HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

This little sweet heart ~~ yes Sir Cuteness himself, is here to ring the New Year in with us. Okay so him and his papa are already in bed, and I will be joining them shortly, he has still had a great time celebrating with lots of yummy food and a party hat.

How cute is he? I mean seriously!!!

Dak is at a party (a clean one) with some of his friends. They are probably playing hide-n-go-seek in a dark field right about now. YIKES!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR SON!! We're letting him stay out past his normal curfew.....EEK what are we thinking?!! =) anyway.......... I'm sure he's having a SUPER FUN time!!!

So I'd like to draw your attention to the pic below..... (you can click to enlarge if you'd like)

For further explanation please go here. That is a link to my new health and wellness blog and I am sooooooooo excited about it!!!!! Please go check it out ~~

I just want to say thank you for always being so encouraging to me. I look forward to getting to know ya'll even better in the coming year.

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Love you so,

Faith-Filled Fitness ~~ Background of My Journey ~~

II John 1:3 "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love."

I am so excited about this new blog. It is an extension of my other blogs and I am so thrilled!!! I have a blog about my life in Christ and with my family. It is a scrapbook of different aspects of my life and can be found here, and then I have a food blog that I have not been very good to keep up, but I plan on keeping up with it better, because I will be referencing recipes and menu's, ideas for snacks, breakfasts, etc., and I will be putting those things on that blog, but I will always link you back there when that is the case. My food blog can be found here. It is also undergoing a renovation, so bear with me on that one.

A lot of you that are viewing this blog today either know me personally, or know me through my other blog. What you may not know, is how I have struggled with my weight.

It started when I was 13 and puberty hit. Up until that time, I was a skinny little kid, but puberty hit and youzers ~~ everything changed!!! I gradually gained weight right into my adult years. I had a lot of trauma in my life as a young adult. I was 19 when I lost my sister Dana (who was 18) in a motorcycle accident, and my husband (of almost 8 months), within 3 months of each other back in 1986. It was an absolutely devastating time for me. I turned to food to help mask the deep pain that I was feeling. And I got bigger.

I moved on with my life as best I could. I was away from God at that time, and trying to do life on my own. I.was.miserable.miserable. And I got bigger.

In 1992, I had my son Dak. That was such an exciting time in my life. But after Dak was born, his dad and I experienced great turmoil in our marriage that ended with me leaving him and starting life with Dak on my own. And then eventually we divorced. It was a very difficult time in my life once again. And again I was still away from God (but coming back).

Well when I was about 29 years old I started losing a little weight. I lost about 50 lbs and then decided to keep going. All total I lost about 100 lbs in about a year. That has been about 13 years now since I got all the weight off.

I have gained some and lost some through the years, but I've never gotten as heavy as I was before I lost the weight.

This is my after and before =) pics. The one at the top is hubs and I from just last week and then the two at the bottom is me as well. (Please click to make bigger if you'd like.) The first one is when I'm about 22 or so and on vacation in Florida (and miserable). And the other one is me almost at my highest, 247 lbs (yep still miserable).



So why start a health and wellness blog now? Well back in August I had a heart scare, a big one, and so I started eating very healthy and exercising as best I could. I had gained weight since major knee surgery in November 2008 and was back up to 159 lbs. I was so unhappy that I'd let myself get there. But the scare with my heart did it for me. I realized that being healthy was not just a looks thing. It was a heart matter. I needed to be healthy to fulfill the life that God has for me. He has a purpose and I want to fulfill it. So I got busy.

I went back on my vegetarian diet and started trying to exercise, be it ever so slightly. I set a goal weight and got to work. My goal was to lose 29 lbs by the end of the year. I am 4 lbs from goal weight, so I reset my goal and it is to have those 4 lbs off by the end of January.

I have learned so much about health and wellness and being able to exercise and deal with chronic pain. I've learned how to stop emotional eating, and to deal with my pain in more healthy ways and I want to share what has worked for me with you.

I am so very excited about what God has laid on my heart concerning this blog. The name alone just thrills my heart so. You see that didn't come from me: totally God!!! I give Him all the praise and glory for what He has done and is doing in my life.

In the days to come I will explain more about the name of the blog and also what I am doing to start the New Year off right.

But for now I'd just like to welcome you and say thank you so much for reading. Please check back often as I will be posting regularly.

I have already posted some "keys to consistency posts" and so feel free to browse those. More on those coming up as well.

Healthfully yours,
Dawn

PS I love your comments and thoughts. If you are struggling with your weight and have a question or just need to "talk", please e-mail me (my address is in my profile). Thank you so much for visiting.

Festive Cranberry Pineapple Salad

And oh yes it is festive just ask it and it will tell you . . . festive all deck out in yummeeeness!!!!!

1 can 20 oz crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
2 pkgs (4-serving size each) JELL-O Raspberry flavored gelatin
1 can (16-oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
1 med dole apple, chopped
2/3 cup chopped walnuts

Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Add enough cold water to pineapple juice to measure 3 cups. Pour into large sauce pan. Bring to boil; remove from heat. Add gelatin. Stir at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add cranberry sauce. Stir until well blended.

Pour into large bowl and refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites). Stir in pineapple, apple and walnuts. Pour into serving bowl. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

This is even better the next day ~~ if it lasts that long ~~ oh yes it is THAT GOOD!!!!!

A Certain Place...

Genesis 28:11 "When he reached a certain place..."

This verse is about Jacob's dream at Bethel. What really struck me about this verse is that Jacob didn't stop until he reached "a certain place". He could have reached any ole place right? Nope. He had to reach "a certain place". A place designated by God to be the place for Jacob that night. There is no indication, however, in Scripture that he was waiting until he reached it, I believe Jacob just stopped for the night. But his steps were ordered of the LORD. He stopped at the place God designated him to stop. But was he aware of the "certain place"? I believe he stopped much like I do in life. Get tired, stop to rest. He stopped because it got dark, he grabbed a stone, put it under his head and fell asleep. It doesn't say he stopped to look at the scenery or to eat supper, it was dark, he stopped, he slept. Little did he know, he was at "a certain place."

I have read this story I don't know how many times, but I never remember feeling the significance of this particular part of the story like I do today. It is important. The writer of Proverbs in 16:9 tells us that "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." If you are a child of the King, He is determining your steps. I love that God is ordering my steps. There is comfort and great joy in that. Because quite simply put, my steps are not for me to order, they are indeed for God to order.

I am learning to follow more all the time. I ask God to help me to desire Him more and help me to love Him more. I believe that while I am here I am ever changing and moving and I want those changes to be taking me closer and closer to Him everyday.

Our Associate Pastor preached Sunday out of Numbers when the Israelite's were being guided by the cloud. And they did not move unless the cloud moved. I have thought about that a lot this week. If the cloud stays put, then so must I. If the cloud moves, then pick it up sister, it's time to go. And then God brings me to the "certain place." I have not always realized that the "certain places" are God places. I will be more attentive (another prayer).

I want to live more focused, more alert, more attentive, more determined to serve my Jesus ALL OUT!!!

Father, help me to relish in the "certain places". Help me to be a daughter that pleases Your heart. Thank you for drawing me near to You. You are my hiding place. I love You, Amen.

Sweet Potato Casserole ~~ MMMM Dak's Fav

3 cups mashed sweet potato
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter

TOPPING: (Isn't everything better with a little topping :o)

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 - 2 quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until hot and browned. Serves 6-8

And that's it ~~ see that was easy and oh so delish!!

Pumpkin Mousse ~~ Delish!!!

Pumpkin Mousse
2 small packages of instant sugar-free vanilla pudding
2 cups of no-fat (skim) milk
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
15 ounce can of pumpkin
8 ounces of fat-free Cool Whip

Make pudding first, then fold in ingredients. Serve!

Some creative and delicious ways to use your Pumpkin Mousse~~

Pumpkin Mousse Trifle

Combine a spice cake mix (dry) with one can of root beer (I usually use diet) and one egg. Mix and put into a 13x9x2" pan or 2 round pans. Bake about 35 minutes ~~ do the toothpick test ~~ cool. After cake/cakes have cooled crumbled some cake into the bottom of a trife dish, cover cake with Pumpkin Mousse, then whipped cream and continue layering. This is an elegant and delicious dessert. One of my mom's favorites!!

Pumpkin Mousse Tarts

Pipe Pumpkin Mousse into already prepared tart shells, either graham cracker or pastry. Both are great. If you use pastry be sure and cook them first and then cool. After you pipe Pumpkin Mousse into teeny tiny tarts, then top with whipped cream ~~ Delish!!!

The Joy of my heart....

Is Jesus Christ!!! I love Him so!!

And He gives me joy after joy after joy.....

God knew what He was doing (yes He ALWAYS does) when He put this man and I together.
We go together like yarn and a knitting needle (your welcome RJ =)

This picture was taken last night before we went out on a REAL date; like with another couple and everything.
I can seriously count the number of times we have done this over our marriage on one hand...
Yes it happens VERY rarely. But don't feel too badly for us, we really our home bodies and just LOVE and like being with each other.
But these few nights out are very nice.
My cousin is in from Looieville =) and so we went out with her and her husband last night.
It was so nice.
We went to Panera Bread and ate and closed the place down ... (okay it closed at 7:00 pm, but still it counts =)
I LOVE this man so!!!!!

This pic cracks me up!!! I have no idea what I'm doing, but I look like I'm telling him it will be alright =) hahahaha I crack me up!!!

I wanted to show you a few pics from this past weekend.
This was on CHRISTmas Eve. My friend G got me a Snuggie.
I didn't know I wanted one until I had one.
It is just delightful....DELIGHTFUL!!!
If you click on this pic you can see my eyes are open, just barely.
I was sooooo tired!!!

Here is a lovely plate of Christmas mice, Nutter Butter Santa's and Reindeer...
I mean seriously.....how cute are these?!?!!
And so easy and fun to make!!

Here we are on CHRISTmas Eve evening.
My family comes over on CHRISTmas Eve and we eat and unwrap sweet presents we get for each other.
I always don my Santa hat and go to work.
This year I thought it was time for a new hat, and picked this diddy up at Hobby Lobby half price....love that store!!!
Why yes, those are polka dot boot socks I'm wearing with my pin striped capris (that I generally wear with boots ~~ I never made it that far =)

I don't know....I just don't know...
Told ya, nothing very serious from Dak on CHRISTmas Eve!!!
It was funny ~~ really funny!!

And then there was this one ~~ I love this kid so ~~
And I love this pic!!!
Finally talked him into a serious one!!

We hope you all had a wonderful CHRISTmas!!!

This week I will be busy working on the health/wellness blog that goes live on Friday!!! So I may be a little hit and miss!! Hopefully I will be able to do both, but with my very extended workouts for this knee, my time to blog will be a little scarce. "But I shall try." (from my fav movie ~~ can you guess which one?)

Love you,

Merry, Sweet, Blessed CHRISTmas to You!!!

Merry CHRISTmas to you
Merry CHRISTmas to you
Merry CHRISTmas dear blog readers
Merry CHRISTmas we love you!!!

From: Dick .....

Dawn.....

And silly Dak!!!

Silly SillyDak.....
(for some reason, he did NOT want to be serious in pics yesterday =)
I did get at least one really cute one I'll be sharing.....
but this one...yeah whatever Dak =)

I hope this season has brought you closer to Christ.
May your heart be drawn closer to Him eveyday.
I love you so ~~ thank you for the joy and friendship that you bring us!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Dick, Dawn & Dak

Home .... Sweet.... Beautiful .... Home!!!!!

Well, here is how our day started. I decided to wear my slippers out to the car today, but didn't realize it was doing this....yes raining!!! Now my slippers have soles on them, but still it was not slipper weather.

Yep today it was definitely rain....but we'll take that over the ice and snow we encountered over the last two days of our journey.

This is how I sat in our car on the trip. With my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers pillow on the side of my knee and the directions on my lap with my camera close byand of course my Bible and pen. All the things a girl needs to travel.

Then when we got home I had a package in the mail from my dear blog buddy RJ.
She is a knitter and can I just say, the girl has skills!!! She sent me my beautiful scarf earlier this year, and I have wore it practicality the whole trip. In fact I wore it with my sweater and no coat to the docs office. It just made me feel so very happy and comfy. I feel home in that sweater...does that make sense?

So today when I got home this beautiful slouch hat was waiting for me in the mailbox in a package that she sent along with a gorgeous cross ornament that is hanging on our tree in the Prayer room and a beautiful key chain that just looks like me. And then this adorable hat.....oh how happy my heart was (and my head) when I saw this hat. I LOVE IT!!! It also is soooo me!!

We've never met in real life but I so feel like we have. We have a special connection. I love you RJ ~~ thanks so much for your kind heart. If you don't know RJ (Rebecca Jo) please go here and visit.

Well I have so much more to tell you all, but my hub is ready to rub my leg. So I must get going.

Love you all ~~

Hello from Bethany!!!

Bethany Mo.... That is where we are tonight. We are about 4 1/2 hours from home.

Here I am this morning just before we left to go to our doc's appointment. Why yes that is my sweet new camera (shhhh....it's not CHRISTmas yet I know....shhh)

I took a few pics for your viewing pleasure... your welcome =)
These little houses were down on the walkway in between buildings (which we never even had to go out on thanks to the subway system up there). Aren't those the sweetest little buildings.
This picture is taken on the 14th floor of the Gonda Building where my appointments are.

This is the sky walk that connects us to the mall...yep can go to the mall without ever stepping outdoors ~~ thank you sky walk!!
Yes look closer it was snowing. This was taken on our way out of town this morning.

This is a wind turbine....yep the visibility was poor...
Really poor.....
This is the road on the way back....oh boy ~~ here we go!!!
Well that is just a little look at some of our adventures this trip, needless to say it has definitely been adventurous. My appointment was pretty adventurous as well. I will be on a crutch again when we return home, and there will be some changes. All in hopes that we can get my quad firing. If it doesn't start working properly we will be making another trip in about three months for more treatment, but more on that later and on the prognosis.

Love you all ~~ have a super Blessed evening,

We've Arrived....

UPDATE: I now have a Dark Chocolate Mint Hot Chocolate made with soy in my possession. Oh be still my heart ~~ just like I make at home ~~

We are here. We had a wild weather day and it sounds like its only going to get worse. We hit bad weather about 2 hours away from Mayo. It snows and the roads get covered in a hurry up here, maybe because it's so cold all the time huh? =)

We've had our traditional Z's pizza (why can't we have one of these in MO?) and now I'm thinking about the obligatory Caribou's Hot Chocolate (with soy milk). I mean seriously, can you go to MN and NOT have a Caribou's something? Yeah I didn't think so either. So that may be in my very near future, if I can haul myself down to the lobby. I am so tired, but C's is so worth it!! Oh yes, you caught that huh? Yep a Caribou right in the lobby...be still my Caribou lovin' heart =)

Well, our appointment is at 9:00 am and then we will start back home. We're hoping to get four or five hours under our belt, before stopping, but the weather is not looking good for Iowa tomorrow, possibly freezing rain. Yuck!! That is stop and cuddle weather =)

The above pic was taken with my new camera ~~ sweet huh?!! I have many more pics that I've taken to give my baby sis a tour of Mayo from MO =) so I'll be sharing some more when we get home. I'll give you your own personal tour.

Thank you for your prayers!!

Love you,

Here we go a Wassailing.... er a....Traveling.....

Hello, from almost the road ~~ we leave for Mayo in the morning. The above picture really has nothing to do with leaving in the morning, other than we are in the car we are taking, and those are the sunglasses I'll be wearing, other than that, it has nothing to do with it. I just wanted to show off my new camera I got for (shhhh CHRISTmas shhhh)!!! How sweet is that?!! Anyway....shhhhhh...

By the way, that is Dak and I on our way back from church. He was playing with my new camera (shhhhh).

So I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that the packing is almost done and the car is ready to be loaded and hubs is ready to shut down the computer and pack it for the trip, so I wanted to jump on and say that I love ya'll so much. I am so ready to go. I'm ready to see what they say, but most of all ready to spend some much needed time alone with my honey. Even if it is in the car for 10 hours one way, and even if it is to a doc's appointment. I'll take it. He has been VERY busy and so it will be nice to slow down and just unwind together. We listen to the Word, talk about the Word, oh yes and the kids and each other and dreams (like the kind you have at night) and about anything else we can. We revel in our moments together. I love this man like no other, and this time together is precious. So yes, we will revel in each other for a few days and pray for a good outcome at the doc, but know that no matter what, God is for us, and no matter what, that we have each other to go through this life with, and we are so thankful.

Well, I will leave you with a bit of eye candy.

Yes we got to see Sir Cuteness today ~~ sheer bliss ~~ and have CHRISTmas with him. Here are a couple of pics of Sir Cuteness himself...

Could you not just jump in there with him. I mean seriously....have you ever?!!!
I love you all so. I will post a little diddy when we arrive tomorrow evening.

Love and hugs to you ~~ have a Blessed Monday,



Dawn

Oh Yeah, Dak is not going with us. He will be taking finals the next two days and working, so he'll be hanging out with my mom. How fun for them!!!

A trip to the ER ~~ and a Video of CHRISTmas Past ...

Dak has been sick this week and last night we ended up in the ER with him. They gave him IV fluids and nausea medicine, and he got to go home last night. He was much better and able to rest some after the fluids and medicine. Thank you for always lifting us up to the Father. It means more than you know.

___________________________

Well I downloaded that video I spoke of yesterday on Vimeo and I was so happy when it showed up in my e-mail yesterday afternoon.

So this was when Dak was about 5th grade at CHRISTmas time. That is my sweet niece and nephew you also see.

I had made English Crackers for all the kids and this is us popping them. If you have never done this with your kids, you should research it and do this with them. It is so inexpensive and school age kiddos LOVE IT!!!

The video is grainy, but the memory is as fresh and clear as if it were yesterday. This was so much fun. Be sure and watch for Dak to say "Mine!!" He loved this!!!

Well I'm off to clean, pack, call school, and try to figure out what we do about finals for Dak, and maybe get a nap in this afternoon ~~ sweet bliss!!


Love you all ~~

Untitled from Dawn Winslow on Vimeo.

Thanks for the Memories....Thursday

This addition of "Thanks for the Memories" holds a very special memory for me.
Dick found these pics on a CD the other night, and it brought me instantly back to this sweet time in our lives.

_____________________________________

Back a several years ago, when Dak was about 9 or 10, we went to a small church near the town we lived at, at the time.
It was a lovely time in our lives. I lead our youth that CHIRSTmas, and it was just a wonderful time.
In the above picture, that is Dak and his friend Shelby. Dak is interviewing the "shepherd" Shelby. So sweet.

This is a Human Video we did to Trisha Yearwood's "Walking in Bethlehem".
That is Dak as Joseph, and me and one of our little ones worshiping the Newborn King!!

There is just something about young ones worshiping!!!
Something wonderful!!

Me and my man that CHRISTmas!!
Just before the program.

Dak and I that same evening.
Can you even believe how little he was?
And cute ~~ oh goodness ~~ CUTENESS!!!

This is one of my fav pics of all time!!!
Dak and I ~~ he is just that sweet ~~ even now!!

I had a video to post of that CHRISTmas as well, but blogger wouldn't load it. boo. I may try to load it another way....if I figure that out, I'll link ya ~~ your welcome.


_____________________________________

Next Thursday is CHRISTmas Eve and I have a very special "Thanks for the Memories" planned for that day. Hopefully we will be home in our jammies drinking hot chocolate and telling everyone of our wonderful trip to Mayo, and not stuck in a snowdrift =) or motel somewhere drinking watered down coffee and eating stale donuts, but either way, GOD IS GOOD!!!

Dak was feeling better yesterday, and I'm about to get him up and around to study for finals, that start tomorrow. He should be able to go back to school tomorrow.

Dick and I will leave for Mayo on Monday. We would so appreciate your prayers. Thank you for always praying for us when it is time to go back up. I will hopefully be able to update you while we're gone.

Have a lovely Spirit of CHRISTmas-filled day,
Dawn

Here we go a-Carousel-ing.....

Ok first, please go to the right side bar and pause the music ~~ just for this post ~~ thank you for your co-operation =) Oh also, keep all hands and feet inside this blog at all times ~~ safety first =) (I crack me up!!) Okay moving on ..... =0)

Oh how I love all the special things going on in blog land during this Blessed time of year!! Like The Nester's Tour of Homes, which you can find mine here.... and today Faith's, CHRISTmas Card Carousel....LOVE IT!!!

I love giving and receiving CHRISTmas cards. And if you have been on here long, you know that we are anything but ordinary when it comes to CHRISTmas cards (and life, but you know.... another story for another day =) A few years ago, we started sending picture cards for CHRISTmas. And not just any pic cards!! We always have a funny theme or craziness going on. It is so enjoyable!!! It is just kind of the way we roll =)

And like last year, I am not posting the actual card that we sent out this year, but instead a Smilebox Greeting. You know how I love me some Smilebox!!!

So without further ado....

MERRY CHRISTmas!!!

(The music is from our church a couple of years ago.)

Make a Smilebox greeting

Thank you for sharing the Joy of CHRISTmas with us,

Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes.....

This morning during my quiet time with the LORD, I was awakened afresh and anew to the fact that God, very God, came in the womb of a precious, darling young girl, and lived in an earthen vessel, to make Salvation a reality for us. No more animal sacrifices needed. Christ, the sacrificial Lamb, gave up His life for mine. Truly amazing. And a reality that hit deep in my heart today.

Oddly enough I was NOT reading out of Luke, nope, I was reading in Psalm 37:37 "Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is future for the man of peace." Peace: a resounding theme at CHRISTmas......Joy: what my heart is feeling during this time of year ~~

Psalm 37:39 "The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble." Salvation: what CHRIST died to bring us ~~ PRAISE HIS NAME!!!

As I read these verses, my heart drifted to that manger scene and Jesus residing in the womb of a young girl, and then in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes yes, but also wrapped in human flesh, an earthen vessel, for the time appointed by God for His Son to come; THE very moment that He was to come to start the journey to the cross to die for us who could never save ourselves.

CHRISTmas is so much more than the trimmings. I purposely decorate our home to reveal CHRIST in all the nooks and crannies. When I look at our decorations I see crosses and nativities, delicately decorated children ornaments from my babe when he was little and beautiful memories in every corner. Christ came that we might have life and have it to the fullest. He died to give us life. That is what my heart is turned to this day as He prepares my heart through this season for whatever He has for us in the future. I am so very thankful to be His daughter. I am a well-blessed woman.

________________________________

Please remember Dak today. He is still having health issues and will return to the doctor this afternoon at 2:00 pm. Thank you for remembering him.

Also we are preparing to return to Mayo next week and the weather looks iffy. Isn't it always iffy in the Frozen Tundra? just saying' =)

Thanks for your prayers.

Have a Blessed and Beautiful day,

Come in...Sit down...& tour our home...

Welcome....Welcome.....
Hi from Dick, Dawn and Dak
We hope you so enjoy your time with us.
Pull up a chair and something yummee to drink and join us
in The Nester's CHRISTmas Tour of Homes
(this is where I should have that cute little widget,
but alas, I forgot, oopsy!!
So imagine it here .......

Here is the front porch to our little cottage....

This little fellow Dak got me several years ago,
he was probably about 10, and he loved his nose....
still does.....or at least I still do =)

Hello from Mr. Reindeer....
Yes he is stuffed and yes he does stay outside the whole season...
He's a reindeer for crying out loud, aren't they used to the weather? =)
I love this basket too!!

And here is my very fav little porch shelffencethingymabob.... love it!!
Yep another little basket....with some pine cones and evergreen loveliness inside.

Here is the little sign I got at a garage sale a few years ago for like .25 cents, or something really cheap like that...all it needed was a hanger on the back, oh yeah and a hat...and
voila ~~ love it!!
Oh yes, and above my door is an evergreen swag that I take teeny-tiny clothespins and attach our CHRISTmas cards to ~~ love it!!!

Here is our main tree in our living room. This has ornaments that are special, rare and extremely meaningful. I love this tree!!!
And this year it has a special addition ~~
the first addition by our first g-babe.
Yes Sir cuteness has put his beautiful mark on our tree this year ~~ yay ~~
It is the CHRISTmas tree on the CHRISTmas tree. He and I put that together when he was here a couple of weeks ago, and we love it!!!
I've had to affice the ornaments on it a little more securely with hot glue. He kept taking them off and putting them back on....so stinkin' cute....I have a wreath for us to do the next time he comes over ~~ sheer JOY!!!

Here is the Baby Jesus that Dak made at church when he was 3 or 4. So cute!!! I love this. It is one of the priceless ornaments on our tree.

Every year I do a theme in wrapping, and this year I am wrapping in silver and red and then tucking the gift into a gift bag and making it really festive and fun. They look so pretty around the tree.

This is the bench, just inside our door, all prettied-up for CHRISTmas ~~

This is a newly decorated corner this year. It's at the end of the hall by Dak's room.
You can see his sweet lights around his door.
They add a festive touch to this corner ~~ Love it!!!
Why yes, those are plant stands I brought in and re-purposed for winter ~~
thanks so much for noticing ~~

This was an old picture frame tray that had lost it's luster some time ago...
So I made it into a wreath.....makes me happy!!!

This little guy I just had to show, because Sir Cuteness can't get enough of his chair.
It is the cutest thing to see him try to put his diapered tookas in this chair.
Cracks me up!!!

Now these last few pics are of our Prayer Room.
I am so excited about this room and the tree we have out there.
It is a pencil tree I have had for years.
Each year it generally gets a theme attached to it,
and this year...it is our prayer tree.
It is in Red and Silver and I just, yep you guessed it, LOVE IT!!!

One of the first Nativities I ever owned.

Loveliness at the top.
I love the way it turned out....so pretty!!!

"He is Risen"

This is the top of one of the bookshelves in this room.
These are some of the items I've made over the years.

I collect snowmen.
This is one of my fav of the collection ~~ love it!!

Dick's Pa (grandpa) bought this for me several years ago.
He went to be with Jesus two years ago.
This is very special to me...we love you and miss you Pa.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Dick, Dawn & Dak