See you next year!

2010 sounds almost Sci Fi...doesn't it?! Nonetheless, that's when I look forward to "seeing you" next.


May God shower you w/ blessings in the new year as numerous as the


&



that rain down on New Years Eve :)

Remind me of THIS w/ every decision...

Generations will reap what I sow.
I can pass on the curse or a blessing...
to those I will never know.
Excerpt from Generations by Sara Groves

With the new year fast approaching & the "fresh start" it represents, I'm struck, once again, by how powerful even the daily/mundane choices in life are - as well as those really big & difficult ones we're required to make at times. It's almost overwhelming to consider how their ripple effects SO MANY other lives in addition to my own.

...it all reminds me of a plaque I gave Playmaker on her first day of high school

We each leave our mark on the world every moment of every day
through the choices we make and the actions we take.

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! :)