Christmas Home Tour and a Christmas Eve Snow

Oh my goodness, I started back on December 5th with "Oh My It's Christmastime!" 

(you can click back to this post that shows our kitchen this Christmas) 

But I just have to post the rest of the photos because this is how I remember. So here goes!

I took these photos on a snowy afternoon, after our tree was us (finally - it takes a while to get that up). Everything was all ready for Santa. It looks exactly like last year because this is the only room I just won't change. I want it to always be a peek back into their childhood Christmases. 

Decorating with vintage books bring me so much joy. I'm always looking all year long to add to my collection. And I love this little stack on the tea cart. 

A few years ago Santa gave my girls this little tree with a few bird ornaments. It's so sweet right below the antique mirror with the old-fashioned Christmas post cards hanging. 

This year I candied some apples for an old-fashioned look. Even though I made these before Thanksgiving they look just like the day I dipped them! 

Tiny handprints are some of my favorite decorations. 

From this view you can see a peek into the family room. The walls in the living room are a light green but the walls in the family room are white. With all of the tree glow and all of the lights on it looks cozy in there with a soft yellow glow. 

 

I kept the family room very natural looking so that it could be up from November 1st through January 1st. Except for the red chair it is mostly all greens in there. 

I cut a vintage tablecloth for a tree skirt. Oh I just don't like those perfect circle ones. I just like it all fluffy and homemade. 

Looking into the living room I can see their violas hanging on the wall. I love seeing Anna's there because it means she is home. 💞

Snow on the bushes outside and a fire going. I grabbed my camera as soon as the snow started to fall on Christmas Eve to capture the magic! 

I adore the art work of Lore Pemberton from VT. I have several of her prints now and looking at them is like looking into an old fashioned scene. She paints lots of nature, children in old fashioned clothing, and animals. 

Our tree in the family room has a simple white felt star garland (with gold mixed in) and simple candy canes. No ornaments on this tree. Simple for the season. 

I found this ironstone antique pitcher near Anna's college and I just love it. I plan on having it there all year and just changing what I keep in it. 

I started collecting vintage wool blankets - Christmas ones of course are my favorite. I like them so much more than the millions of 'throws' that are sold everywhere these days. I'd rather have just a few really nice vintage wool blankets than a lot of throws. I find less choice with decorating so much more relaxing. 

Piles of children's picture books all around the house. 

The mantle in the family room is adorned with hemlock greens and huge brass bells. I love how that tree is sparkling in the antique mirror. 

On Christmas Eve snow fell slowly all day long. I ran out in the morning to capture our house all decorated for Christmas with S N O W! 

Oh snow is just the very best decoration!  I am hoping for lots and lots of it this winter. 

More coming really really soon! 

Thoughts and a Health Update

Refugee by Malcolm Guite

"We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,
Or cozy in a crib beside the font,
But he is with a million displaced people
On the long road of weariness and want.
For even as we sing our final carol
His family is up and on that road,
Fleeing the wrath of someone else's quarrel,
Glancing behind and shouldering their load"

The Christmas scenes we have in our homes, our churches, our books are always peaceful, easy, tranquil. Our homes are a cascade of cozy Christmas images, glittery frosted cards and happy, holy families.

It is so easy to loose track of the truth. Or perhaps we don't even want to think about the rest of the scene or story.

But that is not the story. There is a hope and love that doesn't go away even as our decorations get saved for another year.

Is there something in your heart that the magic of Christmas didn't take away? A loneliness, the ache of missing a loved one, a new diagnosis, worry, physical pain, fear? I think it's possible to hope that Christmas will rescue us from any of that. But glitter, soft candle glow, twinkle lights, and yes, even Christmas sugar cookies won't change a thing. It is a surrender that will. A knowing that we can rest in his love that will never let us go and trust; simply trust.

Today I took Abigail to an orthopedic surgeon with an expertise in spine deformities. She was referred from her endocrinologist. (see sees an endocrinologist for low growth hormone and growth therapy - she receives an injection of growth hormone each night from us at home and is monitored by her endocrinologist) (that is a whole post I actually haven't done yet) Last month she noticed something in her exam. 

After an exam and x-rays he diagnosed her with a scoliosis and told us the treatment would be wearing a brace for three years each night when she sleeps to help correct the curvature of her spine. 

I know it is not life threatening. 

I also know there is no cure. 

Abigail is strong - but we are tired of her having to be strong. 

She deals daily with too much already: 

1. a digestive disease called eosinophilic esophagitis and a whole host of things that go along with this 

2. ADHD and perfectionism and anxiety all rolled up together 

3. allergies and anaphylactic to dairy 

4. low growth hormone - she will receive an injection of growth hormone until she stops growing 

and now this. 

But we trust. And we know that His plan, although not what I would order for my daughter is in His hands. So we can rest in that. 

So if your Christmas didn't take away the worry, the pain, the anxiety, the ache, the loneliness know that the story is not over. If you know any 'weariness and want,' the healing is not in the Christmas glow; it is in Him. Hold only on to Him. 

Photo Description: The stocking is filled to the brim on Christmas morning. A white box and red ribbon peeks out beneath the mantle greens and lights. Old letters spell out Christmastime Is Here on the hearth. Indeed it is.

Christmas Eve

Pecan Pie 

A dinner we make every year

And the best place to be on Christmas Eve ... our church

We weren't there last year so this year felt like no words can explain. 

Church was so different because instead of wall to wall full, it was a few. I think that is what made it so wonderful. It was calm, peaceful, and beautiful like Silent Night. 

And the trumpet filled the space so beautifully. 

We came home and had cookies and tea and then off to bed -- for tomorrow would be Christmas.