O Holy Night.

Merry Christmas (a little late!) I hope that everyone had a wonderful time, ate too much and smiled all day!

My day was just lovely. Every year on Christmas Eve we attend a Church Carol service at our local Church. I have to admit that it has hardly changed since I was little but it is still a joy to go to it! When we were younger, my sister, brother and I would usually be taking part in the service in some way. There are different readings and performances inbetween the different carols. It is lovely to see the different kids that participate now and see how the little kiddies that I used to watch in Sunday School have grown! It was beautiful. I always get emotional during the service because I always reflect on why we are here, and why we are celebrating.

After this my brother and I came back with our mum and spent the evening with her. Lucy came later on, she went out for a few drinks with her friend. I have to say here that it has been a joy having Fin home for Christmas. I love that boy and I love seeing how he is growing up and changing. He is a blessing. We were all sick on Christmas Eve, with colds. It was not nice. I was up late wrapping presents, making yummy truffles and cheesecake for Christmas day. So I was exhausted. I slept SO good. Could of slept all day. I woke up at 8:45am and all was still quiet in the house. I don't remember a Christmas when I have been able to sleep that late. Usually I have a sister or brother in my room whispering to see if I am awake, or doing what they need to wake me up! So I just lay there for a while enjoying the moment where I could wake up on my own. It didn't last long. Soon someone was in the bathroom, I heard the toilet flush and it was like this was an alarm telling everyone it was time to get up. I heard one door open, then another and Christmas greetings being passed around! I knew that I would be next. I didn't do a very good job of being my cheery self. I had a horrible head-ache and stuffy nose.

I finally made it to the living room where everyone was VERY excited to see what gifts they had received. I wrapped myself in a blanket and was ready to fall asleep again. But that's what little brothers are for, to wake you up even when you are not ready to! So he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. Great. Just what I was wanting to happen. And just so you know, I am about 6ft tall and my brother is 6ft 4or5 so you imagine how ridiculous this looked. I do find it very impressive when he manages to pick me up but doesn't mean I appreicate it!

I love watching everyone open the gifts I bought for them months ago and hoped that they would love! It was successful. I will share more about my gifts in another post.

We had a yummy breakfast of cinammon scrolls! They are a favourite for all of us! Suddenly we didn't really have a lot of time and we were all running around getting ready and deciding what to wear, well that was more me...I had no idea what I was going to wear! I got there in the end though. I blame this on feeling really ill and not wanting to get out of bed in the first place!

We then headed down to my Dad's house. It was crazy to be going from one place to another, and leaving mum behind...but that is something new that I am still getting used to. Lucy and I were cooking Christmas dinner. It was delicious. Seriously. We had a fun day. Our Granny and Aunty joined us and that was precious. I love spending time with them but don't do it often enough.

Right. Onto why I'm not sharing photos in this post. My laptop is doing something funky. I have this horrible green tinge on my screen and it is driving me nuts! When I look at photos there is like this green tinge throughout the photo. Best way to describe it is that it looks like someone has gone over my screen with a green pencil and rendered it in! So when I am editing photos I really can't tell what they look like and don't want to bore you with terrible photos. I have lots of photos to share from Christmas day from the people and prezzies to the meal. I will try and post these soon. I will probably just use my mum's laptop.

I am going to leave you with a Carol that I have been listening lots this CHRISTmas time. The version I have been listening to it by Natalie Grant. She has a really beautiful Christmas album. I should of directed you to it before Christmas. Sorry. The song is a Medley of Silver Bells, Saviour Came for Me and O Holy Night. I really touches me.

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Love came down at Christmas.

Christmas is almost here. I love this time of year, a lot. 2 months ago I helped put up the decorations at work and everyone became aware of how much I love this time of year. They told me that I would definitely be sick of Christmas by December. I am pleased to inform you that I am still full of Christmas cheer!

Last week I finished my Christmas shopping. I so enjoy buying gifts for people. Taking time to really think about what I am going to get someone, then walking into a store and then seeing something that is perfect and completely different to what you had in mind. I have also been making gifts this year. Last year I made my sister a scarf. I enjoyed being creative and giving someone special to me something that has my stamp on it, that reflects me. You will have to wait until after Christmas so see some of the gifts that I have made this year as there may be eyes reading this that will be receiving one of those gifts!

Another love of this season is wrapping Christmas presents! I could quite happily spend all day wrapping presents, seriously. But I hate clearing up all the mess afterwards. So if there is someone out there who loves to clear up mess but hates wrapping presents, I think we could form a great friendship! Unfortunately I have already wrapped all my presents, this makes me sad. No more present wrapping for me, unless I can wrap some with my mum and sister?

Mum and I put up the Christmas tree a few weeks ago now. It looks so pretty and sparkly. But we kinda threw it up late one night and forgot about the rest of the decorations. So over this week we have been finishing off the decorations throughout the house. It looks beautiful. I am ready to enjoy this week of festivities now!

The most important thing I love about this season is the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. I tend to get very emotional at this time of year as I think about our Saviour being born. Such a beautiful thing. It is very easy to get caught up in everything about this time of year. I always make sure that I stop to take time to be thankful for the precious baby that was born. The Greatest gift.

Today I enjoyed putting decorations up and making Christmas truffles! I had some beautiful Christmas carols playing in the background too. I was listening to Natalie Grant's Christmas album, Believe. I am going to leave you with some lyrics from one of her songs. This is my prayer tonight.

"I believe

The Wiseman saw

The baby born the angels called the son of God Heaven’s child

The great I am Born to take away my sins through nailed pierced hands

Emmanuel has come"

Let it Snow...

I am very pleased to tell you that we have even more SNOW! It is so beautiful. It is so magical. It is so soft. It is so Christmassy! It makes me want to wrap up warm, light the fire, bake something, light my Christmas candles and watch Christmas movies! So that is exactly what I did...when I finished work!

Here are a few photos that I took tonight, while it was snowing! I did a little snow dance, all wrapped up, because I was so happy. But when I went out to take photos I only put on my hat and my wellies and just wore the t-shirt and leggings I had on. Silly girl. All cosy now though, with my hot water bottle!

The Never-ending List...

About a month ago I made this cute "To Do List" sign. I actually made it out of a card I got from a friend for my Birthday this year. I love it!

So, since I have made this cute sign I am always adding more and more things to this list. The sad thing is that rarely does anything get crossed off it, but the list just keeps growing and growing. Until today that is. I managed to cross off a few things from my list, a few e-mails, letters sent, birthday present mailed and Christmas presents bought! I also did a bunch of laundry, tidying and cooked a lovely dinner tonight aswell. Feeling very pleased with myself too. I also changed my room around, well really just moved my bed. But I like it. :)

Also, I have something to confess. Today I was listening to Christmas music. I just couldn't help myself. Yesterday when I was shopping ALL the shops had Christmas music on. I was jealous that the people that worked there got to listen to this music all day and think that it is perfectly acceptable to start listening now. It's only a month before Christmas, and this is the only time of year that I get to listen to this wonderful music! I think you should start now too, you know YOU want to?

Blessings.

Last week I wasn't really feeling myself. Last year I have envisaged that I would be in California now. Well, I am still here. I absolutely take comfort in knowing that the LORD is in control of the situation, and I wouldn't want it any other way. But because I had put my own timescale on it I managed to get my hopes up. I have definitely learnt over this past year that more often than not my timescale and plan is different to what the LORD has planned.

Anyway...back to this post. SO while I was feeling a bit down, and a bit distant from God, I got to speak to my dear friends. Oh my goodness, they are a joy to me! Not only could I speak to them about everything that is going on with me, and I could hear everything that is going on with them! They always have such encouraging, kind words that comfort me. They pray for me and I greatly appreciate this. They build me up in my faith and challenge me. Just now, I don't really have many friends around me that challenge me in this way or really encourage me in my faith. So I am thankful for Skype, as it really breaks down the distance between me and my friends.

Meet my lovely friend, Karen (a.k.a. Boo.) You have met her before on here. She is my little ray of sunshine. She can make me smile on any day, no matter how bad it is going. See this face below, this is what I see (plus many more faces) everytime that we talk on Skype. She is hilarious. Not only is she funny, but she is also so wise and I learn so much from her. I really miss being able to laugh in the same room as this lady. I am very thankful that the LORD has brought her into my life, He definitely knew what He was doing with this friendship. I love you, Boo!

I didn't have a photo from Skype for these two! So I used this one, that I took in 2008. I love this one. When I spoke to this lovely couple last week they listening to every moan I had and then gave me some wonderful, encouraging words. I really miss having conversations with them and having their advice on hand. I learnt so much from that and I'm so thankful that the LORD crossed our paths back in 2003. I love them dearly.

So, there's an insight into a couple of my many blessings!

Psalm 63:1-5 ♥

Curly.

My beautiful, baby brother left for his Navy training yesterday! Excuse me, but when did he grow up and how did I miss it? I honestly can't believe it.

A few days before he left we had a "date night". We went to the movies to see Due Date. I knew that it was going to be good because Fin had gone the night before and loved it! He was very happy to go and see it again. There were a lot of people in the cinema watching the movie. I got a little bit annoyed though. It seemed like there were hundreds of people that were all there together and I think they thought they were on their sofa watching it at home. Every couple of minutes they would turn around and talk to the person 2 rows behind them!! I didn't notice this too much because I was far too busy laughing at the movie. Seriously, if you haven't seen this yet then you should definitely go! I am probably going to see it again.

I do have a few knew bruises after our date though. Aparantly I have an annoying laugh when we are at the cinema, so my sister and brother kindly told me. So, whenever I laughed during the movie he would elbow me in the arm! Lovely. I must have been because it was really funny! Anyway, I had a lovely time with Fin.

Before we left I told him that he needed to get changed into something smarter. And this is what he came down in! He always makes me laugh!!

Fin is such a funny, caring, loving, thoughtful guy and I will miss him. I love you, Curly.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Tired.

Today was my day off and it went by sooo fast! I had a lovely day though. I had lunch with friends and their new baby boy (remember the baby shower a few weeks ago? Well he finally arrived last weekend!) He is beautiful, and BIG. He slept the whole 4 hours we were out, so I am going to visit him tomorrow and see if he will give me a cuddle and a cute smile. Babies bring me so much joy.

So tired just now and have to sleep. I have a long day at work tomorrow! Look out for a post on my "date" with my baby brother!