The big reveal.....drum roll please.............

As you may remember, my latest challenge (in the Christmas decorating category) was to find a festive way to include these in the deco theme.

You can read more about it in my previous post HERE.

So without further ado ( adew, adue, adeue ????????), anyway,  without waiting any longer - here's what I came up with,

First, I covered them with white burlap.  Did you know that white burlap is expensive?  Well, it is.  Don't tell my husdand but it cost more than the lumber he used to build them....sh...........

Next I added the lights:

and happy, bright red bows.  You can't tell in the daylight, but there is a surprise inside each "tree".

Here's what they look like at night, in all their glory:

Can you see the surprise?  I was going to string white lights across the front of each one, but then I decided to hide them inside.  Here's another shot that might show them better:

So, what do you think?  I'd love to hear from you.

Have a very Merry Christmas !

Yea!!!! Christmas is coming!!

This year I decided that I would do what I had planned to do for several years.  Sort and clean out the old Christmas decorations.  I have ended up with so many half full boxes and collections that I haven't put up in many years (like the massive collection of Santa figurines and mugs, etc.).  Can I just say right now.....WHAT WAS I THINKING ???? !!!!  In the first place, many of the decorations that I haven't used in a while are things my kids made when they were younger and no way am I getting rid of those.  In the second place, after about an hour of sorting, my brain shuts down and I end up not being able to decide what to do with everything.  After all, I might want to use all those silk poinsettias and holly branches some other year and why get rid of them and have to buy more?  See how my mind works?  Oh well, I'll do a little each day and hopefully it will get done in time.  On top of all that, the room that had been storing all the decorations is really a very small bedroom, and as our family grows, we need the room for visiting grandchildren, etc.  The bad part is, it is stuffed to the gills with boxes, toys, and various other "treasures", so while I'm trying to organize Christmas decorations, I'm also trying to clear out and relocate all that junk  stuff.  Where did it all come form??

On another note, I've been trying to get the outside decorations up before we get snow.  The lights are up on the porch, the wreath is on the door, and the garland is on the fence.  My newest project was trying to come up with a festive solution to decorate these:

I had asked my husband to make some covers for our new shrubs to keep the ice and heavy snow off of them.  He suprised me one day with these.  He assures me the shrubs will grow into them. 

 So. I'm using some of this:

In case you can't tell, it's white burlap.  (The cute kitty is not part of the project) and then I'll add these:

It's not finished yet , so come back and I'll post the finished product.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear how you would decorate the shrub covers.

Christmas is coming!  Thank you God for the gift of your Son, the only way to salvation!

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

There are not many books that I want to read again as soon as I finish it.  This was one of the few.  I can’t say LOVE enough!  It grabbed my attention right away and held it all the way to the last page.  There are good guys and bad guys and you never are really sure who is who until the end.  It is a story that will keep you guessing and tug at your heart at the same time.    Here’s what the publisher says about it: 

"Eden’s hope is rekindled when Clay delivers astounding news: their daughter has been found.

Five years ago Eden and Clay Larson’s baby was stolen and never found. Eden blamed herself, Clay lost himself in work. Their young and rocky marriage ended. Or so Eden thought.


Now Eden’s moved to a new town. She’s found faith and is trying to rebuild her life. She’s even dating again—a sweet guy who plans to marry her someday. But then Clay arrives out of the blue and delivers shocking news: they’re still married. What’s more, Clay has been searching for Brianna all this time. And he believes he’s found her: their daughter is in Bluebird, Texas, at a youth ranch.

To uncover the truth, Eden and Clay sign on as counselors at Bluebird Ranch. Working together, they rediscover their love for each other. But danger is closing in—Eden, Clay, and their young charges are in jeopardy. As they fight to save their family, Eden realizes that God has been fighting for them all along. And His plans are for a more abundant life than they’ve dared to hope."

The characters are very believable and the circumstances they find themselves in are realistic. You are reminded that in real life, bad things do happen to good people, but God is always walking with us.  There are many twists and turns in the plot.  The only thing I had a slight problem with was the number of characters to keep track of.  But, in all honesty, the author does such a good job of introducing and explaining them, that it's only a very small annoyance.  This is a clean, suspenseful romance full of mystery and faith.

I’ve read other Colleen Coble books and really liked them but of all the ones I’ve read, this is the best!!  5 stars out of 5!
Don't trust my humble opinion....read an exerpt for yourself! 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze and Thomas Nelson through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”