The Starting Point....

Here we are

closing out a year that has

held many crazy events.

From hurricanes and floods

to earthquakes and tornadoes.

There has been history made 

all around the globe

with the rise and fall of nations.

With the impending start of a new

year it feels like a chance to begin again.

I'm not a big proponent of the 

New Year's Resolution....

however, I think this year

I'll make one.

You see, this morning I was 

starting to type on a listing for my 

Etsy shop.

It was jibberish.

The letters didn't go together 

at all.

I had positioned my hands over by one 

letter from the correct 

starting point.

What a difference.

So, my resolution for the start of 

2012 is to begin at the right 

starting point.

I'd rather not have a year filled

with jibberish.

My goal will be to 

keep my eyes fixed upon Jesus.

Seeking His will for decisions 

I make.

To remember that those things that

I may think are wise are not

unless He opens the doors and 

leads me through.

One doesn't have to be far off 

the proper starting point

to create chaos....

but starting in Him....

and staying in Him....

will lead to the proper resolution.

This year may not be all fun and games.

But it will make a whole lot more

sense if 

we start in the right place.

Personally, 

I'd love tons of fun too.

Because that is just the kind of 

gal I tend to be.

Laughter and fun...

all the way!!

I'm wishing you a year that 

allows you to sigh in complete 

contentment one year from today.

For a year well lived.

Hugs.

Company is Coming

And I am setting a colorful table.

With gifts received from far away

places....

The table runner is from

Guatemala

while the napkin holder 

is obviously from Peru.

This is one of the sweet joys

of having Moms who love

to travel.

I found the black table cloth

on deep discount after

Christmas and thought it would

make a very nice backdrop

to all of the bright colors.

 This evening we will host 

my brother, Allan, his wife Bev

and her sister Betsy.

We love having them here.

I am making 

chicken enchiladas.

Yum!

Served with fresh pineapple

and sweet corn.

Here's to the beginning of a very

fun weekend.

Happy New Year!!

Here's to a colorful 2012!!!

Good Morning!

It seems like forever since I just 

opened this window and started typing

with no particular topic in mind.

All I know is that I have missed just

chatting away at you.

I was thinking last evening as 

I headed to bed that our house is coming

back into focus.

Kind of like life has been so busy

that everything outside the scope of 

candles has been a blur in my peripheral vision

and now the world is slowing back down to the 

point that I can see around me again.

Ahhh....that feels so good.

As the days go by the house is transformed

back into a home.

This week the table came back to the center of

the dining room and we even ate dinner 

at it!

Hallelujah!

That was wonderful!!

Oh, and my kitchen is being used for cooking

once again.  Real cooking, not throw something in 

the microwave or oven but the kind where 

you slice and dice, 

mix and taste.

Bliss!

I've missed it.

Shopping was a new adventure this 

week because I bought....

ready for this?

Ingredients!!!

You may think this sounds like

backhanded complaining about the 

busy months but that is not it.

Not at all!

I totally love candle season.

My family does not.

But I also LOVE coming out 

of it and the changes that come 

with all of that.

You see, 

when I was a teenager I would 

paint my bedroom very often.

It was the thrill of the change.

I often wait until my hair is way, way

past time for a cut and then 

go with a very short cut or new hair color....

I love the thrill of the change.

Having a remodeling project

that starts with something perfectly horrid

is the height of fun for me because 

I love the thrill of the change.

Does this make sense?

While the craziness and the mess makes

the rest of the family twitch 

it is what makes

me tick.....

Not that I love the mess.

I love coming out of the mess.

I love the contrasts of life.

Now, I still intend to make changes for 

this coming year.

I'm still on the hunt for another location

to work from....

since my family doesn't get their thrills

the same way I do.

But, hopefully this helps those of you 

who wonder how I can stand it.

I'm totally strange.

And I like it that way.

In my head I know that it is for a 

season and then the changes are

real and stunning.

How about you?

Are you a fan of change or 

do you like things to be the same

and predictable?

Secret Sister Gifts - CAST Team Etsy

I used to drive my family crazy

talking about my blog friends

that none of them knew.

They got used to that 

and have even had opportunity to 

meet some of you in real life.

So, that is now the norm at our home.

In March I opened a shop on 

Etsy, an online marketplace for things

that are handcrafted.

One of the first things I did upon 

opening this shop was to join a team

of individuals who hold to similar beliefs that 

I hold dear.

That of loving the Lord and trusting

in Jesus for our salvation.

We leave the controversial stuff alone

and agree on the important stuff.

I have met many, many amazing 

artists here and am blessed to 

have acquired another circle of 

friends.

As "Friendship Ambassador to the World"

nothing could please me more, really.

lol

Well before Christmas rolled around many of

us decided we'd like to do a gift exchange.

So, the secret sister plan was activated.

When my gifts came in the mail 

I ripped into them that very day.

I know a lot of the participants waited

patiently for Christmas.

It never occurred to me to wait.

I was so curious to see who my secret sister was

and what she had sent.

These are the treasures that
Zuda Gay sent.

An ornament embellished with a clay polymer

which when inserted over a white light

on the tree looks truly stunning.

Don't you love it?

Zuda Gay also sent a couple

dish or face cloths.  

They are soooo soft.

I'd been perusing sites thinking

of getting myself some.

These are just perfect.

And finally, 

but definitely not least....

What I am considering a bookmark.

I'm not sure if this is its intended purpose

but I have decided that it would go well in 

a Bible because it has multiple strands and 

I can keep up with Pastor Mike better if 

I can keep several passages marked.

Jonathan looked at the craftmanship 

on this clay flower and was totally impressed.

He has done clay sculpting and said that 

what Zuda Gay does with the flowers is

truly amazing.

I would agree.....

Thanks, Zuda Gay.

 I am so grateful.

To see more of Zuda's lovely 

work just visit her Etsy shop

by clicking here.

You'll be so glad you did.

Moravian Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

So...it is the morning after Christmas 2011.

We had a truly delightful day.

Everyone came into church with 

energy and joy.

Our service was filled to the brim with 

music and scripture.

Loved it!!

But the festivities began the night

before for our little family.

You see, 

Warren's maternal heritage is Moravian.

His Grandpa Howard and Grandma Charlotte

were fully involved in the Moravian Church 

in York.  

This meant that Warren's mom, Georgia,

was raised in the Moravian tradition, as well.

One of the most important days of the year

was Christmas Eve.

The candlelight service is amazingly special 

and something that I came to love when 

I joined the family.

Then in the years since Grandma Charlotte

passed on and we always had a 

Christmas Eve Service of our own

we had not gone.

However, since Christmas fell on a Sunday

Pastor Mike decided to move our service

to Christmas Day and we were free to  make

the trek to York.

After a nice dinner together at Outback

Steakhouse we made our way to the church

in the heart of the city of York.

Immediately Georgia found folks from 

her past.  They delighted to see each other.

And then we made our way upstairs to the 

beautiful sanctuary.

Elaine, the long time organist,

was bringing forth amazing music

from the vintage pipe organ.

As you know they have an amazing sound.

The service began and was pleasantly

familiar.  From the songs sung to 

the serving of love feast.

A special cinnamon bun and coffee.

Celebrating the unity of believers as history

tells of two groups of Moravians who had a 

dispute.  They decided one day to work through

it and once resolved they stayed to eat together

thus sealing the resolution and enjoying 

each others company once again.

My favorite song in the service is called

Morning Star. 

The song is sung antiphonally with 

a child or children

leading the congregation.

Sigh......

so...sooo.....beautiful.

I am going to attempt to get the music

and teach it to our congregation for 

Christmas Eve 2012.

A traditional Moravian

Christmas Tree.

Decorated with musical instruments,

dried fruit and beeswax candles.

The beeswax candles are very important to the 

tradition.  Each year the people of the church 

get together to wrap the tissue paper 

decoration at the base of the candle.

This serves as protection from the dripping 

wax as well as looking stunning.

This was the house across the street from the 

parking lot there in York.

 

We just thought it was so pretty.

I hope your Christmas was special.

Full of Joy.

Oh! And by the way....

the bottom half of the tree has been 

relieved of its gingerbread men.

That's how far the dogs can reach...

so they did.  

While we were in York.

Apparently the boys downstairs were

not paying any attention

so they got away with it.

Silly dogs.

Unforeseen Complication to Gingerbread Man Tree Decor

So sometimes simple isn't as simple

as one would imagine.

 

Chelsea has made gingerbread men

for a couple of years now.

They are designed to 

represent friends

and family.

Apparently these resemble

doggy treats to a couple of 

furry members of our family.

We are now in the process of 

teaching Chloe and Bandit

that what looks like 

treats for them

are

NOT!

Then there was the question

of how to hang them.

Chelsea chose to just lay 

some on the tree

bypassing the poking of holes

in the head.

However, there are only 

so many places on the tree where

they can be laid and be visible

which left many unused.

Being the practical type 

I decided that the only thing

to do was get out the ice pick and 

"ahem"

poke holes in the forehead

of each and every remaining

boy and girl.

 Unfortunately there was collateral damage to this 

little girl's eye while poking her head.  

You can tell she is in shock.

 Meet Johnny.

At least Chelsea's take on him.

I don't see the resemblance at all.....

smile.

Chelsea happened into the 

kitchen just as I drilled

into the head of our friend

Johnny.

Oops!

I know...it totally 

felt wrong.

Especially since they have names.

But......

I'm not sure who I ate

after I broke them while 

drilling their head...

I'm sorry.

But those who remain 

are cute as a button on our 

blue and white Christmas tree.

Now, 

I wait to see if there is a tree

and or cookies remaining

when we return from getting 

flour for more cookie baking.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Hope you aren't complicating things

quite as much as we have here.

Decorating for Christmas....

What?

You say this looks more like

Autumn than Christmas?

I have a great excuse.

At this late date we are not getting

all of the Christmas boxes down.

I am using what I have on hand

and just rearranging

then adding some 

glow.

We did go and get a small tree today

so that Chelsea can decorate it tomorrow.

She has made and decorated gingerbread men 

for ornament...

I'll pick up some simple white lights 

this evening.
We'll find a few other
ornaments here and there.

Simplicity 

is the key 

this year.

I hope your Christmas preparations

are going well. Whether you do it

up like crazy...or don't stress yourself

like me this year doesn't matter.

What does is that 

we remember the reason

we celebrate.

God,

come to us.

Changing our eternal 

destiny in the 

process.

50% OFF My Stockpile.....

I want it gone....

So you are invited to a clearance 

sale......

50% off any of my remaining fundraiser 

stockpile candles.

Price is based on Fundraiser Pricing 

so...

12 ounce was $13....now $6.50

Available Fragrances are:
Cinnamon Buns
French Vanilla
Potpourri Spice
Hot Chocolate (in jars only)
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Blueberry Muffins
Balsam
Spiced Cranberry
Apple Cinnamon

Not all fragrances in all sizes .....

9 ounce Hexagon was $10....now $5.00

8 ounce Jelly Jar was $9.00.....now $4.50

I may add others if these get scarce...

we'll see.

Stay in touch.

Contact me for list of available candles.

You'll pay actual shipping which will 

be quoted to you before you commit.

Thanks!

Beautiful Brunch and an All Round Lovely Day

This morning I needed to 

"run" to Chambersburg, just 

over two hours one way, 

to deliver some fund raiser candles.

I took Georgia and Chelsea along

for company.

That was a wonderful decision.

We had a very good time.

When I knew I was headed that way 

I contacted a friend of mine from 

Etsy and suggested that we meet up.

She invited us to her home for brunch.

We took her up on it!

We had such a delightful time

chatting away.

Georgia and Angel's little 

daughters hit it off so well.

You could tell the recognize a 

Grandmother when they see one.

Angel made cinnamon buns, blueberry muffins

and offered fruit.

I took bacon which Angel showed me 

how to bake in the oven.

Love that method!

I'll be using that one from now on!!

Then after a too brief, but sweet,

visit we had to get back on the road.

There were more candles to deliver

back our way.

On our way home we stopped at a favorite

butcher shop in the York area and purchased

the roast for our Christmas dinner.

That will be Georgia's project.

I'm making ham.

Mom is making the mashed potatoes

and we'll have our own frozen corn.

Ooooh, my mouth is watering at the thought

of all of that goodness.

Good days, I tell you.
Even in the midst of the 

sleepless nights

lost to work

and 

sinus infections that really

put one down

life is still pretty awesome.

I'm one very

grateful

lady.

Indeedy!

All of the products through this post

are made by Angel or her partner, Michelle.

Two very talented and smart ladies.

And you can find them at
Bamcrafty Mamas on Etsy.

All I Need are The Reindeer!

Oh!  And maybe a white wig,

a red dress and 

a few other distinguishing

items to be completely 

like Mrs. Claus.

I'm pretty sure that a good 

man like Mr. Claus

has an even better woman

helping him....

don'tcha think?

And so,
I feel a bit like her today

as I will continue the deliveries of

bags and bags of candles that have been 

gathering in our dining room.

The dining room which no longer 

has a table in the center.  

It has been pushed to the far end in 

favor of floor space.

By Tuesday evening every 

large group will have their orders

and then they will be scurrying to 

get things out before the magical 

Christmas hour.

There is joy in the knowledge that

many people will receive my candles

on Christmas day.

Gifts...a symbol of

one amazing gift come 

to earth on Christmas Day.

Here's hoping they will 

enjoy them!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

"Mrs. Claus"

over and out!

Juliet's Busy Day

I have a fun little friend at church.

Her name is Juliet.

Some things I enjoy about

Juliet....

She is a cute dresser.

Her smile.

 

Even if she does happen to enhance 

her smile with a pretzel.

Her sweet singing voice.

Her willingness to serve.

On Sunday I happened to catch

Juliet serving twice.

Once as she played for our final 

song....keeping the beat with the 

guys.....

Later she helped Miss Jenny put 

up and decorate the artificial

Christmas tree.

Some of us prefer a real tree

and so we kind of go back and forth.

I think it was our turn but as 

you know it has been a bit busy

around here lately.

Jenny volunteered to just go ahead 

with the artificial tree that was up in 

the storage area for just such a 

time as this.

She found a few dedicated volunteers

who built a tree in a very short time.

Then they added the lights...

that took the longest of the entire process.

Next simple ornaments.

And finally ribbon.

It came out pretty well

if you ask me.

It was sweet to see them working

together so nicely.

I'm thinking that my friend, 

Juliet might have needed a 

nap after her very busy day....

Such a sweetie, that one.

I love how our children and 

young people learn to serve

with joy.

What a blessing!

Disclaimer:  I asked for and received permission
from Juliet's mother to feature her in this post.
Thanks, Bonnie.

Our Homeschool Community Mourns Today

Last week saw the terror of two 

horrific traffic accidents 

involving students 

in our local area.

One day it was five

from a nearby school district.

The next day it was three siblings from 

our own homeschool community.

Today the friends and family 

of sixteen year old twin boys

and a nine year old sister 

will celebrate, remember and honor
their short lives.

I did not know the young

people personally

although I know of them

just because of our 

homeschool connections.

However, young people 

that I do know well

have been called upon to sing and

accompany the music for this special 

service.

Please keep them and all who 

are hurting so deeply

in prayer today 

and in the days to come.

I was amazed and pleased to 

see the parents speak with our 

local television reporter.

They spoke of their grief...

so real.

But they also spoke of their

HOPE.

Our Lord and Savior....

the One who they say gives

them the strength to get out 

of bed each day.

Hard, hard days lie ahead.

My heart is heavy for them

this morning as they say

"Goodbye".

May many be reached with the 

Gospel today and in the days to 

come as we grapple with 

the fact of eternity.

You Have to See What Love Can Do.....

Check out this amazing change

in Katie.  Home, fed and loved.

If that doesn't touch your

heart I worry about you.

What a beautiful 

thing

to 

behold.

Agreed?

Our Christmas Tea 2011

Every year I think the 

Christmas Tea 

at church was the best yet.

But this one might be it.

This was the first year that 

I did not help Deanna decorate.

I had things I just had to do in 

the morning and she, Tim and 

a few of their kiddos set it up 

beautifully.

I loved the lamps on the tables!

So sweet!!

I had to take some photos of 

a few of Deanna's tea cups.

She treats us each year by bringing

her own glass plates, tea cups and 

tea pots, creamers and sugar bowls.

It is a service of love.

We appreciate it!

When the ladies began to arrive

the real fun began as we each

checked out what the next had

brought.

There were mini meatballs, spinach balls,

tea sandwiches, muffins, cranberry bread,

cheese and crackers,

jalepeno jelly on cream cheese
(Jelly was a gift from our friends at
Blue Barn Bulletin),

scones with lemon curd and cream........

I made potato soup.

It was all so yummy!!

Some items that went into the bags...first a mug then many other items.

And then came the fun.

We packed bags for the families

who are at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

It was so sweet to see the enjoyment everyone

got from filling a bag and then decorating it

just a bit with tissue paper and ribbon.

Not overdone but with love and care.
I also have to thank two cyber friends
who contributed to our project.
M  & S you know who you are....
be blessed.
Many thanks!!

Finally we had to clean up and head

home....bellies full and hearts happy.

Many thanks to our dear Deanna,

of Creekside Cottage,

for making another special evening....

even with an unexpected cold.

You did very well,

my friend.