A Wedding

I was among a small group of friends and family at the wedding of Denny and Billy today.  Theirs was a simple, touching and REAL wedding.  They had written their own vows and they were beautiful affirmations of love and commitment.  The officiant was their dear friend Kim, who held up pretty well during the ceremony, at least until Billy broke down a bit.  Then Kim did, Denny did and so did most of the guests.  The ceremony was held on the front porch at Denny's mother's house which is situated on a hill overlooking Benson, AZ.  It was a lovely Arizona winter day, sunny and mild, with a slight, cool breeze.  The guests were treated to a wonderful southwest dinner of tamales, freshly made tortillas and carne asada, chicken enchilada casserole, rice and chiles, and other salads, fruits and accompaniments. 

It was a beautiful ceremony and I am honored to have been there to witness it and to get an opportunity to meet the people who are dear to Denny and Billy.  I wish them a lifetime of love and happy memories.

Merry Christmas!

This is a different Christmas. Its not melancholy, but quiet, reflective, low-key. 

The candlelight service was beautiful, thought-provoking, and very much centered around God's indescribable gift to us, His Son, Jesus Christ.  It renewed in my mind, with crystal clarity, what the real gift exchange is all about:  accepting God's gift of a new life, of salvation from sin and death, of living in and sharing His light, His hope, His love, His forgiveness.  That is Christmas.

Merry Christmas, and may God bless us, every one. 

Sorrow

My son-in-law's Mom, Carol Anderson, passed away this evening.  She was a wonderful woman and my dear friend.  Many in-law families do not have the joy of merging together into a bigger family; of enlarging their hearts and accepting one another as true friends and not just tolerating one another for the married couple's sake.  Now, because of this closeness and love, I shed tears as painful as any sister might shed.  My heart aches not only for my son-in-law's and daughter's sakes but for my loss as well.  I mourn the loss of seeing her laughing eyes, listening to her wisdom, sharing the moments of our lives with each other and learning from one another as women so often do.  I see her likeness in my granddaughter and find comfort in that. She was so full of love for her family and her God and Savior, and I feel she has left us too soon. 

Buttonholes!

I made my first buttonholes on the Bernina 830 today!  It was easy peasy and I've been dreading it for NO REASON!  Yay!  Sewing on buttons and then my son's shirt is (finally!) done.  Will post pics later.

Is This a Problem?

So...I went to my sewing room to tidy it up so I could find what I was going to work on.  Decided to clean the cat litter box first and discovered I didn't have plastic bags so went to the kitchen to get them and decided to install a cup hook in the shelf over the cat box so I could hang a sackful of them there.  Going through the drawers in the kitchen (where I last remembered seeing a cup hook) I decided to clean out one of the drawers which I proceeded to do and then noticed the pile of junk mail and catalogs that needed the addresses shredded which I proceeded to do and then grabbed a quick bite to eat and read the Verizon ad while eating.  Wandered back into the sewing room to tidy it up and realized that the cat box still needed attending to so I proceeded to do that and then put a couple of things away in my sewing room and decided I needed to blog about my activities to see if I truly do have a problem with my attention span so having done this I will put the thread away and start the embroidery project awaiting me.  But first I will answer the phone and then look up the instructions for proper monogram placement on hoodies and then do a test to see if the size in right and THEN I will start the embroideries!

Do I have a prblem?

Christmas Thoughts, Part II

'Tis the season to be...in the dog house?  MIL is not happy that we've been so busy the last few days that we haven't stopped by.  I try but I ain't perfect.

I've been busy baking stuff and its been enjoyable.  Here's what I have thus far:     

Looking at the bottom photo, clockwise from the top: Cherry Mash bars (a layered candy), Craisin Oatmeal cookies with pecans and white chips, "Don't Ask Don't Tell cookies (Chocolate Sauerkraut Cookies) with Mocha Icing,  Andes Mint Chip cookies. 

While writing up this post, my sewing machine is busily stitching up more mini charms for earrings.  Thus far I have made more red bows, white angels and now snowmen.  Now, to use the other machine to finish a purse I'm making!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Thoughts, Part 1

The plan is to under-decorate for Christmas this year.  Not a "bah humbug" under-decorating effort.  No, just a simple one.  Like  2-3 wall-hangings, my two nativity sets, Advent candles and silk poinsettias.

Baking things that smell good, taste good and are easy to share.

Making as many of the gifts for the family as possible, without frenzy or anxiety, and picking out gift cards when time runs short. 

Simple, uncluttered, unhurried.  Finding the real Christmas that has been buried by events, expectations, glitter, and Too Much. 

Welcome to my heart, Christmas.