MERRY CHRISTMAS - 2016 - EVERYONE!

Somehow these few photos from a few years ago, slipped in with those of this year!

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I think the Blog must have a "new effect" for the Christmas lights because I don't

recall having twinkle lights ever. I would be so bothered by them but they certainly

do look wonderful here, don't they?

As I stated a few postings earlier, many of the same decorations remain from year to year.

I have storage unit full of decorations that I can't begin to find room for, thus the reason 

for sending some to Houston with my daughter and family when they left from Thanksgiving

visit this year. Always wonderful to hand things down that are appreciated by someone dear

to you!

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It's always been a real gift to my life that my children have enjoyed my decorating in our 

home. Even as small children, all of their friends would comment on my decor, invite

me to come decorate their homes and they always expressed their "likes".  I'll never forget

the neighborhood  my children grew up in, their friends who had such honor and respect

for our home and for the way that we did things there. One boy made certain that everyone

who entered our home "knew that they should remove their shoes first". He was also the one

who loved the smell of the scented candles that I continually burned. Amazing what even 

children will notice, isn't it? Worth paying attention to, in my book.

When my youngest son left home, he came back and stated, "Wow, Mom and Dad. You guys were 

amazing how well you took care of our home. Dad was always fixing things up and the yard work 

was always done and kept up. You guys took such interest in making sure that we had a very nice

environment to grow up in! Not everyone is like that! Did you know that? I can tell you I sure do 

appreciate it even more now that I've lived in a few other places and seen how others treat their 

homes!"

WOW, WOW, WOW! THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SAY TO THAT, HA?

YES, EVERY YEAR, ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I WALK THROUGH OUR HOME AND 

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE, EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE AND 

EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN SO BLESSED WITH THROUGH THE YEARS OF OUR LIVES.

At the same time that I'm thankful, I'm also praying continually for those who are struggling to make

ends meet. We've been there and know what it's like to be lacking severely. I see so many young ones

who want to start out with what we have now, after we've been at it for forty some years. Patience is 

required and so many don't have that. I have to confess that there were many times when we didn't 

have it either and got ourselves into financial binds that we didn't need to be in. 

SO AS WE DECORATE OUR HOMES THIS YEAR ... AND AS WE ARE SO BLESSED ... 

WE MUST REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE NOT BLESSED AND ARE STRUGGLING SO!

LUKE 6:38 - 

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

GALATIANS 2:10 - 

“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” 

ISAIAH 58:6-11 -

WHAT IS A TRUE FAST?

I TRIED TO POST THE SCRIPTURES HERE BUT FOR SOME REASON, NO MATTER HOW

MANY TIMES I TRIED IT, IT WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO POST.

PROVERBS 22:6 -

THE BIBLE TELLS US HOW TO INSTRUCT OUR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY WILL WALK

IN RIGHT FOOTSTEPS AND PATHWAYS WHEN THEY ARE OLDER!!

IT IS SO TRUE!

PSALM 41:1 - 

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble

EVERYDAY, OUR HEARTS NEED TO BE OPEN TO BLESSING SOMEONE, LIFTING UP THE

DOWNTRODDEN, PRAYING FOR THOSE IN NEED AND MAKING OURSELVES

 AVAILABLE AS THE HANDS AND FEET OF THE LORD THAT WE LOVE AND MODEL

OUR LIVES AFTER.

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AND NEVER DOES OUR SUCCESS OR OUR GAINS OF ANY KIND, GIVE US PERMISSION

TO EXALT OURSELVES ABOVE OTHERS!

JAMES 2:1-9 -

THE BIBLE TEACHES US NEVER TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH PREFERENCE.

PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IS ADDRESSED, EVEN IN THE WORD OF GOD.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

AS LONG AS WE REMAIN HUMBLE, WE WILL KEEP ALL THAT HE HAS INTENDED 

FOR US TO KEEP.  WHAT HE DESIRES US TO GIVE AWAY, WE MUST CONTINUE TO

KEEP WILLING HEARTS TO DO SO, AS HE INSTRUCTS US TO. AMEN?

I know it's not very Christmassy yet in my office and this isn't the entire of it yet ...

Still working on it. 

But I added the doors to the wall and I really like the mood it sets for me here where I work.

This, of course, is my file cabinet that I've lugged everywhere with me for the past twenty

years and it is filled both inside and out!

So much change I'd like to introduce in this office space and it all takes time and energy

To coordinate everything in just the way you like it.

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My little eight year old granddaughter that was here just this past Thanksgiving

Absolutely fell in love with all of my articles displayed on my office walls. 

She inquired "more than once" if Grandma would make these outfits for her too!

And this ...

There are two of them, created by my youngest two children in their school days.

It's so interesting to see each of their different and unique ideas for a mask that they were instructed 

To create in one of their art classes.

This one, below, is my sons.

This is my hand at an attachment, a new lense given me by my son-in-law over Thanksgiving. 

It's another version of the top of my file cabinet.

This is my daughter's interpretation or idea ...

Interesting? There were two earrings, one on each ear and I woke up one morning and the one 

Earring was fallen on the bed in the room. At the same time,  little strand of jewels she'd made

For a book of mine, fell apart on my desk.

These doors, my daughter and I when searching for and found in a salvage yard / flea market a few

Summers ago. I wanted them put together for my "recording set" for my ministry.

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And, of course, I think I've shared before that these outfits are ones I made for our ministry

Years ago. 1993, to be exact. 

An entire generation has passed since these were made and used by my own children and nieces. 

When the Thanksgiving Holiday visitors inspire you to DECORATE for the Holidays,

When you really hadn't planned to do it at all this year!

My little Christmas Tree came out of storage just for our brand new little granddaughter - 2016.

It's one of many trees I possess but the only one small enough to fit into our downsized home now.

You can never have enough Starbucks Christmas Coffee Bags on hand.

I find creative, inexpensive ways to DECORATE every year. 

I have boxes and boxes of brand new DECORATIONS that I've not even had space enough

to use yet and somehow, these little "self made ideas" seem to "hit my spot" better than the

store bought produced ideas. It's just the creative side that comes out of those of us who create!

Old Christmas tins I've bought through the years. When I buy, I usually buy in bulk, so I have left

over for "whatever and whenever". Anyone else do the same?

And this is my antique croquet set that I so admire and all my "little visitors" are immediately drawn to.

And THAT makes me SMILE!!!

I love when my little eight year old granddaughter, Abby, visited. She stayed busy for days, looking 

at everything around my home, just like I'd hoped she would. I leave these little "goodies" out year 

round, hoping that someone who drops by will find them to be as "whimsical" as I do.  Abby didn't

disappoint. She loved EVERYTHIng!!

Next visit, I have to remember to have ink pads and paper on hand so that she can actually

use the things she desired to us this time and couldn't because I wasn't efficient enough in my 

preparations for her.  Christmas ... we will be READY for her!

Little "antique dresses" hang all around my home: bedrooms, office, bathrooms, living room and 

Rugged Country Collection little aprons hang in the kitchen.  Always, they arouse the "curiosity" in

visitors.

Rugged Country Collection designed Christmas Stockings also hang around our home, warming our 

walls, sometimes year round.

Antique Christmas books, antique shoes and my antique Raggedy Ann Doll, touch every little

girl's fancy. 

Our Rugged Country Collections - Joey Buoy Booklets - fill these "candy decanters", again year round. 

My one and only Mr. Santa comes out this year, just for Abby. I would not have pulled him from

the boxes of storage this year, otherwise. It's delightful to fill someone else's heart with DELIGHT!

And we had to fill this tall decanter with all of my grandson Ethan's crayons from years ago. He is 

fourteen years old now and I'm sure no longer would find all his crayons a point of interest. 

But Grandmother still has a "storage full of memories" from these crayons on display. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS - 2016 - EVERYONE!

MAY YOUR DECORATING AND HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES BE AS DELIGHTFUL AS OURS. 

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS.

WE BLESS YOU ALL.

Beautiful musings ...

On a beautiful, serene ...

Saturday, Mid September ....

Afternoon ...

I'm a little sleepy ...

It's very, very quiet here ....

I'm all alone ....

And I'm enjoying "peace" and "rest" with the LORD ....

And some settings of "creation".

It's wonderfully comforting.

Restoration comes from relaxation.

Note: Photos from Bella Betina & Pinterest

How can we NOT savor those last, fleeting moments of ...

SUMMERTIME?

More and more, as time goes by, I find myself thinking on

the "idea" of living somewhere, where summer is with you

year 'round!

Fall and winter are special in their own right and spring as well ...

However, the warmth of summer, although too warm much of the 

time where we're located now, summer, is still healing to the bones!

The flowers, the beauty ... 

Summer, don't go just yet!

Just what do you find to do indoors all through the fall, winter, spring ...

Until summer comes 'round, once more?

Well, it matters not what the seasons are ...

The days continue on and something will require our attention,

Our love, our forgiveness, our work, our playtime,

Our worship, praise and prayer!

Oh, yes! These are NOT seasonal,

But are necessary and vital to be ALIVE at all times!

At Rugged Country, we love to explore!

To create something that's perhaps not been imagined in such a way prior

to our vision.

It's always "lovely" when someone passes by, stops to take notice of and to pick up, examine 

and SMILE with GREAT PLEASURE!

That's the response we're looking for! 

Create on!

We took ordinary, store purchased Thank You cards and antiqued them with

the same antiquing that we have chosen to always use on our tags.

This creates an "all new - old" experience for those who are on the

receiving end of things!

Send these "non-typical" cards and watch the responses!

We LOVE "rugged"!

What's your opinion?

You'll want to MAKE ROOM for more than one set!