...JUST CHRISTMAS

2011-12-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!

Susan

Chloe

2011-12-15T16:02:00.001-08:00

This is my daughter, Jami's bunny, 'Chloe'. Isn't she toooooooo cute!! So photogenic!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE....

2011-12-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

We had snow this afternoon and evening! I love to watch it coming down!
Hope you're enjoying this happy season! Isn't it nice the way the festive decorations brighten up the home when outside looks so dreary (unless the snow sticks, & then it's beautiful outside, too!).

This was taken out on our front porch....
& here are a few pictures from inside our home.........

Old ornaments from our very first Christmas tree...

2011-11-30T21:50:00.000-08:00

The Week Before Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas,
and all through the town,
Not a sign of Baby Jesus,
was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy
with Christmas time chores,
Like decorating, and baking,
and shopping in stores.
No one sang, "Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed."
Instead, they sang of Santa,
dressed up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart,
Papa drank from a tap.
As hour upon hour
the presents they'd wrap.
Then what from the TV
did they suddenly hear?
An ad, which told of a
sale down at Sears.
So away to the mall
they all flew like a flash,
Buying some things on credit,
and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home
from their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus?
Oh, no, not at all.
Their lives were so busy
with their Christmas time things,
They had no time to remember
Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap
and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember
the One who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior,
they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time to
"Shop till they drop!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart!
On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Macy's!
A quick lunch at Denny's!
From the big stores downtown
to the stores at the mall,
They would dash away, dash away,
and visit them all!
And up on the roof,
there arose such a clatter,
As grandpa hung icicle lights,
using his new ladder.
He hung lights that would flash.
He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed,
to the 'Light of the World'.
Christ's eyes--how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit--how merry!
Christ's love--how enormous!
All of our burdens--He'll carry!
So instead of being busy,
overworked, and uptight.
Let's put Christ back in Christmas,
and enjoy a good night.
& HAPPY NEW YEAR

CHRISTMAS POEM: 'NO ROOM'

2009-12-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

NO ROOM

“No room for Him,” the keeper said
That night so long ago,
“My inn is crowded, don’t you see,
The rooms now overflow.”

It’s just a Child,” he must have thought,
A family, poor and plain:
My inn is filled with paying guests.
How could I dare explain?”

And thus, he turned aside from One
Who chose a humble birth
To enter into human form
And save all men on earth.

But lo, the shepherds in the hills
Were called, the Babe to greet;
They followed then the brilliant star
And worshipped at His feet!

“No room for Him,” cry men today,
As through the world they plod;
“My life is crowded, don’t you see?
I have no room for God.

How could I dare explain to all
My friends who question me,
That Jesus came to save my soul
From sin, to set me free?"

O God, forbid that we become
As keepers of the inn,
And have our lives so crowded
That we have no room for Him.

But now may we, Thy children dear,
Unworthy though we are,
Become as shepherds long ago,
And follow now His star!

Kathryn Slasor

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

2009-09-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

2008-12-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

***

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play

And mild and sweet the words repeat,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th' unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair, I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said.

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

'Til ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

***

MERRY TOSSMAS!

2008-11-22T14:35:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL "C"

2008-11-14T08:21:00.001-08:00

MARY, DID YOU KNOW?

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS

2008-11-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

The History of Christmas Carols:

The most fantastic explanation of the term, “Christmas carol”, originates from England. According to this English story, a young girl named Carol got lost in the streets of London on a cold winter night. In an attempt to find her, her friends went from house to house similar to the way we do during Christmas. After this episode, the term “Christmas carol” became widespread.

The more pragmatic explanation is that the word, “carol”, comes from the Greek dance, “Choraulein”, which is accompanied by flutes. Later, the Frenchmen replaced the flutes with singing and named it, “caroller”, which means, “to dance around in a circle”.

The tradition of singing carols can be traced back to the monk, St. Francis of Assisi. He introduced the singing of carols in church ceremonies. Today, each country has its own traditions in connection with Christmas carols. In many places, people walk from house to house and sing at Christmas time; in other places, Christmas carols are sung in church.

THE ORIGIN of CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

2008-11-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3