Lunch Time...

  These are some dishes I got from the goodwill. They were new you could tell. I am thinking of a sister lunch this Saturday.  Something easy and quick. I will use these little snowman dishes.

 I also picked up these little bowls. I thought they would work for dessert. Maybe cake and ice cream , possibly fruit and yogurt. Like I said something simple. I do love Christmas dishes. I have had a set for 4 , for a very long time.  It's a complete set with bowls, cups, salad , and dinner plates. I have never used it , as I have 4 sisters.  But there are eight each of these plates and bowls from the goodwill . So handy. I think after Christmas would be a good time to shop for holiday dishes...to get a sale  and get enough.
    It is getting colder around here now...the last few days of 40 degrees just about spoiled me. LOL.
Hope everyone has a pleasant day. XO

An Angel Child....

   On Friday when I rang the bell for the  Salvation  Army....I met a small angel boy. He was about 6 years old, very tiny . It was so obvious he had multiple birth defects. His ears were not fully developed, his hands had been operated on many times.  There was scarring. He even needed glasses.
    I noticed him watching me from the floral dept . of the grocery. So I rang the bell in his direction and smiled. He was getting excited. So his mom brought him over to put money in the kettle. He dropped his coins in and started to dance a bit. He reached into his pockets and got two more pennies out and put them in the kettle. I said, "God bless your heart, you have given all your money to the poor. Now poor children will have some Christmas. "  The I gave him a small bell we were handing out to children who gave. He started ringing his little bell and smiling .

  Later as his mom was in the check out line, I said  "Nathan,  come ring your bell with me." His mom said okay, he stood next to me and the kettle and rang his little bell. then he says, " let me try your bell, and I let him ring it.  I laughed and so did he...he made that bell sound like a dinner bell.  LOL.  Then his mom took his picture on her phone as he stood by the kettle with his bell.  When he left , I had tears in my eyes. He had the joy of being a child..
  Yesterday, I go back to the grocery. I asked the florist if she remembered the boy and his mom. She said they go to her church. She is explaining who the grandparents were. I did not know them. She tells me then that the mother was working in their office right then. I thanked her and went looking for that young mother.
   I found the mom at the office. I explained that I could not stop thinking of her son ringing the bell and giving all his coins. She said he had been up that very morning ringing his little bell. So I told her I knew a bit about birth defects as my own twins were each born with one.  She told me  her son  had already had 13 surgeries on his hands and was in PT learning to use a new thumb, made from one of his fingers. Your thumb is 50 percent use of your hand . The mother and the angel boy have a long road ahead.  They are in my prayers.
   Just telling this story because that child touched my heart.  Wishing all of you a beautiful Sunday. XO
  

I Am Blessed....

  I tell my daughters (all four) ,that God blessed me when each one of them was born.  Oh believe me at the time it was happening, it did not always feel like a blessing. I was young and just this side of poor. It was a struggle most every  day. Washing diapers in the bath tub...yes you young things, once upon a time diapers were made of cloth. LOL I hand washed them, because I had no washer or dryer.  Well thank goodness that is the past. Ringing the bell yesterday made me count my blessings anew.
  I watched people go into the grocery , on walkers, canes , and scooters.  Even with arthritis , I can still walk. People with kids , not in warm enough looking coats. I have a coat , gloves, and scarf, I am warm. Do you see where this is leading.?? We have to count each and every blessing we have. The more I saw the more I rang that bell.  I do not know for a fact how much was put into the kettle, but more put money in than walked by.
   I met a 90 year old man , he was there to buy candy and roses for a 97 year old lady. He put money in the kettle and introduced himself to me . We shook hands and I have a new friend.  I met a man that told me he was in the Oklahoma City bombings and that the Salvation Army really helped them a lot. He put a big bill in the kettle.  I thanked all who put money in and wished all a Merry Christmas. I will tell you tomorrow about the youngest person I met .  He is a small angel.
   Enjoy this day, count your blessings . No matter how small...you know it is the small things that make our lives worth living. My blessings are Angie, Kathy, Karen , and Lizzy. :):)

Ringing The Bells.....

   This is the only picture I have of bells. :):) I will be ringing the Salvation Army Bell this afternoon. It is an honor for me. I remember two Christmases where the Salvation Army made  Christmas for my siblings and I.  It was a true blessing.

 So as this little sign says... I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.  That's a quote from Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. 

 I am going to have faith that I do a great job ringing that bell and get plenty of money for the kids. The kids that the Salvation Army will be helping with the donations. So many need a bit of Christmas for the children. Tete over at Beyond The Garden Gate, sure has been doing  a fabulous job gathering toys and  money for making some Christmas for  all the needy children in her home town. What  great loving people she and her family are.
 The sun is shining and I am loving that . I have the people on both coast in my prayers today. Too much wetness at one time.   Pass along a smile today. :):):)

Pictures From Horton's .....

  Just a few Horton photos. This first one was last Christmas. Oh I did see the old sleigh this week. It was in the greenhouse entrance, of the store. No pictures, sorry.

  Lots of burlap rosettes, banners and ribbons. Lace wrapped tiny trees.

 This proves you should never throw a frame away. they can be arranged on a wall without anything in them and still look good. I like the oval one with sheet music.
   Yesterday, The repairman came to put the ordered part on the stove.  A bit pricey, but it worked. Oh happy day. He used the gas sniffer meter to check for any other leaks. None. He did explain a few things about what had happened. You know if you understand a little it helps...if you don't he could be just blowing smoke. LOL. Since Ted had worked on appliances as a young man , he did glean some info from it. So move over  Nellie, I may bake some cookies too. :):) In case you don't know Nellie, she is the queen of cookie baking over at Berries And More.
  Hugs to all who need one. Who of us could not stand a hug? :):)

Brunch Time...

      Today was our monthly classmate brunch. We were not going to have another till April.. But have decided to set up one next month, unless it snows like crazy.

Some of the ladies still live in town. Some are from around the area maybe 30 miles at most. Those that live farther away just do not attend. Some have winter homes and are already gone south.  It is always fun catching up and seeing family photos of our children and grandchildren. 
  Some times when everyone is talking about health issues, I feel truly blessed. I have some arthritis in my ankles and now getting into my fingers. Otherwise , I am very healthy. I will absolutely count that as a blessing.
   Hope all of you had a wonderful fun weekend. I sure did. I went to the granddaughters' choir program on Saturday. Enjoyed that so very much. On Sunday, I went to brunch at my daughter Angie's. Then I helped her decorate her tree. With two of us, it went pretty fast and turned out nicely.
   Today is mostly cloudy , if the sun pops out I will be smiling. :) Wishing you a nice day . XO
 
  

One Week Closer To Christmas.......

    I can't believe one week of December is gone.  So happy I do not have to go shopping for gifts. I don't mind buying little gifts for my sisters and friends. But to shop for today's children...aawwkkk.

  Well we know who the star of Christmas IS.  It's not our children, even though they may think so. LOL.  Emma actually tried to work on her mom to buy her a hat very similar to one she had at home. Oh my, that was crazy. As good as she can be most often . She knows better. No asking for things other on the Christmas list.

 I have  my bird wreath on the door. This is the original door to this house...so it has to be 60 years old. I love the tree glass panes in it....but really would love a new door. I better put that on my list , before I start whining for a new door. LOL. After all " IT " isn't all about me either.
  Wishing everyone a pleasant day. The sun is out here and looking so good. XO