holiday traditions part 2 . . .

Well, since we're officially into December and the Christmas season, I guess it's time to post my Christmas holiday traditions. I posted my Thanksgiving holiday traditions here, and I do like to keep the two separate!

December 1 marks the beginning of the 25 Days of Christmas movies/shows and jewelry! I have enough dvd's that I can pretty much watch a Christmas themed one every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas! I also love to wear themed earrings, pins, and necklaces during this time. Especially pins/brooches. As you can see in the picture below, it's been a trend of mine from waaaay back!

I'm the one of the far left, in the bells. During the week prior to Christmas, I'll get out all my Christmas sweaters and tops and wear those, too!

Our family, though big on Christmas cards, has never really been ones to send out the photo cards. But at two different times, when all four of us adult sisters and our children were able to gather in one place (and when we had a suitable candidate to play the part of baby Jesus), we've done a Nativity scene photo and sent it out with our Christmas wishes.

This first one we did in 2000, with baby Alison.

This second photo was done in 2006, with baby Lucy playing the star role.

I love Christmas lights -- the more the merrier! We love to get in the car and travel through the decked neighborhoods. One neighborhood in SE Huntsville (and really, one street) goes ALL out and has lights, blow ups, a moving train, and one year even had Santa and reindeer! We visit there *every* year!

We also like to take a yearly trip through Huntsville's Botanical Gardens, Galaxy of Lights. It gets bigger and better every year.

Christmas cookies are always a favorite! There are several different kinds that I really look forward to eating ... err, making. Candy cane cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies, no-bake cookies, almond thumbprints, chocolate chips and sugar cookies!

The sugar cookies were more fun when we still had kids at home that wanted to decorate them. These days, to make life easier for me, I stick to stars, holly leaves, and stockings! One of the things I really enjoy doing is making a plate of cookies for each of the guys in the shop. I think it may be one of their favorite things, too!

Last year, Kim and I took a cupcake decorating class! I blogged about our experience here.

I may try to make a couple this year, just to make it worth the time we spent on it last year! Anyway, the tradition behind it is spending time together with my kids (and in the future, grandkids) doing something to kick off the Christmas season, whether it's make holiday cupcakes, go see the Grinch in ballet , or to see the Nutcracker!

Then there's the gingerbread houses! I think gingerbread houses are so much fun. I've got two Pampered Chef gingerbread house molds, and we'd make and decorate at least one of these a year. Sometimes we kept them, sometimes we gave them away, like this gingerbread Lighthouse!

I've now passed one of those molds to each of my girls, so that they can continue, if they want, the tradition in their own families.

As far back as I can remember, I've always enjoyed a live tree in the house for Christmas! We used to go out as a group and pick out a tree and bring it home to decorate. For many years, we saved the piece of trunk that was cut off the end, and each of us would sign it and we'd put the year on it. It was just one of those quirky things we did!

I loved a big, fluffy tree! The more lights, the better!

Last year, sadly, was our first year to have an artificial tree.

And just a miniature one, at that! But this is what fits in the RV; I'm just glad one *does* fit in the RV!!

We don't do anything 'formal' for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day -- instead, we tend to have a party-like atmosphere on Christmas Eve, with fun finger foods, cookies, eggnog, and the like.

For as long as we've been married, Todd has always put a ham on before going to bed Christmas Eve, and it's tantalized us all night long with its yummy aroma!

Christmas morning, mom & dad always had to be up first, and get that first cup of coffee going. We opened stockings together and Santa has always left an orange in the toe. Everyone's oranges had to be eaten before any presents under the tree could be opened! When I was a kid, we always got navel oranges (which took a long time to peel)! As an adult, I always tried to make sure it was clementines or tangelos in the toe!

There's so much more; music, caroling, friends, parties, gift-giving, crafting, shopping . . .

And I haven't even begun to touch on how central Christ is to Christmas for us. I love the season of Advent, and I never want to get so caught up in the commercial trappings of Christmas, that I forget that Jesus truly is the reason for this season!

Don't forget to stop by the Charming Chatter blog and check out lots of other fun Holiday Traditions!

Feliz Navidad!

:)

stitcher's group . . .

I had such a fun time last night, hooking up with our Stitcher's Group and just hanging out. I couldn't remember what time they met (I've only been to the Tuesday night meeting once before), but I figured it was either six or six-thirty, so I got there at six-fifteen. I was the first one there!

Folks were slow coming in (it started at six-thirty), but we eventually had a group of eight or nine sitting around the tables. I think there was only one of us actually working on a quilt, and several of us weren't working on anything, they just came for the chat and the company! Most of us were working on Christmas-related projects. One was working a fleece blanket for her father-in-law's gift, two were working on ornaments, and I was working on hostess gifts for the Christmas party season!

I really like the holly tea towel; the buttons were fun!

And I finished sewing most of my yo-yo's for the tea towel snowmen!

With all the happy chatter and laughter, the evening passed by too quickly. Next thing I know it's already nine o'clock and time to head out! Our group Christmas party is on the 14th, and I'm looking forward to it already!

It's December -- can you believe it? Let the countdown begin, but in the middle of all the hustle and bustle, don't forget:

Jesus is the reason for this season!

:)

Hallelujah!

He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

:)

Romans 8:22-23 . . .

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

I had a hard time finding a picture of a sealed tomb. There are plenty of pictures of the "stone rolled away," but that's not today. Today is the day that the tomb was sealed. The day creation held its breath. The day the disciples despaired. The day after the Crucifixion and the day before the Resurrection.

A day of waiting, pondering and reflecting.

As the storm clouds moved in this morning, bringing rain, thunder and lightning, I couldn't help but be reminded of Romans 8:22; that all of creation groans in anticipation of its Creator.

Today I will also wait, ponder and reflect. But not in uncertainty. Not with anxiety. And certainly not with despair.

I will reflect with awe and wonder!

I will ponder with a peace that passes all understanding!

I will wait with joyful expectation!

For I know, my Redeemer lives!

:)

a final look back at the day . . .

Listen. I know that blog entries with pictures are more fun, but I included lots of links that *do* have pictures, so stick it out. Okay? :)

I had a pleasant afternoon; I took advantage of Quilting Gallery's blog resources and checked out quilt blogs from around the country. I peeked in and out of about thirty or so; made comments and some friends! It really is a terrific resource for both quilt blogs and quilt shops . . . to check it out you can either hit the button on the right side or, to go directly to the directory, click here. How easy is that?!? Maybe you'll make some new friends too! Tell 'em I said, "Hey!"

Another fun thing I stumbled on today? Silk-Dyed Eggs {aka TIE-Dyed!} from the Our Best Bites blog. You simply must check this out. I can't wait to hit the thrift store tomorrow and find some wacky silk ties! I'm gonna have me some art-deco eggs this year for Easter! :) I enjoy this blog even though it's not a quilting blog. Shhhhh, don't tell on me!

Yesterday I had read an interesting tidbit on Mama Spark's World blog about C&T Publishing. Now I believe I've mentioned a time or two thousand, how much I love books; I hated giving up my library (okay, it wasn't that bad, since I kept all my quilting books), and I've determined that I really *shouldn't* (which is different than won't) buy any new (or even gently used) books, quilting, cooking or otherwise. (Tell Mama Spark I said, "Hey!" too, please!)

So I was really psyched about this C&T thing. On March 10th, they introduced this reviewer program, through C&T Creative Troupe. You apply to become a member. It's not a difficult process; they want to know your name, your address, the name of your blog (if you've got one), the craft(s) you prefer, the name and birth date of your first born (j/k), and do on. Ah, and they want to see pictures of or links to some of your 'best' work -- their words, not mine. I just showed 'em what I'd done, which is not a considerable amount.

Then they e-mail you back within five business days (or five hours, as it was in my case) with your member number! And do you know what that entitles you to? Among other great (I'm sure) things, it allows you to get an e-book to download, read and review. FOR FREE! Every TWO weeks! This is awesome news to me! It changes my world! I requested my first one today . . . My Whimsical Quilt Garden. I can't wait to check it out! I'll add the C&T button to my blog manana!

That really was a happy find for me. Happies on Fridays are like extra-special hugs. I had a happy when I checked out my son's facebook and found he'd posted a video of Sawyer. I watched it over and over and over! I wish I could successfully link to it, so you could watch it over and over and over, too. LOL! Hey, since I *can't* link to it, you can humor me here! :)

But the happiest moment of the day came as I was driving down the road, heading home. I had the sunroof open and was just enjoying the drive and the knowledge that it was the weekend and that the sun was warm, when all of a sudden, it hit me.

It was as if all the trees had been collectively holding their breath, waiting for this first beautiful, warm & sunny day. And when it came, they could hold it no more and with a *WHOOSH* they exhaled and their branches -- seemingly bare just yesterday -- were filled with tiny, unfurling, green leaf buds . . . and the promise of pink and red and purple blossoms . . . and their limbs stretched to the sun as if to say, thank You!

And it filled the air with the promise of new life, and my heart with unspeakable joy. The kind of joy that comes only from the Lord Almighty. I think it's so appropriate that we celebrate the risen Savior during the season of Spring. Our Hope springs eternal, and new life He brings.

He is why I can count it all joy!!

:)

reflections . . .

Our pastor, Brother Randy, is doing a sermon series on the purpose of the church, in general, and of Lighthouse Baptist Church, specifically. Even more specifically, the people of LBC. And, well, when you get right down to it, the purpose of Denise Panter.

One of his main points yesterday morning was that people should be my passion. Particularly those people who do not enjoy the privilege of knowing Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. We walked through the reasons why this should be . . . the number one reason being, those very same people were the passion of Christ, when He walked the face of the earth.

As a saved person, one who's being sanctified, that should be enough of a reason for me. If I'm becoming more and more like the Christ who is my Savior, then lost people will more and more be my passion.

Ah, but there's more. People should be my passion because of the plight they face. It's twofold; going about this life without the everlasting Hope and facing eternal hell. If I really believe in an eternal hell, why am I not overwhelmed with a need to share Jesus with those who are facing it? It shows either (1) a complete lack of compassion or (2) an incomplete belief that it exists as Scripture says it exists. Either way, not a happy thought.

I read something in Sharing Jesus Without Fear that struck me and has stayed with me for a long time. The author described salvation as such (and I'm paraphrasing) . . .

Being lost is like being in a tempest-tossed ocean. Waves are crashing over your head, you're struggling to stay afloat; sometimes you're not even sure why you're trying to stay afloat and other times you'll do just about anything to keep breathing air. And all around you are people in the same, desperate situation. You struggle and thrash -- worn and exhausted -- when finally someone throws you a line and pulls you to safety onto Rock Island. Once you get to the Rock, you're just so grateful to be there. You go about greeting your new rock friends, singing your rock music and meeting at Rock Hall. You go about your new rock life, and for some reason -- even though you remember how desperate you were to get out of the water -- you forget about all those people you left there, who were as desperate and anxious to be saved as you were.

And isn't that how it is? I've never heard it better described. I was saved from drowning in my sins; why am I not just as passionate about throwing that line to others, as I was about having it thrown to me? Am I doing justice to the price that was paid on my behalf?

Things not just to think about; things to DO something about.

Amen.

:)