In the Bleak Mid Winter

Give Jesus your heart this Christmas.
It's the best gift you will ever receive. 

Christmas 1961

I was inspired by a fellow blogger posting remembering all the wonderful Christmas' now and way back. She posted a photo of her family when she was little.
So I dug this one up to remind me of just how wonderful Christmas is...even when we mourn the loss of loved ones, Christmas still draws us to one another and reminds us of the power of family love.

I am number six in this brood. The blondie.
I don't know how my Mom had time to do all the baking and cooking in preparation for Christmas and ALL the festivities and visitors that accompanied the season, have us all dressed in our Sunday bests, and still look spectacular herself. Amazing woman!

Don't ya just love that old lamp?

Don's Photo Boxing Day Blitz

Don's Photos is having it's annual sale and man, it is a good one.

If you are looking for a point and shoot camera, now is the time!

But what I wait for all year is there 9 cent sale. Yes 4X6 prints are just nine cents and nobody develops my pics better than Don's.

I know it sound a tad strange, but I wait all year and on boxing day I get busy. I spent four hours late last night going through all my photos from 2008 choosing all the ones I want developed in 4X6 and saving them to a file. This morning I uploaded them to Don's - a process that took five hours ~ yes FIVE hours because I uploaded 223 photos which came to several gigabytes.

And the years worth of 4X6's cost $22.00.

Now I will wait for Blacks 8X10 sale and their occasional 5X7 sale.

Photo hint. As I upload my photos during the year and go through them picking out the best, I copy those that would make great 8x10's (or 5x7's) to a separate file (named 2008 8x10). Then I am ready when the sale comes. If you get on Blacks and Don's mailing list you will hear about it a few days before it comes.

And now for a few Christmas memories from our home.

The presents under the tree still bring excitement and anticipation.






And here is part of my Christmas morning haul - note the Michael Buble and IL DIVO CD's - on my MP3 player already...been listening to them all day. Mmmm these gorgeous young men singing love songs with their fabulous voices and an assortment of body lotions ~ life is good! And for my more culinary side - a very cool salt and pepper grinder set. I am happy.


Our dinner table awaits our guests.
The blessings of sharing our blessings with others.
This is the best gift of all.


Our guests and enough food to feed an army.
Food, fellowship and friendship.



Then a post Christmas supper rip roaring game of Taboo - the youngens against the old ones.


The youngans won, but I am sure when we challenge them again we will win - we just took a little longer to warm up, old age and all. They just beat us by a hair!

Our missing kids called and so we were able to connect with them. I am giving thanks that they spent Christmas with loved ones and friends - especially Mark who is on his own in Thompson. The saints (his church fellowship) kept him well fed and loved over Christmas and for that I am giving a prayer of thanks. Thank you Lord for your people!!

Next year our children will all be home and there will be a huge gang of us and then....in another few years, Lord willing, the grandchildren will change the whole tone of our Christmas mornings.

Right now I kind of like getting up with David putting on the coffee, having a leisurely breakfast and THEN digging into the gifts about noon ~ unlike the days of little ones coming into our room at 5 am to ask if they could go downstairs NOW?

I do pray that you have had special moments to love your family and friends and that this joy and peace of the season will follow us and stay with us into the New year.

His Blessings to each and every one of you!

Disturbing Christmas

I am copying this post from the web site of Sovereign Grace Ministries and author C.J Mahaney
posted 12/23/2008

The days before Christmas can be a tiring season of preparation, planning, shopping, and wrapping. But I think as we prepare for the Christmas celebrations, dinners, travel, and gift giving, it’s equally important that we pause and prepare our souls for Christmas.

During this time of year, it may be easy to forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. But the purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross. The purpose of his birth was his death.

Or to put it more personally: Christmas is necessary because I am a sinner. The incarnation reminds us of our desperate condition before a holy God.

Several years ago WORLD Magazine published a column by William H. Smith with the provocative title, “Christmas is disturbing: Any real understanding of the Christmas messages will disturb anyone” (Dec. 26, 1992).

In part, Smith wrote:

Many people who otherwise ignore God and the church have some religious feeling, or feel they ought to, at this time of the year. So they make their way to a church service or Christmas program. And when they go, they come away feeling vaguely warmed or at least better for having gone, but not disturbed.

Why aren’t people disturbed by Christmas? One reason is our tendency to sanitize the birth narratives. We romanticize the story of Mary and Joseph rather than deal with the painful dilemma they faced when the Lord chose Mary to be the virgin who would conceive her child by the power of the Holy Spirit. We beautify the birth scene, not coming to terms with the stench of the stable, the poverty of the parents, the hostility of Herod. Don’t miss my point. There is something truly comforting and warming about the Christmas story, but it comes from understanding the reality, not from denying it.


Most of us also have not come to terms with the baby in the manger. We sing, “Glory to the newborn King.” But do we truly recognize that the baby lying in the manger is appointed by God to be the King, to be either the Savior or Judge of all people? He is a most threatening person.


Malachi foresaw his coming and said, “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.” As long as we can keep him in the manger, and feel the sentimental feelings we have for babies, Jesus doesn’t disturb us. But once we understand that his coming means for every one of us either salvation or condemnation, he disturbs us deeply.


What should be just as disturbing is the awful work Christ had to do to accomplish the salvation of his people. Yet his very name, Jesus, testifies to us of that work.


That baby was born so that “he who had no sin” would become “sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The baby’s destiny from the moment of his conception was hell—hell in the place of sinners. When I look into the manger, I come away shaken as I realize again that he was born to pay the unbearable penalty for my sins.


That’s the message of Christmas: God reconciled the world to himself through Christ, man’s sin has alienated him from God, and man’s reconciliation with God is possible only through faith in Christ…Christmas is disturbing.

Don’t get me wrong—Christmas should be a wonderful celebration. Properly understood, the message of Christmas confronts before it comforts, it disturbs before it delights.

The purpose of Christ’s birth was to live a sinless life, suffer as our substitute on the cross, satisfy the wrath of God, defeat death, and secure our forgiveness and salvation.

Christmas is about God the Father (the offended party) taking the initiative to send his only begotten son to offer his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, so that we might be forgiven for our many sins.

As Smith so fitly concludes his column:

Only those who have been profoundly disturbed to the point of deep repentance are able to receive the tidings of comfort, peace, and joy that Christmas proclaims.

Amen and Merry Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Take a look at how the world decorates their Christmas trees... beautiful!

Shortbread!

Just a quick update on the Christmas baking post...the shortbread is ALL GONE!!
just a few crumbs this morning.
hmmmmm

Christmas Cards!!

Do you believe it?? Yes, I made a card today! Several of them. For someone who never, EVER attempts cards because I cannot think smaller that 8X8....well I did it! Allison and I started at about 3 pm this afternoon and we just finished up about an hour ago - that is just over six hours of card making (and a little TV watching) and my back is killing me! But I have just over thirty cards to send out for Christmas... okay, New Years because if dear husband doesn't get the family letter written tonight they are NOT going to make it on time.

So here are a sampling of our creations today!

Hey - now to get them into envelopes with the yearly newsy letter, addressed, stamped and taken to a mail box!!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Christmas is here!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! (sung to the tune of "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas")

And I love it.

The only thing missing is my sweet kids - Paul and Allie in Victoria (where I hear there is snow!) and Mark in Northern Manitoba - Thompson busy firefighting in minus 40 weather. They will not be home for Christmas. sigh...

But Harold is home and so is Allison and that means Sammy her fiance is around here a lot too - eating... and playing board games with us. You can't marry our daughter unless you love to spend the evening playing board/card games and eating chocolate covered almonds. That is just the way it is. He has passed. Although he prefers taco chips and cream cheese spread which Allison makes for him twice a week!

With about 30 candles lit last night and some goodies prepared, a few friends and neighbours stopped over for some Christmas cheer.

We had fun and it looked very festive around here.

Now it feels like Christmas is underway even if I am not quite ready. But that doesn't matter. It will come anyways and the love of family and good food will make it a great time together.

Then I will hit the gym and try to undo the damage.

I have not yet made my Christmas cards....and should be doing that right now...but I am really tired and so uploading a few pics and a short blog seems a little easier tonight. Heading to bed in 30 minutes with a good book seems even easier. The Christmas cards may arrive after Christmas - I have 40 of them to make. yup...I am running a tad late.

My to do/buy list is getting shorter and my VISA longer...sigh..but they are all, for the most part very practical items for these grown kids of mine. You know... socks and underwear. haha just kidding.. although they do make a good stocking stuffer.

I baked this morning - up at the crack of dawn because they had to be done before work at JSI today...which BTW has a HUGE shipment coming in this Wednesday....give Laura three hours to get it all out though...hear that Laura? Three hours....hehehehe. I digress.


Yes, I made Gingerbread men and shortbread cookies early this morning and I am so proud of myself. And number one son decorated them... because he had the day off and I was flying out the door.

I wasn't going to bake this year...
At ALL!!
No time!!

The plan this morning was to head to the gym and work off a few of the treats from the weekend.

But Harold asked if I could please make some gingerbread men for him to take to his office party tonight. How could I say no??? This was a special request.

So instead of the gym I nibbled on gingerbread dough. mmmm

And since the kitchen was covered in flour and ginger bread dough, well why not make some shortbread too.

So I did.

As soon as it cooled though I packed up half of the shortbread to slip into the ever growing box of stuff I need to ship off to Mark.

I knew it would not last long around here... mmm melt in your mouth shortbread - just butter, icing sugar and a little flour to hold it together.

And Harold decorated the gingerbread men. Did a mighty fine job I think. I mean, really how many 27 yr olds take the time to do this kind of work.

Hahah - love that guy!

David is now eating the shortbread that was not packed... okay I have had a few pieces myself too.

Enjoy the season. Enjoy the small things. Enjoy the moments with loved ones. Give thanks for all the blessings. Rejoice! For we were once lost, but in Christ, found! This is amazing grace!

What you REALLY want for Christmas...

Come. Just unwrap the paper from this corner, peeling back the tape. Go ahead. Look. It’s all right—keep breathing. I know, I know … breathtaking, isn’t it?

visit this beautiful posting by Ann Voscamp at Holy Experience

Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s Strength and Consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Christmas 2007 Tis the Season for love and joy!

I love the new Fancy Pants Christmas paper and the new glitter stickers. All lovely products that will make your pages come together beautifully in no time at all. I also used some Christmas rub ons from daisyd.

This page is a lesson on how to get nine photos on one page. heheh Christmas morning at our house - kind of orderly chaos with a lot of laughs and hugs.

Christmas Eve we played Cranium - what a fun game for teams. We had a "Jolly Good Time"

I know an odd assortment of photos, but they all have special meaning for us - especially Dad's famous potatoes. As a matter of fact, they are soo famous that I ask him to make them ALL the time. I think he should come up with a few more specialties that he can make ALL the time.... don't ya think? Heck... if he gets really good he can....just make supper. Do you think he'll catch on? Good thing he doesn't read this blog.......

And speaking of well trained..those are my kids doing the dishes. Am I smart or what??!!
The cinnamon buns are mine, thank you! (okay I took them out of the freezer to rise the night before but I got them out of the oven in time!) The mini quiche's are courtesy of M&M's - my favorite place at Christmas when I work up until 4 pm on Christmas eve. And I hate to say it - but they are darn close to being as good as my home made quiches....close I said! Just a few minor complaints Christmas morning that I can certainly get over (very quickly)

Allison looked at these pages and said "Oh I love Christmas. I can't wait for it to be Christmas again" That from an eighteen year old. Could it be all those stockings stuffed with goodies lined up in a row? ...we must all be very, very good! ..or perhaps there are two Santa's aound here working three jobs?

Christmas - Tis the Season for love and joy! Creating memories of special family times. That is why we scrap book right? I love it!

Believe

This photos was part of the batch for the Christmas morning two page layout...but it was such a cute picture of Allison trying on her new hat and mittens from Santa...well it just deserved it's own page. This Best Creations Inc paper was perfect and so was the Pressed Petals scrap metal word. Added some Prima flowers and those fabulous Craft n Craftin' glitter snowflake stickers again(so beautiful and delicate), some bling on the flowers and voila - she is done. Her fiance came to the door just as I was finishing up - he thought it was very cute. Allison thought I should just put is away somewhere.
..... oh brother.

Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming

This is one of my favorite Christmas hymns and I love to sing it. I have sung it at church and in an adult choir with beautiful harmony. These photos are from our churches Christmas Gospel outreach. David played his guitar, Paul and Allison both performed pieces on the piano and our whole family (plus a friend of mine who was an alto) did four part harmony of my favorite hymn - Lo How a Rose E're Blooming. It is an old 16th century German hymn.

The layout is rather unique. Every picture had the back of a fellows white head on it and a rather large one - it seemed to pick up most of the flash. I am not sure who took the photos. So I have them overlapping in such a way that I was able to cover the head in all but the bottom one. I actually like the layout.

The paper is the new Moxie Winter Wishes. I used some music rub-ons from Maya Road, some heidi grace rub-ons, beautiful Craft n Craftin' glitter snow flake stickers, my white gel pen and I put the words to the song on a transparency. Somehow the transparency picked up some green on the scan and I could not photoshop it out - but there is no green in this layout. Christmas 2001 celebrations.

I forget just how busy life was back then. Good thing I was a whole lot younger. Loved doing this layout and remembering this time of singing with my whole gang. I love em!

Christmas Morning

What a wonderful time of joy, laughter and utter chaos - Christmas morning. We do open one gift at a time and savor this special time together - but there is an element of chaos and I am glad to be past the small toys with batteries and little parts era of our lives. I enjoyed such good memories putting this page together. We have so many Christmas traditions and we so enjoy this time together. How do I leave any pictures out? They are each part of the whole Christmas morning experience - and what make us family!

This page was a challenge - 12 4X6 photos! Some cropping and trimming and I fit them all. I know it is busy - but the point was to capture the morning.

I have noticed that when my family look at my layouts, they focus immediately on the pictures and the memories - the journalling. They seem impervious to the product or technique. When fellow scrapbookers look at a layout they comment on the impression, the products, the technique. Sometimes it is fun to use a new product in a special way. For other pages, it is the memory that needs recording.

The paper is Reminisce "Snowglobe", Pressed petals 'Monday Metals' (from my stash), Basic Grey 'wilma' chipboard letters inked and glazed and some of the new Beary Patch Christmas rub-ons which are very, very nice!!

Christmas is coming to JSI - a big box of beautiful Glitter stickers came yesterday and they are very nicely priced! Check em out!

Some really cool Hallowe'en paper also arrived along with matching embellishments.

Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isa 9:6-7

2Co 6:2 For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Merry Christmas to everyone, from our home to yours.....

NOW is the day of salvation....

Blessings!

from the Cortens'