It's looking like, but not feeling like, Christmas!

Good Tuesday morning friends ~ It is 11:23 a.m. EST, and the temp is 83 and feels like it is 88, humidity is 76%, and the a.c. is on. 

I do believe I've finished with decorating for Christmas, bins are back in the workshop. Now I need to straighten up and vacuum. 

I really enjoy decorating for Christmas, always have. Even if I feel down, somehow just listening to the Christmas music can put me in the mood to get out the bins and begin. Most of the ornaments in my collection are from our 43 years together. When I unwrap them, my heart floods with memories and love for others and from others. My dear husband's mother gave each of her kids ornaments every year, then as married couples we still got them. We bought the holy family, three wise men, and donkey and cow, made of terra cotta clay when we were newlyweds living in Spain while DH was stationed there for the US Navy. When we got home from Spain, he made a wooden stable for them. These little figures are almost 50 years old. We bought them in a little shop in the main town square of our little town.

I've added angels and different peoples to our Nativity scene. In the silver s & p shakers are bits of frankincense in one and myrrh in the other. The little angel in blue hanging on the left was my husband's as a kid.

Here's a close up. The old angel at the back was $1 bought many, many years ago.

The lace angel was made by DH's mother. The stars are old and made of tubular and round beads. The little gauzy angels are really old and a couple have seen better days, but they still like to proclaim Jesus' birth.

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Now for some vignettes.

This close-up below is from an old icon, painted on wood, very bad condition. But the way Jesus is lovingly looking at His mother, and has His arm out as if to comfort her really touches my heart, and worth keeping.. This piece is behind the small framed painting, which is next to a piece of granite that has been carved into, to look like a book, the cover saying 'Learn of Me'. The end of the book says 'Bible', and of course, by reading the Bible we will learn of Jesus and all that He has done. We will be encouraged, inspired, convicted, and comforted.

 

This is a watercolor I painted of our tabby named Ditty, this was done in 1984.

 

 She is sleeping on an old wrought iron bench top covered in old red velvet. One year we had the stable/nativity set up on a low surface and she curled herself up on top of everyone and laid down in the stable. No picture.

 

Here is my little tree.

Yesterday I received a pkg from a sweet online blogging friend. In it was the lovely stocking, looks like it is made from a sweater. There is something inside but I am leaving that for Christmas morning. 

I also have an order of books that just came in the mail yesterday waiting for me to look at Christmas morning. They came the other day, a present to myself, 8 books for $19.43, I'll do a post later. I can hardly wait to look through them. They are in the basket behind the stocking

 

Isn't this lovely, and the faux fur is soft and lush. I love it, and of course I love the hearts.

  

She also sent this sweet little 'snow bird', pictured below. At least that is what I am calling him. He just makes me smile and my heart feel full. Thank you sweet 'K'.

The snow couple were from an online blogging friend many years ago when we were in an ornie swap. The little heart is my last ornament to my DH, just days before God called him home.  The round ornie is stuffed with dried lavender and I made that many years ago. Also crocheted the star. The round lit snowball is from a dear friend who lives locally.

 

Front

 

 

I made this bead and thread embroidered heart on cream background before my husband became ill, after he left this planet I took and old pair of his jeans and made this ornament for myself. The heart on the left represents me, the one on the right, him.

 

The lion couple were the last ornaments from DH's parents, and if I figured right that's 27 yrs ago.

 

 

 My crochet work, from a pattern found somewhere.

 

The ornament on the left is antique. The little ballerina is porcelain and made by DH's mother, one of my favorites.

 I believe she was taking porcelain classes, learning to paint and fire and this was a piece she chose to work with for ornaments one year.

 

 

Another antique ornament. Which reminds me I've other old ornaments to get out of the attic. I will need help with that. I've been just choosing the smallest ornies for this tree.

 

Tree topper made by another online friend from another online ornie swap.

This ornament was gifted to me from another widow. Someone had given her one and she liked what it said.

 

Yesterday, the 9th, made 7 years since God whispered those words to my dear husband. December is a hard month, because his birthday is the 20th, then we have Christmas.

I have to share something with you that I hope will encourage any of you who have lost a loved one. A couple of weeks ago I was outside walking around, and I thanked Jesus for my life in general, for His blessings. As I stood there,  a peace came over me and it hasn't left. I felt amazed.  A couple of days later, my pastor's message on Sunday morning was on peace, God's peace.

This is the first year I've not been filled with overwhelming sadness. What a gift that is. I miss my husband, don't get me wrong, I miss him every day. But, I know that he is with Jesus and I am so thankful for that.

Why this peace has come on me now, I don't know, but I can tell you that it is so welcome. Maybe it has something to do with being a part of 'GriefShare'? We just started our next 13 week session. Each loss is unique and through this program we offer hope, and let people know they are not alone. We share the peace that God gives through His word. We share our own experiences. We cry, laugh and pray together.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 The Passion Translation (TPT) is the following:

"All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For he is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort.

He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering
so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial.

We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us."

Helping others helps us.

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At this time of year, so many are hurting for all kinds of reasons, 

let us be kind, because kindness matters.

May you all be blessed and draw comfort from Jesus. 

Let us be filled with joy and peace, letting God's strength be ours. 

FlowerLady from Plum Cottage