Little things that make me Smile!

"Like snowflakes,
my Christmas memories gather and dance -
each beautiful, unique and too soon gone."
~ Deborah Whipp

I can't believe
that it is just two days until Christmas Eve! It has been a busy month, but FULL of LOTS of fun and memories and each day I have experienced true happiness!
Since this is my Journal, I thought I would share some things that made me SMILE this past week. These are just random things and in no particular order.

Winter Solstice!
It is always a COUNT DOWN until December 21st. You ask me why? It is because it is the shortest day of the year and it means that the days can only get longer and we will start to get a few more minutes of light each day. It also means that in a matter of a few months we will be back to having more hours of sunlight than darkness each day!
I LOVE SUNSHINE!

I don't know what it is about the story of Charlotte's Web, but I just LOVE that book. In fact, I read it to my kids the first week or two of summer break each year. My love for Charlotte has made it where my favorite Christmas Legend story is about the Christmas Spider. It is such a sweet story. I LOVE my Spider that I have hanging on my tree as it was a gift from my sister-in-law Lisa a few years ago.
This makes me SMILE every time!

The Christmas Spider

On Christmas eve, a long time ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year... Christmas day, the day on which the little Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling. They had fled to the farthest corner of the attic.
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little Christ child's visit. Then the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could wait until everyone went to bed and then get a closer look.
When the house was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place. When they neared the Christmas tree, they were delighted with the beauty of it. The spiders crept all over the tree, up and down, over the branches and twigs and saw every one of the pretty things.
The spiders loved the Christmas tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the little Christ child came to bless the house, he was dismayed! He loved the little spiders for they were God's creatures, but he knew the mother, who had worked so hard to make everything perfect, would not be pleased when she saw what the spiders had done.
With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the little Christ child reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The spider webs started to sparkle and shine! They had all turned into sparkling, shimmering silver and gold.
According to legend, ever since this happened, people have hung tinsel on their Christmas trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the Christmas tree.

There is nothing more priceless
than having children act out the Nativity. It makes me smile every year! This is a collage of photos from last years enactment and I am looking forward to getting together with my family and doing this again on Wednesday!
I can't believe how the kids have grown...I'm treasuring these sweet and special times as it won't be long before they are too old to enjoy this.
Priceless memories!

If I am ever having a stressful day, I just have to put in this DVD and I am laughing and smiling in no time at all! This has quickly become my second favorite Christmas Classic Movie. (Nothing will ever take the place of
"It's a Wonderful Life") Smiles and laughter are something that are a necessity at my house every day!
I LOVE IT!

I don't know why I love this treat so much. It is just a vanilla flavored Tootsie Roll, but for some silly reason, I just love these. They are only made at Christmas time and so I am savoring these few bags that I bought.
YUMMY!

I LOVE the art that my kids bring home from school!
It always makes me smile when I am in my kitchen and I look at my fridge and see these sweet creations they have made!

Neighborly Kindness!
It has been SO much fun to answer the door each night. We have had more neighborly treats delivered this week. I have LOVED seeing all of the excited kids that come and deliver things to our doorstep.
Wednesday...a Nativity photo from Rebecca
Friday...we got a plate of chocolate covered and dipped Marshmallows and a nice Christmas thought from the Crittenden's
Sunday...we had MANY deliveries.
Giant Hershey's Bar with Almonds from the Richards
Cinnamon Rolls from Dave and Nancy
Cashew Brittle from the Nelsons
and Brownies and Pumpkin bars from the Lindstroms
WOW...I think we have had our sugar fix for the year!
Monday...Fudge Brownie MIX from the Abegglens,
Holiday Sugar Cookies from the Bybees
candle from the Sorensons
Tuesday...a SWEET delivery to me at work from "Tauna"! Her hubby dropped by a very generous and sweet package to me at my desk. A ward cookbook, fruit bread, HAND dipped chocolates and an adorable card! LOVE it all!!
Wednesday...a GOURMET chocolate/caramel apple from the Kent Sutton Family
the most gorgeous delicious star cookies from the Grover family with the following message:
"The Star that leads us to the Christ Child
is not in the sky, but in the heart...
It is is the Star of hope and faith and belief
in all that is good".
Thursday...a 20 pound bag of potatoes from the Garth Sutton family
bottle of root beer from the Berry family
heart measuring spoons from the Taylor family

YAY for a clean house!
It was pure heaven to come home from work and walk in the door to ORDER. (it hasn't been like this for over a month).
There is nothing that creates more a feeling a peace in your home, than having a house of order. I just wish it could be like this more often.
I LOVE THIS!

Some days are definitely better than others, but
"It's All Good"
and if we didn't have the chaos and mess every once in awhile we wouldn't appreciate how wonderful things are when they are clean and orderly!