Happy New Year

Thanks for the recent words of encouragement ladies ~ they meant a lot to me.

Ever since I found this timeless word in a small devotional at the flea market many years ago, I've published it in one form or another every year.  It's a wonderful reminder for every day, but it's especially meaningful to me as we enter into this new year. 

Sometimes it's hard - but faith is believing
in the promises of God, even when
they are contradicted by our circumstances.

"Write deep in your heart this New Year's day

this word of sublime confidence, Jehovah-Jireh.

It tells you that you can trust God always; 

that no promise of his ever fails;

that he doeth all things well;

that out of all seeming loss and destruction

of human hopes he brings blessing.

You have not passed this way heretofore. 

There will be sorrows and joys, failures and successes,

this year, just as there were last year. 

You cannot forecast individual experiences.

You cannot see a step before your feet. 

Yet Jehovah-jireh calls you to enter the new year

with calm trust.

It bids you put away all anxieties and forebodings --- 

'The Lord Will Provide'."

Happy New Year ~ and may 2012 be a year full of hope,

encouragement, fulfillment, and new beginnings
for all of us

Counting my blessings

xo Susy

I'll be joining Spiritual Sundays

Christmas Love

I think if it were entirely up to me,
I wouldn't have a Christmas tree.
But then... there are my Monday Night ladies.
Many of them are single and don't decorate at all, so I've found myself motivated the past few years to put up the tree for their enjoyment.

It goes in the living room ~ which is only used when they come over.  My husband and I spend our evenings in a small TV room, and there's no place for a tree.  I put a touch or two of Christmas in every room, and that seems to be enough for us.

Because my living room is the place where all extra pieces of  furniture go to retire (meaning it's crowded)

the space allocated for the tree isn't big.

  I move a chair out and the tree in.

  Sorry - it's fake.  But really cute!

 

It's a 5 ft. tree

 Prelit, pre-snowed, pre-pineconed ~ very California

My tree-decorating style is unique, to say the least

It's equal parts branches, twigs, and ornaments

Actually, this year, not so many ornaments

 It starts out in an urn to give it height

Then I add beads

  Some years red, some years gold

Next come the leaves, twigs, and flowers

that I gathered over the years

from the sale table

I have odds and ends and not many of one kind

I tuck the stems deep into the tree

 

a little glitter does a girl good

It makes for a wild silhouette before I tame it!

Next I add ornaments

  Big ones first, then little ones

and starry light jackets

 

the requisite bird nests

 

(we're almost finished)

I've looked a long time for an antique star topper

but haven't found one yet I love

And she's done!

  Maybe over done in some opinions...ah well.

Other decorations are loaded on the mantle in the living room

(surprise ~ not an inch of space is left)

 A trumpeting Angel

Poinsettias in a vintage teapot.

I like sparkle, can you tell

And around the room,

a bowl full of ornaments

a Hummel trio

an ice skater

a candle molded from a cutglass vase

another Angel

Teddy

He learned a new trick for you

Frosty

Ms. Mouse

And finally a tea tray with a red glass pitcher added

to make the season bright

I'm ready for company!

Whether our houses are grand or cozy

where love abides, it's home

Christmas blessings to all

Susy

 

I'm joining Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Tuesday's Treasures

Vintage Inspiration Friday 

Spiritual Sundays