Last post of 2010

Can you believe the last hours of 2010 are upon us? Where has this year gone?? Before this year ends, allow me a moment to express my thankfulness and gratitude for each and every one of you. Without you, I don't think I would have been so encouraged and brave to have gotten through the year. It's been rather difficult to say the least and I for one can not wait for 2011!!

I am so excited to see what everyone does in this new year as I know that in this past year of getting to know you all, that you are going to do great things. Thank you so very much for sharing so much of yourself with me and the rest of blog world. Thank you for your visits, humor, and comments. I so appreciate each and every one of you.

I pray for Daddy's best upon each and everyone of you. That you will experience His love and peace in a greater way and in a deeper and newer sense in 2011. I hope that all of your dreams are realized in the year to come. 

Just to back up for a moment, we here in Middle Tennessee had a white Christmas. That is not very common for us so it was actually a very magical touch to the entire setting of Christmas. I have to admit that I rather enjoyed seeing everything covered in a soft white blanket of snow. Changed everything, ya' know what I mean? Made the ordinary look rather special.

I am very much looking forward to the new year. I am soooo ready to put behind me the "old" and get on with the new. Guess I'm like my Daddy in that way. He's always up to the new stuff of life and reminding me, at least, to get over the "old". Maybe that is partly why I'm so anxious to pack up the Christmas decorations (although I LOVE them being out). But I realllllly want to scale back and "simplify", find balance, focus on the priorities of life and just appreciate all that life has to offer.

No matter what my dearest Friends, May this new year bring much love, peace, joy and everyday be Christmas somehow for each of you. 

Happy New Year!!

xoxox,

Ellen

Last of the details...

Ready or not, here is the last hours before the most anticipate day of the year is here! Wow!

I'm not sure if we are as ready as we like to tell ourselves we are, but...

I'm finished with all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, shipping, baking... done!  I'm so done, in fact, that I'm already working on projects that I had planned for after the new year! Maybe this will be a sign of the year to come - working ahead instead of behind. I'm likin' it! So, are you done too?

xoxo,
Ellen

That's My King!

I had been thinking on a Christmas Video Card to post here to wish you all the warmest and most loving of Christmas wishes. But somehow, everything just seemed to fail to truly capture the heart of Christmas because of the Santa's and the over done commercial aspect. Don't get me wrong, I've got a lot of Santa's around here and gifts to give as well. But surely Christmas has a greater, longer lasting purpose, Right?

Maybe this is it.

I believe that the ultimate Christmas Gift is best said via this video. Have you seen it? Do you know?

This is my Christmas gift to all of you, my family and dearest of friends. The real Reason for the Season.

Merry Christmas and lots of love, hugs and blessings to you all,

Ellen

It's WHAT Day!?!

Is it really true? There are only a few days left until, until, until Christmas??!! How can this be? It's so strange how I've been looking and counting the weeks and SUDDENLY I realize that "it" is almost upon us!

Really, I do know how to count weeks and days, got to be pretty good at that in these last few decades. But seriously, how does this keep happening to me? Am I alone in this?? 

The last gift to be sent out finally fell out of the sky was delivered last night. So today I can make another trip to the post office to overwhelm those folks some more. Don't cha just love 'em!

I feel as if I need to stuff in as much Christmas stuff as possible in these last hours. I think I'll skip sleeping for the next week or so. Maybe then I can get my fill of the Christmas happenings!

Or maybe I'll do what I do every year. I'll keep all most a few Christmas decorations out until Spring. Just blended in, ya' know? And I'll not pack away the Christmas movies or CD's for, well, who am I kiddin' - I never pack those away! I watch Christmas movies and play Christmas music all year. Yeah, I'm That kind of Girl.

Now, please go over and visit our friends Courtney at the French Country Cottage and Sherry at No Minimalist Here and Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage . They are hosting  fabulous parties that you'll not want to miss!

 Have a Merry, Merry Weekend!

xoxo,
Ellen

Merry Wednesday!

Merry Wednesday!!

xoxox,

Ellen

Christmas Past memories

Merry Monday!

Seasons Greetings my Blog land Friends! I just this weekend cruised around the blog world visiting so many amazing, creative and oh so talented blogs to see what you all have been doing by way of Christmas decorating.

It is truly my favorite time of year to go visiting blogs because the talents of people really seem to shine through more so during this season than any other. Wow!!

In my travels around the world visiting new and familiar blogs, I did notice that there are a number of people who have confessed to having a hard time getting into the Christmas Spirit of the season. I can relate. It shows in my Christmas decorating this year as well. Rather on the slim and quiet side, unlike my usual splash from the front yard, throughout the house all the way out to the back yard. I finally perfected the blended Christmas decorating, if you will, of my everyday decorating being enhanced with the complimentary Christmas decorations.  This year has not been as full and enhanced for a number of reasons. But I truly have enjoyed the lavish abundance of all of your blogs displaying your Christmas decorating! Stunning, just stunning! 

I am trying to keep my focus on the true reason for the season and am encouraged by so many of you who are as well.  Last Sunday our church service was hosted by the Children's Choir. It was nothing short than absolutely amazing!! The children really captured the focus of the reason for the season and what a delivery they had for the rest of us! It really was a soul lifter that had me rejoicing for the real meaning of the season. 

Our weather has taken an unusual turn for this time of the year. We've already had snow 3 or 4 times. Yesterday it finally stuck and turned into an icy mess! We don't usually have this kind of brutal freezing wind and snow AND ice until February! The great thing about it though, is that for the first time in many, many Christmases, hot chocolate and dessert coffee is a welcomed touch to the Christmas season- in front of a blazing fire.

So on that note, I shall leave you with warm wishes, much love and appreciation for all of you!

xoxo,

Ellen

            

Tis the Season

Warm wishes and lots of hugs for you my dear blog land friends. I hope that the Christmas season is bringing you much joy and happiness. May you be surrounded by the presence of your loved ones, relative or friend of choice, all year through.

xoxox,

Ellen