Rewards

Being a mum of a tallented child (be it music or sport etc) you often find that your whole life can be turned upside down and that you need to make sacrifices in your own life to enable your child to fulfill their potential.
Over the years, my sons musical tallents have been recognised and rewarded with membership of orchestras, music schools, music schemes, music holidays and that's on top of the hours practice per night and the numerous lessons and exams you ferry them too. Family holiday dates and duration have been changed to accomodate opportunities.
There are expensive instruments to purchase, insure, service and care for. (and you really won't believe the cost of this!)
I am not the model mum. I do moan, I get fed up carting him around, booking apppointments aound him and even missing events to support him.
But then there are the moments that make it all worth while. Yesterday afternoon was ne of them.
I attended the city Hall in Hull with a family contingent and sat up on the Balcony (nearly the best seats in the place) and watched my son perform in the East Riding Youth orchestra. The musical tallent on display was amazing. The senior wind band were also there. We heard renditions of Pirates of the Caribean, arnival of the animals, masked men tunes, Traditonal and modern carols and then the highlight... the performance of "The Snowman". The hall went dark, mist decended onto the stage and amid the glorious music and light, arrived a stunning young girl dressed in the most beautiful delicate pink gown. Eleanor Tomlinson ~ Local girl turned Hollywood actress. She told the story beautifully. At one stage, the glitter ball began to spin and glistening snowflakes span around the room swirling and creating the most magical atmosphere.
I don't have any shame in admitting that I sat and cried.
Tonight is almost coming full circle. The first ensemble my son joined was the string training orchestra and tonight they are in a concert where my son is part of the Youth Singers. He's been asked to take his violin to play support in their orchestra.
Thursday is the school concert and then on Friday we have my daughters school concert with everone of the parents and every child packed tightyly into the sports centre.
I'm so privaleged to have tallented children and it really is worth the sacrifice!!

The Snowman Part 3

watch from the bottom post upwards! and enjoy this classic animation of Raymond Briggs iconic work.

The Snowman Part 2

The Snowman part 1

My wreath

Inspired by Channel 4's wonderful programme "Kirsties homemade Christmas", I ventured in to the garden to see what I could use to create a wreath. My sparse gardern was awash with salad and vegetables in the summer, but the winter has left it empty.
I already had a small poundshop wicker ring that was looking considderably worse for wear.
Then I noticed the dead heads of my hydranga bush and a few snips and I had a pile of bushy heads. after tying them into place around the ring and adding some silk roses and a few sad looking christmas silk sprigs, I had a wreath to be very proud of. It's a beautiul golden colour amd I think I can safely say, no one else will have one like it!!

Thorns in the Straw

I have always felt this was a very special song. The lyrics, written by Graham Kendrick show the depth of emotion that Mary must have gone through.
Thorns in the straw is such a beautiful song full of scriptural refererences.
Take the time to listen...

Breath of Heaven Amy Grant.mp4

Beautiful words that express the inner turmoil that mary must have gone through to be told as a young unmarried girl that she was chosen to carry Gods son.
Amy Grants version is my favourite. I love thetenderness she sings with.

A story for Christmas ~ Good News, Bad news!

"Good News" said the angel to Mary, "you're going to have a baby".

"Good news" said the Angel to Joseph, "Mary is going to be a mum"

"Bad news" said Joseph, "we have to travel all the way to Bethlehem to be counted"

"Good news" said Mary "We have a lovely donkey and I can ride on him"

"Bad news" said Mary and Joseph, "this journey is long and cold"

"Bad news" said an inkeeper, "we've no room"

"Bad news" said another, and another.

"Bad news" said the inkeeper, "we have no room"

"Good news" said the inkeepers wife, "we have a stable out the back, you can stay there"

"Good news" said Joseph as he led the donkey and Mary round to the stable.

"Good news" said Mary, it's warm in here.

"Bad news" said Joseph, "I think I stepped in something."

"Good news" said Mary, "My baby has been born and he is called Jesus".

"Good news" said the inkeepers wife, it's so exciting to see the baby"

"Good news" said the Angels to the shepherds "A baby has been born in Bethlehem"

"Good news" said the shepherds, "lets go and see the baby"

"Bad news" said the sheep left behind on the hillside all alone!

"Good news" said the shepherds as they gazed at the baby.

"Good news" said the wise men "look at the star"

"Bad news" said King Herrod when the wise men told him why they'd come.

"Good news" said the wise men as they knelt before the baby and gave him their gifts.

"Good news for everyone!"

The Grinch Where are you Christmas

Sung by Faith Hill, the words to this song from the film version of "The Grinch" are accompanied by stills from the film which incidently is as beautiful and magical as the book!

The Grinch ~ Dr Seuss

One of the most marvoulous Christmas' I remember was one year when my boys were little. I went to the library with them and picked out a book called How the grinch stole Christmas.
I have to confess that up to the moment I read the book Dr Seuss and I had never got on and yet as I sat on the bed with a boy either side and began to read, magic emerged from the pages.

For those who do not know the story, It's written in the iconic ryming style of Dr S. It tells the story of a happy town of Who's who are busying themselves getting ready for Christmas. up on the top of the mountain that towers above the town lived a grinch... not a particually nice fella. Kind of messy and with an attitude that puts Ebeneezer Scrooge to shame.
The grinch you see had no happiness in his life and couldn't stand the thought that anyone else could be happy.

The night before Christmas he sneaked down the mountainside and went into every who house taking their turkeys, treees and presents. With his sleigh fully laden he climbed the mountain and chucked the whole lot down the other side. Then thinking his dasterdly plan had gone well, he climbed into bed.

But what was that noise coming up the hill? The grinch woke up and listened.......

"But this... this sound wasn't sad. Why... this sound sounded glad. Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing, without any presents at all! He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming, it came! Somehow or other, it came just the same. "

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

Gloria ~ Michael W Smith

No Christmas is complete with out Michael W Smiths amazing piece Gloria .... Enjoy while watching this eclectic collection of thought provoking images!

What Christmas means to me ~ Sudslaw

"For me, Christmas is the one time of year when families come together, differences are forgotten, and people on the periphery of our hectic lives are remembered with a thought, a card or a call. "

Sudslaw is a soap company based in the Peak district. Specialising in organic products, they create soaps, bath and skin products.
You can see their beautiful products including a festive range of soaps here

sadly their images are all protected so I am unable to show you!

There's No Place Like Home - The Carpenters

What Christmas means to me ~ Jane

In the run up to Christmas I have been asking some of my internet friends what Christmas means to them ... over the posts in the run up to Christmas I'll be sharing their responses with you.

Starting the ball rolling is Jane (Greannancrafts) ...

"Looking around the Christmas table, and feeling sad about all the people who are no longer there - my Father, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles - but rejoicing in the people who have taken their places, sons, daughter in laws and Grandchildren.Christmas is for families"

Rose Geranium luxury hamper gift pack

Jane is a soap and cosmetic product creator. You can find lots more leautiful gift baskets, soaps, lotions and balms at her online shop www.just-soaps.com

Last day of November

Wow, that has gone sooooooooo fast. I can't believe that we are in the final countdown to Christmas and that december starts tomorrow. Yes, I have been very lax in my blog posting, but hope to make up for that during the run up to Christmas.
Personally I really love the preparation and decoration so I look forwardto sharing lots of Christmassy thoughts and creations with you obver the next few weeks.