Christmas Joy and Beauty to All

 

The top two are from my home this Christmas.

 The above is a Christmas card I sent.

What a joy to know Jesus prepares a place for me in Heaven and for all who follow Him.

 

And a lovely card from penfriend Monica, I am sure it says "Merry Christmas" in Swedish.

Merry Christmas to All

 Merry Christmas Friends. Isn't Snoopy the cutest?

The reason for the season is God's promise to us with the birth of Christ. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but shall have eternal life.

 

Our Nutcrackers. I have seen the Nutcracker Ballet quite a few times. I purchased the red Nutcracker on the left below at one of the performances to benefit the ballet company. 

A lady who attended Bible study with me made these and gave one to each of us. She was in a retirement home and made them in her room or apartment there. Her daughter was in a group that played Hawaiian songs and the group visited nursing homes, and she would go with the group and give these cute birds to the residents of the nursing homes.

Below is the nativity set we have had for many decades. I made the stable of rough wood. Once when we moved Mary got left behind. So I found a new Mary, she fits in beautifully, in her blue robes.

 Here are some joyful song lyrics to "Oh Come All Ye Faithful". 

Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels;

O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Years ago my college roommate and I visited Jerusalem and we hired a taxi to drive us to Bethlehem. We did not stop there but saw it. We spent a couple days exploring Jerusalem and Jericho and surrounding areas. Have a blessed Christmas one and all.

The First Christmas Was Simple

 

The first Christmas was pretty simple. It's okay if yours is too!

A Holy Babe, a manger, a Promise of Eternal Life for those who follow Christ. Simple beauty. Merry Christmas to you all.

Book I wrote "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts"

 

Some of you recall my excitement when "A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" was published. I had 5 co-authors, all Christian women writers who are friends. Two of us live in Texas, three in Ohio and me Terra Hangen here in California.

It is a hardcover book with full color on each page, with recipes, upbeat true stories from our lives, and all the Scriptures about the Christmas season. It contains my story about Christmas camping in the Everglades and Karen's about her first Christmas with adopted children and many other stories. It was published by the traditional publisher New Leaf/Abilene Christian University Press. See Amazon link below:

Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Christmas is almost here and friends and other readers tell me they get this book out each year to share with their families. Some of you blog friends have copies I know. I just decided to share this, I am just so pleased this book is published and full of happiness to share in this season of love. It is a hard world, I know, and we are called to be light and to shine. I hope each one of you finds some joy today and in this season.

Cathy of Acorn Hollow asked where she can purchase the book: Amazon.com and also most bookstores will order it for you. Thanks for asking.

Light Collar for Pup, We Got Our Christmas Tree and a Funny Snoopy

 I received my first Christmas card (see photo below) of the season in the mail today, and share here a cute Snoopy funny that my dad sent to me maybe 20 years ago. I have kept it all this time. The Snoopy comic says "In our family the older we get, the cuter we get." This is so true for my family and for all of you my dear blog friends.

I got these cool collars that loop easily over Bounce's head so he is visible when we are walking at dusk or later. The collars are inexpensive and very visible as we walk and cross streets. I have used little quarter size battery operated lights attached to his harness but these glow lights are more visible from every angle and you charge them like you do so many devices now, like Kindles and lights. I put them on my pup when he goes out in the back yard after dark too, so I can see where he is.

My friend's friend died last month while walking her dog at 8 p.m. a few miles away. It is so sad, a hit and run. They think they caught the driver, she is 58 and in jail. The lady was a grandma, mom and active. So the lights will be a help at night. Stay safe friends.

P.S. My sons took Mr. B out to a Christmas tree farm on Dec. 3, hiked up and down and got a lot of exercise, had to carry Mr. B parts of the way as he is 12 years old, and found a gorgeous tree to cut down and bring home. After church they set up the tree and put on the lights and the angel topper. This is as early as we have had a Christmas tree up. Christmas is coming so fast, each year it seems to arrive faster for this senior lady.

Books that can add Cheer and My Three New Orchids for Christmas

I have been a bit stressed since all the rain, floods, roads collapsing, and staying close to home since Christmas in my county so I am relying on my book friends for good cheer. The first book I am rereading and is "The Code of the Woosters" by P.G. Wodehouse. It features the wonderful Jeeves and Wooster and their madcap adventures. I think there is humor on every page, for example Bertie Wooster describes his friend as "All right up to the neck, but from there on pure concrete." So many adventures around a sterling silver cow creamer. Will marriages go ahead, will people end up arrested? Mary commented that the audio book versions of Wodehouse books are wonderful, I would like to try one some day.

The second book I am also rereading, "Miss Buncle Married" by D.E. Stevenson. If you haven't read "Miss Buncle's Book" read that one first, it is very humorous. Miss Buncle needs money and writes a novel which is published and which gets her into big trouble in the English village where she lives.

The third book "14,000 Things to be Happy About" by Barbara Ann Kipfer has a title that is self explanatory. She developed her list over a 50 year period and this is an updated version.

Her tips are each just a few words or a sentence. "A cake baking." "Pet portraits." "Clutch purses." "Dulcimer music" and "Green Goddess salad dressing" are a sampling.

 

The next book I am reading (yes, I am currently reading several books) is "The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen: 83 1/4 Years Old" by apparently Hendrik Groen himself. After some research I learned that the actual author is a Dutch writer, Peter de Smet, 61 when this book was published six years ago.This is fun, Hendrik lives in an old folks home in Amsterdam and is grumpy and active and finds friends to go out and have adventures with. There are two or three more books in this series.

 

Just for fun and a glimpse of beauty, I show you my new orchids that my younger son bought me for Christmas, one purple, one white and one yellow. Orchids are a favorite with me, so pretty and easy care. The main thing is finding the right light for them, they like an east facing window so they don't get sun burned. They don't tolerate intense direct sunlight, especially afternoon sun.

Have you found any lighthearted books to read that you can recommend in a comment?

Christmas 2022, Mr. Bounce wearing his Santa hat and Treats for delivery drivers

 

Bounce in a pensive mood this week, wearing his Santa hat.

Below is our nativity set we have had for 40 years. This is the way I arranged it in 2021.

Above is water and snack chips I put out at my front door for the delivery drivers who work so hard. I am impressed that last year they did not take the sweet treats or soda, just the water, unsweetened teas and chips I put out. So this year I skipped the sweet treats. They are a healthy bunch of drivers.

Above is the new arrangement of my nativity scene in 2022, each year is a bit different.

Christmas is a happy and holy day to celebrate God sending us his son in the form of a new born baby. All those who believe in him have his gift of eternal life. We don't deserve it, none are perfect. What a life saving gift. He is the light of the world. My sons and I will attend the Christmas Eve service at church Dec. 24 at 4 p.m., a lovely time to worship. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

Magic of Snow in California Christmas 2021 and a New Year Is Here

 Happy New Year to you all.

One event was a highlight to my Christmas of 2021. Actually all of Christmas for my family was upbeat. The highlight was that my adult sons asked to go to our church Christmas Eve candlelight service, and my younger son's girlfriend wanted to come too, so that made it even more fun.

 

 

We got there early and talked to my friends and introduced people all around. About 200 people came to church, all masked per regulation. Young and old, lots of songs sung, a meaningful message from the lead pastor. It just elevates the spirits to gather with like minded loving people, united to worship and strengthen friendships. We collected money that night for two local charities. The lights in church were turned out and each person was given a candle to light. After singing a hymn in the dark lit by our 200 candles we all raised our candles up high, illuminating the darkness. Light always wins against the dark.

A magical moment came when the minister talked about snow ball fights after church. I didn't know what he was talking about; where we live in California it does not snow. Lo and behold as we walked out after the service big snowflakes drifted down from on high right outside the church. I played in the snowflakes and felt like a child again. 

Hidden up high on a balcony was one of our ministers hand cranking a snow machine. It was such fun, especially for the little kids. And the adults got to play too.

 

Below is a photo I found online that I couldn't resist sharing: reindeer, little fur friends, a lantern and snow.

 

 

Happy New Year friends.

Merry Christmas 2021, magnolia bloom, our tree and Bounce

 

John 3:16 is often quoted around Christmas time, and for the best reasons. In it we read that the birth of Jesus signals to us that the gift of eternal life is available to all those who believe in Jesus,  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, That whosoever believeth in Him shall have eternal life." This promise makes me happy, knowing that Jesus is preparing a home in heaven for me. I know many of you love that promise too.

Another promise is that when we ask truly for forgiveness of sins our sins will be forgiven and we can start anew with a clean slate in life. "If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things are gone, everything is new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

 

Bounce adds his greetings of hope and joy to all his friends and fans! Merry Christmas to All.

My Christmas tree this year was brought to me by my sons who drove a truck to a Christmas tree farm with Bounce to help pick out a tree. They met friendly goats and big dogs on the farm which was a treat for Mr. B. The tree is 7 feet tall.

 

And a surprise in my yard, my purple magnolia is in bloom, here in California. It is actually called Black Tulip magnolia. I recall reading that it is the darkest red, closest to purple or black, of all the magnolias.

Wishing you all the joys of the season and a Merry Christmas to you both near and far.

Christmas book I wrote, shameless self promotion

 Hi all.Tis that time of the year when some of you may want some Christmas inspiration, recipes, ideas, and more. I have new blog followers so this book "A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" may be new to you. Some of you know I co-authored a colorful hard cover book about how to celebrate Christmas easily and inexpensively, while putting Christ at the center of the holiday. This involves helping others, and how to make inexpensive gifts, fun family activities, and more.

 Below is one of the pages in the book I wrote, with its warm illustrations.

Below is the cover of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts and an Amazon link. I hope the link works!

 Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

How did this book get written and published? 

I was friends online with five other Christian writers and one of the ladies proposed this book to her publisher and they said yes. Two of us live in Texas, three in Ohio and me way out here on the west coast, in California. We each wrote many short sections and tips. I wrote about green ideas for the holidays and my first Christmas camping in the Everglades as a child. One of us wrote about her first Christmas with her two adopted children who are siblings. It was a joy to write. We also decided to pay a few writer friends to write short one page true stories about Christmas firsts they experienced. One had a reunion with a prodigal son, for example. We paid them from the advance the publisher paid us. The publisher gets my thanks for the beautiful art on every page of our book. 

If you read and enjoy my book, I would love if you post a review online, on Amazon, Good Reads, etc. Christianbook.com also sells our book. Merry Christmas to All.

The Christmas book I wrote" A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts"

 Two friends reminded me to post about the Christmas book I co-authored, so here I am doing just that.

I enjoyed writing this book and its pages are filled with goodies. My baklava family recipe is shared in it. Once I made this baklava for a potluck and a man from across the room called out "I want to marry the woman who made this baklava." Sorry to disappoint him but I was already married.

 

Anyhow, this book is a resource that is fun and helpful to pull out each year in the Christmas season.  In it we co-authors share what our favorite seasonal movies and books and charities are, easy and inexpensive gifts to make, you name it. Also we wrote about Christmas firsts for us, including Karen's first Christmas with her two adopted children and a purple stocking, Leslie and Cathy's Nativity Treasure Hunt ideas, my camping trip in the Everglades at Christmas and more. Plus the story from the Bible about the birth of Jesus. The full title is "A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday".

Here is a photo I took of a page in the book.

Let's see if I can get the URL for Amazon to display correctly! A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts 

Yesterday Amazon had one copy and today it says out of stock, more to arrive soon. Maybe one of you dear friends bought that copy this morning! They do sell used copies on Amazon. Some of you commented how nice to share the expense of publishing but I am delighted to tell you all that there was no spending of money by the authors; the publisher paid completely for the publication, including paying the authors (that's me) and the artists. This is a traditional publisher, Leafwood Publishers, an imprint of Abilene Christian University Press. I stand amazed at the artwork in the book that the publisher had created.

Here is a photo of our Christmas tree this year, bought from an area tree farm that survived the recent fires. The tree has a lot of decorations on it, as of Dec. 12, and we have many more to add. My sons and Bounce went to the farm to find a tree to cut down. They walked up and down hills and ravines and found a gorgeous tree. We all agree it is our prettiest tree ever. Although that is what we think every year.

How is your Christmas season? Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you have a tree? I hope all of you have a fine December and holiday. This has been a rough year world wide and it is good to see lots of light shining in the darkness.

 

Merry Christmas to All

I do love the Christmas season and hope yours is Merry.
"I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

"And this will be the sign to you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Luke 2:12
This is what makes Christmas so meaningful to me and to Christians around the world.
Below is my nativity snow globe which plays "O Holy Night." I had been wanting a snow globe for a few years and purchased this in 2018 for that Christmas. I keep it out all year.

Joy to All.

Our new Christmas Angel is Flying Our Way

Our new Christmas Angel above is flying our way. Isn't she lovely?
I ordered her today online.
I am sad to retire our 20 year old angel but I noticed scorch marks around her lights, so it sounds dangerous. I will keep her and display her but not plugged in. Quite a few of you blog friends have commented on her being retired, and I realized, I am retired too. Now she (we) can sit back and enjoy the season.
Here is our graceful older angel below.

Lane brought over our beautiful tree. He went to three Christmas tree sales places, then went back to the second one and made the purchase. He also used a kit and made an ornament with Bounce's footprints on it.

The first two ornaments I put on the tree were Bounce's above and one that Colt gave me in church yesterday. His neighbor is short on money so sold ornaments she paints and he bought five. They are very pretty. He also bought one and gave it to my friend Carole in church. That was the first time he met her. The one I chose, below, has a cute whiskered gnome and a mushroom on it.

Our new Christmas angel arrived 3 days after I ordered her so today she is at home on the top of our tree. This Sunday Dec. 15 we will have a Christmas party at church with a white elephant gift exchange. You do NOT buy a gift, but bring something from your house that you don't want and wrap it up to exchange. I think then after you open your gift anyone can claim it. It sounds entertaining and I will let you know how it goes. Plus everyone brings food to share, I am buying a fruit tart to bring. The party will be after the first service, in our Bible study group, usually 20 people show up, but lots more might come for this gathering.
I am excited about this holy season and church is a great preparation for it, full of lights and joy. I hope your December is a good one.

For Unto Us a Child Is Born and my sweet lamb a friend made

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a son is given; And the government shall be upon his shoulders And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
Isaiah 9:6-7

Below is my new addition to the nativity scene, a faithful white clay sheep made by a friend.

Isn't the sheep Diane made a cutie? The name I might give him is Happy. Or do you have a suggestion for a name?


At this holy season may God quiet you with his peace, comfort you with his presence, and bless you with his love.

Merry Christmas and Ho Ho Ho to All.

Christmas Beauty at My House