Christmastime Snapshots

Our kitchen window
A Christmas tea table set for a bookgroup discussion

Christmas morning Breakfast

A gift from my youngest daughter
that she bought w/ her own money & wrapped by herself

Christmas Day has just begun & we've already worn Mak out...
he cracks me up when he stretches out like this...

Gumdrop Tree

Christmas Dinner Table

Dessert - Dark Rich Chocolate-Cranberry Cake

&

a game of Guesstures

Baking cookies & decorating each other!

Joy to the World!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the Earth! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy!

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found!

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders, wonders(!) of His love.

Twas the night before Christmas...

The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there....

Official Norad Santa Tracker

Find out where he is, where his next stop is, & much more about the parts of the world he's visiting tonight - all here:

Official Norad Santa Tracker

Warning: This jolly fellow is contagious!

Yesterday this jolly little fellow showed up in my mailbox! I should warn you that I do believe he's contagious! Here's why: When I first laid eyes on him, my eyes sparkled just like he does in this pic - & my mouth turned up like his too(!) & instantly I felt a bit flush & feverish ... as if I were warming up from the inside out.

I suspect that only snowmen made here, w/ melted glass(!), by my dear friend - could be so heartwarming. Incidentally she's the one who sent me this last year... &, in so doing, inspired me to celebrate Advent by practicing random acts of kindness (see my sidebar) - which has been so fun & meaningFULL :) - & from there it developed into a New Year's resolution.

I'm tellin' ya this thing spreads like wildfire! If you feel your heart warming, chances are you've got it too. If you want to know for sure .... see how you affect others. If it's in such a way that brings a sparkle to their eyes that wasn't there before - or causes the corners of their mouth to turn up - that's a sure sign that you've got it. ---If their cheeks flush ... well - at that point, you are highly contagious! :)

I found it! (Christmas Dessert)

Enjoyed perusing recipes for a bit today while trying to decide what to bring to our friends house for Christmas dessert. Finally decided on this "dark & rich chocolate-cranberry cake" in the lower right corner - tho' that mocha chiffon cake (upper left) seems to give new meaning to the word "coffeecake"(!) & was a close runner up that I just may try another time. I hope mine looks as pretty as the one in the pic - & that it tastes as good as it looks too. It's always risky to try something new...but that's part of the fun too :)

Living Nativity

Our church youth group performed a living nativity at church this evening. Playmaker was Mary. Her best friend was Joseph. Strike was an angel. They really did a nice job - all the kids involved. Just so sweet - especially bc they were older kids & they ran the whole program.... acting, singing/worship/speaking...the whole kit & kaboodle :) & they were so enthusiastic about what they were sharing - I really got the sense that their heart was in it.