Happy New Years Eve

It was 1967 and we were just 19 and 22, we had our first New Years Eve party.

I love it that we took lots of pictures so we can have great memories!!!

Hope you all have a safe night but do enjoy it. Linking with PINK SATURDAY

Ann

Years ago

I was looking back at our first Christmas together as a married couple 50 YEARS ago.

Hubby

Me

The YEARS have changed our bodies, hair color (for sure) health and residence but Christmas will always remain. We have lost some close family members but Christmas will always remain.

Hubby, Mom and sister Lori and Deb. Lori (the little one) now has 7 grandchildren!!

The YEARS change but Jesus came as a boy child in the manger and it remains.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Xmas Cards

I really enjoy the custom of sending Xmas cards.  When we were first married 50 years ago, I would send out a lot of cards. Today the list has dwindled down to under 30 because people just do not send them like they used to.

Xmas cards originated in England by Sir Henry Cole, he was the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Each year he would send Christmas messages to his family and friends and decided it would be better to produce a card instead of all the different letters.  The artist John Horsley created a design and Sir Henry approved and the first Xmas card was sent.

On each side there is a design of people helping others in the season. The middle shows a group of people of enjoying a day together.

It didn't catch on right away but by 1880 the post office was warning card senders to get an early start mailing.

Xmas cards show so many themes, are yours snowmen, snowy cabins, holiday streets or maybe the manger scene. I think we have sent every design you can think of.  Lots of people today do the photograph family card, I've done that a couple of times.

If I was really dedicated I would design my own card and have it printed on special cardstock--maybe someday.

Hope you received lots of beautiful Xmas cards this year.

Ann

ABC WEDNESDAY

W is for wreath

W is for Christmas Wreath and I mean a very large one!!

At the Crown Center Shopping Center in Kansas City, MO I saw this very big WREATH and thought of ABC Wed.  My granddaughters Jr. High Choir was singing there today.

This wreath is three stories high--would love to see how they hang it!!!


Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Gingerbread Kitchen

Each year I display all my gingerbread ornaments in my kitchen.

Vintage cookie cutters and sheets of gingerbread cookies ready for celebrating!!

My two sweet little Christmas chefs in the gingerbread frame. This was taken about 10 years ago!!!

Nutcrackter sugar jar ready for baking.

Cinnamon cupcake candle to keep it in the Christmas cheer.

Lets bake!!!

A cute lighted house to lighten up the way.

Decorating is all done and shopping is well underway. Just getting ready for family to arrive next week.

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Vocals

Tis the time of year for Christmas Vocal Programs. Our week has been full of wonderful performances.

The perfect choir to put you in the "spirit of Christmas".

My granddaughters Jr. High Program last night.

Shes the one with the long beautiful hair!!  Beautiful vocals here.

Our church production: "Big Band Christmas".

The costumes were fabulous!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you have a vocal performance to attend this year!!

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

White fluffy christmas

Featuring our fluffy white decorations this year.  My sister Katy's Christmas Doll takes center stage.

Little lambs accompany her along with white fluffy garland.  A little house decorated for the holiday adds to the charm.

We also have a woodland creature tree with a fluffy white owl tree topper.

Lots of white doves, birds, owls and wings adore this tree.

Wishing everyone a Christmas filled with love and peace this season.

Linking withPINK SATURDAY

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Uplifting

This is the most uplifting Christmas commercial I've seen in a long time. My husband and I get tears almost every time we see it.

Hoping all your preparations are going well in this wonderful season of love.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Nativity

One of our family traditions is to display our ceramic Nativity.  This set is at least 25 years old and I've been very careful with every piece.

There is blue clothing in the robes for Blue Monday.

The manger lights up at night!!

I love all the detail on each character.

The Nativity sits in the dining room and I pass by it all day.

My trees are up and we are doing the outside tomorrow. Festive abound in our house!!

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Veterans Breakfast

HyVee grocery chain here in Kansas City served the Veterans and their families a wonderful breakfast on Friday.  They were predicted 9,000 people served.

I accompanied by hubby and his friend and got some fabulous pictures.  The local police department presented the Colors and they all felt so honored. Many tears were shed.

Local high school and elementary students were servers. HyVee gave each one a huge selection of any breakfast item they wanted. It was so special.

My hubby in the light blue shirt saluting the flag.

There were red and blue balloons, streamers and flags to decorate every inch.

Every branch and conflict was represented.

I saw this gentlemen and had to know more about him. He is 96 years old and was in WWII, he was in the US Navy as a Corpsman in the Marshall Islands. He went in in 1945, the same year my Dad did. My Dad would have been around his age this year but we lost him to cancer 25 years ago.

Three good friends-left to right John (Army) Hubby (Air Force) and Charles (Navy).

A day to remember for sure.

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Linking with ANYTHING GOES PINK SATURDAY

Ann

Results

The results are in and America has chosen it's next President of these United States.  The people have spoken, they wanted a change and they delivered one.

I have heard plenty of the commentary this morning and CNN reported that the Democratic Party may have forgot about the farmer and the rural folks in the Mid West.

President Obama and Hillary Clinton gave eloquent speeches on the results and how we all need to come together as a country. Which I wholeheartedly agree.






Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann