Saturday snapshot...Amber R.I.P.

We lost this beauty this Christmas too.  Lovely Amber.

Saturday snapshot is hosted by Alyce from At Home with Books.

What's on your agenda...

The Lord sent an angel,
He sent you my way!

May your Christmas be joyful and bright
and filled with the love of that first
Holy Night.

Are you thinking of Christmas yet.  I am,  This morning when I opened my e mails, Suzanne from Quietfire Design had sent me an interesting invitation.

Want to cheer up someone's Christmas?

I've (Suzanne) just started a group on Quietfire Creations for cardmakers working hard to insure every soldier stationed overseas this holiday season will have a specially made card. I have started a discussion thread inside that group for Canadian soldiers, I'm hoping one of our members will start a discussion group for the US members with information and contacts! If you are from another country and have an established group with website, please start your own discussion thread)

As a little incentive, I'm offering $50 worth of rubber stamps (one prize per country) for a draw. You are eligible if you are a member of Quietfire Creations and send in card(s). Post your artwork on your member page! More details about the draws will be available soon, because there are deadlines for submission.

Suzanne has always sent my imagination on a whirl.  I had planned on doing laundry, and since we all don't really like to do that, I thought I'll do a tidy up in my scrapping room.  My husband is asleep for the moment, and my son will be working late tonight so...  I do have real work to do.  So let's plan an agenda.  I'm not really clear on how I'm getting these cards to our guys, I like the U.S. idea better.  Just sending a box full so our troops can send them home.  We'll see what happens as the day progresses.  But if you have cards, or want to make some this is an opportunity for them to be appreciated.  I made cards last year, but honestly I don't remember who got them.  I think probably my husbands family, since we don't exchange gifts, the card is the gift.  If you're interested in joining this group, or just want to know more link inhttp://quietfire.ning.com/group/cardstosoldiers

and start your Christmas greetings off ...

Take Time

Much like everyone else at this time of year we could all use a day or two between Sunday and Monday, especially when it comes time for decorating our homes. I know last year by the time my mother's home was sold and she established in her new residence I was pooped.That was December 19th. I can't believe that it's been a whole year. In spite of the multitude of boxes and stuff everywhere, I hauled out the Christmas Tree and ornaments,not all the ornaments made it to the tree that year, as a matter of fact I think I went out and bought a dozen roses and babies breath and the lights that my son Daniel helped me put on (on Christmas Eve) it got up there. It was stressful. Along with the tree out come my Christmas coffee table books. Most of which are favorites from my sons childhood days. These two however, are books they bought for me. I thought of them the other day when Leslie and Lennie and I stopped off at the TEA SHOPPE in Bloor West Village. A customer came in to buy a lb. of Christmas Blend. Who knew there was such a thing? Anyway, when I take the time to re-read these two short books, I settle down, and enjoy my preparations for the most Blessed Time of the year.

Synopsis:
If you find you have some time, how wonderful if we could have a little chat and share a cup of Christmas tea." A man receives an invitation from his elderly, ailing aunt and doesn't want to go. It's the midst of the Christmas rush, and who needs the aggravation? The depression? The strain? Driven by guilt, he visits her anyway, and rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas. Tom Hegg wrote A Cup of Christmas Tea in 1981, when his pastor asked him to write something for his church's 125th anniversary. Drawing on childhood memories, he composed a straightforward, sentimental poem that brought tears to his audience's eyes. First published in 1982, it's been a seasonal best-seller ever since. A Memory of Christmas Tea, published in 1999, is the heartwarming sequel. Revisiting the themes of A Cup of Christmas Tea, it gently reminds us of the important things in life such as taking time for loved ones.

The distractions of a busy holiday season are swept away by the memory of a frail but strong great aunt and her legacy of love. Sequel to the beloved classic A Cup of Christmas Tea.


When Daniel was quite young he didn't like to go to bed, and one of his negotiating elements was a cup of tea at bedtime. He knew I always had one at the end of the day, that was always the last thing he'd want to do at the end of the day. I'm so glad I usually gave in and had tea with him. Daniel doesn't live at home anymore, and I'm quite sure he's not drinking tea so I guess I'll just have that memory. I loved these books when the boys bought them for me, back then, but I'm liking them even more now.

Widgets

I haven't posted for a few days, since I'm just too tired to do so. Sasha wondered why I had not removed my Christmas Widget. Well I like to think that Christmas is more than just one day, so it will be there for a while. (or a least until I figure out how to remove it). There has been some serious reformatting of computers at my house so if you don't hear from me "that's the why". We are experiencing spring like weather today or at least now so I'm out to my garden. See ya!