Merry Christmas!
~Jenn
Good day to you! I hope this finds you all ready for the big day. We are done with our shopping. I do need to get busy wrapping, though. It's the one thing that I always put off as long as I can. I always think that will be different the next year.
Our week is not going to my plan. I had set up to be busy playing with friends today and tomorrow, to pass the time more pleasantly. Grace came down with a fever last Monday and has been very sick since. I took her to the doctor yesterday and he says it is a bad virus, maybe the flu or mono. Time will tell. So of course our plans were canceled. I am praying she can feel up to the celebrations we have planned towards the end of the week.
Did you notice the stockings hung with care in the photo above? Last week I found stocking hangers at Good Will. I could not believe my good fortune. I needed three and there they were. I've always wanted to hang our stockings over a fireplace. I may not have a fireplace next year, so this is a treat. And I did not spend a lot for the pleasure!
It snowed a little here last night. It's a good packing snow, so the boys have been out playing in it. Grace watched them from the inside make a snowman for her. They also joined in a good old-fashioned snowball fight with some neighbors. Good fun.
My husband has been given Thursday through next Monday off. We are looking forward to that. Tomorrow we are expecting to receive our new toy, aRoku. Do you know what that is? I've only just learned that they exist. I did not know that I needed one until very recently. (lol) They are a device so that people can watch movies via the internet on their TV. Since we don't have cable or a laptop, this will expand our choices a lot. We already love Netflix. This is sure to be even nicer. Having more choices without paying extra is a great thing. We don't watch network TV anymore.
One more thing, to answer those of you who have asked, I do love my new vacuum, although, it doesn't vacuum by itself, the only fault I can tell that it has. 
Maybe I need one of those robot ones.
That's what is going on here this week. I wish you and yours a very merry and healthy Christmas.
~Jenn
This homemade Christmas post is more of a homemade winter post. Let me show you how I make my crocheted snowflakes.
Several years ago, I made a variety of snowflakes to use for decorations. I usually leave these these snowflakes up in a window all winter.
I start out using a thin cotton thread like this and a steel crochet hook like one of these.
If you already know how to crochet than these are really simple to work up. If you haven't crocheted before I would suggest doing some other practice pieces before attempting these. I found my patterns in books and magazines, but there are several free patterns online. You can find some here.
The snowflake in the middle of the picture above still needs to be stiffened.
I use a glue like Aleene's Fabric Stiffener. You can put it in a little bowl or a plastic bag.
Just swirl the snowflake around in the glue to coat it, remove it making sure to squeeze out the excess glue.
This part is a little tricky. You need to start reshaping the snowflake and making sure that nothing is twisted.
I pin it onto a piece of styrofoam that has been covered in plastic wrap.
I pin all the little loops so that the snowflake is in the correct shape and then just let it dry for a day or two. An important thing to think about is the type of pins you are using. If they are not stainless steel they may leave a small rust mark, so....either take them out right away and just leave flat or make sure they are stainless steel.
When you are storing them just be sure to have them lay flat and they should keep their shape for years to come.
You can go to Simply Vintagegirl for more Homemade Christmas ideas.
I love this time of year, but sometimes we expect things to be different and become disappointed in ourselves and our families. That is really just wrong. In my case I have been dealing with a cough for over 3 weeks and it is getting old, but it is just a cough. I need to remember that!
I firmly believe that we need to just own up to our short comings and become the grace-filled sturdy women that God would have us to be. Is it hard? Sure it is. Do we fail? Sure we do.
I have been loving studying women from the past with my girls...godly women..sturdy women. It isn't all the fluffy stuff that we like to read and learn from... it's the day in and day out faithfulness in all the little things. It is their lives as a whole, what their character was, who they put their trust and hope in, what they taught their children, and how they helped their husbands that inspire us.
Our time with our families is short and precious.
How will you spend it?
To the battle front ladies!
I have to say that I miss you guys on HSB!
Blogging at Blogger is definitely easier (wayyyyyy easier), however, I don't really know anyone (except Joyce Marie) and it seems a little impersonal.
When I blog, I only hope someone will read it, but even when they do, who are they?
I miss this wonderful community of homeschoolers. It's nice and safe here!
I'm coming back often and reading blogs, so please visit me!!
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Love,
Debbie