Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, December 12, 2016

Christmas Photos from our Home to Yours in 2015

This is what Christmas is all about at our home.
As you probably know,  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas...   Even though George and I enjoy seeing and being with family/friends (and we always try to work that out during the Christmas Season),  Christmas DAY (and part of Christmas Eve) is OURS... We have some special routines and traditions  --and we both totally enjoy these two days together.

On Christmas Eve,  one tradition is to sit quietly and listen to the MESSIAH from beginning to end... This helps us relax and take in the true meaning of the Birth of our Christ.    We also take time to go to church for the Christmas Eve Service... After getting home,  we share a glass of Eggnog (or wine) and each of us opens ONE gift before going to bed.

Then on Christmas Day,  we first read our devotions and then have breakfast... After that,  we both get dressed,  and spend quite a bit of time taking lots of Christmas pictures together...  (We choose one of our favorite pictures for the following year's Christmas Cards.)

After the pictures,  we always are involved with church activities/service.  When we get home, we open our gifts --taking pictures throughout the day...  I love going back through all of  our Christmas  pictures from previous years.  The memories are fantastic...

The afternoon is spent relaxing,  napping,  listening to music and just enjoying the JOY all around us,  while celebrating Baby Jesus' birth...  Then,  about 4:00----we enjoy a delicious dinner together (usually turkey and the trimmings)....

Well---those are some of our Christmas Traditions...  Today,  I'll share some of the pictures from Christmas of 2015.... Hope you enjoy them!!!!


Another Tradition is to exchange ornaments (some very unique and/or silly)...  As you can tell from this one,  our Backyard Birds are a BIG part of our lives here in Fairfield Glade!!!!! ha



Our wonderful fireplace and the Fireplace Babies are also a big part of our lives.



This was our new Fireplace Baby,  a sweet little Snowman,  who joined our family in 2015... This little guy just jumped into our car when we were visiting Callahan's Christmas Store in Calabash, North Carolina... (Just wait until you see what jumped into our car this year --on our trip to Calabash.)



Here's a happy lady--enjoying a gorgeous canvas picture from George.


Santa left some BAD GIRL a sack of coal for Christmas......  Wonder why????




WELL---maybe this would be the reason for the 'sack of coal' ornament above... Ya think?????? ha ha 



NO SNOW (in 2015) ---but "Baby,  it was cold outside".... I love my new mittens!



I surprised George this year with a canvas of us --taken when we were at the Grand Tetons in late August.



Oh --how I love this man of mine!!!!



George makes me laugh and he makes me cry... I loved the Willow Gift (called TOGETHER) that he gave me.



George does warm my heart.....  



Two people in love,  having fun on Christmas Day,  2015
Hope you enjoyed seeing some pictures from our Christmas....  My prayer for you is that you enjoy this joyful season as much as we do..   Blessings to you for a Christ-Filled Christmas.

Hugs,

37 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

You are a couple of 'love-birds' and I really enjoyed the photos from last Christmas. May this years Christmas be wonderful for you both also.

Happy Christmas holidays ~ FlowerLady

Betsy said...

You warm my heart with such beautiful thoughts and pictures from last Christmas. You both are so joyful and love your smiles.
betsy

George said...

Have you noticed that each Christmas seems to be better than the previous one? Christmas 2016 should be absolutely wonderful!

Marcia said...

I thought you had a typo in your post for the date but soon realized what you were doing. All my decorations are up and I've been posting about them too since its a totally different space to decorate this year. Merry Christmas to you too.

Ann said...

Enjoyed seeing all your pictures. Wishing you and George a very Merry Christmas

David said...

Betsy, Beautiful sentiments and beautiful decorations! Our Christmas Day is mostly spent in pajamas...definitely relaxing and enjoying the day and all it means. Love your loaded tree. We downscaled this year to a flat tree. You can see it on my 12/9 post. Have a great week! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

What a fun look back at Christmas last year! I love that little snowman that jumped into your car. And the canvas of you and George at the Tetons is gorgeous!

Devilish Angel said...

I enjoyed all the photos Betsy. You and George makes the readers happy by your joyful smiles :)

linda m said...

I love your traditions and your decoration. You both are so cute together and show how much you love each other. I wish a very Blessed Christmas and hope you get some snow.

LV said...

I truly enjoyed you taking us back in the wonderful times you have shared. I have the upmost respect for you two. How wish there were more families like yours. Wishing you many more great years and memories together.

Ginny Hartzler said...

I LOVE reading how you spend your Christmas Day!! And you really outdid yourselves with your beautiful matching sweaters this year, they are my favorite EVER! Beautiful! LOVE your fireplace, it is awesome! I have a lot of Santas too, and will show them on an upcoming post. Now would I EVER believe that you two crazy kids could be BAD enough to get coal on Christmas? Well, maybe just a LITTLE. After all, life needs a bit of spice in it.

Betsy said...

I always love to see photos of the two of you. The love you have for each other just exudes from the pictures. Merry Christmas you two!
Blessings,
Betsy

Lowcarb team member said...

Oh my Betsy ... what an amazing post.
My Christmas spirits were high but they are so much higher now!

Thank you so much for sharing your photo's, your good times.
May you have a most brilliant Christmas this 2016.

My good wishes to the two of you

All the best Jan

Fun60 said...

Your thoughts, memories and photos are full of so much joy which is what Christmas is all about.

Arkansas Patti said...

Merry Christmas Betsy and George-- the cutest couple and most in love couple in blogdom--maybe in Tennessee.
Loved all the pictures and how you have decorated. Cracked up at the Bird stocking. Know how you love your birds.

Liene said...

I just love your new mittens! Sending you best wishes and a Merry Christmas!

Linda said...

Sweet pictures! Well, except for that FACE George is making! Happy Christmas!

Wendy said...

Love the little bird snowman who jumped into your lives. LOL.
How do you do both FB and Blogging? I'm struggling, but feel like picking up blogging once again and letting go of FB for a bit.

Thanks for sharing your home and decorations. They're lovely!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Would you believe that these pictures brought tears to my eyes? I love seeing two people so totally in love with each other.What a tremendous blessing that is.On the other hand,I see these pictures and I miss my Hubby so terribly much.No words to describe that emptiness. Thanks for sharing your Christmas activities. Keep on making memories together.
Hugs,
Ruth

The Furry Gnome said...

You are one lucky couple to love each other so much and get along so well together! Merry Christmas!

Lady Fi said...

You two certainly know how to have fun! Love love all your shots. Wishing you both much joy!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I love your Christmas shirts! You have so many wonderful traditions. It's no wonder you love Christmas so much!

Big Dude said...

It's always been obvious that you love Christmas now if you could just get a white one, you would be in hog-heaven.

Marie said...

traditions are wonderful. we have ours starting on Christmas Eve, which includes loading up in our large suv and driving around looking at Christmas lights while singing to the Christmas music we have playing. :) during Christmas dinner we each tell my son about our Christmas childhood memories...he always enjoys hearing how the generations are different. :)
I love all your pics, the last one is my favorite...smiling and laughing is the best. thanks for sharing your special traditions. :)
hugs,
Marie

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

I love your photos. Sounds like you and George have a wonderful Christmas together. The traditions are wonderful and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I also love your header photo!

diane b said...

You have such a well organised and happy Christmas. Love your happy house photos.

Connie said...

I enjoyed hearing about your Christmas traditions, Betsy. Great pictures too! You and George are such a cute couple together. :)

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

You make me happy to see all the love yall show for each other! So sweet. I love both canvases. The ornaments were so cute, then the fireplace....Wishing you a merry Christmas!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Wonderful post. I like seeing the pictures of you two. Merry Christmas! Enjoy your beautiful yards and the deer. Hope you stay warm. It may be even a bit cool here in warm FL late in the weekend. Who knows? Have a super good Friday and weekend!

Lady Di Tn said...

Thanks for sharing "The Love Birds Christmas" with us. Peace be with you today and always dear friends.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I love these Christmas photos!! So festive :)

Have a Merry Christmas :)

Jeevan said...

Good to see you both enjoying the occasion and of course what one needs than happiness filling the life and sweet memories/moment to be cherished. Liked all your photos from last Christmas... and I envious looking at your Christmas tree full of ornaments :)

I am yet to décor my tree and bought some item to add on. Hope it was another wonderful Christmas to you and George

Small City Scenes said...

Wonderful Betsy. You and George are truly blessed.
Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
MB and Boo too

Sally Wessely said...

It is your time of year. Merry Christmas to you both!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Betsy, I haven't forgotten you! It's been a busy time around here and then hubby just had to pass his cold/virus onto me and I've been battling that the last few days. Hopefully, all will be well in time for Christmas. I still have shopping to do! Yikes! It will get done, it always does.
Your home looks so Christmasy and pretty! Love all your decor and the gifts you exchanged last year. The shot of you and George in front of the Tetons is especially neat! Take care and stay well. Wishing you and George a wonderful, joy-filled Christmas season!
Love, Cheryl

Small Kucing said...

Ho ho ho...both you and George so cute together. Love the naughty part

Merry Christmas, Betsy and George

Kay said...

Sigh... You guys are so beautiful! Happy Christmas to both of you! Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii!