Once again . . .

. . . The last turned out to be first. Skip down to "Blognette" and read up from there. I'll get the hang of this eventually!

Markie and her baby sister Emma in the sweet dresses sister Sarah Beth made for their Christmas gifts. She made a matching one for sister Rosie also.
It's Joey's turn in the Christmas chair! This makes a much more pleasant time, and no one is in a hurry, so we hand out gift from youngest up -- of course, it takes several rounds, but what a sweet time! Granddaddy and C.J. look on -- it's C.J.'s turn next!
Sarah, Kitty, R.G. and Matthew performing at the Historical Society's Christmas festival in Ft. Meade .
Cowboys tip their hats. Actually, this isn't the picture I thought it was. Oh, well, not every shot is a perfect one!

"Blognette"???

My friend, Carmon (here) http://buriedtreasurebooks.com/weblog/, says a "blognette" is "a brief post for those times when you are busy with more important things, like Christmas . . ." so that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it! IF there are any readers left out there, y'all! Seriously, once again, my apologies for not being faithful to that which I have committed. And, God willing, I will improve!

Meantime, here are some pictures of the last month or so. God has been good to us and allowed us to spend a wonderful time together with our family this sweet holiday season. We are not finished -- my large extended side of the family always gets together on Jan. 1 for fellowship and gift exchanges, so that is still to come. We look forward to it, as it seems to make the actual celebration last a whole week.

Christmas, for all its wonderful cozy atmosphere and nostalgia, is to me a blessed opportunity to let the Lord reveal things in His Word about the coming of the Savior as a babe, yet fully God. "Born to die" is a song the children sing in performances this time of year, and how full of meaning those simple words are! What an infinite God we serve!

This is Margaret Anne and me -- her dream came true! It was almost my nightmare! She said she dreamed of opening a Christmas box to find a fluffy fancy dress, made by Grandmother. Meanwhile, I was having one of those nightmares where I was swimming slow-motion in bridal satin and upholstery fabric, trying to make the gathers fit on the bustle! Anyway, it is finished and she was elated!!
Sarah Beth drew Mary's name in the Cousin exchange, and Sarah took Mary's love for furnishing her dollhouse and turned it into a unique gift. Sarah's daddy Eddie has a woodworking shop in one of our buildings, and he helped Sarah learn how to cut strips of our "hurricane oak", bevel it, sand it, and finish it for high-class flooring for Mary's dollhouse! Mary was thrilled!
Kitty drew R.G.'s name, and part of her gift to him was the ever-welcome and cherished beef jerky. R.G. is not a stingy by nature, but just try getting a piece of that jerky out of his hands!

The Last Shall Be First :)

Okay, the pictures I meant to be last are actually first . . . but who's keeping track! Just bear with this granny-brain, folks! All the precious maidens of virtue
Sir Cuthbert Higgleston gets his plume!
Weaving the May Pole -- the girls were fascinated by how their interaction produced such an attractive pattern of ribbons on the pole. By the way, our lovely sugar sand in the background behind the little guest house and hanging moss in the other pictures don't exactly evoke medieval visions, do they??

Ye Maidens Faire continued

As you can tell, I continue to get confused on how these posts are actually going to show up! So I guess the "continued" will be before the original! Oh, well. You get the idea.

The sweet Stricklen girls, Molly's family, with Grandmother and Great-grandmother. Little William "snuck" into the ladies' festivities.
Gracie (center) with her sisters (except baby Emma) and Mama, Grandmama, and Great-grandmama.
Aunt Katie and her only little princess Rachel,with Great-grandmother Harris

Sarah hits a bull's eye.

Ye Maidens Faire . . .

The maiden of honor, Gracie (center) with friend Christiana (left) and cousin Mary (right) as the festivities begin!
"She strengtheneth her arms . . ." Beautiful, ladylike maidens who also value strength and vigor. Left to right: Cousin Mary (hidden), sister Kitty with bow, sister Sarah, cousin Abby, sister Markie, and little cousin Rachel. It was amazing how many bull's eyes were hit!
Joyous mothers at the pavillion. Left to right: Daughter-in-law Ashley, Me, daughter Beth (Gracie's mother) daughter Katie, my beautiful mother and Gracie's great-grandmother Frances, and daughter Molly

What a wonderful time we had! Tantalizing medieval treats, sumptuous decorations, lovely home-made costumes, and beautiful godly maidens enjoying each other's company, honoring their friend and sister, Grace. It was my privilege to hostess the event and ask the Lord's blessing on the day and on these precious young ladies who will carry the torch into the future.

Oh, I forgot!

I forgot to add:

Matthew is doing fine. Thank you, dear Heavenly Father.

My mother is doing well. She gets weepy easily, but after 62 years devoted to helpmeeting one man, it is natural. She continues to shine as an example of a precious godly woman. Thanks to all who have asked about her and Matthew.

Woe Is Me . . . !

I cannot believe it has been three weeks since I posted anything! Well, you have been very understanding about my father's homegoing and Matthew's illness, and I appreciate it. I will, of course, try to make excuses, but don't believe them . . .

I have had a bad cold (I guess that is what it was -- it was bad congestion and coughing, etc. God has delivered me, and I am on the mend).

Umm . . . I was waiting for daughter Molly to send me pictures of Thanksgiving (hint, hint . . . I still don't have them!) So I didn't want to post until I was able to put up pictures, too. (Am I getting any sympathy yet???)

Okay, I give up. No excuse. Just inertia. Well, since I don't have any pictures I want to put up right now, I will just do a short update:

1) Thanksgiving was very blessed and special. The whole family was here, except for faithful trucker Robert. We canceled our trip to Indiana because of Matthew's hospitalization, so Katie's family didn't get to meet up with their daddy :( But we had a wonderful time anyway. The food was great and bountiful, and the fellowship was precious.

2) Gracie's medieval party is here at our home this Friday! What a joy it has been to help these girls make their beautiful dresses! Still a few details to go on a couple of dresses, and tomorrow will be filled with decorating (setting up pavillions and maypoles, etc.), Hope to have some sweet pictures soon.

3) I just tonight finished dear husband Danny's invitations for his "Christmas BBQ", something he is trying to make a tradition of sorts, as a thank you for his drafters and customers. It was fun last year, as well as being a great opportunity to demonstrate to interested folks "what the Lord can do through one family who is committed to His ways and to each other". (This is the "Country Cousins" motto) The grandchildren will help serve and will play Christmas/bluegrass. There will be trap shooting and hayrides, as well as great barbeque. Hey, y'all . . . wanna come?

4) The busy season for performances is upon us, so the children (and their grandparents) will be hither and yon around the county. God's grace will be sufficient!

Hope to get back more often! God bless you all as you contemplate His amazing grace in sending His beloved Son to bring us into His family.