Time To Link Up! Tuesdays with a Twist #244

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist #244!
Checkout the many great giveaways going on right now!

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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!

We're your hosts & co-hosts 

Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Checkout my amazing "Featured" Pinterest Board

(click HERE to view & follow)

Features!

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured! 

My Features this Week are:

1. "A Godly Couple" by Sandra's Ark

2. "5 Ways To Stay Warm During The Arctic Blast" by Vickie's Kitchen & Garden

3. "Winter White & Gold Christmas Table" by Comfort Spring

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

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The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!

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Jesus Christ - The Light of the World is Born Today!

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Linked to:
Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday
Tuesdays with a Twist
You're the STAR
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
Friday Feature Linky Party
Pretty Pintastic Party

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"Prayer Warriors United" is a google+ Community where Christians come together in prayer.
Click HERE to view or join this community
If you need prayer please fill out this
Prayer Request form

The Fourth of Advent - The Enduring Journey of the Magi

The Enduring Journey of the Magi


There were two patient and faithful actions by the Three Wise Men that are very important when studying the birth of Jesus Christ.

1.  It would have taken 2 or 3 months to reach Jesus
These three wise men made the commitment to make this long journey to see Jesus Christ the King of the Jews.  Many researchers believe that these men were either from India, Persia or China and therefore it would have taken them 2 or 3 months to reach Bethlehem.  Remember that they would NOT have been there for the birth of Jesus.  Even in the verses above Jesus is referred to as a "child" and not a "baby".  So, it was also estimated that Jesus would have been about two years old when the wise men arrived.  This is also amazing to me because that means that the star of Bethlehem shone during all that time!  Just think of the faithful patience that it took to make that long journey on camel back.

2.  They believed their dream, obeyed God and found a different route home
I'm sure that we have all had dreams that seemed real but when we wake up we just ignore what we saw while we were sleeping.  What if the Magi had done that and kept their dreams to themselves?  They would have returned home the same way and would have been killed by Herod.  These wise men spread the word of Jesus' birth and therefore played an important part. 
Let's think about this in modern terms - let's say that these were wealthy businessmen traveling together.  This would have been a huge commitment to visit Jesus.  It would have cost them their time ("time is money"), travel expenses and the possible ridicule from their peers.  
This was a huge step of faith and God protected them.  They avoided returning home the same way that they originally traveled to evade Herod - they most certainly would have been killed if they had gone the same way home.

Please enjoy the song below:

"We Three Kings of Orient Are"

A special thanks to "drwestbury" for sharing this with us on YouTube

Read also:

Mary's Faithful Life

Joseph's Faithful Actions
Swift Actions of the Shepherds

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__________________________________________________________________

"Prayer Warriors United" is a google+ Community where Christians come together in prayer.
Click HERE to view or join this community
If you need prayer please fill out this
Prayer Request form

Cherished Christmas Ornaments Through the Decades - 2000s IN MEMORY 9/11

Cherished Christmas Ornaments Through the Decades -
2000's IN MEMORY 9/11

I have a "hodgepodge" style Christmas tree and I love the nostalgia that comes with that style tree.  This is the final post in this series where I highlighted a few of my favorite ornaments organized by the decade. 

A few years ago I showcased my "Christmas Family Tree Ornaments" that I made using photocopies of old photos - they are Scrapbook style ornaments (click HERE to view that series) 
 
I used to work for a small company at their corporate office.  Every year the boss of this company picked out a special gift to send to all of the managers of his smaller offices around the country (every manager received the same type of gift).  Anyway, he wanted to make these gifts extra special by having them gift wrapped in a unique way.  Well, I was privileged to wrap these Christmas gifts for about five consecutive years.  I remember that one year I wrapped each gift by making holly and ivy out of scrapbook paper and I covered the gift that way.  Another year I used dried flowers but the most memorable "wrapping year" for me was the year of 2001.  The ornament that you see below was the White House Historical Association ornament for 2001.  This ornament is what the boss gave to all of the managers that year.  I know that we can all remember that horrible day in September of 2001 when the Twin Towers came down.  That's why this ornament was fitting to give in remembrance of those lost on that day.  I wrapped these gifts to look like an American flag using red & white ribbon and pressed blue leaves in the corner (with painted stars).  I always place this ornament in a special spot on my tree every year.
Please enjoy "Let There Be Peace On Earth" by Harlem Boys' Choir
(see below the ornament picture)



A special thanks to "Michael Blackwell" for sharing this on YouTube


Previous Cherished Ornament Posts:
1970's WOODEN NATIVITY BELL
1970's JOLLY ELF
1970's BIRTHDAYS
1970's JET TOY
1970's ENGRAVED
1980's ANGELS
1980's FIGURINES
1990's FLORAL CANDY
1990's HAND PAINTED
1990's PEWTER
2000's COOKIES
2000's GOURDS


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Linked to:
Pretty Pintastic Party #188

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Click the button below to buy my Children's Picture ebook for Christmas:

Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report #96

#96 - Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report

If you were following this blog in 2015 then you will be familiar with my "365 Days of Being Thankful" challenge.  I have missed reporting on my thankfulness since I finished my challenge 2 years ago, so I decided to at least give a weekly Thankfulness Report & include a Growth Report also.  Growth in our Christian walk, growth in the garden & growth on this blog.  Finally, I am also including a "Posts From the Past" feature - ENJOY!


This week I have been thankful for family & friends near and far.  I have been thankful for sparking decorations.  I am most thankful for Baby Jesus, born in a manger so that we all might have eternal life! 



"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.' When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written:

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.' After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with this mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." Matthew 2: 1 - 12
A few years ago we studied about the Magi & we also featured 2 Christmas hymns.


Read: Magi & Hymns


Seed catalogs are arriving weekly - we are starting to plan our garden for 2018.

- Here are my Follower stats:

GFC (Google Friends Connect) - 2,255
Bloglovin - 4,410
Twitter - 6,970

Pinterest - 6,166
Google+ - 2,277
Facebook - 4,475
Instagram - 535
Linky Followers - 108
Networked Blog - 1,241
Activate - 574
That's a grand total of 29,011 followers in some form or another (which is up 23 from last week).

(click on the title to view the entire post)
A few years ago I made these scrapbook style ornaments from old photos - here is one of my favorites:
MEMORIES From My Christmas Family Tree Ornaments




  
This week is HOME feature week - click HERE to LINK UP & you might just be featured next month!



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Click the button below to enter the Great Giveaways going on now!!:

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Linked to:
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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

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Cherished Christmas Ornaments Through the Decades - 2000s GOURDS

Cherished Christmas Ornaments Through the Decades -
2000's GOURDS

I have a "hodgepodge" style Christmas tree and I love the nostalgia that comes with that style tree.  There are a few days left in this series where I highlighted a few of my favorite ornaments organized by the decade. 

In addition to these ornaments I will feature Christmas songs that I remember listening to in that featured decade.  For the 2000's each post will feature a Christmas song by "Michael Buble".

A few years ago I showcased my "Christmas Family Tree Ornaments" that I made using photocopies of old photos - they are Scrapbook style ornaments (click HERE to view that series)
I used to sell gourd ornaments that I made from gourds grown in my garden but with the unfortunate changes to Etsy I closed my online shop a few months ago.  Click HERE to view the ornaments that I have made. 
The two featured ornaments today were given to me by my cousin.  She found these beauties on her travels.  The first one has a tiny nativity scene inside!!

Please enjoy "It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas" by Michael Buble
(see below the ornament picture)



A special thanks to "Michael Buble" for sharing this on YouTube

Previous Cherished Ornament Posts:
1970's WOODEN NATIVITY BELL
1970's JOLLY ELF
1970's BIRTHDAYS
1970's JET TOY
1970's ENGRAVED
1980's ANGELS
1980's FIGURINES
1990's FLORAL CANDY
1990's HAND PAINTED
1990's PEWTER
2000's COOKIES
2000's IN MEMORY 9/11

Copyright, Permissions& Disclaimer

_____________________________________________________________________

Click the button below to buy my Children's Picture ebook for Christmas:

Cherished Christmas Ornaments Through the Decades - 2000s COOKIES

Cherished Christmas Ornaments Through the Decades -
2000's COOKIES

I have a "hodgepodge" style Christmas tree and I love the nostalgia that comes with that style tree.  There are a few days left in this series where I highlighted a few of my favorite ornaments organized by the decade. 

In addition to these ornaments I will feature Christmas songs that I remember listening to in that featured decade.  For the 2000's each post will feature a Christmas song by "Michael Buble".

A few years ago I showcased my "Christmas Family Tree Ornaments" that I made using photocopies of old photos - they are Scrapbook style ornaments (click HERE to view that series)
If you follow this blog then you know that I have shared many recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.  However, there are a few precious recipes that you can only get if you marry into the family :-)  Some of my cousins have made it a tradition to bake these precious Christmas cookies together  - this is the twentieth year baking together and we plan to continue this tradition for many more decades!  This cookie resembling ornament was given to me by one of my cousins.

Please enjoy "Holly Jolly Christmas" by Michael Buble
(see below the ornament picture)



A special thanks to "Michael Buble" for sharing this on YouTube


Previous Cherished Ornament Posts:
1970's WOODEN NATIVITY BELL
1970's JOLLY ELF
1970's BIRTHDAYS
1970's JET TOY
1970's ENGRAVED
1980's ANGELS
1980's FIGURINES
1990's FLORAL CANDY
1990's HAND PAINTED
1990's PEWTER
2000's GOURDS
2000's IN MEMORY 9/11
Copyright, Permissions& Disclaimer

_____________________________________________________________________

Click the button below to buy my Children's Picture ebook for Christmas: