Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Heart-shaped Cash Gift Idea

Using instructions that I found online I turned paper bills into cute, little, heart-shaped cash gifts to be given as Christmas gifts.



I used ten dollar bills, but any denomination of paper currency can be used. Just fold each according to instructions.



After I completed each bill I wrapped it with a section of half-inch, wire-edged ribbon to give it a festive look.



I placed each ribbon-wrapped heart, along with a miniture candy cane and other candies, to a box of it own, wrapped and tagged. 



For step-by-step instructions click HERE.



Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Saturday, December 9, 2023

One of Those Rare Saturdays and Family Christmas Traditions

This is one of those rare Saturdays that I'm not at work. Today is Family Christmas!




(And I cannot wait to see the latest issue of The Family Christmas Chronicle that Patrick and Amber's family publishes each year as a gift for the whole family! YEAH!)

The tradition of having Family Christmas the second Saturday in December developed years ago when Amanda, was working for a state park north of Kansas City. It was the only weekend that she could get off during the Christmas season due to the park closing to host a managed deer hunt each year.

Even though Amanda no longer works for state parks, after doing it this way for over a decade and a half, we decided to just keep the tradition. This frees up each individual family within the clan to spend Christmas Day on their own with their children, out of town, with in-laws, or however they choose. It works well for all of us and my husband and I never minded deferring to our children and their in-laws on Christmas Day. 

John and I were so blessed when our own children were growing up. We were both only children and holidays weren't complicated.

My Mom and I - Christmas 1966

John Back in the Day in His Naruh Jacket
Still makes me giggle! 😄

When our children were young Christmas was celebrated at our house and we hosted his mom and my parents. Sometimes my mother-in-law would come over on Christmas Eve and spend the night with us. That always made Christmas even more special!

This is my third Christmas season without John. Even though I greatly look forward to sharing the afternoon and evening with my children and grands, I still feel the loss of my husband and, as I prepare to go, I am acutely aware of his absence. 

John - Christmas Eve 1987

Christmas was always so special to us! John proposed to me on Christmas Eve and we married on Valentine's Day. 

Christmas Eve 1987

John and I always celebrated Christmas Eve with homemade lasagna, homemade bread, and sparkling grape juice. 

When the kids were young, he and I would wait until they were asleep and then late into the night we would exchange gifts and have our own little celebration of sorts. 


After the children were grown and married, John and I continued to celebrate Christmas Eve with lasagna, homemade bread, and sparkling grape juice. Any of the children and their families that could join us was welcome to do so. 

Christmas Eve Lasagna With the Fam

Even without John here now I have tried to keep the Christmas Eve lasagna tradition going and plan to keep that tradition going for as long as possible. 

Well, I have much more that I would like to share with you, but time is running short and I need to get the last minute details of my food put together and get things loaded up for transport to Patrick and Amber's. 

Thank you for listening to my reminiscent ramblings. I pray that you and yours are having a lovely Saturday!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Friday, December 1, 2023

My Christmas 2023 Bucket List


My Christmas 2023 Bucket List
 
1. Write my Christmas bucket list 
2. Focus on Christ and the true meaning of Christmas
3. Spend time with my children, grands, and great-grand
4. Decorate for Christmas inside and out 
5. Send and receive Christmas cards 
6. Listen to Christmas music 
7. Put up a Christmas tree
8. Wrap Christmas gifts 
9. Watch Christmas movies
10. Light a Christmas candle  
11. Do a daily Christmas countdown using the Flanders Family Advent Calendar Scripture Chain
13. Enjoy a cup of Christmas tea
14. Sing Christmas carols 
15. Bake Christmas cookies 
16. Try a Winterberry Hot Cocoa at Bearded Bee Coffee Company 
18. Visit the Country Club Plaza and enjoy the Plaza Lights
19. Explore Crown Center
20. Add a donation to a Salvation Army red kettle 
21. Visit a living nativity
22. Make and deliver special treats for friends and family
23. Drive around and look at Christmas lights 
24. Make Christmas Eve lasagna 
25. Read the Christmas story from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-21) 🕮


That's what's on my Christmas Bucket List 2023. What's on yours?

Until next time,
Rebecca

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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Celebrating the 'Reason for the Season' - Advent Scripture Chain

I found this terrific free printable for an 'Advent Scripture Chain' over at the Flanders Family Home Life blog.



I printed off several sets to give away and, of course, one for myself. I thought you might enjoy printing one off, too! 



There are two printing choices to choose from...to print on one- or two-colors of paper or to print on three-colors. I chose to print on three colors...red, yellow, and green. I think blue and white would be pretty, too!



After printing, I pinned the cover sheet to the curtains next to the Christmas tree in the kitchen. That way it is handy, but up high enough that little hands can't reach the paper strips.



I coiled the end of the chain up on top of and around the top two levels of my three-tiered tea tray where I display my vintage cookie cutters. They won't be concealed for long, as the Christmas season will pass all too quickly. 



I hope you enjoy this pretty printable that helps us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Friday, November 24, 2023

Let The Christmas Season Officially Begin!

It's Friday night and I just got finished decorating for Christmas (indoors that is...I still have to put the outside lights up).



This year, I decided to do the tree in the kitchen in blue and silver.



The tree in my bedroom is the usual pink and white Victorian.




Additionally, I put a couple of tiny trees up in the livingroom and colored lights around the perimeter of the sunroom. 





I'm keeping things a bit simpler by not putting up the big tree in the Van Gogh room again this year, nor my mother's vintage tree that sometimes goes up in the livingroom. 

When does the Christmas season officially begin for you? When do you put up your Christmas decorations?

Have a lovely weekend!



Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Candy Cane Wreath

Amanda made this beautiful candy cane wreath for me for Christmas.



I have no idea where she got the idea for it, but here's a link to one that I found on-line that has super-simple instructions:

Candy Cane Christmas Wreath - To get instructions, click HERE.




If you're looking for last minute gift ideas there's still plenty of time to make a few for family, friends, and neighbors.



Photos don't do it justice. Mine is absolutely beautiful!!!



Until next time...
~Rebecca 

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Tuesday, December 6, 2022

My Christmas Bucket List 2022


My Christmas 2022 Bucket List

1. Write my Christmas bucket list 
2. Focus on Christ and the true meaning of Christmas 🌟
3. Spend time with my children and grands 👪
4. Celebrate an early Christmas with the aunts and cousins back home 
5. Decorate for Christmas inside and out 🎄
6. Send and receive Christmas cards 🖃
7. Put up a Christmas tree 🎄
8. Listen to Christmas music 🎵
9. Wrap Christmas gifts 🎁 
10. Watch Christmas movies 🎥
11. Make a gingerbread house 🏠
12. Read a new Christmas story to the grandlittles 📖
13. Give to buy food for the homeless through Pacific Garden Mission 🥫
14. Sing Christmas carols 🎵
15. Bake Christmas cookies 🍪
16. Drink hot cocoa ☕
17. Light a Christmas candle 🕯


18. Do a random act of kindness 💗
19. Put cash in a Salvation Army Christmas kettle 💵
20. Make and deliver special treats to the neighbors 💝
21. Make Christmas Eve lasagna 🍝
22. Put up and fill Christmas stockings for the kittens (yes, I'm turning into a crazy cat lady) 🧦
23. Drive around and look at Christmas lights 🚗
24. Attend a Christmas morning church service
25. Read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-21) 🕮


That's what's on my Christmas Bucket List 2022. What's on yours?

Until next time,
Rebecca

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Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Christmas Bucket List 2021


MY CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST 2021

1. Write my Christmas bucket list 
2. Focus on Christ and the true meaning of Christmas 🌟
3. Make it through the first Christmas without my husband (he proposed to me on Christmas Eve and we had so many traditions that the two of us shared on that evening...it's not going to be easy without him) 💔
4. Spend time with my children and their families 👪
5. Decorate for Christmas inside and out 🎄
6. Send and receive Christmas cards 🖃 
7. Write a letter to include in Christmas cards ✍
8. Light a Christmas-scented candle 🕯
9. Use peppermint-scented cleaning supplies all through the house (Mrs. Meyer's dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, and liquid hand soap. Oh...and peppermint-scented hand lotion too! I love it!) 🍬
10. Put up a Christmas tree (or two) 🎄
11. Listen to Christmas music 🎵
12. Make a treat for the mail carrier 📬
13. Purchase and deliver food to a food bank 🥫
14. Watch Christmas movies 🎥
15. Visit a live nativity 🐪
16. Drink hot cocoa ☕
17. Make Christmas cookies 🍪
18. Put cash in the Salvation Army Christmas kettle 💵
19. Do a random act of kindness 💓
20. Make and deliver special treats to the neighbors 💝
21. Make a special treat for our local police officer 👮
22. Wrap Christmas gifts 🎁
23. Drive around and look at Christmas lights 🚗
24. Attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service 🕯
25. Read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-21) 🕮

Until next time...
~Rebecca



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Saturday, December 26, 2020

Christmas 2020 Bucket List Update

 

I actually ended up making it to most of the things on my list. The poor mail carrier is the one that missed out. I never was here at the right time to catch him and I wasn't comfortable with leaving something in the mailbox.

I also didn't get around to reading The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Maybe next year.

Other than that, I pretty well covered everything that was on the list.

And, by the way, this was one of the nicest Christmases ever! Crazy busy, but nice!

We saw and spent time with all of our children and most of our grands throughout the season and I got together with my BFFF...which hadn't been done in a long time...as well as other friends and extended family members along the way.

Our youngest daughter, her boyfriend, and his oldest daughter surprised us by showing up on Christmas Eve. They spent the day and he proposed to her while they were here! It was a joyous occasion for all three of them and that was the first time that Amanda has been here on Christmas Eve since 2007! It was great having them!

John and I did our Christmas together Christmas Eve and my cousin joined us for lunch on Christmas Day. Later in the day we were invited to our oldest daughter and son-in-law's for pie and tea.

It was a great Christmas and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

I hope your Christmas was great, too, and I wish you and yours  happy, blessed, and joyous New Year! 🎉

My Christmas 2020 Bucket List Update

1. Write my Christmas bucket list
2. Decorate for Christmas inside and out 
3. Put up two trees...one with a patriotic theme (red, white, and blue with American flags); the other a Victorian pink one (a smaller version of the one we had in Blue Springs when the five oldest children were young) 🎄
4. Read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 📕
5. Spend time with our children, their spouses, and the grands
6. Send and receive Christmas cards 🖃
7. Sing Christmas carols 🎵
8. Make a gift for the mail carrier 📬
9. Drink hot cocoa ☕
10. Make Christmas cookies 🍪
11. Present a special program on old-fashioned Christmases
12. Make (and taste) Christmas fudge 🍬
13. Donate to a child in need through Operation Christmas Child 👦
14. Watch Christmas movies 🎥
15. Make mulled cider ☕
16. Do a random act of kindness 
17. Wrap Christmas gifts 🎁
18. Deliver gifts to a homeless shelter 
19. Listen to Christmas music 🎵
20. Put cash in a Salvation Army Christmas kettle 💵
21. Make and deliver special treats to the neighbors 💝
22. Drive around and look at Christmas lights
23. Light a Christmas candle 🕯
24. Have Christmas Eve lasagna (it's been a tradition for over 30 years) 
25. Read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 2 🕮


That's what's on my Christmas 2020 bucket list. What's on yours?

Until next time,
Rebecca

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