it's been warm here...

It was the last couple of days anyway, it's much colder today...

Here is Daddy's little helper assisting in suring up the greenhouse. Last year in early March, we had hurricane force winds come through and shred the greenhouse and destroy most of the seedlings. This one has already survived some pretty big winds so hopefully we'll be alright this year.

While they were doing this, I was sweeping and vacuuming inside. She only came in with these boots on once. I guess I should be grateful she remembered to take them off the rest of the times she came in.
I can never stay mad at her for more than a second.

have you seen this...

I came across this blog recently. I'll I can say is wow...

Her words are really inspired and inspiring...

If you get a chance stop by and read this post...

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2008/12/mothers-work-model-for-true-work.html

silly me...

I know, I know, most people will look at this and think wow, she really needs to get a life...

My little one wore this pretty hand-me-down red wool sweater just last week. I accidentally shrunk it down to about 25% of it's original size. Our dog Molly was groomed recently and has been so cold since her new haircut. These days we can usually find her hunkered down under a blanket somewhere in the house....

Early this morning as I was beginning to sort out my "studio" and I came across some pom pom fringe scraps and here you have it....

One warm very festively clad pup.

Our Christmas Miracle Part II...

I had to share these pictures I just got of my sister, brother in law, niece and there foster child, (my foster nephew?) at the adoption...Did you ever see such sheer joy...

And here is Grandpa (my dad) with his newest grandaughter...

Merry Christmas!!

Our Christmas Miracle...

To my dear niece Lily,

Welcome to the family and congratulations on your adoption!!! The Lord could not have picked more loving, faithful or godly parents than he has picked for you my dear.

My little sister has waited many years to be a mommy, and you sweet girl, were certainly worth the wait!

I can't stop crying as I look at your joyful smile. You are the best Christmas present ever!!!

I cannot wait to meet you in person!

I love you!

Aunt Amy

This past weekend the many people involved in Lily's adoption case worked above and beyond to make sure that it was official by Christmas. We live in what seems like a crazy world sometimes. It is so uplifting to hear of the inherent goodness in these people.

This my friends, has Gods fingerprints all over it!

around the house...

We made gingerbread ladies (because there were no more gingerbread men cookie cutters at the hardware store) last night for the very first time. There were fun to do.

I'm enjoying this vintage tablecloth I found last spring at an estate sale. I think it was $1 and in perfect condition...

I also came across these santas... love them...

a lovely saturday morning...

I met my dear friend Beth at Mass this morning and then we went out for breakfast.

After breakfast we took a stroll downtown to Central Market. I love this market! I had to stop in before Christmas to experience the Christmas hustle and bustle. For our entertainment there was a family of grown girls who sang like angels as they were selling there cd. There was a gentlemen outside dressed like he just stepped out of a Charles Dickens novel "whistling for his supper", and he was surely one of the finest whistlers I ever did hear.

Here are some of the sights down at Market. Always the freshest flowers...

the best produce, next to a backyard garden ;)

fresh teas and herbs...

farm fresh...

Here we are!

Thanks Beth!

a little goes a long way...

For seven years at Christmas and Easter we have delivered flowers to a local retirement community for our church, to homebound parishioners. It started out as something we did because we were asked to do and has evolved into one of the most meaningful things we do during Lent and Advent.

It is both a joyful and at times heartbreaking experience to visit with these old folks. Most are so thrilled to see children of all ages but especially the younger ones, I dress her up in her best and she usually dons bunny ears or a Santa's cap-I couldn't find the cap for our trip yesterday=(.

For some of those we visit they say it is the highlight of there Christmas. From this particular visit I will hold in my heart a retired doctor who said he will remember us in his prayers on Christmas morning as he says his prayers with the poinsettia we brought, a dear woman who experiences the loss of her husband as if it were last week and the smiles, laughter and applause as my little one sang Jingle Bells for groups gathered together or individuals alone in their rooms.

She did great! I was so proud of her manners. She is at an age where she is usually quite shy.

They have fish tanks on every floor, a bonus that she really enjoys. If you were wondering what you could do to bring more meaning to this season, I highly recommend visiting someone that is homebound or just lonely. It takes so little effort on our part to make someone's day/week/ month/Christmas...

Oh! and another highlight this week...

My daughter got her Learner's Permit! Woohoo!
Lord have mercy...

A time of waiting...

The other day it was 60 degrees here in Lancaster. Preparations have begun. The greenhouse is up and soon the seedlings will be planted in anticipation for next year's garden.

The tulips...
are planted and hopefully we will here from them come spring after a
long cold winter (a cold one is what has been forecast).
This is a scene from the yard this morning.

Life is so unpredictable...

Christmas Tour of Homes...

Thanks to Boo Mama for sponsoring this little event...

Let's see, let's start here with our Advent preperations. This is our Advent wreath. We light it each night at the dinner table and say a special prayer asking God to prepare us for the celebration of His birth at Christmas. These are some of the resources that have helped us to make Advent more meaningful this year.

The Christmas Tree...
Our Nativity...

Under the tree we have my older daughter's collection of Boyd's bears and my

Raggedy Ann and Andy.

These two just make me smile, in kind of the same way those brightly colored boxes of circus animal crackers do, they bring up sweet memories of childhood...My mom had them made for me many years ago.

Our decorations are pretty simple. Here is our Christmas cactus dressed up. I have this huge bowl and placed the ugly potted cactus (that my husband really loves) in the middle, surrounded it with pine branches and put rose hips in for color.

This is the hutch in our kitchen. A friend gave me a ton of boxwood. I made the garland, hubby did the wreath.

The garland needed a little something so I went to the "studio" and pulled out some red pom poms, ric rac and ribbon to brighten it up.

I love this crocheted Mr. and Mrs. Claus given to us by my mother in law many years ago.

A boxwood with red gingham ribbon...

TThe view of my kitchen sink. I spend a lot of time there it might as well be festive.

As I continue to prepare for the season I hope to do so prayerfully with joy and peace.

Please try and do the same.

peace,

amy

We dressed up some pinecones today. It's actually been on my mental to do list-believe it or not. I haven't written a Christmas card or finished shopping or baked cookies but at least we have sparkly pinecones...

Little one has been taking a link off an Advent chain she made, it has an activity for each day. Today's instructions were to make an ornament out of old Christmas cards, so we did.

I'm not sure if we will ever see the end of the glitter in my kitchen, ahh who cares...

I just whipped up this apron for her friend's 5th birthday party this evening. It's a pottery place, fun, fun, fun...I get to help.

Add a little wooden rolling pin and we are good to go...

After purchasing scotch tape for this dispenser I was just about to put it on and noticed the little thingy in the middle was missing-it is useless without the little thingy. Darn!

Hubby disappeared into the garage and whittled this replacement piece out of a branch.

I had quite a chuckle at his resourcefulness.

Funny enough, it works like a charm!

I'm sure these dispensers are not that costly, but who wants to spend at

all when you don't have to. Especially these days.

Everyday as I listen to the news on the economy and the world I am

more and more inspired to simplify, spend less and just be grateful.