Christmas treasures: pt 1

I decided to do four photos of my treasures (at a time) for the Christmas season:
One year I realized I had very little "Christ" on my CHRISTmas tree.
So, I decided each year I would add a new Christ ornament.
This carved gourd opens to a BEAUTIFUL Peru colored, paper mache'd? people, with a straw roof nativity. Its says its made in Peru, I hope it really is (from Ebay).

 

The red and white ornament is very old and fragile, I love the lights shining on the red background (from Ebay). The ornament on the right (Silent Night) is a Hallmark ornament from last year, it is printed on both sides.

 

My mom had this style of ornaments when I was growing up.
Wonderful EBAY made it possible to replace hers and obtain this retro nativity.

 

Left is a heavy new one from our Panhandle, TX girl trip this year, the plastic on is from a 2003 girl trip (we always stop at Hobby Lobby and Walmart), the wood nativity is made from Holy Land olive tree and a gift from my mom.

 

Jesus is MY reason for the season!
Merry CHRISTmas to you all:)
MY Memories make me happy! And my home smile:)
Happy Monday to you!
This is for:
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday

Everyday Elegance for My Favorite Things Monday

AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Soaring Spirit (Kite FHE)

We actually had family home evening (family night)
I used to be so good about this, but I have starting slacking.
(tonight we deck out the tree:)
I found this poem in the New Era (church mag for teens)

 

Erin Camp Worland,
“My Kite,”
NewEra, Oct 2008, 49
I went outside to fly my kite
One breezy day in spring.
I wondered just how high it would go,
So let out all the string.
With the end held firmly in my grasp,
My thoughts began to flow:
Oh, how much higher could it fly
If I’d just let it go?
With that, my hand released the string,
And much to my surprise,
It fell straight down
Instead of soaring through the skies.
What went wrong, I asked myself,
This made no sense at all.
I tried and tried again, but each time
All it did was fall.
So, one last time I ran
To let the breeze lift up the kite.
I let the string out to the end
But this time held on tight.
I smiled as I gazed upon
Those colors way up high.
I realized that, like my kite,
We too need string to fly.
Our string is called the gospel,
And its purpose now is sure.
Temptation’s wind may tug and pull,
But our string can help us soar.
I’ll hold on tight to what I know,
And like my kite I’ll be.
The gospel doesn’t hold us back,
Instead it makes us free!
(Photo by Jacey Erickson)
I decided we would make kites to hang up.
My boys (20 & 18) are awesome craft-ers.
I just gave them some card stock, and they came up with the rest.

 

The question was, if I am the one holding the string, and the string is the gospel, what are the kite and the tail?

 

They decided the kite is our spirit, and it soars when you hang on to the gospel, and the tail is obedience.

 

Cool huh?
I'm happy when I'm obedient.
I'm happy when I don't have to 'regret'.
AND I love to see my children walk in the light:)
I'm blue today, so I'll just hang on to what I know, and be obedient, and let the tangles unravel themselves:)
Happy Monday to you!
This is for:
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday

Everyday Elegance for My Favorite Things Monday

AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday