On The 15th Day of Advent

Sing We Now Of Christmas, on this, the 15th Day of Advent!

Thank you, to Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, for hostessing this wonderful Advent Calendar Blog Event!

This beautiful Christmas design was begun at a Stitcher's Hideaway Retreat, in December 2005, just two days after our daughter's wedding. (I had registered for the retreat months before our daughter became engaged to be married.)
This was a wonderful and very memorable retreat for so many reasons.

                                      'Victorian Noel'
                                   Betsy Stinner
                                             of
                                  Earth Threads

Memories, Memories..... As I think back to so many Christmases past, with our children as they were growing up.  
For our family, the Season of Advent, is the most precious time.  Each year we look forward to getting a new Advent calendar, with the little numbered windows to open each day.

Our children always looked forward to taking turns, each day, opening up the little windows, and then reading aloud the scripture for the day. Now my husband and I take turns opening the little windows each day.  

For each Sunday in Advent, after dinner, we always read a scripture and  light the candles on our Advent wreath. Then we sing a Christmas song or two.  Our children always loved doing this every year.

Another sweet memory is the traditional visit to go see Santa Claus and have the children's pictures taken with him.

                                               

We will never forget this Santa picture.  The children said that "he was a very 'smelly' Santa Claus", and they couldn't wait to get off of his lap!  That was so funny!  Oh such sweet times!

This is a very special ornament, stitched for me last year by my very true love, my darling husband, who is an avid stitcher of Hardanger designs.  Isn't it truly beautiful?

We are so blessed in so many ways every day.  Let us hold dear, in our hearts, those very treasured Christmas memories, and the special memories that we will create in our hearts and homes this Christmas.

Blessings to One & All of You, My Very Dear Friends!