Favorite things...

Here we are a few days before Christmas.  

We are looking forward to a little break here and some quality family time over the next few weeks.  The boys finish up finals on Friday and the little ones start Christmas break.  We are also looking forward to a "white" Christmas.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite things with you today.  I have an eclectic Christmas collection, things collected over the years.  Things that were gifts, things that I have picked up along the way.  For some reason they all have sentimental value to me and each year my house gets a little more crowded.

  This year I pick up this sign HERE, it is my new favorite...we are big "Elf" fans here (sadly we quote the movie all year long).

I have a snowman collection, you will find these fellows scattered throughout my house.

One of my favorite traditions is the sending and receiving of Christmas cards...I display each and everyone I receive on my banister.

I LOVE the glow of Christmas lights, you will find them in almost every room in our house.  All of the battery and timer lights available now make it easy to light up a home.  My mom loaned gave me this sleigh with tiny lights (I like it so much she might not get it back:)

See the tiny lights?  You can put them on anything, mix them with flowers, wrap them on decorations...I have another set lighting my nativity.  You can get them HERE.  What a great invention!

Because I am having Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my house this year, my Mom some how talked me into putting up two trees( I must be crazy).  You may remember she helped me put up my decorations...I hope she will help me take them down too!

I have a few different villages that  I love too.  I have the old fashioned paper houses...

....and a ceramic Snow Village collection.  I have been collecting these for years.  Both Russ and my Mom have added to the collection over the years.  A few of my favorites, the Ford dealership (my first car was a Mustang convertible), the Apothecary, the Chinese Dragon restaurant, and of course...

....Starbucks.

One last favorite is the ornament wreath my Mom made me.  I look forward to hanging it every year.  As I review this post I think I need to thank my Mom, not only for all the decorating help she gave me this year, but for helping me make Christmas traditions that warm our home, and hopefully my children's homes when they have families of their own.  Thanks Mom!

Although, Christmas decorations warm our home and add excitement to the season, there is so much more.

With all of the sadness of Newtown and news of families we know going through very difficult times, I am trying to keep my mind and heart focused on the true meaning of Christmas.....the joy and hope of the birth of Jesus Christ.  May 2013 be filled with HOPE for all.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Deb Duty

The Long Road to China