Finding Santa

Saturday my daughter and I went shopping. My 6 year old granddaughter, Shelby, was with us. As Diana and I were talking about our Christmas lists, Shelby asked to borrow a pen and a notebook. She worked studiously as she asked us occasionally how to spell a word. When we arrived at Walmart, we took her to the toys so she could get some Christmas ideas of what she wanted. As she walked up and down the aisles, I was the official secretary and she would look up and ask me to add certain things to her list. 

Once we were done and were going around the store, she kept looking at her list and grilling me:

"Where does Santa get his mail?" 

"Does he go get it himself or does Mrs. Santa get it?"

"Does he read every letter or does his wife help him or does he have a secretary?"

I answered each question as best I could.....He gets his mail from the mailbox...I guess it depends on who goes out anywhere on who picks up the mail...I believe he reads them all himself. She seemed to be thinking it over. She gently removed her list from the notebook and folded it perfectly in half and handed it to me and said....

"I don't trust the mail to get it right to him. Here, you take it to him and tell him it's from me."

I looked at her and asked, "Shelby, how am I supposed to give it to him?"

She looked at me like I had lost my mind and said, 

"Duh. You live right beside him, just walk it over there."

How could I have forgotten. Santa and Mrs. Clause DO live right beside me. So I went home, knocked on the door and explained the situation. Santa gladly took the letter. Then he asked me pop back to the house and get my camera so I could show Shelby proof that yes, he DID read her list. So I did exactly that and as I took the photograph, I stood right there on Santa's front porch while he made sure he could read each word she had tenderly written and he instructed me to tell her she had been a very good girl this year and he would see what items on the list he could leave for her on Christmas eve. She was one happy little girl when I gave her a full report and showed her the picture of Santa with her list. 

And yes, there is a Santa Claus and yes he does live beside me.

A Christmas Story

I wrote this poem back in 1999. Mom had a manger like this one and some years I would sneak and put it under the tree and just lay in the floor and gaze at it. My memory of this sweet little plastic manger was my inspiration for A Christmas Story.

Packages wrapped up with ribbons and bows,

Stockings over fires with embers aglow;

A tree in the corner strung with tinsel and lights;

A soft falling snow on a cold winter night.

Under the tree on a soft woolen skirt,

Sat a nativity scene of the dear Savior’s birth.

As I knelt down close to take a good look,

My mother would read from an old worn book.

She told of a mother, weary and worn,

Looking for a place for her child to be born.

The inns were all full, no room could be found.

They were shown to a stable with hay on the ground.

She read how the shepherds were watching their sheep

When angels came to them with voices so sweet.

She read of their messages of tidings of joy

As they told the shepherds about the birth of a boy.

We’d listen intently, eyes glued on that book

As she told how the shepherds went to go look.

How they found the sweet baby in a manger that night

And how they gave praise to God for the sweet blessed child.

We hung on her words, the picture so clear,

For this was a child the world would hold dear.

She flipped back some pages as we knelt at her feet,

While she read of some wise men and a star in the east.

She told of their journey to see the small babe.

She read of their worship and the gifts that they gave.

We heard about the frankincense, the myrrh and the gold,

As Mom quietly finished her story of old.

As she closed the worn book that she’d just read,

We’d get our kisses from Daddy and scoot off to bed.

As she tucked us all in and kissed us good night,

We’d think of that story as she covered us tight.

For we had been raised to know the Lord’s love,

And we knew that sweet Child was a gift from above.

We knew that a great sacrifice had been made,

That started with the birth of Jesus that day.

So forget all the presents, the ribbons and bows.

Forget all the stockings and lights all aglow.

For the greatest gift you’ll find on your Christmas morn,

Was given by God, the year our Savior was born.

Brenda Garretson Keefer ©

Manicure Mania

I am 57 years old and have worn nail polish on my nails just about every day of my life since I was in 8th grade. It is one of my obsessions. At one time, I owned over 80 bottles of nail polish. I don't have near that much now, but I am always on the hunt for new colors.



But in all those years, I have never once had a full blown manicure done. I went to a nail salon one time in my life and just had them paint them red for Christmas. Nothing fancy. It just cost me $3.00. Then I thought what a waste of three bucks when I could do my own.



However with all the new manicure "themes" I am seriously debating treating myself to a birthday present and getting my nails done for Christmas...not fake nails, just a fancy mani. So I did what I do best when I have a thought...I went to Pinterest. Here are some of my favorite Christmas manicures.

I love 4 solid and 1 glittery...for any occasion.



Since I love red and white together and I love candy canes, this might be cute to do.



I love snowmen, but just don't think I could handle blue nails all of Christmas. These might be a cute January theme.



This is basic but simple. I really like the sparkle.



I do like the snowflakes on the red.




I like this, but would go with red instead of gray. Maybe a burgundy to match Rudolph's nose.



Of course, I could order some Jamberry nails. I am adoring this set.



And look at the wide variety of Christmas selections.



Decisions, decisions, decisions. Stay tuned....

Top 10 Tuesday

Here are my Top 10 Tuesday ideas on what to do with the spare limbs cut from the bottom of the Christmas tree. 

Weekend Wrap Up

I was very excited when I got gas last Wednesday so I would be ready to roll on Friday. Only paid $2.34 a gallon. Considering not too long ago we were at $3.49 that is not a bad way to start a four day weekend. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family. Lots of fun and lots of food. I was so wrapped up in visiting and spending time with everybody, that I failed to get any pictures. I was so mad at myself, but it was worth it not be distracted from visiting. 

My first stop on Black Friday was to Kmart. My daughter had to work but she wanted to get Shelby some new boots. The deal was buy any pair of shoes for regular price and get the second pair for $1.00. I picked out the brown for $19.99 and got the black for $1.00. She was very thrilled.

While I was out an about, I started checking out fireplaces. We want one of the media fireplaces to help on the heating bill. We like the bedrooms cool. One of these will be very cost efficient to heat the living room and kitchen, keeping our electric bill down this winter. I liked this one but it isn't really what I wanted and it was more than we want to pay.

In my scouting around, I found a new book to add to my Christmas wish list. It sounds so good. It is about a lawyer who takes that puts her world of coal mining in Virginia, where laws are often broken, rules are ignored, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack from Big Coal. Violence is always just around the corner, and within weeks Samantha finds herself engulfed in litigation that turns deadly. Since I am from Appalachia originally, my family worked in the coal mines and I work for an attorney, I knew I had to read this book. Santa better not forget it.

When I came home on Friday, I had a package waiting for me. Thirty-One is branching out and carry a new line starting in January. It is called Jewell by Thirty-One and will include a variety of wallets, purses and accessories. The first of the new line to be a monthly special is going to be the All About the Benjamins wallet. So I ordered one to check it out. I fell in love. I want to get one in a different color while it is on sale in January. 

I took it shopping over the weekend and have fallen in love with how much room is in it and how easy it is to get your cash in and out of it.

My daughter had ordered a couple of their products as well. These were just too cute for spring.

One of my bargains was this little tree for just $3.88.

I picked up some baubles, bows and beads at Walmart for it.

I also fell in love with these little birds at K-mart for 1/2 off.

...as well as this little owl wreath. Loving the herringbone.

I used it all to decorate a little shelf in my home office. I am very happy with it. Didn't have any little boxes to wrap for under the tree, so I wrapped my business cards and some scrap pieces of plastic canvas.

Sunday, Hubby and I went on the great fireplace hunt for ideas. We went everywhere we could think of that would carry them. We are going to get one next week. As of right now, this is the one we decided on. The little door on the front top comes off, it is fake. My cable box and DVD will go in the little shelf behind the door. If you touch the sides, there are hidden shelves in both sides for DVD or book storage. I think this may be the one we get. 

On the way home from our window shopping expedition, we stopped by Kirby Plants and picked out our Christmas tree. The unveiling will be posted in a few days once we let the branches warm up and settle and get all the decorations on it. 

The bottom limbs were too low and we knew we would have to cut them off. So we had them just go ahead and come them before we left. And I asked for them so I can fix up something crafting using the real branches. I don't have a clue what to do with the so I am sure it will be Pinterest time this evening to get some ideas. 

Well, that is my weekend wrap up. 

Sunday Songs

Tomorrow is the first day of December. I thought it would be appropriate to pick Christmas songs for my Sunday Songs this week. I picked a few of my favorites. Hope you enjoy.

Some cool ideas to share....

I was looking for ideas on my favorite site...Pinterest and found some things I thought I would share with you.I showed this twig tree before. Well a similar one. I tried the one I saw before and it didn't work out. I am going to try this one. 

How cute is this little tree made from cup cake wrappers. 

What an adorable pillow. 

I wonder if I could do my door like this. I really like it. 

This is too cute for words. A need way to count off the 25 days of Christmas. The round pieces are magnetic sheets cut in circles. 

Very simple and very elegant at the same time. 

This would make a great Christmas gift for Hubby. I really think I will do this. He is retiring in November and just working part time, so we will be able to spend more time together. I can't wait.