Beware! Christmas overload!

Merry Sunday before Christmas you all! I hope you're ready for some Christmas overload. We haven't done a lot this week but I do have a few phtotos. I'm feeling much better, but still a scratchy voice and bit of a cough. Whatever this is doesn't want to go away.

Dennis and I decided to go out and look at lights on Friday night armed with cups of hot chocolate. This is a neighborhood just a few blocks from us. The first three photos are of ONE house! I don't think they could have squeezed another blow-up character in there with a pry bar. The fourth photo was the house next door to it. Zoey didn't know what to make of all of these.

I did like the blue octopus with lights that spun around inside and the shark on the right. Baby Shark, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Did-ooot. If you're a grandparent, you know. Ha! 

At least a few remembered the reason why we're celebrating. Jesus came to earth on that night so long ago.

But there were MANY like this and I did enjoy seeing the overblown displays....

although this is much more my taste. I always like the white lights or white and blue, or white and red. Simple. We used to put lights on our house in Spokane and I do miss that, although we have a string of white lights on our balcony railing.

And always remember:

I had a few finishes this week. A pair of socks for the Christmas basket for next year. Made with a K2, P2 cuff and a  K6, P2 ribbing for the leg and continued down the top of the foot. It was Kroy Patons FX, but I don't remember the colorway.

And I can finally show you the ornaments I make every year for the kids and grandkids because everyone has received and opened theirs so they could put them on their trees. 

I also knitted two hats for the Open Door Mission but Dennis already took them and donated them. It was really cold earlier in the week but it's 52F now! Crazy Nebraska weather. Just wait a minute, it'll change!

Piper was over last weekend for a visit and put together this gingerbread kit I had. I have never done a kit before and now know that you need to get some extra candies than what is in the kit for better decorating.
She still did a great job and I enjoyed watching her. She also volunteered to vacuum our stairs going down to the garage and cleaned out my car and vacuumed it. What a sweetheart. She knows I have a hard time cleaning the stairs and always does it for me. I love that girl.

And here she is modeling her latest sweater that I finished this week. It's the Pure Comfort Cardigan. Her favorite pattern for a sweater and the yarn is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn in the Ivory Tweed Colorway. They took this photo just before leaving for church this morning. Isn't she beautiful in her new glasses? She can see SO much better. Yep, I love this young lady. I was going to say little girl, but she's not so little anymore.

This is at the front of our church behind the baptistry window. I love how they decorated it for the season. Always with the manger front and center, because without the occupant of that manger, there would be no celebration at all.

And just because I like our corner of the world too, here's a photo last night from my chair that I knit in. See lamby in Zoey's bed? That's her favorite snuggle partner, after Dennis and I of course.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Celebrating His birthday, even if we don't know the exact day. I pray that you will feel Him with you in each and everything you do through the next few weeks.

I'm a bit early with this meme, but the sentiment remains the same. No matter the day, Jesus is with us  every minute of every day, if we only ask Him into our lives.

Blessings and Love and Merry Christmas!

Betsy

O HOLY NIGHT!

John S. Dwight and Adolphe Adam

The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1: 35.

1 O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

2 Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Wise Men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him low bend!

3 Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!