Faith is sometimes difficult to define, so I went to the dictionary where it describes it as trust or reliance. May you be inspired by faith and covered by grace in the life you live. Faith is one of those small things in life that makes me check my attitude, whispers in my ear when I need to be reminded to be kind to others, even when they don't deserve it. Then you start stepping on the toes of grace with that one, many times being kind, extending the hand of help, showing love, even when they don't appreciate it. I am covered by grace, it makes it easier to be full of grace towards others.
Giving to those that need it most. If I stop for a moment, I thank God that I have been blessed with more than enough, so that I am able to do so. Wrap it up in a big red bow. How can you not call that Christmas? Celebrating the gift of life, giving the gift of love. Giving the gift of time. That is a true gift.
I have several big Christmas balls that look like bubbles, they are blown glass, some of them given to me by my great grandmother. I treasure them beause of how I came by them. Out of love, because I loved and admired them for years, she gifted them to me, to enjoy and think of her when I looked at them. She loved them, but, she loved me more.May you be blessed beyond measure and share your blessings with others.
My great grandmother was as transparent as her ornaments, she was always honest with us, even if the truth hurt, but, in a such a way that her kindness mellowed it out. It became imortant for us to shine brighter than the stars in the sky, for her, always. That is what real love does. I makes you want to look your best, in fact, to be your best.
There is a friendly competition in the neighborhood, putting up too many lights. I will admit up front that I happily add to this joy, the competitive edge winning out. One of the newlyweds didn't have any lights, so we had a party and decorated their house. They were thrilled and helped decorate another lightless couple. No house shall go unadorned. Well, tat isn't true, but, won't leave any person behind.
There are flowers, as always, to color your world. Look up! :) #alwaysaflower I am so amazed at the different poinsettias that are on display, some of them are even fake! Growing up, there was the basic red and white, now, if you can dream it, they can probably make your wish come true. For the countdown to Christmas, I give how many days are left and one Christmas picture. There are 8 days 23 hours 37 minutes 21 seconds until Christmas!
Have you met my angel? He is cupid in February, my guardian angel most of the year and he is angel we have heard on high for the season of Joy. So versatile and much loved, my Charmeine: Angel of harmony. Oh, hark! I hear an angel singing. Truly~! This is getting to be an everyday habit. I want to thank you for stopping by, especially if you left me some words and just like that, this post is over, come back tomorrow and we will do it again and again until we get it right or until the world is right, whichever comes first.
Love to all, Denise ❤️
Though few Americans still bother with it, the burning of the yule log was at one time one of the most firmly entrenched customs of Christmas. Everything to do with the fireplace was fraught with ritual — certain formulas had to be followed very carefully lest disaster befalls the household in the upcoming year.
It was unlucky to buy a yule log. Lucky ones were obtained from one's own land or from a neighbor's wood. Often a stump or a root (not necessarily a proper log at all), it was brought home on Christmas Eve and laid in the hearth.
The first step towards lighting the yule log was fetching the carefully-preserved scrap of the previous year's log from under the homeowner's bed. Having done its job of keeping the house safe from fire and lightning since the last festive season, it was now used to light the new log. The new log had to catch fire during the first attempt at lighting it; its failure to do so was a sign of misfortune coming to the family. Such an important duty had to be handled gravely. And clean hands only, please — to attempt to light the log with dirty hands would have been an unforgivable sign of disrespect.
Once lit, the log had to be kept burning for twelve hours. This was not always an easy task, as special caution was given against stirring the embers during the lengthy Christmas Eve supper. The log could not be tended as long as any scrap of the dinner remained on the table, or while anyone was still eating.
As the log burned, people told ghost stories and tales of olden times whilst drinking cider. Shadows cast upon the wall were carefully scrutinized, for it was well known that a "headless" shadow foretold the death of the person casting it within the year. See here.
A much more popular version of the yule log is available to modern society — the "Buche de Noel." Rolled, frosted in chocolate, and decorated to look like a yule log, this sponge cake is served as part of the Christmas Eve meal. In France, it is called reveillon, which takes place after midnight Mass - Snopes.com
All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.
It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.
…So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn't sad! Why this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”…
Dr. Suess
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