Here are some Christmas links for free printables (cards, gift tags, graphics, etc?.) Some cute stuff here!

http://www.irenescorner.com/graphics/arquivos/printables/index.htm

http://www.allthingschristmas.com/printables.html

http://www.primdoodles.com/printables.asp

Barbeques

I've been wondering for a long time why it is that whenever dh suggests a barbeque supper, I am not really jumping with joy, even though I know that he will be doing the cooking?? Then I found this and my questions were all answered!

Definition Of A Barbeque

It's the only type of cooking a real man will do.
When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are
put into motion:
1) The woman goes to the shops.
2) The woman makes the salad, vegetables and dessert.
3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along
with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the
man, who is lounging beside the grill, beer in hand.
4) The man places the meat on the grill.
5) The woman goes inside to organise the plates and cutlery.
6) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He
thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer whilst he deals with
the situation.
7) The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.
8) The woman prepares the plates and brings them to the table.
9) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10) Everyone praises man and thanks him for his cooking efforts.
11) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off."
And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no
pleasing some women!

Let there be light
I found the nicest shop last week that sold the kinds of things you just want to fill your arms with and go loopy with the credit card. Luckily, I managed to resist the urge too much,and only bought two of them. I've wanted these lanterns, since last summer, when I saw them advertised somehwere.

I'm going to hang them on the tree outside when we have our next barbeque, and watch them sway in the breeze. I have a bagful of votive /tealights to get through, and this lantern hopefully won't catch fire when I put the tealight inside. The lantern must have been in the shop for while, probably stock from last year, beacuse when I opened it up it was very creased, hence I've drawn it creases an' all.

ALL about Advent




What do musical xmas trees with tin soldier ornaments have to do with advent? Someone tell me PLEASE! I really would like to know.

Couldn't the manufacturers make an effort, and TRY to make a slightly different model to the tree for christmas? Why don't they sell or make special Advent or Jesse trees for this ocassion?

For me - Advent is a good time to reflect on what HAS been, and NOT a good time to set goals for the future or even make plans - I will leave that activity closer to the New Year.

There is a song by Don Mc Lean - 'round and round as the years go round and round'.....
and so the Advent Wreath, symbolic to me of how the year goes round, it seems that no sooner we begin the journey at the start of a new year, we find ourselves coming back to the same starting point.. only with new memories, and expriences.

The four candles - the four seasons of each year.
'To everything there is a purpose' - Advent is a good time to ponder on this.

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8


I wish to learn to refrain. To enjoy the moment and not to try and have it all. Leave something for later to enjoy.

I wish more people would learn the art of refraining.
Advent is not a time to run round the mall like a mindless thingy, armed with shopping trolley mowing people down, grabbing anything and everything in their wake, NO matter what the TV commercials would have us believe.

Advent is a good time to prepare for the season. I am keeping the house bare for this, to remind me that I am preparing to celebrate the joy of the Season - when the time is right.

Advent virus

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus:

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
A loss of interest in judging other people.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
A loss of interest in conflict.
A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
Frequent attacks of smiling.
An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
Please send this warning out to all your friends. This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it.

I found this here

That must also mean....
there are only 24 days left till Christmas! You can see by this post that I AM good at maths!!

Words fail me....
Its nine o'clock in the evening and we just got a cell phone call from DD - (middle), who went away on holiday today with friends.

As the phone rang near to where I am sitting at the computer keyboard, I realised that the ring was so faint as it was secured inside my Dh's work briefcase, just under the desk. I struggled to open the case quickly, to answer the call, and saw that it was from DD - the first thing I wanted to know was - if she was ok....my mind just beginning the first run of the 'OMG I hope nothing has happened ' movie in my fertile imagination.
After being reassured that all is fine, she asked to speak to her father.

Her question being - 'what should they do with the fish they had caught earlier in the day' ?

What can a parent say?

Its officially...
Now Playing: We're all going on a summer holiday - Cliff Richard
the first day of summer!

Broken dreams
I first read this poem many years ago, and it often pops into my mind I guess when I'm having problems and feel that no one, not even God is listening to me. I recently found it on the web and wanted to post it here, as I find the words to be quite inspirational in those dark moments.

Broken Dreams

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.

But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How could you be so slow?"
"My child," He said, "what could I do?"
"You never did let go."


Addendum -- Matthew 14:31
"Immediately Jesus reached out
his hand and caught him.
You of little faith, he said,
why did you doubt?"


[ Author Unknown ]

Pause for thought - blue sofa
Today, I'm just going to sit on my blue sofa and think. Nothing more, nothing less, today will be a good day to pause.
Maybe.... I'll even stop to ponder on this quote which often comes to mind at about this time of year.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all doing direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. (Charles Dickens - a Tale of two cities)