Joining a Community Together

I mentioned in a past post I had been busy with our Women's Ministry Christmas party. That makes it sound like it was just our church, when in actuality it wasn't. This past Christmas marked the first (hopefully annual) community-wide women's Christmas event. I can't remember how many churches were represented (something like 15, maybe?), but it was a lot more than I expected.

Our local community arena miraculously had an opening on December 6th, and it was the perfect size. A sea of tables was set up where later six hundred women would gather for what our theme was: "One Night, One Church, One Jesus."

I'm sure some of these churches had never done a women's Christmas party, so even though we were the main ones who organized this year's, I hope in years to come I hope it's more of a collaborative effort. We did have a few churches decorating tables (the ones in the foreground of the picture above were done by a Missionary Baptist Church in our town...don't you LOVE the chairs?), so that took some of the burden off our ladies. Of course, you KNOW I decorated one. Or two. But NOT three. I didn't want to kill myself this year.
I wish I had been able to get a better picture of my tables with the candles lit, but I'm thankful for the ones I did get. I should say the ones that Kiddo got. He was my table photographer. He and Sound Man were also there for another reason:Waiters! We were politically correct and called the guys "servers," and that's exactly what they were. As the ladies were eating a delicious meal of chicken, asparagus, and scalloped potatoes, the men were scurrying around with tea and water glasses, among other dinner-related requests. Kiddo hung pretty closely to Sound Man for the first part of the evening, but as he got accustomed to what he was supposed to do, he got more independent. By the end of the night, he was carrying a huge tray full of desserts around like he had been at it his whole life. I was one proud Momma as I watched him from the stage.

I mention I was on stage because I was privileged to help lead this community of women in worship. As worship leaders, I always say we have the best seat in the house! Watching and hearing six hundred women lift their voices in worship...simply amazing.

My favorite part of any Christmas-themed night is the candle lighting. Each lady was given a candle and holder, and as the women raised their flickering candles the room was bathed in the sweet, soft glow of candlelight. The sight always makes me cry.

Even though each candle was held aloft by one individual woman, together they all created enough light to brighten the room. It reminded me that even though we belong to individual churches, together we could bring the Light to our community if we work together. No matter our skin color, denomination, or church membership, we are all daughters of the King. We need to get over ourselves and our insecurities and our fears and band together to reach others for Him. Our women's ministry has organized a prayer night for the entire community of ladies to come and pray for our area. Someone also created a Facebook page for all of us to share what God is doing within our churches. It makes us feel more like a true community to know that God is working not just in our church, but in the others across our area.

If the world would see us all band together for one purpose, maybe they'd take Christianity more seriously...and take the message of Christ to heart.

What can you do in your community to bring churches together? Are you willing to work with someone of a different skin color? Of a different denomination?

Don't think I've got all this down...I don't. I'm never the first to volunteer outside my comfort zone. But the more we do, the more comfortable we'll become with the idea.

This year would be a good year for us to open our hearts and minds to see how God can use us.

My favorite video yet...

I LOVE THIS VIDEO! It makes my heart happy for a number of reasons. First, because it is probably the sweetest video of the Christmas story I've seen. And second, because these kids are in New Zealand, and sound very much like my beloved Australia. Thanks to fellow Relevant gal, Mitzi Eaker for swiping it from Ann Voskamp so I could swipe it from her. : )

Hope you're gearing up for a very Merry Christmas!

Out of this World Candy

Last year I posted this recipe on Facebook and thought I posted it here. Evidently I did not, or else Blogger ate it. Get it? Recipe? Ate it? Nevermind.

My step-mom, Margie, usually fixes this candy, appropriately named Out of This World Candy, at Christmas and gives me a tin to share (or not) with the fam. It is my fave-o-rite candy ever. I thought I'd try it this year. As if my rear end isn't big enough.

It's a simple recipe, but boy howdy you better be prepared to stir. When I was mixing the butter and powdered sugar I thought I was going to pull a muscle. I should have used a bigger mixing bowl and it would have been easier. Make sure your bowl is bigger than 8 cups. You could use a mixer, but I'm not sure how a hand mixer would handle the load.

Anyway, here's the recipe:

2 boxes sifted powdered sugar (or 2 lb. bag from Aldi)
2 sticks melted butter
1 small can sweetened condensed milk (I never said this was low-calorie)
1 tsp vanilla
1 or 2 cups chopped nuts (optional, but not really)
16 oz chocolate or vanilla almond bark for coating (chocolate is best...vanilla makes them almost too rich to finish one! And I'd probably make that 24 oz or so of almond bark...just to make sure you have enough).

Mix first 5 ingredients together and place in refrigerator until firm. Roll into 1 to 2 inch balls (I used my cookie scoop). Melt almond bark in microwave, stirring after 30 second increments. Dip balls using toothpick into coating and place on wax paper until coating is hardened (I just dipped them into the coating with tongs...we were out of toothpicks...go figure).

I promise, you WILL hear the Hallelujah Chorus when you eat one of these.Or maybe that's just the sugar buzz.

No. Way.

I'm gettin' my happy dance ready!

Here's hoping!

Paper Star Ornament

Seems like forever ago I saw this ornament featured at BHG.com. And I have wanted to try it ever since. Well, I finally got the stuff that I wanted to work with and made my first one last night. I lurve it. Don't tell the altos, but this is what they're getting from me for Christmas. I always like to give them a little something. One year it was a little candle wrapped with ribbon with music notes on it. Another year it was tissue paper ornaments. Those were my favorites...until now. I think. I haven't made 15 of them, and by then my fingers may be cramped up beyond recognition.
In case you'd like to try these, here's the link. To download the pattern, don't click "folding" but go all the way down to "Download Star Pattern." The download has been sort of temperamental, and you will have to sign up for BHG.com, but you don't have to get any emails from them if you don't want to. After you log in you have to go back to the ornament page...like I said, it's temperamental. If you still have a hard time downloading the pattern, let me know and I will email it to you.
The instructions say to use paper, but I wanted a sturdier ornament, so I searched the world over and finally found (by accident, actually) some cardstock at JoAnn's. With my 40% off coupon, the package with several earthy colors was about $4, I think. I wanted an older, antique-ish look. The package also has a burgundy in it and I'd like to see how that would look.

What took me so long to get started on these was finding just the right music. I will spare you the long (very long) story of getting the sheet music from a friend, but I'm so glad I waited to get just the right book. See, my favorite Christmas carol is "What Child Is This?" but hardly ANYONE has the original, full version. So, I waited to do these until I had the full version. Not that the whole song is on here, but still.

And not that I actually used "What Child Is This?" for my first one. This is "O, Holy Night." Anyway, to do this, you download the pattern, and cut it out. Copy some sheet music onto paper or cardstock. Lay the pattern on the music, and trace around it. Cut around the lines. Using the pattern as a guide, fold the star in the 3-D shape like mine. The dotted lines are away from you, the solid lines are toward you. My advice is to do the ones toward you first. It's easier to do the others after you finish those.

When I finished, I wanted something more substantial than just a hole in the paper for the ribbon, so I had bought some itty-bitty grommets at Hobby Lobby. It's not perfect, and who knows how the others will look, but it gets the job done and it protects the paper. I am loving this one. I just hope I can do 15 more that look this pretty.

I mean, I think it's pretty...what do y'all think?

Studio DaySpring Cards

Relevant's been over with for over a month. And yet I'm still reaping the benefits. In my home as well as in my spirit.

We had the opportunity to receive 50 Studio Dayspring Christmas cards for free in exchange for a review of them. Well, it didn't take me two seconds to sign up for that one!

When Sound Man and I sat down to try to pick out a design, we were overwhelmed. There are so many to choose from! The original design I had picked out he scoffed at. Not that it wasn't gorgeous...it was just to "girlie" for our family. I am the only girl human in the house...I don't think Windi really cares about Elegant:Blue Christmas cards. So a less frilly design was chosen. But you don't get to see it yet. You have to wait until they come in. I'm so mean.

I asked Sound Man (the computer savvy one) what he thought about the site and he loved it. He said he would like to do it again next year, even when we are paying for them. The custom design section was easy to navigate and comes with so many options...change the front, change the back, pick your font size, pick your font color...there were so many ways to customize these cards.

I really can't say anything negative about these cards. There is no minimum order, but you do get free shipping with 25 or more. And it's been so long since I've ordered picture cards, I can't remember how much they were back then. The design I ordered was $1.49 per card with free shipping (and envelopes) if you ordered 25 or more.

Make life a little simpler...don't go out and buy cards...stay in your jammies and design your own!

I can't wait to see them!

Disclaimer: This review was in exchange for 50 personalized photo cards from Studio Dayspring. The opinions and review are my own.

I'm Dreaming of an Etsy Christmas!

I had the most wonderful Christmas, thanks to my rockin' husband. I gave him a list from my Etsy favorites, and every one that I had specifically asked for, he gave me for Christmas!

First, a gorgeous bird pendant from For The Love Of.... I can't wait to wear it! And yes, that would be a Kimba brooch beside it. Love it. Love her. But I didn't get that for Christmas.

Next, a precious, PRECIOUS little felt bird from Got Crow Creations.

Just to show you how tiny this little Tufted Titmouse is, here's me holding it:

Is that not the cutest thing EVAH? And it looks just like its namesake. Here's proof:

Okay, so it's not the best picture ever made of a Tufted Titmouse, but I didn't want to go stealing someone else's picture without their permission. Y'know? Anyway, titmice are my favorite little birds because of how cute they are. This gift made me squeal. But not as loud as the last gift did...

Can you guess what it is?

It's a beautiful name sign from Susie Harris! She has closed down her Etsy for the time being, but you can see what my whole sign looks like (different name, of course) by checking out her sold items. She is so talented, and I lurve my sign. Sound Man and I are arguing where it's going to go, of course. He wants it above the arch that separates our living room from our dining room (it's actually one big room that used to be two rooms. The "arch" is actually part of the wall that remained when they tore down the dividing wall.). I want it above our fireplace in the dining room when we take down the awful mirror that's above it. Blech. We have a LOT of work to do on that half of the room. I can't wait to see what it looks like when my sign gets put up there!

I am so thankful to my Sweet Sound Man for not only giving me things I love, but also supporting artists like me; those who craft not just because they want to sell something, but because they love to create.

If you have bought a tassel from me this past year, you have my sincere appreciation. I wish I could express how grateful I am for your business. Because of you, this was the reaction all of us wanted to see Christmas morning:

I would have gladly given all my gifts back just to see that face. But I'm glad I don't have to. : )

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas,

SHE Christmas Party decorating!

Well, it's Christmas Eve. It seems like my entire December was summed up the very first weekend, yet I've been too busy to blog about it until now. I have wanted to tell you about decorating for our church's Women's Ministry Christmas party since the first weekend of December. My friend, Lisa, and I always decorate a table (or two...or three...) and this year was no exception. So, now that all the decorating has been done, the tassels have been shipped, and I'm still not done with my shopping, here's the post I've been trying to post since I thought about posting. Post.

Here are my two tables:For the first table, I spray painted some branches from a pile I had made asked my husband to snag from someone's brush pile last summer in 100 degree heat. What he does for me...it's love for sure! (BTW, you're getting a glimpse of my posh Etsy photo studio. What you can't see is the aluminum foil on the naked lamp and the banker's lamp with the shade turned upside down! HA! My husband knows how to get great shots without having to spend a fortune!)Anyway, I put those white branches in a $3 vase from Old Time Pottery, poured Epsom salt around them to look like snow (got that idea from Melissa at The Inspired Room)... and placed the vase on a white square platter I had (it's from Pampered Chef and I got it when I was a consultant...probably free!) and surrounded the vase with matte red and white Christmas ornaments. So simple, but really stunning, even if I do say so myself. The pictures just don't do it justice. Sound Man said it made him think of a movie scene, where people are looking into the vase, then the camera focuses in on the branches, and moves to a scene like Narnia where people are walking among the trees. I like the way he thinks. I will more than likely do this same thing next year. My plates are the new Wal-mart specials. $5 for a set of 4 plates! We had needed some new everyday dishes (I said "need," but I really didn't NEED them...our old ones were Corningware and 14 1/2 years old and still look in great shape, but...well...Momma needed an update, you know?) so we bought 2 sets each of plates, salad plates, and bowls, and only spent $30! Love that price tag! The chargers were some I had bought several years ago at Linens and Things.Silverware, mine; napkins, mine (bought from Sam's several years ago for just this purpose); votives, OTP; Tea glasses, OTP (we use these glasses, too, but I have 12 of these set aside just for the Christmas party); napkin rings, bell ornaments (from OTP a couple of years ago) tied together with pretty ribbon.

My other table was not as elegant, but I thought it was pretty just the same. I had bought a pretty silver finial at Hobby Lobby at 1/2 price and used it in this same arrangement last year.I got the idea for the wreath centerpiece from Paula Deen's Christmas magazine last year. The only difference was this year I used shot glasses (bought solely for the purpose of this arrangement, thankyouverymuch) filled with Epsom salt to steady the 6 inch pillar candles. I learned from the previous year that trying to hot glue them to the branches is not conducive to having a fire-free centerpiece. I got the greenery clippings from Lowe's on a tip from Susie Harris. Will DEFINITELY do that again next year. Free is good!

The silver chargers are from OTP, as are the clear plates. I have about a dozen that I use for these parties. The gold bell ornaments are just like the silver ones. Because the finish on the silver chargers wasn't really all that spiffy, I just sprayed them with silver spray paint to give them a little better shine.

Well, now that it's well into Christmas Eve, and I'm going cross-eyed for lack of sleep, I will close by saying that I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas.

Where has the month gone?

Evidently, I went to bed last night on December 1st and woke up today December 17th! I can't believe it's only 8 days to Christmas! ACK! I still have orders to make! Don't worry, I'll get it done. I just haven't posted in so long I missed it. These two weeks have been chock full of stuff to post about. So, without further ado, here goes!

First, I received this BEAUTIFUL Believe book from Darlene!

I knew it was beautiful from the pictures she had posted (of those this pic is one), but I didn't realize HOW beautiful it was until it came in the mail.

Speaking of it coming in the mail, not only did she send me the book, she also sent a lot of other fun stuff:

Reindeer Poop? I laughed out loud! Actually, it WAS chocolate covered peanuts, but we took care of them pretty quickly. Hee hee.

A sample of Bellagio Caramel Praline hot chocolate and a sweet card from Darlene completed this beautifully wrapped gift that I was so happy to receive. I haven't had the hot chocolate yet. I think I'm waiting until I can s-a-v-o-r it! Thank you, Darlene!

I will end this post here, because as I was working on telling you about our Women's Christmas party, I realized I wanted to go into much more detail than I wanted to here. So, I will save that for later. In the meantime, here's one of my favorite renditions of a classic. James Taylor is the best.

Surgery for Snowmen

I don't know about you, but we don't have a fancy Christmas tree. Meaning we don't have all color coordinated ornaments and such. That's not saying I wouldn't LOVE one of those. But we'd have to have a separate tree somewhere else for that to happen, and we just don't have a place for one.

No, our tree, although beautiful, is decorated with ornaments that date back as long as I can remember. Some are from my Mimmie's aluminum tree that had the color wheel to light it, and some come from my Momma's tree in years past. Most have been collected over the 14 1/2 years of our marriage. And every single one of them is special. So it's never easy when one gets broken or has to be retired.

Which is why, when I discovered that the little snowman that I made at least 10 or 11 years ago had lost his nose, I didn't think twice about it. Throwing him away was not an option.

No, it's not bad hygiene...it's black spray paint. I was too impatient to wait for my husband to bring some gloves home.

No, he's not a priceless treasure. But he's one of my favorites because it's one of the first of these little snowmen that I made. I can't tell you how many snowmen I've made over the years, and each one of them has their own little personality. Since this was in my beginning craft stage, he's not the most handsome, but I still wanted to keep him. So, it was snowman surgery to the rescue.

A little bit of hot glue and he was all better. Or maybe a lot of hot glue. Just ready to go right back on the tree where he had been before.

There are just some ornaments, no matter how uncoordinated they may be with the rest of the tree, that will always have a branch to rest on.

This does not help my obsession with snowmen

The Aftermath

I hope y'all had a good day yesterday! We did!