Home for Christmas

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. . . "

In North Carolina, we can dream all we want; almost never are our Christmases white. We've lived here for almost 17 years, and only once during that time did we have snow on Christmas day.

This year, though, we got a little taste of what a white Christmas could be like. No wonder this is the stuff of dreams.

Isn't it lovely?

When we lived in Michigan, a snowstorm meant that we needed to stay home for a few hours, waiting for the plows and salt trucks to clear the streets. In North Carolina, though, a snow like the one we had last week means that we hunker down for days and days.

After all that hunkering, I'm woefully behind on some of the errands I need to run. I've made lists and checked them twice, but a lot of things just haven't gotten done.

Oh well. The snow's all gone now.

Our skies are blue once again.

I'm finally getting the Christmas decorating done.

It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

In the midst of all the holiday bustle, with or without snow, I sure am glad to be home for Christmas.

What are things looking like in your neck of the woods? Are you ready for Christmas?

Grace at Home No. 324

Welcome, friends! It's the middle of December, and we're all busy, busy, busy. . . so I'm grateful you're here for this week's Grace at Home party, where we celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace.

Here are some highlights from last week's party.

First of all, some beautiful Christmas decor: Laura from Decor to Adore shares her lovely Christmas all spruced up for the holidays.

If you like Victorian Christmas decorations, you'll love visiting dear Debbie from Debbie-Dabble.

If you still have gift-wrapping to do, you'll appreciate all the gift-wrapping ideas from Michele at the Scrap Shoppe.

Need some last-minute gifts? Charlene from A Pinch of Joy shares 12 No-Bake Gifts from the Kitchen. These look absolutely delicious!

Planning a brunch for Christmas Day? You'll be glad to get this recipe for Creme Brulée French Toast Casserole from Marilyn at Marilyn's Treats. Doesn't it look delicious?

Or maybe you'd like to try this Christmas Rum Cake from Mareliz at Kocina de Pinay. Scrumptious!

Michele Morin at Living Our Days shares a poignant but truly inspirational piece about receiving the gift of Advent--the best I've read this year, I think. You won't want to miss this!

Last but not least, Angie from Keeping the Tie that Binds shares five ways keep Christ as the focus of Christmas. 

A big thank you to everyone who joined the last party!  I'm so grateful for each person who links up. If you've been featured, feel free to grab the "I was featured" button.  I'd be delighted if you'd like to  display it.

Now for this week's party! Grace at Home is a place for you to share anything related to making your home a place of grace. I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it.  Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party!

Grace at Home No. 323

Hello, friends! A blessed Advent to you!

I hope you're doing well this first Thursday of December. 2018 has rushed by so quickly, I can scarcely believe that we're just weeks away from Christmas. It's good for me to pause amidst the hustle and bustle of this season to celebrate all the ways we make our homes places of grace.

Here are some highlights from last week's Grace at Home party.

First, some eye candy from Pam at Everyday Living. Just look at the traditional Christmas beauty in her dining room!

For your own table, Debra from Shoppe No. 5 gives detailed instructions to make these adorable Santa napkin rings. Aren't they cute?

I love baking cookies at Christmastime, and I'm glad to get this recipe for Sesame Pretzel Cookie Bites from Kristin at Dizzy, Busy, and Hungry. They look melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

If you invite people into your home at Christmastime, you're likely to have some messes to clean up. Carpet stains can be tricky—but Chas from Chas' Crazy Creations shows how to remove even the worst carpet stains with a DIY carpet cleaner made of two simple household ingredients.

This time of year can be especially challenging if you have small children. Nicole from Mama of Many Blessings shares lots of ways to help kids understand the true meaning of Christmas.

A big thank you to everyone who joined the last party!  I'm so grateful for each person who links up. If you've been featured, feel free to grab the "I was featured" button.  I'd be delighted if you'd like to  display it.

Now for this week's party! Grace at Home is a place for you to share anything related to making your home a place of grace. I invite you to link posts about

• DIY projects
• decorating
• recipes
• hospitality
• homemaking tips
• parenting
• marriage
• faith
• self-care
• soul care

Whatever you do to make your home a place of grace, I'd like to hear about it.  Here's what I ask of you.  Please include the permalink to your post, not your blog's home page.  Please let people know that you've linked up.  No more than three posts per person, please.  Note that if you link a post here, you are giving me permission to share your post, including a photo.  And visit at least one of the other party participants--that's what really makes it a party!