Our Singing Tree

Our church is special.
No, don't roll your eyes at me.

We've been blessed with lots of great musical talent--generations of it. So, for over 25 years our church has done a living Christmas tree. Each August the work begins and by the time the Thanksgiving dishes are put away, we're ready (or not) to set up the enormous Christmas tree structure on the platform and choir loft. It's the 'risers' the choir sings from. There's a million lights on the tree (and I don't think I'm exaggerating much at all!!) and the lights are co-ordinated with the music.

**All of today's pictures are taken by my friend Nancy Clark. Thanks, Nancy!!


The tree is a very snug fit so as many people can be squeezed into as possible, without taking up the whole sanctuary. Within the tree there are boxes for some of the ladies to stand on so they can see over the greenery. It's not comfortable for the choir members.

Like all Christmas programs, the Christmas story is told, sung, and acted out.

What's a Christmas program without children? One year they were dressed as children around the world.

Everything about the Living Christmas tree points to the most important thing about Christmas--Jesus. His coming to earth as a baby all the way through to the very reason He came: to die on the cross for our sins. For my sins. It was through His death on that cross and His resurrection from the grave that He offers us salvation. His gift is free to all.

(Okay, so this one picture is mine, but all the rest are Nancy's.)

After the presentation, it takes time, lots of time, for people to climb down out of the tree. Lots of people. Lots of little stairs. Very narrow spaces. One tremendous message.

You're invited!
The tree is singing this weekend. December 13 -15. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at 7 PM.
First Baptist Church West Frankfort.

So tell me, how does your church celebrate Christmas?

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First Things First at Christmas

I love Christmas. If I can get beyond the busyness of the season. Some of the things that help me move to the peace and stillness of the season are the Nativity scenes. Not only do they calm my frenzy of activity and conquering all I need to do, but they point me straight to the truth behind the holiday:

Jesus. 

Immanuel. 

God with us.

The truth of God's grace and love manifested through His Son's coming to Earth, for us, for me, is enough to make me stop every time.


For this reason, the first Christmas decorations that come out are the Nativity scenes. Each is special and treasured.

I have a small set that I brought back from Ecuador, and it sits on my kitchen window sill--it's probably my favorite simply because it came from home. It's small and simple. The kids often like to arrange the snowmen and penguins around the manger scene because they worship Jesus too.

Then there's the set that Jim brought home from Kenya, when he was there on a missions trip just a couple weeks before our youngest was born. This set, with the long faces, isn't pretty, but it resembles the Masai people who carved it, and that's where the beauty is for me. Yes, the wise men pieces are up, and I understand that they weren't at the manger that night, but I can't bear to not put them up, so they're there, too. Besides, when I was a girl, the wisemen were at the manger...until Mom quit putting them out because technically, they weren't there that night. But I missed them. Those wise men traveled such a great distance to worship Jesus and they teach me so much--especially lessons to stop what I was doing and go to worship Jesus--regardless of the time it costs me and distance I might have to go mentally. It's worth the effort. Every. single. time.

The kids' favorite Nativity set, by far, is the set my parents gave us. Mom hunted out a kid-friendly set that will last for years even with constant kid-handling. She found this at a craft bazaar and for a couple of years she added pieces to my set.

This one goes on our school cabinet which is right in the middle of the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Rarely does a day go by that it stays the same because the kids are constantly rearranging it--even now that they're older.

It will be fun to introduce this one to my grandgirls this year. Another generation to whisper over it as they rearrange it.

There's just something about Nativity scenes that draw me in. I can understand why my little ones would stand at the school cabinet and stare at the manger scene for a long time, not moving, just gazing. I feel that same pull, and I'm so thankful.

May we always be like the shepherds and wisemen who stopped what they were doing and went to Jesus to see and worship.

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Thanksgiving Past

Thanksgiving is a great kick-off for Christmas! Starting the holiday season--CHRISTmas--with thankfulness is the best way to launch us into a time of celebration.

Thanksgiving is full of memories for me--but not the typical American memories most people have. Oh no. Not even close.

After a childhood full of Thanksgivings spent in Maine and Massachusettes, we settled into fried chicken or *gasp* peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on Thanksgiving. Sounds fun, doesn't it? LoL. If it doesn't, maybe I should add that we were en route to a gorgeous South Pacific beach on the coast of Ecuador. White sand, warm breezes, great beach for swimming and walking, and friends. Little bamboo houses on stilts right on the edge of the beach so every night you were lulled to sleep by the surf. Even on cloudy and rainy days, the beach was an awesome place to spend Thanksgiving.

Fast forward twenty years.

One of the most memorable Thanksgivings my family has had was the one we spent roofing. Snow was coming and the roof of a house we were flipping was open.

I didn't have a picture of our turkey lunch meat sandwich dinner, probably because I was busy making those sandwiches, but here's one of our desserts that day. Fruit and nut granola bars! Can you say yumz? My youngest sure was!

Like every Thanksgiving, there were moments here and there for naps... Here's my oldest in the comfiest spot around. Well, actually, that would've been the bench seat of the old pick-up but the youngest was crashed there. ;-)

When he wasn't napping, the easiest way to keep an eye on the youngest was to give him a hammer and bring him with you up on the roof. Now, before you freak out on me, remember, my kids have all been brought up around construction and they're taught about roof behavior very early. VERY early. What you don't see in this picture is his daddy only two feet lower than him on the roof.

My middle son and younger daughter helped by cleaning out the original flower bed. It had been full of shingle bits and pieces from tearing the roof off a couple days earlier. They were up and down off the roof too. Many times they were shingle preparers and transporters.

My older daughter prepped many of the shingles before they went to the roof.

The kids aren't that little anymore! Here, let me show you... My oldest is in the back row, wearing the white undershirt and overalls *eye roll*, my middle son is in the brown shirt, my older daughter is on the far left and younger daughter on the far right. The youngest? He's in the middle behind the birthday cake. And the others? They're grafted into the family, bringing with them much joy and love.

Needless to say, a week from now the volume in my house will be loud and I'll be loving it because after all, Thanksgiving is all about family and friends.

Joining us for the Holly Jolly Blog Hop hosted by Karla Akins? Be sure to link up with us!

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A Holly Jolly Blog Hop

The holidays are upon us!
It's time to light the candles, crank the stereo, and nestle in with our families to soak up all this Holiday Spirit. Right?

Right!! =)
Yeah, yeah. I know all about the work that goes into the holiday to make it rosy and bright. I know the midnight oil and elbow grease we pour in by the bucket loads. And I also know how easy it is to lose sight of our goal--a time to celebrate the coming of Jesus. Shoot, we lose sight of celebrating in the midst of all the serving we do during this time year.

But...
In the midst of all the serving we do, let's intentionally make time to celebrate too. For me it's a matter of focus. Am I zeroed in on the work or do I simply do the work while I celebrate the reason I'm pouring on the gas and getting the work done?

My friend Karla Akins is hosting this year's holiday blog hop, A Holly Jolly Blog Hop starts this Thursday, November 21st. Yes, that's THIS week--tomorrow! We'd love to have you join us!

Wondering what a meme is and how it works? Check out Making the most of Memes.

Posting day is Thursday, but you're free to join in and link with us whenever you can. The more the merrier. =) This is a come as you can meme with no commitment necessary.

One of the things that makes this season special is spending it with family and friends near and far, and that's one of the fun things about this Holly Jolly Blog Hop--it helps us connect with and celebrate with friends even when distance keeps us physically apart.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are best spent with friends--friends near and friends far.  Come along and join us posting about the holidays. Sharing makes things so much sweeter.

For more info stop by Karla's blog. Want the linky codes so you can schedule your post in advance? Leave a comment here or on Karla's post requesting them and we'll get them to you. Joining us? Grab a button for your posts and site.
Here's the button code:
<br /> <a href="http://karlaakins.com/its-a-holly-jolly-blog-hop/" target="_blank"><img alt="It’s a Holly Jolly Blog Hop" border="0" src="http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/impeej/Holly-Jolly-Blog-Hop_zpse348f95c.jpg" /></a><br />

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Me in Terrifying Technicolor

It's vlog day--the day some of us (Me!!) have been dreading for awhile. I'm happy to say that I didn't chicken out--probably only because of all the others involved in this scheme. Talk about being stretched and shoved out of my comfort zone! Man-alivin'.

But, I survived. Now I only hope you do too! LoL.

Okay, gang. Here it is. My first vlog, video clip, whatever this thing is, ever... And it's just for you guys, explaining WHY I wanted to do these vlogs...



Now, here's a real one...



Now it's your turn!! Post your vlogs and link up on the below.
This is NOT just for those who have participated in the memes! This is for anyone and everyone who wants to post a vlog. I cannot wait to see and hear you guys!! =] (And remember, I'll pick a winner(s) and post it next week when we start a2z:Take 2.)

Also, Thursday I'll tell you about 12 in '12. An idea I think could be fun...
Hope to see you then!

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It's Vlog Time

One thing about online friendships--you don't get to see what people look like and hear their voices, and that's something that I really miss. One of my a 2 z meme friends, Marji, posted a Christmas vlog and it was so much fun seeing and hearing her and that led to this idea... (and if you don't like the idea, it's Marji's fault. hehe.)

For next week's Tuesday post (1/3/12), we're posting vlogs to introduce ourselves.

The vlog does not have to be long. In fact, just 30 seconds to 2 minutes is plenty with as busy as people are these days. What's a vlog? It's a video blog--a movie clip posted to youtube and then posted on our blogs.

Don't have a web cam on your computer? Not a problem. Neither do I. You can use a video camera or even your digital camera. Many have a video clip option. And if you don't know about all that, ask your kids, or grandkids, or neighbor kids. They know and can give you a quick run down--it's pretty easy.

Please, please join us and post an introduction to yourself!! Participation in a past meme isn't necessary at all. We'd love to meet you! ANYONE and everyone can do this! Invite your friends to vlog with us!

Many of us are... okay, truth be told, we're scared silly. Our knees have been knocking for almost two weeks over this idea. I've heard tell we might have a Lucy/Goldie version, people in hat/huge sunglasses disguise, and a few other... devices or costumes to hide behind. And that's fine!! *grin* Just have fun and let us hear you. And just so you know, I've never done this before so it's all new to me and yes, I've been clinging to the chandelier for dear life. But it's time for some stretching soooo...

hmmmm. Maybe I'll offer a (small) prize because we all know a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...

Yeah, I will. Post your vlog, link up with us and I'll pick one (or more) winner. No rules, just be you... or Lucy or whomever, LoL.

Hope to see--yes, really see and hear you--on Tuesday!


Lights.
Camera.
Action!

Go here to link with us.

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Ready or Not

(...and I was NOT ready.)

Welcome to our last installment of the JollyDaze meme!! (and of course, I'm late posting this week. First time in 30 weeks of meme'ing together. *eye roll* My apologies.)

Between the cotton candy fog I was trapped in after Thanksgiving and then getting the whopper cold and Christmas, I'm having a hard time believing it's the end of the year.

Traditionally, this week between Christmas and New Year's is a quiet week for me. A week for reflecting back, analyzing, and then looking forward. A time when I make it a point to sit and journal. Well, this year things are holding true to form...and this week is not normal. But that's okay. I feel like a runner who had 2.3 seconds to stretch before the announcer called out "Runners, take your marks." I'm so not ready for 2012. But ready or not, 2012 is coming. And ready or not I'll be in that race.

I'll be back later this week with what I'm thinking about for next year...because today caught me not ready. *wink*

This has been a fun meme for me--hope you guys have enjoyed it too!

OH! And who ordered this snow!! waaaaa!

Oh well. It makes for a better and more peaceful day for thinking and reflecting and even for goal setting. Guess what I'll be doing today? (Besides taking down the Christmas tree? LoL)

Stay tuned for information on our cool between memes shindig and also for news and information on our next meme.  Here's a clue for the between meme shindig: it includes SOUND. (climb down off those chandeliers, girls! *wink*)

It's been a blast JollyDazing with you guys!
Hugs all around...

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Our Tree Sings

Welcome to JollyDaze 4 & me!

A short six week meme to carry us through the end of the year.
A meme for us to enjoy the holidays with.
We'd love to have you join us! Click here for more info.

First! Don't miss this month's Caption Contest.
It's a fun and adorable one!! Scroll down, or click here.

Our church is special.
No, don't roll your eyes at me.
We've been blessed with lots of great musical talent--generations of it. So, for over 25 years our church has done a living Christmas tree. Each August the work begins and by the time the Thanksgiving dishes are put away, we're ready (or not) to set up the enormous Christmas tree structure on the platform and choir loft. It's the 'risers' the choir sings from. There's a million lights on the tree (and I don't think I'm exaggerating much at all!!) and the lights are co-ordinated with the music.
**All of today's pictures are taken by my friend Nancy Clark. Thanks, Nancy!!

The tree is a very snug fit and there are boxes for ladies to stand on so they can see. A couple of my friends (on boxes). *wink*

Like all Christmas programs, the Christmas story is told, sung, and acted out.

This year's addition was telling the story through the first few years of Jesus' life and included the wisemen's gifts. Another church friend made these costumes. From scratch and no patterns. They are stunning!

What's a Christmas program without children? This year they were dressed as children around the world.






Everything about the Living Christmas tree points to the most important thing about Christmas--Jesus. His coming to earth as a baby all the way through to the very reason He came: to die on the cross for our sins. For my sins. It was through His death on that cross and His resurrection from the grave that He offers us salvation. His gift is free to all.

(Okay, so this one picture is mine, but all the rest are Nancy's. *wink*)

After the presentation, it takes time, lots of time, for people to climb down out of the tree. Lots of people. Lots of little stairs. Very narrow spaces. One tremendous message.

So tell me, how does your church celebrate Christmas?

For another post, and more pictures of our living Christmas tree, just a different year, scroll down to the next post: It's the Clothes.

If you're joining us for the JollyDaze 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about Christmas, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.



On deck for next week, our last week for the JollyDaze meme: New Year’s Celebrations... Traditions... Resolutions (although if you want we can run an extra linky on New Year’s Day for resolution type things)... Starting point... Memories...

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Cooked My...

Welcome to JollyDaze 4 & me!

A short six week meme to carry us through the end of the year.
A meme for us to enjoy the holidays with.
We'd love to have you join us! Click here for more info.

First! Don't miss this month's Caption Contest.
It's a fun and adorable one!! Scroll down, or click here.

Okay, so I have to admit--I'm lost on this one. Sure, I do a LOT of baking around Christmas. I love baking and hate cooking. BUT, this is the ONLY picture of anything we bake for the holidays, so, that kinda cans that idea...


These are the Sweet Rolls I grew up eating. They only made their appearance around the holidays AND whenever we went to the beach, so these puppies have WONderful memories baked into them. And of course, mine aren't as good as Mom's, but they do disappear twice as fast, even though I make a double batch. *wink* It helps that I have twice as many people eating mine than Mom did hers. LoL.

We have to make two kinds--one with nuts and raisins and one without. Oh, the cinnamonie scrumptiousness... Guess what I'll be making very very soon? yumz!

I also wanted to tell you about the year we girls, Mom, me and my two sisters (ages 30-65?) had a flour fight. In my kitchen. For some strange reason I was exhausted and I'm sure I wasn't the only one. One of them started it, probably because I was being a grump. Alas, I have no pictures of it nor the mess they made, but I know there's some out there somewhere. I remember there were cameras  somewhere, but with 20 of us here that year, there's no telling where the pictures are...just that they aren't on my computer. Figures. LoL

BUT, while searching for pictures of the flour fight, I DID find some of Mom (not the angel many think her to be!!) in the hazmat suit my firefighter, germ-o-phobe brother-in-law gave her for Christmas. To go dumpster diving in.

Sssshhhhh. It's one of those dirty family secrets. We love to dumpster dive. ;-) And it horrifies my poor brother-in-law (pictured at left *wink*). Bet'cha he didn't know that when he married my sister. hehe. But, as you can tell, he's a good sport and loves his mother-in-law enough to give her a suit to keep her safe while dumpster diving.
Or something like that. *snicker*

Yup. We have fun.
Huh. I guess I didn't cook myself into a box  this time after all. LoL.

So tell me, what's one of the whackiest gifts you've received? (or someone in your family...or that you've given...or...well, you get the idea!! LoL)


If you're joining us for the JollyDaze 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about Christmas, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.



On deck for next week: Church Activities/Celebrations... Cantatas... Plays... Readings... Candle light services... Dinners... baskets or gifts to needy... A memorable/meaningful church Christmas event...

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Decorated

Welcome to JollyDaze 4 & me!

A short six week meme to carry us through the end of the year.
A meme for us to enjoy the holidays with.
We'd love to have you join us! Click here for more info.

Usually, the very first Christmas decorations that come out every year are the Nativity scenes, and quite often they'll be out for a week before our tree gets put up (although it didn't happen that way this year. Bummer.)

I have a small set that I brought back from Ecuador, and it sits on my kitchen window sill--it's probably my favorite simply because it came from home.

Then there's the set that Jim brought home from Kenya, when he was there on a missions trip just a couple weeks before our youngest was born. This set isn't pretty, but it resembles the Masai people who carved it, and that's where the beauty is for me. Yes, the wise men pieces are up, and I understand that they weren't at the manger that night, but I can't bear to not put them up, so they're there, too.

The kids' favorite Nativity set, by far, is the set my parents gave us. They made sure to find a kid-friendly set that will last for years even with constant kid-handling. This one goes on our school cabinet where kids have been know to arrange and re-arrange it.

We seem to have a repeat performance going on here. A few years ago, after setting up the tree, my youngest wasn't feeling well and he and Linus curled up under the tree. Linus napped while my little guy watched the movie. This year, the day after the tree went up, my youngest spent the day on the couch, probably because he's no longer little enough to tuck himself under the tree. Not that we let the kids play or be under the tree, but when you happen to look over and see a sick lil one snuggling your cat under the tree you can't help but melt just a little (and snap a picture, LoL).


One of the favorite Christmas decoration is this train. It doesn't normally sit in front of the fireplace, but the kids were watching a movie (our tv lives in the closet) so we moved it out of the way so they could camp out on the floor and not be scrunched up on the couch.


Some years I try to get out of setting up the Christmas village, but the kids usually veto that. This is another thing they loved when they were younger because they were allowed to arrange it, which naturally resulted in broken pieces. But they glue up well enough and it's worth it for the kids to enjoy it so much. On the window sill is Mr. & Mrs. Snowman, who were some of my very first Christmas decorations.


These little guys are some of my favorites and every year they sit on the sashing of my kitchen windows. They're among the last of the Christmas decorations to be put away, and often hang around until almost Spring.

There you have it--a simple Christmas in the corn fields at the edge of nowhere.
So tell me, what's your favorite Christmas decoration?

If you're joining us for the JollyDaze 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about Christmas, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.



On deck for next week: Christmas Baking... Recipes... funnies... memories from the kitchen...

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Christmas and Traditions

Welcome to JollyDaze 4 & me!

A short six week meme to carry us through the end of the year.
A meme for us to enjoy the holidays with.
We'd love to have you join us! Click here for more info.

Our Christmas tradition starts Christmas Eve when we put out the gifts. Long ago my sisters and I started shaking the gifts as we loaded the tree. It quickly became a game and Mom got smart. She camouflaged gifts in extra boxes and added things to rattle and shake in the box... LoL, that's something we do here too now. As you can see, I have to because it isn't just my hubs that shakes the gifts here...

Christmas morning starts with stockings, which is one of my favorite parts. Mom puts the best stuff in our stockings--I hope to learn that knack...

After the kids open their stockings, we have a big breakfast, and do the dishes, much to the kids' frustration, LoL.

THEN we move on, beginning with...

A tradition my father started years ago is to read the Luke 2 account of the birth of Jesus. It's one of those things that's near and dear to us and something we've continued on with even when Mom and Dad aren't with us for Christmas.

After Dad or Jim reads Luke 2 and we talk about it some, then comes the gifts. One at a time, taking turns so we can enjoy and savor each gift given and received.

Christmas is a family time we treasure.

So tell me, what's your favorite family Christmas tradition?

If you're joining us for the JollyDaze 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about Christmas, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.



On deck for next week:  Christmas Decorations... your favorites and what they mean to you... how to make a particular Christmas decoration... decorations you remember... or anything Christmas. Click here for our post idea starter schedule.

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JollyDaze 4 Thanksgiving

Welcome to our first 

JollyDaze 4 u & me meme! 

For 6 weeks we'll be posting about the holidays, and this week is Thanksgiving. For more information and the post idea starter schedule, check out the informational post for JollyDaze here.


And now, a step back in time...

Anytime my crew gets to talking about Thanksgiving, they circle quickly around to 2005--one of the most memorable Thanksgivings we've had. Now, you may consider us unAmerican, but remember, spending my teen years in Ecuador kind of altered how I view holidays. Turkey was unavailable there so we made due with what we had, and since it was THE best time to go to the beach, that's what many of us did, even if it meant eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along the side of the mountain on the way. Which it did. So, I thought I was doing great and in the spirit of the holiday by making turkey lunch meat sandwiches for the fam in 2005. ;-)

Thanksgiving of 2005 found us scrambling to get a house roofed before bad weather moved in. And it moved in the evening of Thanksgiving day. If we wanted the house under cover so we could work on it through the winter, we had to work on Thanksgiving... So we did.

Here's my youngest--he was about 4 here. Can you see the Thanksgiving Dinner anticipation building?

Our family has always worked together--in the house and out of it. My older daughter preps the shingles before they go to the roof.

The easiest way to keep an eye on the youngest was to give him a hammer and bring him with you up on the roof. Now, before you freak out on me, remember, my kids have all been brought up around construction and they're taught about roof behavior very early. VERY early. What you don't see in this picture is his daddy only two feet lower than him on the roof.

My middle son and younger daughter help in many ways, including cleaning out the original flower bed. It had been full of shingle bits and pieces from tearing the roof off a couple days earlier. They were up and down off the roof too. Many times they were shingle preparers and transporters.

And here's the cooker of Thanksgiving Day 2005. This man is amazing!! That year he roofed half that house in record time, even as the temperature dropped and the clouds grew heavier.

I didn't have a picture of our turkey lunch meat sandwich dinner, probably because I was busy making those sandwiches, but here's one of our desserts that day. Fruit and nut granola bars! Can you say yumz? My youngest sure was!

Like every Thanksgiving, there were moments here and there for naps... Here's my oldest in the comfiest spot around. Well, actually, that would've been the bench seat of the old pick-up but the youngest was crashed there. ;-)

We may have worked our tails off that Thanksgiving, but we sure made memories. The kids still love talking about it and we had fun...right up to when the snow started and we packed up and waited for Jim to finish the last few rows, in the spitting the snow. But we got it done and the inside work continued through the winter. Lemme tell ya, we were THANKFUL!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you make many memories.

If you're joining us for the JollyDaze 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about Thanksgiving, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

On deck for next week, the 29th: Favorite Christmas Traditions... memories of a tradition... 

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