Friday, December 4, 2015

Casual Fridays

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I have discovered the PhotoGrid app. Aren't you lucky?
I have been a busy little worker elf this week decking all our halls and turning our little home sweet home into a Christmas Wonderland. Don't you just love this time of year?
Here are a few of my favorite ornaments. Cody and I like to assemble and decorate our Christmas tree while watching White Christmas, my favorite Christmas movie. We started this tradition our first year of marriage, and it makes getting all the decorations down and dusting them off something to look forward to. Despite all the rockin' around the Christmas tree, I have managed to make a little bit of progress in TR this week. Slow and steady wins the race, right?
And since this is a blog about books, I decided to share a few of my all-time favorite Christmas books with you. Which I also like to decorate with. You can not go wrong with any of these. Starting from the top left:
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
The Gift of the Magi adapted by Penelope J. Stokes
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
The Candymaker's Gift by David & Helen Haidle
The Candle in the Window by Grace Johnson
Alabaster's Song by Max Lucado
Anyway, the cards have been mailed, the halls have been decked, the weather is even cooling off a little, and I'm almost done with the shopping already. Time to slow down and remember why we we're celebrating.

"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 
And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' 
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
Luke 2:7-14 (KJV)


Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

What are some of your Christmas traditions? Do you have a favorite Christmas book or song or ornament?

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for our card!!! Just got it today :) I am so behind with decorating. Haha I've only hung my wreath outside so far and it keeps falling down!!! I've still got time though. My favorite Christmas movie is Home Alone. The old man always makes me tear up at the end lol. I have never seen White Christmas, believe it or not! My favorite song is Carol of the Bells. I really like Aaron Shust's Christmas album, Unto Us. It came out last year and I listened to it on repeat! Also, Sovereign Grace's Prepare HIm Room. It's so good!!

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    1. Definitely plenty of time to decorate still! I love both the Home Alone movies. I tear up at the end of both of them. With the old man and the bird lady.

      Sydney. I can't believe you've never seen White Christmas. We have to remedy this immediately. Your house or mine?

      I love Carol of the Bells too! Have you heard BarlowGirl's rendition? They mash it up with Sing We Now of Christmas. It's really good. I will have to check out Aaron Shust's Christmas album. I didn't know he released one.

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    2. I have heard barlowgirl's version! I really like it! But yes I've never seen it haha. We should watch it at your house!!! That'd be so fun!!!

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  2. This is the first year Caroline and I will get to have a tree! We are going to get a real one if we have to go into the woods on some random Japanese guy's land and cut it down ourselves.

    Also is this Colonel's first Christmas with y'all or his second?

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    1. So have you gotten your tree? Do they even have Christmas trees in Japan or are you going to have to decorate like a bonsai tree or something? Do the Japanese celebrate Christmas? Is everything decorated over there?

      This is his first Christmas with us. He was only a few weeks old last Christmas. Did you guys get my text from the other day?

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  3. Decorating and making sugar cookies are my two favorite traditions!

    Favorite song is 'Oh Holy Night' by (almost) anyone.

    Also Christmas pajamas on Christmas Day with all the siblings!!

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    1. O Holy Night is probably one of the most beautiful Christmas carols of all time. =)

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  4. Hannah, as your inbox is probably brimming with comment notifications by now, this shall be my last comment...for now. Muahahahahahaha!
    I miss Christmas. But I'm excited about summer. It's the constant struggle.

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    1. Wow, there have been so many that you had never commented on! And speaking of summer, we need a #bestfriendbeachday SOON!

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