Noel Tablescape

I reworked my original tablescape to add two candles.

Cranberry: $5.00 each Wal-Mart
Candle Holly Shade: free Clothes Closet Yankee Candle Brand
Candle Holder Border Holly w/ Gold Trim: free Clothes Closet Unknown Brand

The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay
keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
that was so deep.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far,
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star
wherever it went.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest

Over Bethlehem it took its rest,

And there it did both stop and stay

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Noel Noel Noel Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

Then did they know assuredly

Within that house the King did lie:

One entered in then for to see,

And found the Babe in poverty:

Noel Noel Noel Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those wise men three

Full reverently upon their knee,

And offered there in His presence

Their gold, and myrrh and frankincense.

Noel Noel Noel Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

That hath made heaven

and earth of naught

And with His blood

mankind hath bought.

Noel Noel Noel Noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

The First Noel
English carol, 17th century

Tablecloth: $2.00 Thrift Store
Placemats: Set of 6 $1.00 each Dollar Tree
Noel Word Frames: Noel Gift Swap
Nativity Snow Globe: Gift last Christmas from my sister
Candles: Recycled holders from old candles, and candles 6 for $1.00 Thrift Store

Listen to it on YouTube

Submitted to:

Tablescape Thursday

Home: Cared For

I am joining Monica in her Lady Wisdom Series this week. I am trying to make my way to a detailed cleaning of each room on the main floor before this weekend when we put up Christmas decorations. So far this week I did the master bedroom, living room, and school room. I still have the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, my husband’s office, and my office. I did not get to any of the detailed cleaning today so I will try to tackle the kitchen and bathroom tomorrow since we will have our SWAM group here tomorrow night. Today's theme was Cared For and here is my list for today:

Quiet Time: Tea Time with God pg 12&13

Breakfast: Chocolate Silk Coffee (Folgers)

Read: Continue reading The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson

Tidy, tidy, tidy! I walk around my house and put everything away that is out of place each morning and again before bed.

Computer: read blogs & check email

Lunch: Leftovers

Baking: I baked Oreo Cookie Brownies

Laundry: Wash, fold, and put away 1 load of laundry- towels

Kitchen: Pick up the kitchen and put things away.

Baking: I made a triple batch of Banana Oatmeal Cookies. We have our SWAM (Students With A Mission) group meeting tomorrow and the kids have a Christmas Party Friday with our homeschool groups teen’s. I packaged them up along with the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip I made yesterday.

Project: My kids are going to a Mad Hatter Party on Saturday and they are planning their costumes. I was helping them come up with something to wear and lending ideas. They are doing the work and enjoying themselves.

Dinner: Pork Lion Chops, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, with Green Beans and Garlic

Computer: blog

Tidy, tidy, tidy! My before bed routine.

Banana Oatmeal Cookie

1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup mashed bananas
1 3/4 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Cream together the shortening and sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg, banana, oatmeal and nuts. Mix well.

Add dry ingredients, mix well and drop by the teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until edges turn lightly brown. Cool on wire rack. Store in a closed container.

Simplifying Christmas~Christmas Cards

The Simplifying Christmas Meme is hosted by Heather at Heart of a Mommy. If you would like to participate, or just read about how others are Simplifying Christmas, click here. Today's Topic is about Christmas Cards.

I love to receive Christmas Cards and we usually get 5-10 cards every year. I like to mail my cards because I know everyone likes to get good mail sometimes especially older people who may not get much company. We tape the cards we get to a door in the kitchen for everyone to see. I encourage my family to pray for the families who send us cards. Before Christmas we pray for anyone that had not sent us a card so we don’t forget anyone. We are sending 13 Christmas card this year. We have always kept it small so that it would never be a burden or huge expense. To keep the cost of the cards low I watch for them in thrift stores or yard sales and never spend more than $1.00 for a stack. I do make sure to use a card that proclaims the Savior’s birth or I write a scripture on it if it doesn’t. I consider it a ministry to be able to witness ever so small to our unsaved family and friends. I will never stop send cards if only for this purpose.

This is our card this year:

May the miracle of Christmas fill your heart with peace and happiness.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”


This year we are sending to:
My Family-Dad, Mom, Dad, Sister & family, Sister& family, and Aunt & family
My Husbands Family-Mom, Dad, Brother & family, Uncle & family, and Cousin & family
Mutual-Family Friends #1 and Family Friends #2

I like to fill a basket with my cards, rubber stamps and cheap dollar store stickers. I make out my cards the weekend after Thanksgiving and mail them on December 1st. My kids are more than welcome to make out a card for a friend or two that they usually hand deliver.

Home: Clean

I am joining Monica in her Lady Wisdom Series this week. Today's theme was Clean and here is my list for today:

Take out the Trash

On the Road: Take daughter #2 to babysitting job

Quiet Time: Tea Time with God pg 10&11

Breakfast: Chocolate Silk Coffee (Folgers)

Tidy, tidy, tidy! I walk around my house and put everything away that is out of place each morning and again before bed.

Computer: check my blog and check in at Monica’s blog.

On the Road: Pick up daughter #2 from babysitting job

Lunch: Leftovers

Computer: Check email

Laundry: Wash, fold, and put away 1 load of laundry- a mix of towels, and husbands & I

Living Room: put things away, and do a detailed cleaning. (Remember it is looking bear because I put away my fall decorations yesterday)

School Room: put things away, and do a detailed cleaning.

Kitchen: Pick up the kitchen and put things away.

Baking: I baked 2 dozen oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from dough that I had pre-frozen.

Dinner: Homemade pizza at husband request.

Computer: read blogs and blog.

Tidy, tidy, tidy! My before bed routine.

Simplifying Christmas~Simplifying Budget and Gift List

The Simplifying Christmas Meme is hosted by Heather at Heart of a Mommy. If you would like to participate, or just read about how others are Simplifying Christmas, click here. Today's Topic is about Simplifying our Budgets and Gift Lists

Every year my family tries a little harder to simplify our Christmas. We have made steady progress each year but still feel we could cute back.

This year's budget and gift list for my family:
$150 each for our 4 kids (This may seem like a lot but last year for instance my girls got an ipod and boys got a guitar plus a stocking with candy)

$25 for my husband and I (We have not exchanged gifts in several years but my husband said that he missed it and would like to this year)

We have instilled in our children a heart for serving and giving instead of getting or being served. This has helped our family a lot in controlling the gimmies. Therefore we volunteer through out the year at various places instead of only during the holiday season.

We also like to make and give what we call token gift to friends, co-op teachers, neighbors and librarians. They are usually small food gifts or crafts. We have made cocoa envelopes, bags of 2 cookies each, small boxes with 2 homemade chocolates. We usually make 25-50 to hand out and it can not cost more than $5-10 total for the project. Our rule is that it has to be nice enough that we would be happy to receive it but that the receiver would not feel the need to return the favor. Believe me we really have to think to come up with that many gifts for so little but it is a fun project.

You can really put together some nice gift baskets or bags if you consider the following places for cheap gift ideas:
1) Dollar Stores
2) Thrift Stores
3) Yard Sales

When my children were younger we had a tradition of taking them to the dollar store and they could buy a gift for each sibling and parent. Then we would go home and decorate lunch sacks or they would wrap them and put them under the tree. On Christmas Eve we would exchange these gifts they really enjoyed doing it and they were so happy to be able to give. We discontinued the tradition when the kids decided that it was too much money to spend for our family ($20 total).

We decided many years ago to not give gifts to friends. They are welcome to come for dinner or invite us over during the holiday season. We have friends who invited our family to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving and we all had a lot of fun hanging out and we baked cookies, make hard tack candy, and make popcorn balls.

The one think that stress me out about the gifts is I always feel like I give nice things but they are not always appreciated by my extended family (notice my short list). We have never exchanged gifts with my husbands family because his dad would just sent a check for the kids, his mom couldn’t afford anything, and his brothers are in their mid twenties and since it was never started they don’t expect to start.

We have a very short list of extended family members to give to: $5 budget per person

My Dad (John Deer Stocking & ?) $1.00

My Mom (A cat themed gift basket that I put together collected from thrift stores and yard sales) spent $1.75

My sister (A collectible salt & pepper shaker themed gift basket that I put together collected from thrift stores and yard sales) spent $1.50, brother-in law (?), and 2 teenage nephews (Computer Games) spent $6.00 each boy

My sister (?) and 1 teenage nephew (Movie) spent $3.00

Our rule is to not start a gift giving tradition with anyone so we are not forced to keep it up. As soon as my children and nephews are grown we will completely stop all gift giving to the people on our short list which should be in the next 2-3 years. We do not want to keep it going so long that they have to start giving because the short list could start to get too long for everyone. We intend to only give gifts to our grandchildren whenever we have some and not to our kids or them to us.

Home: Tidy

I am joining Monica in her Lady Wisdom Series this week. Yesterday's theme was Tidy and here is my list of accomplishments:

Quiet Time: Tea Time with God pg 8&9

Breakfast: Chocolate Silk Coffee (Folgers) & Banana Oatmeal Bread

Laundry: Wash, fold, and put away 3 loads of laundry- towels, husbands & I, and daughter #2

Tidy, tidy, tidy! I walk around my house and put everything away that is out of place each morning and again before bed.

Read: I have been reading Christmas themed books all of November and the one I am currently reading is The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson

My Office: Clean off the top of my desk and put thing away.
Planning: Gather my cookbooks and cooking magazines so I can menu plan later this week including for the holidays and special treats.

Decorations: collect, box up, and put away all the fall decorations. I like to clean up the seasonal decorations and leave the house bear for the week while I clean and plan for the next season. We will put up the Christmas decorations this weekend so today the day to get it done.

 Lunch: Leftovers

Computer: Check email

Master Bedroom: put things away, and do a detailed cleaning.

Kitchen: Pick up the kitchen and put things away. Wash, dry, and put away the dishes. Wash the top of the stove and the refrigerator shelves.

Read: Continue reading The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson

Baking: I baked 2 dozen oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from dough that I had pre-frozen.

Dinner: Leftovers

Date Night: My husband and I went to the Annual Christmas Walk. We looked at many downtown stores and even enjoyed some cookies. This was a free event and we didn’t buy anything and the cookies were free also. My husband got lots of ideas he said of things I liked that could be Christmas gifts. I seen a really cute tea cup wall hanger and a matching tiered tea cup stand that I may have to go back to get soon since my husband said I could go back for them so I wouldn’t have to wait for Christmas. They were about $17.00 each which is a little pricy to me but sometimes you have to go for it.

Computer: read blogs and blog.

Tidy, tidy, tidy! My before bed routine.