Happy New Year!

Last year I was busy playing Farmville, knowing the game was going to end. I had played this game since 2009 and it really filled a creative outlet. I met friends from all over the world. I was sad/mad that Zynga was taking it away. But it was also an answer to prayer, knowing I could use that time for Bible study. Little did I know that a little virus would also contribute to more time at home

I missed the game, but I had more time to read my Bible and a few other books. I had fun with my crafting group and was able to Bible journal with my grands. I also had my grandkids here since the schools closed down. It sure was nice when they started up again this past August.

I have chosen a Word each year for the past several years. 2021 was Hope. 2020 was Peace. The word I am thinking about for 2022 is Healthy. I know I need to get physically fit. I don't need to lose weight. I need to exercise and eat healthier. But more important, I need to get spiritually healthy. The Phillips Bible version says this. ..."Take the time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit." 1 Timothy 4:7

I also need to make better use of my time. I know I have ADD and I need to get more organized. I have never really done well with a planner. I am thinking of using one this year. I am thinking of combining my Project Gr8tful and my weekly Bible verse in it as well. I am really going to spend some time praying over these things.  Time goes by way to fast now and the older I get, the more I realize that I need to make the most of everyday that God gives me. In a blink of an eye, life happens. And speaking of a blink of an eye, I also feel we are drawing closer to the prophetic timeline of Biblical teachings. 

Now that the busyness of the Christmas season is over, I plan to re-read my Advent study on the second Advent, Maranatha, Lord come! There are a lot of things I want to do.

I normally wait until the New Year to start taking down my Christmas decorations. But I just felt I needed to get most of it done before. I have a lot of ornaments and I still pack all my Hallmark and Snoopy in the boxes. Even my husband is surprised. I want to spend more time in my studies and planning for Bible journaling with my grands and Life group. And of course more time with my family!

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Saturday 9 Merry Christmas!

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

1. As you can see, when Sam Winters was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be? For Covid to end and Peace!

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? Nice most of the time!

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train? Family coming here.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? A vacation for next July, a Glampin Craft Retreat in Texas.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie or TV special? Have you seen it yet this year? Yes!

White Christmas, A Christmas Carol 1951, It's A Wonderful Life and Charlie Brown Christmas.

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread? Gingerbread.

7. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind. O Holy Night.

8. What's your favorite winter beverage? Mexican Hot Chocolate.

9. What do you remember most about the 2020 holiday season? Thankful to have my family over for Christmas and we were all okay. Thank you Jesus!

If you have time, check out my granddaughter's solo. Link is at the top right menu bar. 

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for so many things! Faith, Family and Friends!

As I mentioned before, my grand daughter's performance. The link is above on the right.

Bible journaling with the grands.  John 6:35

Baking with the grands.

My crafty Corner Christmas

J

Jesus is the reason for all seasons!

Tuesday 4 Christmas

Let's discuss Christmas!

1. Is your tree up? How tall... what color lights? Is there a color scheme you use?

My main tree has been up since the beginning of Thanksgiving week. It is a 7 1/2 foot slimline. We keep a pencil the tree up year around. There is another pencil thin in the kitchen that is filled with gingerbread ornaments.

2.  Got a menu for Christmas Eve and Day? Not sure what we are having for Christmas Eve. All our kids go with the in-laws to celebrate. We are having Mexican food for dinner. We are having chicken pozole(hominy and chicken soup with a green chili base that is mild) chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, tamales and salad. Mexican bread, cookies and Mexican hot chocolate for dessert. Grands are baking cookies today.

 

3. When does it go up and how long does it stay up? It takes several days to decorate the house and several days to take it all down. I take the pencil thin tree nativity ornaments down first and fill it with snowmen and snowflakes. I take the fireplace mantle decor down and put up country snowmen that I keep up through January. I take my time because there is so much and I have to pack it all up myself.

4. What is your favorite Christmas memory. There are so many special Christmas's memories. On my last Christmas at home, my parents gave us a box of special ornaments. They go up every year.  Christmas 1980 was special because I was expecting my first baby. I would lay down and play a musical carousel that my parents gave me.  I played it after our son arrived and he turned his head toward the music. We gave that ornament to our son along with several others to our son and his wife for their first Christmas. We have done the same to our other son and daughter. Each year we have passed out ornaments to our kids and grandkids.  The tree below is next to my desk. I call this my crafty corner and I decorate it seasonally. 

When do you open your gifts? Our kids and grandkids come over Christmas morning in their pajamas. We have breakfast, and then open the stockings and presents. Everyone puts goodies in the stockings and enjoys it. We need another mantle!

This past Saturday my grands performed at their school's annual Christmas presentation. The children of Bright Beginnings told the Christmas story through scripture and song. My grandson had a solo in the Drummer Boy and my grand daughter sang with her classmates. Her solo's made this Mema proud. You can listen to a part of it at the link on the top right menu bar listed Audrina's Christmas.

On Sunday my family met for our annual family Christmas party and we had a great time! There was lots of food and the kids had fun playing together. After dinner the kids played a game hosted by my brother.  Each child has a question based on the birth of Jesus and every child got their question right and won a prize.

My son and his wife making hot chocolate.

Food and gifts were passed out before leaving. A few years ago we took a picture of the grands on the stairs and we did it again this year.

The baby on my grandson's lap is the little girl in the front left of the picture below. My grandson is on the top left in the picture below. Elodia i5 now and her brother is 3 and sitting behind her. Three more babies have joined our family but they did not come and one of the grands lives in Michigan. I know my mom and dad are looking down and smiling at all the beautiful children that have joined our family. 

We didn't do this last year because of Covid. A few members did not/ come because they were not feeling well. Praying we all stay healthy. Oh and hubby made salsa to pass out to everyone. Feliz Navidad!

Tomorrow is cookie baking day with the grands!

Saturday 9, New York

Hello friends, the days are flying bye! Tuesday I went to Christmas party for the seniors at our church and that is anyone over 60. Then on Thursday our life group went to a Tea House and we had a treat time! We plan to go to another one in the spring. I took my mom's hats and the ladies got to pick one to wear. It was really cold in the evening, but we made the most of it!

I made a little ornament for each of the ladies. 

Saturday 9: Please Come Home for Christmas (1992)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this video, Jon Bon Jovi recalls decorating the tree with Cindy Crawford. They took turns wearing a Santa hat. Will anyone in your household be donning a Santa hat this season? I wore one the other day. I also have lots of them for anyone that wants to wear one on Christmas morning.

 

2) He sings of the salutations he's received from friends and relatives. Have you received many holiday cards this year?  I have not received as many as before. It is sad that with the advent of the WWW., we continue to see less cards sent out. Back in Christmas 1973 I worked at the post office.  There were 35 of us sorting a sea of red, white and green envelopes. That did not include the people that would take the mail out of the full cases or the people that would bring more trays of mail in. The post office I worked at was a 24 hour facility and I worked the swing shift. It was a busy but exciting time. 10 years later, there were LSM machines where there were 14 operators keying in zips and while the runners moved trays of mail in and out while being processed. Another 10 years and 4 people did this while the computerized machines did all the scanning, barcoding and sorting. I saw a lot of changes while I worked there including the robots that sorted big packages and moved trays of mail. I retired in 2011.

 

3) Will you wrap many presents? Or do you prefer to use gift bags? I normally wrap a lot of presents. This year I using more gift bags for the grand nephews and nieces. But I will wrap the presents up for my grand kids. Even the one getting money. She will have to open a few boxes to get the cash!

 

4) Jon Bon Jovi says he and Frank Sinatra are distant relatives. Do you believe that musicality is a genetic gift, or that it can be taught? I think it is both!

5) Jon is such a big Star Wars fan that he wrote a carol called "R2-D2: We Wish You a Merry Christmas." There a dozen Star Wars movies. How many have you seen? I have seen them all! I have seen many of them with my oldest son since he was about 3. He is a buyer and seller of Star Wars vintage Toys.

6) Jon once guest-starred as Carrie's love interest in an episode of Sex and the City, the popular HBO sitcom set in New York. The new reboot, And Just Like That, also centers around NYC life. Where does your favorite TV show take place? I like several TV shows! New York, Seattle, Las Vegas and Hawaii.

7) Jon met his wife, Dorothea, when they were still in high school. Do you remember who you wanted to marry when you were in high school? I started dating my husband when I was a senior and we have been married 47 years now.

8) At Christmastime 1992, when this song was released, toys that tied into Disney's Little Mermaid were very popular. Have you purchased toys for anyone on your gift list this year? Yes for my grandson and one grand nephew. the rest are getting gift cards or clothes.

9) Jon recorded "Please Come Home for Christmas" to benefit The Special Olympics. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you. I support our local Pregnancy Help Center called Corona Life Services. We also participate in Operation Christmas Child and the Foster program for our Country.

It has been really cold for us all week in So. California. In fact, we were colder than New York City where my daughter has been on vacation. They will be home late tonight. Here are a few pictures she posted on her site.