Happy New Year~2013

I love the opportunity that a new beginning gives!  There is so much gratitude in my heart for 2012 and topping the list is my family.  A new baby, John Brian, and a new daughter to love, Sara.  There have been many more blessings and for each one I am so thankful.  It is good to look back and give thanks but as we move forward to a new year, I move with excitement!  My husband has always loved the number 13!  He wrote a book once in elementary school he called LUCKY 13.  So......heres to 2013 and I hope that new doors open for you, in your life, in your family, and that goodness follows you all the days of 2013!  LET'S CELEBRATE!

Christmas.....Red and White....

~A little pop of Christmas Red

on our screened porch~

~My theme this year is White and Red!  Perched in the Snow on the mantel, an Angel.....the beautiful angel was a gift from my

son-in-law, Brian, on my 50th birthday~(yes, he is thoughtful)

~The white deer were from my grandmother's Christmas treasures~

~The larger photo of Paris was a gift from my father in law's treasures of WWII~

~The smaller Paris photo is a treasured postcard  sent to me from Kara and Phil~ postmarked....Paris, France

~The little book is a recent purchase....The Night Before Christmas in Paris~

So....imagine my suprise, when Kara sent me this beautiful picture of a

beautiful Parisian snowfall.....and the woman asending the stairs in RED!

My theme seems to keep reocurring in places......WHITE and RED!

The beauty of Christmas is simple no matter where we celebrate or how we decorate the truth is......God sent the world a redeeming gift..... His Son Jesus.  He sent Him through a young Jewish girl named Mary and when the baby arrived, the Scriptures declare that she wrapped Him in swadding cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Shepherds also were nearby in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Try and imagine their thoughts as suddenly an Angel appeared to them announcing and confirming the EVENT which had just taken place, offering a calming assurance (that only an angel could do) that in spite of all the busy activity in the world about them, a miracle had just taken place which would bring JOY for all people.  Yes, a Savior was born in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord!  On that same night, suddently there was with the angel a multiude of heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Yes, on this quiet night, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 

I cherish the words above and reflect on the traditions of decorating our homes, buying and sharing gifts, baking cookies, singing Christmas carols, attending or being a part of programs at our churches and also in the community.  These moments help to bring us joy and excitment as we prepare for Christmas Day.  I enjoy the traditions we have "built" in our family over the years.....the fun of Christmas Eve, reading the Christmas story as a family and the laughter of everyone being together and building new memories each year. These are truly important in the life and legacy of a family.  But the most important part to me is the being together.  The blessings of watching the faces of the children and the grandchildren when they receive a gift that was unexpected. So, so sweet!  The motivation for giving for us all, I hope, will be love. THe Heavenly Father gave His greatest gift of Jesus because He loved us before we were ever born.....amazing love!

A softly illuminated room with a beautiful Christmas tree is the perfect place to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  Gifts of love.....gifts that leave behind memories for our family and friends.  Yes, that is what I plan to do....create memories for every person on my list in an atmosphere of love and beauty.  Maybe, I will walk in the snow and wear red!

Enjoy these lovely days leading up to Christmas! Soak it all in.......all around you!

I am praying that everyone who reads these words will have a Christmas that is beautiful and blessed and that truly creates a memory.

Dreaming of White....Dreaming of Peace.....

White flowers have ALWAYS been my favorite!  I love the brillance of light flickering off white flowers in a summer garden at dusk and  my favorite Christmas flowers are paperwhites. Their fragrance is heavenly too! White IS just so classic. There is a glow about white that is absloutely breathtaking!

This past week-end, I had the honour of decorating a bedroom in layers of white and cream.  The bedroom is a personal sanctuary, a refuge or a retreat where one can relax, refresh, and renew.

My inspiration for the bedroom came from a vintage 1960's cream "train" case I had seen at an antique shop in Mobile, Alabama (not far from my home).  I opened it, looking it over, and thought long about purchasing it but the price of $45.00 seemed high for one piece of luggage.  I even went back a second time and looked it over and left without making the purchase.  Still planning the details of my DREAM for the cream and white bedroom.

As I began the process, an old chest of drawers and a dresser were rejuvenated with a coat of cream paint.  I acquired the linens, made fluffy down filled pillows of cream and the room seemed to be coming together beautifully!  Taking a break from painting and decorating, my sister and I drove to an antique shop she had found.  Leaving the store with a few "treasures" we eyed another cute shop down the street.  This is where the DREAM was fulfilled!  In the window there was a three piece set of the same cream luggage (with a "train" case) that I had seen in Mobile. (We were now 500 miles away) All three pieces were perfect and the "price was right"!  A simple DREAM..fulfilled...how does this happen?  Lamps and lighting, trinkets, and pictures are important but it is the "heart" desires that truly count!  I BELIEVE even our whispers are heard by God.  He is the magnificent creator of our dreams and cares about every little thought we have and will go to great lengths to fulfill them.  A soft and brillant light cream set of luggage now graces the room.  It really is a peaceful place.

We all dream and hope for peace in our lives...completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, fullness, rest, and harmony.  We desire these all year long but these qualities become especially priceless during the rush of the holiday season of Christmas and New Years.  This is the most wonderful time of the year to extend PEACE to the people in our lives and perhaps even give so that the dreams of others are fulfilled.  The angels understood at Bethlehem that Jesus, the Christ child, was to be the great peace-bringer, as they called out "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  Luke 2:14-17

Yes, even a simple bedroom can be a place for dreamers where dreams unfold and point us on the way we are to travel on the path of life.

May you find and share many, many blessings of love and peace during this priceless season of our Savior's birth...."O Come let us adore Him!"