SUNDAY SONG-Mary Did You Know Video - The Passion

Welcome to the last Sunday Song for this year!  Sunday Song will return next year, so please check Natasha's blog for more info.

Mary, Did You Know has got to be my very favorite song, especially at Christmastime! 


I was originally going to post the version sung by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd.  I love both of their voices - it's the first song on my playlist (which you'll have to pause to hear this one).  The visuals on this offering are so much more moving and more clearly represent Christ's unselfish love and sacrifice for us, that I had to present it to you instead!


If you listen carefully to the lyrics, you can see and feel Christ's Love for all mankind. 


He came to Earth to save you and me.  I know I am unworthy of such a gift of His sacrifice, but so very thankful!!!

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.


Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?


Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo


The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.


Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Merry CHRISTmas!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!!




XoXoXo

ADVENT CALENDAR - Our Christmas Tree through the years

Memories of the Christmas Tree are many!  I've shown you what my Grandma's tree looked like in 1952 in the previous post, but here it is again. 

Grandma Good's at Christmas 1952

It was small and sat on a table (lovingly made by her dad) next to her "pie-annie." 

(Grandma Good with a young relative back in the early 1950s.)

The piano was a player piano, also, with lots and lots of perforated rolls of music waiting to be heard!  I loved to hear her play it and sing all the beautiful Christmas songs. 

Grandma sang in the Listie Brethern Church choir, so the piano bench was filled with hymnals for practice. 

 The only photo I could find online was of a Methodist Hymnal.

source for all music related photos in this post:  Photobucket.com

There was a lever, under the keyboard to the right if I remember correctly, that switched the piano from normal to player.  The three buttons below also had something to do with it in player mode, but...that was a long time ago!  <smile>

The treadles were retractable and hidden behind the sliding panel above the foot pedals.

The mechanism was hidden behind sliding panels above the keyboard.  Somehow, you loaded the music roll onto a spindle and threaded the paper onto an empty roll.   

  

Grandma kept these music rolls stored in the old Victrola upstairs in the master bedroom (out of reach of little, destructive hand!).

She was the kindest Grandma you'd ever want, but she wasn't stupid!  ;)

This old black and white photo is of my sister, Kathy, Christmas 1960.  It was taken at our other Grandma's home in Morgantown, Indiana.  Grandma Hilda had the silvery aluminum tree and color wheel as seen in the background.

Here's a picture of one of Mom's creations, also taken Christmas 1960.  She always took such pains to make the tree perfect.  Each icicle was laid on the pine needles (yes - real pine needles!) with great care, one by one!  It seemed to take hours and hours before we could turn out the living room lights and see her final masterpiece!  But, it was always worth the wait. 

My 1st grade artwork is displayed above the piano.  I remember making the lantern to the far right.  It was supposed to be like stained glass, with red cellophane in the panes of the lantern.  I think I still have that one and the church window, second from left.

Anyway, our Christmas trees went from natural pines, to a fake white snow-flocked tree with green ornaments and color wheel in the late 1960s.  The white tree was pretty, but never seemed the same as a real tree.  The smell of a real pine always takes me back to my earliest childhood memories of Christmas.

When I left home, my first tree was a 7 foot real pine tree.  It was purchased on Christmas Eve, and decorated with my homemade bead-studded ornaments, lots of lights, and covered in angel hair.  I, too, labored for hours, trying to perfect my first Christmas tree.  The angel hair diffused the glow of the lights, making everything look magical!  Not bad for my first attempt at decorating. 

The following year, and every year since, I've had an artificial Christmas tree.  Each year, however, the same effort to achieve perfection goes into the decorating. 

This photo was taken a few years ago.  A lot of the ornaments are handmade by me, some by my sister.  Some are traditional Christmas balls in all colors, some glass-blown from a really cool shop in Nashville, Indiana, some Hummels.  Others are handmade cookie cutter felt ornaments, hand painted wooden ornaments, ornaments given to us as gifts from friends.  The garlands are stranded red, gold, and silver beads and thread spools covered in homespun fabric separated by wooden beads strung on jute twine.  The lights are both large and mini, with one of the mini light strands programmable to set different moods.  Mesmerizing! 

I don't even try to put icicles on our trees for two reason:  1.  I could never have the patience to put each strand on, one by one, as Mom did, and 2.  we have cats! 


Missy



Boots, our gentle giant

Susie, Missy's sister



Our newest addition, Coy-Coy (originally McCoy)

Kirk (James T.)



and Bailey, our oldest (10 1/2 years old)

 The sparkle is too much of a temptation for them!  It's difficult enough to keep them away from the ornaments!  LOL!

XoXoXo

CHRISTMAS PARTY BLOG HOP

The time has at last arrived! The Christmas Party Blog Hop begins today. 

Just follow this link to add your blog to our Christmas Party!  The fun is being hosted by Jessa at A Holiday Haven.  Love her blog!!! 

Now, on to the party!  If you're into retro or vintage, the following should give you some ideas! (OMG-Oh, my goodness!)

I thought I'd show you some of the Christmas photos of my family and me as we were growing up, once we left home, and the families that we have surrounding us now.

                         THE BEGINNING

Mom and Dad in upper left hand corner. 
This card was from Dad to Mom on
their 1st Christmas together.



Mom and Dad at Grandma's when
they were "courting."
This card was from Mom to Dad
that first year together.
Both scrapbook pages were made
by my very own talented sister, Kathy!



Christmastime at Grandma's,
tho' I wasn't born yet! How about
that black and white television??? 
This photo was taken 
Christmas 1952.
 Mom and Dad's wedding picture
is on top of the TV.

Presents all unwrapped! 
My Aunt Sally gave either Grandma
or Mom a copy of her graduation picture. 
Looks like bathrobes and watches
were the thing to get. 
Dad got a hunting knife (I wonder
if he ever got that bear that was
chasing him?),
and Mom got pens (she can write
a really mean letter!).

Next installment will feature...ME! 

You're gonna just love it!   ROFL!!!

XoXoXo

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

XoXoXo

Thanksgiving Graphics

XoXoXo

Sunday Song - Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (Snoopy's Christmas) (CC)

It's Sunday once again!

Thank you Lord, for this day that you have made,

let us rejoice and be glad!

Join us in posting our favorite songs on Sundays.  Go to Natasha's blog at http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/ and link up with us each weekend.  Great Fun!

This song, Snoopy vs. the Red Baron (Snoopy's Christmas) 
came out when I was in Junior High School and is still one of my favorites!  Love the Guardsmen, the group who sings it. 

My sister, Kathy, loves Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and all the Peanuts Gang, so this Sunday Song is for her. Love ya Sis!


xoxoxo


Joy

Pumpkin Roll - Oktoberfest 1st Place Winner

Back in 2002, I entered our Oktoberfest cake and/or pie contest.  I'd found the recipe in an old regional cookbook and thought I'd give it a try.  It turned out perfectly the first time!  It was one entry among many the judges enjoyed at the the tasting - guess you could say it was their #1 favorite!  I had to make it for our family Thanksgiving dinner that year.  Here's the recipe  -  enjoy!

Entertain Exchange: Haunting Halloween Candle Holders - DIY

Here's a link for a super, frugal Halloween decorating idea!  Great idea Susan, very creative!

Entertain Exchange: Haunting Halloween Candle Holders - DIY