what can you do punchinello, punchinello?

I can do it, too, Punchinello, little fellow. I can do it, too, Punchinello, little man!

doorbusters

King and I went to get a Christmas tree this evening. On our way, we passed buy an electronics store that had a half full parking lot and tents set up all around the building. People were scattered about, sitting in fold-out chairs, all bundled up in their parkas, sipping their Starbucks double mocha cappuccinos ready to be the first people to be let inside the door.

Wouldn't it be great if there had been a line like that this morning to get inside the doors of church?

anybody else see the irony in this?

This was in a sales flyer for Black Friday.

I guess, just in case things back there in the toy department get rowdy.

happy thanksgiving

Blessings are simply innumerable.

We are grateful for each of them - from the biggest to the most microscopic.

I do wonder, though, to whom are atheists thankful?

friends who have cancer....

.....are a gentle reminder from God that we shouldn't hold grudges.

We then are able to love a little deeper,

stay a little longer,

and hug a little tighter.

oh yeah, forgot to tell you about these

My friend, Tori, and I went to a craft show yesterday. There was a wholelotta stuff I wasn't interested in. Probably the thing I was the least interested in was called a "Redneck flashlight" which consisted of a block of wood with a match stuck in one end. I mean, we may be redneck, but we do at least have wonna'eeze big yalla thangs:

Ennyhoo, I fell in love with the artwork of two people. One man was a pen and ink artist. His work was beautiful. He adds a tiny bit of color to the piece once the design is finished. I couldn't mentally find a place for his framed artwork in our house and the note cards, though gorgeous, were not practical. The other dude actually won me over as far as I dropped a wad'o money with him. He was a paper artist. Originally from China, his grandfather taught him the art of using an Exacto knife to carefully cut out silhouettes. My favorites were these.

Yes, those are kids trick or treating.

I don't care if it is a jack o'lantern. I think it is beautiful. And I am just eclectic enough to leave it up all year.

The top piece is children standing in line to give St. Nicholas their wish list. The piece on the bottom is a silhouette of a mom tying her daughter's hair bow. Sugar sweetness, n'est pas?

So, my plans are to make this little back hall into the world of silhouettes. I want to try my hand at paper cutting and make silhouettes of my children. There are several online tutorials about it. I can do this. Right?

coasting into a very thankful time

This year we are staying home for Thanksgiving. For that I am thankful. I do wish we could spend time with family, but everyone is scattered about the southeast and, for the most part, has plans to stick close to home. Everyone needs a bye year, right?

The thing that brings me close to tears because it will be so wonderful, is the relaxed do-what-you-want pace we are planning. King will be playing golf with a very good friend of his, our #2, and their #1. I will no doubt be sewing something and perhaps will venture out and "save money" by shopping on the most insane retail weekend of the year. But maybe not. I have only "done" the day after Thanksgiving sales once - last year. My partner in crime who talked me into climbing on the roller coaster ride that is Black Friday will be someplace way far away.. I think near where Dorothy and Toto live.

Here is just a handful of things for which we are thankful:

• God's grace
• family whose love is unconditional
• friends (the family you would handpick if you could)
• our health
• the sheer beauty of God's design

May you be abundantly blessed by Him not only this time of year, but always.

Look at the beauty just outside our front door!