Merry Christmas, to You!

We’re down to the wire now!  Are you excited?  Overwhelmed?  I’m a bit of both, to tell you the truth.  I am attempting to squish my natural Mary personality, and trying to follow Martha’s example instead! 

I’m really into decorating for Christmas this year!  I can’t stop!

For this go round, we have a full sized tree and another small one in our foyer, a full sized one in our “music room” and the largest in our family room. 

Do you wonder why there aren’t any gifts under our trees?  Because I haven’t wrapped any yet!  More on that later…

 
This is the mantle in our family room, which came from a home built in the 1800’s.  I often wonder what were Christmases like for those who gathered around it in olden times.

Mostly, I keep the decorating classic, but there are a few whimsical touches. 

I placed several odds and ends on a mirrored tray that used to sit on my mom’s dresser - a glass container of brightly colored Christmas bulbs, a lighted Christmas village house, a Yankee Candle, and a snowman snow globe, warms the foyer powder room in an unexpected way.   
 

A mohair teddy bear makes us girls happy.  He’s all nestled inside a Christmas stocking hanging on French doors which open up to our Christmas memory tree.  It’s full of keepsakes that we hold dear from many past Christmases.

One year when my youngest was outgrowing toys, but at that in-between age, we gave her a large collection of Christmas village items, which graces our kitchen this year.

 
She delights in setting it up each December, and it all gets more special to us with each passing Christmas.

Thus far, the moments spent relaxing with the family, or curling up with a cozy Christmas book and a stack of Christmas cookies have been the most special.

Now about those unwrapped presents - we’ve ordered a good many gifts online for each other, so a pile of shipped packages have arrived.  Trouble is, none of us can sort through or open them without potentially ruining surprises because we don’t know which belongs to who…  We didn’t think of that, but obviously should have!  :) On the bright side, the laughs about our predicament will add to our memories! 

And on the brightest side, not the packages or decorations, not the traditions or lights, not even the fond memories could compare to what we are celebrating – who He is and what He did.

 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Well, dear reader, “although it’s been said many times, many ways,” 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!