Merry Almost Christmas Everyone! Well, today I'm having a little open house and inviting YOU! Can't you just smell the hot wassail on the stove, my almost homemade slice and bake cookies, and my evergreen Yankee candle burning? Well, what are we waiting for? Come on in! Here's my daughter Hope and I ready to greet you at our front door. I got that tree on the left of my stairs on clearance today at Target for $30 lights and all! I love good deals!
Now, here are some of my favorite ornaments. Each of my kids have and ornaments with their names painted on them. (Don't even think about asking me if I hand painted these myself! The fact that I'm serving you slice and bake cookies should be a major indication of the lack of my homemaking skills.) Anyhow, when the kids were little they each got an ornament that year that represented something they were into. I also picked up these large stars at a craft show and had each of their names painted on one.Here's the kid's tree where these ornaments live for the month of December. This is the only live tree we have. And I'm so proud to announce that my kids and I went to the Tree Lot closest to our house, walked in, looked at three trees and bought the first one we looked at. The whole event took less than 5 minutes. 
There is a story here. You see my sweet mom has this thing for the perfect tree. We are talking it's an all day affair with many visits to what seemed like hundreds of lots. A few fights, tears, and much angst later- ALAS the perfect tree. I would like to say I was not scarred by the whole perfect tree production but I think my 5 minute- any tree will do- attitude might indicate otherwise!
There is a story here. You see my sweet mom has this thing for the perfect tree. We are talking it's an all day affair with many visits to what seemed like hundreds of lots. A few fights, tears, and much angst later- ALAS the perfect tree. I would like to say I was not scarred by the whole perfect tree production but I think my 5 minute- any tree will do- attitude might indicate otherwise! My next picture is my attempt at a centerpiece. It was so easy I honestly scared myself! 
I just got a bowl I had, went out into the woods behind my house, found a tree with some greenery on it, put some cuttings in the bowl, got a splinter, put some gold sparkly sticks in it, added some gold ornaments that I got on clearance at Target (love that store!) lit a few little candles, and Wallah! I then did a happy dance when my kids gave me the thumbs up. I just might share some of my slice and bakes with them.
I just got a bowl I had, went out into the woods behind my house, found a tree with some greenery on it, put some cuttings in the bowl, got a splinter, put some gold sparkly sticks in it, added some gold ornaments that I got on clearance at Target (love that store!) lit a few little candles, and Wallah! I then did a happy dance when my kids gave me the thumbs up. I just might share some of my slice and bakes with them. My next photo is my Christmas present from Holly this year! 
We found these JOY letters made out of greenery at a little store in Connecticut during a recent speaking engagement. I loved them but thought they were too expensive- in other words, they were not on clearance at Target. But then she surprised me with them last week! Oh, oh, oh I was so happy! Aren't they cute?
We found these JOY letters made out of greenery at a little store in Connecticut during a recent speaking engagement. I loved them but thought they were too expensive- in other words, they were not on clearance at Target. But then she surprised me with them last week! Oh, oh, oh I was so happy! Aren't they cute? And FINALLY--- here are some stockings hung by the chimney with care! 
These are Mommy and Daddy's stockings. It just cracks me up how large and funky they are. Don't worry the kiddos have stockings hung by another chimney with care. But theirs are much smaller and have a slightly tacky element to them. Someone took masking tape and wrote in sharpie marker each kid's name on it. Oh dear. I'll reveal those on another day. I'll also post the piles of stuff that reside in my bedroom at this present moment. It seems my room is now the catch all for all the things that took away from my pretties throughout the house. Maybe I'll form the pile into a triangle, hang a few ornaments and a star on top, and start a new "stuff tree" trend!
These are Mommy and Daddy's stockings. It just cracks me up how large and funky they are. Don't worry the kiddos have stockings hung by another chimney with care. But theirs are much smaller and have a slightly tacky element to them. Someone took masking tape and wrote in sharpie marker each kid's name on it. Oh dear. I'll reveal those on another day. I'll also post the piles of stuff that reside in my bedroom at this present moment. It seems my room is now the catch all for all the things that took away from my pretties throughout the house. Maybe I'll form the pile into a triangle, hang a few ornaments and a star on top, and start a new "stuff tree" trend!Now for the One Cool Christmas Give Away!
The winners of yesterday's contest are:
Glynnis Whitwer's giveaway- 5Warrens
Tracie Miles' giveaway- Elise from Extravagant Grace
Now, for today's featured Give Away Guests: Micca Campbell and Rachel Olsen.
First here's a little poem by Micca, a description of her give away, and a little about her---
It’s Christmas Time—Again!
Hurry now
No time to spare
Ignore the stress
That’s in the air
Make your list
And check it twice
Plan Christmas dinner
And buy extra ice
Bake the cookies
Make chocolate fudge
Wave to your neighbor
And forgive your grudge
Hang the stockings
Put up the tree
Keep those needles
From pricking your knee
Wrap the presents
And add the bows
Don’t forget Rudolph
And his shiny red nose
Make Johnny’s costume
For the Christmas play
Don’t let him know
You wish it were May
Don’t fight, don’t squabble
Just ask, “what’s the matter?’
When your hubby complains
About falling off the ladder
Thank God it comes
But once a year
Much more and I wouldn’t
Survive, I fear
If my poem describes how you feel this holiday season, then you need some “me” time. What better way to pamper yourself then to fill the air with sweet scents, slide into a bubbly bath, and read a good devotional? Hi, I’m Micca Campbell and I’m giving away a certificate to Body Works and a signed copy of “God’s Purpose for Every Woman” so you can do just that—relax and drink in the Spirit of the season! I’d also like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Micca Campbell is a national speaker and author who travels the US touching and changing the lives of thousands. She has written numerous articles for many publications and is a contributing author to For the Write Reason and God’s Purpose for Every Woman. Micca is the Director of Outreach with Proverbs 31 Ministries and writes regularly for their on-line devotions, Encouragement for Today featured on Crosswalk.com You can visit Micca’s blog at http://www.miccacampbell.com/
Hurry now
No time to spare
Ignore the stress
That’s in the air
Make your list
And check it twice
Plan Christmas dinner
And buy extra ice
Bake the cookies
Make chocolate fudge
Wave to your neighbor
And forgive your grudge
Hang the stockings
Put up the tree
Keep those needles
From pricking your knee
Wrap the presents
And add the bows
Don’t forget Rudolph
And his shiny red nose
Make Johnny’s costume
For the Christmas play
Don’t let him know
You wish it were May
Don’t fight, don’t squabble
Just ask, “what’s the matter?’
When your hubby complains
About falling off the ladder
Thank God it comes
But once a year
Much more and I wouldn’t
Survive, I fear
If my poem describes how you feel this holiday season, then you need some “me” time. What better way to pamper yourself then to fill the air with sweet scents, slide into a bubbly bath, and read a good devotional? Hi, I’m Micca Campbell and I’m giving away a certificate to Body Works and a signed copy of “God’s Purpose for Every Woman” so you can do just that—relax and drink in the Spirit of the season! I’d also like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Micca Campbell is a national speaker and author who travels the US touching and changing the lives of thousands. She has written numerous articles for many publications and is a contributing author to For the Write Reason and God’s Purpose for Every Woman. Micca is the Director of Outreach with Proverbs 31 Ministries and writes regularly for their on-line devotions, Encouragement for Today featured on Crosswalk.com You can visit Micca’s blog at http://www.miccacampbell.com/
Now, here's Rachel Olsen---
Hey Girls … Lysa’s friend Rachel Olsen here from Proverbs 31. I’m gettin’ giddy with the Christmas spirit so I’m jumping in on the Cool Christmas Giveaway. I just love new beginnings, and January is right around the corner. For me it’s a time of renewed motivation and commitments. So I thought I’d offer something to help you begin your new year with God – an autographed copy of our new P31 devotional book God’s Purpose for Every Woman.
Of course January is also a time of cold, dark mornings so I’m throwing in a $10 gift-card to Starbucks to help you wake up, warm up, and get your day going with God. I hope the lucky winner will stop by my blog “My Life in Chapter and Verse” after you get into it and let me know how God is speaking to you through the words of the wonderful team of devotional writers at P31.
Merry Christmas, sweet sisters! ~ Rachel
Of course January is also a time of cold, dark mornings so I’m throwing in a $10 gift-card to Starbucks to help you wake up, warm up, and get your day going with God. I hope the lucky winner will stop by my blog “My Life in Chapter and Verse” after you get into it and let me know how God is speaking to you through the words of the wonderful team of devotional writers at P31.
Merry Christmas, sweet sisters! ~ Rachel
So, to enter today's contest, post a comment by clicking in the word "comments" below. It was great to have you stop by today! I hope you are blessed, less stressed, and doing better than me on getting your cards done! I have not even taken my photo yet! Oh dear---
Merry Christmas!
Oh and special thanks to Boo Mama Blog for hosting the Internet Christmas Open House today!
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