Tis the Season to Be Thankful

This has been a long and painful week. I was saddened to wake up last Friday to the horrifying news in Connecticut. My heart goes out to all affected. 

I've been moving a bit slow lately. You see a week ago Saturday we had a scare (again) here at our house at my expense.

I suffered a mild stroke, (no bleeding this time thank the good LORD) but I did spend 4 days hospitalized.

I got to have a lumbar puncture and subsequently a blood patch to patch up a leak of CSF in my spine.

NOT.FUN.

But you know what? I am still here. I am still able to hug my children and cuddle in my bed with my little guy.

And even though my house is a mess, with boxes of ornaments that haven't been hung, a bare Christmas tree upstairs (I promise I'll get to it) and the stockings laying by the chimney with care (I'll hang them eventually), my kids are thankful. When I asked my kids what they wanted for Christmas and to please write out their wish lists, the lists only contained one or two things. 

And all three stated that the one thing they wanted was for me to be here. Alive. Able to hug them. Able to kiss them. Able to laugh with them.

I agree. We should celebrate these moments every day.

You never know when you'll get that last hug from your loved one.

I should know. I feel I've cheated (not sure if that's the right word) death three times.  I've been pretty close. But I'm still here. 

I guess childrens' wishes do come true.

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In the spirit of Christmas I do wish to leave you with what little decor I have put up.

I had SO many grand ideas. 

They'll have to wait until next year.

So here you go:

This $5 Martha Stewart Tree has gone thru several different transformations. I like to take my tree pics late at night, when everyone else is asleep-

 

This year I kept it simple by adding the ornaments and three teddy bears with each of my kids' initials. I think I'll start a tradition of personalized ornaments :)

 to see how I've decorated this white tree before click 

here}}}Star Fish Christmas Tree (Beachy) and 

Grinch Christmas Tree 

We, of course, added a little village underneath:

  We are searching for a Christmas train to add to next year :D

Like I said I like to take pics at night when everything is quiet. 

Our Christmas tree in the dining room :

 I like the glow of the twinkling lights across the floor and onto other decorations such as this new wreath I got:

 This year I thought I'd try a coffee table centerpiece using inspiration via Pinterest:

 I used one of my soda crates and filled it with mason jars. 

I then put a battery operated candle inside each. Doesn't it make a pretty glow? 

Very simple and inexpensive since I already had everything I needed. 

My mantle is very simple this year. Like I mentioned no stockings hung yet.

    

   And last but not least: My front porch. I took the JOY sign from Pinterest as well with my own twist. Instead of painting the letters on I simply glued the ones I already had from the year before!

 And there you  have it. Christmas at our house. 

Have a great week everyone!

xoxo 

Patty

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