Christmas memories

Christmas has always been a special time for my family and I.
Looking back on the memories I smile at the little things that made each one special, somehow through adversity and poverty, every Christmas we scraped up enough to be together and to be jolly.

The picture of bob Cratchit coming home to that crammed and impoverished home that was rich in joy and thankfulness has a ghostly similitude to our own little home's crammed and lowly enough to resemble any memorable Dickens character's.
Ours was a home not rich in material wealth, what we had was something more wonderful that that. You see we were able to experience Christmas the way it should be. Simple and full of love. presents didn't matter, even though there was always something special under our "tree"We knew it wasn't about those tiny hard earned trinkets. But the blessings of being healthy and together. We were able to wholly focus on the greatest gift given to mankind. A Savior which is Christ the Lord.
I look back on the earliest ones I can remember, and there is a hazy sort of charm over those earliest of Christmas memories for me. And it wasn't Because of lights on the tree, it wasn't the shiny wrapped boxes, it wasn't the feast that took ages to prepare. (which back then we were hardly able to afford)
It was a smiling mother who rallied her troop's of little hands to the call of cheer and delight. Who out of necessity used every imaginable part of her brain to create some grand decor, even if it meant pinning sheets up on the blanketed windows, (we didn't have heat)  to look like curtains. and pulling every imaginable gift that the 60 acres we lived on provided, to create an atmosphere of Christmas.
And my sisters her two right hand sergeants, who were at the ready to charge and tackle any task. The eldest usually money, working jobs here and there and the younger with her; usually the younger would dream up some feast out of the simplest of ingredient's, and all three of them would be in the tiny kitchen cooking and singing carols. And my brothers who would always be cooking up some sort of mischief of happy playful hours to fill up the time we waited for the big day when everything would come together.
We never knew we had so little we were a band of jolly children with a mother who stood by and watched her chickens with joy and many a prayer for us all. Who kept us closely tied with her love and childlike faith.
Even though we are far better off now, the lessons are still the same.
Its the simplest of gifts that make a christmas great. Its not getting some grand present that you will remember, but the ones who you shared days and nights with in laughter and coziness.
Remember this in the next two days, cherish every moment spent with someone you love, for those are the ones worth storing up for someday.
Be thankful for the ones you hold dear, but be most grateful that they are near.

 Wishing you all my lovely followers a happy and lovely amazingly blessed Christmas.
Amid all the busy wonderfulness and the seasonal shenanigans lets try and remember why we celebrate.

New Morning, New year

 A new morning, I love new mornings the silent still of the earth, the rising sun blanketed in hazy fog the general stir of the home as everything comes to life.
This sunday is so special A new year to look forward to, new dreams, new goals, new possibilities on the horizon, all wrapped up in the new year. A new road never traveled before but a new one full of possibilities all the same, with life and hope waiting for you memories yet to be lived decisions paving that road. yes the new year is so full of promise that I cant wait to see what God has in store. 
And now a word to two thousand and eleven, dearest you have been a strange short year, where were you in such a hurry to go ? you wouldn't stay and chat for even a moment or muse over the days that were so quickly passing, you were full of happy moments, full of tears some of joy some of sadness, full of starts and full of endings. 
What lessons I have learned in two thousand and eleven, looking back it wasn't the best of years it wasn't the most eventful or exciting but it was a meaningful year full of reflection and meditation for me, I have looked within for every post I have posted on this blog and I have learned so much about my self, for that I must thank you dearest readers and blogy friends. I have been thinking about all the things I would like to do in the new year, as I am sure you have done or will do, I will be writing them down later, hopefully. 
I hope all you my friends and readers have a very very happy new year with wonderful blessings on the horizon, I hope you are happy today full of wonderful memories from last year and bright dreams of the future.  
I promise your life is a masterpiece God is paining each and every day, He holds your future in His hands. 
Happy new year 

One Small Child

                         One small child in the land of a thousand
                      One small dream of a savior tonight
               One small hand reaching out to the star light
           One small savior of life.
                                                                One small child, song written by David Meece. 


That tiny life that came, willingly given by His Father to a lost and dying world.In human flesh he came that concealed his wondrous glory, A tiny child. He came into this world as any other child does, but came for a purpose no other could understand, he had a destiny no other has had, and fulfilled that destiny no matter the pain for you, and me.

The hands that would be pierced, tiny and soft held by his mother, did she know the importance of this
 life she was entrusted with ? The face she kissed, as she held her child close did she know the pain He would endure ?

His purpose ? To bring life, everlasting life to you and me, that is what we celebrate at christmas.
Its not just the birthday of a child, but the birth of grace, pure love in the flesh that looked across the echoes of time and all the world all that ever was or would ever be, and came to a humble people in a humble form to be our propitiation for all sins ever committed for all time.
 Unmitigated love, that is what we celebrate at christmas, the pure love of a Father and the pure love and willingness of a Son.
So as we celebrate christmas this year, as we get caught up in the fun this season brings, remember the true and only gift that has ever really has mattered, Jesus the love that came down at christmas and the gift he has given to you and me.

For unto us a child is born,
 unto us a son is given
and his name will be called 
Wonderful Councilor, 
Mighty God , 
Everlasting Father, 
Prince of Peace. 
ISAIAH 9:6 

Happy christmas to all my blogging friends, may this christmas be the most wondrous one for you and your families, as we remember the wonderful gift we gave been given through His coming, His death, and HIs rising to life again.

The Road to Christmas

Pictures via Pintrest 

Ah, I love this season, the Christmas season that is, well any season is really on my list of favorites but christmas is one of the best.  This time of year holds a special kind of magic, don't you think ? the fireside evenings and warm moments shared with family. All of these bring a special kind of awe inspiring memories that, I'm sure we all have. I have fond memories of very special traditions and you'd probably think them quirky and weird if I told you about them all, so I'll refrain. Suffice it to say I love this time of year, most of the time, at lest right now at this moment, forget the last two doubting sentences. I love this time of year, but I must say does it seem that it came upon us rather quickly ? perhaps its just me but I feel that autumn was just here and it disappeared much too quickly.
I mean how does one comfortably cram thanksgiving and christmas and all that entails into two short months ? it seems impossible. It doesn't really matter though for my family, but I wont get into that, remember the quirky traditions, still refraining. How does one cram all the wonderful things to be done this time of year into two meager months and still leave time for that start of the year, I hope with out stress, isn't it sad when one sees individuals trudging through the christmas season waiting with bated breath for it to be over, such a shame. How do you deal with the ever shortening time ?
I hope you my blogging friends are having a wonderful winter, christmas season with your family.

I would love to know what your favorite thing about christmas or winter is, who knows I might just write a post about my favorite thing later on, well see.
have a wonderful UNSTRESSED rest of the week.

Thankful Musings

I'm feeling extra sentimental today, perhaps its because I'm far away from the rest of my family, perhaps its because the thought of special  holidays bring lots of special memories to mind. Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I was unable to express all that I'm thankful for here in a post, so today this post is going to get a bit erratic, brace your selfs.
 Firstly my mind has been a playground for my favorite memories they have been flooding my mind all morning and yesterday, as I said being away from half of my family never gets easy as its only happened a few times, I have been thinking about my family how I miss you all, who ever said ''They who go Feel not the pain of parting; it is they Who stay behind that suffer'' was wrong I am missing you all very much, thinking about you all helps.
  Dear thanksgiving you came much too soon this year and while I'm happy you are here I wish you would not have rushed in to my surprise unannounced.
speaking of thanksgiving, while on pintrest I saw a picture that reminded me of our thanksgivings from my childhood, when I was little my mother made my older sister, myself and younger brother a special hat this picture reminded me of those, we fancied ourselves little pilgrims with our little white bonnets fashioned in the style worn by the first settlers, and our younger brother had a cute little blue cap that reminded me of a sailors winter hat. I loved those hats, but  haven't thought about them in a very long time.

I know my family and I will have our own special celebration for giving thanks when we are all together again, but for now heres a few things I'm very thankful for.

Firstly my family you are my candle of inspiration in this life you make my life so colorful in your own special ways and I cannot imagine my life without you.

 God has surely blessed us this year with an over abundance of his grace and love, His blessings have profusely multiplied in every way. 

 Gods unmitigated love to this world that takes my breath away each and every moment, it is truly beautiful to behold. 

each breath I take on this wonderful earth that He created,  the wonder all around me and the eyes he gave me to see it. 

 Good friends near and far, Good music, and Happy moments that seem to etch themselves into my memory. 

A creative heart that I hope to never lose, and use for Gods glory. 

Colors life would be so dull with out them, 

  and a place to call home. 

and how could I forget all you wonderful friends i now have via blogs you are all wonderful and bring me happiness, especial now that you have so graciously allowed me to be so arbitrary and understand. 

Until its time to go home I'll have to be happy with thinking about home, and fill my mind with all the things  have to be thankful for in this season.  How about you, what are you thankful for I would love to hear.  

Sending you love 

First day of summer.

My how this month has flown ! is it really the first day of summer ? How can this be, where did spring go. Does it seem like time goes by faster as one gets older ? This is a tragedy to me will I see no more the long listless days of childhood bliss filled with day dreams and a fancy to fulfill every childish whim. I can be so dramatic, excuse my momentary wail about time and its ever moving ever going never stopping. I wonder if it ever gets tired. Oh well, movin on. I have just returned from the beach with my two older  brothers, and my older sister, and my younger brother, and no thats not all of us. Sadly my older siblings could not join us as they are on a different job out of state. also sadly we were not there for a vacation, but a job, altho i must say one can get quite spoiled living by the beach, who doesn't like being lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves and soft bird calls. I must say even though you may be working its hard not to be inspired by ones surroundings. Here are some pictures from the two weeks spent on the beach

         aren't they cute ? my older sister Hannah and my younger brother Joseph.
          
                  

 Our view of the beach from the front porch of the beach house where we have stayed every time we come to do this Job. Its getting to feel like home.

My brothers on the roof, left to right, Josiah and Joshua.I'm so proud of all the wonderful work they do.

                                                                                    

                                                                   Me       Hannah           Joseph  

The House we painted, there is  nothing like good hard work to make one feel good about ones self and proud of all of ones siblings who can work like nobodies business and complete things never imagined. I will Hopefully post more on our trip and post more pictures soon.
   Until next time.