And....So It Is Christmas...........

A lovely, almost Christmas, welcome to all you lovely lovelies. It's not long now, till Christmas Day comes aknocking softly on your front door, and mine; and settles into our homes, bringing with it a sense of expectation, love, joy...........and perhaps.....peace.

How are you all?? Excited?? Exhausted?? Pensive?? Sorrowful?? Joyful??  Eager with anticipation?? Why, if  I was to step onto that porch of yours and peek through your decorated windows, what would I see?? Perhaps some of you, with a vintage apron wrapped around your waist, busily preparing gastronomical delights.....gingerbread houses...cookies decorated as santas, reindeer or other such concoctions. Others of you perhaps dressing the turkey and mixing ingredients for the Christmas cake?? Perhaps some of you have collapsed exhausted onto the sofa under the branches of the twinkling Christmas tree?? I can see some of you buried under pretty paper and ribbons and trims, carefully wrapping presents. Oh, all the pretty paper.....I must say, so beautiful!  Oh.....and then there are some of you who are busily stitching the very last stitches onto that last beautiful handmade gift. Aah....Christmas, the season quite like no other.

If indeed, you were to peek through my windows what would you see??

Why, you would see a Christmas tree and sweet vignettes telling the story of Christmas. We happened upon a different Christmas tree last year. One that is so different from the norm that it has sent some of those who know of my 'slight' obsession with having the 'perfect' Christmas tree, into apoplectic shock. But...I am a changed woman. I have gone from a rather mad woman who for year upon year, clambered up and down a blasted ladder all weekend, decorating the perfect tree, to a rather calm and almost serene woman who now decorates the tree in an hour!! I know!! Who would've thunk it!! I have seen the light and have stepped over to the other side, into the redemptive land of quick and easy decorating of Christmas trees. I must say I love my new self. I once wrote about "The Sharman Christmas Tree Chronicles' here.....if indeed I have piqued your interest and you want to amuse yourself for a little while. =)

I have decorated the tree much the same as last year, just because I love all the pretties, and have loved revisiting each pretty as I adorned the tree. Though, there are few more pretty birds that flew in and found a perch of their own. Kudos to those of you gals who decorate with a different theme every year. I bow down before you. =)

'Tis Sunday evening here. I am sitting in the parlour, joyfully hand quilting my pretty quilt, engulfed by Christmas shimmering sparkles. It is beautiful here. It is peaceful here. I feel a quiet, deep joy. I feel blessed.  I feel Jesus' love. He whispers to my soul that I am loved. To me this is the spirit of Christmas.

Another year will soon draw to a close. As I sit here and think of you, I would love to say thank you to each one of you who has visited my little place throughout the year. Thank you for the gift of your visits, patiently reading my 'stuff and nonsense', and for blessing me with your sweet comments each time. Again, you all truly make my heart sing! May your Christmas be filled with wonderful wonderment as you celebrate with your family and friends. May your Christmas shimmer and sparkle as your joy and love touches and brightens others' lives. There are some of you, I know, who will find Christmas difficult for your own unique reasons. Sometimes Christmas is well.....just darn hard. There are tears in my eyes, just thinking of you and your circumstances. To you I am sending an armful of hugs wrapped up in much love♥ As I sit here I am reflecting upon the real spirit of the joyousness of Christmas......Jesus'  'Birth'day, the miracle of Christmas. To me, this is the most precious gift that could ever be given to me♥

Until next year...............

Linking with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching