An Unexpected Christmas Gift In The Living Room- 2016

Christmas. I love this time of year. People are scurrying around to get that special gift for family, friends, cookies are baked and homes put on an opulent array of colors and sparkle.

I thumb through the blogs and magazines in October and November featuring bloggers and home decor lovers alike making preparations ahead of this procrastinator. I ooh and ahh over the lovely photos and make plans for what I will do in our home. This year I had dreams that I would decorate in gold, white and silver theme; snowy and frosty with a touch of warmth.  In my mind it was going to look something this:

This frosty scene ended up somewhere else and my home went a different direction. Honestly, I couldn't have gone farther from this wintery image! It all started with a painting that my mother gave me. You can read about that here.

The nostalgic feel, prompted by my village painting, migrated into the dining room and finally I finished the living room. Today, that is what I am showing you.

Making existing pillows Christmas ready took nothing more than some wired-edge ribbon and literally less than a minute. 

The pillar candles make their way into the decor in my home year round. Corralling them in a metal tray surrounded by some leftover roping and adding some pine cones gave a vintage inspired centerpiece for the coffee table. 

Remember the gallery wall from earlier this year?  A felt wreath and a little green, bows around the wooden animals and it's ready for Christmas. 

And because I can't help but play with the filters....

Now, about the tree...

I love shiny and new. I love the pretty whites and the monochromatic trees. I love seeing everyone else's beautiful creations...but....try as I might I can't seem to let go of the little things that help make my Christmas special. This little angel with a bucket of stars has been on the tree since I was a young teenager. 

And there are the ornaments that serve to keep me grounded in what we celebrate and why we celebrate. 

As I sat tonight editing these photos and thinking about the many blessings that are mine because of Jesus, the One I celebrate at this time of year, I was given a gift. I wasn't looking for it. It didn't come wrapped in pretty paper. 

Do you see it? Look again, see the perfect star? No filter, no trick done by me to make that! Wow.

Wise men followed the star, seeking the King of Kings. I would like to think myself wise but too often I prove myself foolish as I focus on the temporal. I love this blog and I love sharing with and hearing from you all. I am blessed by the sweet comments and the friendships forged here.

We have a week til Christmas. I am putting away these fun things to focus on Him, who called me by name and made me his own. I will, God willing, be back after Christmas. 

I pray your celebrations are filled with the knowledge, love and joy of Jesus Christ. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours. Blessed be the name of the Lord! 

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