I love visiting at your place Linda, it's always so warm and welcoming. I love pencil trees and I've got to tell you loping off some branches to tuck in is a great idea. You took me down memory lane.
Thanks bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
May the Lord surprise you with His peaceful presence, a sweet surprise or two, and rest for your soul during the coming days. He loves you so. And all your friends and fans, do, too.
What a beautiful, cozy, inviting place your home is! I can feel the love from here. May God richly bless you and yours this Christmas season, dear friend. I love and appreciate you.😊❤🙏
My grief has zapped all my holiday energy so................the tree is half done, no cookies yet, skipping cards, no wrapping done yet, minimal lights outside. What makes me smile is I found some antique ornaments in my parents' house so I plopped them in an antique bowl with fairy lights and put it next to a silhouette manger. It's the little things...................
I absolutely hear what you're saying about the grief-zapping, Valerie. A beautiful bowl filled with ornaments and twinkly lights sounds absolutely perfect for this year. It is enough. A little will certainly go a long way.
Hi Linda! I'm sorry I'm late to the party. Been a very very busy two weeks. What am I saying? I very very busy year. Jo is in charge of the decorating. I get the stuff down from the storage. She does a wonderful job. Simple but nice and cozy. we don't have a fireplace so we don't hang stockings. we tend to go to Ohio for Christmas so we are gearing up for that. all in all, she knows I like it simple and uncomplicated. At our age, we both do. :)
Simple and uncomplicated. Yes, yes, friend. I'm thinking we have bigger fish to fry. So many around us need our undivided presence and real-time encouragement. This can be a terribly hard season.
Such beautiful Christmas ornaments. I love your line of take the pressure off decorating because Martha Stewart won't be visiting any of our homes..ha ha!
Great advice, Linda! We bought a 7' pencil Christmas tree last year and enjoy its simplistic presence in our home. Your grandmother's ornaments are lovely. We don't use ornaments, instead we have red bows. We did put a fresh wreath on the table with a candle in the center for the fresh Christmas scent of previous years.
Bows sounds lovely, Lisa! Lord knows I have enough ribbon stashed away to make it happen. I've seen some beautiful pictures of this done well. Maybe next year?!
As a widow, I am keeping everything low key. Reading "Wonder in the Waiting" by Angela Burtis, have my very little Advent Wreath, my own Advent Calendar with manger scene, fake pencil tree with only lights so far, several "Joy" decorations, Christmas music, plans for one kind of cookie for the local family, stollen from Aldis, Frazier Fir Wood Wick candle, simple shopping almost completed.
You'd love Angela, Muriel ... I know you'd hit it off as pastor's wives, as believers in Jesus, as women in ministry, as lovers of family. I wish I could gather everyone together to meet and mingle. 'Til we meet in heaven, this'll have to do.
Love to you all this Christmas. We share so many memories, friend ...
That saying "less is more" certainly applies to the Christmas season. Doing less contributes to peace of mind, joy of heart, and good will to the people around us (because we're less stressed)!! We too have an artificial tree, covered with a hodge-podge of ornaments--all of them gifts over the years from church folk (my husband was a pastor), students (I was a teacher), friends, and family. SO many wonderful memories represented on that tree! / As for a strategy to keep things calm and bright: I'm preparing 7 Christmas cards per day, instead of pressing the task into several long afternoons. They'll be done in plenty of time; it's a lot less daunting.
What a walk down memory lane every time you pass your tree, Nancy. The friends and family, the times and places ... what a treasure trove. Let's hear it for less daunting rhythms that keep us less stressed and frantic. Peace on earth begins with our hearts, translates into our schedules, and spills over into those we rub shoulders with.
I love your decorations, Linda. How nice to have your grandma's ornaments. Your talk about puzzling reminds me of a picture my granddaughter recently showed me of a puzzle board she has. She doesn't have room to keep the puzzle out somewhere all the time. The rectangular board swivels and has drawers on each side. She separates the different colors of puzzle pieces into each drawer. It has a plastic cover for when she puts it away. It's really cool. :) I found some on Amazon. Love and blessings of a relaxing, peaceful season focused on Jesus!
Oh that sounds cool, Trudy! We've been eating supper on our laps recently because the puzzle pieces are everywhere. My husband hasn't complained a bit. He's a good sport.
Love your wisdom as always Linda! And I especially love those old fragile ornaments ❣️
Oh I know, Amanda, aren't they beautiful! So far I haven't broken a single one this year. Phew!
Thanks for enjoying these little gems with me, friend. Merry Christmas to you and yours. I'm so glad to do the Substack life alongside you ...
I love visiting at your place Linda, it's always so warm and welcoming. I love pencil trees and I've got to tell you loping off some branches to tuck in is a great idea. You took me down memory lane.
Thanks bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
May the Lord surprise you with His peaceful presence, a sweet surprise or two, and rest for your soul during the coming days. He loves you so. And all your friends and fans, do, too.
What a beautiful, cozy, inviting place your home is! I can feel the love from here. May God richly bless you and yours this Christmas season, dear friend. I love and appreciate you.😊❤🙏
Sending love, appreciation, and all my best to you and the guys, friend. I know you'll have a lovely Christmas together.
Your tree is beautiful, Linda! I think Grandma would understand 🤗
Yeah. I hope so ...
Gorgeous tree, Linda.
Love your Christmas ornaments.
We don't have local Christmas tree farms, so fake trees have become a popular choice for festive decorations in our tropical corner of the world.
Hugs and blessings!
Christmas in the tropics sounds rather appealing right about now, friend! I can't wait to hear how you celebrate.
Your tree is beautiful, Linda. It's been a weird December, and I'm definitely following your advice to take the pressure off and pace myself.
Oh good, I'm so glad, Lois. It takes time to heal after your body goes through a trauma like covid. Rest well, friend ...
My grief has zapped all my holiday energy so................the tree is half done, no cookies yet, skipping cards, no wrapping done yet, minimal lights outside. What makes me smile is I found some antique ornaments in my parents' house so I plopped them in an antique bowl with fairy lights and put it next to a silhouette manger. It's the little things...................
I absolutely hear what you're saying about the grief-zapping, Valerie. A beautiful bowl filled with ornaments and twinkly lights sounds absolutely perfect for this year. It is enough. A little will certainly go a long way.
Hi Linda! I'm sorry I'm late to the party. Been a very very busy two weeks. What am I saying? I very very busy year. Jo is in charge of the decorating. I get the stuff down from the storage. She does a wonderful job. Simple but nice and cozy. we don't have a fireplace so we don't hang stockings. we tend to go to Ohio for Christmas so we are gearing up for that. all in all, she knows I like it simple and uncomplicated. At our age, we both do. :)
Simple and uncomplicated. Yes, yes, friend. I'm thinking we have bigger fish to fry. So many around us need our undivided presence and real-time encouragement. This can be a terribly hard season.
Such beautiful Christmas ornaments. I love your line of take the pressure off decorating because Martha Stewart won't be visiting any of our homes..ha ha!
No perfection, just fun and creativity and ease ...
Have a good one, friend.
beautiful and this post is so peaceful. Love the Welcome Home vibe too!
'Sleep in heavenly peace ...'
Have a lovely weekend, friend.
Your Christmas tree is beautiful. My family have always used fake trees.
P. S. finally figured out how to comment on this new platform.
Yay, you're here, Margie! Thank you so much for going the 2nd mile to navigate commenting. It means so much to me. Bless you, girl.
Great advice, Linda! We bought a 7' pencil Christmas tree last year and enjoy its simplistic presence in our home. Your grandmother's ornaments are lovely. We don't use ornaments, instead we have red bows. We did put a fresh wreath on the table with a candle in the center for the fresh Christmas scent of previous years.
Bows sounds lovely, Lisa! Lord knows I have enough ribbon stashed away to make it happen. I've seen some beautiful pictures of this done well. Maybe next year?!
As a widow, I am keeping everything low key. Reading "Wonder in the Waiting" by Angela Burtis, have my very little Advent Wreath, my own Advent Calendar with manger scene, fake pencil tree with only lights so far, several "Joy" decorations, Christmas music, plans for one kind of cookie for the local family, stollen from Aldis, Frazier Fir Wood Wick candle, simple shopping almost completed.
Have a Joyful Christmas, everyone! 🎄
You'd love Angela, Muriel ... I know you'd hit it off as pastor's wives, as believers in Jesus, as women in ministry, as lovers of family. I wish I could gather everyone together to meet and mingle. 'Til we meet in heaven, this'll have to do.
Love to you all this Christmas. We share so many memories, friend ...
That saying "less is more" certainly applies to the Christmas season. Doing less contributes to peace of mind, joy of heart, and good will to the people around us (because we're less stressed)!! We too have an artificial tree, covered with a hodge-podge of ornaments--all of them gifts over the years from church folk (my husband was a pastor), students (I was a teacher), friends, and family. SO many wonderful memories represented on that tree! / As for a strategy to keep things calm and bright: I'm preparing 7 Christmas cards per day, instead of pressing the task into several long afternoons. They'll be done in plenty of time; it's a lot less daunting.
What a walk down memory lane every time you pass your tree, Nancy. The friends and family, the times and places ... what a treasure trove. Let's hear it for less daunting rhythms that keep us less stressed and frantic. Peace on earth begins with our hearts, translates into our schedules, and spills over into those we rub shoulders with.
Beautiful decorations. We have never had a real tree...I didn't grow up with one, and it's just never been a thing.
Cindy, I love the variety of holiday traditions and customs we all bring to the table ... yet one Savior we adore and worship.
I love your decorations, Linda. How nice to have your grandma's ornaments. Your talk about puzzling reminds me of a picture my granddaughter recently showed me of a puzzle board she has. She doesn't have room to keep the puzzle out somewhere all the time. The rectangular board swivels and has drawers on each side. She separates the different colors of puzzle pieces into each drawer. It has a plastic cover for when she puts it away. It's really cool. :) I found some on Amazon. Love and blessings of a relaxing, peaceful season focused on Jesus!
Oh that sounds cool, Trudy! We've been eating supper on our laps recently because the puzzle pieces are everywhere. My husband hasn't complained a bit. He's a good sport.