Christmas 2011 at my House

Christmas has come and gone.  I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating with your family and friends.  This week in between Christmas and the New Year can at times just as busy as the whole Christmas season. It can be filled with holiday parties, visits with friends and family, shopping, returning and just plain having fun.  While I am still enjoying this special season, I wanted to take a minute to share some of my favorite Christmas photos.  I am sure there will be several more but here is a start with some pictures of HOME......

Christmas Eve breakfast at our favorite restaurant in the Strip District of Pittsburgh,Enrico's

Grandma Joni treated  Emma, Kate and me like princesses at our annual Christmas sleepover.

Molly is always a princess :)

This is how my son wrapped our gift.  Notice the masking tape bow and "gift tag" 

Everyone wanted a chance to hold the new Christmas Angel 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Steeler Santa :)  (only in Pittsburgh)

Wishing you all continued happiness at this special time of year.

Santa's Workshop....

.....or should I say Mimi's workshop.  I totally understand how Santa's elves feel at this time of year.  Hurrying and scurrying about trying to get all the toys made before Christmas.  Maybe this elf should take a lesson from them and start a bit earlier next year.  I have taken pictures of my custom orders and I thought it might be fun to share a few of them with you tonight.  This post will give you an idea of where I have been and why I haven't been leaving comments on my favorite blogs :)

Little polka dot lambs for a new set of twins

a few other lamb friends

Some new friends for special little girls

This little doll will be going to a customer's mother---Her name is Olive Mae and she will be 85 this year.  It only goes to prove that you are never to old for dolls :)

Several sets of finger puppets

A few of my favorite dolls that sold on my Etsy shop

Two happy little Christmas Elves

Four more little dollies to go and my orders will be complete.  All in time for Christmas :)  Now if only I could get my own shopping done. ONly 8 more days until Christmas-----yikes 

A Little Christmas Fun

Geno the Christmas Beagle

Where Are You Christmas?

Where are you Christmas

Why can't I find you

Why have you gone away

Where is the laughter

You used to bring me

Why can't I hear music play

My world is changing

I'm rearranging

Does that mean Christmas changes too.......

I did a little bit of Christmas shopping yesterday--to help put me in the festive mood,  I turned the radio to play Christmas music.  I have heard this song by Faith Hill a million times but this time, as the song played,  I really listened to the lyrics.  I must say it expressed exactly how I have been feeling lately.  My world did change this year with the loss of my Dad and my life does seem to be rearranging itself.  With my son grown, I do find myself reinventing --not who I am--but my role in life.

Oh I love Christmas --the lights, the music, the decorations, the excitement of little children--but I was just not feeling the joy of the season.   Why couldn't I find Christmas this year.  Then the thought came to me.  Christmas is not in the lights, music, decorations or even in the wonderment of a child's eyes.  If I was looking to those things --no matter how wonderful they are--to find the joy of Christmas I was going to search for a long time.  On my way to church with a friend on Sunday, we passed the Creche displayed by the city of Pittsburgh. A beautiful reminder of the where the joy of Christmas is found--in the birth of our Lord.

.......I feel you Christmas

I know I've found you

You never fade away

The joy of Christmas

Stays here inside us

Fills each and every heart with love

I  hope, as this busy season continues, that you will be able to feel the real joy of Christmas.  The kind of joy that only Jesus can bring.