Photo-A-Day 6

"Christmas Lights" - I decorated my bed for Christmas!

Okay, so here is a bonus picture: I put pretty snowflakes on the end. :~)

St. Nicholas Day!

In honor of St Nicholas Day, my sisters put out their shoes and got sweets this morning. Then they watched VeggieTale's "St Nicholas". The real St. Nicholas was excellent example of giving Jesus' way! :~)

Scars, Callouses, and Christmas

I have many physical scars. Most of them from the cats. I have them on my legs, my feet, my hands, my arms, and one on my right shoulder. Each of them has a story. For example the one on my shoulder is from when I was four and squishing the cat too much. I have a very faint scar on my wrist from a spurt of boiling applesauce this past fall. And I have numerous ones on my hands that are faint from picking up our cats.

I also have many callouses. The soles of me feet, my heels, my hands, my ankles, my knees and my elbows. The ones on my feet are from dancing. They've built up over the years to protect my feet from blisters. And the ones on my knees and elbows help protect me. For example if I was on the floor crawling with kids, my knees wouldn't be injured, they'd be protected. But the callouses don't always work for me. Two summers ago I was injuring my feet constantly. From a thistle, a shell, and numerous splinters; I wasn't building an immunity. My feet literally had to be re-calloused.

That's how it is at Christmas. We have the broken people full of scars from past life, those who've calloused themselves against the world and sin, and then those who have to start afresh. Ever since I've been thinking and getting ready for Christmas, I knew this Christmas is going to be different. It took me a while to put my finger on it, but then I realized it is because I've grown.

Every year, for as long as I can remember, from July 'till Christmas I'd work and make Christmas presents. This year I haven't. I went to CYIA training, then we went camping, then we had the rabid fox attack, and then school started. In the busyness I simply didn't think about Christmas presents. I didn't think about what I'd give or what I'd get.

I know why we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus who is the only Savior. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Without him, we would never be saved from our sins. That's why he was born. To save those who are broken and full of scars from past life, those who have calloused themselves against the world , sin, and sometimes even God, and then those who are ready to start life afresh.

But sometimes in the hustle and bustle of a busy day, we forget the real purpose of Christmas. And that's when we need to step back, take a deep breath, and read the story of Christmas. I picked up a Bible, the other evening and said "God, I don't know what you want me to read. Show me what you want me to learn." I opened the Bible to Mark 13. I started in the middle of the chapter and just read. I read about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. And then I came to the end of the book, the last verses of Mark 16. As I flipped the page and finished the verses, I looked to the next page. "The Gospel According to Luke". I caught my breath.

Slowly I started reading Luke chapter 1-2. The "magic" of Christmas is not the lights, the presents, and all the fun. The "magic" is that Jesus cared so much he came to earth as a wee babe. When I read that, I knew why Christmas is different this year. I've been focusing so much on all the presents I was going to give, that I forgot the real reason. Now I know exactly why we celebrate Christmas. I've always known it, but never thought about it that much.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus who is the only Savior. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Without him, we would never be saved from our sins. That's why he was born. To save those who are broken and full of scars from past life, those who have calloused themselves against the world , sin, and sometimes even God, and then those who are ready to start life afresh. Are you ready to celebrate Christmas with me?

#19 - I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

and wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.

This ornament was made by one of my great great aunts or great grandma. :~) While I may not remember the original maker, I do know that this is one of our special Christmas ornaments.

Photo-A-Day 5

"Ornaments" - A view of some of our pretty sparkling ornaments. Every year we get a new snowflake :~)

#20 - Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad 

Feliz Navidad 

Feliz Navidad 

Prospero ao y Felicedad 

Feliz Navidad 

Feliz Navidad 

Feliz Navidad 

Prospero ao y Felicedad 

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas 

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas 

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas 

From the bottom of my heart 

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas 

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas 

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas 

From the bottom of my heart 

When I was younger, I couldn't sing this quite right so we came up with our own version:

"I really wish I could sing in Spanish

But I can only sing in English

I really wish I could sing in Spanish

From the bottom of my heart! "

Photo-A-Day 4

"Joy" - All the textbooks I completed today!

#21 - Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year 
With the kids jingle belling 
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer" 
It's the most wonderful time of the year 
It's the hap-happiest season of all 
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings 
When friends come to call 
It's the hap- happiest season of all 

There'll be parties for hosting 
Marshmallows for toasting 
And caroling out in the snow 
There'll be scary ghost stories 
And tales of the glories of 
Christmases long, long ago 

It's the most wonderful time of the year 
There'll be much mistltoeing 
And hearts will be glowing 
When love ones are near 
It's the most wonderful time of the year 

There'll be parties for hosting 
Marshmallows for toasting 
And caroling out in the snow 
There'll be scary ghost stories 
And tales of the glories of 
Christmases long, long ago 

It's the most wonderful time of the year 
There'll be much mistltoeing 
And hearts will be glowing 
When love ones are near 
It's the most wonderful time 
It's the most wonderful time 
It's the most wonderful time 
It's the most wonderful time of the year

Nothing matches the joy and excitement of a baby looking at the Christmas tree!

Throwback Tuesday: Audrey Hepburn

This dress today has a neckline like this: 

which Audrey Hepburn is famous for. :~)

She also loved leggings :~)

So combining these 2 styles gets this:

A style Audrey Hepburn could be proud of! :~)

My favorite quote from her!

Photo-A-Day 3

"Bows" 

Technically this is only 1 bow but its still pretty. :~) This is hanging on our front door. :~)