Merry Christmas to all our friends and family all over the world!!

making a house a festive home

I got this Santa years ago at one of the kid 's school fund raiser. The incense smoke comes out of the coffee cup.


There is an ad in Maine about a store that says "I should have bought it when I saw it...." So true around here so I'm always looking and thinking when I might use or need something. In March we received a Christmas pkg with Martha Stewart Christmas magazine I looked briefly and put it away till this fall. When I saw these "snow"covered branches back in September... I thought about the MS mag and got inspired.


then there is just being crafty and using what you or a friend has.....thus homemade gift tags , these were fun to make, and felt ornaments



And as many plastic snow flakes I can find!!
!

Our discount 90% Target tree, with some ornaments from Maine , most from Costa Rica and here.


Our house from the out side.. putting up lights and not freezing... and lights on a blooming hibiscus..just felt wrong.



Merry Christmas to all!!!

December in Shell Ecuador

I've been helping out at the Nate Saint Memorial School, subbing and helping with the Christmas play. It's a great group of kids from First grade to 8th grade. They made ornaments for the Hospital 's lobby tree. They performed an abridged version of the Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
back stage


Most of the girls attend Girls Club on Wednesday afternoons at the house, we've studied Ruth and are going through Esther, we've baked embroidered, learned how to write a proper letter,and I hope had fun. I love working with all these missionary kids they are a special bunch.

one of my favorite carols

"Christmas Bells"
(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"



a little fun with felt! I made 9 next year I'll be making 12!

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