CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
By Jan Humphrey

On a starry night long ago
Was born to the world a Savior -
The Beloved Child of God -
On whom God showed His favor.

A new tradition was also born -
To celebrate this Blessed Christ Child,
By sharing the story with everyone
Of the love that made God smile.

Generations have continued the tradition, With friends and family far and
near.
Even random acts of kindness
Can spread a little Christmas cheer.

Amidst the joy and happiness
Might come an urge to shed a tear,
Especially when circumstances
Make for a difficult year.

Experiencing the loss of a loved one -
Whether expected or unforeseen -
Can cast shadows on celebrations -
No matter how joyful the scene.

That's when God sends special angels
To remind us of memories gone by.
Cherish your happy times together,
And know that it's okay to cry.

Christmas is the season of giving
And spreading love all around,
And that Bright Star also sends peace,
While reminding that hope can be found.

So, as 2014 comes to an end,
Hold close to each work of God's art -
And take comfort in each memory -
For they'll always be in your heart.

 

Elf Report for Dec 18

Okay, I admit, I missed a couple of day of reporting on our friendly Elf.  I just plai forgot to check up on her. Well, when I did find her I caught her checking out to see if there is enough room in Hubby's Stocking for Santa to put all the goodies he's picked out for Him.

 

 

 

Billie C.

Elf Report for Dec 17

Elf Report for December 17

 

Our Elf jumped from Hubby's side of the camper bedroom over to mine.Time to check out the shelf over my bed and my Build A Bear who I keep up there out of Barney's reach.

 

Billie C.

Elf Report for Dec 16

Our Elf has been checking out what my Hubby likes to read and the music he enjoys at night.

 

 

 

Billie C.

For Today ... Dec 15

For Today ... Dec 15

 

Howdy.... And Good Afternoon.
Jerry only had to work 8 hours on Saturday and he was hombe just a few minutes before 4 pm. We went to town for dinner, then shopping for the week. Sunday we ate at a new to us Buffet place in Boone and it was good. I think we will end up going back more often.  We had the laundry with us and did it on our way home.  Took it into the camper and let the dogs out for a few minutes.  We talked about going to De Moines and looking for Costco. Jerry looked it up and found out where it's at so we went and got a membership and did some more shopping. Now I really need a larger camper. I forgot just how limited space we have in the kitchen until we brought in the things we bought. Yikes I need more room but the bargins were worth it. So worth it.

 

I woke up extra early this morning (3am) and just could not get back to sleep.  I can't do house work that early or I'll wake Jerry up so I did a few things on my computer. Discovered that our new Connection was not as secure as we thought and when Jerry woke up I told him about it. We are back on the old Belkin until he can get home tonight and set up a password for it. He got a bit behind in getting ready for work and forgot a few things this morning. His watch and his phone are still here at the house. 
It's been a cloudy day and we have had rain off and on as well. Enough so, that when I take the dogs out I need to wear a light jacket just to keep the damp off. They went out then came right back inside. They didn't want to even sniff the air for new scents.
The cats are enjoying sleeping together on Jerry's bed where it's nice and warm. They are curled up around each other.
Dinner is going to be Bread and Parmagane Chicken tenders over noodles with a Salad. It is so quiet here that I have the TV on for the noise almost all day long. I have been playing a few Christmas CD's and still have a few more to play before I start over again from the begining. I am also catching up on shows I've DVR'ed over the past few weeks.
I am wearing... a purple T-shirt and black sweat pants. I've been straightening out my drawers and found few things I still need to go through. I think I'm going to put off folding the laundry until tomorrow afternoon at this rate.
I am reading... Reading Ezra in the Bible, I read a Children's Christmas craft book over the weekend and I'm always reading emails.
I am thankful for... Warmer weather even though the rain makes it very muddy outside and the dogs bring a lot of mud inside on their feet and we bring a lot of it in on our shoes as well. 
I am creating... I made a Fleece scarf the other day for my older Grand daughter and I have one ready to do for her brother, that I will work on soon. I have everything needed for one for me that I need to work on this week, as well.  I have a few half done Christmas ornaments done and there are some I really need to get made this week to give to a friend we have made here. It's for where we eat at each week on Thursdays and Sundays.
I have put a few Christmas ornaments up around the edge of the front room. I still have a long ways to go to make it look like Christmas in here and Christms is next week.
One of my favorite things... Taking care of Jerry and making sure he is happy.
A few plans for today... Besides making dinner, I need to straighten up the kitchen and put away a few things and hope to clean up in the living room again.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... Straightening up the living room and over my bed to make room for some of the stuff in here.
Work on Menu planning for the beginig of the New Year and take better care of us.
Waiting for a few things to come in the mail over the next few days.

 

Billie C.

Elf Report for Dec 15

Elf Report for Dec 15. 

Our Elf was Mia for a couple of days. I think she may have been up at the North Pole reporting her finding to the Big Man. She did show back up, being nosy again. I'm not sure what's she's looking for since I don't keep anything Christmas up there.

 

 

Billie C.

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground, and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like a car with fingerprint-resistant windows and a radio that plays only big-people music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can be heard only by the dog.

And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet, making the in-law's house seem just like mine.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It would clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs in his pajamas to eat contraband ice cream at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, Mom

P.S. One more thing: You can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young.

 

Billie C.