New Year Giveaway

To thank you for your visits and lovely comments during 2010 I would like to invite you all to a Giveaway! If you're new to this blog, then you're very welcome too!

I have put together a surprise gift package (I hope you like pink!) and will draw the winner on Sunday evening 8pm (UK time).

* Leave me a comment and tell me what your hopes are for 2011.

* For an extra chance become a follower and leave a comment to say so. If you are already a follower, please just give me a reminder that you are.

I hope that 2011 will be a good year for you and bring many blessings for you and your family.

Happy New Year!

Ros

Edit: I'm happy to ship overseas

Pillow Swap

My pillow from Maria for the Dutch Sisters' Pillow Swap finally arrived on Christmas Eve, having taken nearly four weeks to travel from Russia! Just look how stunning it is!

Along with the pillow was a delicious bar of chocolate, a little china bell and a fridge magnet.

My pillow to Maria was a dresden plate pattern in liberty-style prints.

Thank you Maria for being my swap partner, it has been a lot of fun!

Ros

Feast of the Holy Family

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family

(letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:12-21)

As the chosen of God, then, the holy people whom he loves, you are to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity and humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with one another; forgive each other if one of you has a complaint against another. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.

Over all these clothes, put on love, the perfect bond.

And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together in one body. Always be thankful.

Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as you should in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be sharp with them.

Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord.

Parents, do not irritate your children or they will lose heart.

and the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23)

After they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.'

So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt.

After Herod's death, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.'

So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel.

But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the region of Galilee.

There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and many blessings for 2011.

Ros

Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Advent and a Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a centuries-old family Advent tradition popular with both children and adults alike. It helps to us to connect Jesus with the shepherd boy who became King David of Israel (son of Jesse).

Each day an ornament can be hung in a Jesse 'tree'. Starting at the base of the tree with Adam and Eve, and the top of the tree with the coming of the child Jesus at Christmas. Each day has a scripture reading and a symbol and will give a much deeper understanding of Christmas by the 25th.

Here are the symbols and scripture for the first week:

Dec 1 - The world is created (a globe) - Genesis 1:24-28

Dec 2 - Adam and Eve (snake and apple) - Genesis 3:1-24

Dec 3 - Noah and the Flood (rainbow) - Genesis 6:11-22; 8:6-12; 9:11-17

Dec 4 - Abraham (camel) - Genesis 12:1-7; 13:2-18; 18:1

Dec 5 - Sarah (baby) - Genesis 18:1-15: 21:1-7

Dec 6 - Isaac (ram) - Genesis 22:1-14

Dec 7 - Jacob (ladder) - Genesis 27:41-28:22

My lovely friend Maureen mentioned this to me last week as an alternative to an advent calendar and I had great intentions of making one (!!!!) but here we are on the 1st and it is still a dream. Perhaps I should just use an advent candle and a bible instead?

If you would like to know more about this tradition, click here

www.crossroadsinitiative.com/JesseTree

God bless you,

Ros

May these days of Advent

be truly special for you,

red-letter days that renew you

in your friendship with the Lord.

May each day bring

its own special grace to you,

gifts of faith, hope and love

from the Lord's loving heart.

May each precious moment

shared with the Lord in prayer,

each resolution you make

to please the Lord, bring blessings

on you and your loved ones

throughout the Christmas season

and in the new year ahead.

(from the Prayer Trust)

Candle Mat Swap

Here is the candle mat I sent to Anita (Anitasiep), she loves batik so I thought she could use this all year round, not just for the Christmas season. I think those colours will be amazing by candlelight!

I sent a couple of extras, including one of my favourite choccie bars and a little needlecase.

And these are the beautiful redwork candlemats I received from Jennifer (Stitchin' Thyme). I am so lucky - Jennifer sent me not one, but two mats!!

She sent me a sweet little mouse ornament and a charm pack. Thank you Jennifer!

Thank you too Michelle, your swaps are always brilliant!

Ros