Christmas Memories

It was an enjoyable Christmas at home here in Florida this year. We visited Santa at the Circle...We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day... Bits and pieces of our Christmas tree.

The Christmas Village

My Grandma Frances has had this Christmas village my whole life. When we were little and would go out to cut our own Christmas trees we would also collect what we called "deer moss" for the greenery in the village. There are all these cute little houses with openings in the back for the lights to be stuck into and over the years my grandma has added a few pieces here and there. The center of the village is the Nativity, of course. This year, I learned that my grandma has had the village since they lived in Columbia, South America. So, the village is 50-something years old.

This year, on Christmas Eve, I happened to catch Rylee playing with the village. At first, I thought it was just her usual playing with dolls, talking and laughing with the little people of the village ( I resisted the urge to use the phrase "village people" there...believe me, it was tough). But, as I listened closer (and grabbed my camera) I realized she was having all the people coming to the center of the village to see Baby Jesus. This is one of the reasons I am so thankful to have a camera to record these moments I, otherwise, may have forgot.

The Jesse Tree

Our family started a new tradition this year, all thanks to my good friends: Robyn, Heidi, and Heidi. It started a year, or even two years, ago when Robyn started talking about the Jesse Tree and the devotionals being something she wanted to do with her family at Christmas time. Well, fast forward a few years and we decide to put that thought to reality. With Robyn's organization and everyone jumping in feet-first; we did it.

Between the four of us we made 27 ornaments for 4 families and Robyn sent us the devotionals for each of the 27 days (about) between the Sunday after Thanksgiving and today, Christmas Day. We each made 4 copies of 6 or 7 ornaments each representing a story or person leading to the birth of Jesus, our savior. The best part of having four different people creating the ornaments was the differing styles of each. I also enjoy the fact that every year my family, and their families, will have a family heirloom my best friends helped create.

The first day of the Jesse tree is this verse...

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. -Isiaih 11: 1-3

Each day, starting with creation, tells the story of someone, some event, or prophecy leading to the birth of Jesus. While, my kids' attention sometimes wasn't the best; it did keep our family centered on the "reason for the season." We finished the Jesse Tree this Christmas morning, before opening any presents or stockings, by finishing the story of the birth of Jesus and placing the star on top of our Jesse Tree. Thanks girls for a family tradition I hope my own kids will do with their families one day (they'll just have to make their own ornaments ;).

Sooooo.....

It's been almost a year since my last post, and well, I feel the need to update. I've had some requests to keep my blog going (For you Laverne, Sara, and Aunt Jane!) and looking back, while facebook is easy and quick, I like the diary feel of a blog. I like seeing my words with cute pictures of my kids. I think, one day, I'll be happy I had this (sort of) updated record of what we were doing right now. So an update of the last few months... we started school...we played soccer...we played baseball...and watched baseball......we trick or treated. Our Christmas season has been busy, as well, but that will be another post (I promise!)

Gettin' Crafty

Well, after more than year and several thoughts on the subject, I have finally settled on some color schemes for our new house (can you still call it new after a year?). And since patience has never been my strong suit I had to, at least, start adding a few things in the rooms. I haven't finished any room yet because, well, I have a problem. It's called "what I imagine in my head doesn't fit anything that actually exists in the real world." So to combat this issue I've just had to create my own decor. In the living room, it's green and blue...think sky blue and grass green. I wanted color to balance the very brown sectional we have (which I love). I've had this shelf in a variety of places with a variety of trinkets and photos on it, but I've finally created a vignette that makes me smile when I look at it. I made the pedestal bowl with a regular bowl and candlestick from a thrift store (Total: $1.50) and glued with Gorilla Glue and coated with spray paint. The framed print was created by yours truly with PSE on my computer and framed in a $1.00 frame (from Walmart clearance) that was also spray painted black. After taking this photo I thinking it may need just one more little something...we shall see. I took one so you could see the adorable "Home" sign my dear friend, Heidi D., gave me. Here's a close-up of the print.

In my kitchen, I was inspired by a tea towel given to me...also by Heidi D! It is adorable with a navy blue and white polka dot trim and brown pom-pom fringe. (I don't have a picture!) I loved the color combo and decided Navy Blue and Brown for a kitchen would do just fine, especially since my kitchen is very white...very white. Apparently, not many people choose these colors for Home Decor...so again, I had to create my own decor. This was also a print I designed and created with Photoshop Elements. I loved how it turned out! I just printed and then mod podged it onto a navy blue spray painted 8x10 canvas from Micheal's. Cost = Less than $5.00.So, is my house exactly like I envision it...not yet. But, from what I hear it never is so I'll just keep plugging along. Bought paint samples today from Lowe's...can't wait!

I'm linking up at The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday

Words to Live By...

Copied from Beth Moore's Blog...if only we could live by these words each and every day what a world this place would be.

My Dear Sister,

Your God has called you
To use that mouth of yours
For His great glory.
Don’t just add to the noise.
Become a real woman
Who opens her mouth with wisdom.
God wants the Law of Kindness
On your tongue
And the love of Christ
In your heart.
Never forget:
Kindness is not a weakness!
When you’re wearing down
Head to Christ and His people
And let them build you back up.
Always remember:
His yoke is KIND.
Make sure
It’s the only yoke you wear.
It’s time to go our separate ways
But we’ll all meet up again
At the glorious epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Until then,
Let the One who led you here
Lead you on with cords of kindness.
Now, get out there
And build a welcoming fire
In a cold world.
Live by the Law of Kindness!

My favorite line...kindness is not a weakness.

Outtakes

While visiting the Maxcy household on Thanksgiving my very talented cousin, Carrie, offerred an impromptu photo session...I, certainly, did not refuse. She will soon publish beautiful pics of our family on her blog but I wanted to share some of the "outtakes." These are the ones that as Carrie downloaded them yesterday afternoon made her, Jon, and I immediately laugh-out-loud when they came up on the screen. Not sure what Brady did, but Rylee is definitely not happy about it. This is one is so funny because the rest of us seem to have no idea of the face Rylee is making! The "real" Spencer family.

To see BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL pics of our family (although I think my family is gorgeous even with our tongues sticking out) and other families...visit Carrie's Blog!