Sleeping Under the Tree

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are a couple of photos taken of more Christmas decorations which have made an appearance at Faulkner Farms (circa 1842).

REMINDER #1, REMINDER #1, REMINDER #1 - I have begun gathering photos of unique inflatables in and around our area. The Twelve Days of Inflatables begins on A Simple Life December 13 and will end Christmas Eve.

REMINDER #2, REMINDER #2, REMINDER #2 - It's Wednesday! You know what that means. It is Encouraging Wednesday! Get busy and text, call or e-mail people you know need a kind, uplifting word during this holiday season. Remember... It only takes a minute to make a difference in someone's day or life.

REMINDER #3, REMINDER #3, REMINDER #3 - If you are looking for new Christmas traditions, activities, recipes, etc., you can ALWAYS click on the 2008 and 2009 Blog Archives on my right sidebar. When you click on the year, the 12 months will pop up. Click on December of those two years to check out all the ideas which have been shared in the past.

RANDOMNESS - Each year, we spend several nights a week going to different neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights. When the kids were small, all five of us would pile into the van, turn on Christmas music and take a short 15 to 30 minute ride around town. Some nights we would come home and drink hot chocolate. Some nights we would stop for milkshakes to enjoy as we rode.

Since Austin and Josh are older now, of course, this doesn't appeal to them, but Roxie still loves it. (Let it be known if we threw a steak dinner in the back of the Big Gold Reindeer, Josh and Austin would be all about looking at Christmas lights... but we are on a Christmas budget, you see.)

Since I have this new project (The Twelve Days of Inflatables) coming up, I feel the need to hit as many neighborhoods as possible between now and December 13! Last night was slim pickins' in the Inflatable Department, but I've done some research, and I think I've got a winner picked out for tomorrow evening! We'll see!

Wednesday Wisdom - The last home we visited during the Christmas Home Tour this past weekend belonged to Susan Peacock. Her home is filled with scripture... on her walls, on her kitchen tiles... everywhere. It was beautiful. As we were leaving, she asked me to read something she had framed in the family room. One of her relatives (her sister, I think) had sent it to her.

She loved it enough to frame it and share it with everyone who came through her home that day. I loved it enough to ask her if I could borrow it for today's Wednesday Wisdom.

If I decorate my home perfectly with lovely gold bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family -

I'm just another decorator.

If I work in my kitchen baking Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals served on a beautifully adorned table, but do not show love to my family -

I'm just another cook.

If I volunteer in my community, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family -

It profits me nothing.

If I trim our Christmas tree with ornaments, attend holiday parties, and sing in the church choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ -

I have missed the point.

Love stops cooking to hug a child and kiss a mate.

Love sets aside the decorating to listen to a friend.

Love is kind, though stressed and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell and isn’t easily angered.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break; pearl rings will be lost; and golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will never end.

It makes you stop and think, doesn't it?

Sleeping Under the Tree

I've mentioned this tradition before, but it is a good one so I'll re-post it.

When the children were small, we knew a family who also had three children. Every year when they decorated their Christmas tree, the whole family would fall asleep in the family room under the softly-lit tree.

We've done this many, many times over the years when the kids have had spend-the-night company. We would put out air mattresses, quilts, pillows, and then Mike or I would read a Christmas book to the children (The Crippled Lamb, The Three Trees, etc.).

It is absolutely FREE, FUN, FESTIVE and there is nothing more special than having devotion time in such a beautiful setting.

Try it! I bet you'll like it!

Have a wonderful Wednesday. Thursday's Blog Linkage deals with the word "overwhelming," which is very timely during the holiday season, don't you think? I also have a fun date for you and your little one.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda