Just one more!

One more finish for 2010!  I started these courhouse blocks at a retreat in February.  It is finally quilted and bound!  Yippee!  Now I am wishing I had made it lap size, but it looks great hanging on the wall in the foyer.  I started cleaning out my closets in the sewing room...oh my!!!  I have way too many WIPS!!! and lots of quilt tops waiting to be quilted.

Maybe one of my New Year resolutions should be to finish a WIP once a month, and not start any new projects...but what's the fun in that?   Maybe I could compromise and tell myself that if  I drag out a WIP and finish it,  I can start a brand new project, and finish it as well.  It seems that I have made that resolution many times in the past...a few get done (quilted and bound), so that is the main thing. 

Praying that God will give you joy to fill your days, peace to fill your hearts, and love to fill your lives.

May your new year be blessed in every way! 

The Amazing Grace Christmas Light House - Official Version

Follow the Christmas star to the place inside your heart where hope shines strongest and where peace and beauty live. A wish that God's peace and beauty will bless you always.

Merry Christmas!

Hunting for the pickle ornament

Does anyone else play this little game at Christmas?  We have done this for several years, and much to my son's delight, he usually has the sharpest eyes and finds the pickle.  I can only think of one time that my daughter actually found it in the tree!
It is a quaint tradition that nobody wants to claim.  Some say it is an old German tradition.
The Christmas pickle is not really a pickle at all. It is a pickle-shaped ornament that is the last one hung on the tree on Christmas Eve. The first child to find the Christmas pickle gets an extra gift from Saint Nicholas. Or so the so-called legend goes.



Hunting for the pickle ornament



This year, Jordyn found the pickle ornament, Jack and Caleb could not be here on Sunday due to that darn tummy flu!  Our little Christmas celebration was on last Sunday, so that the kids could travel this coming weekend.  It will be very quiet around here on Christmas day!

Santa in my mailbox!

Lucky me!  My Secret Santa is the very talented, creative 

Madame Samm!

Look at the sassy little mug rug she made....just too stinkin' cute!  It is going to work with me tomorrow, it will brighten everyones day, mostly mine.  Everyone can just drool on it ....just a little bit.

The stitchery is divine...cardinals are one of my favorite birds, so this is just perfect!

Thank you so much, Madame Samm! 

Rejoice!

Jack and Caleb

Where is the joy?  Where is the party?  Where is the enthusiasm and celebration of faith?

Truthfully, I am struggling to find the joy....fatigue has set in, now apathy.  Juggling a busy December schedule is overwhelming and stealing my joy.  In this season that celebrates the Christ child, why am I not finding the joy?

It's time for me to push the "pause" button....stop and listen,  stop and look around....the joy is there, I am just to "busy" to enjoy it.  Joy is everywhere I go...it is in the ringing bell outside the department stores.  I hear it in the giggle of children as they stand in line to visit Santa.  It is present on the faces of  loved ones as they gather around the holiday table.  It is present on the faces of the less fortunate that we give to.  It is present at every Christmas pageant and in every Christmas carol we sing.  It is in every reading of the nativity story.

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

A big hug to my friend Sandi, for her reminder to me yestereday of where the joy is...it is right here, right now!  Hope all of you are pushing the "pause" button at least once a day and not losing the joy. 



Hallelujah!

Today was my day to hide in my sewing room and play! Made a few of these little mug rugs for gifts. I plan to put some goodies in the cup, like hot chocolate mix, or tea bags...maybe some sweets! These are certainly fun and easy to make...very relaxing! Love listening to Christmas music, lighting a pine scented candle, and sewing away.....bliss!

I might go to the mall if I thought this would happen while I was there!

May your walls know joy,
may every room hold laughter,
and every window open to great possibility

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A bit of Christmas cheer for you...Enjoy!