A few memories of Chistmas 2008

Me with my daughter-in-law Rachel,
daughter Melissa and Silver Mist Leah
Sweet memories....

Dick and I are going on 31 years together.
He is the sweetest guy you would ever want to meet...

Rich and Rachel gave me the beautiful sea blue sweater ...put it on right away and wore it all night the next day! Love it!




Dick and our pastor had on the same outfit Christmas Eve....trend setters!!



Leah in her beautiful dress on Christmas Eve...and my pearls!

You know how presents can get a little mixed up....we thought they were for her...I think they look very nice on her and imagine we will share them!!

Thanks Aunt Rachel and Uncle Rich!

Leah loves, loves, loves her Aunt Rachel...plus Leah gives the best hugs ever!!

Love this picture!!













Melissa took this picture at her house..

Leah sneaking a lick!

Those eyes!!






















My baby doll is growing up!

So grown up looking in her Christmas Dress!!

Our daughter Melissa and her husband Shawn....cute couple!
The new Momma and Daddy to be

with a picture of

their little boy...
Rich and Rachel after sharing the good news.

We all went shopping Saturday and got our little one some overalls jeans, corduroys, sweaters, argyle socks, sandals and sneakers.




Pop-Pop snuck off and bought him a Christmas outfit...just the beginning!!

We all had so much fun going to Church together, sharing great food, opening wonderful thoughtful gifts, games and lots of laughs....family, I love you all so much!!

2009....here we come!!!

It's a boy!!

Rachel and Rich handed us a package that they said was for everyone Christmas Eve....we innocently opened it and there were those blue baby booties and pandemonium broke out!

Melissa snapped this photo right after they announced the news.....we are blessed!!!

I know Dick instantly planned ordering golf clubs ASAP....Leah has pink handled ones...it's not a gender thing...it's just Dick believes all his granbabies need to know about the game of golf!

Baby is healthy, happy and kicking and we all couldn't be happier...Can't wait for June 12, 2009!!

Now we can start buying things for our little grandson...he's gotta have sneakers and little sweaters, jeans and lots of books!!

We are over the top!! ;-)

If you eat one too many Christmas Cookies...

I know everyone is really busy and on the go but ......SIX cookies do not make a meal!!

Trust me, I know!

If you fall off the wagon...it's OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are human for goodness sakes!!

Forgive yourself big-time and

get back to normal

ASAP!!....

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Sung by 4 year old Avery Winter...starts out shaky, hang with it and grab a tissue..

Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday Dear Jesus
Happy Birthday To You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
All The Tinsel And Lights
And The Presents Are Nice
But The Real Gift Is You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
All The Carols And Bells
Make The Holiday Swell
And it's All About You
Happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!

Written By The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir





Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord.

12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20The shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,

which were just as they had been told.

The meaning of the Twelve days of Christmas...

The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days after Christmas, leading up to January 6th. This day is traditionally celebrated as the day of the Wise Men. The carol is supposed to be a medieval tool used to teach the basics of Christianity. Whether or not this is true, the symbolism is profound.

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . .” (Luke 13:34)

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God’s self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God’s reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity’s sinful failure and God’s response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8 ) those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8 ) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Ten Lords A-leaping
The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God’s name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8 ) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8 ) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8 ) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.



Grammy's and mommy's here's some coloring pages for the kids!

Tis the season to be merry!!

Straight No Chasers 12 Days of Christmas...

Love these guys!!

O Christmas Tree

My favorite























































































Another favorite

Dick is in Nashville tonight and I had all the lights out looking at the ornaments and decided to take pictures in the dark.....not too bad. The tree looks so small in this picture....click on it and it looks more in proportion. Christmas trees are so magical....

Santa

We decided to go ahead and decorate outside because it was 47 degrees yesterday. Thought I'd share my Santa...he's 4 1/2 feet tall...we stuffed him with batting and he's precious. You can get one here. Found a Mr and Mrs Claus too!
You can click the pictures and make all the Santa's bigger.

A few more Santa's taking residence at our house.... Ho,Ho, Ho!!!

Love his mink trim!

The picture next to Santa was painted by Dick's mother Bea. She painted their next door neighbors Scotty...the painting was made into a Christmas card for Kosair Children's Hospital (Shriners) in Louisville KY to use as their annual card...priceless..