HO! HO! NO!

Usually I don't get sick until after Christmas. It's a bummer being sick now. I should have my tree up. The house should be decorated. I should have Christmas cards in the mail.

It started two weeks ago. On Tuesday night I had a mild soar throat and in the morning it was in my lungs. I didn't go to bowling that Wednesday and have had way to many pajama days! 

One thing you should know is that when you have a chronic illness you don't want people to know it. I wasn't contagious. So I did Mark's turkey dinner and the kids didn't have a clue how sick I was. 

I even made my side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner at Adam & Gabby's and survived the day without anyone knowing. The last thing you want to be is different or have people feel sorry for you. 

I finally broke down and got into my doctor's office for steroids and antibiotics but that was just the other day. When I don't feel well the last thing I want to do is leave the house. I was at a point where I felt a little better but knew I had to get on some medication. 

Hopefully in a few days I will be myself again and I can get going on all of the above projects. It's early yet, it's not even December 1st! I've also been able to get some shopping done online with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

I did however get to watch about 16 brand new 2018 Hallmark, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Lifetime Christmas movies. Thank goodness for a DVR and other show times on these movie channels. 

IF ONLY IT WERE THIS EASY!

The decorating has started at my house.....

Today Mark, Adam and Amber will be packing up the U-Haul for her move to Great Falls, MT. 

I am feeling very emotional, hard to believe she is leaving in the morning. After 35 years she has never lived further than an hour away. 

I am excited for her and Dylan. This is a great opportunity for them and I trust in God's plan for them. 

I physically can't help them today so I will stay clear and hang ornaments on the trees. 

Also I will be making some Black Bean Chili in the crock pot for dinner tonight with some butter/parmesan monkey bread! 

I'm also going to bake some yummy Quaker Oats Famous Oatmeal cookies for dessert. I will also be sending some along in their goody basket for the road! 

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

WELCOME TO OUR HOME AND WELCOME WINTER

Living Room Tree - white lights

Family Room Tree - multi-colored lights

 Snowman trees in the dining room....

My grandmother's wooden ironing board....

Our reindeer in the back yard.....

A few up close to share with you......

I just love how they sparkle at night.....

My Jim Shore collection.....

You may have heard me say that I was doing a "Less is More" this year. I have approximately 8 bins of decorations and 5 boxes of plush that I have not put out this year. I still have my miniature tree to decorate which has about 150 ornament on it! I thought Amber was going to do it but she never got around to it.

Please stop over to my post from last Christmas which will show you all that I have. I think you will find my collections to be unique and special......

DEBBY'S HOUSE 2012

 Someone on the scent of the Petco box that arrived.......

POST IT NOTE FRIDAY

 

 

Debby's Tree

SOMETHING MAGICAL HAPPENS

After Christmas while others are getting ready to take down their trees I get filled with the beauty of mine. Before Christmas it's all about getting the decorations up, shopping, wrapping, getting our cards in the mail and baking. Then the day finally comes, the day after Christmas and suddenly I can breathe. That is when the magic happens for me. My tree glows bigger and brighter, takes my heart away to a place of awe and amazement. I live in that beauty for a few weeks and it's a nice place to be.

After almost 40 years of decorating my own tree, starting with only plain colored glass balls and growing into what it is today with over 800+ ornaments on it, I am not afraid to say it is gorgeous. It has earned these words flowing from my mouth. I put so much love into my tree, it is my masterpiece each Christmas.

The last few days when I walk into our family room at night I am just taken in by its beauty. I wish all of you could see it in person. Pictures cannot capture what the eyes see. It is meticulously knitted together like a beautiful afghan. It will capture my heart for a few weeks and then eventually start to fade. Then it's time to take it down but not a moment sooner! I know when its purpose for this year has been served and I will pack away the magic until next year.

*sigh*

Praying that 2012 brings you excellent health,

hearts full of happiness,

magical moments

and the joy that comes from big belly laughs.

See you next year!

LIONS & TIGERS & BEARS, OH MY!

Not really, it was more like Wicked & Mission & Tree is not done!

Not much time to spare but I want to share...

It was a "WICKED" Sunday on the 11th and I loved every minute of it. What a great day we had. I thoroughly enjoyed the show! (don't forget to click to enlarge)

My mission was the Mission Inn. We had Mark's Christmas dinner at Mario's which is across from the Mission Inn. We went a little early so I could get a few pictures just before the sun set. It didn't disappoint! Our dinner was perfection. If you are ever in Riverside, CA you must give them a try. If you look through the Season's Greetings that is Mario's across the street!


So my tree is not done but its getting there. I thought I would share a few ornaments from my tree and a couple of other little trees that are done. I also put my plush out this year. I don't think I am going to have time for my snow globes, nativities or snow village this year. They will mean even more when I unpack them next year!






I learned a few things this year:

I'm not enjoying getting up and down the ladder!

Ornaments that go over a bulb so they light up are not easy to place on the tree!

Trees get old and the branches get weaker, it's been frustrating this year. Put the ornament on and the branch will bend over to one side or the other, ARGH!

I don't need more ornaments but two new smaller trees would be nice!

When you replace a burned out bulb don't take it out and go get the new one, bring the new one with you beforehand otherwise it's like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Now for a really special treat you need to go over and visit with Laurie. It will blow you mind!