bits of sunshine

Christmas in the Living Room ::

Just a little tour of my living room on sunny Christmas Eve day.



A little variety of my Christmas goodness ::
Tiny white Nativity - from my sister, on a table runner from the Gobles.
Reindeer from Ben and kids last Christmas.
Rocking chair - wedding gift from Ben.
Green glass candy dish - from my Grandma Eva.
Starry Willow Tree Nativity - wedding gift from Quaifes and Olsons.
The kiddos and I bought the little trees and church this year.
Snowman wall quilt - wedding gift from Gretchen.
Bruce the Bear's Santa Hat - Ben's idea 4 years ago.
Italian Nativity - wedding gift from Liz-e, on a tiny quilt my Grandma Eva made.

All love.  My home is full of love.  All the mixed and matched goodness makes it perfect.  Perfectly home.
 
P.S.  I'll be adding one more bit of loveliness when the sun comes out and I can get a picture - check back!

Ice Fishing ::

On Saturday morning, Ben took the kids and I ice fishing. My dad has a friend who has a fish house on a lake full of sunfish.

Isaac fished.                                     


Maddie fished.                                  


Ben and I baited hooks and unhooked fish and decided which were keepers and which weren't.

It was fun to be all together in the fish house . . . except when Isaac went out to 'go potty' . . . and decided to put the padlock back on the door.
Of course he didn't have mittens on.
He started screaming.
I could push the door open a crack, so I was trying to calm him down.
And I could see that he hadn't locked it - just hooked the lock through the hardware on the door. I was trying to talk Isaac through how to lift it back off - it was a bit stuck - and he just couldn't.
Ben found a little tool of some sort and was trying to unhook the lock through the tiny crack in the door.
Finally, Ben decided that I had to go out the window to unlock the door and bring Isaac in.
The window was about 8 inches wide.
I did not believe that I would fit through.
I thought that I would for sure be stuck in the window
while Isaac was stuck outside, crying and getting cold.
But, Ben hoisted me up,
I got my legs through,
Ben turned me sideways,
I kept going,
my sweatshirt almost stayed in the window,
but my sweatshirt and I made it out.
I unhooked the lock,
brought it inside with me,
and got Isaac inside
where he got a LONG talk about playing with locks -
ANY sort of locks.

And we caught some more fish. And brought home 30 big sunfish!

We'll eat them tonight with my mom and dad.

******************************************And they were oh-so-yummy!

Real Letters ::

Coming in ::

(39 so far . . . )

Going out ::

(92 so far . . . I just thought of about 10 more that I should send . . . )

A Christmas Order ::

These are six of an order of eight ornaments. I had three of them on hand when my friend ordered them. Then I quickly made the other six.

I know. Six plus three equals nine. I added an extra one in to the bunch, so she would have one to keep for herself.

Which one did you keep Salena?

Which one would you have kept?

P.S.  I will take orders for any of these at any time!  Just let me know if you ever want one.  I may put some more in the shop . . .

Just Popping In . . .

to say
~ that our Christmas has been oh-so-merry!
~ that today I am writing piles of 'real' letters :: thank you notes and the last of the Christmas letters. 
~ that I shall be back with a post full of merry updates, soon.
~ that I dearly hope you are all enjoying family and celebrating and peace and giving and receiving and snow - Christmas - as much as we are here!

Love and Hugs to you all ~ Elizabeth

Christmas Eve ::

‘Tis Christmas Eve.  This night of all nights when we pause to consider the Wonder and Majesty of the Word Made Flesh, the Only Begotten of the Father, Who made His dwelling among us.  The Supreme Mystery, a tiny human Babe Who, if He would speak, would say, “I AM.  I am He Who is to Come.  I am Wonderful, your Counselor, I am the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace.  I AM.  I am come to bring Glory to the Father.”  The Second Person of the Godhead became the Second Man; He took humanity without loss of Deity.  Jesus – truly and fully divine, truly and fully human.  And all of this Wonder and Mystery and Glory took place in a tiny stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem.

 We pause to consider Joseph.  Leading his weary, child-laden wife into town.  Looking for a place to make her comfortable.  Knowing that birth was close at hand.  Wondering how he could help her as this came to pass.  Wondering what it would be like to hold God’s Son and look upon Him.  Overwhelmed with love for his dear, little wife.  Overwhelmed by the plan being orchestrated by the Most High.   

 We pause to consider Mary.  Heavy with the Child.  Worn from a long journey.  Not even noticing where they finally stopped.  Lying down on the cloak Joseph spread for her on the hay.  Thankful to be out of the press of people.  Laboring late into the night.  And finally, bringing Him forth.  Catching her breath.  Marveling at the Babe, so perfect and tiny.  Wrapping Him in the swaddling cloths.  Nestling Him into the sweet, clean hay that Joseph had spread in the manger.  Hearing a far off joyful shout. 

 We pause to consider the Shepherds.  Out in the fields.  Settling for the night.  Counting the sheep gathered closely again.  Sharing a hot drink by the fire.  Talking about their families at home, about the last great bear that tried to take a sheep, about searching out a sheep that had strayed. Their voices rumbling, low.   Suddenly!  The sky is BRIGHT.  And filled with a host of Heavenly Beings.  The Armies of Heaven.  And one Angel saying, “Do not be afraid!  I bring you GOOD tidings of GREAT JOY!”  The Shepherds falling prostrate and listening in awe.  When the Angels depart, a great Star is left in their place, and the Shepherds move as one, following the Star, to see the great Fulfillment of God’s promise.  The Messiah. 

 We pause to consider the Wise Men from the East.  They who have studied scrolls and stars for endless time.  Watching the night sky. Suddenly!  A bright Star appears.  This Star is not charted.  This Star is Foretold.  The Wise Men pack provisions for a long journey and set out to find Him.  The One Who has been born King of the Jews.  They set out with hope in their heart;, hope that this Star does indeed herald  a King, a mighty Ruler for the Jews and a Promise for all mankind.  They set out, following the Star.

 Let us pause.  Let us consider.  Let our thoughts be filled with the Mystery, the Glory, of the Word made Flesh.  Let us marvel at the Fullness of His grace in being Humbly Born.  Let our hearts follow and begin to know more deeply the Father Who sent His Son for His Glory and our Salvation.

(Written by Elizabeth.  Please ask permission before using or copying.  Thank you.)

The Star of Bethlehem

Ever wondered about the Star that marked Jesus' birth?

Here is an incredible link to a very well researched explanation ::  The Star of Bethlehem.

I love facts and bits like this, so when my friend Elissa posted this on her blog, it was right up my alley.  And I was amazed again by how very in control God is and how very large and far-reaching His plans are.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Ornaments ::

Ben and I bought this star for our first Christmas together ::

Ben made the clothespin reindeer when he was about 4.
My dad gave me the little girl in the bell for Christmas when I was one year old.
The baby in the bib is Maddie at her first Christmas.
The star has a carved Nativity in it.  It was a wedding gift from Ben's oldest sister.
The glass reindeer is from the Trading Post - a shop where I worked in Grand Marais.
The little bird . . . It's a little bird.  Need I say more?
I gave the funny Santa to Isaac last year.
The rocking horse was from my mom and dad on my first Christmas.
The bell with the little kids - also from my mom and dad - when I was young.

I love our Christmas tree - so full of special memories and promises of more beautiful memories to come.  I wish you a season of beauty and precious memories.

Snow, Snow, and more Snow ::

Oh, let the snow come down
Oh, let the snow come down
Sparkle through the air
and cover the town.

Oh, let the snow come down
Oh, let the snow com down
Bring a white Christmas to me!

My little girl sang this in her Christmas program - and it is happening - for sure!

Ben has been out snow-blowing again.  Hurray for work!

And Hurray for snow!

Christmas Eve Service ::

My husband Ben and I are planning the Christmas Eve Service for our church.

I thought that I would share the order of service and the song titles -
You may enjoy going through this as a preparation for Christmas ::

Order of Service

Welcome and Prayer                                   

Congregation Sing                O Come, All Ye Faithful   

Special                                     O Come, O Come Emanuel

Reading (Isaiah 7:14 & 9:1-7, Micah 5:2)         Prophecy

Special                                     Beautiful Savior

Reading (Luke 1:26-38)                                  Mary's Annunciation                  

Special          

Reading (Matthew 1:18-25)                            The Angel Visits Joseph

Special                                      It Wasn’t His Child

Reading (Luke 2:1-5)                                              The Trip to Bethlehem

Special                                      Gesu Bambino

Reading (Luke 2:6-7)                                              Mary Brings Forth the Babe

Special           Children            Away in a Manger

Congregation Sing               What Child is This?  

Reading (Luke 2:8-18, 20)                                       The Shepherds and Angels

Congregation Sing               While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks  

Reading (Luke 2:19)                                      Mary's Treasure

Special                                     Here With Us

Reading (Luke 2:25-35)                                  Simeon's Faith

Reading (Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 126:3)                   Anna's Joy                               

Congregation Sing               Joy to the World   

Reading (Matthew 2:1-12)                                      The Magi Travel

Special                               Star of the East

Benediction                                                                                         

Congregation Sing              Silent Night  

Closing Prayer