Harvest Lane Cottage

"They were cosy and comfortable in their little house made of logs, with the snow drifted around it and the wind crying because it could not get in by the fire." Laura Ingalls Wilder ~~~~~ May I suggest? A Simpler Christmas, A Calmer Mother ~~~~~ Wednesday-   Wholehearted Wednesdays    -    A Little R & R  -  Raising Homemakers  -    A Wise Woman Builds Her Home   -   {Not Just} Homemaking Party  -  Creative Muster

Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Christmas doesn't end on December 25th! It begins! Joy to the World! The Lord is Come! God bless you as you continue to keep your focus on Jesus Christ. Laura *This picture is no longer available, however, check out the free e-cards at Debbie Mumm . This was used with permission.

Then Bob proposed: "A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!" Which all his family re-echoed. "God bless us every one!" said Tiny Tim, the last of all. Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol God bless us every one. Merry Christmas Laura

Happy Christmas to All and to All a Good Night! ~Clement Moore God bless you all! Laura Home for Christmas

Mrs. Fuentes has found the perfect Christmas gift. Great for last minute giving. Please see this. The Perfect Christmas Gift I've got miles to go before I sleep as Mr. Frost would say.... Blessings to you! Laura

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~Agnes Pharo Time to finish up those last few shopping details! Wrap tonight so you won't be up past midnight Christmas eve wrapping! May you seek God and His peace and wisdom. Laura

"Then Pa and Ma and Mr. Edwards sat by the fire and talked about Christmas times back in Tennessee and up north in the Big Woods. But Mary and Laura looked at their beautiful cakes and played with their pennies and drank water out of their new cups. And little by little they licked and sucked their sticks of candy, till each stick was sharp-pointed on one end. That was a happy Christmas ." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder "Little House On The Prairie," page 252 It's all in how you look at it, isn't it? Enjoy what you have, where you are, whom you are with now. Blessings, Laura

Looking for some more about Christmas? Here's the link to my Laura of Harvest Lane blog Christmas archive . I'm writing there as well now. I invite you to join me. Christmas blessings to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Laura

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~Peg Bracken

The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ. ~D. James Kennedy Happy Christmas Season! Laura

May we not "spend" Christmas or "observe" Christmas, but rather "keep" it. --Peter Marshall

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? --Bob Hope

Like a lot of families, we're cutting back this Christmas. Santa does come to our house; but, he's just filling stockings this year. The children understand that the economy has affected Santa as well. I'll be giving my children one nice gift. For us, a nice gift is in the $25 to $30 dollar range. Each year I spend a little more on one of them. They all know this; and, they're fine with it. They know I love them all and just need to spend a little more once in awhile to get that special something for one of them. It's a different child each year. It started with buying a Vision Forum Liberty doll for Emily. The next year it was a Vision Forum Evangeline doll for Amy. This year it is a ...oops! They read my blog sometimes! This has greatly simplified my Christmas planning. I still hope to make something for each of the children. I've been cleaning off my sewing table; and I've got a few ideas. I've bought each of them something, with the exception of my 1...

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days, that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the sailor and the traveler, thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quiet home!--Charles Dickens

Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry making. It is more than that. It is a time for the contemplation of eternal things. The Christmas spirit is a spirit of giving and forgiving. --J. C. Penney

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.--Calvin Coolidge

I Got It! I Got It! My package from my Friend Sue at Country Pleasures has arrived! I was so blessed to win her tea give away. Thank you so much Friend Sue! I have a whole new batch of tea to put in my tea purse ! I'm going to go and make myself a cup right now. Hmmm...so many choices... vanilla caramel or pumpkin spice? Ah, definitely the pumpkin spice tonight! Thanks again Friend Sue! Y'all should go on over to Sue's blog, Country Pleasures . You're in for a treat!

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

Straightening, cleaning, rearranging, decorating, tree trimming, preparing for company, goodies to send to soldiers, caring for children, what else have I to do? Laura

One of the books that I really enjoy using at Christmas is the ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel . She writes about the meanings of various Christmas practices and symbols and ways to reclaim them for Jesus Christ, God's son. Sunday evening, as Advent began, we read about Advent Wreaths. There was an activity called Advent Calendar of Kisses. The idea is to take a long piece of plastic wrap, fill it with a chocolate kiss for each day leading to Christmas, and tie ribbons between. A child's kiss is then exchanged for a candy kiss each day until Christmas. I thought that was sweet, but didn't have kisses or curling ribbon. Here's my Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without version. On Monday evening, we went to our small town's Christmas parade . As with all parades, the children came home with way too much candy. Hmmm...that takes care of the candy part. We had some plastic wrap, but no curling ribbon. Use it up, wear it out, make it ...

Harvest Lane Cottage Many of us are called upon to give gifts in gift exchanges, at the office, to a teacher, to friends, the list goes on and on. Many of these gifts are supposed to be of the $5 or less type. Why not shop in the comfort of your home, from your home? Go on a treasure hunt. We all have things that are nice that we don't really use. These would make a perfect gift to help round out your shopping list. Don't be shy about it, either. This year, thrifty is in! Extravagance is a sin! Well, I cannot prove that Biblically; but, it's a cute saying. ~grin~ You're not a grinch if you are blessing from your stash. My stash includes things bought on sale through the year, yard and thrift sale finds, and things that I've made, including some of the things in my shop . One of my friends, Joyce, often says, "Do with what you got." Blessings to you all! Laura Keeping Jesus as the Center of my Season Tuesday  A Return to Loveliness ...

Once upon a time… a candy maker created the perfect candy to symbolize the true meaning of Christmas. It was the candy cane. The white stripes would stand for the purity of Christ and his virgin birth. The red stripes would signify the pain and death Jesus endured on our behalf. The hook shape would also be a reminder to all people of the name Jesus & his role as Good Shepherd. ~Author Unknown~ Enjoy a candy cane or share the story today! Laura