing fun stuff from the blogging world we all participate in and enjoy.

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Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR DAUGHTER, JACQUE. As you know we celebrated all our birthdays on the 12th but today is her OFFICIAL day. Here's Jacque being greeted by her 1 year old sister, Suzette.

As a teenager.

WE LOVE YOU JACQUE!!!!!!

More Christmas & A Tribute to Great Grandmother Beryl

For Show & Tell last Friday I shared 2 Nativity Scenes we have; one inside & an outdoor display. Today I want to share another Nativity Scene and a few other special items of Christmas decor that grace our home at this special time of year.

(Clip all pictures to enlarge)

This basket sits in our entry hall on a little magazine rack that had been made for my

father years ago.

The pretty basket.

Then if you look REAL close at the top of it you'll see

this tiny little Nativity Scene. I just love this. Before I retired I always took this item to display on my desk in my office.

Next. this little 2' tall miniature Christmas tree that is also in a little wicker basket. It is just loaded with ornaments of various kinds.


The tip top,

The middle,

The bottom,

The basket.
And here it is at night, plugged in with all the little green lights shining. Not the best picture, but I hope you get the idea!!
This silver & greens display sits in the window sill of our dining area.

Here it is all lite up.

A lovely silver & green center piece.

All four of these lovely items were made by Oksana & Aric's Great Grandmother Beryl and given to us as gifts in various years. This post is a tribute to Great Grandmother Beryl - an amazing, talented, and loving woman. We're glad you are in our lives Beryl.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY - #11 - INVITATION

This is my contribution for Spiritual Sunday on this Sunday before we celebrate our Lord's birth Christmas. Go here to visit other posts.

You are cordially invited to

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!

Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ

Date: Every Day - Traditionally: December 25th

but He's always around, so the date is flexible.

Time:: Whenever you are ready.

(Please don't be late though or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart... He'll meet you there.

(You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are...grubbies are okay.

He'll be washing our clothes anyway.

He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone

who stays till the last.

Tickets: Admission is Free. He's

already paid for everyone...

(He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway...

it cost Him everything He had.?

But you do need to accept the ticket!!!

Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink

He calls "Living Water".

Followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!

Gift Suggestions: Your life. He's one of those people

who already has everything else.

(He's very generous in return though.

Just wait to see what He has for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth,

Light, Life, Love,Real Happiness.

Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power,

Eternity in Paradise, Contentment and much more!

(All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.).

R,S.V.P. Very Important!

He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table.

Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future

reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

Party being given by His Kids (that's us!!)

Hope to see you there! For those of you whom I will

see at the party, share this with someone today!

SHOW & TELL #16 - Nativity Scenes & Santa Clauses

I am finally getting around to posting again on Show & Tell. Please visit My Romantic Home to participate and to see other Show & Tell posts.

I am showing this Nativity Scene mainly because of it's age. I can't remember specifically when we purchased it but I know it was some time in the 60's which would make it over 40 years old. It has been on display in all the homes we have lived in except for the years 1999-2004 when we were traveling in our 5th wheel. When we sold our home and packed up things our oldest daughter, Suzette, asked us for this set which we gave to her to use. When we returned to our home in 2005 I asked for it back!!!!! I couldn't imagine Christmas in my home without it. It will eventually be hers as she has spoken for it. The tallest Shepard is 10" to give you a feel for the size.

I decided to show this when I unpacked it last week to set up. It is in the original, old, tattered box in which it was purchased. When I noticed the price on the bottom of the box I thought it would be interesting.

As you can see it was purchased at Tar*get for the price of $19.99 and it was made in Japan.

Here is our large outdoor Nativity Scene. We only have the 3 pieces, Mary with Baby Jesus, Joseph and one Shepherd. The angel to the right is a permanent item in our yard year round. Mickey always buys a few bales of hay to form a somewhat manger.

These pieces were purchased about 9 or 10 years ago.

This shows it lite up at night. I love this set. We have tried to locate additional figures. that match, to add to it but have been unable to find them.

Our family has always enjoyed decorating at Christmas time with both the main reason we celebrate Christmas - Jesus, but have always been fine with having Jolly Ole St. Nick around too.
This adorable St. Nick was painted by Suzette as a gift to us when she was 19 years old so he's been a family fixture for a long time too. He is solid and weighs 14 lbs and is 15" tall. He greets people in our entry hall.

This wooden Santa being lifted to the roof by the three adorable elves was made for us by our son-in-love, Dave, as a Christmas gift shortly after he and Suzette were married 15 years ago. He is in 2 pieces (in order to be able to store him) and Mickey has to put him together and then mount him as one piece.

The night view.
Mickey use to put lights up all across the roof and around the entire house but he only did the front including the garage and the garage side this year. Last year, due to his heart bi-pass surgery in October we had not outdoor decorations. It's so nice to have them back up this year.



If you'd like to see a Partridge In A Pear Tree wall hanging I did 44 years ago and hang each and every year go here. Go here to see The 12 Days of Christmas tree skirt I did 24 years ago and is still under our tree today. I showed some Vintage Candles I've had for almost 50 years here. These little candles are in various places around our home.

Thanks for letting me share some of our beloved Christmas items that truly have memories and make our house the home it is.

ONE OF MY BEST BIRTHDAY'S EVER

NOT because of the gifts received, although they were fantastic and I will share them later, but because of these:

The 3rd Day Sisters Bible Study Group

top: Norma, Debbie, Susan J, Anne

Gloria, Susan C, Sandra, Wantha Ann

I wish I truly had the ability to describe to you the unity and pure joy of fellowship, love, concern and caring that LIVES in this group. As you can tell, most of them are younger than my own daughters. We are TRULY an eclectic group that only God could have put together. We are from very different backgrounds but the thing that binds us together is our LOVE of JESUS. This small group of 8 woman truly typifies what The Body of Christ SHOULD be and HOW it should operate.

2009 has been such an amazing year in my life. The Lord gives us the desires of our hearts. His word tells us so: Psalm 37:4 – “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

I had longed for a friend who truly loved the Lord with all her heart, and wanted to do serious Bible Study. Someone to truly connect with, on a deep, spiritual level. Someone that you couldn't wait to share the latest insight the Lord had shown you. I had not had that type special friend since my forever friend, Beverly, went to heaven in 1986. It was a big void in my life. Little did I know that 2009 would bring me not only 1 such friend, but 7 (God's complete number!) of them!!!!! Delight, delight, delight, delight, delight, delight & delight. The most amazing part of this entire story is that as I celebrated my birthday last year I did not "know" a single one of these precious woman.

Sandra was lead by the Lord to begin this Study group on March 10th-09. At the first meeting were Sandra, Gloria, Debbie & myself. Later I invited Wantha Ann, who I was just getting to know from another Bible Study group to come with me. Now we were 5. Next came Anne who made 6. Then Susan C. joined us which was 7. Last, but certainly not least, was Norma, Sandra's sister, making us this group of 8.

Now, share my lovely celebration with me:

The yummy chocolate cake Sandra made for us.

Five of the sisters enjoying our cake.

The assortment of fabulous gifts from these TRUE GIFTS.

&


Christmas gifts we exchanged with each other, too!!

(click to enlarge)

Debbie presented all of us with this beautiful framed photo that she had taken, enlarged, added the words from John 3:16 and framed for each of us. And no, that is not a bright spot from the flash, it is the actual sunset on a November Oklahoma evening. The cross is from Norma, the lovely socks from Sandra & the angel bell from Wantha Ann.

Thank you Lord for giving me the gift of these special friends and this Bible Study.

Your blessings overwhelm me.