MERRY CHRISTMAS To All...and a Story By Jani

Well here we are again on the eve of Christmas. We have done all we can do to get ready for tomorrow...and if it didn't get done...oh well. I know I could not get everything done that I wanted and that is fine. Each year I have cut back a little more. The recession has played a big part in that but I just don't have the time or the energy to do it up like I used to. There were many years I would bake over 100 dozen cookies and wrap them up festively and my hubby would deliver them to all of our business associates.  I would decorate every corner of the house and the tree was a sight to behold. Each year I was anxious to see what new colors Martha Stewart came up with for all the ornaments and trims and every year I would use different colors.
This year we just hauled all the boxes of those years of different color combos of trims and ornaments out of the rafters in the garage and I gave it all away. Some to friends and the rest went to Good Will. Wow! Did I have a lot of stuff! But now I have my wonderful kitties and they are the best ornament and decorations ever!

Speaking of color combos...I received the loveliest card from Jani Lewis (aka papercompulsions on the chat) It is in turquoise and brown which I just love! And she loaded it with glitter and other sparkly delights. You know my motto..."too much is never enough!"
Not only is the card spectacular...but the message and story inside are so poignant that I just have to share it with you.
Here is her beautiful card. And below is her story inside. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
                                    

Written by Jani Lewis
(on the inside of card on cream colored cardstock)

Believe it or not the top panel on the front of this card started out as plain, ordinary ivory cardstock just like the one this is written on. I cut it, stamped on it, tore it, inked it, painted it, and heated it using a very hot embossing gun. If the paper could feel and talk it might have complained or cried out in protest. The cutting and tearing had removed pieces from the paper. The stamping and inking had applied pressure and left marks. Not to mention the heat tool that was so hot it literally melted plastic powder right into the paper. It might have wondered why in the world I was doing all this to it. (After all, the paper had never done anything hurtful to me.) The thing is, it was just plain paper and I had a vision in my mind of how to make it more than that. A plan to make it beautiful.  Each step in my torturous process was necessary to go through to achieve the end result. 

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we often focus on the beautiful story. We know how things progressed and the wonderful ending. We see the big picture. We should never lose sight of the steps that all the plain, “ordinary” people involved in this divine event. They had no idea what difficulties and hardships they would have to go through on their journey. They probably did not like some of the experiences such as traveling a great distance when nine months pregnant or the smell of the stables.  They may have expected that since this birth was God’s will, everything should seamlessly come together.  After all, this was the son of God. Shouldn't everything be perfect and problem free? I think the real point is that they did know this was God’s plan and just trusted Him throughout the journey.  They did not know how things would unfold or why situations where so difficult to deal with. They did not know how things would ultimately turn out. They just trusted that God was working in their lives to bring about His will. To craft the most beautiful story ever told.

Jani

Thank you Jani for such a beautiful card and such wonderful food for thought in your heart warming story.

Here is another card I made. I had lots of fun with this one.

                                                 

 

                                                          

 

And with this I will close and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and tell you all how much we love each and every one of you. Thank you for all the love and support you give us. I hope we will share many more Christmases together. Have a wonderful and joyous day!

Merry, Merry Christmas,

Barrie & Carol