On this Christmas Eve's Eve

Oh how I wish I could just press the pause button on life right now.

I want to stay right here, in these moments.

Just for a while longer.

I love having the kids home from school.

I love having this special time of baking and lights,

 the joy, the decorations, and the anticipation of it all.

For school, I have been having to volunteer at a Physical Therapy office.

I love it, but I have to have many volunteer hours and being away from home

so much has been a bit hard. 

I have been enjoying what time I do have at home more than ever.

Cherishing it all...

Oh the goodies me and Jalyn have made!

* My hubbies' favorite - pralines.

* One of my favorites - sugar cookies!

Jalyn had to have different colored icing to decorate the cookies.

More fun that way!  And prettier too!

* And these!  A new addition to our treat making

- yummy chocolate covered cake balls.

Such a mess to make - and a bit of work for sure,

but worth it!

In the midst of much activity, I so enjoy some quiet -

I need some time to myself. 

If only just to sit in the living room -

with the glow of candles and Christmas lights.

And again this morning - up before everyone else.

Bible reading, journaling, coffee and chocolate chip scones.

Wishing everyone peace-filled moments.

Moments spent savoring the season, the goodies, the kiddos,

and the Giver of all.

Multitudes on Monday

Sweet December Days...

I wish I could just live in December,

that this month could go on and on.

Last night I called Clay outside to look at the most beautiful moon with me.

Standing outside, in the cold, with Christmas lights lit all around the neighborhood,

I wished time could stand still...

Counting the many blessings this December day.

Table time for me.

Coffee and bible and books and journal and pouring my heart out to Him.

For presents picked out and wrapped. 

Feeling the excitement for my children,

and other loved ones.

Cozy days spent in warm pajama's :)

Sweet treats stored in Christmas tins

Breaking out my bread machine,

and the baking of bread.

Candles lit, just because.

A quick trip to the library for oldest,

and me running to Lynn Austin section -

thinking for sure I had read all of them by now.

And finding one I hadn't.

Finding it so good and so sweet,

reading it nearly all in 3 days,

but savoring the end, not wanting it to end.

Funny how I did not yet know Esther, and Peter, and Penny and Mr. Mendel

just a few days ago - and now they are so dear I'm not ready to let them go...

And how an author can bring life to words...amazing.

The making of a homemade gift

Cozy scarf for cozy days

Hubby in church with me yesterday

Tender heart of littlest one

Nightly Jesse Tree devotions

Planning meals for my family

Delicious aromas from the kitchen

And the list goes on...

Joining with grateful hearts @

A Holy Experience

Sights from the Season

Singing Christmas carols in Jackson Square - New Orleans,

a childhood tradition for me.



For Joshua, it was all about the fire....

My dear friend Rosemary joined us this year - her first time ever coming out to this...

Love looking over the crowds to see all the candlelit faces :-)

Kaiser, surprisingly staying still long enough for a good laugh and some cute pics!

And cold....it's actually been really cold here (love it!)

All the grandkids at my parents house on Christmas Eve, waiting for the opening to begin!

It has been a wonderful holiday, and as always, I am sad when it's over.

But I shall focus on the memories.....

Celebration in the Oaks - at Christmas Time

City Park in New Orleans

I know these are dark and a bit blurry, but they are the best my camera will take - at night!

Look at how cool this tree is!



Joshua, looking up in wonder...

It was cold and rainy, but worth every minute of it :)

S-l-o-w Down

Once again, this Christmas season, that I love so much, is slipping by too fast.  Which leaves me sad. 

Didn't we just put up these decorations?  Just put all these ornaments on the tree? 

Didn't my hubby just finish the last of the outside decorations?

Aren't the pictures going up too fast on the Jesse Tree?

Me and hubby keep sharing the same glance and thoughts -

"How do we slow it down?"

I just want to put on the Christmas music,

a favorite Christmas movie,

savor the Christmas Story,

cuddle with the kiddos on the couch

- all while pressing pause...

Making this time stretch and slow to a crawl.

The Jesse Tree Journey

As we savor this CHRISTmas season, we savor the meaning as well.

We count the days this year, to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus,

using the Jesse Tree Journey.

Each night, we read a devotional - stories from the Old Testament,  pointing to Christ.

" A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD."

Isaiah 11:1-2

Each day has a picture to go with the story, and after each devotional is read,

a child finds the picture to hang.

I got some bare branches and put them in a vase.

I absolutely love this visual - as we count the days, and focus on our Savior.

(And so do the kids!)

You can download your free Jesse Tree Journey also - @

http://www.aholyexperience.com/