Operation Christmas Child and Christmas Happy Mail

Hello friends,
Just thought I drop in & post a little.  I've sort of lost my mojo for blogging.  It takes a ton of time and effort, vs. posting a quick snip on Instagram (smile).  Seasons change as you no doubt know.

from my fairy garden

Last Saturday I had the privilege of serving at *Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Processing Ctr.  It is one of only 8 in the country, so I am blessed to have access to it.  I am even more excited that I am going back Friday to hear Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) speak, along with some others who will share how these shoeboxes have impacted poor children of the world, and blessed them with a tangible representation of Jesus.


Some of the highlights of the day: •Praying over our boxes •A note from a child that cracked me up •Meeting a new friend who lives literally blocks away from my dad in Central CA and drove 4 hours to come serve! {behind us / photos on a wall for us to write prayers on} •a child's fun note with scriptures & games •a look at the warehouse •The OCC Christmas Tree
😊🎄❤👫👫👫🎁
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 ESV
😊🎄❤👫👫👫❤🎄😊
#IpackedAShoebox #OperationChristmasChild

"it shows my generosity" :)

Inside the Processing Ctr.

Outside of Child's note - scriptures

Inside of Child's note - fun!

Made a new friend :)

Next to the *OCC Christmas Tree

 I also wanted to share that I am participating in a fun ornament exchange this season hosted by sweet Karina over at: "Merciful Moments".  She is a charming teenager with a heart for Jesus.  A super fun surprise was that my swap partner's name is....drum roll please....DIXIE!  Some of you may recall my 80-year-old aunt's name

If you are sending cards out, would
you consider sending an extra one to
my Aunt? She lives alone with no
modern media.  Old school mail
really brightens her day. 
Email me & I will send you her address.
(Email button to right).

is also Dixie and we write to each other regularly.  So today when we went to the post office, TWO DIXIES were sent happy mail!  Since Dixie #2 has no idea who I am, I will share my fun package which I truly hope blesses her!
She says: "I am a true "farm wife" (although in Montana it is called ranch instead of farm! LOL) I love all livestock and any farm related tools...and rust and galvanized stuff makes my heart quicken! My house is totally an older farmhouse. I love anything which is old and worn! Antiques and well-worn items "float my boat" I enjoy Hot Chocolate...anything containing chocolate...milk chocolate!!!!!"

Christmas card, magnetic calendar, stickers, Christmas teas, Organic hot cocoa [& how cute is that vintage looking packaging from Trader Joe's?], mini box of chocolates, cozy socks, Christmas towels, rusty-look metal Cross ornament, teeny-weeny rustic stocking ornament, tiny die-cast pickup... which, I TOTALLY thought was an ornament, & then found out it wasn't - ooops!

 

All wrapped up!  I included a sweet coloring page from the only thing I purchased during Cyber Monday, and that was only because I saw it was 1/2 off on her IG page! (artist: Karla Dornacher - find her awesome, brand new color book here: Christmas Color Book or the PDF version here: Christmas Color Book PDF) and then some darling advent cards from the lovely Abbey over at: Little Birdie Blessings - She had a sweet contest on her Instagram page and she gifted EVERYONE who entered the PDF printables.  How sweet is she?

I always teach the daycare Littles to pray over our outgoing packages.  It helps reinforce "pray without ceasing" and makes people far away a little more real to them.  Just an idea to share if you have Littles in your life. :)

 I hope to do a followup post when my swap partner mails me an ornament package :)

This year I am really attracted to
vintage Pointsettias. I have loved
vintage Christmas cards for years.
I spotted this one on etsy & thought it
so pretty!  And a lovely way to
close, as I wish you
"A Happy Holiday Season"

Christmas Musings

Well, hello!

Please click here --> Charlie Brown Christmas Album ~ Vince Guaraldi
and be sure to open in a seperate window so that you may enjoy some lovely music as you grab a cuppa and read on!

I have REALLY been enjoying this tea of late.

Since I have not corresponded with you in a while, I have many things to share this time...

First, a wee bit of Thanksgiving.  The house was filled with family arriving on various days throughout the week.  We had people in every nook and cranny, but we made it work.

There were games, sunsets, fires, roasting marshmallows, homemade pumpkin pie, a turkey that refused to cook (!), and a trip to the apple orchards.

me and my daddy at the apple
orchard.  It was 25*  :)

My son started a part-time job as a caregiver to an elderly neighbor so that her daughters could have some time off.  Miss Annie is 96! She was once a seamstress for Hollywood, and later a bank teller who worked her way up to manager.  She loved, loved, loved square dancing, and has lived in her home for over 30 years!

Isn't she cute?!

After a few days of recoup (and a dryer that was out for a week - eeek!) I managed to get our little tree up.

It wasn't even up an hour, before Abbey snuck in and claimed her spot.

Here is a special treat I found at World Market.  I love it because there are no nuts in it.

I have been hitting a few seasonal sales over the past few days.  First, The Barn (a fun neighborhood sale that opens every few months).

Here are some of the cute things I spotted.

Reindeer Games - - - hee hee!  I would totally
play Bunco with these!

I believe this was made with 1 cup sugar and 1 Tbs.
of pumpkin pie spice.  They sold out in about
10 minutes! <Bakers twine, jingle bell, cute tag,
tiny clothespin, in salt shaker>... now YOU can
do that!

Here is the front & back of a cool piece of pallet Christmas art. 

It lights up!  

And here are the treasures that came home with me.  Because I got such good deals (at least I think so), I will share the prices:
Rod Iron fireplace grate (did you spot Max kitty behind it, checking it out?). $40... bought while in line before grand opening, because somebody was returning it from a previous Barn sale when they discovered it was too small for their house (woo-hoo!). Christmas album for my daughter $3. Awesome green and red mirror (and dang heavy too), $45.  4-pack of Christmas hankies $12. Vintage Christmas cards $2 (more on those later). Teeny bottle brush Christmas tree...um, $2 or $3 - I don't remember. Christmas pillow $5.  Christmas candy bowl $5.  What fun I had!!!
 Here is my little kitchen shelf dolled up for Christmas. Twinings Christmas tea, tiny tea mugs, a Christmas tea for one set, gingerbread men, and even a cute tea themed Christmas towel.


One of my favorite things to do (since my daughter was a baby) is make Christmas shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (a ministry related to Billy Graham and Samaritan's Purse).  I was able to serve twice in the last week at the processing center, where we check the boxes, and place them in cartons to ship out.  It is tiring, but SUPER rewarding.  We get to see what others have shopped for and packed with love.  Sometimes there are notes, and Christmas cards and photos.  It's great.  I went with my friends, sister and niece on trip #1, and my daughter and son & their friends on trip #2.  Such a blessing.

This week, I made homemade chili and decided to give it a twist.
You see, my ex-husband was kind enough to come fix my broken dryer (yes, we are friends now, PTL and we can do favors for each other).  Any way, he is Mexican, and they like to put cabbage and a squirt of lemon or lime on chicken tortilla soup; so I thought why not try that with chili?  It was delicious!

Now, back to decorating.

Remember that $5 candy dish I snagged? Here's why^

It goes perfectly with this wonderful tea set I got at this time LAST year at The Barn for only $25!!

What is interesting is the tea set is from Poland, but the candy dish is from Japan.  They are SO similar you would never know if I did not point it out ;)

Next, I wanted to show you some of the mantel displays.  The mirror from earlier, along with a cute little wreath 

I picked up for $6 at Trader Joe's.

I think you can see the color really well in this next photo, and
the ribbon was from my stash!

Here is that cute teeny tree from before,
along with a charming vintage looking truck I picked up
the other day, & one of the vintage Christmas cards
featuring a sweet family singing carols.  Incidentally,
I discovered a surprise inside... a small
book of carols complete with sheet music!

The lantern says He is the Light of the world.

Wish I had those boots in my size!

I love this 1950s card.  It features mom doing all the Christmas activities... isn't that authentic ladies?  Off to the right is a chippy, rusty old lantern I got at a previous Barn sale.

The reason for the season :-)

Over my table are some tea themed ornaments 

I have had for a very long time.  

I have not planned a tea for this month yet, but I really should!

I love that song (Dean Martin)!!

Thank you Stephanie!

Just before Thanksgiving, I managed to mail off batch #1 of Christmas cards, and yesterday I received my 1st one in the mail along with this sweet homemade ornament made by my dear friend, Stephanie, over at: The Enchanting Rose

She knows I like lavenders/purples and there is even a bit of bling in the center.  It is hanging in my lavender bathroom!

After church today, I headed to the Hillside Farm Craft Fair (an annual event).
On the way, what to my wondering/wandering? (hmmm...uh, dad?) eyes should appear?


And I spotted this sweet reminder when I got there:

Plus this really interesting piece of china framed in leaded glass,
which apparently is from the homeowner's wedding.

I love the lamp too!

A lady was working on this stocking.

She told me it was from a kit.  I just love gingerbread men!











These guys totally cracked me up!

Those eyes though!

 Snowmen paint sticks! What?!
How adorable.

2 came to live at my house!

OK! Seriously?  We can do this!

Today's SUPER, AWESOME, AMAZING find!
I was really wanting a Christmas quilt, and a lovely lady named Joan had hers on sale.  This is a CA King size with shams, she handmade and it was only $85!


I promptly came home and decorated my room.
I pinned those Christmas hankies you saw earlier to the shams and a throw, and strung some lights.  I figure the set will work all the way into Valentine's day!


Here is my nightstand,
as the lights change colors :-)

See that Santa Mouse book?  It is from my 1st birthday.

I hung 3 plush ornaments from when my kids were little.

Abbey spotted the mouse and prepared to attack!

She was super intrigued by the new bedding and all the goings-on in my room.  

Later, Delilah came to investigate.


While Max just slept in the other room.


And this is the fun, sparkly hat I bought today.  It is handmade by a lady name Deborah who I very much enjoyed speaking to.  She makes them in all sorts of colors, well, except this sparkly red; I got the last one!  She can't find the yarn anymore. Anyhoo, I'm adding her email in case you want one. Only $10!  Lots of floppy play, so you can style how you wish.

by: D's Crocheted Creations
dd.mosely@yahoo.com