Merry CHRISTmas!!!

From our entire family, which includes Mr. Jingle our bunny, to your family, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

As you spend time today with family and friends, remember the true gift of this day - the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God gave us the most beautiful and precious gift of His love in the giving of His one and only Son. Love did come down from heaven on that blessed day! 

Merry Christmas!!

And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Catch Up

I know, I know it is 3 days into the New Year and I have to start by playing catch up. I couldn't just pass over Christmas without sharing highlights from that wonderful day. 

We stayed up late watching Polar Express but that didn't keep the kids from waking up early.....no sleeping in here.  Our tradition is that the kids come up to our bedroom and we read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 2 prior to any Christmas presents being opened.  This year our tradition changed a little due to the ages and reading abilities of the kids - Emily & Matthew shared in reading Luke 2. It was such a wonderful "mom" moment to sit there and hear them reading the account of Jesus' birth to Dave and I. Wow! Time sure is flying. 

Now, I know what you are thinking. Just the day before we brought home the newest addition to our family, Jingle, our dwarf bunny, so was he a part of the morning tradition? You bet he was......Emily made sure he was included. After all, Jingle is a part of the family now.

Once we finished our reading, we came downstairs to start cinnamon rolls for breakfast and much needed coffee for me.  Dave started a fire and then we settled in to start the opening of gifts. Oh, and we declared the day "pajama day" seeing we were home for the holiday.

Matt, of course, got two Lego sets.  Its funny, last year he and Dave spent most of the day building one set.  This Christmas Matt built both Lego sets by himself on Christmas day.

Emily enjoyed playing Dave's new Wii Buck Shot game......Matt, of course, LOVES it too. 

Jingle was a part of the Wii play time too.  I think he was just happy that he wasn't in the game.

For dinner, we had our traditional meal of ham, potatoes & gravy, creamed spinach, sweet potatoes, cinnamon apples and rolls.  The sides were courtesy of Boston Market.  Yummy!

Our dessert is always the same, a birthday cake for Jesus.  We sang "Happy Birthday" and both kids got to blow out the candle as I didn't realize I used a "trick" relighting candle. 

Matt got close to the cake and I just couldn't help myself. He ended up being Rudolph the green nosed reindeer.

Of course, we couldn't let Emily get away with a clean face. 

It was a wonderful day and evening. We are thankful for so much this holiday.  We love the addition of Jingle and he is getting use to his surroundings.  Most of all we are thankful that Jesus, our Savior, was born.  We pray all of you had a very Merry Christmas. 

Its Tradition

Here we are it is Christmas Eve and our family "traditions" are in full swing. It is a little different this year seeing the kids no longer believe in Santa. Cookies were made but nothing is being left out - they know mom and dad eat them - and no reindeer food is on the lawn. However, we have many other traditions that need to be kept!   

Tonight we went to our church for the Christmas Eve service.  It was a wonderful time of singing carols and listening again to the true reason for Christmas, Jesus birth. The most wonderful part was a living nativity scene that was performed by the kids from our children's church program. So cute!

When we came outside from the service, snow was falling....such a wonderful sight!

Once we got home, we prepared the popcorn we would eat while watching "The Polar Express". I think this is the 3rd, maybe even 4th year we've watched it.

Of course before the movie, the kids opened their Christmas Eve present of new pajamas. Once everyone got comfy and settled, we brought out our newest addition to the family, Jingle, to join in on the Christmas Eve festivities. Jingle was not too interested in sitting still on Emily's lap and decided it was time to have a supervised tour of the living room, kitchen, dining room and Matt's room. The poor little guy had to adjust to the slick wood floor and tiles while trying to hop. He had quite a few slips and slides but he held his own. Sadly, we had to put him back in his cage after he hopped out of the laundry basket we thought would contain him so he would stay and watch the movie with us. 

I love the few traditions we have established with our little family. The kids are at the age now that they know what to expect from Christmas Eve and Christmas and even though the idea of Santa has changed it hasn't changed their love of the traditions we have in place.

What is most important is that they know the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus, our Savior's birth. He is the greatest gift that has been given to us and the greatest gift we can receive. 

Soon we will all be going to bed and Christmas Day will come filled with family and other "traditions".  Merry Christmas to all of you!

HCS Elementary Christmas Program

Thursday night was a special night because Emily and Matthew participated in their school's elementary Christmas program. 

This year the kid's started attending a Christian school. Most people ask us why we chose to have our kids go to private school and our answer is simple - we felt God wanted them there. Sadly, God has been removed from the school system.  What I find interesting is that I am expected to be tolerant of what has been deemed as "politically correct" and yet what I believe in most, God, has been removed from the educational arena. This in itself is a whole other post which I am not yet prepared to write. 

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to hear my children along with their fellow schoolmates sing and speak of the true meaning of Christmas - Christ, our Savior's birth. 

Emily was thrilled that she along with the girls in her fourth grade class got to sing a portion of "Go Tell it on the Mountain." Matthew was excited that he was chosen to play Joseph while the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classes sang "Away in a Manger" & "Silent Night".

Oh, sweet Matthew that boy is one enthusiastic performer. He sang with such happiness.  

What made this "event" even more special is that their Grandpa & Grandma Wessel came to NJ for their annual Christmas visit and made it in time to attend the program.

A friend did make a video of the program but I am unable to get it to load on my blog.
Let me just say it was excellent! Well done kids!!

A Little More "Joy"

You would think by now I would be done with decorating for the Christmas holiday but I just seem to be coming up with more decorative projects.

This past week while working on a Christmas present for a good friend I was inspired by the colors and paper I was using.  Last year I made a few decorative canvas projects but not for my own personal use. This project helped me rectify that.

I took a small square canvas and painted it with Martha Stewart's chipotle red - love this color. I then adhered a sheet of  card stock to the canvas.  When I was making the Christmas banner last week, I cut out this wreath and berries using the Joy of the Season Cricut cartridge. The letters are glittered chip board.  I took some red gems and adhered them on each berry and did a top and bottom gem border.

I'm so please with the outcome. I think I will make another canvas for the winter/snow season and then there is always valentine's day.

I created another seasonal vignette on the raised hearth of our  stone fireplace. I found these candle sticks on sale at Pier One Imports. Three pine cones placed on the pedestals create this scene. The pine cones are cinnamon scented which adds a wonderful element to the room. I'll definitely be using this feature in the winter/snow season just unsure where I will be using it in my home. 

Believe it or not, I do have two more Christmas decorating projects in the works. We'll see if they make it out for this year or next year. 

Happy Birthday Jesus

Today my plan was to work on the elements needed for another bulletin board but I just wasn't up to the task of making precision cuts on foam board so I switched up my "work" schedule.

Instead I started working on a few Christmas gifts I've been asked to make. While preparing all the items I would need for the gifts, I remembered my conversation the day before with my friend, Debbie, where I mentioned the idea of making a Christmas  banner for my home. 

It has been over a year that I made my first banner at the request of friend for a party. Who knew that would lead to multiple banners being created. Sadly, I've come to realized that I've never made one for my family or home. It seems silly that I've created banners for other's but not for those who have my heart. Today I rectified this matter!

As a Christian family, we recognize Christmas as the day we celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ's, birth. Since Emily, our first child, was born, we have been having a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas night as our dessert and yes, we sing "Happy Birthday" and Emily and Matt interject in "cha, cha, cha" for Jesus as well. As the kid's have gotten older, they look forward to this celebration. 

So, the first family/home banner I made says "Happy Birthday Jesus".  It is hanging in our dining room where our Christmas tree is. This room is also the main entrance into our home so all who enter our door will see and know that we celebrate the birth of our Savior during the Christmas season.

I Feel Blessed....

Blessings come in so many different "packages".  I feel blessed to have a wonderful husband and two great kids..... things aren't always easy but I choose to look at the things God has provided and praise Him! Things may not always be what I "desire" but what He desires and in the end I want His desires to be mine!   

God has blessed me with a creative talent and just recently He has shown me how to use it for His glory both in the home and out of the home. I have been abundantly busy this past week and am  "booked" for the weeks to come.  I love that God has taken my love for crafting and made it a blessing to others. 

Here are the projects I worked on last week and today during my new work hours of 10 - 2:

These are title placards and "icons" I created for a friend's school classroom.

HCS Perpetual Calendar Changed for December

The winter themed bulletin board at Bible Baptist Church

Christmas decorations at home - Dining room centerpiece and stair vignette.

Elements for HCS Winter Themed Bulletin Board - SCHOOL CLOSED snow day poll. Going up tomorrow.  

On the agenda, another bulletin board at church and several Christmas projects for friends/clients.  

God has truly sent many blessings my way!!

The Stockings are Hung......

Christmas decorations are up here at the Wessel household. 

We started yesterday with the interior decorations.   The living room focal point being the fireplace. As you can see, my decorating has become a little more minimalistic. 

I took the time to "trim" the branches of the piece I used for our "leaves of thanks" with small red and green ornaments.

Each of the kids have their own trees in their rooms.  Matthew decorated his own tree.

Emily was very anxious to decorate her tree and proud of her handiwork.

The family Christmas tree which is located in the dining room I got to decorate. 

Outdoor decorations were put up today by Dave with a little help from Matt. 

You are all welcome to come visit us and see the decorations in person and have a cup of coffee and some conversation.

A Helping Hand

When it comes to the outdoor Christmas decorating, it is Dave's territory.  The interior is mainly my domain with the exception of lights.....I don't know why but I just don't do lights.

This year Dave enlisted Matt to help him with the outside lights.  Matt was excited to help but it didn't last too long as the weather here in Northern NJ has gotten a little colder and much windier than yesterday.  Matt is not a fan of cold weather.

While the boys were working on the outside, I was busy decorating the family Christmas tree.  Normally Emily will help me but she wanted to do the decorating yesterday, not today so she headed out to scooter instead.

Matt working the shrub lights while Dave climbs the ladder.

Still working

One of the main decorations for the outdoors is the wreath that hangs over our front door.  This task was left to Dave although I am sure Matt would have been more than happy to climb the ladder pretending he was fighting a fire on the way up. 

The wreath is in place

A New Look for Christmas

I had made this wall piece to hang our "leaves of thanks" on for the Thanksgiving season. It worked just perfectly for the occasion. 

I so enjoyed making the piece and love the look of it that I just didn't have the heart put it away and not use it in some fashion. So, today it got its Christmas trimmings.  

During a recent trip to JoAnn Fabrics, I purchased some small ball ornaments (red and green in matte, shiny and glitter). I threaded the ornaments onto the branches. 

Not only was I pleased with the outcome but Matt told me "mom, that is really cool" and Dave said, "oh, I really like that".  I guess I made the right decision in using it for another holiday season.  Next, month snowflakes..... I am going to get the most out of this piece that I can.

I uesd the remaining ornaments to hang by ribbon from the scrolled iron work that hangs over my Christmas mantel. It gives just the right pop of color against the light colored stone of the fireplace.