tags, awards and such...

This award is from Fairmaiden

She shares perfect peace and beauty from her cottage.

Thank you for the sweet remembrance...

1. I'm short (to quote my daughter)-

the only time I crest 5' is with heels.

2. My career of choice is mothering and homeschooling.

We just began our 23rd year of homeschooling

(that's a long time).

It has become a blessed way of life.

3. I love old architecture.

I've been known to convince my honey

we *needed* to save a falling down house

just for the old door.

Needless to say, that door travels with us

from house to house

and is currently the door to our bedroom.

4. My current collection is old composition dolls

I looked around and thought how did I get all of these?

I guess that's how a collection starts:)

How could you not *love* them?

5.I just started drinking coffee when I turned 45-

but it has to be a mocha.

Have you tried Land Of Lakes dark cocoa mix?

Heavenly!

6. My love of roses, dishes, antiques

and of all things old, pretty and pink

I owe to my grandmother... she took me to antique shows, taught me to garden, and the art of setting a beautiful table.

I think she would draw the line

at all of this white paint, though!

~This is her rocking chair~



This award I received from Gracey and Miss G

Thanks, ladies!

6 things I support:

1. femininity

2. marriage until death-do-us part

3. God -given responsibility to raise our children in His ways

4. children are a blessing, to be received as such

5. honesty, loyalty, and kindness


6. family togetherness...the family that works together, plays together, prays together...stays together.

If you'd like to play along...just comment here...I'd love to get to know you a little better, too!

Merry Christmas to all ...

and to all

good night!

Christmas past and present...

They'll be here in just a few minutes...
We celebrate on Christmas Eve

We begin with dinner

my vintage *rosepoint* dishes
Then we'll all go to candlelight service


And back for
dessert, presents
and maybe a snowball fight!

O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He apppeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of HOPE, the weary world REJOICES,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees,
Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

christmas past and present # 2

It's a PINK christmas...

complete with homemade pink marshmallows

christmas past and present # 3

Tonight is my daughter's Christmas party

I am *almost* finished

putting up The Christmas Decorations.

Just how many pink balls

can one put around, anyway?

Too many, said she.

This is the current state of affairs.



Hopefully I'll get back later with the end results.

Have a great day with all of those last -minute details!

christmas past and present # 4

This is my all-time favorite Christmas gift.
During our early-married days

money was tight, really tight.

We were doing "coupons" for gifts

My dear husband made me 6 of these candlesticks

out of a scrap 2X4!

It goes to show you can always come up with something

to show how much you love.

I will treasure them always.

christmas past and present # 5

Moresweet

Family Memories

christmas past and present # 6

I'd better get busy!

Have a wonderful day,

Rene'

christmas past and present #7

Baking Day

We cleared the island

(see yesterday's post)

and

made our traditional cut-out cookies.

Ian has to do everything the big boys do.

Ian and Auntie Gracie

Today we all went to Tasha's

She can't take the babies out

so

Cookies on the GO!


WE had a hard time getting started

Everyone really just wanted to hold the babies!



Brogan gets a bite!

christmas past and present #8

This is a "Keep it Real" post.

Let's be honest

As women, wives, and mothers,

the Christmas celebration

brings pressure, expectations and

more work to our already full lives.

There are goodies to bake,

homes to decorate and give that "magical" feel to,

gifts to make or purchase, and wrap,

dinner to make,

advent to celebrate,

all while making sure

that the "traditions" go on

and our children have warm fuzzy memories.

All of this is supposed to be done,

with the *spirit* of Christmas;

Remembering the

*reason for the season*

I confess

it is a constant battle for me

to keep it all in perspective.

I'm sure I've failed miserably at times

and been,

*gasp*

cranky!

And there is a reason I only posted

the parlor the other day-

it is the only room finished!

The rest of the house is a disaster...

We have company coming in 6 days!

Help!

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and

My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

Luke 1:46,47

I will *choose* to magnify

I will *choose* to rejoice

in the midst

of the chaos and pressure

swirling around me.