Gifts from the heart

We decided to make each other gifts this year for Christmas. Not because of finances specifically, more because we wanted to focus more on the person rather than the gift itself. (Heather's idea - gotta love that girl!) Mind you, we didn't really determine to accomplish this until early December, so time was a significant factor in the giving. Also, take into account the different stages of craftsmanship and age, and you can see that this project had many avenues it could take. selah.

Behold some of the outcome of our ventures:

Chuck made beautiful wooden boxes to store treasure in for the girls:
Heather made stunning blankets for Faith and I ( and I thought that girl couldn't sew a stitch!)

I made warm flannel jammies for the girls. It was truly amazing, the two of us sharing the sewing machine and not telling the other what we were up to.


Heather made Chuck some beef jerky and a scarf, and I made him some hot carrots. You can tell he thought he got some coal, at first.



Faith was truly delightful. She made Heather a "savings Lamb" so that she could begin squirrelling away more money for her next trip to England. Keep in mind, she doesn't want her big sister going so far away again - this was truly sacrifice on her part. She made me a beautiful bird house, and Chuck some much-needed coupons for chores and fun with her.

I think this was the sweetest Christmas we've had for some time. Knowing that Chuck's dad wasn't with us for the first time, I think the distractions were a welcome relief and blessing. If you notice, there are NO pictures of me up here. That's because I was up until between 1-3 in the morning for the last week and I look like the walking dead.

It was all worth it.

Ahhh, Rain

It's Raining!
Yeah!
Finally!

I love the rain. The sound on the roof, the scent of it, the way the light dims and glows, the warmth of a fire crackling in the hearth. Sitting on the couch, snuggled in a blanket, something warm to sip, a great book in my hand. Heather and I spent many a happy day (and evening) this way when she was young, now I want to build those memories with Faith.

It doesn't hurt that the Christmas tree glows with pretty little lights, either!

Ahhhh, rain.