Sunday, December 9, 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .






                                                                                                Oh my gosh, can it be possible?  Are we really just two weeks away from Christmas?  I don't know how this happened.  One minute I was putting up Halloween decorations, the next I was baking pumpkin pies and turkeys. Then, in the blink of an eye, homes in my village were twinkling and glittering, looking most festive as they anxiously await a visit from Santa.  I realize I am already behind in decorating the house for Christmas. I have the trees up and a few Christmas birdhouses on the fireplace mantel, but I could do so much more. If I thought about it long enough, I could probably start to panic . . . I  need to start baking Christmas cookies, finish shopping, wrap presents - and I'm not even sure if I should bother sending Christmas cards at this point. 
  
They say time flies when you are having fun, so I guess I am having lots of fun.  They also say the older you get the faster time goes, and I do believe it is true.  I wish I could slow down the clock when I am having a wonderful, magical moment, like looking into the eyes of my little granddaughter Ellie as she smiled at me over the shoulder of her father, my son Jamison, my 3rd child. May God bless him if she is anything like the handful he was!  I also wish I could speed through time when dealing with one of life's difficult situations we all must deal with.  

Last night we baptized my fourth grandchild, Ellianna.  

She was so good and quiet, and looked like a little angel in her white gown.  I gazed upon that beautiful little baby and snapped a picture to help me remember the moment. 




 I reminded myself to live more in the moment and quit worrying about all those little things that seem to consume all my thoughts and time.  I need to learn to live RIGHT NOW and turn off the little chatter box in my brain that constantly feeds me all kinds of things to distract me from the here and now.  I must admit to having a nonstop feed of ideas for sewing and quilting and painting and dolls, and I really don't want to turn that one off, just be able to press the pause button every once in a while.  I guess I have found my passion and I can't imagine my life without it.  Of course, God and family and home all take priority, but my creative adventures are definitely what feeds my spirit and soul.

Since I don't post as often as I wish I would, I am taking this opportunity now to wish you all a calm, serene, and happy next few weeks.  Enjoy Christmas without the pressure of making everything perfect.  Embrace the new year and not only wish, but really truly believe that this new year holds many wonderful things for yourself and your family.   



And never forget - every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings.     


23 comments:

  1. How ya' doin' girlfriend? I'm so happy to see you posting. I think of you often, as does my mom, and I want to wish you much love and happiness this holiday season.

    God Bless,
    Meri

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  2. Hello!
    What a sweet little angel!
    Thank you for your past blogs I love with all these images
    other times beautiful ... I will follow you 'for now I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and Super 2013!
    Hello Miky
    google translator

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  3. Lucy,
    The Baptism looked lovely! She is an Angel! So sweet and pretty just like her grandma. Fred and I are sitting here watching your Packers play in the snow, it is 68 degrees here and humid, no snow in our future. I like your line of thinking on the Christmas season, simplify and enjoy. I wish you the most Merry Christmas and New Year.
    Give Ricky a smooch under the mistletoe and skip all the worry.
    Loads of Love and Merry Christmas!
    Ethel

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  4. Precious photos!! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!! xo Heather

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  5. Julie,
    What a beautiful baby girl!!! And your post is so correct, we need to be thankful for the all of the good in our lives!!!! I hope you and yours have a fantastic Christmas!!!!
    Sandy @ 521 Lake STreet

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  6. Oh Boy I hear you on the pause...I have been trying to work on that for some time now. It is very difficult not to want to just give it all up because balancing is not my forte. Thank you for sharing and knowing that I am not the only one. Congratulations on such a beautiful healthy grandchild. Smiles..Renee

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  7. Beautiful baby girl pictures. I'm glad you're enjoying the season. Merry Christmas to you!

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  8. What a beautiful post Julie. It is so good to have you back in blog land. Ellie is a precious angel. Hope you and your family have the Merriest of Christmas'
    Hugs
    donna

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  9. Julie your little granddaughter is just beautiful! Thanks for the reminder to pause and enjoy every day. It is easy to just rush through the holidays instead of enjoying each day at a time. I wish you and your family a peaceful and glorious Christmas season!

    Blessings

    Linda

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  10. What a beautiful baby girl! Merry Christmas to you and yours! :)
    -Denise

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  11. I just KNEW you were busy loving that sweet grandbaby. What an angel! I just love it when they're dressed in their baptismal finery.
    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Julie, and best wishes for the New Year!
    Julie

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  12. Merry Christmas Julie. I look forward to your posts next year. Hugs from Australia

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  13. Such a sweet post, Julie:) Wishing you the merriest of Christmases!

    ~Cindy

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  14. Merry Christmas, Julie!
    Oh...what a beautiful baby girl. She is certainly one of your favorite Christmas gifts this year!
    Have a blessed holiday, my sweet friend!
    Hugs,
    Carolynn xxx

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  15. Oh, Christmas is so much fun with children around, and BABIES make it extra cozy. I enjoyed your sweet post. Merry Christmas!

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  16. Hi Julie! When you find your pause button, will you please let me know where it is located. I need one as well! What another beautiful blessing to your life. Just look at that sweet face! Wishing you a joyous New Year! Elizabeth

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  17. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (I sure hope your Christmas was merry!) Looking forward to spending some time here in 2013. Love your sweet vintage graphics.

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  18. Stopping by to wish you a very Happy New Year!

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  19. Happy New year...adorable baby...congratulations..I hope that your Christmas and New years was the best...with love Janice

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  20. Like everyone else that Baby girl is beautiful. This is the first in a long time that I had all my shopping completed before Christmas Eve and most of my foods prepped that could be and I wasn't stressing when it was time for everyone to arrive and eat. Buttt......I do miss the excitement of the kids when they open their presents. Now that they're all older they want money so they can put it all together to buy that one expensive item they feel they can't live without. Things are changing quickly because one Nephew went to his girlfriends house for Christmas instead of coming to my house. That fine I understand but it still felt kinda weird without him even if he can be a pain in the butt. LOL.

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  21. Ellianna is so beautiful I love these precious photos! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family. Your blog is so adorable I haven't been blog hopping in ages. I just replaced your old "grab me" button with you new one on my blog. Big Hugs, Jennifer ♥

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  22. Sending tons of hugs and love your way!!!!! Miss you and hope to talk with you soon! : )

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