Sharing photos from Thanksgiving

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we enjoyed with our dear friends Jack and Brenda! It has become a tradition for our families to be together on that day, and we look forward to it, every year.... As I mentioned last year, they have such a beautiful home, and Jack has created a lovely fish pond and Rose garden that we always enjoy seeing..... I took these pictures as dusk fell, so they are a little dark, but I couldn't resist sharing them with you all anyway.....

Well, I had to go back on antibiotics and steroids this weekend, YUCK! And was feeling pretty low until I went to Church last night.... What a blessing of strength and hope and encouragement I received! I went up for prayer, and when the minister placed the annointing oil and his hand on my head and began to seek the Lord for my healing, I felt warmth and strength and God's prescence just flood over me....

So I am starting this week out with strength and joy and peace and the assurance of God's tender care and nearness..... and isn't that a wonderful way to start out the week? My heart is singing Praise to my Heavenly Father today for His incredible goodness!

I hope each of you has a beautiful week, too, and please remember that God cares and understands......

Making "Scrappy -ish" Christmas Cards

I just thought I would share a picture of what I have been crafting...I found these gorgeous 3D Angel stickers on ebay. They are by Elizabeth Brownd for K and Co. I just love K and Co. Scrapping things! When I saw the pretty angels, I knew they would be perfect for Christmas Cards. I cut both the burgandy paper and "ornament" from a sheet of Union Square "Beautiful Day" Journey paper, and the toile sheet is cut from the Mademoiselle stack by DCWV. The Joy card stock stickers are from The Paper Studio..... I added a pretty velvet ribbon bow, scattered some Martha Stewart glitter across the toile, and I was happy..... (I cleaned house today and I just had to do something fun and crafty before nighty - night time! Tee hee!)

I hope you all had a happy day, dear friends.....

Hugs,

Jenni

My Heart is full of Thanksgiving....

(Another photo of my Fall decorations last year)

How my heart rejoices today in God's goodness! He didn't have to save me, and yet, He did... He didn't have to give me a loving family and a home, and yet He did.......
He didn't have to take that long and agonizing Path to Calvary's Cross, and yet, He did.....
He doesn't have to keep me and my family in His amazing grace and mercy, and yet, He does, daily....
He doesn't have to hear my every whisper, every cry of my soul, and yet, He cares enough and loves me enough, to listen attentively to my every word, and He provides for my every need .......

He is my best and dearest Friend, and the love of my heart and soul.....

Today, my heart is thankful, dear and precious friends.... and words are not quite up to the task of expressing how I feel ....

I hope that each of you has a wonderful and happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

What a Lovely Shop in Canton, Texas!

This is a Christmas Tree inside "The Very Thing"

This is the faux tart I bought in "The Very Thing"

This past weekend, my family and I traveled to visit my Dad's Sister Joann, her husband Kennith, and their son Steve. They live near Canton Texas..... So in between visiting with them, Aunt Joann, Mom, and I managed to drive to Canton so that I could see the town that I have heard so much about, and have wanted to visit for so long. I didn't realize that my Aunt and Uncle and Cousin lived so close to town......

What a fun trip! We arrived in town just as they were putting the Christmas decorations up around the Courthouse.... and I got some lovely pictures that I will share with you all later! (And met the lady in charge, who is so very nice) I also spied a shop called : "The Very Thing" just across the way from the courthouse, and it looked so inviting, of course I just had to go inside! Oh what treasures we saw! The kind lady behind the register allowed me to snap a picture of this gorgeous Christmas tree all decked out in white and silver.... there were several other lovely trees, but this one was my favorite of them all! It seems the lady that owns this shop (as well as several other stores) is an incredible decorator, who has that special touch of creativity that is visible in every corner of her wonderful establishment......

I caught sight of the most delicious looking faux tartlets and sweets, and so of course I had to have one! The second photo above is of that yummy faux creation nestled among some of the decorations on our end table.... After all, isn't Christmas the time of year that visions of sugar plums dance in our heads??

If you are ever in Canton, Texas, you should try and visit "The Very Thing". You will be happy that you did.....

Pretty Purses at the Market

( Iwanted this Piano purse so badly! But all I could afford was a picture of it! LOL!!)

This booth at the nutcracker market had the prettiest purses! we had such fun looking at them... Do you see the one on top shaped like a guitar?

These purses are all Mary Frances brand, if I am not mistaken.... I think they are absolutely gorgeous!

I did buy a purse at a different booth..... it was not as expensive, and is kind of funky, but I loved it! I will share a pic of it with you all later. I hope y'all are having a happy week!

More Nutcracker Market Photos

Hello, dear friends! I am just sharing more pictures from the Nutcracker Market. We had such a wonderful time, and everyone had decorated everthing so pretty.... I am glad my Mom, Sister, and I have made it a tradition to go for the last four years! We girls do love to shop! And I am most thankful we are able to spend this time together.... When you are with someone you love.... even doing something simple. like eating a sandwich together is a blessing, not to be taken for granted.......today, my heart is filled with praise to God for my precious family......

Houston Nutcracker Market 2011

(Click on photos for a closer peek at these gorgeous booths!)

YAY! It's that time of year again! My Mom, Sister and I, spent most of yesterday, shopping - til - we - dropped at the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market, which is put on by the Houston Ballet Foundation. Oh my goodness! We had sooo much fun! This was the fourth year we have gone, and it gets us in the "Christmas mood" every year. Above are photos of some of the incredible booths that some of the 323 vendors had set up for the event. They also had lots of food booths this year, and we enjoyed Toffee! Tamales! Dips! And of course we had to purchase some of each because they were so good!

Over the next week, I will be sharing more pictures with you all, as well as photos of the "pretties" I bought this year. I hope you enjoy them!

Pretty Christmas Cards

(Click on photo if you'd like a closer look)
Isn't this card beautiful? I found it at Family Christian Stores, when my sister and I went shopping on Saturday.... Actually my sister spied it first and said "Look Jenni! Look at these!" She knows what I like... **Smiles** When I saw it, it touched my heart! To me, it shows the humbleness; the very ordinary circumstances in which this extraordinary miracle took place......the rather plain clothing, and the humanity of those in the picture.... (for that's the way in which He came, didn't He?? So humbly, among the mundane, among plain and simple people just like you and me..... and yet He was and is the Holy God of Glory.... Oh My! I NEVER want to lose the Wonder of it!!) That is my criteria for picking Christmas cards every year... either the picture on the card, or the scripture inside, or the saying must give my heart that special little tug..... This particular card says: "Praying your Christmas season is filled with the wonder of Jesus" and the scripture is Colossians 1: 15, 16, and 19..... the art is by Michael Dudash, and the Card is put out by DaySpring cards. I buy a lot of DaySpring Cards, because I love that they have scriptures, meaningful messages, and are pretty.....
We also went to Michael's and I found another box of Cards with Mary and baby Jesus on the front, and they were just perfect too. I'll be sharing those with you later....
My weekend was wonderful, and I hope y'all's was too!
Hugs,
Jenni

Holding their cute little Paws....

Here I am again, with my sister, pet - sitting for our dear friends... tonight was fun; the evening started with us going to Pappasito's Mexican Restaurant, to celebrate our dear friend Mike's birthday.... I forgot my camera, but I did manage to get reallly good pics on my phone of him wearing the HUGE Sombrero hat as everyone sang "Happy Birthday"... these pics are priceless, believe me! That sombrero was so big an entire family could set up house in there! LOL!! And our friend Mike was such a good sport about it.... I really adore his whole family.... they are kind, good people who are fun to be around...

After we ate, (I had the BBQ chicken salad with avacado ranch dressing, YUM!) my sis and I drove over here to be with these two darling animals that we love so much. I have already got lots of kisses and hugs in with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I just want to hug him to pieces! He is a sweetie.... and Alex the cat has got plenty of attention, too, I can assure you! He is an elderly kitty that is very loving and affectionate (and nosy, hehe) and we just love him....

Tomorrow we hope to get some shopping in..... I am hoping to find some really pretty Christmas cards.... I know it's old fashioned, but what can I say?? I love sending and receiving them... and I usually have them purchased online by now... but this year I am behind. I did get a box of cards after Christmas last year, they were on sale, (woo hoo) but I am definitely going to need more than one box... usually around three or four boxes gets everyone on my card list taken care of.... What about you?? Do you still send Christmas cards every year?? Do you buy them individually, or do you get the boxed cards, or the photo kind? I love those too....
It's a brisk, cold night here in Texas, and my heart is happy.... I just love this time of year..... when the air is cold and crisp, and the holidays are waiting just around the corner...... I hope all of you have a great weekend, as well! Please remember, God Cares and Understands!

With A Thankful Heart

I have been inspired by a Bloggy - Friend to think of something for which to be thankful, every day of this month. Oh, this is such an easy thing to do!! God has been so very good to me.....

So far, I have rejoiced in these things:

Nov. 1st: "Lord, I am thankful for Your Hand of safety upon me and my family as we travel up and down the highways and streets each day. I have personally had several near misses this year, but You kept me safe. Thank You from my Heart."

Nov. 2nd: "Lord, I am so very very thankful that You have kept me and my Family in Church all these years..... it is only by Your Goodness, Mercy and Grace that we are still serving You, and my heart is thankful!"