Christmas Cheer Day 17- Yummy!

Today's Christmas Cheer is served up in a mug! 

A steaming cup of Holiday Spice Tea seemed just the ticket to brighten the otherwise gray, rainy day we are having on the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast.

No matter what the weather may be at your holiday homestead... you should try it! The recipe was passed along to me several years ago. I am passing it along to you as my gift to you today!

Merry, Merry... ya'll!

Holiday Spice Tea
2 cups Tang instant orange drink
1/2 C. instant tea (I used Community brand with lemon)
2 c. sugar
2 tsp cinnamon powder
2 tsp ground cloves
Mix together and store in an airtight container. Use 2-3 heaping tsp to 6-8 oz hot water.

Christmas Cheer Days 16

Photo Courtesy: Robert Antoine

Today's Christmas Cheer comes to us courtesy of a new friend I met at the recent Christmas Craft Fair at St. Anne Catholic Church in Pensacola, FL.

I visited the sanctuary during one of my pre-fair visits. It is one of the prettiest churches I've ever been inside. The Christmas decorations only make it more so.

In light of the pain that our country has felt in the past few days, following the horror in Newtown, CT... I wanted to share this picture of peace... and to ask you to continue to pray. 

For peace.
For healing. 
For wisdom.

No Christmas Cheer- Day 14

Day 14 - No Christmas Cheer.

It was inappropriate today to write a blog entry on Christmas cheer. 

Credit: Douglas Healey/Getty Images

Truth be told, I am sure I join millions across the country... and around the globe.. as we react with stunned disbelief to the news that 20 elementary school children, and six adults, died in a horrific shooting at a Newtown, Connecticut school. 

The facts are still unfolding. Some of what we've been told will change, as the investigation moves forward. 

One fact remains. Lives were cut short today. 

20 little beds will be empty tonight. 6 adults will not be home with their families. And, the lives of their loved ones have been forever changed.

Christmas cheer? It's in short supply tonight.It will return, to a greater or lesser degree, as the days go by. But tonight, cheer is replaced by the grief and heartache we feel for people we do not even know.

Please pray for the family and friends of those who were murdered today.

And, if you haven't already done so, hug your children... no matter how young... or how old... they may be.

From Christmas Cheer to Christmas Weird Day 13

Day 13- Christmas Cheer!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here you can have both! Actually, it's a picture.... and several thousand words!

The Christmas tree at the Pensacola State College library is made entirely of books! 

I've read that books are one of the most popular gift items for Christmas. That reminded me of this quote  by Charles "Tremendous" Jones

"You will be the same person in five years as you are today, except for the people you meet and the books that you read."

Here's to meeting... and reading... and growing.

Merry, Merry... ya'll!

From Christmas Cheer to Christmas Weird Day 12

Day 12- Christmas Cheer

This one made me smile.

From Christmas Cheer to Christmas Weird Day 11

Day 11- Christmas Cheer!

Where can you find the prettiest Christmas decorations? Well, it all depends...

New York City  has its Rockefeller Center Christmas tree complete with 30,000 lights.

Washington, D.C. has it's 40-something foot tall National Christmas Tree, and the 57-tree Pathway of Peace.

Walt Disney World has Cinderella's Castle all decked out in a breathtaking display of beautiful lights.

But, sometimes... sometimes.. the prettiest Christmas decorations are found in the small, quiet cities and towns of America.

Sometimes, they are found In communities where Christmas is more about giving than grabbing; more about family than fancy parties; more about the Presence, than about the presents.

So.... enjoy this view from the Riverwalk in Milton, Florida. A small town, with a big heart... and a  keen eye for decorating! 

From Christmas Cheer to Christmas Weird- Day 10

Day 10- Christmas Weird

This little piggy went to... the North Pole?

He's a cutie-pig for sure... but no doubt this little fella fits into the Christmas Weird category! Found him sandwiched between angels and snowmen in a Christmas display in Santa Rosa County, FL.

Perhaps the decorator is an Arkansas Razorback fan. "Sooooooooooo-ie, Santa!" Love it!

Merry, Merry... ya'll.