Sunday, December 5, 2010

CHRISTMAS IS COMMING



















































I, had planned to do this post sooner, but as many of us bloggers have said,"busy", it's easy to get sidetracked. I'm still alive and will get back to reading blogs. I hope that all of you had a safe and warm Thanksgiving. Our Thanksgiving was good and busy. As we have just celebrated Thanksgiving, we are preparing for Christmas. This usually involves decorating and food preparation. Some families have certain traditions and ideas. In 1991, my 1st. husband was killed in a car accident. As the months went by (husband was killed during May, Memorial weekend), Christmas became an issue. My Mother, asked me why would I want to decorate the house and celebrate Christmas. I, told Mother that I felt if I didn't acknowledge Christmas life would be very miserable and that we needed to celebrate the birth of Jesus. When I lost my husband, I never got angry at God and ask why me. I was fortunate to have 18 years with my husband and that was a blessing. During this time, I used an idea given by my church to help people through Christmas. I, set up a "Blessing Tree". What is a " Blessing Tree"? A tree that is not pretty or several tree limbs to make up as a tree. Everyone at church would write on a piece of paper a blessing they have received. The blessing was put onto the tree and eventually there was a beautiful tree thanking God for providing blessings to everyone. I, remember getting a few tree limbs, setting this up as a tree in my home and daily place a blessing on my tree. It looked strange to some, but was my salvation. I, admit that I don't do a blessing tree every year, but try to remember how this helped me. The tags on the tree would be written from Thanksgiving until the end of December. Currently, my tree is located in our hallway, I, can't miss it. I, have a bowl of tags, a calender on the table and check each day off as I write a blessing. Some of my blessings are having friends, a husband who will make oatmeal and coffee for us, that is just some examples. When the Christmas holiday is over, I still keep my tree and decorate for different holidays. I, wanted to share this idea to you and maybe the "Blessing Tree", will become a part of your life. Attached is a photo of my tree, you can notice that it is different from our Christmas tree. Also included are photos of our Christmas decorations in our home. My husband often will tell me I go overboard decorating, but I still go the same path. I, have a collection of Santa's, some of which my Mother gave me way before she died. I, also have a very old chalk nativity scene that I had when I was a toddler.Enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed decorating. Are there any traditions that you do in preparing yourself and your home for Christmas?

25 comments:

  1. I love the idea of a blessing tree. I know that it's hard to celebrate when we've had a loss. We lost my MIL and our best friend within a month of each other last year, about a month before Thanksgiving. We didn't do a lot of our traditional festive things last year but this year we have set out to do them in honor of them. One tradition we've decided is that the place cards that we had for each of them for holidays will always be put out to remember that they are still with us. Another is, last year after Christmas I found these little snowmen ornaments that light up. We bought one for each of them as well as my dad who died before we were married, and have them on one of the trees. They light up, and we decided we won't turn them on until Christmas Eve and then they will light the way to Christmas.

    Blessings Rose.

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  2. beautiful photos, Rose, and I appreciate the effort it took to share your decorated home with us. Really love the Nativity scenes the most, but every single item is precious. Thank you so much!

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  3. Your house looks Christmasy, cheerful, bright, and inviting. I also have a few Santas but I can not find a place high enough that the cats can not get to them.
    Not so much now, but when the kids were little we took an afternoon to look for presents for the Angel Tree, Salvation Army. etc. Then we would treat our little ones to hot chocolate. It was a fun day for them and I hope it was also helpful in reminding them to think of others.

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  4. Well good to see you back. We all get busy. I love all your decorations - you have really been busy!

    Sandie

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  5. I love your blessing tree idea. We are truly blessed and God is good to us. True, there is trouble in the world, but there is great joy too, and He is the bringer of joy, the comfort in trouble. Blessings to you this Christmas!

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  6. Hello Rose, nice to hear from you. I love your decorations, thank you for sharing them. Best of all, I like the idea of The Blessing Tree. It would not hurt to keep a Blessing Tree all year long. Gerry

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  7. Hi Rose, I love the Blessing Tree idea... So neat!!!!!

    Loved your decorations... The nativity is fabulous --and I love wreaths. In fact, I'm showing my wreaths off on my blog tomorrow.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  8. Your decorations look very beautiful! What a wonderful idea a blessing tree is!! I have never heard of a chalk nativity set. Is it the same kind of chalk that you write with?

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  9. Hello Rose,
    A Blessing Tree is a marvelous idea. Your pictures are a delight to look at.... so deliciously Christmasy!!

    Thanks for stopping by and the nice comment. Your Mother and Father were so lucky to meet and have you. I am your follower now, tool
    Manzanita
    Wanna buy a duck

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  10. Looks beautiful- and the blessing tree idea ia great. I dont remember ever seeing that- but what a nice thing to do! The house looks so festive!

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  11. I love, love, love all of your decorations. They are so warm and inviting! You have a beautiful home.

    I really like the idea of your blessing tree. I took the 30 days of giving thanks challenge this year, and it made me stop and realize how blessed I am, and how much I take for granted sometimes. It always helps to concentrate on the positive parts of life.

    Thanks for stopping by, and commenting. I always look forward to your visits :) Kathy

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  12. A Blessing Tree! What a great tree to have at Christmas and even all year. Missed you!

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  13. Hi Rose ~ everyone should have a Blessing Tree and keep it up all year long!

    Thank you for reminding me what is really important at this time of the year!

    Have a wonderful day!!

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  14. Hi! I'm blog hopping today hoping to make new friends and landed here. What a lovely blog. I really enjoyed your post today and love the idea of a blessing tree. We're not celebrating at all due to being married to the real Grinch. We're off to skulk in France instead. I have added myself as your newest follower on GFC.
    I'm off to browse around your blog now. Please drop by and maybe follow me. I'd be delighted welcome you. Warmest wishes
    Carol from www.facing50withhumour.blogspot.com

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  15. Your decorations are all so beautiful! I especially love your different nativities! The blessing tree does sound like a great idea!

    Have a Wonderful Weekend!
    Angela

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  16. Your decorations are really great. Hope that you have something fun planned for this weekend,

    Jane

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  17. Very nice decorations. I hope you have a blessed Holiday season.

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  18. A BLESSING TREE! What a super idea; I just love that! All of your decorations looks so lovely...I can see you put a lot of love into each and every Christmas piece...WONDERFUL WORK!
    Bless you, dear friend!
    Hugs,
    Coralie

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  19. Looks lovely! Still have not put up my tree....thinking I will not...no holiday affairs at my house...I have downgraded now to guest status and no longer a hostess....

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  20. Oh Rose the blessing tree is such a wonderful idea.......
    I love your decorations....that is time consuming work....good job.

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  21. What an amazing idea, I have never been one for Christmas decorations but this is certainly an idea that i think I like.

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  22. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos and the wonderful idea of a blessing tree, Rose! Hope you have a beautiful, wonderful Christmas, filled with many blessings!

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  23. Rose,
    Your home is beautiful and festive looking. I'd love to plop down in that cozy chair with the beautiful throw blanket. Your blessing tree idea is so lovely. We do something similar for the month of November, ending after Thanksgiving. I really like the idea of starting it at Thanksgiving and keeping it up and active during a month of holiday preparations. Reminding us of our many blessings during a season that can sometimes be overwhelming, certainly bittersweet, and often focused on "things".

    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Rose. Full of quiet moments of coffee & oatmeal ;-)

    My best,
    Aimee
    xoxo

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  24. What beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Oh, the photos are so nice! I hope you are doing well, and this Christmas is going to be an unforgettable one. The presents are waiting already:)
    Merry Christmas!
    Denise

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