A Few More Days

Ahhh...Just a few more days to fit in all those little things I wanted to accomplish before Christmas. There are a few more gifts to wrap, a few more movies to watch, a few more cards to send, a few more goodies to make (actually I have yet to start), a few more calls to make and the house needs attention. Above all this I need to spend more time at the feet of my Saviour, because this is what those few mores are all about.
Merry Christmas,
Ginger

Tis the Season

Every year I try and plan what I hope to accomplish before the actual day of Christmas arrives. For many years I had fun doing this. My daughter and I would sort of pick a theme and begin planning as early as July. I was so tickled that our Christmas cards was one of the first that our friends received, shopping was done before Thanksgiving day, plenty of food to prepare goodies with was in the pantry, new ornaments that the children and I had made hung on the tree and generally everything was really for us to enjoy the holiday season. How things have changed this year! I am barely getting cards out the door to make it to friends and relatives house hopefully before Christmas. Although I did get shopping finished for my nephews and a few things made for friends, generally the shopping has been done by my husband. I hope to purchase food items for our goodies before Christmas Eve since I have to have food prepared for that evening. The children and I have not made the first ornament and things are not “ready”.
I guess this would seem depressing if someone had told me that this would happen a few years ago and yes, I miss the ornament making, but this different Christmas will be one that I hope to always remember. Why?…Well, all those hours that I normally spend doing those things were replaced with hours of family time. We visited museums, a theme park, played putt-putt and laser tag, rode an alpine slide and watched the children ice skate. There were stolen cuddly moments with my husband which are so hard to come by with our busy days. There were visits with dear friends, long phone calls and holiday movies….ah precious times. I think that in the years to come my loved ones will not remember who purchased their presents or what did not get accomplished but the sweet gift of TIME spent this season with each other.
May God bless you and your family as we remember and celebrate the birthday of His Son Jesus Christ who gave us the most precious gift of all…SALVATION

Seven Sevens

I was tagged by my dear friend Tim's Mom to play Seven Sevens!Things to do before I die*Visit England, Scotland and Ireland
*Rent a cabin for me and my hubby
*Love, bless and encourage as many people as God brings into my path
*Raise our children to love the Lord their God with all their minds, strength, heart, soul…with everything in them.
*Lay on a blanket under the stars with my hubby and dream together.
*Be a better wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, friend ect...
*Spend more time with God, my hubby, children, friendsThings I cannot do:
*Play a guitar ( I really want to learn, maybe this response should have been on the previous question)
*Drive a tractor
*Speak a foreign language (okay… I can speak a few sentences of Spanish but I am not sure that anyone who spoke it fluently would understand.)*Fix a motor
*Hunt ( and I do not really want to learn…glad hubby does not do this…cool thing but not me)
* Drive a nail straight
* Put a screw into a piece of wood straight ( My husband does a lot of wood working and it just frustrates me that I cannot do these things.)Things that attract me to my spouse:
*His red hair
*His beautiful smile
Ah…I just reread the question…the things that attract me not attracted me…hum…
*His love for God, for me and for the children
*His faithfulness to God, to me and to the children
*His gentle nature…I could go on and on….* Did I mention his red hair..okay the thing I wanted to mention is between me and him and it is not what you think.Seven things I say most often:
*Hush!
* I love you!
*Did you unload the dishwasher?
*What do you want for supper?
*Did someone get the mail?
*Was there anything for me in the mail?
* What do we need to do while we are out?
Seven books (or series) I love:I'll have to think about thisSeven movies I watch over and over again (or would watch over and over if I had the time):
*Persuasion
*Pride and Prejudice
*Wives and Daughters
*While You Were Sleeping
*Little Women
*The Muppets Christmas Carol
*All of the Hogan’s Heroes series… I really can’t explain this one!Seven People I want to join in, too:
Another thing I will have to think about...

Ginger

Snowballs

I was in a quaint little shop in our area last year and noticed snowball ornament that was really interesting. The snowball was an off white color and looked as if it was a little dirty. It had glitter all over it and a piece of fabric strip tied to the top to hang it with. I decided to try and make them myself at home. I was pleased with the result and will share how I made them.

You will need:
Styrofoam balls
Wire
Papier mache
Fabric strips
Paint white and brown
Glue
Glitter

Begin by mixing the papier mache according to manufactuer directions. Gently cover the snowball with it. I used a bowl with water that I dipped my fingers in to help smooth the papier mache. I cut a small piece of wire, bent it in half and pushed it into the top of the snowball leaving a enough space to put my fabric strip through later. They were placed on wax paper and allowed to completely dry. Each one was painted with a couple of layers of white paint allowing for dry time after each application. I then mixed up a small amount of brown paint in a jar with water to make a wash. I painted this on and then used a soft cloth to remove most of the color off (I did not want mine to look really dirty). After this dried I put the fabric strips, for hanging it with, through the bent wire and tied a knot at the top. Each one was then coated with a layer of glue, sprinkled with glitter and hung to dry. I hope that you will try making a few of your own.
Snowballs to you,

Gingerbread Houses

I have always wanted to create one of those beautiful gingerbread houses that you see in magazines around this time of the year. I love the thought of making one that reminds me of a victorian home or a scene from Dickens. The truth is that I have tried my hand a few times at creating simple ones. The ones that are bought as kits have worked best for me. We have also made ones as a family. I remember sitting with my oldest two when they were younger tryiing every way possible to keep all the graham crackers "glued" onto the sides of our small milk boxes. I finally decided that we were not going to eat the cracker part anyway so hot glue replaced icing for holding the sides on. I admire those that can create such wonders with a little bit of gingerbread, some icing and a few candies. Even though my own tries at creating a beautiful gingerbread house have not been very successful I think I have found a way to enjoy the beauty of them without trying to do it myself. My sister has visited the Grove Park Inn in North Carolina in December before and has told me about a beautiful gingerbread display that they have there every year. Maybe this will be the year that I can enjoy all my little gingerbread making dreams through the work of others. Hope I will see you there.
Gingerbread Dreams,