Hospitality, Friendship, Encouragement

Monday, December 2, 2024

Welcome December

 


We had a lovely weekend. We spent Friday bringing the Christmas things upstairs, and Kyle and Tim helped me with the tree. Then Sarah and her boyfriend Dave also helped with putting up garlands, lights, and ribbon. When it's all done, I'll take some photos.

This is our first ever faux tree and we were very happy with the price and quality. {here}

Here is the tree in process. Lights first, up the center of the tree then around the rows of branches once on the inside and once on the outside.


We use 100 lights per foot, and an extra 100 with the twinkle lights, so this 7.5 ft tree has 800 lights on it!

After the lights we do the ribbon.


Then the ornaments!


Our dove for the topper won't fit so I need to figure something else out for the topper!

Tim and I went to dinner Friday night with sweet friends. We've known them a long time. We have shared history and that is so special to connect with them, even if it's only once a year!

I'm fighting a cold, so I stayed home from church on Sunday. Sarah brought lunch home, and we relaxed until dinner time. Rachel and Wes came over for games, and I made Monte Cristo sandwiches for dinner. It was a fun evening. I didn't play, but they were in the dining room, which is open to the living room, and got to be in on it all!

After a while I put my earbuds in and watched a movie. I like Holiday movies and so far I have watched A Merry Scottish Christmas, Christmas in Notting Hill, and A Heidelberg Christmas. They've been good, and not too hokey or predictable!

This month I'm reading an advent book by Sinclair Fergusson, Love Came Down at Christmas.


I'm also planning to read the book of Luke - a chapter a day, as there are 24 chapters in Luke! That will take me through Christmas Eve.

I like a focused reading this time of year. It keeps my heart on the most important things, so that my natural gifts of hospitality and decorating, don't become the focus of advent!

Did you know there was a Christina Rossetti poem called Love Came Down at Christmas?

Love Came Down At Christmas

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.



I'm a fan of Christina Rossetti. She wrote the words to another Christmas favorite of mine called In The Bleak Midwinter.


Just lovely!

Have a wonderful week, and I'll talk to you again on Friday!

2 comments:

Monica said...

I love your tree! Love came down sounds like a great read. May have to find it for next year. Thanks for sharing!

Debby said...

Your tree is gorgeous. Your tree is the kind I love. Looks real and minimalist. Not overdone! Very nice! Next year I’m going to keep my eye on sales for this type of tree. I like mine but it is too, artificially “tree-shaped”

Welcome December

  We had a lovely weekend. We spent Friday bringing the Christmas things upstairs, and Kyle and Tim helped me with the tree. Then Sarah and ...