Happy New Year & Shannon's Giveaway

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!!!

I know my blog post have been sorely lacking lately and like all of us I have high  hopes for a new beginning this year.  So here's a quick post on the first of many giveaways to be found I hope.  

This giveaway is from Shannon @ SWEET HOME CONNECTICUT.  I just love this beautiful stone.  I want to dive into it and swim away.  It reminds me of the beautiful Caribbean Ocean.  Here's a description of the necklace from Sweet Home Connecticut:

Beautiful stone pendant on high polish finish cable chain. Each stone is unique in shape and size. Lobster claw clasp - 29" approx. chain length, 3" approx. length x 2" approx. width.
Shannon will chose a winner on Wed. Jan 5th.  Good Luck.

 

Urgent - Dear Friend Needs A Prayer Chain!!!

Dear Friends, 

I hope you all had a glorious Christmas with your loved ones.  I'm sending out this post trusting that it will be read by each of you.  You can make a difference in someones life today.

You have all made such a difference in my life. You have all come to my rescue and the Lord has heard your prayers and blessed me and my family immensely.  I'm coming to you with a request for a prayer chain for someone who has always had only the kindness words and heart for me.

Sweet Kym at Free Trinkets and Treasures

is going through so much right now.  Her shoulders and heart just can't carry the burdens alone.  She needs your deepest prayers  and could use your kindest words.  

I won't go into what she has shared with me but I know frightened, scared, heartbreaking pain when I hear it.  Her family has had many strains this year.  Depression is seeping in and loneliness and sadness seem to have invaded her home.   She could use our love.  Her health is not good and the stress and worry she is under at this time is making her susceptible and weak.  

Please pray for her peace of mind, pray that loving and understanding fill her home.  I hope our words will give her the strength that she doesn't possess now.  Let our voices and prayers rise up to the heavens on her behalf.  Let our prayer chain be unbroken in the name of our Father.   

Miracles happen when two or more gather in his name!

I hope you stop by and leave Kym a kind word, it will mean so much.

Love to each of you....Tracy :)

Room In The Inn

Room In The Inn
And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2: 7 (KJV)
Read Luke 2: 1-20

Years ago in a nearby school, the First Grade was presenting the Christmas Play. All children had learned their parts and were anxious to win the approval of fellow students, parents and guests who were the audience. The children playing Mary and Joseph came to the door of the inn; they knocked and asked for a bed.
The child playing the innkeeper knew his line well and said loudly, “There is no room in the inn. Go away.”

The audience sighed, “Oh” sympathetically. Then the student innkeeper felt distressed (not pleasing the
audience), SO, he ad-libbed. “There are no beds in the inn, but come on in and have a beer anyway.”
The audience clapped and student Joseph said ,”Well, I think we will go to the barn,” and the play went
on as planned.

Now, some think this might have spoiled this program, but not I.
I thought it showed the real spirit of Christmas...offer what you have. Help those in need. I am sure this little boy might have heard this at home as a gesture of hospitality. No matter, it was a heart of hospitality.

Do we have a heart sensitive to the needs of others?

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, give us a sensitive heart. May we open our hearts to You and be ready to
invite all into your kingdom and our lives. Amen.
 
Thought for the Day: Is there room in your heart and your life for Christ the Lord?
by Bettye Quinn

I just heard from Kate @ Auntie Cake's last night that her sister Libbie's in-laws just lost their home in a fire.  The entire home will have to be bulldozed.    How devastating to lose all your belongs anytime of year and especially at a time of celebration.  I don't have anymore details but am assuming that the family is okay physically.  

Please keep this family in your prayers.

From the bottom of my heart I wish each one of you 

The Very Merriest Christmas 

Love and Hugs......Tracy

Cheryl's Having A Giveaway - YIPPEE!

How could I be so late in finding out about this.  Oh' yeah, that's right I never get blog hop time anymore.  Shoot, I can't even get post on my own blog time.  But luckily I found it when I just stopped by to see what my sweet friend was up too.  Cheryl over at Zany-Mayd is having a big ole' just because, vintage giveaway!  Oh lots and lots of fun goodies to wish for.  And I just love the comment question she's asked readers, "Every blog name has a story, What's Yours"?  It's fun just reading everyone's answers.  So go by and let us know how you chose your blog name too.  You may just be the winner of gaggle of goodies!

Can  you believe Christmas is only 3 days away?  Where did December go?  Hope y'all are enjoying the spirit and fun of the season.  What a miracle we celebrate when we celebrate our Christ birth.

Warm, Warm Hugs Y'all.....Tracy :)

Would You Like To Do the Easiest Christmas Swap Ever?

It's a little late notice but I guess if you know me you're not surprised.  I thought I would get so much more done this Christmas Season but it was not to be.

Which brings me to why so little got done.

The nursing home called and was sending MIL back to the hospital yesterday morning because her  potassium levels were too high again.  So back to the emergency room we go to meet her.  This time we had her sent to another hospital in hopes of better care.  Luckily the Dr said her potassium level was fine.  The nursing home must have been a miss read.  She does still have a UTI though.  So back to the nursing home she went that afternoon.  She looked fine and is in no pain.  Thank goodness it was just a scare.  At least the nursing center isn't taking any chances.

Anyway, back to my original thought.....

Would any of you like to do a last minute one on one swap?  No creating necessary. Handmade (which of course we all love) or store bought, it doesn't matter all will be loved.  I love Christmas cards and really wanted to send them out to so many of you in blogland who I consider dear friends.  Well I didn't get around to making any special homemade cards or have time to contact you for your addresses.  So my thought is if any of you would like to swap Christmas cards/Christmas wishes I'd love to do that with you.

All you have to do is email me your address and I will give you mine in return and then I will post a Christmas wish of cheer out to you.  It sure would make me smile and my Christmas just a little brighter and I hope it would do the same for you.  So what do you say?  Are you up for the easiest swap ever?  

Okay, then just email me your full name and mailing address to cottonpickincute@hotmail.com.

Have a blessed and joyous weekend doing lots of Christmasy stuff.  Hugs....Tracy :)

Marie's Giveaway Ends Soon - Hurry

Have you heard yet?  Sweet creative Marie over at Spun by Me is having a giveaway to celebrate going on 800 post!  I can't imagine ever getting there.  

Marie has created the most beautiful items to give to the lucky winner.  While  you're there you'll want to see all the beautiful matchbox ornaments that she has received in her 25 days of Christmas swap. 

Marie is such a dear sweet friend not to mention how extremely creative and talent she is.  I know you'll love her as much as I do.  Her giveaway ends on Sunday, December 19th ~ So HURRY!   Just click here.

Country Cabin Christmas Tree

This year the outside of our house didn't get decorated at all.....but the inside got a double dose.  This is the tree I put up in the dining room.  I love a colored lit tree and I had a lot of country, cabin, fishing type ornaments so a few years ago I bought this one.  It's thinner to fit in the space.  I would still love to have a feather tree.  I've taken pictures of more ornaments that are special to me.  The tree's filled with teddy bears, and black bears, birds and fishing, boating items.  This one reminds me more of a kids tree.  It also reminds me of Neils brother who passed away a few years ago.  William loved fishing and even hunting.  He loved the outdoors.  He always made me feel so welcomed in the family.  Neil misses him so much and I couldn't help but tear up when I thought of him while decorating with these ornaments.  Even the angel on top has grapevine wings and a birdhouse!  I love the canoe with Santa inside and the fish hanging under it.  The little boy hanging a stocking at the fireplace is another of my Grandson Zack's ornaments.  It's hard to see in my photos but there are about 20 faux gingerbread snowflake iced cookies hanging on this tree too.

I really wish these pics were better.  There's a country church, several little snow topped cabins.  Lots of fish and several boats to remind us of our home here on the water.  There's even a fishing bob.  Little foam mittens made by the Grands to be cherished forever.  Ice cream cones, merry-go-round, and a gnome.  Some new and some thrift store finds.  All perfect little favorites that made me smile when I found them.  Do you see the little hallmark ornament with the kitty hanging from the brass birdcage.  That was a 25 cent find this year.  I thought is was too cute.

The horse is the ornament I choose for my Granddaughter Ki'a last year.  They had been living on a ranch in Nebraska the year before and loved having a horse.

The little Victorian boy in the airplane was an ornament chosen for Zack a few years back.

The snowman ornament was one I found for my son Ty to commemorate the year he was serving in Iraq several years ago.  Oh you can barely see the cute cuckoo clock to the right.  I just loved it and picked it up for a quarter this year too.  The snowman holding the "Think Snow" sign was homemade from a friend in a swap  years ago.

The little boy in his riding habit on the horse is another of Zack's (remember one new ornament each year).  Between you and me it really reminds me of his Dad a lot.  I had decorated Ty's room in fox hunting polo riding style when he was young.   Underneath the horse is a snow globe ornament with Santa in a canoe fishing inside.   I love the little birds drinking from the bird bath too.   I don't know what these cute black bears are made of.  It's a nature material like straw.

Here's Zack's horse ornament from last year.

Kia's little Victorian ornament to match Zacks the same year.  She's so cute.

I even have snow shoes to go with my woodsy theme.   Moose, doggies, birds all flock this tree.  And one of the Grandchildren's hand prints below. A precious felt acorn that a swap friend made last year.  I always think of Donna from Brynwood Needleworks when I hang it, even though it wasn't from her.  She just loves acorns.  A little toy rocking horse is just propped in the branches.

Now that it's all up on the tree, I think it's time to dress up the little fur bears hanging and sitting beneath.  I think they deserve new ribbons don't you?

I hope you enjoyed seeing my trees.  If you missed the first tree you can click here and read that post.