oh mercy, mercy, mercy...

It's close to 2:30 in the morning and I'm wide awake!

How can this be? I otta be asleep after the long day I've had.

Ever felt like your creativity is just all used up or...there isn't any there in the first place???

This thought came back to me about what a dear, dear friend shared with me a very long time ago.

She was giving Art Lessons to a class of students and nobody...and she meant nobody was creating anything.

She told me that she simply said to the classroom full of students...GOD is the creator and He created. We are to be like Him. He has made us to create. So let's create.

After she said these words, the students started to create artwork. It was like somebody turned a light switch on.

If you have had trouble being creative or think you're not creative, I have news for ya! It's there... you just need to relax about it and CREATE. Sometimes I think we just make this too difficult and need to give ourselves permission to be creative.

My Dad has artistic talent and use to draw. As a young boy, he excused himself from trying out for High School Choir. In his later years...every once in awhile he'd fix a wood toy. I remember one time him saying that there were so many people already fixing wood items.

He stopped fixing wood items.

If God didn't want us to be creative with the talent He gave us, then I don't think He would have given talent to use.

I used this excuse many, many times...I'm just not good enough to do that. I have had to be realistic on many accounts and yet there are many areas that I need to relax and just go ahead and create. I'm not trying to win a Nobel Peace Prize...I just need to relax, Thank God the interest is there and take a leap of Faith.

Ever been there?

Dear God, You are the one that gives gifts for us to use. You are the one that gives us the power to get wealth. So today...right now, I ask you to help me to be the person You want me to be. I'm asking You to release me from my excuses and fears. It's in the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN

AND Dear God,

Thank you!

~Deanna~

Out With The Old

Good Bye Father Christmas.

Hello Father Time.

May the New Year be a Blessed one,

Deanna

Granny Nanny Chronicles At Christmas

The Granny Nanny Chronicles continue at Christmas time. Toddler's Momma was sharing the Christmas Story. I haven't gotten bored yet of the surprises that take me by storm and warm my heart from Toddler's questions, statements and actions. Wearing this blue sheet, Toddler came down the stairs with her Mother pretending to be Mary with Baby Jesus.

It was Toddler's idea to sit on the toy horse. Now that's a pretty good idea. We can pretend that it's a donkey.

Toddler loves assisting her Momma. Sweet times are made as Toddler sprinkled the sugar cookies. Eye/Hand coordination along with seeing what happens to the cookie dough while baking and then getting to taste the cookie all add up to a great early childhood developement lesson.

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' 
Christmas Tree.

With a toddler living in the house, the Family Room Tree was decorated with what was on hand and shatter proof. Little stuffed toys were quickly placed on the tree's branches along with candy canes. Quick, easy and affordable. It was no big deal if the toys were taken from the tree during the day...simply put them back at night. No hooks to concern yourself with! Do you know a few of these guys???

We have had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas Holiday as we celebrate Jesus during this special time of the year.

This tree got A THUMBS UP!!!

Thank you for visiting and may God Bless you in the coming year,

Granny Nanny

WRAPPING UP CHRISTMAS 2009

Hello Fellow Shoppers...How's it going?

I'm snowed in. Snowed in. It's still snowing. I won't be shopping the After Christmas Sales today. Instead...I'm bloggin' and will be fixing sweets that didn't get fixed before Christmas. Havin' a slow paced day and that's what's needed.

The part of me that likes to shop visited with the part of me that reasoned 'you shouldn't get out in this weather taking the chance of wrecking your car on the slick roads you'd encounter between your home and the 30 miles you'd have to drive to the city. What you'd save with the purchases wouldn't amount to much if you had to replace a car.' Soooo I stayed home today. Sniff Sniff. I'll live. MORE SNOW PREDICTED.

Before Christmas, I purchased Hobby Lobby 50% off Christmas gift wrap! I deliberately bought Christmas paper that didn't look like Christmas paper with thoughts of using this through out the year for other event presents. I've done this before and was so pleased that my pre-Christmas purchase would save me from having to hit one more store on the day of AFTER Christmas Sales. BUT this year I will be enjoying a slow paced day bloggin' and makin' sweets.

This coming week I'll be wrapping up Christmas and entering into the new year. Those plans for 2010 have already started and it will be fun to see if they are birthed and manifested. Lord willing, I will get the Family Room wallpapered, work on learning to speak French, Belly Dance (you've got to be kiddin'), learn to play the piano and exercise poundage off of me while walking on the treadmill. I'll listen to the French and Piano tapes while walking on the treadmill as well as when wallpapering. Uhh huh. Sounds like a good plan.

A few days before Christmas, my sweet hubby

sneezed and pulled a side muscle. I tripped and fell down while Christmas Caroling. So we were a tad bit sore. Believe you me, I wasn't trying to out do my hubby. We're both a bit competitive, but this was unplanned.

On December 23rd I went Christmas Caroling with friends and then went back to the house for Hot Chocolate and sweets to eat. Visited with my caroling friends and had a pleasant time.

On Christmas Eve the weather turned off chilly with lots of gentle snowflakes that swirled in the wind then blew into a full blown Winter Storm. Inside a warm house, we celebrated my husband's 55th birthday with German Chocolate Cake, a movie at home and presents.

The Candle Light Services at Churches were cancelled. We'd have to light our own candles at home. Christmas Eve isn't Christmas Eve without opening Christmas gifts from Family.

My Sweetheart gave me a red coat, perfume, make-up and a Christmas Ornament. I'm gonna smell really nice with one of my favorite fragrances, Tuscany. I made two really close new friends...Estee Lauder (make-up) and Calvin Klein (red coat).


Christmas Morning arrived with Santa having visited. Slow paced Day with Movies. Family phone calls made.

Crockpot Bar-B-Q Smokies and Meatballs with

Chips/Salsa,

Salad, Cheese Platter with Summer Sausage

and Crackers were for Lunch.



Sweets were available through out the day.

A candle was lit. Prayers and the reading of the Biblical Christmas Story was read before we ate our Christmas meal of Baked Ham,

Garden Salad,

Hawaiian Dinner Rolls with Butter,

Mashed Sweet Potatoes,

Cream Style Corn,

Olives,

Bread and Butter Pickles,

Water

Dessert of left over German Chocolate Cake.

GOD CONTINUES TO WORK WITH ME AND OPEN MY EYES OF UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHAT I SHOULD INCLUDE IN MY PRAYERS.

My Uncle John was a gentle and tender hearted man. After my Uncle John passed away, my sister told me something Uncle John had told her when she became a Christian. That he prayed daily that his family members would serve God. This included his brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. That would be me, a niece. This touched my heart in ways I cannot put into words.

I love my family. I dearly love my family. I have come to understand the beauty of the marriage convenant, the beauty of being committed and honoring one's spouse. I have come to appreciate that God wants good things for our lives. Corrupted lifestyles lead to injury and calamity.

As I read Christmas Cards, heard from others, surfed the web...I'm convinced that people need the Lord. Deliverance is needed in so many areas from alcoholism, shacking up and fornicating, puffed up pride, ignoring parental responsibilities and obligations, etc. The sin and poor choices saddened me. I know we are all sinners in need of a savior. His name is Jesus.

CHRISTmas. I just celebrated Him.

Jesus, the lover of my soul.

I know more and more each passing day that I am far from perfect. I have made huge mistakes in life. Though I am not perfect, I'm being perfected because I am a new creature in Christ and His Holy Spirit rest in me. I desire to not waste this life God has given me.

Dear Lord, I seek you and ask for answers and solutions to how to live Life. What would you have me to do?

d

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

Dear Blogging Buddies,
Happy Holidays and
Merry Christmas to you! You warm my heart...I have enjoyed this past year blogging and getting to know you all through your sites (if I'm blessed to see them). May you have a bright CHRISTmas.

God richly BLESS you.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

Best Wishes Always,
~Deanna~


Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
AND he will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,
MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER,
PRINCE OF PEACE.

IN THE FAMILY WAY

Warm Christmas greetings to you! My sweet lil camera that I use gets a work out. I still am learning about the things the SAMSUNG Digimax D53 5.0 Mega Pixels will do. Close ups are a challenge and when I take the flash off of the camera for natural lighting, if I don't hold the camera extra steady...the pic blurs. I'm still working on this and have plans in 2010 to do better with the close ups, but for now...well, I'm still working on this.

Mary's face is blurry. Truthfully, we don't know how she looked. No cameras were around two thousand years ago, but the written word of God has recorded History for us to read and enjoy for the today person.

Lovely Mary.

Scriptures says:
Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused ( betrothed ) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, HAIL, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou has found favour with God.

31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know NOT a man?

35) And the angel answered and said unto her, THE HOLY GHOST shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on the wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child (pregnant) of the Holy Ghost.

19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying Joseph, thou son of David, fear not and take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23) BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is God with us.

24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25) And knew her NOT TILL she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Tender hearted Joseph, of the house of David. Willing to be the earthly daddy to a child that wasn't his natural child. Joseph loved the young woman that carried the Messiah...that was Emmanuel, God with us, Joseph was gentle and kind, willing to protect Mary from a harsh world.

Together they traveled to Bethlehem. Mary was with child and the child would be named JESUS. HE will be called WONDERFUL...COUNSELOR. PRINCE OF PEACE. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest.

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2) (And this tax was first made when Cyrenius was govenor of Syria.)

3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the Inn.

So many people going to the same city to pay their taxes and no place to stay...so Mary and Joseph would stay in a stable.

Precious Jesus.

Merry Christmas,
~Deanna~

NEW LIFE

With Christmas Wreaths on the exterior doors of the home, a larger wreath is displayed elsewhere inside the house. Early in the month I like to have the Nativity Scene displayed before the tree goes up and Seasonal Decor brightens the interior. Usually my Nativity Scene sits on a formal table runner on top of the piano. For a change I'm using this old vintage runner on top of a coffee table.

Before I realized that the runner had butterflies worked into the ends of the cloth, I thought why did whoever made this...put these flaps here on the ends? The Nativity Scene was already resting on the table when my husband commented that there were butterflies on the runner. Sure enough there they were. He told me he first saw the flaps on the runner and wondered why they were there...then saw the butterflies.

Funny how I didn't see the butterflies at first. Butterflies represent New LIFE and how appropriate that the Nativity Scene that holds figurines that represent the Christmas Story sits on a table runner that has a new life symbol in it. Jesus is the giver of LIFE and in Him we can have New LIFE...born anew.

There was no room at the Inn and Jesus would be born in a crude place. Born in a manger. He'd become the LAMB of GOD.

He'd become known as The GOOD SHEPHERD.

He'd become the LIVING water of LIFE. Still is. 

 Jesus is the great I AM.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, "If thou knewest the gift of GOD, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his chidren, and his cattle?"

John 4:13 and 14 Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

Lord fill us up...we are vessels in need of your LIVING water of LIFE that satisfies our souls and gives everlasting LIFE.

Beloved, Merry Christmas! Be filled.

~Deanna~