My Christmas Eve Plans

Because I probably won't have a lot of time tomorrow to post I thought I'd let ya'll know what I'm going to be up to Christmas Eve!



My dad has off from work tomorrow and his plan is to get all of us up and out to town early to start the day off with a yummy breakfast! Then we have groceries to pick up to make sure we have everything for Christmas!



In the afternoon my family and I are going to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the cinema! I can not wait to watch this! I've been counting down the days! I finished reading the book last week in preperation for seeing the film. This is my second favorite Narnia book and I just can't wait see Reepicheep and Eustace (oh and Lucy, Edmund and Caspian too)! ;)



In the evening my aunt and uncle have invited us over for dinner! It's been a while since we've seen them and their baby boy and I can't wait to see how this handsome little man has grown! It's so nice to get together with family at Christmastime!



Last but not least is our annual midnight trip to L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine. We started going to Bean's a few years ago when mama needed a new winter coat for Christmas. This store is open 24/7 year round, even on Christmas! We've found that the best time to go is late at night on Christmas Eve. There are very few shoppers and the employees are marking down many items for the Christmas and after Christmas sales. So we go about 10-11pm and do some browsing then, right at midnight the large old-fashioned clock in their store chimes in Christmas and we go around wishing shoppers and employees alike "Merry Christmas!" Then we take our purchases to the register (getting the sale prices), enjoy the Christmas lights display in their parking lot (it's a huge tree and many other lights), and head home singing carols!



I'm so excited! Tomorrow and Christmas will be a whirl of activity! Good thing I have all of my gifts wrapped and am almost ready for a good night's rest!

So what are you doing Christmas Eve and Christmas day? Any special traditions, parties or family times?

God Bless,
Miss Laurie :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." - Psalm 95:2

As we head into Thanksgiving I reflect on the many things that I am thankful for. This year in particular I am thankful for my family, my comfortable home, plenty of delicious food on the table, access to spiritual guidance and most particularly my salvation and continued growth in the Lord Jesus Christ.




"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." - Psalm 100:4

In past years my family and I have spent Thanksgiving Day with family but since the passing of dad's mother and then mom's mother this year it has been more difficult. The day is quite dreaded most years by both of my parents, we are thankful but any holiday is difficult without family near. Last year we spent the day with some dear friends and I had to work in the late afternoon. I am thankful that this year I do not have to work and to make it an extra special day for us we are going on a little family trip from Maine to Massachusetts.




In past years we've been to Colonial Williamsburg but this year my family and I are headed to Old Sturbridge Village, a historic village filled with buildings from the 1700's and early 1800's. Each house, shop, store, and meetinghouse stocked with period furniture and folks re-enacting life in the 19th-century. There will be many things to see and do while we're there and I can't wait! Among the things we'll enjoy is Thanksgiving dinner at the Oliver Wight Tavern, A New England Wedding, Shooting Match and a Stagecoach Ride. Depend upon it there will be many pictures taken and lots of fun had!



So what are your Thanksgiving traditions? How are you planning on spending Thanksgiving this year? What are you most thankful for?

I also hope to soon watch and review Louisa May Alcott's An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving which should be just the ticket for getting me into the spirit of the holiday.




I want to leave you with lyrics from a song that is not really old-fashioned but which I think suit the occasion. Click here if you'd like to hear the song sung by the rich voice of Josh Groban, one of my favorite singers. I pray you have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day with your loved ones and keep praising the Lord for all He's done!

Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

-lyrics from Thankful as sung by Josh Groban on his album Noel


Mood:

Thankful

In Memory Of

In memory of my grandmother who passed away August 23rd, 2009 and has now entered into eternity. You were a loving mother and grandmother and faithful wife. I have learned a lot from you and I love you very much. One day I hope to see you standing next to my Savior Jesus and sing His praises with you.

I praise the Lord for how her death has untied the family and am asking for continued prayer for the aunts, uncles, cousins, and especially grandpa as they deal with her unexpected death.

Happy Independence Day!

I'm an American, and blessed by the Lord to live in a country where His name is regularly praised and He is still prayed to and honored in our customs. The faith of our forefather's led them to make sacrifices and forge a new life and a new system of government where they could be free to live out their religious beliefs. I thank the Lord for allowing me to live in the USA and I don't mind celebrating our independence but also pray every day that my nation will turn back to God.


My parents are both US Navy veterans which might also be part of my source of pride in our military. I pray for troops serving their country even today and ask that the Lord will comfort and bless them and their families.


The 4th of July is also my brother's birthday. He is our genuine real-live firecracker! He will be eighteen years old tomorrow and I'm very glad I have this weekend off so I can celebrate with him. We'll be making our yearly rounds of the local parade and fireworks and also check out a picnic in our state's capital hosted by our local "Tea Party" chapter. We'll also have cake and ice cream and presents for Andy. Can't wait to celebrate!


All of these darling Victorian postcards I found online at an interesting little site. I love the old-fashioned feel! :)

Praying your weekend is bright and sunny and filled with the Lord's blessings!

Mood:

Excited

In Remembrance

This post is in loving memory of Miss Velma who I cared for this past spring. Her health had recently been declining and the Lord took her home on Saturday. I praise the Lord for the opportunity to meet this godly woman and learn from her. She was one of the few old New England stock left who remember taking a horse and sleigh to school in snow up to your ears.
The above painting, "Barn Door" by Jefferey T Larson, reminds me of Miss Velma in it's idea of youth with wisdom beyond her years and a scene of simplicity but hard work.

Some may remember my post from December, Beautiful Hands, which featured a photo of Miss Velma's hands. Some things her hand's touched: a mean game of cards, knit stockings, garden hoe, apples from the orchard, horse's mane, homemade jams and pies, her grandchildren, cookies for her visitors, her hometown news paper, and the hearts and lives of countless friends and family.

Miss Velma was 94 years and had lost her husband Clive just a few short years before. I love the photo below of her looking out of a window, her eyes full of hope. This is how I imagine her just waiting for the day when she'd go home to be with her heavenly father and meet again her loving husband, father, mother who died young from pneumonia, siblings and some dear friends.



I thank the Lord again for letting me know Miss Velma on this earth, tasting her generosity and friendship. I can't wait to see her again in heaven and sing with her the praises of our Savior.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." - I Thessalonians 4:13-14 KJV


Mood:

Nostalgic