Signs of the Season

  

Thanksgiving was just a few days ago and blink! Just like that, we are into the Christmas season! 

This book (see above) by author and speaker, Susie Larson, is my morning quiet time devotional book starting December 1 - 24th. Ms. Larson is an excellent 'wordsmith' in that she phrases things so artfully, so appropriately, and concisely. She fascinates me. I'm inspired to improve my writing after reading her daily email devotions.

screen shot of a recent devotional 

If you are interested in subscribing to her daily devotions, click on this link for more information (it's free).

So, with that introduction, I am preparing my heart for this Christmas season and also unpacking our decorations for the house. Instead of my usual habit of devoting one blog post to a "house tour" with our decorations, this year I think I'll just include snapshots as they happen, along with whatever else is worth writing about. I may be blogging more often but with shorter posts (or not!). 🤭

downtown Ocala, Florida

This is from "Light Up Ocala," when my town lit up the downtown square. This is an annual event, which we did not attend since we prefer to be safely tucked into our house with the shades drawn after sunset. This photo was taken by one of the Orlando TV stations. 

The white Christmas tree that we have been positioning in a garage window that faces our street has yellowed a lot. Last year Gary thought about replacing it, but I talked him out of it. This year it was more evident to me that the tree had seen better days. (note the bottom branches) I spent much of the morning removing all of the ornaments (red balls, white balls, and plastic crystal icicles).

A pair of those icicles have been multi-purposed into winter earrings for me! (just kidding -- they are too long!) The balls have been used in other decor.

my Christmas wardrobe

While I'm on the topic of decorating myself for the holidays, my seasonal shirts and tops have been unpacked. Some of these were bought in Colorado, which means they are 10-15 years old! But when they are worn only one month of the year (and here in Florida, worn only if the temperature is cold enough!), clothes can last a long time!

Excuse the glare on my son's photo;
I couldn't get it to erase without giving him a black eye! LOL!

Speaking of clothes, my readers may remember last Christmas when the miniature Santa hat found Michelangelo (or did we decide this is the Old Testament David??). 

our living room Christmas tree

Returning to the topic of Christmas trees. I put some of the white balls from the discarded white tree onto the green tree. I bought this tree in 2021, after I had decided I was done with a 6-foot tree. I love being able to store this tree with a large trash bag placed over it, ornaments still on the branches. But the white balls made it "pop!" and I like the look. 

The majority of the red satin-thread balls from the white tree are now in a pail beside the front door. 

from Hobby Lobby

When I shopped at Hobby Lobby recently, I found this treasure which became an impulse buy. It's Gary and me! When I got home and showed him my purchases, one of the first things he said was this was surely "blog fodder." Of course! The red-and-white striped rug they (we) are dancing on is a woven placemat. I bought just the one because it looked like a rug but it's too busy of a design for our dinner plates.

Since I've waltzed us into the subject of romance, here is our mistletoe that we hung from the ceiling fan in the living room. ❤️❤️

My nativity scene is on the coffee table this year. The wise men are coming in from Daytona Beach the East, with their camels resting nearby. A shepherd with his sheep, goat, and (an oversized) chicken are on the other side, having walking over from the Gulf the West.

Joseph's donkey is out of sight in this snapshot but hovers near Mary, Joseph, and an angel who are all watching the baby Jesus. Itty bitty battery-powered lights are intertwined throughout, giving the scene a mystical look. I am thinking a couple of miniature palm trees might be a nice addition or a very small artificial succulent in a small pot.

With the 5-year anniversary of Tom's entrance into Heaven having come and gone, I am feeling a sense of release from sorrow. Oh, to be sure, I will always miss him and be so very grateful for the influences he had on my life for over 50 years, but reaching this 5-year anniversary is a milestone. 

photo edited for privacy reasons

This Christmas season is more joyful for me. Shedding the 'sackcloth', so to speak, is freeing. Letting go of negatives that have hounded me and giving myself permission to embrace the true significance of Jesus' as my Savior and Redeemer -- all of that is wonderful.

To You, O LORD, I called;

to the LORD I cried for mercy...

You turned my wailing into dancing; 

You removed my sackcloth and

clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to You

and not be silent.

O LORD my God,

I will give You thanks forever.

Psalm 30:8 and 11-12

Until next time, grace and peace.

P.S. I'm trying out a new font, something more casual. It's called "Architects Daughter."