My Favorite Christmas Memory

Merry Christmas, Cottage Friends!

Can you believe there are only 8 more days until Christmas Day? Whoa! How did that happen?

I'm delighted to share that Cheryl at Homespun Devotions invited me to participate in her blog series "Your Favorite Christmas Memories."



If you're familiar with Homespun Devotions, then you know what a sweetheart Cheryl is. She truly is a woman who lives out her faith with grace and love. 

If you'd like to read my story,  here's the link: "A Rocky Mountain Christmas." 

You'll also discover wonderful Christmas stories from other writers when you visit Homespun Devotions, including Cheryl's "Christmas from the Dumpster." It's a beautiful memory from her childhood.

Once again, I'm keeping Christmas decorating simple in our home. A little faux tree sits on our side table.




My homemade Christmas pillows nestle on the loveseat, and my first stab at quilting -- a little sampler from 2014 -- peeks out of the side table shelf.



And then there's our annual Christmas tradition a red poinsettia . It sits on the dining table on top of the Swedish weaving tablecloth I blogged about here



The poinsettia really deserves to be in a pretty basket, but yours truly just hasn't had time to tend to that. We're super busy at Pier 1 right now and the last thing I want to do when I have a free day is go shopping. This homebody just wants to relax at home (between laundry and housecleaning). 

I hope you're enjoying some downtime during this busy season. For Dennis and myself it comes down to keeping our focus on Jesus, whose birth we celebrate.

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Rejoice!

Nancy