A Few Of My Favorites

 Greetings to you.  I thought I'd show you a few more of my special decorations.  I've had this bunny forever and I still love it. 

 I made a throw with this cute couple on it and that year our dear friends gave us this figurine for Christmas. Loving snowmen as I do, this quickly became a featured decoration.

 Love my snowmen on our antique school desk.

I should really get a photo of our sled before this adorable little grand daughter decided it was the perfect place to sit.  Not really, her nana put her in there and she wasn't too sure what to make of the whole idea. Isn't she just such a cutie; makes me want to cuddle up with her again.  By far, my grands are always my favorites!
Have a delightful day my friends.
Christmas Blessings to you today.
Noreen

Happy Monday

Greetings Friends,  Did you have a wonderful, wintry weekend decking out your home?  I'm home today but lots to do~laundry, Christmas cards and running errands with my girl and her girls.  SIL is out of the country for work which means we will be spending lots of time together, more than usual.  Spending time with my girls and grands is one of my favorite things to do!  This day I am so very thankful for my Savior's love and the Spirit's presence in my life.  I am thankful that He has ordained this day in my life for His purpose and will, if I'll but listen with my heart.  I am thankful for this creative outlet of writing and blogging and sharing life here with you.  I am thankful for those friendships that are of substance and not just surface and for those friends who I connected with immediately and for friends that it has taken a bit more time to develop bonds with.  I am thankful that I am being shaped into His image and for the hope I have in Him.
I am thankful for you today!
Warm winter hugs,
Noreen

Greetings Friends,  Friday found me down the road, as I mentioned,  picking up my close friend Cyndi and joining my blogging friends Pam and Marlene.  We had a wonderful lunch and fellowship. Cyndi is a very easy going gal and my two friends here made her feel so welcome.  Our time went much too quickly but hopefully we may be getting together once more before Cyndi heads home to California.  
 Pam, aka Smiling Grammy, is seated next to me and standing behind me is Marlene of Barefoot Soul and Cyndi is behind Pam. 
The rest of my time with Cyndi was relaxing and fun as always but flew by too quickly.  I headed home because our dear friends daughter, a gymnastics coach in Vail, was spending the day and night with us before heading to a meet today.  This afternoon we are having supper with some neighbors and watching football.  I don't know about your upcoming week but I can tell you that mine is jam-packed with wonderful activities.  I've got two weeks left with Cyndi and I know they'll be done before you know it so I hope to get down for a day this week and then two days next week.  I imagine she'll be ready for some quiet time at home by the time her brother is back.  I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday filled with lots of worship.
Hugs and blessings.
Noreen

Happy Friday

                   Greetings dear ones,  Today will be a rich and full day as I'm heading down to spend a couple of days with my girlfriend and the many,many dogs as well as meeting two of my closest blog buddies for lunch.  We usually try to get together every couple of months but it has been since the end of the summer since we were together.  I think I'll have to work on that for the coming year.                         

I decided to share a couple more collections with you.  This Manger scene I bought about 30 yrs ago & love it. 

      Below is my Lizzie High collection that my SIL(sister of my heart),Sue, gave us about 20 years ago. I love the simplicity of it.

                            

 May you have a joyous weekend filled with the true reason for the season. 
Blessings, Noreen

Family Celebrations

Happy Thursday Friends, Last night we had a family celebration for our youngest daughter's Christmas birthday.  The grands all loved the festivities and we loved having family together! 

 There is nothing more precious than a nine year old loving the little ones-so very pure!

 Our youngest Kim, our birthday girl, with her youngest.  How the months have flown by.  Kim makes our lives rich and full just as her older sister does. 

 Our little Miss Sunshine now one, is walking.

 She looks just like her mama.

The little girls all love playing together-such joy!

Have a blessed joy filled day!

Hugs, Noreen

It's Looking Like Christmas

Happy December to you all. Our home is completely decorated and today I wanted to share a bit of it with you. Most of the decorations are 30+ years old and my collections have changed throughout the years. If you click on the above photo, you will see a darling Needlework & Quilt store that my dear friend and old neighbor, Barbara, gave me one year.  We actually toyed with the idea of opening our own quilt store but that never materialized.  This is my friend that taught me so much with quilting and gently invited me to grow; whenever this village is up I am reminded of her friendship and just how precious she is.

 This year hubby set up my village; he did such a nice job and I was so thankful when I got home and didn't need to work on this.  Our grands will be over tonight and I can't wait to see the expressions on the youngest ones faces.  I've had this village for almost twenty years and I never tire of it.

 My island is the perfect place for these two special figures.

We have very high ceilings in our kitchen and it is always a challenge to find items that don't get dwarfed by their height; this is the perfect place for my collection of snowmen. 
I hope that the season is bringing you joy as you prepare for Christmas.  There are so many that are hurting and you never know just how much a smile will mean to someone. 
Hugs to you each today,
Noreen

Tuesday Nuggets

Good morning friends,  I just finished doing my lesson for the last week of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore.  What a wonderful study this has been and although I'm sad to see it end, another study will begin in January and promises to be just as rich.  I wanted to share the poem below because it spoke to me and I trust it will resound in your spirit as well.

THE COMPANY I KEEP
Let me be known by the company I keep
By the One who determines each day that I greet
From the moment I wake til He rocks me to sleep
Let me be known by the company I keep!

Let me be known by the company I keep
When the valleys are low and the mountains are steep
By the One who holds fast when swift waters are deep
Let me be known by the company I keep!

Let me be known by the company I keep
By the One who implores me to sit at His feet
And quickens my soul to discern what is deep
Let me be known by the company I keep!

Let me be known by the company I keep
Eclipsed by Your presence that I may decrease
Til all You have chosen this traveler to meet
No longer see me but the Company I keep.
Beth Moore

So whose company means the most to you today? Will you join me at His feet?  Let us praise Him together.
Because He first loved us,  Noreen