Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

Another Christmas has come and gone and a new year is upon us. I had a very nice Christmas with my family. Santa was good to me, and my grandchildren loved their treasure hunt at my house for their Christmas presents. It is always good to see Christmas through a child's eyes. I am so thankful for the way God has provided for me so that I was able to retire this past year and enjoy life at a little slower pace. As the new year approaches, I want to take the time to wish you all a happy, peaceful new year filled with family and friends and good times. Love to you all!!

Angels Among Us! Happy Pink Saturday, December 26, 2009

Happy day after Christmas, my friends!! Welcome to "Pink Saturday" so graciously hosted by Ms. Beverly of "How Sweet the Sound". The other morning I heard this song being sung by "Alabama", and I thought the lyrics were so beautiful. The song is "Angels Among Us" written by Becky Hobbs and Dan Goodman. Here are the song's lyrics:

I was walking home from school on a cold winter's day
Took a shortcut through the woods and I lost my way
It was getting late and I was scared and alone
Then a kind old man took my hand and led me home
Mama couldn't see him, but he was standing there
And I knew in my heart, he was the answer to my prayers

Oh I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love

When life dealt troubled times and had me down on my knees
There's always been someone there to come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger to lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend just to say I understand
Isn't it kind of funny at the dark end of the road
Someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope

Oh I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love

They wear so many faces
Show up in the strangest places
Grace us with their mercy
In our time of need

Oh I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love

I know I have put my guardian angel on overtime from time to time in my life. I am so thankful, however, for God's continued love, care and protection. I think, too, that we are all called to be angels to those about us. As the song says, it may just be "a kind word, a helping hand, or a phone call to a friend". We never know when we have blessed or helped another on life's journey. I am so thankful for those angels that have helped me throughout my life. During this time of joy and celebration, let us remember those who may be experiencing some heartache in their lives: the death of a friend or family member, illness, loss of a job, a service man or woman and their families who are not together this Christmas, a family experiencing divorce, persons without a home. I can't begin to name all of those who are hurting and in need of love, but I think you know who all I mean. Maybe in some small way, we can be an encouragement and help to them.
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy New Year as we look forward to 2010. Blessings and much love to each and every one of you! I am so thankful I have met you this past year! Please visit Beverly and all of our Pink Saturday folks by going here: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

A Christmas greeting from my home to yours. . .

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

I just wanted to wish all of you sweet friends a Merry Christmas! May you feel His presence as you celebrate with your friends and family.

Christmas traditions!! Happy Pink Saturday, December 19, 2009!!

Today, for Pink Saturday, Beverly asked us to share our Christmas traditions. My family always gathers at my home on Christmas Eve. We have a Christmas meal and then open our presents. This way my sons and daughters in law and grandchildren can be at their own homes on Christmas morning to open their presents and see what Santa has brought. On Christmas day, my sister, niece and I have a wonderful Christmas brunch at a very nice restaurant in an old Victorian home in Austin, Texas. One tradition that we have always done each Christmas Eve is to read the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2 in the Bible. A new tradition that I started when my grandchildren came along is to have a "Christmas Treasure Hunt". I hide the grandchildren's presents in my home and then make clues which are hidden throughout the house for them to read and follow to their Christmas presents. They enjoy this so much that they look forward to it each Christmas Eve.

I recently found some very good buys at a local antique mall that was having a sale. I bought the white table shown above to go between my two white chairs in my living room. I also bought a lovely white table cover with very pretty cutwork to cover my lamp table in my living room. I wanted to share these with you today.
Please visit Beverly at "How Sweet the Sound" to see what she and all the other Pink participants have to share with us today. You can find Beverly here: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Well, today Christmas is only a week away. I am wishing for you and your family the happiest of Christmases and a blessed New Year, my sweet friends. I am so glad I have come to know you this past year because you have been a real blessing in my life. Blessings and love to you!

Just a thought for today: Seasons change. God never does. His love is everlasting and steadfast.

A young girl's Christmas surprise!!!

I was in the fifth grade in Mr. Wheeler's class. It was the last week of school before Christmas vacation, and I was ill. So ill, in fact, that I was unable to attend school that week. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed. I could envision my class making Christmas ornaments, singing carols and getting ready for our class Christmas party the last day of school before Christmas. My mother had taken my present up to the school so that the student whose name I had drawn would have a present under the tree. Late that afternoon of the party day, there was a knock on our front door. To my great surprise, Mr. Wheeler, my teacher was standing on my front porch. I think my mother was as surprised as I was, but she graciously invited him in. He said he had come by to check and see how I was feeling and to bring me my Christmas present from the student who had drawn my name. I don't remember who that student was, but they sure knew me well. My present was an American Revolution sticker book. The kind of book where you would read different stories about the American Revolution and then find the stamp in the back of the book that went with that story and then stick the picture with the appropriate story. I remember there were stories about Cornwallis surrendering to General George Washington, Betsy Ross sewing an American flag, Paul Revere and his midnight ride, Patrick Henry saying, "Give me liberty or give me death", and The Boston Tea Party. Oh, how I loved that book because I was a lover of American History. Yes, I know, not many fifth grade girls would be so excited about such a present, but it was perfect for me. An even greater present was that my teacher, Mr. Wheeler, would take the time to bring me my present and check on me. May your Christmas be full of many surprises and sweet remembrances, dear friends!! God bless each of you!!

Christmas at Bunny Cottage . . .

As a young girl growing up in southeastern New Mexico, the small town where I lived only had a few large department stores. One of those stores was Sears and Roebuck. At Christmas time, the store would always decorate their large front store windows with Christmas things. In one window was a life-size beautiful Santa all decked out in his velvet red suit and snow white beard. He was animated and as he moved, he would wave and greet us with "Merry Christmas". I guess this must have been when I first fell in love with this jolly plump elf!! Another memory I have of this store is that one Christmas my daddy and I went to the store to buy a special present for my mother. We decided on a set of beautiful china dishes. I will forever see those pretty white dishes with a yellow rose on them (We later said that rose was for the "Yellow Rose of Texas"!) Even though I grew up in NM, I was born in Texas, and my whole family is 5th generation Texans. I think I loved beautiful dishes way back then, too. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or special Sunday dinner, especially if the preacher was coming to eat, my mom would decorate her table with these dishes. My niece, Robin, now has them to enjoy, and they, of course, will always stay in our family. I love to reminisce this time of year, don't you? The older I get the more I think of Christmases past. I hope that each of you my sweet friends are having happy memories of Christmases past and are looking forward to Christmas present. Many blessings and much love to you in the week ahead!

English breakfast set for one/Cherished Christmas ornaments...Welcome to Show and Tell Friday and Pink Saturday!!

Hello, dear friends! Welcome to Bunny Cottage where we are having a cold, wintry day in Central Texas! I recently bought an English breakfast set for one at a local antique mall. One of the pieces had been broken and mended so I got a very good buy on it. As you can see from the pictures above, the set had many different pieces. In fact, I am not sure what all the pieces are for. On the bottom of each piece these words are printed: Paragon fine bone china made in England. One of my favorite movies of all time is "Sense and Sensibility". I love everything about this movie: the characters kind and gentle manners, the love the family has for each other, their beautiful home, the colors used in each setting, the English countryside, and of course, the romantic ending where everyone lives happily ever after. I like to imagine one of the ladies of the house being served breakfast in bed with a set similar to mine. I have always been a working girl for most of my life. But, if I were to be served breakfast in bed, I would love to have it served on a set such as this one. I have placed it on a covered tray on the bed in my bedroom.

Next, I am showing some of my favorite Christmas ornaments. I always put up an old-fashioned tree with ornaments that my family has had for many years. To read about my very favorite Christmas ornament, you can go here: http://bunnycottage.blogspot.com/2009/11/oh-little-star-you-hold-so-many.html

I posted about this ornament a few days ago. The other ornaments you see are storybook characters that I buy each year for my grandchildren. When they come to spend the night, I must tell them the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" when we are in bed and waiting for sleep to come. These storybook characters will one day be theirs to hang on their own family's tree. The felt ornaments were given to my sons, Jeremy and Aaron, by my sister and niece. We have enjoyed hanging them on our tree for many years. You see an ornament that Aaron made in kindergarten with his picture on it. The little felt horse with the candy cane inside was made by one of our church members for Jeremy when he was just a baby. It has been on our tree for over thirty years now. My sweet niece, Robin, knows how I love roses, and so, she gave me the beautiful ornament painted with roses. As I take each ornament from the box and look at them, my heart is flooded with memories of past Christmases.

I am participating in "Show and Tell Friday" hosted by the talented decorator Cindy of "My Romantic Home". To see all of the participants in "Show and Tell Friday" please go here: http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
I am participating in "Pink Saturday" hosted by the gracious and kind Beverly of "How Sweet the Sound". To see all the "Pink Saturday" participants please go here: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit today. I love to have each and every one of you come for a visit, and I hope you are staying warm and cozy and enjoying the days leading up to a blessed Christmas celebration!!