All is calm...all is bright

Silent night...holy night...all is calm...all is bright...My favorite carol ...always bringing a sense of peace. I can remember rocking my babies to this tune...something very reverent and holy about this hymn of Christmas. I sensed how Mary must have felt as she held the Christ Child...overwhelmed with the task that lay before her and yet feeling that all was calm and bright.

Tonight the tree is down, the ornaments are in boxes put away for another year and all is calm...all is bright.

I visited the grave of my parents today. Yes, in the midst of pain, there is peace and bright hope for my tomorrow...all is calm...all is bright.

I received several special gifts this Christmas. I enjoyed my first grandchild...my daughter gave me a special gift to remember the legacy left by her Nanny...a Willow Tree of a grandmother quilting(she made one for each grandchild as my daughter watched her sew many stitches), a daughter looking on, and the granddaughter sitting at her feet...the Christmas story now read by my brother instead of my dad was a priceless gift to us all-passing on the legacy to the great-grands...yes, all is calm and all is bright.

With Peace in my Heart and Bright Hope for tomorrow, I extend that same peace and hope to you my friends. May 2012 be filled with both!

Shiny Bright Christmas

So I just can't get enough of this tree. Just can't truly capture their true beauty. But trying to still my shaking hand and heart to get a clear picture.

My mom would pick my children up after school each day and my son would seek to find which ornaments she had added. He could always tell which ones were missing and how many she had added.

Talked to another thrifter a few days ago who is an exceptional photography. After a few pointers, I think you can tell from my most recent shots that I am getting better. She likes Shiny Brights so I photographed a few of my favorites pieces of milkglass with the ornaments added. Hope you enjoy!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's been fun creating new memories from the old-my mama's crytal ornaments greatly reflect the light and look like icicles hanging on my fresh frazier fur-a first in many years. Since my first blog, I have added evergreen and candles and light to my original display.

As you can see, I gathered my blue and white and shared them with my friends at the First Annual Ladies Christmas Banquet at our church. Over 100 ladies gathered with 10-12 tables decorated with various displays. Most of them were rather elaborate. However, being the simple thrifter that I am, I chose a quieter theme. Hope you'll enjoy!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Treasure the Old and the New

Feeling a bit nostalgic tonight as I reflect on Christmas past and wait with eager expection for Christmas present. This will be the first Christmas when my daddy will not read the Christmas story from his Bible worn out from years of turning the now yellowed pages.

This circle of life is actually beautiful. The day that we buried my dad, we learned that we were expecting our first grandchild. Tonight I anticipate the ending of one era and the beginning of another.

I look forward to baking cowboy cookies this year with my own daughter as my mama did with me. I look forward to hearing the Christmas story told around my Christmas tree instead of my parent's tree. My tree holds a thousand memories. The children's old ornaments, though irreplaceable, have been retired for future generations and the branches on my tree are now heavy with ornaments that my kids enjoyed on my mom's tree. And yes, I will create new traditions and new memories for little Connor who blessed our lives on October 27 and many other grandchildren who will follow. How ironic that he was born on my parent's anniversary. Such wonder is too incredible for me to contain!

Yes, I hold the old memories near to my heart and look forward to making new ones from the old...treasures. Thank you, Lord, for the old and the new!