Happy New Year!

We will be here to ring in the New Year. A place that could not be more perfect for reflecting, breathing, and slowing down to remember all the blessings of 2010. A place to discuss, dream and plan for the year we are about to embark on. God is good...all the time!

verry merry

What is done, is all that is going to get done. We are officially finished with work, for this year, and have begun our first vacation. Spending the day wrapping a couple of gifts, finishing up the baking and beginning Christmas Dinner preparations. This afternoon we head to Grandparents for Christmas Eve Italian Dinner. Please pass the eggnog!

Christmas Day Dinner
Pork Tenderloin
Spinach Salad
Green Beans
Seasoned Potatoes
Jello Salad
Bread

Desserts: Christmas Bark, Peanut Butter Fudge,
Biscotti, and anything else that shows up.

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 Savior, 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 2:10-14

Merry Christmas!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY... December 21, 2010

Outside my window... it is a chilly morning. Much I was up and outside my window the sky was crystal clear, with a beautiful "red" moon and two falling stars...it was spectacular.

I am thinking... about a young friend leaving for Haiti today. She is trained, prepared and knows how to love on babies; but she is leaving her family five days before Christmas, and I just want all of them be alright. Prayers for travel, health, and a mighty presence for God.

I am thankful for... two young ladies that are the best of friends and love each other SO much. I am blessed to be their mama.

From the learning rooms... movie nights, game night, Jesse Tree, baking, reading, farming ~ OK, none of this is happening in the learning room, but plenty of learning is taking place.

From the kitchen... we are half way through two weeks of menus we created as a family and it is wonderful. Something I need to do all the time, not just during busy times. Everyone checks the menu and gets it done.

I am wearing... jammies.

I am creating... a tablecloth and a few Christmas gifts.

I am remembering... this family in prayer.

I am going... Christmas shopping later today.

I am currently reading... a book I can't even remember the title of...not much reading happening.

I am hoping... that in the midst of heartache, several families we know can celebrate the gift of Christmas. It has been a tough year of loss for some that we love.

I am hearing... silence, it is very unusual.

On my mind... the list of things that must be done at the beginning of the year.

Noticing that... this little farm is so much happier with a pig in the pen.

Around the house... we are still finishing Christmas decorations.

One of my favorite things... Christmas music.

From my picture journal...Miss Piggy came home in the dark. She needed a little pen work so she couldn't escape and the truck needed to be cleaned out. All had to be done with the help of headlights.




Thank you Peggy for hosting the Simple Woman's Daybook.
Thanks for stopping by, feel free to link over and read more Daybooks.

gratitude

#56 a friend to share an unplanned dinner out and a little Christmas shopping with

#57 parents celebrating 45 years of marriage...thanks for never giving up

#58 a little dreary, cold, damp and sometimes misty, weather ~ it feels a little more like winter during Christmas

#59 experience ~ that teaches me it is OK to be this unprepared for Christmas this late in the month

#60 only three and a half days of work left before a much needed extended break

#61 my church family

#62 the courage to begin a tablecloth by cutting the fabric I have had for more than a year, not nearly as difficult as I was making it

#63 grandparents that live close enough for movie nights and Christmas shopping...have fun girls

#64 a new perspective

#65 chickens that decided it is a good thing to lay eggs again

#66 in the middle of mountains of work, they still ask me to play (and I get to be the nana)
#67 warm flannel sheets to crawl into

#68 a sleep doctor that gave my husband a new life

#69 family movie night

#70 JESUS...the only gift that really matters

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Ann for hosting such thankfulness!

sunday snapshot

The pigs need water...farm work builds character,
makes this boy think twice about career choice.
Note to self, if I choose to be a farmer rental cost
of the trencher is worth it. Only one more pen to
run water to once this one is finished.
Thank you son, for your labor.

right now...at this moment

It has been a long time since I have been in this space and while much has happened it will show up in another post, maybe. My camera has also been as still as this little space, but I managed to pick it up and capture about fifteen minutes of life. These images represent the little things I am noticing, not wanting to forget, Living in the present...

A simple Christmas is happening all around...
no rushing, no panic, no chaos ~ it will all get done, it always does...

Girls needing some outside time, knitting included...

Remnants of last nights fire...a foreshadowing
of nights throughout the cool season...

Crisp laundry drying quickly in blustery days...

Cozy new flannel sheets ~ bed warmers used
nightly in this house that does not turn on heat...

New pigs in the pigpen...

Chicks growing quickly are moving to a bigger broader this weekend...

Little girls just waking up,,,

Cozy mornings and evenings standing in front of this spot...

Our Jesse Tree.

I pray you have a blessed week and in case I don't make it back here...

Merry Christmas!