A Celebration Month

"Christmas gift suggestions: to your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." Oren Arnold

Jerry has been waiting all year to put a Christmas tree in the front yard! No other outside lights. These seniors keep getting senior and it isn't easy anymore to do a lot of decorating.

The month of December is a time of celebration, most especially for Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. After a "thankful" month of November, we fly into December and all the opportunities to celebrate special month.

Jerry and I had two extra days of celebration! December 13th ended our first year in Brookville, PA and all the changes, disappointments, surprises and opportunities we faced. It's been quite a year. I'm thankful we're settled, happy and thankful for all our Lord has brought us through.

I always enjoy seeing "our" family of deer in the evening.

December 14th we celebrated 32 years of marriage. I could say the same thing from above about this past year: changes, disappointments, surprises and opportunities.

Thank you for the anniversary flowers Jerry.

Early December we made a visit to a favorite restaurant and shopping experience: The Country Cupboard in Lewisburg, PA. We found this lovely establishment many years ago when we would drive this way for a Missionary Conference in Jersey Shore, PA.

I bought their special cake and froze it for our big celebration. The sweet icing always satisfies my addiction. Jerry wasn't too happy with me when I gave him his piece. I thought I was being quite generous.

Now  we'll just glide into Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The house looks a lot different from one year ago. And old man winter didn't disappoint! Seven inches of snow fell on the 13th, once again, as it did the day we moved in.

I've been busy creating new Hope pieces and some Christmas table decorations. Many of you will remember the Hope pillow I've given away for many years. I've added two new fabrics for the need.

I like the small Hope table decoration or wall hangings.

My very own quilted Christmas table top! I've becoming more comfortable quilting and enjoying this opportunity very much. Come January I'll be quilting once again for the Quilt Ladies Ministry at church.

This new creative outlet was just what I needed to settle my heart in this new land.

"You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell Him you have received His Christmas gift." John R. Rice

May this month of December be especially loving for you, and may your heart be full of love for out Savior. Merry Christmas friends!

"Ah! dearest Jesus, Holy Child,

Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for thee."

 Martin Luther, 1483-1546