End of the Year!

Moving furniture, visiting friends, and traveling to and from the airport!

Mah jongg

Penguins in the park!

Played Mahjongg with my girls!

Decorated the tree!

Ate Taco Soup!

21st...almost Christmas!

Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:11

There was a snowball fight in Kensington!

And "Right Now" , Mike is running around the house changing air filters and light bulbs cuz that is what I had on his list!  Kelli and I got the tree lights on last night...little on the bottom and big on the top.

JYC 14-17

20th of December~~~5 more days!

And on entering the house they saw the child with Mary, his mother.  They prostrated themselves and did him homage.  Matthew 2:11

It was gingerbread decorating today at the sweet shoppe...I did a girl and a cat!  3 left, who will get them done?

Journal Your Christmas prompt #20 is "happy surprises"!  Will have to work on that one.

Mike pruned wildly today with little help from Kelli Sue or I.  We 3 had lunch at the Bistro, after I worked out for an hour and Kelli Sue had her facial.  Tonight we went to see "Sherlock"...fabulous as expected.  All sorry to see McAdams not survive the first 30 minutes.

Chelsi arrives Wednesday!

JYC prompt #19 is "Write a Letter to Santa"... I will be doing a page about Saint Nick instead!  Watched Santa Clause 3 last night with Kelli Sue and Mike. 

And behold, the star that they had seen at the rising preceeded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.  Matthew 2:9

Kelli Sue brought her's home and behind door # 19 it said, "Cut a snowflake out of paper."  I love her's cuz it is full of activity at Christmas time!

We left London today and went to a duck pond!

18th already! Are you Prepared?

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all of Jerusalem with him.  Matthew 2:3
Listening to The Shack while driving in the car.  Interesting!  Thanks Mary Lou!

Took at trip to the National Gallery in London!

Prompt #18 is "Christmas Dinner"  which we will be eating at My Mom and Dad's, just like last year!

Made it in time to church to see the 4th candle lit!  This one is to have us think of Joseph.  Also portraying faith galore...to say Yes to God !  

Mike today and Kelli Sue tomorrow!

JYC is the perfect gift for someone else....
Bellringing Bears in London!  Yesterday was a doggy and a dinosaur!

"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?  We saw his star at its rising."  Matthew 2:2

16th is here!

Lunch at Macaroni Grill with Ryan and my Mom  and Dad!  I am eating way toooo much! 

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.  Matthew 2:1

Gettin' Closer to Christmas!!!

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  Luke 2:20

The tree is up!!!  Ate Greek and took 2 carloads of stuff to the storage place!  Thanks Ryan!

Decorated on the Wild Side in London!

JYC prompt  #15 "Visitors"!  My visitors will be my family...and I am so glad that is true!

Barcelona Nacimiento con tres reyes y camelos!

Jalapeno Jelly from Pat and Louis!

Tag Exchange

Gift Exchange!

Stampin' Buddies!

Deer Surprise on the way home!

Happppy Birthday JoeAnn!

Day 14 in London took me to the Palace!  ...and the dogs had the last laugh!  (me too!)

The shepherds said to one another,"Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place."  Luke 2:15

Kelli Sue finally was accepted at Monash University in Australia...I will get her for 8 weeks starting this Sunday!  Then she will leave here to attend a semester there, staying with our friends from Aberdeen.  Yay!  Yay!  Yay!  Congratulations, Kelli Sue!   ...and thanks Jessica H. for taking her in!

JYC prompt #14 is?????                      OK, I 'm back and #14 is "gifting", in the past I have talked about who gives out the presents, when we open presents, who gets/gives great presents, etc.  This year I think I am going to journal about the fun homedone gifts I have received...like the oh so yummy molasses cookies from Colleen and Paul...the adorable red bauble box from Alyce at book club...the festive jar of jalapeno jelly from the Hartgroves...the thanksgiviing treasure from Kadie...the afternoon of techniques from Jan...oh so many very special gifts from the wonderful people in this area!

And a very very Happy Birthday Wish to my MIL, JoeAnn!  Let's Skype soon! 

This afternoon is the Saddlebrooke Stampers Holiday Luncheon!  Chicken Salad at their clubhouse, and then an afternoon of gift and tag exchange!!!   Going with 3 other crafty Ranchgirls and meeting up with a room full of crafty Saddlebrooke girlfriends!  Can't wait!

Off to the gym!  Later Tater!

Today is the 13th!

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." Luke 2: 13-14

My visit to London led to a visit for a young man to the North Pole!Prompt #13 for Journal Your Christmas is "Music, Music, Music!"  Usually my least favorite page, but love my entry for this year...especially my wee jingle bells!   So here are pages 10-13!

12 Day 12 Day 12

JYC prompt is "Christmas Past/lessons learned/or how the Season has changed"!  Hmmm...will have to think about that one!

Oh Theo!  You have already ripped off door 12, let's see if I can read through the teeth marks!  "Now there were sheperds living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock."  Luke 2:8

Chelsi's song was sung be a beautiful bear in Prince Albert's Hall...in London town.
Busy week...something everyday and my family starts arriving on Saturday!  oh yeah!

Tried to eat Greek last night but it wasn't open, so we headed to Amarsi instead for Italian...yum!

Journal Your Christmas Day 1- Day 9

Finally scanned pages 1-9!  The last 2 years I went digi and or hybrid and this year I am going back to paper cuz I have a craft room to play and make a mess in!!!  The main colors are red, grey, mint green and sky blue.  I am trying to stick to the Martha Stewart pads and embellishments that are in those colors.  Of course using a bunch from my stash as well.  Numbers are punched from my new banners/pennants SU set!  Also used it for making my cards this year.

11 it is! 3rd Sunday in Advent

Today's candle at church signified Mary and the story of  "the Virgin of Guadalupe" was printed in the program.  When I was a Junior in High School, my Spanish class went to Mexico and we went to that cathedral and saw the robe of the peasant boy who saw Mary.  I was impressed then and still am.  Mary signifies the willingness to gently do what God wants you to do.  To say "YES" to God!

My window read, "And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." Luke 2:7   In the wee picture Mary is shown behind the straw filled manger, and the baby is smiling up at her.    (On a side note, Theo is enjoying ripping off the opened door and chewing on all other papers as well!  Is he teething???)

Visited Westminster Abbey (one of my favorite places ever) today on my desktop calendar!

JYC prompt #11 is "Oh Christmas Tree"!  Mine is not even up yet...is your's?

transperancy made from pic of Steve&Judy's tree..to overlay

Theo and I reading Jeanene's 2nd book...to put on her webpage!

Happy Birthday Julie, Janie, & Karen!

Happy 10th of December to One and All!
And Joseph too went up from Galilee to Bethlehem, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  Luke 2:4-5
Spent a fun afternoon with Jan and Betty in Jan's new craft room!  Jan has soooooo many stamps and they are all organized!  Amazing!
Finished the white chocolate cherry shortbread late last night and it was just as yummy this morning as I thought it was last night!  Easy too!
This morning while visiting London, I watched the elf chimney sweep do his thing!  Too cute!
Journal Your Christmas Prompt #10 is "All about the Wrapping"!  Love this prompt every year!  Still haven't posted pictures of my pages...will do so soon...promise!

9th of December

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. Luke 2:3
It is all about TRADITION on JYC!
...and today in London, we celebrated a tropical Christmas!
Just finished making my new Christmas recipe.  "White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread"  Oh My Yummy!

Your View of All Things Christmas!

JYC Prompt 8 is "What do you see that is all about the Season?"  Love this prompt each year cuz I have lots and lots of photos of what I see and what I love!  This year as probably last year is the cacti wrapped in lights and then wrapped in blankets with a Santa hat on top!  Gotta love the season and the necessity to keep our plant life warm and cozy!
All Saints' window reads, "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled."  Luke 2:1
Nelson and the pigeons were visited and the tree was lit!
Chelsi arrives on the 21st!  Mike arrives on the17th!  Kelli Sue arrives on the 18th!