Sunday, December 28, 2008

Cozy and Comfortable... Laura Ingalls Wilder



"They were cosy and comfortable in their little house made of logs, with the snow drifted around it and the wind crying because it could not get in by the fire."

Friday, December 26, 2008

A Christmas Quote...It's Not Over!

Matthew 2:1-2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,

behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,

where is he that is born King of the Jews?

For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.





Christmas doesn't end on December 25th!

It begins!

Joy to the World!

The Lord is Come!

God bless you as you continue to keep your focus on Jesus Christ.

Laura

*This picture is no longer available, however, check out the free e-cards at Debbie Mumm. This was used with permission.




Thursday, December 25, 2008

A Christmas Quote... Bob Cratchett


Then Bob proposed:
"A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears.

God bless us!"

Which all his family re-echoed.

"God bless us every one!"

said Tiny Tim, the last of all.


Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol


God bless us every one.

Merry Christmas

Laura

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

A Christmas Quote... Clement Moore

Happy Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!
~Clement Moore
God bless you all!
Laura
Home for Christmas

Christmas Quotes... Ebenezer Scrooge

Before:
"Bah, humbug!"

1
2
3


After:
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

May we too honor Christmas in our hearts and keep it all the year as Charles Dickens suggested.
Merry Christmas All....
Laura

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Perfect Christmas Gift...

Mrs. Fuentes has found the perfect Christmas gift. Great for last minute giving. Please see this.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

I've got miles to go before I sleep as Mr. Frost would say....

Blessings to you!
Laura

A Christmas Quote... Agnes Pharo


What is Christmas?
It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present,
hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish that every cup
may overflow with blessings
rich and eternal,
and that every path
may lead to peace.
~Agnes Pharo
Time to finish up those last few shopping details!
Wrap tonight so you won't be up
past midnight Christmas eve wrapping!
May you seek God and His peace and wisdom.
Laura

Monday, December 22, 2008

A Christmas Quote...Laura Ingalls Wilder


"Then Pa and Ma and Mr. Edwards sat by the fire
and talked about Christmas times back in Tennessee and up north in the Big Woods.

But Mary and Laura looked at their beautiful cakes

and played with their pennies and drank water out of their new cups.

And little by little they licked and sucked their sticks of candy,

till each stick was sharp-pointed on one end.

That was a happy Christmas."


~Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Little House On The Prairie," page 252


It's all in how you look at it, isn't it?

Enjoy what you have, where you are, whom you are with now.

Blessings,

Laura

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A Christmas Quote... Martin Luther


Good news from heaven the angels bring,


Glad tidings to the earth they sing:


To us this day a child is given,


To crown us with the joy of heaven.


~Martin Luther

Blessings to You!

Laura
Happy at Home
for the Holidays

P.S. This picture is available free as an e-card from http://www.debbiemumm.com/ .

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Looking for some more about Christmas?
Here's the link to my Laura of Harvest Lane blog Christmas archive.

I'm writing there as well now. I invite you to join me.

Christmas blessings to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Laura

Friday, December 19, 2008

A Christmas Quote... Peg Bracken


Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.


~Peg Bracken

Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Christmas Quote... D. James Kennedy


The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ.

~D. James Kennedy

Happy Christmas Season!

Laura

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A Christmas Quote... Peter Marshall


May we not "spend" Christmas or "observe" Christmas, but rather "keep" it.


--Peter Marshall

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas Quotes... Bob Hope


My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?
--Bob Hope

A Simpler Christmas, a Calmer Mother.


Like a lot of families, we're cutting back this Christmas.

Santa does come to our house; but, he's just filling stockings this year. The children understand that the economy has affected Santa as well.


I'll be giving my children one nice gift. For us, a nice gift is in the $25 to $30 dollar range. Each year I spend a little more on one of them. They all know this; and, they're fine with it. They know I love them all and just need to spend a little more once in awhile to get that special something for one of them. It's a different child each year. It started with buying a Vision Forum Liberty doll for Emily. The next year it was a Vision Forum Evangeline doll for Amy. This year it is a ...oops! They read my blog sometimes!


This has greatly simplified my Christmas planning. I still hope to make something for each of the children. I've been cleaning off my sewing table; and I've got a few ideas. I've bought each of them something, with the exception of my 11 year old daughter. I am still clueless. ~smile~

I'll come up with something.


All this to say, I've greatly simplified giving this year. Extended family will all receive homemade gifts. I've bought a gift for my Honey and made him a gift, too.


A simpler Christmas is leading to a calmer Momma.


Laura

Happy at Home

Monday, December 15, 2008

A Christmas Quote... Charles Dickens


Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days, that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the sailor and the traveler, thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quiet home!--Charles Dickens

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Santa Claus Question...


What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
.
.

Claustrophobic.
.
.
Tee hee!

Have a merry Christmas!

Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage!
Laura



Saturday, December 13, 2008

A Christmas Quote... J.C. Penney


Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry making. It is more than that. It is a time for the contemplation of eternal things. The Christmas spirit is a spirit of giving and forgiving.
--J. C. Penney

Friday, December 12, 2008

A Christmas Quote... President Calvin Coolidge


Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.--Calvin Coolidge

Thursday, December 11, 2008

I Got It!!!!!!!

I Got It! I Got It!
My package from my Friend Sue at Country Pleasures has arrived! I was so blessed to win her tea give away. Thank you so much Friend Sue!


I have a whole new batch of tea to put in my tea purse!

I'm going to go and make myself a cup right now. Hmmm...so many choices... vanilla caramel or pumpkin spice? Ah, definitely the pumpkin spice tonight! Thanks again Friend Sue!
Y'all should go on over to Sue's blog, Country Pleasures. You're in for a treat!

A Christmas Quote...Charles Dickens


I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.
~Charles Dickens

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Busy Busy...

Straightening, cleaning, rearranging, decorating, tree trimming, preparing for company, goodies to send to soldiers, caring for children, what else have I to do?

Laura

Friday, December 5, 2008

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do or Do Without Advent Candy

One of the books that I really enjoy using at Christmas is the ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel. She writes about the meanings of various Christmas practices and symbols and ways to reclaim them for Jesus Christ, God's son.

Sunday evening, as Advent began, we read about Advent Wreaths. There was an activity called Advent Calendar of Kisses. The idea is to take a long piece of plastic wrap, fill it with a chocolate kiss for each day leading to Christmas, and tie ribbons between. A child's kiss is then exchanged for a candy kiss each day until Christmas. I thought that was sweet, but didn't have kisses or curling ribbon. Here's my Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without version.
On Monday evening, we went to our small town's Christmas parade. As with all parades, the children came home with way too much candy. Hmmm...that takes care of the candy part.
We had some plastic wrap, but no curling ribbon. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without...what do I have? I had pieces of fabric that had been torn in small strips. I had a little thin gold cord that I bought at a yard sale years ago. My daughter had some leftover yarn. I had enough scraps for the project! Don't you just love making do with what you've got? It teaches our children resourcefulness.





A wonderful activity, memorable moments, homemade make do fun, the focus on what we have instead of what we don't have.
Got creativity?
Laura
Blessed with Resourcefulness
~~~
May I suggest?

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas on the Cheap...and Nice

Harvest Lane Cottage
Many of us are called upon to give gifts in gift exchanges, at the office, to a teacher, to friends, the list goes on and on. Many of these gifts are supposed to be of the $5 or less type.

Why not shop in the comfort of your home, from your home? Go on a treasure hunt. We all have things that are nice that we don't really use. These would make a perfect gift to help round out your shopping list. Don't be shy about it, either. This year, thrifty is in! Extravagance is a sin! Well, I cannot prove that Biblically; but, it's a cute saying. ~grin~

You're not a grinch if you are blessing from your stash. My stash includes things bought on sale through the year, yard and thrift sale finds, and things that I've made, including some of the things in my shop.

One of my friends, Joyce, often says, "Do with what you got."

Blessings to you all!
Laura
Keeping Jesus as the Center of my Season

Tuesday A Return to Loveliness - Roses of Inspiration -  Tuesdays with a Twist - Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays - Titus 2 Tuesdays Time Warp Wife

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Once upon a time…

a candy maker created the perfect candy to symbolize the true meaning of Christmas.

It was the candy cane.


The white stripes would stand for the purity of Christ and his virgin birth.


The red stripes would signify the pain and death Jesus endured on our behalf.


The hook shape would also be a reminder to all people of the name Jesus & his role as Good Shepherd.


~Author Unknown~

Enjoy a candy cane or share the story today!

Laura