Mid-December Hodgepodge

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate.

I am Martha not Mary… I’d love to be Mary and if I work at it I can be more like Mary but I fall back to being Martha-ish..

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

³⁸Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴²but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day…do you own/wear pearls? If you’re a man answering the question, does your sweetheart own or wear pearls? Everyone share a ‘pearl of wisdom’ with us here today.

I have some fake pearls that I sometimes wear but only wear them at events like weddings, etc. I do not vacuum with pearls on.

My pearl of wisdom is if you can’t afford pearls don’t buy them!

3. Speaking of pearls…oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little?

Before 5 years ago I would gag if you talked about oysters. Now I can enjoy an oyster shooter with great spicy sauces. In the mosaic above my sisters and I are enjoying a weekend in Victoria, B.C. celebrating my 60th birthday in April of 2011. The top shot in the mosaic is an oyster shooter I ordered at the beginning of our meal.

4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let’s take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?

I’d nominate Cliff Barrows for man of the year. Cliff Barrows, music and program director for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who once led congregational singing and Crusade choirs around the world with Billy Graham. Here’s a quote from him, “I’ve had no greater joy than encouraging people to sing,” said Mr. Barrows. “Every great moving of the Spirit of God has been accompanied by great singing. I believe it will always be so!”

Cliff Barrows, April 6, 1923 – November 15, 2016

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced, and it’s a vibrant green aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the color.

We are ahead of the times at this old house. Our kitchen and hall ways are filled with greenery!

6. Today I’ve had too much…This hasn’t been a too much of anything day it was all just right.

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

While I was downtown yesterday at the Seattle Sounders Victory Parade Dear chose our mystery tree. When I came home we cut the strings and had the reveal. Another great stress free tree. It’s not perfect but it smells good. I hope to have it decorated by the weekend and I also hope to have our cards mailed by Friday, too. Our noses didn’t freeze off at the parade and rally. It was fun.

Linking up with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond. She supplies the questions and we provide the answers.

Bonus: I’ve got a simple Pear Soup recipe up on MGCC blog today. Click over to get the recipe.

The Wonder of it all…

O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.

Hope you are enjoying the Wonder of Christmas and the Wonder of it all…

I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday started by Mrs. Nesbitt and now her elves are working hard keeping us on track.

I’m heading to downtown Seattle today for the Seattle Sounders Victory Parade and Rally. Hope my nose doesn’t freeze and fall off. Our deck is a sheet of ice right now. No snow or rain is forecast so that is good.

Joy and Advent

JOY!

The third candle, usually for the Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally Pink or Rose, and symbolizes Joy at the soon Advent of the Christ. It marks a shift from the more solemn tone of the first two Sundays of Advent that focus on Preparation and Hope, to a more joyous atmosphere of anticipation and expectancy.

As believers we have the joy of Jesus in us. Joy is a recurring theme and response to Jesus and what he has done for us. Look at the joy in these verses from the Bible. Take a moment to ready through them.

Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 2:9-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
Matthew 2:9-11

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:13-15

For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
Luke 1:43-45

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2:9-11

Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.
Luke 6:22-24

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Luke 10:20-22

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:9-11

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:10-12

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
John 17:12-14

And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:51-52

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:11-13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:12-14

…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-3

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1 Peter 1:7-9

Remember this Christmas season when you see a star, fake or real, pause to rejoice.
When you see a babe think of our Savior and rejoice.
When you see gifts beautifully wrapped think of the very best gift of all we have been given from God through Jesus and rejoice.

REJOICE with the angels
REJOICE with the shepherds
REJOICE with Mary and Joseph
REJOICE and again I say REJOICE!

Mystery Tree…

Today over at Mennonite Girls Can Cook I’m sharing our Mystery Tree Tradition that we have embraced the last several years.

This antique postcard is a favorite one that we have from Dear’s Great great Aunt Emma. We still have snow on the ground but it has melted off the streets.

This afternoon we will celebrate the life of a friend who died suddenly a week ago Friday. He was only 69. We will see many old friends from our former church. I hope to hug his wife who was a faithful Sunday School teacher to our boys and several others and cherish the reunions. We are again thankful for the Hope we have in Jesus and the Hope Mick had in Jesus, our Redeemer.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

Cherish those God has put in your life today. Don’t put off giving words of affirmation to those around you. Choose joy!

Pearl Harbor Day Hodgepodge

PM1910. This postcard is from a stash I have that Dear’s Great Great Aunt Emma Danielson collected. Many who knew her would send her postcards over the years. This one was postmarked 1910 with a 1 cent stamp on it.

1. Let’s talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold). What’s your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Is it done?

My best guess is that I’m about a 6 since I only decorate 2 rooms and a small area outside. I don’t have a fine large porch and my Dear is not a hang the lights kind of guy. He does hang my lighted star and the lights on the tree. We don’t have our tree yet this year. I like the old china secretary passed down to us from Dear’s parents all lit up at Christmas. Decorating is not done this year yet. The photos I’m sharing are from Christmas Past.

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Post a picture or, if it’s special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it’s Christmas!

This little wooden nativity is the very first one we bought from Disneyland when our boys were young and before we had our little girl. I wanted something that they could handle and that would not be broken easily. Lately I’ve collected a few nativities and enjoy putting them here and there and everywhere. Here are some of them.

This last one is a Wee Forest Folk nativity. These pieces were given me individually over the last several years and the set is now complete.

3. Do you live in a social neighborhood? If so are you glad? If not do you wish you did?

Our neighborhood is not social. I’ve been tempted to have an open house but have never followed through. In the past in other neighborhoods we would have 4th of July block parties or Christmas open houses.

4. As the saying goes, ‘there’s no time like the present‘. How does that ring true in your life right now?

This rings true as we are getting older. I’ve said that we better get out there now while we can still walk and have the time. Also we are reminded more than ever that life is unpredictable and we need to enjoy our friends and loved ones. Hand in hand with “there’s no time like the present” is…”Don’t put off until tomorrow…”

5. Do you dread Mondays? Why or why not?

I don’t dread Mondays anymore. When I was younger I dreaded them because it meant back to school. When I worked it meant back to work. Now I’m okay with Mondays. My mother had a bad relationship with Mondays and I’ve had to get over that influence.

6. Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? Are any of these on display in your home right now?

I’m not a Christmas plant person and generally house plants end up dead. None on display right now. I do like live wreaths and garland.

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie.

“Merry Christmas you filthy animal!” “No, You’ll shoot your eye out”

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This is the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. This was 10 years before I was born and before my parents immigrated to the United States.

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

When Dear and I were choosing our wedding date we decided on December 6th instead of the 7th because we didn’t want our wedding to be on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Today Dear and I are heading to La Conner to enjoy an anniversary meal a day late. Dear is getting over being sick and we decided to wait a day so his taste buds would be more ready to enjoy food.

Hope you all are in the midst of the Wonder of it all this Christmas season.

Linking to Hodgepodge Wednesday with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond. Thank you Joyce! Is it Hodgepodge Wednesday or Wednesday Hodgepodge??

The First of the Season

Sunday the 4th of December was the day set for our annual Mennonite Girls Can Cook Christmas dinner. This year Kathy and her hubby hosted us in their newly renovated home. The sad thing was that Dear was sicker than a dog so I grabbed my passport and drove myself up to Canada and back. I got to Scot and Kathy’s before the rest of the crew and was able to snap some photos .

As the rest of the girls and their hubbies arrived the platters of appetizers took over Kathy’s beautiful new island.

Not only did appetizers appear as the girls arrived but Lovella’s Showstopper dessert came through the door and all cameras were poised to capture it. Lovella made a single gluten free serving for Julie, too.

We all sat down at the table and started the meal with Bev’s Spinach Salad. Scot cooked an amazing pork tenderloin on his Green Egg, paired with Kathy’s delicious Blackberry Balsamic sauce, mashed potatoes, and green beans. We all enjoyed this delicious meal. The recipe for Kathy’s Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Balsamic Sauce can be found in our Celebrations Cookbook on page 222.

2016-12-05-mgcc-xmas164

Judy and me enjoying being color coordinated and collar coordinated! Thanks Marg for sharing your photo.

We took a break from the table to do a gift exchange amongst the girls before we moved on to dessert. We each brought one tea towel wrapped or in a gift bag and then played a guessing game to determine the order of choosing the package to open and see what variety of tea towel we would take home. There were a few towels that changed owners over the course of this game.

We switched places with the guys to enjoy our dessert and some “business” together at the table.

Marg, Judy, Bev, and Kathy.

Lovella, Anneliese and Julie. We were all thrilled that Julie could join us for a few hours. She is spending many hours with her mother who is living her last days in Hospice. Thank you dear Kathy and Scot for your wonderful hospitality!

My drive home from British Columbia was a varied mix of driving conditions and hazards. My border crossings were both quick and as usual for me an enjoyable exchange with the Border agents. I had clear skies and great road conditions until I hit Burlington where a deluge of hail had hit the roadway with a thick layer of slush on the road. Things slowed way down and my car didn’t want to keep on track. After that steering wheel gripping experience (I did not dare to touch my brakes) it was clear sailing ahead for a few miles and then a warning of flashing lights so I slowed way down before I hit another very slushy icy part of the interstate. Hallelujah’s were exclaimed when I got through that stretch and things sailed along nicely for more miles before there was a freeway warning sign of a collision ahead with the southbound freeway stopped completely and suggestions to take alternate routes. Thankfully I was in the right lane and there was an exit that looked somewhat familiar in Everett. I took it and avoided sitting on the freeway until the collision was cleared. Once through Everett I was able to get back on the freeway and continue home on relatively empty interstates. I thanked the Lord as I took my exit off the freeway and then I thanked the Lord again as I drove into my garage, safe and sound.

Today I’m enjoying sitting in my robe doing nothing but relaxing and writing this post, remembering all the fun moments last night and watching some occasional snowflakes fall, melting as they hit the ground. (Hope I got my commas correct in that long sentence). I write all these details for myself to document what happened and to keep different events from getting mixed up in my head.

Linking up to Mosaic Monday with Maggie at Normandy Life. Thank you Maggie!

Vintage Greetings…

Here’s another sweet vintage card from the 50’s for your enjoyment.

The inside of the card with some fun dot to dots for little ones to enjoy.

I’m leaving the country today, traveling to Canada for the annual Mennonite Girls Can Cook Christmas dinner. Hope to share some of the fun with you later. Lots of happenings at this old house this week if we can stay on top of coughs and colds…ugh.

O, Come, Little Children

Oh, Come, Little Children

Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem’s stable, in Bethlehem’s stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.

Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light
A star throws its beam on this holiest sight.
In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child,
More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild.

Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw;
The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe.
And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love,
While angels are singing sweet songs from above.

Words: Christoph von Schmid, 1794

A friend of ours faxed me the music and words for O Come Little Children in the Russian language. I learned this song by heart in Russian and it’s been fun to sing it this week. We have started the Advent Season and I’ll be posting Christmas Music for the rest of the month. Some of the words in Russian translate different than the English version.

Finding Treasures…

Been having fun scanning these old Christmas cards from the fifties that are from Dear’s early days. Look at the inside…

I’m glad Verna kept the card intact. If you can print it off and copy it for your little ones to enjoy feel free.

I’ll be cutting down on the memes I enjoy because it’s been hard to get around and visit participants this time of year. I’ll keep visiting my regulars that pop up in my Feedly. All the Christmas boxes/bins are down from the attic and all I need now is the Christmas decorating bug to motivate me. We will continue our tradition of the Mystery Tree and hopefully buy it next Wednesday so I can decorate it before our Small Group Christmas party on Thursday. Hope all is well in your corner…

December is Here…

Oh, the wonder of it all…

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: Christmas