Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

May your Christmas be a day of love, joy and peace.

Everyday's life

Hello all !

It seems that no matter how much i try to have some more time to dedicate to this blog and the lovely people visiting here, i end up writing always only once a week or more. But well, life right now is busy and this is all i can get for my leisure time on the net, so i better being grateful for it anyways. If i'm busy it's because i'm mothering four wonderful kids, homeschooling and nurturing them, and because i'm married to a good man with whom i love to share laughs and make plans for our future.

Christmas is getting closer and closer. Tonight we lit the last advent candle, the Love one. In our extended family there's not much peace at the moment.And Love seems not being too much 'in fashion' either. It's sad. But i hope joy, love and peace will shine at some point. Maybe we're here just to try to be witnesses of love and joy and devotion for each other.
Anyways. Life as i said is always full and joyful and loud and filled with goofy and lovely moments and memories. Here some pics from the last 10 days

Leo holding Tappo

Twin brothers. Sometimes i forget they're twins, they couldn't be more different from each other.

I love them to pieces !

Milla watching a movie

Gaia

The oldest and the youngest. Gaia is getting so big. I can't believe she is almost ten.

 Where did all the years go ? I just blinked an eye and she wal already ten and tall almost as me ( well consider i'm very Hobbit-like lol )

And here my just finished knitting projects, the red hat and the red ... mmm ... top ?

I think they're perfect for this cold Christmas time.

And here Milla and little Tappo on saturday morning. The three oldest asked on friday to go sleeping to grandma, since she had nothing planned we drove them to the nearbytown and enjoyed our little one for the first time in all her life, as an only child. It was quite funny having only one kid, so much time, so much silence. The house so empty. She had fun cuddling the rabbit without older brothers taking him from her hands, but after a while she came in the kitchen ' Mom, but now i really don't know what else to do'

She also had the chance to talk on the phone with her brothers and sister for the first time (she's never been parted from all of them ) and i was all teary listening to them and imagining when they'll be older and on their own talking with each other. I was an only lonely and sad child, and it warms my heart so much witnessing 'brotherhood and sisterhood' through their lives. I'm so so thanksful and grate for this chance i've been given.

And then look at our treasure !! Since now there's three of us knitting\crotcheting ( me, Gaia and Seba ) we asked grandmas if they had some leftover wool or yarn from their old projects and now ... we have THAT plenty !!! Once again i feel so loved and provided for since i couldn't afford to buy any !! I can't believe it !!

And now something Christamssy.

First of all some beautiful surprises i got. Today i found a dear e-mail for my sweet blog friend  Pom Pom .

She is such a caring and joyful person and she sent me a sweet prayer for me. Pom Pom thank you so much dear friend. The candle of love sure shines in your life !

Then three or for days ago one of papaF's custumer ( a happy one i dare to say ! ) sent us this huge basket of Christmas goodies !

Since our financial situation it's not at its best this has been of course such a blessing for us.

Can you believe, this person we never met sent us this. Again i couldn't believe in such a blessing. What a caring God is watching over us at any time.

An then something i did for this Christmas.

I finished papaF's present, but i'm sorry no hint or pic until after Christmas since he occasionally visit here or just watch over my shoulder :)

Then i finished my mother's present

I think it's nice and the colour is really beautiful. I'm mostly pleased with this new pattern i found for the granny square, my usual one is not so 'full'.

Then on frieday i sewed this nativity, Mary Joseph and baby Jesus ( in a nut shell ! ) and the Angel. I loved the little figures so much i took off the plastic ones we had ( and put upstairs on the Advent calendar ) and put this new ones on our nativity scene beside the Christmas tree.

I think that's all. I'm not sure i'll have time for another post before Christmas. So i want to close this with my best best wishes for a peaceful joyful Christmas. Baby Jesus is about to be born. I think about Mary. And i think about myself, everytime i was about giving birth. It takes my breath away the very thought of what is happening in few days.

Here something for you

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

And then a beautiful song i got to know only few days ago. Very touching lyrics in my opinion :)

Here's for you :)

May the peace, love and joy Jesus brought on earth shine on you and in you during this holy week in which we celebrate with our families and loved ones the greatest miracle.

Marry Christmas

Christmas is getting closer

Another week has gone. In Italy traditionally ( or at least in my area ) we decorate for Christmas on 8th december ( even if i put something up since the first sunday of Advent ). So we have spent a lot of this past week finding our little Christmas tresures.

The kids gathered around the tree ( plastic one that's it, but still we love it ) deciding what put up and where put the tree itself ( in its usual spot nowadays there is the rabbit hutch )

 

The kids around last year's Advent Calendar (we're not using it this year, but still it's nice and we hung it )

And here the tree, we still have some problem with the lights, no socket nearby, we'll see. The felt decorations you see were past advent calendars as well, i sewed them i think on 2006, and from the following year we have used to decorate the tree.

Now let's look around the house. I already showed you the kids rooms doors, in the next days i'll show you the light outside, i think today we'll give a look at our dining room\entrance.

Here a small desk. It was my great-grand father one. My mom wanted to throw it away so i took it. Usually i keep my devotional and spiritual things on it, with my journals, but for this Christmas period i put some music boxes and Christmas cards on it ( the coloured Christmas cards were made by the kids, i will send them this year, i think they're lovely and colourful )

On the top of the piano, two more music boxes and the lights-bells ( papaF did them some years ago )

And always on the top of the piano, another music-box ( ... i know ... )

And will you guess what i have on top of the cupboard ? ... heheheh you got it ! A music box !!!

Ok ok some explanation. I started loving music boxes as a kid, i got my first one when i was about 7 or 8. I used to save my money to buy a new one every now and then and of course my husband, gifted me with quite a lot of them, some of which are way spectacular.

Nowadays i usally get a music box for Christmas or my birthday ( in january, so quite close ) so they are mostly Christmassy themed, that's why i have so many of them :)

And then a couple of sweet sweet pictures. Gaia found the courage to hold the rabbit ( she was scared of keeping him in her arms ) and of course i took a picture of her and Tappo. I think she looks so sweet, i look at her and i imagine her with her child one day. I know i run a bit with my imagination.

And then a close up of Tappo in her arms. He looks quite at ease and comfortable.

Well, that's all. I hope this Christmas time will fill each of you with joy, peace, hope and love.

And with Gratitude. And with Acceptance.

I think those were among the precious gift Jesus brought us with his birth.

Shalom

17 years ago

17 years ago i met PapaF for the first time. Considering that i'm still 33, today i can say that i have spent with him more then half o my life.

A long journey indeed. Hopefully much longer.

This was my little gift, a crotcheted woolen heart and a nice breakfast.

Last week has been very busy and this one will be probably as busy. Here some pics takens along the way :)

Leo and Tappo

( kids have just learned how to pick him up - not sure if the poor thing is happy or not ... )

Seba helping Milla  hold Tappo

Seba busy with yarn and needle, 3 of us can be always found knitting or crotcheting the spare time away :)

Guess who ...

Gaia knitting ( she has just learned and she is soo good at it, i'm very proud and happy ! )

I'm all Christmassy so i did some woolen decoration, here crotcheted snowflakes

A close up

And coloured woolen stars for the piano

And the new angels we did, the body has been made with the shape of the kid feet, the wings with the hands,

then they added woolen hair and painted the face. I think they're lovely :)

Then today we baked cookies, we found Christmassy cutters and we had to use them !

Leo eating the uncooked dough ...

And then frosting time :)

Blue frosting

( i know it would have been better red or green, but the only colour i had was blue ... )

Milla at work

Finished !!!

Then Leo and Seba decided to make a Christmas present for daddy. They went out, took some wood from our pile, cut it and nailed and drilled and what not all byt themselves ( we were all inside not knowing what was going on outside ) only with little Milla cheering for them at their side.

Of course they couldn't wait until Christmas and so soon after the new PapaF tool box was ready and wrapped they gave it to him to open the present. So heart warming, and again so proud of them for being so clever to build something like that all alone :)

BEAUTIFUL !!!

i hope everybody out there is having a lovely Christmas season. I would love if someone would drop me a note. Here it's getting a bit lonely.

Have a beautiful week !

Shalom

The first sunday of advent

Yesterday was the first sunday of advent. For the first time in my life i did a Christmas wreath, or better an Advent wreath. I never heard about ( is it that clear i come from a scattered family isn't it ? ) but then searching for Christmas crafts i found some instructions. It said to light four candles, one for each sunday of the Advent. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The pink candle symbolizes joy and is typically lit on the third Sunday.

Then on Christmas day we'll light a white candle, sybolizing the birth of Jesus. So yesterday, before dinner we lit the first candle and talked about Hope, and about the four gifts Jesus gave us, Hope,Peace,Joy and Love. And we talked about Jesus life for a while.

Then today after some table work ( math, grammar and history ) we started again working on our Christmas decorations and talks. Our advent calendar is almost done, we have 18 house ready, but well, since we need the toilet paper roll for the houses ... well it takes sometime lol

Then we are preparing another advent calendar with some Bible story about the birth of Jesus and we also prepared a paper nativity. And then we also prepared 4 Advent wreath to hang on the door of their rooms.

At work

Advent Calendar

Recycled Santa #1

Recycled Santa # 2

Ready for baby Jesus to be born

Leo and Gaia's wreath

Milla's and Seba's wreath

Don't you love the Christmas season ? Don't you love the story of the birth of baby Jesus ? Don't you love Mary's attitude ? The way she used to pray and give thank and just accept the will of the God ?

I know for sure that when i can keep in my mind and in my heart her attitude and try to let God work in my life at His time and pace, well extraordinary things happen for me as well in my little humble life.

May the Christmas spirit of Hope,Peace,Joy and Love be with each of you and in you, lovely people.

Shalom