Christmases Past...

On December 24th my friend, Angela, at Tea with Friends blog, wrote a post about the book, Under the Tree - the Toys and Treats That Made Christmas Special, 1930-1970.  I loved seeing Angela's photo of her second Christmas when she received the Little Hostess buffet.  I hope to acquire the book because I know it will contain presents Santa brought me as a child. In the meantime, I began searching through old photos for Christmas pictures from my childhood. I found some, and am on the hunt for the rest that I know exist. Thanks for inspiring me to take a walk down memory lane, Angela!

My first Christmas at 10 months old with my brother, Danny, and sister, Janet.  I still have that red rocking chair, and it's actually in pretty good shape!  

Christmas 1948 at Muirhead's Department Store in Dearborn, MI. [My childhood water color set and crayons were used to convert the black and white photo into a colored one!]

Janet and I each got dolls and buggies.  Danny got a sled.  My sister was stricken with polio a few months later and passed away.  I was too little to have any recollection of her, but I often wonder what she would have been like if she were living today.

Christmas 1950.  I got the chalk board in the background and the accordion.  I smile every time I see this photo because my mother misspelled my name on the chalkboard!  

My wonderful Daddy.   He was the man I was going to marry when I grew up!

Looks like my brother, Danny, got a cowboy outfit from Santa!

Christmas 1951.  My brother and I each got bikes, and I got a metal dollhouse and doll furniture to go inside.  The child-sized folding table and chairs was a shared gift.

The photo below was undated, but I think it was Christmas 1952 at my aunt's house.  That's my grandmother, my three cousins, and my Aunt Margaret [my mom's sister] in the foreground. My mother is in the back right corner, and I'm right beneath her amused by something. Notice that early TV screen behind my mom.

Christmas 1956.  That doll I'm holding had lime green hair!

  

Another 1956 photo after Danny and I put on our Christmas finery.  Do people get dressed up on Christmas Day anymore?  My brother was 14, and notice those white suede bucks he was wearing! Remember when Pat Boone made them famous in the 50's?  Danny was either unhappy about having his picture taken with me, or it wasn't cool for a teenager to smile for pictures.

Christmas 1957

 I'm off to look for more Christmas photos!  If I find any I'll add them.    

Sunday Reflection...

Connecting the Christmas/Advent Season to the New Year!

For weeks we've planned, shopped, decorated, and prepared for the Christmas Holiday, and it has quickly come and gone.  A new year will soon be upon us... a blank slate, with a fresh start.

We love celebrating Jesus' birth at the Christmas Season, but I'm glad He fulfilled His purpose for coming to earth in adulthood - to give us life to the fullest. [John 10:10b]

I missed church this morning due to a flu virus.  Not feeling too perky I wondered what I'd write today.  And then I opened my Bible, and found the notes I had written from last year's post-Christmas sermon.  [I love God's faithfulness, don't you?!]

The sermon was about endings and beginnings, and not allowing the past to rob us of the present.  "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."  [Isaiah 43:  vs. 18]

GOD is BIG Enough for 2014!

[Internet Graphic]

He has promised to be with us in the highs and lows of the new year.

"...Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

for the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."

[Isaiah 43: 1-3 NIV]

May God Bless your week, and give you joy and peace in the New Year!

Saving Mr. Banks

What do you do on a cold [26 degree], wintry day?  Go to a movie matinee!   When we left home for the 4:20 film showing of Saving Mr. Banks below is what it looked like outside our house.

When we returned after the two hour movie, the sky was completely dark.  Gotta love the winter solstice with its early nightfall. 

I saw Walt Disney's 1964 Mary Poppins musical film that starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, but I'm ready to purchase the DVD and watch it again. 

[Internet Photo]

During my 2007 London Tea Tour, my girlfriends and I went to the theatrical production of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre.  It was awesome, so I knew I wanted to see Saving Mr. Banks.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, except to say that Tom Hanks plays the part of Walt Disney, and Emma Thompson portrays P.L. [Pamela] Travers, the author of the 1943 Mary Poppins book.  The film begins in a 1961 time setting.  There are tea scenes right from the get-go, and throughout the film, but I could only find one image showing a teacup sitting on Walt Disney's desk, so you'll have to go see the movie for yourself.   I highly recommend it - and be sure to put some tissues in your purse! 

[Internet Photo]

The October 20th photo of Tom Hanks [below] shows him drinking a cup of tea [with a spoonful of sugar!] on London's Red Carpet.

[Photo Credit:  Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images]

It seemed proper and fitting to make myself a cup of tea when I got home. Wouldn't Mary Poppins be a fun theme for a tea party?

 

Christmas 2013!

Candlelight service at church celebrating Christ's birth.  He is the Light of the World!

Mother and daughter - passing the faith along.  How awesome!

All ready to serve punch and cookies at the conclusion of the service.

Christmas Eve dinner at our house.  The family is growing so there were two dinner tables to set this year.   The house with bustling with 19 of us throughout the evening!

[L-R:  Daughter-in-law Sharon, son Steve, hubby Jerry, son Jeremy, & daughter-in-law Samantha]

[Granddaughter Tiffany, and her fiancé, John]

[Granddaughter Brianna, and daughter Lori]

[Lori and my mother]

After dinner it is our tradition for hubby to read the Christmas Story from Luke, Chapter 2.

Then came the presents... the youngest opened their gifts first.  Landon got a robe with a football applique sewn on it.  He loved it!

Below, Landon in his robe watching his daddy open his gift - money to go towards his trip to the Rose Bowl game to watch his alma mater, Michigan State, play football in the championship game.  Both of our sons are MSU alumni, and both of them will be at the Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day.

John received a T-shirt of his favorite football team.

Our eight grandchildren.

Our daughter, Lori, and her children. 

[L-R:  Brandon, Lori, Tiffany and Marissa]

[Brandon and his girlfriend, Vanessa]

Our son, Steve, and his family.

[L-R:  Brooke, Sharon, Steve, and Brianna]

Our youngest son, Jeremy, and his family.

[L-R:  Isabella, Jeremy, Ellie, Landon, and Samantha]

[Jeremy and Samantha]

After opening presents, it was game time around the table with "Catch Phrase."

[Far left is Aurel, Marissa's boyfriend]

In between games, we had our birthday cake for Jesus and cookies.  One of our family's favorite cakes is the chocolate mound cake, so I make it every Christmas Eve for Jesus' birthday cake. We put candles on it, and sing Happy Birthday, knowing that His Spirit is very present at the celebration commemorating His birth.

   

Lori, Samantha, Brianna and Vanessa all brought cookie trays, so there was no shortage of sweets.

What did I get for Christmas?  Not one, but three gift cards to Barnes and Noble; a gift card to P.F. Chang's; DVD's of Seasons 1,2, & 3 of Downton Abbey; Slippers; Christmas Ornaments; and a gift basket filled with edible goodies, a candle, slippers, and a wonderful cookbook [pictured below].

Scones with clotted cream and jam is definitely my idea of comfort food!

And... a teapot toothpick holder with matching salt and pepper shakers.

The day before Christmas Eve I received a beautiful floral arrangement from a very special family.  What a wonderful Christmas!

 Christmas Greetings from our house to yours!

Christmas is Children...

On Sunday, December 15th, we went to see two of our grandchildren perform in their church Christmas program.  Nothing says Christmas more than children.

The four and five year olds were first up on the program to perform with their bells.  I took my camera, but forgot the battery in the charger [duh!], so my son took a couple of photos on his iphone for me.  My grandson, Landon, is on the far left with his red bell.

Since the program was titled "Christmas in Black & White" the children dressed in black and white.  Granddaughter, Isabella, is in the front row, third from left.  The kids did a great job!

They came to spend the night this past Friday.  This time I had the battery in my camera all ready for some picture taking.

[Landon and Isabella]

[Baby sister Ellie]

I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve when all the family will gather at our house.  Christmas is almost here!

Sunday Reflection...

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent when the third and last purple candle is lit. It is often called the "Angel's Candle," because they announced the King's birth.  This candle represents peace. 

On Christmas Eve, the center white candle will be lit.  It is the "Christ Candle" representing Jesus Christ who came into the world to bring us salvation.  White symbolizes purity, and Jesus is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. Those who accept Jesus as their Savior are cleansed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" - which means, "God with us."  Matthew 1:23

[Internet Photo]

May God bless your week!