Holiday Christmas Memories Memory Photo Album

Over the Christmas holidays I noticed our older son reading through a family memory album that we have had since 1995.   He'd smile and laugh and ask  questions or read comments every now and then that were in the album.  He was six years old when we received it as a gift from a neighbor. At the time I thought it was an unusual gift but each year I have added notes, our annual Christmas photo and Christmas letter to it.  I had not sat down and actually read through it myself in several years.   

If you don't write annual Christmas letters, you might try something different, like a drawing or a photo montage.  My sister-in-law writes poems each year.  One day I may try that.   I personally like letters because they are fairly easy to write and  I include them with our Christmas cards and/or emails to friends over the holidays.  I look through my calendar and make a few notes of the important events that occurred throughout the year.   Everyone loves a family photo. Sometimes we are scrambling the week before Christmas to get one taken but we always do so.    My personal pet peeve is receiving a card with just children in it.  I much prefer to see the entire family in a holiday photo.   Anyway, it's such a sweet trip down memory lane for you and your children to review the letters and photos every so often to see what's happened, remember good times and bad, see how much they have grown and changed through the years...  

Here is our album and some of the things in it.  I have saved some of our children's Christmas artwork as well...

 One of my first attempts at "publishing" a newsletter.

Enter a computer and word processing and holiday stationery...

The discovery of Sam's Club photo cards and new stationery...

I think my writing has improved, too. :)

Memories are kept in our hearts but oh, how wonderful to see them and hold them as well...  :)

Florida in Winter / Photography

Merry Christmas to You! Christ is Born...Emmanuel...God with Us

And now, the Christmas story from Luke 2, King James Version (I love this version for this particular passage)...

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

Luke 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 

Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 

Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 

Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 

Luke 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 

Luke 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 

Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 

Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 

Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 

Luke 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Charlie Brown Scripture Recitation  LINK

Merry Christmas from our family to you and yours!

Have a joyous day.

Sights of Christmas / Lights and Decorations

One thing about having to go out in the evening this week to play at the Dickens performances was that I got to meander through some neighborhoods on the way home.  Here are few photos from the other night:

We didn't put up any major outdoor lights this year (just a little tree with lights by the front door), but I love seeing everyone else's! Merry Christmas!

Plus, when I got home and parked the car I was able to step out and take this shot of the Winter Solstice moon, high and bright in the sky.  The star that led the wise men surely as at least this bright...

Elf Yourself / Office Max + Office Max $10 Coupon

Here is a fun thing to do to send to your friends. Office Max sponsors the Elf Yourself video that you make yourself. It's free and is available online for you and your friends and family to view.  It walks you through the creation of the video. All you need is one or more good photos with the faces of those you want to include in the video.

The one I made for our family at THIS LINK.

As a bonus surprise, a few days after I made it, I received an online coupon good through next week for $10 off of $30 purchase at Office Max!

Christmas Event : Dickens by Candlelight

This was a fun opportunity for me to play the piano Dec. 19-21  (4x) here in Orlando.  A friend  invited me to play Christmas carols at this year's  production of Dickens by Candlelight.  

My husband and I attended on Sunday evening with two guests.   The director and his wife are old friends of mine from our former church, Terry and Robin Olson.  Robin wrote this adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol which has been performed just about every year since 1997.  It is a delightful show and the three players did an excellent job.  Our friends both have performed in previous productions.  I love this photo of them.  :)

After being greeted at the door,  folks begin their evening by sipping hot wassail in the lobby. This year's production was held in the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Centre on Orange Avenue (by Lightstyle). If you are an Orlando resident, you may remember it as being the old utilities building.

Then there is a caroling time with the audience.  The three performers lead the singing (I played for this part).  We sang Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful and The First Noel.   There is also a question and answer time about why the play is divided into staves rather than acts (do you know?), about why A Christmas Carol is subtitled A Ghost Story of Christmas, and an interesting fact about Dickens himself presenting  one-man performances of the story in friends' homes.  I had never heard that before either.  For the last carol, the lights go out--a little tricky for me playing music from just the light of candles.  :)

Here is everyone singing carols on Sunday night. 

Next everyone enters a large room where tables are set with fine china for a proper English tea with homemade cookies.  Very lovely.  We had table #6 below.  

We sip and chat for about 15 minutes or so, then the show begins with the three playing all the parts, walking throughout the room and interacting with the audience at various times.

The three players:  Monica, John and Morgan

All in all, a lovely evening.  If you missed it this year, be sure to attend this special evening in 2011.  Merry Christmas.  And by all means, read the book if you never have... a classic Christmas story of redemption.

advent of Christ / Christmas / 4th Sunday of Advent

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent.  Again, here is a review from last year of the ABC's of Advent to do with your children, Sunday School class and/or friends.  Be sure to click on the links to my  earlier posts on the 1st,  2nd and 3rd Sundays of Advent.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 19, 2010

Today we relight the first three candles of the Advent Wreath — the candles of HOPE, PEACE and JOY. Now we light the fourth candle of Advent. This is the candle of LOVE. Jesus demonstrated self-giving love in his ministry as the Good Shepherd. Advent is a time for kindness, thinking of others, and sharing with others. It is a time to love as God loved us by giving us his most precious gift. As God is love, let us be love also. In the Book of Deuteronomy we find these words:

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”—Deuteronomy 10:17-19a

From the Gospel of John we hear:

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”—John 13:34-35

Let us pray:

Teach us to love, O Lord. May we always remember to put you first as we follow Christ’s footsteps, that we may know your love and show it in our lives. As we prepare for our celebration of Jesus’ birth, also fill our hearts with love for the world, that all may know your love and the one whom you have sent, your son, our Savior. Amen.  SOURCE

CAROLS FOR TODAY

Angels We Have Heard on High

What Child Is This?

Photography: Watch my Red Amaryllis Bloom

I bought an Amaryllis in a pot from Lowe's the week before  Thanksgiving and planted it that week.  I captured the growth of it as it started to bud and bloom.   A beautiful red color in the shape of trumpets to announce the celebration of Jesus' birth. [Its original meaning began in Greek mythology but I like  my symbolism  better.]   

I was so hoping to see it burst into full bloom and stayed up late one night since it was almost time.  The next morning the first flowers had completely formed.

I thought it had two blossoms but turns out, there are four!

If I had waited another week or so to plant it, it probably would have bloomed at Christmas.  The blossoms are starting to fade today.   But, oh, how we have enjoyed having it on our kitchen table.  Just watching it grow makes you smile.  I may run out and get another one before Christmas!  :)

Luke 12:27 

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

but I tell you, not even aSolomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these."