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Just a quick note to let you know I've moved my blog to the following address:

http://www.michellebenthamcreates.com

Please visit me at REDEEMED...RESTORED...RELEASED: One Woman's Story of Living Free to read more about what God is doing in my life and how He is working those things to set me free. Thanks so much for following, visiting, reading all about it and supporting me as you have done so many times these last few years. If you follow my other blogs, the posts from all three of my blogs are going to be transferred to the new digs for one big blog about our journey to restoration and freedom in Christ.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Siesta GOOD Cheer... And Ornament Show Off!

Hey, Bloggy Friends!

I am logging in and showing off the beautiful gifts I received for Christmas this year from my friend, Michelle V (here's a link to her blog). She and I have become even better friends since being linked up in the Siesta Ornament Exchange, and I just love her transparency and her beautiful testimony of God's mercy and grace as He remains and sustains her as Bridegroom in life and as a Father to her children in every way. She is a joy, a blessing and a beautiful treasure of God to me. So, now... as they say from the Big Stage... On With The Show (off)!

First of all, Michelle learned all about our two Christmas trees and the holiday trauma that has often ensued. I will write more about the trees in a different post, but I have a tree that I purchased the year Justin died (a small in diameter, 6 1/2 foot pre-lit number) that was easy to assemble and disassemble solo. And, I decorate it these days with all manner of Gold, Silver, Glass and Red ornaments that honor Christ, the Nativity, Heaven, and so forth. It is a heavenly display of angels and stars and all things gloriously delicate and beautiful. I call it the "Jesus" Tree.



Michelle sent me these two beautiful Dayspring ornaments for my "Jesus" Tree:

An elegant set of Silver Hearts on a Red Ribbon contains a reflection about Christmas.
Heart 1: Faith (Galatians 2:20), Heart 2: Hope (Romans 15:13), Heart 3: Love (Romans 5:5)

Heart four: Joy (Nehemiah 8:10 - I Love this Verse!), Heart Five: Peace (John 14:27), Heart Six: Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11)
And this beautiful Jesus Ornament:


(Side Note: On October 31st, we were not planning to be home to hand out tracts and candy bars. So I bought regular sized candy bars and put them out on the front porch in a bowl with a poster that said, Please take one. "Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17. I used to pray that Scripture for Justin when he was going through his difficult days of adolescence. It has extra special meaning to me and so is a beautiful ornament that fits perfectly with my Jesus Tree.)

Next, we have the "Memory" Tree. This is the tree that has all our "life story" ornaments on it. Our favorite things like snowflakes and teddy bears, Santa Claus, Snowmen and Reindeer run the branches... There's even a Harley Davidson ornament in there that I often call my husband's dream ornament. All the ornaments that I have that were made by my children are on this tree and even a few that I made as a child as well as ornaments from my mother's Santa collection as well.

Michelle also sent me these precious little wooden snowmen complete with a rustic wire hook attached. She sent me an email after she sent the package out in the mail telling me she had a story about some of what she sent me. The story is that her mother made her a whole bunch of these snowmen for her own tree and when she learned I loved snowmen she had to send me a couple. I just love them. Snowmen make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. My house is covered in them... They are precious on our memory tree. A terrific reminder of the beautiful year I have had with God and the Siestas. Such a blessing, what a joy! I'm overwhelmed.



A special thanks to Patty, Kim and Holly over at the Siesta Blog for hosting this fun and friendly exchange. Stop by and check out what others received for Christmas from one Siesta to another
Merry Christmas, because JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON.

13 comments:

Lora said...

Michelle,
I love the crosses on your wall by your "Jesus" tree. And I love how your giving heart just set the candy and note outside for October 31st. You are precious. And how neat that Michele's ornament to you had a verse on it that means so much to you. I'll have to stop by and meet Michele V. And her mother is very talented to make such adorable snowmen!
Merry Christmas my friend,
Lora

Yolanda said...

So cool that have a new friend in Christ, adding to your trees as well.

ALL ABOUT THE MEMORIES!

Lovingly,
Yolanda

Sara@iSass said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was worried that the Seista thing wasn't happening...there was no Mr. Linky through out the morning. Love your ornaments...I love how the to of you got to know each other. That didn't happen for me and my seista. Christmas Blessings to you!

Susan said...

Oh Michelle,

How special. I'm so excited God used those women and the gifts to bless your sweet heart.

I can't image all the emotions that are stirred up during this time of the year for you.

You are such a BRIGHT light out here in the blogasphere.

I love reading your posts and getting to know more and more about you and your family.

Blessings to you my sweet friend♥

Michelle V said...

Michelle,

The trees turned out beautiful! I just got around to decorating this past weekend and it's still in progress. Today I did my Cover to Cover post but I will get out my camera and get my ornament post up. I hung my cross right next to the tree and it looks so pretty!

Blessings
Michelle V

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Michelle,
I am glad you found me. Michelle V is how I found the Siesta's so I am thankful to her as well. She is so sweet. I will come back later and read more of your posts. You have lovely trees.
Blessings,
Lynn

luvmy4sons said...

Lovely. Lovely. Such lovely things...friends and gifts!

Unknown said...

I love to enjoy Christmas Festival, This is a very nice festival...

Enjoy Christmas..

Marry Christmas

http://www.yellaribbon.com/

jenmom said...

Hey Girl! Love the new look. It's been awhile since I've stopped by because our computer crashed a couple weeks ago. I love the trees! It was so fitting that you had James 1:17 in this post. I am teaching a shortened version of that verse to my 3 year old son, who has totally gotten wrapped up in "the Christmas man (aka Santa) bringing him every toy he sees in a commercial! In our family devotions the other night we explained that all our gifts come from above from Jesus and now he and I are learning this verse!
Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas and New Year!

Go-Between said...

Michelle, I loved the way you described your two trees! Calling it a memory tree is such a fun way to describe it! They are so beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
mk
who is wondering - however did you find my blog??? :)

Patty said...

I love every single ornament and I especially love that you call your one tree the memory tree. I have a tree like that. So thankful that this has made Michelle and you closer together. Praying for a special Christmas for you and your family.
Blessings,
Patty

Nise' said...

They are all lovely! I would love to have two trees, memory and victorian. I just may have to keep my eyes on the sales!!

Unknown said...

Wow those are all just great! I love the heart ornament! I also love how our Father intertwines moments together (like the verse you had at halloween and the verse on the ornament) to build a beautiful spiritual quilt of life.