Sharing Christmas Memories

Being that it is the last day of 2007 and of December, I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures from our Christmas celebration. Christmas has come and gone, but I will hold memories of it close for years to come:-)


Here is Liam, fascinated by the tree, lights and ornaments. Every few minutes or so, I'd have to run over and rescue the tree from his curious grasp. All he really wanted was to listen to a musical ornament..so, I'd pick him up and turn it on and watch his eyes light up:-)

Here is my sweetie and me:-) We rarely have pictures of us together(because one of us is always behind the camera), but someone volunteered to take a couple of us. I really liked this one. Isn't my sweetie handsome?:-)

Here is Miss Brenna with her new ironing board and iron. She has wanted one for some time and so this Christmas we got her one. She LOVES it! She got right to work and ironed all her doll's clothes, all of Fiona's doll's clothes, Liam's socks..heehee..and even Daddy's pants! She is such a sweet girl and was so full of joy, that I had to get a picture or two of my little laundress.

Liam was completely clueless on Christmas Eve with all the gifts. Didn't care a bit about it;-) But in the morning, he found it to be quite fun. Here he is, opening his first gift, sent by one of my most dearest of friends and her daughter....he loved the little car and tractor inside:-)

And here is my dear Miss Fiona..having a brief break! She was pleased with all she got this year..can't you see her happy smile:-)

This year, Dan and I felt the tightness of finances, but we were still able to find the joy of Christmas without too much. We gave our children what we could and our family was blessed with generous family and friends!

As the new year begins, I am reminded of God's faithfulness to us and His provision. When I doubt, I must simply return to His Word to remember His promises and know that He will never forsake me!

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas, full of blessings and that your New Year will be full of joy and blessings!

Blessings,

Sommer

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dearest friends~I just wanted to pop in between all the hustle and bustle of this beautiful day to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! I pray that you all are blessed by this day and the awesome gift we've been given.

We have just one more gathering to go to tonight and then things will probably return to normal. It has been a very blessed Christmas for us this year....with many friends and family that have given us so much when we had so little! Thank you dear friends!

Blessings,

Sommer

Sunday Rest~Christmas

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

I pray this Christmas that we remember who Christ is...not just a baby, not just a man..but God, our Lord, our Saviour!

I'm not sure that I will get back on until after Christmas, so I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May it be full of joy, peace and memories that you may treasure for years to come!

Blessings,
Sommer

And The Stockings Were Hung....

Last night was a flurry of Christmas decorating:-) I'd done a little earlier this month, but we had not gotten a tree and the stockings were not yet hung. We'd decided because of finances that the tree would have to be left out this year...and really I was quite at peace about this, because really it is about Christ not the tree!

But, on Wednesday we visited Dan's Mom and I had seen some garland and asked where that might be found, so I could at least fashion something to hang our ornaments from. Well, she had several extra in her garage and when I told her what I wanted them for...she insisted that I take a little fake tree she had stored away as well. Oh, what joy! It really made me warm inside, because although I was fine with not having a tree this year and so were the children...it gave me such pleasure to know that I could have them decorate it this year too! They were quite excited and so last night, we found ourselvses around the tree decorating!

Here are some pictures of our home this Christmas:



Our stockings(crocheted by my Mom when I was a child..I need to make one for Liam for next year) and a beautiful snowflake.

I placed our Nativity scene and snowglobes on the piano with some of the garland, red bows and cardinals. Some of our cards are amongst the branches:-)

And here is our sweet, little tree:-) I have my usual tree skirt under it and the stain glass angel that we bought when first married tops it. I think the girls did an absolutely lovely job decorating:-) And my treadle sewing machine makes a good stand for it..and out of Liam's reach!

And just one thing else to share...this is the gingerbread house Fiona made at her Sunday evening Bible class. I think she did a lovely job with it:-)

Well, I hope you've enjoyed looking in my windows this Christmas and seeing how we've decorated our home on a slim budget. Whenever I feel lacking during the Christmas holidays, I just remember back to the Christmases recorded in the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They truly had little...but it was precious all the same!

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Sommer

A Little Holiday Baking

I know most of you have probably already started and completed several batches of Christmas cookies. However, I haven't seemed to get my act together until recently:-) So, this last Saturday I decided to do some baking!

I found a wonderfully simple recipe for Holiday Spritz cookies in my new Taste of Home magazine and thought I'd give them a whirl! So, I donned my new apron(sent to me by my dear friend Tilly~didn't she do a wonderful job? Thanks sweetie!!!) and pulled out my cookie press. I received this cookie press a couple of years ago, but this was the first time I've ever used it. I never had found a recipe for these kind of cookies that looked good to me.



Above you see me in my apron, stirring the cookie dough. This was an exceptionally easy and simple recipe. So I've decided I should share it with you all here....

Holiday Spritz

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp rum extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
Colored sugar

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar.

Bake at 375* for 6-9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Yield: 7 dozen

This was such a hit with my family, that we will be making them again this Thursday to take to our caroling event with our homeschool group:-) My children requested these:-) I may decide to use vanilla next time though, although the rum extract wasn't very strong. I just love vanilla!

Tomorrow, I hope to bake oatmeal cookies and pumpkin bread! And we will probably make some sugar cookies later in the week. Those are a must for Christmas! Who can resist icing cookies with the kids? Not me!!! Perhaps I will share pics of those too:-)

Blessings,

Sommer

Sunday Rest

"Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."

Proverbs 31:25-26

I so desire to be this woman. Yet, there are times when I open my mouth and wisdom is no where to be found! Kindness is not what I hear when I speak at times. It shames me to say so...but I am not always patient and kind with my children. I desire to be, and I pray to the Lord that He will work in my heart to be a kind and affectionate mother and wife. Don't get me wrong...I'm not always unkind. However, when the baby is clingy and fussy and the girls are disobedient and whiney....well, sometimes the unkindness is more prevalent than affection and kindness.

Lord, help me to become the mother and wife I long to be!

Blessings,

Sommer

It's Snowing!

Okay, not really...but I wish it was:-) Living in California and especially in the area of California I live, we really don't get snow. Maybe once in awhile up on the hill tops...but that isn't very often.

So, to at least make it feel like a white Christmas, we decided to make snow flakes. How do you do that, you may wonder? Well, we took white paper and cut it into 4 squares and then folded those in half twice and we started snipping and clipping here and there! And voila! Snowflakes:-)

Here is Brenna with her glittery ones....




And Fiona with a few of her snowflakes....

And this is all of our un-glittered ones. I think the girls did beautifully for their first time making snowflakes and I know they had a very fun time(especially with glitter dust).

And as you can see...we are having some flurries;-)

So, what kind of home-made decorations are you making? Or do you have some very special keepsake decorations that you or someone made you when you were young?

The paper snowflakes are something I used to love making with my Mom when I was a child. It was always so fun to try to make unique designs with them. This time I tried some new techniques and they came out quite nice:-) We also use to make salt-dough ornaments and paint them...we did this last year to give as gifts for family.

I look forward to seeing some of your Christmas craftiness...leave me a note and your blog address and I'll come take a peek!

Merry Christmas,
Sommer

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ~ John 1:4-5

This was the verse I received today in my daily scripture email. Isn't that just a beautiful verse?! Because of Christ's birth, darkness has been defeated and the light shines brighter than anything you can imagine! Thank you Lord for this great gift of amazing light! Christ is victorious!

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Sommer

Sunday Rest

"And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth."

Luke 1:14

I know that this particular verse refers to the birth of John the Baptist, but it is this spirit with which we ought to be filled at this time. How many of us really feel joy and gladness when we prepare for Christmas? I think a lot of us really feel wiped out, stressed and frazzled right about now. But when we think of what Christmas is about, the fact that our Lord and Saviour came down as a wee babe, we ought to be filled with joy and gladness, should we not?

Two years ago, I suffered a miscarraige just before the holidays...it was terribly hard to get through Thanksgiving. During December, I felt very little joy and really didn't do much until the very last parts of the month. However, even with a loss as great as that...the gift given so long ago out weighs such pain. I exhort you to find joy and gladness this season! I encourage you to refocus on the true meaning of Christmas and then spread that joy around!

Here are a couple of verses that may help you have the Joy of the Lord~

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Romans 14:17

May this encourage you today and give you some joy!

Blessings,

Sommer

Full, Yet Thirsty Wednesday(on Thursday)

My dear friend Peggy posted this yesterday, and I thought I'd join in today:-) So, enjoy....

What is your heart's praise and yet, your heart's need today?

My heart's praise today is....

the joy of watching my daughter enjoy learning about bats...such joy!

My heart's need today is....

to just enjoy my children and to be patient, no matter what.

Feel free to join in:-) Just link back to Peggy HERE.

Blessings,

Sommer

Beginning Advent

I fear that I have neglected my little blog here for a bit. So sorry!

It is just amazing how the last month has flown by and now we are heading into the Christmas season. I love Christmas! It is my most favorite of holidays and I enjoy the specialness of it. Giving gifts and finding ways to share and have joy during this time is some of the most important of events for me. But above all else, is the joy of knowing that my Lord and Saviour came down as a helpless babe all those many years ago. He came so little and so seemingly helpless...and yet, He is God! Mighty and capable of great deeds..and years later He gave the most awesome gift! I think that it is most important to remember this at this time of year. No matter your circumstances...rich or poor, in good health or very ill....the true meaning of Christmas is the same and we should not think on it lightly. We should treasure it and spread the joy of our salvation to all around us!

Well, last night, I started my celebration of Christmas by taking my kids and parents to a Tree Lighting in a local community near us. It was soooo much fun! It seemed that the whole town turned out and of course the Mayor and Citizens of the Year. It was quite cold, so my Dad bought everyone hot cocoa....yummy! As we awaited the lighting of the tree, a lovely older fellow led the crowd in caroling. I just loved it...and I even knew most of the songs:-) In the above picture, the tree had just been lit. If I'd know there was a star on the top...I would have tried to get a picture of it too. But, I didn't notice it until later...oh well, I think it was a very pretty one:-)

Santa even showed up on a fire truck! That was fun to watch. I've never told my kids that Santa was real, but they still enjoyed watching that. Below is a pic of my parents(my Mom is holding Liam)and the kids. I really enjoyed spending this time with them.

What a way to bring in the Advent! The joy one receives from watching their children have such pleasure in these simple things is greater than you might imagine.

I am hoping to get in a couple more such events before Christmas. I don't desire to be rushing about and I've already got my shopping done, so this will be just joy-filled fun:-)

Next Saturday, Dan and I plan on taking the kids to Bethlehem Experience. I will tell more about that next week and hopefully I will be able to share pictures of that as well. And sometime between now and Christmas, my parents and I will take the kids to Christmas in the Park. This is an annual happening for us(ever since I was a kid). Usually Dan and I go with the kids, but he works nights now...so I will hopefully be doing it with my Mom and Dad.

Well, I hope you all have a lovely night and I pray your Christmas season is filled with joy and peace.

Blessings,

Sommer