Tuesday, November 26, 2019

It's the Holiday Feeling

 We've been busy with shows!  Look at cute Scuttle and Soph the lovely mermaid sister!  Aw!  They did a beautiful job singing and acting!
I found a very nice new hairdresser.  She is a Community Bible Study connection.  We had such a great time chatting as she applied the foils. At first I was a little taken aback because the low lights were a bit dark, but now the shade has faded a bit and I'm getting used to it.  It's definitely worth doing on a regular basis because it's affordable and Paige (the hairdresser) is so fun to be with!
 A few Christmas decorations have found their place in our homely house.
 Bill had a really fun birthday.  We met three of the four kids in Longmont for lunch.  Jeff couldn't get away from work so he and Christie came for dinner that night (a few photos down).
 Brad and April and the kids came for dinner after that!  Aw!  So much fun!
 Last weekend was another show.  Aren't the bird girls cute?
 Millie Rose played the part of Jojo.  The scenery was stunning.  We're so proud of our Kelli for putting all of this together and pulling off the big productions.  Her heart for the kids is warm and true.  Kids come to Joyful Light Theater practice and learn more about Jesus while they make friends, learn songs, and have fun acting!
 After baking bread and eating bread, I'm back on my fish and fruit diet.  I feel better when I avoid gluten, but sometimes I really want baked food.  Do you?
 It's snowing like crazy here today.  It's a big winter storm.  But wait!  It's not winter yet!  Oh well.



 Here's the cute Jeff family getting ready to eat Grampy's cake!  Thanks, Christie!
 I am going to enjoy my own little Advent celebration starting Sunday.  I made a junk journal and I'm going to record my Advent ponderings each day.  Remember?  I'm going to read the book of Isaiah from chapter 39 on. I'm going to read other Christmas words like the fun magazine below.  Do you remember this publication?  Poems and cozy art, recipes and such.  It reminds me of my childhood days which I do love to think about during the holiday season.  I am so appreciative of my mother and how she kept the season so holy.  She didn't buy into the "magazine" picture-perfect Christmas. She ran Christmas programs at church, she gathered greens and candles and led us in Advent evenings.  We opened our gifts on Christmas eve, surrounded by grandmas and a grandpa.  We always attended Christmas Eve candlelight services and Christmas Day services, too.  Sometimes our junior choir sang.
It was just as it should be, a celebration of our Savior!  That's what I want my mindset to be for the month of December.


I am still planning The Jolly Postman's blog event.  I think Kim from Sarah Lizzy's might join in (Australia), Annie from Scotland, Lisa from Minnesota, MK from North Carolina, and Heather from Indiana! 
It will be in January (after all my Advent doings).  It will include writing and making envelopes and telling stories.  YAY!
We're having Kelli's family and Jeff's family for Thanksgiving.  Yesterday the grocery store was a mad house!  SO BUSY because of the pending snow storm.  
I might make my pecan pie today, but I don't have corn syrup so what am I going to do?
I'm going to clean and tidy, scrub and shine.  I'm even washing the covers on our old sofa.  
Do you get started with your cleaning and then realize that there are way too many things to do than you really have time for?  I always do.  Always.  We'll make some dents in it though and shining up the house is very rewarding.

I'm thankful for YOU! You've read this far!

My sweet friend Lori from Washington (I've known her since she was in high school) sent me this lovely book.  She remembered that I gave a copy to her long ago.  Now her son has read it, too.  Isn’t it gorgeous? Yes, it'll be part of my quiet Advent celebration, too. 

So, next is all the red and green, the sweet music, the cards and letters, a gift or two, maybe a granddaughter tea party, and candlelight, lots of candlelight.
Thank you for stopping in and showing interest.  That's so very nice! 

20 comments:

Deb J. in Utah said...

Good morning. Fun post. I agree with you and want to make our Christmas celebration more focused on Jesus and His birth. You have a lovely family and it looks like you all enjoy being together! Love this! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Farm Girl said...

I think its all so lovely and so homey and warm. I love seeing your kids and grands. My goodness, everyone has grown up so much.
I am so glad you shared this today.

Terra said...

I enjoyed reading your happy post, full of family gatherings, Christmas books and the beautiful Ideal magazines. Your snow is pretty, it doesn't snow where I live in California, but I grew up with Wisconsin pure white snow.

happyone said...

Wow you sure fit a lot into a post!! Enjoy reading about your happy days.
Kids sure are getting big!!

Granny Marigold said...

Oh yes! I remember those Ideal magazines. I used to have a stack of them but in a fit of cleaning up I donated them all.
Your kids and grandkids are so sweet. I'm sure your get-togethers are a lot of fun. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

ellen b. said...

Those performances look great. The costumes are really fabulous. I'm glad you have some good plans for Advent and shared them with us. Someone else mentioned reading a chapter a day from the Gospel of Luke starting on December 1st. That is a beautifully illustrated Hinds Feet book. Yikes! Look at all that snow. We are being threatened with a wind storm for tomorrow so I did some baking today just in case the power goes out! We've been in the 20's today...all day...brrr. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Lynn said...

Lovely post as usual. I love your hair. Your home looks very cosy. I have been quietly reading and sewing my way into the holidays. Love your Advent plans. Happy Thanksgiving x

Kit said...

Hello! So many lovely goings on. I love the costumes! Theater is wonderful for children. Sounds like you are busy but you know exactly how to have a lovely holiday. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Kit 😊

Jeanie said...

I've held off as long as I can on holiday decorating and I think today is the day. I love your stocking garland! It looks as though many lovely things are happening in your world. The play, so colorful and charming; festive family gatherings, all the joy and preparations of the holiday. Ideals! I haven't seen one in decades. What a nice blast from the past! Happy Thanksgiving.

GretchenJoanna said...

Bird girls cute? YES!

Not winter yet? If it's snow, that is WINTER!

Want baked goods? YES!

Remember Ideals? YES

Too many things to do? YES! But I still wanted to stop here and visit a little. Love to you all! XOXO



Kezzie said...

What a happy post! You look lovely with your hair! I think the birds looked adorable- what a wonderful thing for Kelli to do! Your Advent traditions sound so lovely- your Mum sounds such an inspiration!

Julia said...

I agree with you, keeping Jesus in Christmas is important.
Your hair looks lovely.
Hugs, Julia

ann said...

You have a lot goin on! The girls are adorable. Pretty lively, it looks like. I love the way you are celebrating and embracing the holidays. Happy Thanksgiving to you. (My pecan pie cools as I write.) :)

magsmcc said...

Would you like an Irish destination for the Jolly Postman? He knows us quite well here! You are a very beautiful woman, PP, inside and out. And very beautiful also is your snow. We haven't had decent crisp and even for a few years now and I am very ready to be cold and joyful in some wondrous white stuff! (And a day off school would be majestic.)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

What a sweet family! And your chrome set (I believe that's what it's called) looks so cozy. My mother had a yellow one when I was little, and I rented a furnished cottage when I was 20 that had a yellow one. Whenever you're missing bread, you should make a batch of my Gluten-Free Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls. https://www.delightfulrepast.com/2013/11/gluten-free-pull-apart-dinner-rolls.html Oh and I love your hair. Great cut and color, gorgeous!

Between Me and You said...

How darling are those girls? The costume department did very well indeed!Everyone's getting their hair cut this week, including my two sisters. I'll have to get in on the act. Lovely, warm,cherishable post as always. Much love. xxx

Bonnie K said...

Wow! You are busy. Looks like you have a lot going on. I could never give up bread. I don't remember the last time I had a professional hair cut. It looks like you are making the most of the holidays.

Lisa Richards said...

You're looking lovely! I like the idea of Kelley's theater group! Excited about the Jolly Postman event! It's nice to feel that connection with gals around the globe. I loved Hinds feet on High Places when I read it many years ago. God bless your big family as you celebrate the coming of Jesus! Hugs!

NanaDiana said...

What a wonderful post, my friend! I loved those old Ideal books and had mine for many, many years until we had water damage in our basement and they ot ruined. I miss those books.

I hope to have a quieter, more reflective Christmas season this year, too. That is a really good idea about the journal.

I hope you have a blessed holiday season. xo Diana

M.K. said...

Ah, lovely, dear Pom. I'm late to the party, as ever! Just now beginning to get my tree up too. Your girls looks so great in those productions - so much work! But so good for the kids. Enjoy your family this special season. Sounds like you are well on your way to a holy Advent.

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