Merry, Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

May your day be filled with love, laughter and the joy of the season!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas One and All!

Christmas is only days away! I am now on 2 weeks of holidays! Yeah! I do plan to rest and try to get rid of this cold/cough. But I also want to celebrate the season and have plans in the works.

I took part in several gift swaps online this season.

The Secret Santa through Purple Sparkle was fun and I just received a lovely gift today from Scotland! The gifts are gorgeous! Thanks so much to my Secret Santa!

I also did the Colour Ornament Swap with Louise Gale. 2 of 3 gifts have arrived and they are lovely ornaments. Thanks so much ladies!

This is what I made and sent out.

Christmas is a special time. I love all the carol singing, the decorated trees, the loving spirit, the special Church services, the searching for the perfect gifts, the big family dinners, the baking - I just love this season. Here are a few of my favourite decorations around our home:

(Mistle-toes!)

(These are just a small part of our animated figures collection! The grandkids love them!)

May everyone have a blessed Christmas, filled with love and joy!

What Warms My Heart and Soul at Christmas

Since visiting Sherry Lee's blog on Saturday, I have been thinking about the Bloggers' Christmas Party held Friday at Yiota's blog which Sherry had described. The theme of the party was to share what warms your heart and soul at Christmas.

I read several of the lists and they made me realize just how much there is to love about this special holiday. So I have created my own. Most of the items on the list are free, engage the senses and gladden the spirit.

*decorating the tree and the house

*looking at our tree at night, all lit up

*setting up our large Nativity scene

*reading Christmas stories at school

*remembering where the ornaments came from

*finding that special ornament each year

*taking a drive at night to see all the houses decorated and lit up

*making ornaments for my children and grandchildren

*receiving handmade gifts from children

*making Shortbread and other Christmas goodies

*eating Christmas goodies!

*listening to and singing Christmas carols

*attending Church during Advent and at Christmas

*the smell of gingerbread

*candy canes

*Christmas dinner with all the family (with turkey and all the fixings!)

*watching all the favourite Christmas movies ("It's a Wonderful Life", "One Magic Christmas", "A Christmas Carol" - with Alistair Sim are musts)

*my collections of angels, snowmen and Santas

*receiving and giving Christmas cards

*giving to others, especially to the Salvation Army and food drives

*filling stockings on Christmas Eve

*opening my stocking (and being the first up Christmas morning)

*watching loved ones open gifts I have gotten for them

*putting on the concert at school

*poinsettias

*candlles glowing

*making all our Santas and Snowmen sing, dance or move

*Christmas get togethers

*happy people, lots of hugs and laughter

*a white Christmas

*visiting family and friends

*kissing under the mistletoe

*following so many family traditions (like opening new pjs Christmas Eve, and stockings first Christmas morning)

There are many more I am sure, but all of these add to the special memories I make each Christmas and remember year to year.

Merry Christmas to everyone! May you find joy and happiness this Christmas!