Tree Topper

December Details 2014 - Day 9 - TREE TOPPER

This past weekend, we were in San Antonio.  The hotel was decked out in holiday finery, which delighted all of the adults and children alike.  The large tree in the front lobby was draped in lights and tinsel and an electric train set was set up underneath.  Even the luggage carts were wrapped in bright tinsel!  Saturday morning, as I took Archer to see the lights on the tree, a young girl joined us and she oohed and aahed over how pretty everything was.  As we looked up at the TREE TOPPER, however, we both did a double-take.  There, wrapped in the angel's arms was a wicked looking jack-o-lantern!  We both looked at each other and then laughed.   (I later learned that one of the employees was playing a joke on one of the ladies that decorated it.)

What kind of TREE TOPPER do you have?  Does it have a story?  Do you use the same one year after year, or do you change your style of tree decorating from time to time?

Joy To The World

December Details 2014 - Day 8 - JOY TO THE WORLD

JOY TO THE WORLD, the Lord is come!   JOY can be found all over, particularly during this special season--in the laughter of a child,  the sounds of a Christmas gathering and the sights of lights and tinsel in every home.  Because I consider it my own "special word", you can find it throughout my house on any given day and the word itself conjures up a variety of images in my mind.    This time of year, I picture the JOY of a mother holding her newborn son, and throngs of angels heralding His arrival.

What about you?  What images of JOY will you conjure up today?

(Sorry for the delay in posting/emailing---we got back late last night and I am just now able to get on the computer)

City Sidewalks

December Details 2014 - Day 7 - CITY SIDEWALKS

Are the SIDEWALKS around you decked out for Christmas?  Is there tinsel hung and ornaments handing from the streetlights?   Soon, it will be Christmas day!

Merry and Bright

December Details 2014 - Day 6 - MERRY AND BRIGHT

Last December, our Christmas was made a little MERRIER AND BRIGHTER by the birth of a new grandson!   Little Archer Perkins made his appearance several weeks early, and was the perfect gift for his whole family, but particularly his parents!   He spent several days in the hospital nursery while his mama recovered from a life-threatening illness brought on from his birth, but happily, both were home in time for Christmas and we were able to visit them shortly afterwards.  In a few days, Archer will celebrate his first birthday, and we are actually spending some time with him today!

What is making things MERRY & BRIGHT for you today?

Trim The Tree

December Details 2014 - Day 5 - TRIM THE TREE

At the time of this writing, it's hard to imagine that I'll be able to TRIM THE TREE at my house since we don't even have one in the house yet.  On top of that, we're heading out of town as soon as we get home from work.  But, perhaps it won't be long.  For the first time in my life actually, we have decided to get a live tree.

My mother used to remark that "All the other kids have memories of going into a forest and chopping down a tree, while we have the memory of going into the attic and pulling out a box with a fake tree."  It's true:  I grew up with an artificial tree each year.  Actually, I did cut a pine branch for a mini tree in my bedroom once or twice, but I've never had a real, full-grown tree in the living room and I'm looking forward to it.   Last year, Ron was very patient as I set the timer and tried to capture a photo of the two of us TRIMMING THE TREE--the artificial tree.

We did finally get it decorated and it looked very pretty.  But this year will be a new adventure---stay tuned for more.

Christmas Long Ago

December Details 2014 - Day 4 - CHRISTMAS LONG AGO

I wish I had some nostalgic photos to share of my childhood Christmases, but most of them are stored on slides at my dad's house.  But, I have lots of Christmas memories . . . memories of reading the Christmas story from the Bible by candlelight on Christmas Eve. . . of angel haired wrapped around colored bulbs on the tree . . . of arguing over the proper method to apply icicles to the tree and making paper ornaments adorned with glitter.

It's Thursday, so it might be the perfect time to share a "throwback photo".  Can't wait to see what reminds you of CHRISTMAS LONG AGO.

Hustle & Bustle

December Details 2014 - Day 3 - HUSTLE & BUSTLE

It's the most wonderful time of the year-----and also one of the busiest!  If you have children still at home, chances are you are hurrying between school programs and parties and after-school activities. All of us are most likely busy shopping for gifts, attending Christmas parties, preparing special meals and decorating.

Fortunately, I don't have to deal with anything like pictured above, but if I let it, I can get really caught up in the HUSTLE & BUSTLE and completely forget what this season is all about.  As I capture the HUSTLE & BUSTLE of today, I hope that it will serve as a reminder to me to leave that behind and to focus on what's really important.  What about you?