Where Are you Christmas?

Warning!  This is a long wordy post.  If you don't have time to read it, that's fine but you will miss my Christmas message.  I'm taking a break from posting so much for a bit so please indulge me this time.  

Good Morning!  If you have visited my blog at all lately and had your volume on you have heard one of my favorite songs..."Where are you Christmas".   I have it on my play list both in musical and vocal forms.  It is sung by Faith Hill and is just so beautiful!  Have you ever felt this way  at Christmas before?  Lost and unable to find the joy?  I will share a secret with you, I certainly have.  There have been times in my life when the events of a life ever changing with circumstances beyond my control have put quite a damper on all the Christmas joy. 

Thankfully I learned a long time ago what holds real joy in your heart and that truly is LOVE.  It is why Jesus came to this world, "For God so LOVED the world".   It is why he sacrificed and died for us, to save us all!  Because, he LOVED us!

I have such a hard time with those who despise the holidays.  Believe me, there are plenty of people out there who cannot stand Christmas!   I certainly can sympathize with those who are dreading it because they cannot give or celebrate in a way that others are, or are missing those that they love the most.   However when you close yourself off because of your circumstances you close the door on receiving the best gift possible, the gift of LOVE.  No one gets a perfect life but a life filled with LOVE seems perfect to me!  There are so many ways to give and receive LOVE other then gifts, the best gift you can give, is yourself.  

I love everything about the holidays!  It is why I celebrate BIG because I have a true LOVE for Christmas.  This is the time of year when friends and family should gather to show their LOVE for our Lord and Saviour and for each other.  It is why I go to all the trouble to put up the lights, and the trees, and the baking, and homemade gifts and the mad rush of store shopping.  It is why I tolerate the negative attitudes, and chuckle about the family bickering's.  It is all worth it to me!  The one time of year I get to really show others how much I LOVE them.  I cannot think of any better way to honor Jesus then to share my LOVE with those whom he has put in my life.  The day may come I may not always be so blessed to decorate as I do or spend on the gifts I'd like to, or even spend the time with those that I love.  But you can believe I will use every opportunity I can joyfully while I can!  I have learned that LOVE cannot be received if it is not given.   And a heart that is open to receiving LOVE, can also give it in return!

For my blogging friends I hope to give you a little of the gift of my time over the next few days.  I have much so much already done.  I am so grateful for the time to have gotten everything decorated early this year.

My house is all decorated and the trees are twinkling, except for the annoying strands that keep going out.  LOL!

The presents have all been purchased and wrapped in color coordinated paper this year too.  That was a new effort by me this year.   I like it!  Too bad I cannot seem to snap this photo without a yellow tint to show you.  After several shots, I decided it was time to get over it, post it, and move on. 

My beautiful paper whites have sprouted and grew rapidly in time to bloom for Christmas and fill the air with their very unusual pungent odor.  Phew!

The last of my handmade gifts are done and hanging to dry.

All I've left to do now is make some treats.  Yes, those are boxes and bag there.  Hahh-hmm!

Then make some banana bread, eat some tangelos, (thanks MOM!) and take my oldest son shopping. 

 Yes, I said shopping!  His only wish for Christmas was more Chef clothes.  You may remember he lives and goes to culinary school in Charleston and works at a swanky local restaurant, down there.  This year he will not be home for Christmas.   As his career continues to unfold I see a new direction for our family Christmas's fast approaching.  We will adjust and celebrate together when we can.  I see many changes in our future after this year.  He is home now for just a few days and will be back after the new year if not sooner to fully celebrate with us.

I plan to spend the rest of my days getting ready for Christmas, enjoying all the hub bub and hopefully visiting your blogs some when I get some down time and can squeeze it in.  I love seeing all that you are doing and how you are sharing the LOVE of Christmas in your hearts online.  It is such a joy to me and I really appreciate it.

I also want to thank Lynn at "Happier Than a Pig in Mud" for the beautiful gift I received in the mail the other day.  I won one of her beautiful stained glass pieces from her giveaway at her "The Reason for the Season" party.

What a wonderful piece of art!  Thank you, thank you, my blogging buddy! :))

For all of you who read this all the way through,

 God Bless you! 

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Mary

Our Holiday Lights

Hi All! I am very happy to share our front porch all decked out for Christmas.  I am joining the following parties; The Saturday Night Special and Seasonal Sundays. What can I say, I am just an old party gal this time of year!

Thanks also to my good friend over at Debbiedoo's I'm adding a few fun enhanced photos from Picnik.  She shares the coolest things.  Really!  Thanks Debbie, I love this sight.   I finally found the time to work on this.   I was having the best time playing with these this morning when suddenly you guessed it our internet went down.  Luckily, I had already saved a few of them as it's been down most of the day now and just came back up.  So this post will be a mixture of fun and standard photos.  I hope you enjoy!

I got such a kick out of making this one!  I love it!

Here's the outside of our house all ready for Christmas.

 Funny how my decor looks rather skimpy in these photos.

 I really didn't add much of anything new, just added some holiday touches.

You remember my wash stand on the front porch don't you?

I just added greenery and pine cones to the iron window box.

And I gave my sassy Mr. Roo a new bow and bell.

He just loves to get a new bow each season and thinks he's something now with bell too.

This arch was one of two I got at the thrift store awhile back.

Here on the other side of the front door is my bench and topiary stands.

This iron topiary received some greenery and pine cones too.

But I also added a bit of red berries I picked up from the Dollar Tree.  I am loving that store this year! 

On this topiary I just tied a bow and added another bell.

The new wreath I made is still holding together well.

I kept the old poinsettia garland I had above the door.

I decided it really doesn't look too bad to me, and can make it through one more year.

I've always had burgundy bows and just redid these last year.  Now with the new wreath I may go with red, next year. 

A touch of greenery on the end of the railing.  Please excuse the bows, we have had some crazy wind storms lately and everything really took a beating, but at least they didn't blow away.

I really hate the way the house looks with the wires from the lights all over it in the day time but it's so worth it when it starts to get dark, because then it all comes alive.

Taking photos of Christmas lights is challenging for a novice like me but occasionally if your persistent, you get one that really works and then it's all worth it!

Thanks for visiting!  I hope your having a great weekend!

I am done with my Christmas shopping now and am looking forward to a weeks worth of baking goodies and treats and time spent with my family. 

Merry Christmas Yall!

Mary

Changing Names

Hi All!  Can you believe in the middle of all the hub bub of the holiday season here I am thinking ahead about the new year.  Seriously?  Yep, it's true! 

Calm down now, I am not thinking about celebrating...yet.  LOL!  With the new year fast approaching I am eager to move towards change.  Next month I'll be refocusing on my priorities and what to do towards getting there.

  One thing I know I am going to do is change the name of my blog.  Why????  Well, it just doesn't fit anymore!   Yes, yes, I am SailingSimply through life but my blog is not primarily all about sailing.  I need a name that fits my blog.  After nearly a year of blogging I have a better idea of what that is.  Well actually, I have a better idea of the importance of naming your blog appropriately.  

Good news is, I have one!  I love it!  It fits!  Now all I need to do is figure out how to change it?  Do I just change the settings on this one?  Should I just create a whole new blog?  Creating a new blog would mean possibly loosing the few followers I have who may not change over or whom don't look at my blog often but do enjoy occasionally dropping in.  That being said, I am more inclined to change the name of this one.  However a new blog would give me a fresh start on picture space, wouldn't it?  Just thinking!

My next question has to do with owning your own domain. I don't quite have a total understanding of  all that, but think I kind of understand what that means.  Please, feel free to comment on exactly what that means!  This is not something I feel the need to rush into (the domain thing) but definitely will want to consider this since the name I have chosen would be one I want people to associate with me.   I may want to use this new name in the future in any personal business adventures as well so I want to make sure it is all mine.  I have no clue how to go about doing that and would appreciate any and all advice on that. 

  

  I am really looking forward to a new year, a new name and a fresh start!  Well ladies, what do you think....what's your best advice?  I would love to hear from you on this!  Thanks!

Sharing the Decor Party "Simply"

So sorry to be late to the party again!  Whew!  There is just so much bloggy fun out there to join in this time of year!  Ooouu, I am lovin it!  Do I sound like a McDonald's commercial?  LOL!

Any who, I really did want to go to this party as I have had it on my sidebar for awhile now because I thought this one would be really fun.  Yesterday, I just couldn't get it all together to "make it" on time but lucky for me, we bloggers are a lingering bunch.  So, I am happy I have finally made it to the Share Your Decor Party over at No Minimalist Here's site.  What fun!

As if you have seen quite a bit from me already, I've taken advantage of this party to condense it for you and me!  Part of blogging for me is enjoying learning how to use all this fun photo shop stuff.  I haven't "made" a collage in some time, so for this party I decided to have a little fun!

Yes ladies, this is my den!  As you can see it's quite colorful and sweet!

My kitchen is just as sweet!  I used a candy theme in both my den and kitchen this year.

In the dining room it's all about white, silver and gold.

Our upstairs foyer is filled with precious childhood mementos for my sons.  This is their space after all!

And here is a few odds and ends that you've already seen before.  The foyer, my Christmas gift projects, the snow village on the back porch and new wreath on the front porch.

I've still got plenty new photos to share next week from both of my front and back porch's.

I hope you aren't totally sick of it yet. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit and if you've got more time, be sure and visit the link above.  I am sure there will lots there to see and inspire you.

Have a great day, and Merry Christmas!

Mary