My Top 5 Posts of 2019

  It seems we're not the only ones trying to simplify our lives. Four of my top five posts are from my Decluttering and Downsizing series. In fact, the top post of all time is the first I wrote in the series. Part 1 of our Foster-Adoption story made it into the top 5 as well!

Reflecting On 2019

  It's hard to believe we're at the end of another year! 2019 seems to have flown by, and yet the fact that just six months ago we were living in a different home in a different community feels like such a long time ago!

   As always, I've taken some time to reflect on the past year.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

...from our family at Living Our Lives Well!

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It's a Cavalier King Charles Christmas!

  It's that time of year when everyone shares their home tours, showcasing their Christmas decor, so I thought I'd share my favourite year-round decor, but with a Christmas theme!

Meet Raven, Avalie and Harley

Remembering Dad

I know that I know that I know that I know by grace I've been set free.

1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 Dad asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and save him in December 1985, at the age of fifty-eight. Dad went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, December 16, 2009. The following is taken from Dad’s own words that he wrote of his testimony of salvation and was read at the celebration of his life.

Our Traditions of Christmas

  Welcome to our Traditions of Christmas series. We had fun putting it together, reminiscing about Christmas seasons past and creating new memories. You can find links to all of the posts here.

Traditions of Christmas ~ Our Nativity Scene

 "Gingerbread and candy canes, cookies baked to give away; 

singing carols, Christmas plays, gifts and going to Grandma's place." 

 All of these have been a big part of our family's celebrations, but the most important thing to us has been to instill in our children and grandchildren the true meaning of Christmas. 

 "While some traditions come and go, others we hold dear"

  For the past 25 years or so, the center of our decorations has been our manger scene, depicting the birth of Christ. 

Traditions Of Christmas ~ Gift Giving Fun

  Giving is one of the most fun parts of Christmas! As a family, there are a few traditions we've had over the years to add a little more fun to our gift giving. 

 One of these traditions was started for practical reasons, and it seems to be a common one with many families. Every year on Christmas Eve, our kids were allowed to open one gift. It was never a surprise to find a pair of PJs in this gift, but we usually added a small gift to make it a little more fun for them! Most years we included a movie or a video game, and more recently we've started adding a package of hot chocolate and microwave popcorn. The best part for us is knowing everyone will look good for Christmas morning pictures!

Traditions Of Christmas ~ The Candy Cane

 This project is a very simple little gift that we've made a few times over the years to hand out to friends and neighbours before Christmas.

Traditions of Christmas ~ A Pinate

  Are you looking for something different to do this Christmas? One of our many Christmas activities from years gone by has been making a pinate.

Traditions of Christmas ~ Home Made Gift Wrap and Tags

When our older kids were growing up, there were many years that we had to find ways to save money. Making our own wrapping paper was one of them.

Traditions of Christmas ~ Gift Jars

  Are you looking for a simple gift for a friend, teacher, or co-worker? Maybe you want a project that you can do with the kids. Gift jars are a great gift for anyone, and easy enough for kids to make with a little help from an adult. 

Traditions of Christmas ~ Gift Trays

   This is one of my favourite gift ideas and one that we've done many times over the years. Some years have been quiet, with just my daughter Nicole and I getting together, while other years the whole family has been home to take part. No matter who is there, it's always a fun time of making memories.

Traditions of Christmas ~ Mini Gingerbread Houses

  Many years ago, baking cookies and making a gingerbread house before Christmas became one of our family traditions. The gingerbread houses didn't happen every year, but at some point, all eight of our kids had a turn at decorating a house with candy. 

Traditions of Christmas ~ Button Wreath

  

When I was a child, I loved playing with my mom's collection of buttons. Like many ladies of her day, Mom kept the buttons in an old cookie tin. Years later, when my parents were moving from the farm, among their possessions was a huge cookie tin full of buttons. Not the small tin from my childhood, but one that belonged to my great aunt. I'm sure that tin held not only Auntie Bene's button collection, but my grandma's and my mom's as well. I had no idea what I'd do with all those buttons, but I brought the cookie tin home, not willing to leave it behind for someone else to throw away.

Traditions of Christmas ~ In Song

    Anyone else love Christmas as much as I do?!

  Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year. Even though we didn't have a lot when I was a child, Mom and Dad always made Christmas a special time. When our own kids were small, there were many years that we didn't have extra money, so we learned to make do with what we had...sometimes saving money by making gifts. When the kids were older we often made our own decorations and wrapping paper, and baked cookies to give away to family and friends. 

  With the Christmas season fast approaching, I thought I'd share some of our family's Christmas traditions, inexpensive crafts, and homemade gift ideas.