Friday Faves...A Copper-y Christmas Mantel

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I love ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS!

I love the Reason for the Season-the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord.

I love gathering and celebrating with family and friends.

I love baking my favorite cinnamon-cranberry bread and Christmas cookies.

I love shopping for gifts for my loved ones.

I love, love, love decorating my home for Christmas.

This year I started with my mantel, sat back and looked at it for a few days, 

then tweaked a few things until I was happy with the result.

My idea started with some copper candlesticks from World Market.

Then, with the help of two different tones of copper paint, (one spray paint and one craft paint),

I refreshed a pair of decades old candle holders, painted some old jingle bells I had,

and spruced up some inexpensive deer purchased at Walmart.

I am pleased with how it turned out and happy to have given some new life

 to some old objects that were tucked away in my decorations stash.

I used this spray paint for a base coat.

When that was dry I brushed on this craft paint, then wiped off the excess with paper towels.

This gave more of a two dimensional look instead of a flat look to the faux copper items.

Well, it's almost Friday, friends!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and 

a safe and BLESSED weekend!

             

Thanksgiving 2017 gratitude...

Thanksgiving Day 2017 has come and gone, but giving thanks to God is continually a choice, a constant mindset, a daily habit. God is so faithful, so gracious, so giving, so kind, so very, very much better to me than I could ever deserve. He deserves all of my praise, thanksgiving, gratitude and love.  And so I continue to journal my thanks.

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#10,469-#10,492

11-20-17-

-listening to my son-in-law's sermon podcast on my walk

-God's work in my heart

-puttering with Christmas mantel ideas (home decor puttering is my favorite!)

11-21-17-

-a $10 off coupon

-homemade soup simmering on the stove for our small group tonight

-healthy discussions on things that aren't absolutely clear in the Scripture

11-22-17-

-my hub's taking today off

-centerpieces made out of foraged foliage

-thanksgiving meal prep done!

-a huge beautiful hawk perched on the very tip top of a bare tree

11-23-17-

-Thanksgiving Day!  Thank You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

-our whole family gathered together!

-our youngest grandson's first Thanksgiving

-sneaking some pre-dinner pumpkin pie

-all my girls contributing side dishes and desserts-my second born made special sugar-free stuff for her dad

11-24-17-

-my hub's and I putting up our tree

-puttering around the house all day getting the Christmas decorating done

-going to bed early after two full days

11-25-17-

-a good night's sleep

-a fun day spent with my oldest granddaughter

-a happy last football game of the season for my husband, youngest daughter and oldest grandson

11-26-17-

-powerful worship and message at church today

-our good friend's treating us to a delicious lunch

-a restful Sunday afternoon

still following,

A CHRIST centered countdown to CHRISTmas idea...

Thanksgiving is now past, and if we aren't careful, Christmas will be here before you know it with the CHRIST of CHRISTmas forgotten in the midst of all of the holiday hustle and bustle.  Some years ago I desired to find a simple way to make sure I was focused on Jesus, the reason for the season, during the busy month of December.  (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, November 26th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

We thank you and praise Your glorious name!

I won't tarry long here, but just get to posting my weekly gratitude list.  This week will be busy since all of our children and grandchildren are gathering here for Thanksgiving. It's the kind of busyness that makes my heart full and happy. Cooking, baking, setting the tables, hoping that somehow my love and gratitude for my family is seen through the works of my hands as well as the words of my mouth.

I thank God and praise His glorious name for all of His many, many blessings in my life!

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#10,447-#10,468

11-13-17-

-feeling much better after yesterday's migraine

-chili with saltines for lunch reminding me of mama's chili growing up

-the never ending group texts that I love between my husband and I and all of our daughters

-running some evening errands with my guy

11-14-17-

-listening to the whole of Handel's Messiah through while cooking for our small group

-a pot of all the herbs I will need for Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking from my husband

-copper cookie cutter lights

11-15-17-

-Ephesians 4:22-25-renewing the mind

-a sweet time with our middle grandson, taking him to make his Christmas Build-A-Bear

-my weekly "fall asleep early" night-(I seem to have one day a week when I catch up on sleep)

11-16-17-

-my youngest daughter and grandbaby coming to see me

-our grandson laughing at silly Papa

-a wonderful time of worship at prayer tonight

11-17-17-

-a good date day with my guy

-finding some good sales while Christmas shopping

-a sleepover with our two youngest granddaughters

 and watching White Christmas together per their request

11-18-17-

-clear weather for a walk to the park with my grandgirlies

-Papa and our eight year old granddaughter working in the yard together

 and making a fire in the outdoor fire pit

-our middle grandson coming by with his sweet babysitter

11-19-17-

-God's love-

"Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it
I don't deserve it
Still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God"

by Steffany Gretzinger

-a beautiful dinner put on by the youth to give thanks for and honor their parents

-ending Sunday evening by watching a favorite show with my guy

still following,

Remember and speak up...

What wonders has God done in your life?  

Let's brainstorm some possibilities that might trigger you to remember some of God's works/wonders in your life.

• The wonder of your salvation.  What is your salvation story?
• The wonder of God setting you free. Has God set you free from an area of bondage, addiction, fear, worry, depression?
• The wonder of a relationship that changed your life. How has God interwoven your life with the life of someone who impacted your life forever?
• The wonder of His protection.  Have you ever been in a situation where you know that God miraculously spared your life?
• The wonder of His provision. Do you have a story of God's provision for your needs?
• The wonder of His healing.  Has God healed your body, or your mind, will, and emotions?
• The wonder of His empowerment to endure difficulty?  Has God ever supernaturally enabled you to face and get through a difficult time of testing and trial?
• The wonder of His companionship.  How has God revealed Himself to you as a friend?

Why not take the time to sit down and journal some of the ways God has worked in your life?  

Do your family and friends know your wonder stories? 

(Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, November 19th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely

Susan B. Mead
and

Sunday Scripture Blessings

Friday Faves...Blooming paperwhites indoors for Christmas

Blooming paperwhite bulbs indoors is a fun and easy bit of Christmas cheer to add to your home. First, buy your paperwhite bulbs. In the past I've even found them at the grocery store. This year I bought them at Lowe's. In my opinion, it's best to just buy the bulbs, not the kits that come with a container included. I bought eight bulbs for less than the price of one of those kits.  

Once you have your bulbs, all you need is some sort of a container that does not have drainage holes  and some gravel or rocks.  I found little bags of rocks at the Dollar Tree.

Nestle the bulbs into the rocks with the pointy end up.  Add water to cover the root end of the the bulb.  Your bulbs should bloom by Christmas!  This year's bulbs aren't nearly ready to bloom yet, but below is a photo of some blooms from a few years ago.  I've read that if you add some rubbing alcohol to the water once the bulbs are rooted it will stunt the height so the paperwhites aren't so "leggy".  I might try that this year.

It's almost Friday, friends!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and

a safe and BLESSED weekend!

             

There's no place like home...

My photography posts lately have been mostly outdoor and travel related. 

It's easier to get great photos outdoors in natural light during this time of year

 than trying to take photos indoors during these darker gray days.

Regardless, I thought I'd just attempt and share some random photos around our home.

As you can see, I'm still in an autumn mode in my decor.

The day after Thanksgiving the Christmas decorating will begin.

Ok, I might have fallen prey to a wee bit of early Christmas cheer with this cute cup.

still following,

songography at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

image-in-ing:Variations

http://www.lifenreflection.com

buckaroo mama

peabea

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY at CREATE WITH JOY