Collection of Santa Mugs

Time again to get out my collection of Santa mugs.

The Santa was given to me by my DIL before she and my son married. She heard me say I wanted it but being the cheapscape that I am I wouldn't pay $10 for it.  Imagine my surprise when a gift for me was left under the tree. She had my heart right away.

The wee ones are my favorites. 

This cutie winks.

As does this Mr. Santa.

This one sleeps.

This is the daddy of them all.

I know these are not anything you haven't seen in my Christmas posts before but it makes me smile every year to unearth the box and unwrap my Santa mugs.

Do you have a Christmas collection of anything that you enjoy?

Bonnie

My Christmas Wish/Prayer List

This morning I searched for a devotional guide for Chirstmas. 

I like having a plan.

I sometimes do a word search from my Concordance. 

Sometimes I look up words from BlueLetterBible.

Mama taught me how to "run the Scripture," as she called it. 

To do that you follow the references made 

in each verse and you keep your finger 

there and read the verse referenced from that verse 

and the verse referenced from the next verse

and on and on getting understanding 

of what each word is referred to in each verse. 

It's fun and that within itself can be your guide. 

My verse today was found like that. 

I began in Isaiah 52:10 and from there I was referred to Isaiah 8:14.

"And He shall be a sanctuary (a sacred and indestructible asylum

to those who reverently fear and trust in Him)..."

Isaiah 8:14a

Oh my goodness, in this day in age how we need a sanctuary, 

a safe place to run to, a shelter from the storms of life. 

That's who Jesus was to be, was and is and forever will be!

I picked this little board up from the $1 bins at Target. 

This verse is a reference to the promise of Jesus. 

In Jesus, I can boldly approach the throne 

and make my petitions known.

I wish for many things, 

but prayer is the key to the desires of my heart. 

So, on this little board, I wrote my concerns for today.

David is unhappy in his present job, 

Lord, you brought us here for a purpose.

That purpose was one of hope and a future. 

I know it is not your will that he be unhappy, 

so I pray for your provision.

My brother-in-law has struggled through unemployment.

He has a masters in Business Administration.

He has been taking courses on line to further his degree. 

His test is this Saturday. 

Lord, I know this is no surprise to you and you know how he seeks YOU, 

so I pray for clarity of mind and remembrance as he takes this test

that he may provide for his family as you provide the resources. 

Chad and Christina have sold their house. 

Lord, You know what they need now. 

You know their desire to raise their children in a godly home

and send them to a school with teachers who lead with integrity.

Find the right home, in the right system and the right environment.

Christy and Troy and Harper need your touch on their lives.

Lord, We need answers when there seem to be none. 

We need light when there seems to be darkness. 

We need open lungs for Harper and open eyes for Christy.

We need open doors for childcare and an open doctor's appointment.

We need grace to sustain us now and for what lies ahead.

We need YOU, Lord.

So, I'm making a list and I'm checking it twice. 

It's not like the list that a child makes, 

but it is made from the heart of a child, 

a child of the Most High God.

That is what I am and I come boldly to the Throne Room 

to ask for help in our time of need. 

Jesus says, "Have a piece of candy. It's yours.  It's free.

The dish may be empty, but with ME (Jesus) there is always enough." 

What is on your Wish/Prayer list today?

Can I help you take it to the Throne Room?

Run to Him. 

He is your Sanctuary!

Thanks, Linda. 

I'm still using the clip art:)

from last year. 

Decorating: Simply Addition and Subtraction

I do a lot of Math everyday,

add to, take away and the task seems to multiply.

It started out like this...

Although I liked each individual element,

it just didn't have the "Wow" that I wanted. 

Adding this...

taking away that,

I finally got the sum of these!

I added a few more red balls,

and some silver,

brought the board in and added the bow. 

Deciding now to subtract the bow.

Maybe later. 

An added bowl of balls will begin a new equation.

Which do you like best?

All neutrals? or The pop of Red?

Bonnie:)

Oh Christmas Tree!

It's been a very busy year for us. 

Making a list and checking it twice, 

I realized that I haven't been a 

very good blog friend this year. 

I have failed to respond to many of your posts and emails. 

I hope you'll let me make it up to you by sending you a 

real live Christmas card.  They call it snail mail.  

Please comment and leave your address. 

I would love to know that you

"GOT MAIL."

Let the show begin...

The Christmas tree is always the focal point of my home.

It is now done.
Filled with ornaments from my mama's tree
and a few of my own, it is always my favorite.

It's skinny and perfect for our apartment. 

Growing up the children had the privilege 

of spending every afternoon and holiday with Nanny.

Her tree was full of silver and gold, white and crystals.

Her favorites were the crystals.

The crystal ornaments glittered with the lights, creating a prism of colors.

The first thing Chad did when he got to Nanny's everyday

was to count and pick out which ornaments had been added.

He had his favorites.

I had mine too!

I've shown you a few of mine. 

I now have 4 heavy silver pine cones that my daughter 

bought last year at Macy's after-Christmas 75% off sale.  

They are now my favorites.

I'm busy adding to and taking away.

Will show and share more every day...

I hope.

I have shared with some of you that my daughter has Best Disease.  Best Disease is a disease of the retina. We discovered this when she was tested for Lupus as a teenager in 1996.  After several weeks of not being able to bear weight on her ankles and a lupus-like butterfly rash across her face, she underwent multiple tests for RA, Lupus, and MS.  When her eyes were tested for Iritis, an eye disease resulting from arthritis, the optomologist discovered Best.  He said, "She will probably never have a problem. The yolk-like appearance may remain the same or she may notice some changes when she is in her 30's and 40's." When she was pregnant, she began to notice that she wasn't seeing as well . She could not see road signs, could not read the screen at church, could not read a menu and I was concerned.  She is losing her central vision and there is nothing that can be done to reverse or correct it. 

People say, "Get stronger lenses."  There is no correction because regardless of how large, the print is blurred.  She can't read facial expressions.  She recognizes Harper from across the room by the clothes that she has on.  

She and her husband recently made the decision for her to stop driving.  This is a big life-altering challenge, but one that she is walking through with grace.  I am picking up Harper and getting Christy back and forth to work when Troy is out of town.  I am usually with them two days a week.  I am beginning to understand now why the move happened so quickly. 

When the progression of the disease was confirmed, her first response was, "What if  I can no longer see those big blue eyes (of baby girl)?"  The thought tears me apart. She has an appointment with a low-vision specialist where her vision will be tested again to determine it's progression. She saw a retinologist in August who confirmed the diagnosis but was unable to get an appointment with the specialist until December 31.  There are clinical trials being done and we are believing that we will see a treatment or cure in her lifetime. 

We are hopeful and believe.