Dec
25
Christmas Day 2009
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♥~~Christmas Day 2009~~♥
It’s been over a week since last I have posted and for some reason it seems a LONG long time ago. I have missed thinking about what my next post will be and have missed visiting with all my blogging family.
I have had several momentous occurrences — moved, had a week off from work, continued fighting this “flu/cold/whatever one wants to call this, turned yet another year older and celebrated HIS birth.
Often times I say I am amazed at how time flies– but for some reason this week has lingered; giving me time to think and certainly be thankful. I continue to be amazed at peoples graciousness and kindness that surrounds me.
Finishing up on the “story” note I was on– I will share a true and touching one.
This year, like so many other’s, finances have been pushed and been challenged. This morning at our Christmas gathering my sister and brother-in-law received a very lovely gift from their children that I have their permission to share.
Dear Beeb and Popz,
Christmas is the time for giving and unfortunately it rings true this year. In place of a gift for you–Me,Matt, Tom and Colton have decided GIVE in your name.
I was made aware of a special family that has experienced more hardship in the last few months than any family should have to endure in a life time. This family has 3 children; 14 yr old Carlos, 10 yr old Eric and 3 week old Lila. Eric battled leukemia when he was only 6 years old that eventually went into remission. Unfortunately that’s no longer the situation as he is once again fighting the fight at the age of 10 spending his time at Primary Children’s Hospital.
In the midst of this, his father lost his job. Medical bills are piling up and now they have even lost their home. The mother gave birth to a beautiful daughter Lila and now with the other members of their family are living in their neighbor’s unfinished basement. They have no family locally and they are doing all they can to battle through these hard times.
We know you asked for nothing this Christmas, and of course we really tried hard to rebel against that request, but we felt that this would be the most rewarding gift we could give you guys this year. So, in the name of Beeb and Popz we have given all the kids Christmas jammies (just like our family tradition) along with stockings, toys and games. Of course it won’t take away from the hardships but hopefully it will give them a few moments of joy.
Love, Matt- Tom- Aliesha- and Colton
I disagree with Aliesha on one note– When she said “I know this won’t take away from the hardships” — she couldn’t be more wrong. When people are greeted with love and kindness something changes inside them. Their burden will be lighter and they will be given hope –that for a bit, might have been taken away. I am so proud that my darling niece would think of others on Christmas day… the true meaning of what this holiday means. It really is more blessed to give.
She along with her little family, her brother and some friends at her work have collected about $500 for this family– because of their generosity even more people have helped them. Goodness grows — I know they are certainly in my prayers.
May you all enjoy this beautiful day and be thankful for all your blessings – Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for being ever so diligent on Pink Saturdays where we all can get together (over 140 participants).
I’m looking forward to a brilliant new year AND decade!!!
TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥
Dec
13
Christmas- A Brother like That
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It’s official — Winter has arrived in UTAH… it’s cold, it’s slippery, but it is sooo beautiful if we take a moment to stop and look.
This next week will be crazy for me, not one of the typical Christmas weeks you might say…
- As many of you know I have been trying to kick this flu / cold for over a month AND the not so wonderful land lord that I have been leasing from for the passed 3 years decided to NOT pay their mortgage payment — so I am moving to a new “home”.
Good and Bad about this–
Bad first –I haven’t been able to decorate this season– and so I have been living vicariously through all your wonderful festivities that you have shared. (such a talented world we live in!)
Good in the sense that I will have a fresh “palette” to be creative with. I get to take you all along with me 
Along with working full time and moving I don’t know that I will have tons of time to work on my blog– I will certainly try, as this is my new passion for sure… but please know I will be keeping tabs on all of you.
ON that thought I am posting my sweetest of all Christmas stories… I love this story — it’s one of my families all time favorites.
(unknown photographer)
A Brother Like That
A friend of mine named Paul received a new car from his brother as a pre-Christmas present. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.
“Is this your car, mister?” he asked.
Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.”
The boy looked astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you, and it didn’t cost you anything? Gosh, I wish…”
He hesitated, and Paul knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.
“I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”
Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively added, “Would you like a ride in my new car?”
“Oh, yes, I’d love that!”
After a short ride the urchin turned with his eyes aglow and said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.
“Will you stop right where those steps are?” the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little polio-crippled brother. He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up right next to him and pointed at the car.
“There she is Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas, and it didn’t cost him a cent, and someday I’m gonna give you one just like it; then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”
Paul got out and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He said, “It is more blessed to give…”
~~~~~Author Unknown ~~~
For the last 7 months I have been such an example of the statement above. I have received such a joy from all of your comments and new friendships. I appreciate you all so much and hope that your Christmas holiday will be blessed with joy and happiness! Talk to you soon!
TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥
PS: Don’t forget to stop over at the most talented Mary with her Mosaic Mondays- at Little Red House. (talk about talent!)
Dec
12
Christmas — The Play
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Touches of Christmas in every corner of the Kitchen… Can you guess the Theme?
March of the Penguins??? Nooooo
Frosty the Snowman??? Nooooo…
Santa Claus is Coming to Town??? Noooo
Let
it
Snow…
Let it Snow….
Let it…
~~SNOW!!~~
Visit Pink Saturday and Beverly and all the sweeties there…
Wait– least you think I had forgotten…Just as promised the latest Short story…
Saturday Afternoon…
Rex, age six, came in wearing my bathrobe and carrying a mop handle. He sat on the stool and looked at the flashlight. Nancy, age ten draped a sheet over her head, stood behind Rex and began, “ I’m Mary and this boy is Joseph. Usually in this play Joseph stands up and Mary sits down, but Mary sitting down is still taller than Joseph standing up so we thought it looked better this way.”
Enters Trudy, age four, at full run. There were pillowcases over her arms. She spread them wide and said only, “I’m an angel.”
Then came Ann, age eight. I knew she was a wise man because she had on her mother’s high heels and walked like she was a wise man riding a camel. On a pillow she carried three items, undoubtedly gold, frankincense, and myrrh. She walked across the room and announced, “I am all three wisemen. I bring precious gifts: gold, circumstance and mud.”
That was all. The play was over. I didn’t laugh. I prayed. How near the truth Ann was. We come at Christmas burdened down with gold, and the showy gifts and the tinsley tree. Under the circumstances we can do no other. And it really does seem a bit like mud when you think about it. But my children saw through the earthly and found the real reason for Christmas– to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Unknown Author
May you enjoy the spirit this weekend…
TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥
Dec
8
Giving Trees
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What is it about a Tree that is so magnificent and grand?
Someday– God willing– I hope to be planted with a Tree– where someone will perhaps stop, sit and read a book, or just for a while to enjoy the view and think. I can’t imagine a sweeter resting place than near a tree that gives so much and expects so little.
So today we will look at different types of trees.
Especially the Christmas tree — we decorate it, celebrate it and sing round it and about it.
One of my favorites is Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. What a simple little guy– with such simple beauty. (ok now this version is the dolled up version BEFORE we really saw the simple one with the simple ornament.
Snow crystals grab hold tight!
Out side brought in – in Christmas village style.
Lit trees
Even these darling Racoons love their Christmas tree.
~~~ In the Spirit of all Trees Giving ~~~ continuing with my Christmas Stories– I give you
The Giving Tree
I was a single parent of four small children, working at a mini-mum-wage job. Money was always tight but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs and, if not a lot, always enough. My kids told me that in those days they didn’t know we were poor. they just thought Mom as cheap. I’ve always been glad about that.
It was Christmas time and although there wasn’t money for a lot of gifts, we planned to clebrate with chruch and family, parties and friends, drives downtown to see the Christmas lights, special dinners, and by decorating our home.
But the big excitement for the kids was the fun of Christmas shopping at the mall. They talked and planned for weeks ahead of time, asking each other and their grandparents what they wanted for Christmas. I dreaded it though. I had save $120 for presents to be shared by all five of us.
The big day arrived and we started out early. I gave each of the four kids a twenty-dollar bill and reminded them to look for the gifts that cost about four dollars each. Then we all scattered. We had two hours to shop; then we would meet back at the “Santa’s workshop” display.
Back in the car driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, laughing and teasing each other with hints and clues about what they had bought. My younger daughter, Ginger, who was about eight years old, was unusually quiet. I noted she hand only one small, flat bag with her after her shopping spree. I could see enough through the plastic bag to tell that she had bought candy bars– fifity-cent candy bars! I was so angry. What did you do with that twenty dollar bill I gave you? I wanted to yell at her, but I didn’t say anything until we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, ready to be angry again when I asked her what she had done with the money. This is what she told me.
“I was looking around, thinking of what to buy, and I stopped to read the little cards on one of the Salvation Army’s ‘Giving Trees.’ One of the cards was for a little girl, four years old, and all she wanted for Christmas was a doll with clothes and a hairbrush. So I took the card off the tree and bought the doll and the hairbrush and took it to the Salvation Army booth.”
“I only had enough money left to buy candy bars for us,” Ginger continued. “But we have so much and she doesn’t have anything.”
I never felt so rich as I did that day.
Kathleen Dixon
Stop by and visit sweet Susan at A Southern Daydreamer– where she is the Hostess of Outdoor Wednesday. She is an inspiration– and also check out her monthly help on all Christmas Shows on TV guide.
Enjoy this blessed season!
TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥
Dec
6
Trouble at the Inn
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Like all things fun and memorable, I have so enjoyed thinking of which of my favorite stories to share with you next.
(unknown source)
Trouble at the Inn
For many years now, whenever the Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain little town in the Mid-west, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally’s performance in one annual production of the nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.
Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth. Most people in town knew that he had difficulty in keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind. Still, Wally was well liked by the other children in the class, all of whom were smaller than he, though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when Wally would ask to play ball with them, or any game for that matter, in which winning was important.
Most often they’d find a way to keep him out, but Wally would hang around anyway- not sulking, just hoping. He was always a helpful boy, a willing and smiling one, and the natural protector of the underdog. Sometimes if the older boys chased the younger ones away, it would always be Wally who’d say, “Can’t they stay? They’re no bother.”
Wally fancied the idea of being the shepherd with a flute in the Christmas pageant that year, but the plays director, Miss Lumbard, assigned him to be a more important role. After all, she reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines and Wally’s size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.
And so it happened that the usual large partisan audience gathered for the town’s yearly extravaganza of beards, crowns, halos and a whole shameful of squeaky voices. No one on or off stage was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wallace Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performance with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lumbard had to make sure he didn’t wander on stage before his cue.
Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph Knocked hard on the wooden door set into the pained backdrop. Wally the innkeeper was there, waiting.
“What do you want?” Wall said, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.
“We seek lodging.”
“Seek it elsewhere.” Wally looked straight ahead but spoke vigorously. “The Inn is filled.”
“Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary.”
“There is no room in this inn for you.” Wally looked properly stern.
“Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary, she is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her, she is so tired.”
Now, for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his still stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.
“No! Be gone!” the prompter whispered from the wings.
“No!” Wally repeated automatically. “Be gone!”
Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband’s shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his Inn however. Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears.
And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.
“Don’t go, Joseph,” Wally called out. “Bring Mary back.” And Wallace Purling’s face grew into a bright smile. “You can have my room.”
Some people in the town thought that the pageant had been ruined. Yet there were others — many, many others– who considered it the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants they had ever seen.
By Dian Donahue
Thanks so much for sweet Mary at Little Red House Mosaic Monday; her generousity and friendship is one I look forward to every Monday.
Enjoy this blessed season!
TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥
DipityRoad – AKA – Claudia
See, Serendipity is alive and well! (happy finding). Join me on our Dipity Road as we explore my passion of photography, design and all things artsy. Thanks so much for visiting! PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT, I love knowing you stopped by. Any photographs used on my blog will be strictly my work, unless I state otherwise. TTFN (tah tah for now) Claudia~~Friday- Finding Beauty~~
Highlight the entire text code in the box above, hit Ctrl. + C to copy.Country Wings in Phoenix
