New Year Fun! A Peek Through 2008

Kelli at There's No Place Like Home is hosting a "peek through my last year of blogging" meme. I always enjoy her blog and browsing all of the wonderful pictures that she shares.

Post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month. You can also add a favorite picture from each month.


I would love to participate but today I am babysitting a very whiney baby. He has a cold and not feeling well at all so I hope everyone enjoys Kelli's fun.

Here's my favorite posts...if you really want to see my photo's you can pop into my archives.

January Thankful Thursday post...featuring I am taking a break to spend the day with my daughter.

February....There is a great photo on this post titled Who's your valentine I wrote it on February 1th.

March ....One of my favorite posts titled Dog and Cat Stories the Easter Edition. I shared a photo of my very own Cadbury bunny aka Rhett Butler. In the photo you will see he is a really big bunny. Actually bigger than my cats!

April...17th This photo makes me smile. My cowboy asleep with Rascal our cat. He's the one that claims to not want more animals. And he says he doesn't want more animals!

May ...This was one of my favorite posts...I enjoyed showing my mantel in the last house. I really miss it. It kind of looks a little shabby chic. At least that is where I was going with it.

June...Our new old house! I love my cottage in the country.

July...My favorite post was a Thankful Thursday post...Cowboy again asleep with the cat.

August 24th I found a fun new meme on Thursdays called Dongs on Thursday...I posted a photo of Daisy.

Sept...I couldn't help but posting a photo of Daisy and giving it the title the Best Dog in the world.

Oct. 21...More than a friend...I have met so many new fun friends. Thanks you guys for being my friends.

Nov. early Christmas post

Dec. 22 I found a great award over at Denise's You Make my Day. Thanks Denise

And unto us...

And unto us is born this day a savior who is Christ the Lord.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

5 Favorite Things an Award

I visited my sweet friend Sandra today and found the above award. It was so cool to find my name in her list. Even though I have been away for so long! Thanks Sandra! You made my day.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I am afraid it will be hard to come up with a list of only 5 of my favorite things.

#1 at the top of my list must be Christmas trees. I love to decorate and I love to see everyone elses decorations. Have you visited Boomama's house tour? It is fun. It is actually how I got into blogging last year by visiting all the lovely homes.
But back to Christmas trees. When my kids were growing up we had a tree in every room of the house. There was a tiny tree in the kitchen on the counter I put tiny cookie ornaments on it. Each of our kids had a tree in thier room and there was one in the living room a formal tree and a fun outdoorsy cabin feel tree in the den.

#2 goes along with number one. I love to decorate. From the front door to the laundry room. I just love Christmas decorations. And like I said I love visiting other houses on the net and seeing everyones houses and getting ideas.

#3 I love going to the Christmas service at my daughters church. She goes to a mega church in our area. They always have a beautiful Christmas service. And they really do a lot of decorating. The trees are just beautiful.

#4 Traditions. I already mentioned the Christmas trees. My kids loved having one in thier rooms. We have a tradition that I passed onto them. I began buying them Christmas dishes when they were 8 and 10. Each year we bought a serving dish to match thier dishes. It is an interesting story about the dishes that I will share on another time. They each have a complete set now. We all eat on our Christmas dishes every evening from Dec. 1st till Christmas. It is a fun traditionn in our family.

#5 Looking at Christmas lights. We love driving around our area and seeing the lights on houses. And now since the kids are grown and gone. We carried on the tradition with our dog Daisy. Yes. Daisy loves Christmas lights and yards with decorations! She loves it.

Well that is my list. And I must pass this on to 5 people. I know everyone is busy and I think it is o.k. to do this after Christmas because I really hope you guys do it because I am choosing people that I really enjoying reading and seeing a glimpse inside your homes. Remember I said I love the home tours. So here's my list.

Kelli of course because you know I love everything you do. And well I just want to know what are your favorite parts of Christmas.

I would pass it on to Amy Deanne the wonderful hostess of Wordfilled Wednesday but someone else already beat me to it. Amy have you written you post?

Then there is a fun blog that Daisy found. It is Doughall's mom at Sweet Cottage Dreams. Here's their link

Daisy has another friend Maddie

Both of these dogs have amazing mom's that have beautiful homes and I love visiting. I can't wait to find out your favorite parts of Christmas!

Another blog I love is Monica. She has a sweet blog and she shares her crafty ideas. I love your blog Monica.

And last but not least a new friend Alicia. Alicia has a sweet blog and has become a sweet encouraging friend.

Thanks sweet Sandra for passing this fun award along.

Merry Christmas everyone!



I borrowed this sweet photo from my friend Denise this illustrates perfectly our Christmas party for our halfway house. We were blessed to share God's love by providing Teddy Bears to each girl. They were donated by Family Christian Bookstores. Each bear had a tag that shared the gospel. The 16,17 and 18 year old girls all litterally turned into 5 year olds before our eyes when Santa came into the room.

You Make My Day

You Make My Day...if your stopped in to visit today you have made me feel so special. Even though I don't get to post everyday or even read when I do get to log on I find such wonderful comments and sweet words of encouragement.
Today when I visited Denise


She always leaves such sweet thoughts on our blogs. Please go by today and visit her and let her know how much she is loved! Ever the encourager she needs some today.

Before my visit I was thinking about what I wanted to write about and Santa Claus came to my mind. During Sunday School this past week the comment was made about Santa Clause and Christmas. And the idea/conception of keeping perspective concerning Santa Claus and the reason for Christmas. I think the vintage photo below shares my thoughts and feelings on the subject.


I thought this was a sweet and beautiful old photo. And then I read what Denise had to say. I hope she doesn't mind I borrowed it from her. But here are her thoughts.
What if...
The Christmas Tree is a symbol of eternal life? An evergreen that is cut then dies. Like Jesus died so we might have eternal life.
The lights on the tree are the symbol of "we are the light of the world"?
The star is the symbol of the star that shown bright when Jesus was born?
The Angel is to remind us that we are surrounded by angels?
The candle is the symbol of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit?
Santa is the symbol of giving, with no respect of persons?
It didn't just happen that Santa wears red and white, with a black belt? Sin covered by THE BLOOD leaves us white as snow.

Let us remember
Jesus is the reason for the season. Denise

My prayer is that you all have a wonderful Christmas. Thank you God for the many wonderful friends you have brought my way. Thank you for using them to remind me of your love.

And before I go. Please forgive the fall looking background. It has been so long since I have posted I am a little rusty on some things. (and so this post goes in my dummies at blogging category!) I had to relearn the how to add the bold and italics. And the puppy dog Christmas photo I know it is cut off but I thought it was cute anyway. I thought it looked like he was peeking around the corner. I hope you like it. I'll try to put a new background on soon. Many Blessings to you. Sherry

Merry Christmas

I have waited so long to be able to write a post. And now that I have a chance I have so many things going on in my head and the clock is ticking and I can't seem to pull my thoughts together.
I spent a few minutes reading comments from my last post and visiting some of my favorite places. I found the wonderful photo illustration of God's promises over at Amy's. I know anyone reading this is already a Word Filled Wednesday follower. Amy has been so sweet allowing me to use her illustrations as devotionals for our food pantry distribution. I know that the people receiving the sacks of food and seeing her photo's from time to time are Blessed.
Thanks Amy you Bless me.
I also stopped over at Laurie Ann's she had the funniest and the most fun post today. You have to go over and see her Dog's Christmas Rules. Thanks Laurie for sharing it you made me smile today. And thanks for your words of encouragement.
I don't have a lot of time to post but I do want to thank all my dear friends for your visits and prayers for me and for the ministry. I hope to be back soon. I might not update or post but I'll be checking in to say hi to all of you when I have a few minutes. Debra, Denise,Sandra, Peggy, Carla, Judy and all the rest of you dear sweet girls. Many Blesings and think of me when you post! Now I am on my way to visit Kelli's House
Merry Christmas