I love my new Christmas App

I love having apps on my phone that keep me organized. I downloaded one the other day that I am so glad I found. It is a free app called Christmas List Pro. It has this cute little Santa as it's logo so you will know which one to download if you think you might like it. 

It is very user friendly, making it easy to create your own custom gift list. Simply click on the person you want to add. There is a place to enter sizes, how much you want to spend, items you want to purchase, and a check box to mark the item purchased. It then shows you how many of the items on your list you have purchased for each person and lets you know what still needs purchased.

You can easily set a password so anyone using your phone can't check your list. You can also keep track of your spending so you don't go overboard.

I can already tell I'll be making my list and checking it twice with the help of this neat little app.

Windows of Gold

I love poetry. Over the years, many poems have inspired me, calmed me and just over all lifted me up. Perhaps my most favorite poem is Windows of Gold by Helen Steiner Rice. It is very beautiful and teaches us such a valuable lesson. I read it for the first time when I was only about 13 or 14 years old and it has always been my favorite poem over the years.

Windows of Gold

There is a legend that has often been told 

Of the boy who searched for the Windows of Gold. 

The beautiful windows he saw far away 

When he looked in the valley at sunrise each day.

And he yearned to go down to the valley below 

But lived on a mountain covered with snow, 

And he knew it would be a difficult trek, 

But that was a journey he wanted to make.

So he planned by day and he dreamed by night 

Of how he could reach The Great Shining Light. 

And one golden morning when dawn broke through 

And the valley sparkled with diamond of dew.

He started to climb down the mountainside 

With the Windows of Gold as his goal and his guide. 

He traveled all day and, weary and worn, 

With bleeding feet and clothes that were torn.

He entered the peaceful valley town 

Just as the Golden Sun went down. 

But he seemed to have lost his "Guiding Light," 

The windows were dark that had once been bright.

And hungry and tired and lonely and cold 

He cried, "Won't You Show Me The Windows of Gold?" 

And a kind hand touched him and said, "Behold! 

High On The Mountain Are The Windows of Gold."

For the sun going down in a great golden ball 

Had burnished the windows of his cabin so small, 

And the Kingdom of God with its Great Shining light, 

Like the Golden Windows that shone so bright.

Is not a far distant place, somewhere, 

It's as close to you as a silent prayer, 

And your search for God will end and begin 

When you look for Him and find Him within.

Author: Helen Steiner Rice

Bedtime Blogging

I didn't blog this morning. I tried and I ended up finding other things I needed to do. So I thought I'd drop in with a bedtime blog. When I got home today, it was so cold out that I was ready for a bubble bath and my favorite Jammies.

After my bubble bath, I grabbed my current novel I am reading along with my reading glasses and headed back into the kitchen. 

I had picked up some Pizza Hut pan pizza and breadsticks. I thought that would be a good supper for tonight. 

It was delicious. 

I did save some room for Oreo's and milk before bedtime. As heavy as my eyes are getting, I would say it will lucky if I get to even have a snack before I hit the hay.

Edgar needs a pal

Many of you will recall last year when Edgar the Elf came to visit for the holidays. 

He was always into something and his shenanigans landed him in a lot of trouble at times. 

I could occasionally calm him down by sharing my hot cup of peppermint cocoa with him. 

And he did help me type on my blog when I got to busy to do it myself. 

He was a great little helper when I started my baking and even helped me find all my favorite recipes. 

Of course, when we went to bake he had to try out my new Pyrex bowl before I could begin mixing ingredients. 

I made the mistake of letting him see where I was storing the cookies we made and the next morning I woke up to find him almost comatose on a sugar high.

I thought he learned his lesson but apparently not because a few days after the cookie incident he was helping wrap presents and I caught him with my Junior Mints and Orange Crush.

I was thinking that if he had a friend, he might not get in too much trouble. I was going to let Ginger hang out with him this year. But then I remember how much he liked to bother her last year so I may have to rethink it. Of course, if he hangs out with her and gets too much out of hand she can always whack him up side of the head with her Welcome Winter sign. We will just have to see. 

Running behind

Thanksgiving day is almost upon us. Just two weeks and two days away. I am so far behind on what I need to be doing.

By now, I usually have my menu made in an Excel form with a column for ingredients of every dish we have. Then I mark off the ingredients we have and use the remainder to create a grocery list of what we need.

(link for graphic)

By this time, I also have a list with what needs to be done around the house such as getting out the good china and washing them up, selecting the table linens and getting them washed and pressed.

By this time, I have signed up for Black Friday Ads and have started a list of things to look for on that day. So what have I done about it so far? I finally signed up two days ago and haven't even had a chance to go look at any of the ads.

I guess my plans for this evening needs to be to get busy and get organized for Thanksgiving and the weekend that follows. 

Some neat finds...

It's been awhile since I posted any new finds. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up these two vinyl bags at AC Moore for about a buck each. I'm use them when I cart anything anywhere at Christmas time. 

Picked up a couple of red/blue items for my kitchen for Christmas. Just love the little penguin. 

I came home last week and had these on my door as a thank you for something I did for a friend. I just did her a tiny little favor and she made me these to thank me. I love them. 

Picked up a new Christmas tablecloth for the kitchen table. I love it. 

I have been needing a new notebook. Since I am into plaids and dots this year, this was perfect for me.

At our last Bible Study, I won one of the games we played and it was this Thanksgiving set. I just adore it. 

I finally got the Halloween put away and the Thanksgiving decor out. This is my coffee table.

And I placed my Thanksgiving angel and blessing rock beside the pictures of my biggest blessings. My family.

It was time for my little pilgrim squirrels to come out of storage. I got these at a yard sale last year. I think they are so precious. 

Have you decorated for Thanksgiving yet?

The Wonder's of Technology

I was on Facebook Saturday morning around 5:30 a.m. As I was scrolling through the updates, my chat box popped open. It was my nephew who is currently in the USMC. He is stationed in Afghanistan and I haven't heard from him in months. 

I was beyond thrilled to have that quiet time in the early hours to just sit and chat with him. He was able to be on and off with me for close to an hour and a half. He was such an adorable little boy. 

Why do they grow up so fast? He has grown into a fine young man that the whole family is very proud of. 

At one point, I was able to get my Mom on the phone and she was able to tell me what to say to him from her. He would give me answers back to let her know. 

(Jake at Mom's house one Christmas. He's on the left)

It is beyond my comprehension that through the marvels of modern technology we are able to hear from our loved ones who are continents away as if they are just in the next room.

It was an awesome experience and just totally made my day. Mom was over the moon to get to "hear" from him. I asked if he needed anything and in true family tradition he wants some Doritos and Funyuns. Guess I'll be putting together a care package this week.