"... TO GIVE UNTO THEM BEAUTY FOR ASHES, THE OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS; THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED." ISAIAH 61:3

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Reason - trite but right.

I love Christmas!

Utterly, completely, to the marrow of my being love Christmas!

I know the true meaning. I love my Jesus and celebrate His birth.
If I had nothing on the 25th of December but a song in my heart and a prayer on my lips, it would be enough.

But why shouldn't the birth of the King be surrounded by bling-bling?!



Oh Tannenbaum . . .
    You can keep your "chicken in every pot", I want a tree in every room!
We put the family tree with all the traditional and keepsake ornaments in the living room.



But we also have a blast putting up and decorating trees in other rooms with a more, shall we say, personalized touch . . .

Joey has his 'Christmas Story' tree
with Ralphie front and center.



I like Scrooge and Tiny Tim!
"God bless us, every one!"

Madison likes blues and greens
and anything whimsical!

Shelby wants color - and lots of it!


Tea cups and pitchers for the dining room -
Ok, so I've switched from tea to coffee,
but when do you ever see a coffee mug this cute?!


















































































Oh Little Town of Bethlehem . . .
    This idea actually came from my mom. I liked it so I'm continuing the tradition.
Nativities everywhere!
It doesn't matter how big or small. (Our smallest is 1" tall!)
We make it a sort of 'Where's Waldo' kind of game -
"OK kids, find baby Jesus!"


It just makes sense to be surrounded with reminders of the true gift of Christmas.









Oh Come All Ye Faithful . . .
    When we see Santa make his entrance at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, it's game on! It's gonna be all Christmas music all the time!
The First Noel, to Nat King Cole, to The Nutcracker - we want it all!

Oh you little Dickens you . . .
    Everyone has their fav holiday movies.
You can guess from the trees what a couple of ours are!
(By the way, there are a gazillion versions of  A Christmas Carol, but Alastair Sim is the best Scrooge evuh!)
We love 'It's A Wonderful Life', and 'The Nativity Story'.
The girls like 'The Santa Clause' movies and 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'.
Then there's 'The Polar Express''Elf', 'Miracle On 34th Street'  . . . this could take a while.

Yep, I love Christmas!
I love the family getting together.
I love the smell of cookies baking and candles burning.
I love seeing the children's choir at church singing their little hearts out while dressed as various barnyard animals.

So Merry Christmas dear friends!
May your wreaths hang straight, your Christmas lights never burn out and your hams be perfectly glazed!

And most of all, may you know Jesus -
The reason we sing.
The reason we celebrate.
The reason . . .