Only a few more hours left to enter this giveaway!!

 

 

Just click on the pic and head to the  post and enter!

Thank you to everyone for your sweet comments!

  Wishing everyone good luck!!

Blessings ~Sara

Christmas Tree, a birthday and Remembering December 7, 1941!!

So many things going on…. I haven't’ even finished my Christmas decorating. For someone who has always loved Christmas and usually has everything in place the day after Thanksgiving it is kind of ridiculous! Well we have had sickness, and surgery and birthdays every weekend…..phew that equals= LIFE! It happens, we make plans and life comes along .

We did manage to get our Christmas tree and get it decorated. All of the  guys were of on Tuesday, so we used it to our advantage. I sent my two sons to get a tree and they sent back pics ( they wanted to me sure that momma approved).

Well I did approve! It is awesome! Also we had the pleasure of having all of our children and grandchildren stop by and help decorate the tree. That hasn’t happened in years!! I can’;t even remember the last time we all decorated the tree together. When they all lived at home, some were working, or out with friends, you know the typical family life. So here it is all decorated.

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We also celebrated our granddaughters birthday over the weekend, and as a grandma I have to show you a few pics.

We gave her a little outfit that her mom wore on Easter one year when she was about her age. Along with a picture showing mom wearing the outfit.

We also created this doll bed and armoire for her doll. I think she liked it because she laid right down on it. lol

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Well as I said, life happens…..and today I am so thankful for my husband and children. They wouldn’t be her today if their had been one more bomb. As we think about Dec 7, 1941, my father in law was there that day and here is his remembrance of that day!

~an excerpt from a couple of interviews that my father-in-law gave back in the 90's.

The entry in James Cocarus' diary for Sunday, December 7,1941, the day the Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor and surrounding Military installations, is frank and defiant.

It reads,"Papers say more than I can except for a few incidents that can't be discussed. Buddies getting killed and good men dying like flies. Sure took us by surprise. What stopped them from taking over the island will always keep me wondering. It was theirs for the asking. Our day will come soon."

That prophetic entry was penned 50 years ago, but Cocarus, like other survivors from that momentous day, doesn't need his notes or abundant photographs to recall the details of the surprise attack, and all that ensued in the following three or four years. Everything is still etched clearly on his mind.

Probe a little, and you will find a void that will never be filled. A void that boils down to two days out of the 25,550 plus he has seen so far. Two days that appeared on the calendar almost 50 years ago. Of course, Cocarus, along with thousands of others, remembers and will never forget Dec. 7th 1941, when Japanese attacked sleepy Pearl Harbor, destroying a major portion of the U.S. Navy and marking the nations's official entry into World War II.That day dawned when Cocarus, who had been attached as an airplane sheet metal mechanic to the 7th Air Force at Hickam Field in Hawaii for over a year, awoke to work in the mess hall while his buddies headed off to Hanger 17 to await the arrival of a flight of B-17 bombers.

Everyone anticipated the Japanese would strike, Cocarus says and he recalls hearing rumors about where the attack would occur, but no one seriously thought thought it would be

Pearl Harbor. And even when the infamous attack began, it took a while to fully comprehend what was going on, Cocarus remembers.

"While on K.P. we heard lot of explosions", he recalls."So we went outside to see what was going on. Planes were buzzing around and at first, thought it was weekend "maneuvers" until we saw the bombs dropping and saw the big red symbol on the planes. Then it hit us- the Japanese were attacking Hawaii".

Then things started happening real fast.

"We got our rifles and G.I.'s set up machine guns on the parade ground and began returning fire as the Japanese had now started attacking Hickam Field, strafing and bombing", Cocarus says, words not really effectively expressing what what must have been the shear terror of the moment.

"The planes were low enough so you could actually see the smiling face of the pilot as he fired away at his target" he says.

Evasive action was necessary and he and several others jumped into a car and headed for their posts at a nearby lumber yard. Then the future began looking a little dim for as a Japanese plane headed towards them.

They quickly ditched the car and sprinted for what appeared to be the relative safety of the parade ground, away from the airplane hangers and the flight lines packed with aircraft.

"As we were heading across the parade ground their was one pattern of bombs", he remembers. "If there had been one more bomb.....

~So as we remember all that have sacrificed to give us the freedoms that we take for granted , please pause and be thankful for all that it is that we have.

Remember Jesus is the reason for the season!!

Blessings ~Sara

ps- remember to enter my giveaway on the last post!! Only 2 more days to enter!

Christmas giveaway….

 

 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

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Merry Christmas to all of my faithful  followers on my blog. I have met so many wonderful people here in the last few months, and I wanted to give back a little something. Christmas memories bring me back to my childhood. I can remember my mom in the kitchen listening to Christmas music, going to the store and seeing all of the decorations, candlelight  and hymns at church, Christmas caroling with Pioneer girls to the older shut-in folks, live nativities, putting Jesus in the manger on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus, toy soldiers, Raggedy Ann dolls, gingerbread men, well……..I am sure you have plenty of your own memories of what reminds you of Christmas.

What I have for you is  an “Olde Fashioned Christmas” giveaway!! A few things that I have designed and created just for you!  Everything that I create is one of a kind, I do not use someone else’ patterns or stencils, so each item is unique and no two are alike. The items are in the picture above. First in the center of the picture  is “Santa”, he is hand created and stands in a chimney. He has bendable arms and can “hold” anything that you would like him to. He has a package in his arms and comes with a “bag full of goodies”. He is approx 6 inches high. (Sorry about the quality of the pictures, I am having camera issues. I think a new one will be on my Christmas wish list. ) Here is another picture of him.

Also included is a hand painted sign that reads “Olde Fashioned Christmas” –it is 8” by 22” and is red over black and distressed.

other items include a toy soldier(one of my newest and most favorite creations), gingerbread man, the homespun red striped runner and then……. a few:

“Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”

everyone likes surprises….so you will also receive a few surprises as well.

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So here are the rules:

First of all  I would like to add to my followers!

If you are a regular follower, (Thank you so much!!)just leave a comment and you will receive 1 entry. But if you post a blog about my giveaway, or share it on your facebook page you will receive 5 entries!!!! Yes, to encourage everyone to “spread the word” you will receive 5 entries for sharing. Put a link to this post “in “a blog, (not just a side note) or- share this post to your facebook page. I know some of you do not have a bog so if  you need help just e-mail or message me on facebook. This is only going to be open for a few days, to assure that you receive these items in time to decorate with them. So you have from now until Thursday  evening  December 8th to enter. Friday morning a name will be picked and you will have 24 hours to get back to me. If I don’t hear from you I will select another name. (I am feeling generous, so there may be another surprise gift for a runner up as well.) I love surprises!! Don’t you???

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I am truly humbled by all of the wonderful and creative people here in blog land!! I have learned so much and I have received so many inspirational decorating ideas. Thank you all so much for your new friendship. I wish you all a very blessed Christmas with family and friends!

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Well off to do a little more creating. Today is my granddaughters 2nd birthday and I still have some finishing touches to do on her birthday gift.

This is my granddaughter Sophia and my grandson Isaiah decorating gingerbread cookies. They are cousins, but look like they could be twins.

I will be back soon with some of my own Christmas decorating  pictures. I have been blessed to see so many wonderfully  decorated homes….well, not sure what I will come up with this year, but I am sure it wont compare.

I will leave you with the real meaning of Christmas:

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

More giveaways-

Farmhouse Primitives  is hosting a giveaway, go on over and check it out.

.blogspot.com/2011/10/word-of-mouth-is-best-way-to-advertise.html

And then check back here in a little bit. I have my giveaway ready, just need pictures. I have a “priority mail” box all ready for it so you will receive it soon. Wishing you a  wonderful day!  ~Sara

Happy Thanksgiving! and our Thankful Tree.

 

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and share a few pics of our "Thankful Tree". I was inspired by Aunt Ruthie over at Sugar Pie Farmhouse. She is such a talented, wonderful, Godly woman with so many ideas. She is so willing to share and is always  uplifting. You can find her over on the side of my blog,  just click on her picture and head on over to check out all of  her wonderful posts.

Well onto what I have come up with this Thanksgiving......

This is our "Thankful Tree"

We have placed pictures of  "old family" and  "new family". Lot's of memories here. Pictures of our children when they were small, and this picture is  one of my parents when they were dating. They have both been gone for many years now. We have also added some little tags and on the back are different  thankful scripture verses.

 Like  Psalm 100~

    

¹ Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
² Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;^[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
         Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations.

   

This is a picture of my husbands parents many years ago at a Thanksgiving gathering.

and my boys being silly...

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This year I am so thankful for all of the little things in life that we all take so much for granted. We have had a rough year, but we will all be together and are truly thanking God for what he is doing in our midst. My nephew is back in the states from Afghanistan,  all of the guys in the family have jobs, and everyone is healthy right now. We will be thinking of friends that have a family member  in the rehab recovering from a stroke (long battle, but he is alive and we are all thankful for a longer time that they can share each other's lives.) God is good, His mercy endures forever!

 

 

Well there is food to prepare and bake, I must be getting back to it. We will have a house full in the morning for the parade. You know the song....."Over the River and Through the Woods"......

Well they will all be here at Grandma's,  and Papa's.  We are having breakfast all together, as some will be off to work later in the day and some will be heading over to the in-laws. So at breakfast we can all be together. I am going to make a breakfast casserole with maple sausage, bacon and eggs. We will also have  cinnamon rolls,  cranberry/orange bread, and I think my daughter will be making another breakfast casserole.  But I am sure there will still be room for dinner later in the day, when we will have all of the usual Thanksgiving Dinner traditional "Good Eats". Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted squash, well you know. I also was having a hard time coming up with a centerpiece and I decided on something a little different. This creation came about during a little trip to Trader Joes today with my daughters and the grandchildren.

I will leave you with a picture of my "well dressed bird". Have a wonderful day with family and friends and remember the reason we are all together today.

"True Thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not tell Him what we have done for Him."
~George R. Hendrick~

Thanksgiving Blessings

~Sara

Out of ideas……Can you help??

 

I am hosting Thanksgiving Dinner here for the first time in three years, and I am at a loss for a table centerpiece, settings etc. Maybe it’s because I got rid of so many “things” that I used to have when we moved form Back East. (And some were “lost” as well) Maybe it’s because we are in a new setting here in California and it just “feels different'. Maybe I am just over thinking it and just need to be simple in my thinking and save my energy for Black Friday Shopping with my girls! lol Oh I don’t know. But I would be open to some ideas if anybody would like to share.  One thing is for sure, I am going to have to empty my hutch of all it’s contents to set the table. It seems like I just tweaked it to look nice, and now I have to empty it.

 

 

Well that’s ok, because as soon as Thanksgiving is over I will be putting those dishes away and I will be getting out my Christmas dishes ! I Can’t wait!! Everything is still boxed up, so it will literally be like Christmas opening all of the boxes and remembering what I have. We moved in February and things went from being out at Christmas to boxes ready for moving. Also I was sick for a few months, so most of the packing was done by my hubby and son (I so appreciate all that they do for me, they are wonderful), sooooo…. I really don’t know what I will find it the “boxes”.  I do however have a couple of my Christmas mugs waiting in my hutch to take out.

 

You see  I had four of these mugs that belonged to my mother and when she passed away I inherited them. When we moved form NH and all of our extended family, I gave two to my younger sister and told her to text me and we could use our mugs to have coffee together even though we were 3000 miles away.

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I also haven’t forgotten about a giveaway. I almost have it all together. I will be back in a few days to share it with you. What I do know is that I need to expand my followers, so it will be a giveaway including sharing my blog. Haven’t figured that out yet. But anyway it will be something nice, only for a few days and will be shipped as soon as possible so that the winner can use it for Christmas.

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I have had many bloggers that I have followed and commented on for a long time say they didn’t know I had a blog??!! hhhmmm Maybe I am doing something wrong??! Again- I need some more help, and ideas. Thank you all that do follow, I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and help and support that you have given me so far. There are so many wonderfully talented and special people out there and I count it a real joy for having gotten to know them.

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It is the little things in life that bring the most joy. I am so thankful for family and for the life God has given me.. How about you?

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings ~Sara

on-line craft fair

http://salmonfallsprims.blogspot.com/2011/10/free-shipping-columbus-day-weekend.html