Wishing You A Merry Christmas!

Have yourself a

Merry little Christmas. . .

My dear, kind, and beautiful friends,

Christmas is just over a week away and

I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy and anticipation

as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our precious Savior.

O come all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.

Give to our Father glory in the Highest;

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning,

O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

- John Wade -

Sweet friends, 

please click on the video below and join me in praise and adoration 

as we remember the most wonderful gift given to mankind.

And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, 

he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

- Hebrews 1:6 -

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see

Him Whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid

Jesus Lord of heaven and earth;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

With us sing our Savior’s birth.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

- French Carol -

 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 -

 And the angel said unto her, 

Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, 

and bring forth a son, 

and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: 

and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David

- Luke 1:30-32 -

Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,

Watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing;

Yonder shines the infant light:

Sages, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar;

Seek the great Desire of nations;

Ye have seen His natal star.

Saints, before the altar bending,

Watching long in hope and fear;

Suddenly the Lord, descending,

In His temple shall appear.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.
- James Montgomery -

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.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, 
keeping watch over their flock by night.
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.
And the angel said unto them, 
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 
which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; 
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 
lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel 
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 Glory to God in the highest, 
and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- Luke 2:7-14 -

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 
all seated on the ground; 
the angel of the Lord came down, 
and glory shone around, 
and glory shone around. 

"Fear not!" said he, for mighty dread 
had seized their troubled mind. 
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
to all of humankind, 
to all of humankind." 

"To you, in David's town, this day 
is born of David's line 
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, 
and this shall be the sign, 
and this shall be the sign:" 

"The heavenly babe you there shall find 
to human view displayed, 
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, 
and in a manger laid, 
and in a manger laid."

"All glory be to God on high, 
and to the earth be peace; 
good will henceforth from heaven to earth 
begin and never cease, 
begin and never cease!" 
- Nahum Tate -

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, 
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. 
Long lay the world in sin and error pining. 
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. 
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, 
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! 
O night divine, the night when Christ was born; 
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! 
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! 

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, 

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. 

O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, 

Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land. 

The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; 

In all our trials born to be our friends. 

He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, 

Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! 

Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! 

Truly He taught us to love one another, 

His law is love and His gospel is peace. 

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. 

And in his name all oppression shall cease. 

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, 

With all our hearts we praise His holy name. 

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, 

His power and glory ever more proclaim! 

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

- Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure -

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ, the Saviour is born

Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

- Joseph Mohr -

Lovely friends,

I want to wish you a most blessed and beautiful Christmas.

It's a joy and privilege to worship our King all year round,

but what a special blessing to remember the birth of our Savior

during the Christmas season.

While talking to my mom the other day

she shared with me that when she looks upon the Christmas tree

she is reminded of the tree Christ so willingly died on. . .

But he was wounded for our transgressions, 

he was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; 

and with his stripes we are healed.

- Isaiah 53:5 -

And just last night I was reading a Christmas letter 

from a precious couple in our church

and the gentleman wrote that when he looks under the tree 

and sees the beautifully wrapped gifts

he can't help but think about the most amazing gift of all -- 

salvation through Jesus Christ.

 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him might be saved.

- John 3:15-17 -

Look around, dear friends, and see 

the wonders. . .

the gifts. . .

the beauty. . .

of this blessed season.

I will be taking a break from blogging
to enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends.
I hope to visit you and your blogs,
but please know that I will not be posting anything
for a few weeks.

Merry Christmas!
Love and hugs to you.

And just to let you know. . . 
I am offering 30% off your order at
Rose Petal Blessings.

This offer is good until Saturday, December 17th.

Christmas Butter Cookies

A big cheery HELLO to you!

It's a pure delight to have you visiting today.

As promised, I am announcing the book giveaway winner. . .

at the end of the post :)

I thought I would share a quick and tasty butter cookie recipe.

I may have shared this recipe a few years ago,

but it's one that always satisfy the sweet tooth.

And you can never go wrong with butter cookies, right?

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 pound {2 cups} butter, softened

cinnamon and sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine the flour and sugar in a large bowl, mixing well.

Add the butter and mix well.

Place the mixture on a floured service

and pat to 1/2-inch thickness.

Cut into desired shapes.

Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.

Cool on wire racks before storing in airtight containers.

Enjoy!

Well, the countdown for Christmas has begun. . .

are you ready, friends?

I think I'm ready

though I tend to remember something every day that I missed

or haven't done :)

My son and I have not yet made our gingerbread house,

but we are hoping to do that one evening this week.

Last week I hosted a giveaway for the book trilogy A Time of Grace

written by Alicia G. Ruggieri.

I said I would announce the winner today so here it goes. . .

The blessed winner is:

Elizabeth {Libby}

If you are interested in these books

you can find them on Amazon.

You can also keep up with the author on her Facebook page

and her website.

Many thanks to all who entered.

Have a beautiful day, sweet friends.

Love and hugs!

A Christmas Tea Party Like None Other

A blessed Sunday to you, dear friends.

Today's post is slightly different than my usual Sunday posts

where I share the beloved hymns.

I hope you enjoy today's tea party tale. . .

This past Thursday my little one and I had the joy and honor 

of attending a tea party hosted by my lovely mother.

We walked into her home to find Christmas carols playing softly in the background,

a fire crackling and popping in the fire place,

the scent of tasty soup wafting in the air,

the delight of twinkling lights on the Christmas tree.

and a warm embrace was enjoyed as the hostess so graciously welcomed us.

Oh, and let me not forget the hostess' helper, Donatella.

She was there to greet us at the door with a sweet smile and pretty red bow.

The table was set for a king and queen

which is exactly how my son and I were treated. . .

my thoughtful mother would have it no other way.

Beautiful glassware

and delicate china greeted our eyes.

On our plates we found sweet little charms.

I was given a little tea pot. 

And my son was blessed with a cute little elephant.

There was food, food, and more food!

And oh, was it ever tasty!

Soup,

tea sandwiches,

pastries,

tarts,

cream puffs,

caramel grapes,

shortbread cookies,

and scones

completed our meal.

Gifts were enjoyed by all. . .

and there was fellowship that was sweeter than Christmas candy.

And to top this already amazing tea party off,

my precious mother offered to wash my little one's feet and my own.

Yes, you read that correctly. . .

Before we sat down to eat my mom pulled us aside 

and tears began to stream down her beautiful face

as she poured her heart out about her sincere desire to minister unto others 

just as Jesus, our beloved Savior, served and ministered to people.

If I then, your Lord and Master, 

have washed your feet; 

ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

- John 13:14 -

I was in awe of her love for the Lord, 

her love for her grandson, 

and her love for her daughter.

I couldn't help but bow my head and heart in gratitude towards the Lord

for blessing me with such a dear mother. . .

a mother that puts herself last {always} 

and puts others first {every time}.

I have no words do describe her love and selflessness. . .

She is so saturated in God and His Word

that her love for others knows no bounds.

She is a beautiful woman {inside and out}

and her light truly does shine before men.

Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

- Matthew 5:16 -

So you see, sweet friends, why this Christmas tea party was like none other.

It was a tea party that I shall not soon forget.

In a cave, a lowly stable,

Christ our Lord was born;

From the heavens white robed angels

Sang that holy morn.

Let us, like the lowly shepherds,

Seek the Lord this night,

That we may, by lives of service,

Bring to all true light.

Noel, noel!

Noel, noel!

Rang throughout the sky;

Noel, noel!

Noel, noel!

Praise to God on high!

- Harold B. Franklin -

Have a most beautiful and joyous Lord's Day!

Handmade Gift Card Holder

Happy day to you, lovely friends!

Today I thought I would show you a fun little gift card holder

that's quick and easy to make,

and it makes giving gift cards a lot more fun.

Supplies needed:

fabric

fusible fleece

embellishments {optional}

Cut:

two pieces of fabric that are 6 x 9-inches,

one piece of fabric that is 6 x 7-inches,

and one more piece of fabric that is 5 x 4-inches.

Iron on a piece of fusible fleece to the backside of the front piece of fabric.

Fold the top over twice {about 1/4-inch} on the 6 x 7-inch piece of fabric

and the 5 x 4-inch piece of fabric.

Press with a hot iron and sew  along the edge

of both folds.

For the little pocket you will need to fold the sides in as well.

Make sure you don't fold in too much or the gift card won't fit.

Place the little pocket on top of the second pocket.

Pin into place and sew along the sides.

Layer the pockets onto the main piece of fabric.

Place the second 6 x 9-inch piece of fabric on top of the layers facing down.

Pin into place and sew along the edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Leave a small opening at the top 

so that you can pull the holder right side out.

Sew the opening shut.

You can also top stitch the holder along all four edges. . .

if you do that than don't worry about sewing the opening shut.

Now you can add some sweet embellishments.

I applied a tulle pom pom

and added a sparkly bead to the center.

I also attached a paper tag with a safety pin

to the larger pocket.

You could easily add lace to the pocket edges,

but if you do make sure you do that when you're sewing the folds down.

Place a card in the larger pocket

{you may need to adjust the measurements since cards come in different sizes}

This pocket size is meant to fit most cards.

And finally, slip a gift card into the small pocket.

The great thing about this gift card holder is that it can be reused.

You can also use it as a mug rug,

notebook holder, 

tablet case,

letter holder,

and so much more.

Add some "pizazz" to the gift cards that you give.

If you're not into sewing than hop on over to

Rose Petal Blessings

where I have a couple listed.

And speaking of Rose Petal Blessings. . .

tomorrow is the last day to save 15% off your entire order.

And don't forget free shipping in the USA.

Simply enter the promo code

TISTHESEASON15

when you checkout.

Before I end this post

I wanted to share the Christmas swap that I had the joy of participating in.

Kimberley from Creative Chaos

hosted this delightful Christmas swap

and what you do is fill a 1 liter container with Christmas goodies

such as ornaments, sweet treats, crafting supplies and so on.

You are also to include a recipe.

I was paired up with the hostess herself - what an honor!

Kimberley is from New Zealand

and we actually "met" through the Tea Cup and Mug Exchange

when she participated a couple exchanges ago.

Pictured below is what she blessed me with. . .

Christmas fabric and ribbon,

tape, several Christmas ornaments,

cookie cutters, candy, a New Zealand key chain,

a handmade wash cloth, a notebook, and cupcake papers.

Thank you from the very bottom of my heart, dear Kimberley,

for these beautiful Christmas treasures.

They will certainly be cherished and enjoyed.

I sent Kimberley these little lovelies. . .

Stationary, a handmade Kleenxe holder,

paper flowers, a tin of mint tea, a box of chocolates,

a pocket card, heart ornament, polka dot socks,

a wooden "Happy" sign, a small red frame {wrapped in tissue already},

a pumpkin recipe, and a fun "Merry Christmas" box.

This swap was truly a joy to participate in!

Please know that I always enjoy your visits and sweet comments!

Have a beautiful day.

{{{hugs}}}

A Time Of Grace Trilogy Giveaway

Good morning, friends!

How are you on this lovely December day?

I hope you are well and enjoying this joyous Christmas season.

Just this past Saturday my husband, little one, and I 

ventured into the woods to find the "perfect" Christmas tree

and came home with a 9-footer. . .the tallest we've ever had.

Today I have a delightful book giveaway for you,

but first I want to share a teensy bit about the books that I am giving away. . .

A Time of Grace is a touching trilogy

that entails the lives and accounts of the Picoletti family.

As you read about the members in this family

you will be taken on an incredible emotional journey of

heartache, pain, disappointment. . .

hope, forgiveness, redemption. . .

love, grace, and healing.

The bittersweet stories of Grace and Sarah are presented in the first book

The Fragrance of Geraniums

and their tales continue on through the series.

Alicia gets right down to the nitty gritty and doesn't hold back

about the heartache, pain, and suffering these women face.

When they have sunk into the deepest pit and all seems lost

the Lord brings to light that there is blessed HOPE and REDEMPTION

found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

These precious women go through the fire,

but they come forth as beautiful gold.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; 

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: 

when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; 

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

- Isaiah 43:2 -

The lovely author, Alicia G. Ruggieri, 

writes grace-filled, Christ-centered fiction

and this trilogy couldn't be more Christ-centered.

I highly recommend this set of books

as I know you will be blessed and encouraged just as I was.

To find out more about this wonderful author

you can visit her website:

Alicia G. Ruggieri

Or you can check her out on Facebook

You can also find her books on Amazon.com

Since I enjoyed this trilogy so much

I am offering the entire set {actual hard copies of the books} 

to one blessed winner.

To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment

telling me what a favorite book of yours is.

I will announce the winner 

next Tuesday, December 13th.

Thank you for stopping by, sweet friends.

This time of year is perfect for reading as you snuggle up by the fire 

or in a cozy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa.

The set would also make a delightful Christmas gift for any book lover.

Love and hugs to you!