Merry Christmas

Luke Chapter 2:1-20

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.  She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,

just as it had been told to them.

Merry Christmas

Gifts

It was a year ago tonight I got a wonderful gift from my parents when they got me a puppy for Christmas.  They got me a very tiny Bichon Frise girl puppy.  They had put her in a white wire dome shaped carrier on a bed and a heating pad to keep her warm.  She was so soft and so tiny and no bigger than the smallest present under our family Christmas tree.  She was only 2 months old when I got her. 

Happy one year anniversary Holly.

Another gift is the gift of great friends. Each year on this eve of Christmas one of these couples host what has now become an annual christmas eve party. Good times and good food were shared by good friends. What a great group this is.

Warm Festive Fireplaces

Nothing says warmth, like a warm, inviting fire in the fireplace.  When you enter someone's home in the winter during the holiday season, what's one of the first things you notice?  If you guessed fireplace, you'd be correct.  The fireplace not only provides warmth from the toasty fire in it, but can be a festive centerpiece just like the festive tree. 

So, for those who may not have a Christmas theme yet for their fireplace, check out these ideas. 



(Image via:  HGTV.com)

(Image via:  HGTV.com)

This holiday mantel decor was inspired by vintage Christmas toys.

 Pinecones were added to light grenery surrounding the wooden nutcracker soldiers.

A clothesline of miniature mittens add a whimsical touch to this holiday set up.



Black Friday...A Shopper's Delight or Worst Nightmare



Even though it seems like the holiday shopping season has already started, the official kickoff was today, November 26, 2010, the Friday after Thanksgiving, better known as
“Black Friday”.


This is the traditional day stores launch holiday specials with early morning door buster deals.  For many consumers, this is the day that many get their newspaper ads in the paper on Thanksgiving Day, then head out shopping at select stores or waiting in really long lines in the wee hours of the night or early morning, then rush in when the stores doors open in a foot race for the perfect item or the unbelievable deal or whatever the season's hottest trend or trendiest item happens to be from toys to clothes to electronics, it's all fair game. 

It's an all-night shop-a-thon for some.  Where the phrases, "4 a.m. to 1 p.m.", "5 to 11 a.m.", "while supplies last", "doorbuster", and "early bird special" just to name a few, attract the avid shopppers to the stores at all hours of the night or early morning.  Ah, the power of the dollar. 




 






 Scenes like these above are a common occurence on Black Friday
at these stores and several other popular stores. 

  

                                               I would not wait in a line this long for anything. 

Yes, there are lots of great sales and deals to be had out there to a shopper's delight, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare with so many people out shopping in the same places and often after the same things. 

Did I go shopping on Black Friday?  Yes.  Did I find some good deals?  Yes.  Would I go shopping on this day on a regular basis?  Probably not. 

Let Us Give Thanks

So my dad came over before Thanksgiving to help me move all of my Christmas Decorations and Tree out of my attic so I can put them up.  In handing my numerous tubs of Christmas decorations down the ladder of my attic to my dad, I came across my tub that has my Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations in it.  It was one of those Eureka! type moments as I knew I had it but hadn't been able to find it because it had gotten put behind all the Christmas stuff. 

Since it was still a few days until Thanksgiving, why not put out my Thanksgiving decorations.  I don't have a whole lot of them since Thanksgiving is a holiday that we usually spend at my parents home and out of town relatives homes.  My house isn't big enough to host a large dinner or group like this occasion. 

(Image via: Alison Haynie)

This is my cornucopia Thanksgiving decoration with my fake fruit.  I got grapes for my Papaw Haynie, since he had a grapevine at his home, apple because my dad likes apples, a peach because my mom likes peaches and a squash and eggplant just because. 

So Thanksgiving Day started out rather early for me. My dog, Holly, woke me up at the normal working day wake up time wanting to go outside.  Once she's awake, she doesn't lie back down and go back to sleep again.  So, I got up and let her outside to have her breakfast and play off some of her energy before the rain that was forecast to arrive. 

(Image via: Alison Haynie)

I took this picture of her when she wasn't looking and didn't realize I was taking her picture. 

(Image via: Alison Haynie)

Oops.  She discovered me taking her picture.  She loves her purple squeaky rope. 

(Image via: Alison Haynie)

She enjoys chewing on the squeaky rope but mostly the rope part.  After some treats, she came inside while I went to my parents' home for Thanksgiving lunch. 

(Image via: Alison Haynie)

I have a wonderful family and friends to give thanks for this Thanksgiving. 

I am truly blessed to have these special people in my life. 

I had planned to make an apple crisp dessert for Thanksgiving since it was a small gathering of us going to be eating.  I got my ingredients out and placed the dry ingredients in sandwich bags.  If you want the recipe, check out my Recipe Box section of my blog at the top of this page.  I then packed the sandwich bags and my liquid items into my lunch box, then got my dish with my apples in it.  I was checking off my list of things that I needed to be sure to take with me

• Purse, Check
• Camera, Check
• Lunch Box with Ingredients, Check
• Dish with Apples, Check

when my dad called to find out my timing.  I told him I was on my way.  Their house is always "home" despite having your own house.  Upon arriving there, I went inside with my armload of things. 

The kitchen was filled with the scent of candles burning seasonal fragrances and the enticing smells of Thanksgiving lunch being cooked. 

I went through the den to place my purse and camera bag in my old bedroom at my parents house, which is used as a guest bedroom now.  Our relative from New York had come in for a visit and was staying in my room.  He asked me how I liked "his room."  I replied "just fine."  Apparently he had been waiting quite some time to ask me that.  He wanted to know if he could put a deer head up on the wall.  I said, no, I didn't think so. 

I set to work peeling my apples for my apple crisp dessert dish. 

(Image via: Laura Haynie)

Before I had arrived, my mom had already made the pies.

(Image via:  Laura Haynie)

. 

(Image via:  Laura Haynie)

Our relative from New York, my dad's cousin, Ray Haynie, had come down from New York.  He and my dad go hunting usually following Thanksgiving so he was here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us.  If you are in the kitchen, you get put to work.  Our cousin, was helping my mom out with the lemons for the tasty lemon pie. 

(Image via:  Laura Haynie)

The tasty lemon pie in the making. 

(Image via:  Laura Haynie)

My dad knows by now if you are in the kitchen you get put to work.  He waited in the den for lunch and kept my sister's dogs, Gracie and Brooks company in the den. 

(Gracie Image via:  Laura Haynie)

(Brooks Image via:  Laura Haynie)

After putting my dish in the oven to cook, it was so nice to just watch my mom cooking in her element. 

As I watched her cooking, in her apron, I couldn't help but think back to my childhood and all those Thanksgiving and Christmas meals before, as I was growing up when my mom had put on her apron and set to work cooking all those tasty dishes that we grew up with and enjoy eating each year around this season of the year.  The dishes, that over time have become part of our family's traditional dishes.  I am very big on traditions. 

(Image via:  Alison Haynie)

Here my mom is making mashed potatoes.  The potatoes had just been cooked in a pot on the stove and she was preparing to put them in the mixer to mash them all up. 

(Image via:  Alison Haynie)

Here my mom is applying some butter to the rolls before cooking them in the oven. 

(Image via:  Alison Haynie)

Here my mom is putting the rolls into the oven with her homemade sweet potato casserole.

(Image via:  Alison Haynie)

Here are two of the 3 pies that we had for Thanksgiving.  My sister, Laura, made the pecan pie on the left. 

(Image via:  Laura Haynie)

My mom came through and made my sister's favorite and one of my favorite pies, the apple pie!  Boy was it tasty!  

(Image via:  Alison Haynie)

I made my apple crisp dish, on the far left. 

Together, with the two pies pictured above, plus the lemon pie, that was still in the fridge,

"just chillin' out", these were the choices for Thanksgiving Dessert.  

After the food was all prepared and the table was all set, my family and I and our relative from New York, all sat down around the table.  After joining hands and bowing our heads, my father said the blessing, thanking God for our family, remembering those gone on to glory, blessing the hands that prepared the food before us, and thanking God for all of our many blessings.  After the blessing, our gathering of five people enjoyed the thanksgiving meal pictured below that so many hands had prepared.  



(Image via:  Alison Haynie)



(Image via:  Alison Haynie)

In our family, one of the traditions on my dad's side of the family, is that after dining, the men go hunting. 

My dad and his cousin, Ray Haynie, from New York, were nice enough to bring the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations upstairs before they headed out to go hunting.  Happy Hunting guys. 

I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family, and lots of great friends. 

What are you most thankful for?



Thanksgiving Traditions

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a few days away.  week away. To help celebrate I thought I would post some

As I was thinking about Thanksgiving, I found myself thinking back to previous Thanksgivings. 

There are several special family recipes that we use for Thanksgiving, from my grandmother's cornbread, dressing and homemade rolls to my mom's very tasty pies and fried okra as well as several other mouthwatering dishes.  These special dishes have been passed down from one generation to the next over the years and in time become part of my family's traditional holiday dishes. 

For our family's traditional holiday meal, we usually expand the table to make room for all of the family to dine together at the same table over the tasty food that so many hands helped prepare for this special meal.  We typically use the everyday dishes for this meal.  At one time we did use styrofoam plates, but after a few food mishaps, we tend to use real dishes.  We keep the meal casual usually so there aren't any place cards or printed out menus or anything of that nature.  Sometimes the guys sit at one end of the table and the ladies at the other end and sometimes, people just find a seat wherever they would like to sit.   

Traditionally, there is discussion leading up to Thanksgiving Day between the ladies in the family as far as what each plans to cook and bring for the Thanksgiving meal. 

It's hard to pick out a favorite dish, as there are so many that were tasty and that I enjoyed, but if I had to pick one, I would say the cornbread would have to be my favorite.   

Dessert is usually pies.  There are usually many flavors of pies from fruit pies like apple and lemon to chocolate, pecan or various other types of pies.  Growing up, I remember enjoying apple pies and as I got older I began to enjoy lemon pies also.

After dinner, usually consists of naps.  My father's side of family sometimes growing up began to look at the Christmas catalogs. 

Not much has changed from the Thanksgiving of my childhood to the Thanksgivings of my life now.  The turkey of my childhood was cooked in oven and the turkey now tends to be fried in a fryer and more moist. 

A Day with My Grandpa

So yesterday was my grandfather's 82nd birthday.  I went down to see him and spend his birthday with him. 

We shared some lemon pie that my grandmother had made.  It was delicious!  Lemon pie is my favorite kind of pie and I think my grandfather likes it a lot too. 

He got a new shaving kit and supplies, some new clothes, and some orange slices for his birthday. 

After opening presents, we listened to some religious music by Alan Jackson and the Gaithers.  He really liked listening to the music, especially the guitars. 

Happy Birthday Papaw

One Simple Act

Image Courtesy of Amazon website

For many of you who are familiar with the author, Debbie Macomber, you know she writes mostly fictional books.  Debbie Macomber has recently written a non-fiction book, called

One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity 

In this book, the author uses scripture and true stories to show the reader that

a life of generosity is not only possible but very powerful.  Below is one of the excerpts taken from this book. 

Kate stepped out of her bookstore at the end of a long day, locked the door behind her, and pulled her scarf up over her nose and mouth to shield her lungs from the bitter cold air, and hurried across the parking lot to her car.  One quick stop at the grocery store and she'd be on her way home to cuddle up with her book by the warm fire.

As she waited at the intersection for the light to turn, so she could turn into the grocery store lot, she took off one of her gloves to feel if the air blasting out of the vents was starting to get warm.  In the few minutes that it had taken her to get from the grocery store from her bookstore, her fingers had started to ache from the cold. 

As the light turned green, she turned into the grocery store lot and noticed a young man who looked to be in his twenties, holding a cardboard sign: Homeless.  Need Food.  Please Help, standing in the thin median of the lot. 

At his feet was a small white plastic bucket.  His collar was pulled high against the cold, but her eyes went to his hands holding the sign.  Bare hands. 

Her thoughts went to her own son, who was around the same age as this homeless young man.  Was his hands cold tonight like this young man's hands?

She hurried into the grocery store and picked up the groceries she was needing for the weekend.  She then went down one more aisle.  After checking out, she loaded the groceries into her car.  She pulled alongside the median where the homeless young man was.  She rolled down her window.  The young man walked over with his bucket outstretched.  Instead of money, she held out a warm pair of gloves that she'd just bought.  The young man looked startled. 

"Your hands must be terribly cold," she said.  "I hope these help."  The young man took the gloves and thanked her.  The car behind her honked and she pulled away and moved towards the intersection.  She glanced in her rearview mirror as she pulled away and saw the young man pulling on the gloves.

"Take care of my son tonight, Lord, she prayed.  Show him your love through the kindness of a stranger. 

And Lord, comfort the mother of that young man tonight."

In that one simple act, she had discovered the act of generosity.  This story taken from the book, One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber.  There are many other stories like this in this book.  This story reminds us to "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Jesus."  - 1 Thesalonians 5:18

Remember that the little things really do matter.

Have you ever discovered something so great that you just had to tell your friends?  Perhaps a great vacation spot, a new clothing store that you stumbled on, or a movie that you may have seen that made you laugh till you cried.  When we find something we love, we want to share it with others and spread the joy.  Intentional acts of generosity can open our lives to the very best God has to offer. 

Up, Up and Away

Up, up and Away and I'm not talking about Superman's catchphrase. 

Saturday night, I headed acorss town to attend the Legends Balloon Rally. 

This unique outdoor event that began in 2008 is held at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport.

Balloons from all over the country are tethered to the ground for the magnificent balloon glow.

The flickering glow of each balloon creates a beautiful display in the evening light.

Balloons are piloted by a veteran balloonist with no less than 300 hours experience.

Spectacular hot air balloons and live music are just a few of the things that the

Legends Balloon Rally has to offer, and the best part is, it is all free!

Below are some pictures from this year's Hot Air Balloons & Balloon Glow. 

Balloon Glow Pictures Below:

Just beautiful isn't it?

Football Fever

Okay so for all of my friends with football fever or avid football fans, Arkansas is moving on up in the rankings.  Currently they are 3-0 as they prepare to take on Alabama and the Crimson Tide this weekend. 

vs.

I think this picture pretty much says it all.