Getting ready!

Tomorrow is Christmas!  And soon our kids and grandkids will be coming!  I have gotten the house ready!  The tree is up and presents wrapped.

I added a new "addition" to our grandkids' ornaments.

Lots of people do a fancy tree, but mine is filled with sentimental ornaments.

Some are from Japan where I grew up

I have snowmen from the each of the states our kids live in;

and an ornament I cross-stitched for my mother

These animals have stories behind them

I have several from friends

and from my Aunt Millie

There are several birds, because I love birds!

Some are from our family trips to the beach

and travels overseas

This represents our firstborn's first Christmas gift

And this year's ornament

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

and on the stairsteps too.  

The mantel is not big enough for all the stockings!

The house is decorated...

  Do you know the true story behind Santa?  Nicholas of Myra (Saint Nick) lived in the time of Diocletian's heaviest persecution of Christians - a time when the executioners were so tired from killing Christians that they had to take turns in their work.  Nicholas was branded with hot irons when he would not deny Christ, and then had his skin pinched with pliers.  

  After persecution ended, he spent the later part of his days founding orphanages and helping poor children.  Today we hear very little of his suffering for Christ.  It is more glamorous but less glorious to make Nicholas the prisoner only into a Santa Claus.  He went to be with the Lord in 343 AD. - Voice of the Martyrs

My mother's creche

And this one was from my childhood.

One of the ears of the horse is broken off.

The table has been extended to seat all of us.  Next year we will have to add a highchair!

I love all the cards we receive each year from around the world!

Beds and pallets have been made.

(next year we'll need a pak and play!  Our crib was broken and had to be tossed)

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!!  Perhaps yours will be noisy and chaotic, or it might be quiet.  Maybe lonely.  Remember though, you are never alone!  You needn't be.  Christ has come.  Emmanuel - Christ WITH us!