Just Because, A New Year

It gets pretty busy around the holidays, and all I've wanted to do lately is get back to nature, a place of simplicity, and if I don't visit as often as I should, it always calls me home.  January is the coldest month here, and there has been frost on the lawns in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

Our sweet birds

in northern California....

nature's song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saw a few pretty sunrises recently.

 

 

 

 

 

Met my son for a Starbuck's treat

very early in the morning.

 

 

These small flowers

are still hanging on in the cold.

 

 

I think I like the alleys

because you always find something

interesting there.

 

 

Red roses seem to follow me

wherever I go.

 

 

So then, neither the one who plants

nor the one who waters

is anything,

but God who is causing it

to grow.

1 Corinthians 3:7

 

 

A good reminder for the new year.

 

 

Oh, what a delight it will be

to see the grandkids

on this.

 

 

Remember these?

When Jess put this in my stocking, I don't think she knew how special it was to me.  I used to walk down to the store when I was a young girl, about a mile away from our house, and look at all the penny candy.  I would collect my nickels and dimes and buy all the candy I could with it.  Sometimes I would get one of these, and you know, I still love them to this day.  : )

 

 

 

I want to write in my journal

more in the new year.

 

 

As I was looking through the store windows,

I noticed this.

 

 

My wish for you in 2019 is
kindness
May you receive it,
 and also shower it on others.

love you,

~Sheri

Baby In The House

We had a very nice Christmas.  I hope you did as well.  It felt so good having a baby in the house again for Christmas.  On Christmas Eve, we were invited to Jess' in-laws for dinner - prime rib, mushrooms, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and carrots.  It was such a thoughtful invitation.  Even though Nel couldn't make it this year, she sent us all goodies from Georgia. 

She knows how much I love roses, and got me some rose soap petals and a Starbuck's gift card. 

 

 

Jess did some baking, and made her Yummy sugar cookies and Russian tea cookies.  She gave me a couple when they were warm right from the oven, and they were soooo good.

 

 

They spoiled me this year, and here are some of the things I got.  Jess knows that I love to write in journals, and she found this one for me.

 

 

I've been wanting one of these for a long time, and my son-in-law surprised me with this.

 

 

My son gave me this cup...I love pink.  And Jess got me some of my favorite English Breakfast tea.  She had to travel to get it, cause the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store is quite a way from her area. 

 

 

Francesca got me some earrings, and Jess made this ornament, so creative.  She found the heart at Michael's, put the baby's picture on it, and attached it with a string. 

 

 

Out of all the baked goods I got, I woke up the next morning, and had some banana chocolate chip bread and coffee that my son-in-law makes every year.  It is the best banana bread I've ever had.

 

 

My friend, Anne, gave me a bag full of tangerines from the farm.  I thought of my mom right away, who used to put oranges in our stockings every year.

 

 

Mia and Francesca

in their

Christmas outfits.

 

 

 

And one of my favorite gifts was a

special message

from my best friend.

Sometimes it's the simple things,
the ones that don't cost any money at all,
that I cherish the most.
 

 

Mia waiting for Santa.

 

 

Yes, it was so nice having

a baby in the house again at Christmas.

 

 

~Sheri

The Angel Said Unto Them

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall  be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

~Luke 2:9-11

 

 

Merry Christmas to you,

my dear friends.

love, ~Sheri, Jess, Nel

Christkindl in the City

We went to the Christkindl Market in Atlanta last weekend. It's modeled after the big Christmas markets in Germany.

They had festive stands selling sweet treats like gingerbread and mulled wine and traditional German fare like bratwurst and currywurst. 

As the band played "White Christmas" it started to "snow." It was so magical, but we're still hoping for some real snow this year.

The next day we were still in the holiday spirit, so I made some sugar cookies...with a little help.

Mia put her mark on this batch. 

Only 9 days til Christmas! Are you ready?

~Nel

'Tis the Season

It's been a while since I've posted. 

I have been so busy teaching and mom-ing. How does one do it all? I hope it gets easier...eventually. 

I have been trying to savor the Christmas season. This year feels more magical as I'm starting to get this new parenting thing down, and Francesca can enjoy a lot more. 

We saw Santa for the first time, and went Christmas shopping. 

I've been baking a little here and there. 

Mom made these delicious sugar cookies. Her favorite movie, White Christmas, just so happened to be playing as they trimmed the tree. 

We enjoyed an evening sunset and walk outside once our smokey air began to clear. 

How have you been savoring the season?

~Jess