The light has come!
This Is The Story
Here is the story, from the beginning…
I haven’t seen the full clip of this – you have to buy it from the Skit Guys – but this is the Christmas story up until the manger 🙂
Peace On Earth
A memory, from another Christmas…
A turbulent time – but peace was still possible.
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men
And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men
But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men
And the bells they’re ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we’ll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men
Do you hear the bells they’re ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men
Tree’s Up!
Finally got the tree up!
We’re a bit behind with decorating this year, but it’s looking cheery now 🙂
Even Fred got in on the celebrations…
Someone asked about family Christmas traditions the other day – we thought we didn’t really have any. On reflection, there are things we do every year, even now the boys are so much older.
We always put the tree up together. The boys put the lights on the tree, then I put the angel on the top. I do the breakable decorations, then they do the rest.
Christmas Eve we have a family lunch, and we go to the Christmas Eve service in the evening. Christmas Day morning the boys bring the stockings in to our room, then we all sit on the bed to open the stocking presents. We then have a special Christmas breakfast – this year we’re planning to have chocolate marbled brioche…
Everything else is decided on depending on how we feel. Even if we do different things later in the day I still feel happy if we’ve had our breakfast and stockings!
Another thing I like to do in the Advent season is listen to some new Christmas songs. I try to, at least once, sit with my cup of coffee and listen without any other distractions. Today was that day 🙂
I was blessed with a cloud heart as I listened.
…and I enjoyed some new songs.
Here’s one for anyone feeling frazzled by the Christmas rush.
Peppermint Ponderings
It’s been SO HOT lately, hasn’t it? I find it hard to get into the Christmas spirit sometimes when I’m melting into the ground and the air is shimmering heat waves.
So this week I’ve had a bit of a peppermint overload!
I also enjoy gingerbread, but peppermint has that “cool” feeling about it as well. I’ve indulged myself with a white chocolate peppermint chiller while out shopping, and shared various peppermint (and chocolate!) permutations with friends. Christmas flavours are galloping in to December – yay!
The tree’s not up yet, but I have other decorations up. Most of the big tasks are done. I’ve been re-reading the gospel of Luke (there are 24 chapters, which fits into the advent period), and I’ve downloaded a new Christmas album.
Time to settle in with a cuppa and listen to it!
Hope you can have a quiet bubble of peace, with a snack/drink of your choice, and a chance to reflect in the stillness on what’s important in this glitzy, busy season!
❤
Tinselly Curtains, A Cactus, And A Fantasy Bake…
On the way to church yesterday we were driving behind a caravan – one of the old round metal ones. Didn’t think too much about it, until I looked in the back window. Across the side window was some sort of curtain, with long bits of tinsel interspersed with cloth. On the other side was… the top of a large cactus! I can imagine the owners getting to where they’re going, then setting up their home with tinsel and a cactus…
Got me thinking about home. We’ve been where we are for seven years now, and I’m still pleased to be here – I still remember how overwhelmed I felt when we first moved in, and all this space was ours! Over the years, though, that’s faded a little bit… this place is quite small in comparison to others, and I feel I can’t stretch out enough for some things. Obviously it’s huge compared to what others have access to, and I need to remember the feeling of walking in here for the first time…
Wherever we live can be home.
I share this place with a beautiful family, and we have all the amenities we could need or want. We have enough food, we’re close to most places we need to go, and over the years I’ve added decoration (and lots of books!)
Christmas is just around the corner, so I’ve started putting some bits and pieces up.
Mini gnomes!
(And fancy houses 🙂 )
Some of my decorations are up all year round…
I have quiet spaces to read and reflect – this morning was lovely and cool after the rain last night.
I rounded off lunchtime with a book on Fairytale Baking and a “Fantasy” ice-cream 😀
Houses tend to be static.
Homes can be quite portable.
Even if it means carting round tinsel and a very large cactus!
Santa?…. Slay!
We’re just rolling in to November, and the shops have put away the Halloween decorations. What’s with all the Christmas stuff?
I love Christmas! We put up the tree each year, the boys do their part, and I always put the angel on the top. I love finding things for presents, things that I think each person will appreciate. I love the carols, and the Christmas service, and the whole Christmas/New Year frenzy leading to languor.
But November 2nd is too early! Bah humbug!
Today we did the shopping. We’ve been trying to reduce the chocolate consumption of our household, but today needed a bit of sugar and chocolate Santas were just waiting to be eaten. We decided killing a chocolate Santa could be a pre-emptive strike against premature Christmas schmaltz.
He bisected easily.
…and talking about Halloween – how about these cute little tropical decorations from down the road?
😀
Frangipanis And Chocolate Chips
This week has been a big week. We had everything organised to be ready for Christmas, but… circumstances change. Rather than doing a big shop Monday and bits and pieces as needed after, I’ve been getting lifts with (lovely, kind) friends or taking the bus.
The nice part about shopping on my own is being able to sit and savour a coffee. Went to my favourite place and got a comfortable seat.
Enjoyed a coffee and a brownie.
Reflected on life… 😀
Contemplated a dragonfly, and found that my coffee loves me…
My story for the day…
On another shopping trip I had a bit more walking to do, but found a frangipani tree on the way – time for a bit of decoration!
Today was busy with finishing cooking/baking/cleaning for the family do tomorrow. I’m a bit tired now but IT’S DONE! Mostly. Some last minute bits to do tomorrow. Right now I’m taking the night off, watching “Elf”, and getting excited for tomorrow!
Merry Christmas Eve Eve! 😀
1000 Fields of Roses 