HOPE - LET ME SEE IT LORD

         The above copy of Grief Digest could not have arrived at a better time as I am again facing the loss of a family member, my brother Sutcliffe.  I have been reading it and trying to lift my spirit.
        The welcome by Editor Andrea Gambill gives serious food for thought. This is what she wrote about the word HOPE: 
        "Happiness-possible even in the midst of overwhelming pain and sadness
          Optimism-the belief that there can be better days in spite of the current 
          darkness
          Peace-because there is hope
          Empathy-to understand the journey of others, because you have been 
          there, too."
      I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has expressed words of sympathy and comfort to me at this time. I truly appreciate it.

SAD NEWS! PLEASE PRAY FOR ME

    I am so sorry to have to inform everyone that I have lost another relative, my brother Sutcliffe. Please pray for me and my family. Thanks

HOLIDAY GOODIES

BAKED HAM

BAKED PINEAPPLE CHUNKS AND CHERRIES

ROAST CHICKEN

BAKED ROLLS

POTATO SALAD WITH MIXED VEGETABLES

CURRIED MUTTON

RICE & PEAS

VEGETABLE SALAD

THE DECORATIONS KEEP COMING!

   The holiday season is well on its way and from previous posts many persons know how crazy I am about Christmas decorations. Over the years Janine and I really went all out! Well, I am always thrilled to receive new ones and they keep coming. Here are some of them.

WARM CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

      This year the Christmas holiday is a long 4 day weekend in Jamaica. Christmas Day, December 25, falls on a Sunday so the official Christmas Day will be on the Monday. We also celebrate Boxing Day so Tuesday, Dec. 27 will be another holiday.  To all my Followers and everyone who visits this blog I wish you HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

     

                                                     Love came down at Christmas; 
                                                     Love all lovely, love divine; 
                                                     Love was born at Christmas, 
                                                     Stars and angels gave the sign. 

                                                              ~ Christina Rossetti

     If at any time you feel low in spirit based on life's experiences lift your spirit with this quotation:
  "Go within every day and find inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out." - Katherine Dunham

CREATIVE THURSDAY BLOG HOP

    This is the last ever Creative Thursday posted today and will be re-posted next Thursday lasting for 10 days thoughout the Christmas Holidays.We love this hop so much that we have decided to change it to Creative Mondays.Starting from Monday 2nd January 2012 each Monday the hop will be started and the linky will be opened until Sunday night so you will have all week to pop back and link up with us.Hosted by Clairejustineoxox and JUDY H-J'S THOUGHTS - A TWINLESS TWIN this is a hop to share fun things you have been doing and you can link as many posts as you like as long as it is something creative.All are welcome and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We hope you will join us in the New Year....

IT IS GOOD TO SEE SANTA!
    I am here wondering when Janine and I found out the truth about Santa and the question immediately came to mind "Did we ever believe in Santa?!" We may not have believed in him but for sure he has always been a favourite figure among our decorations. Janine and I could hardly pass anything with Santa on it and we were always happy to receive gifts that featured him! Here are some of our favourite Santa decorations:

OH HOW WE LOVED TO DECORATE!

    Year after year a favourite activity for Janine and I was getting our living-room looking great with every inch oozing the Christmas spirit.  As CDs and radio stations belted out carols ranging from the traditional to our pulsating reggae and fast moving calypso beat Janine would be the first to start putting up the decorations. We had a wide variety from around the world and many that we bought. I am not sure I will ever be able to decorate again on that large scale. Anyway I try to decorate with some of her favourite decorations:

CHRISTMAS! I LOVE RED!

      There is just something about the colour red that I love to see at Christmas. I was therefore thrilled to see the Australian wildflower, Fuchsia Heath, featured  for December on one of my calendars.

               

OUR PRETTY BOOK OF CAROLS

        Christmas carols are a part of the celebrations every year and we get to hear them on our radio stations from as early as November in Jamaica. Over the years Janine and I have enjoyed a wide variety - traditional, reggae,calypso, disco, soul, you name it.
         Above is a beautiful little book of Christmas carols that Janine received as a gift many years ago. It became a special book for us and has been used among our decorations.  It has in 14 carols:
         1.Good King Wenceslas
         2.I Saw Three Ships
         3.O Little Town of Bethlehem
         4.Ding, Dong! Merrily on High
         5.O Christmas Tree
         6.The First Nowell
         7.Behold, a Lovely Flower
         8.Unto us a Boy is Born
         9.While Shepherds Watched
        10.We Three Kings
        11.Here We Go Up to Bethlehem
        12.The Holly and the Ivy
        13.Silent Night! Holy Night!
        14.We Wish You a Merry Christmas
   Some are our favourite carols but one that is missing is "Joy To The World."  What are some of your favourite Christmas carols?         

CREATIVE THURSDAY BLOG HOP

    Creative Thursday is a Blog hop where you can add all of your creative posts.Hosted by Clairejustineoxox and JUDY H-J'S THOUGHTS - A TWINLESS TWIN it is a hop to share fun things you have been doing.Over the next few weeks our theme will be Christmas but as usual you can link any creative posts to the hop.So one question, what has gotten you creative this week?
    Please join us and hop around to see what everyone else has been doing this week and remember you can add as many posts as you like...


A SPECIAL LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE
    A big favourite for many persons is the traditional Christmas tree and they certainly look  beautiful with the various decorations and lights.  However Janine and I treasured our small wooden Christmas tree ornament that was a gift all the way from Australia.

     First you put the frame of the tree together in the base.  After that you add the various figures and place the star on the top. For sure it has become a special part of our decorations!


and the hop code...

DECEMBER DINNER!

     Over the years my family and I have always made changes to our Sunday meals in December.  Janine and I love curried chicken so last Sunday we had curried chicken, seasoned rice, vegetable salad and fried ripe plantain. I managed to capture a picture of it.

      In the meantime some ideas are racing through my mind as to what type of chicken to cook this Sunday.  Oh yes, I am a big fan of chicken! 

THE SUN RISES!

I just love to see the sun rising on my tropical isle. It means a new day is dawning and I strive to be positive.  Today I share one of my favourite quotations:-
     "Happy Moments, Praise God
       Difficult Moments, Seek God
       Quiet Moments, Worship God
       Painful Moments, Trust God
       Every Moment,  Thank God."

REVIEW OF "WHO MOVED THE SUN?" BY RON MCKENZIE

      I consider myself fortunate to have just read the book "WHO MOVED THE SUN?" by Ron McKenzie, a twinless twin. For one I think this title is spot on when writing about the loss of one's twin. 
      Presented in an interesting way Ron shared the questions he wished to ask his departed twin and things he wanted to discuss with him the 365 days following his death.  He  gives a full understanding of the lives that he and Don had together as identical twins and his experiences since Don's death. It also helps twinless twins to find ways to cope with their loss. I especially like the fact that it makes us realize that while our twins are no longer physically present they are still with us in spirit and we should find comfort by recognizing this. Of equal importance is that it will help twinless twins know that there is nothing strange about the loneliness, questions, thoughts and emotions that they experience after the loss of a twin.  It is indeed a deep realistic look at twin loss.
      The book is filled with many wonderful pictures of Ron and Don at different stages of their lives. Pictures help us to recall the good times we had with our departed loved ones and that is exactly what Ron does in the book.  It not only reveals the strong bond that twins share but the fun they can have together. 
      I am happy to have made contact with several twinless twins including Ron whom I met through the Twinless Twins Facebook group.  Congratulations Ron. You have done an excellent job.  
     I recommend this book to twins, twinless twins, their families, friends and anyone interested in this subject.
    












     

CREATIVE THURSDAY BLOG HOP

       Creative Thursday is a hop where you can add all of your creative posts.Hosted by Clairejustineoxox and JUDY H-J'S THOUGHTS - A TWINLESS TWIN it is a hop to share fun things you have been doing. Over the next few weeks our theme will be Christmas but as usual you can link any creative posts to the hop. So one question, what has gotten you creative this week? Please join us and hop around to see what everyone else has been doing this week and remember you can add as many posts as you like...


CROCHETING - ONE OF OUR HOBBIES
      With Christmas fast approaching  we will soon wash, starch and iron the many crochet pieces we plan to use this year.  Janine and I crocheted a variety of things over the years - centrepieces, three piece table sets, runners, chairbacks and armrests.  We made them for our home, to give as gifts and for sale. Oh, I can't forget the tablecloth that we both worked on. I worked for awhile and then Janine took over!  We would start early in the morning and crochet for hours just taking a few breaks in order to meet a deadline that we set. 
     While we crocheted we sat together chatting and listening to music or talkshows.  Sadly I have not crocheted anything since Janine's death. I would like to crochet some things again in the future. I may not have a lot of time as before but at least I could take my time and finish various projects.  
     Below are some of the pieces that we will use this holiday season:

SMALL CURTAIN DECORATION

CENTREPIECE

  ARMRESTS & CHAIRBACK

MY POINSETTIA SHOTS!

     The Poinsettia has always been a big favourite for Janine and me.  We liked to see it on cards, decorations etc. and have had the plant for many years.  It always starts to remind us from November that Christmas is approaching!  Here are a few shots I took recently. 

I AM ON GOOGLE+

     Well, the word is out that Google Friend Connect will soon be a thing of the past. So like many others I have joined GOOGLE+. I still need to figure out more about it. Feel free to join my circles. Please let me know so I can follow back. I am also interested in hearing the views of those who have joined. Have you figured out a lot about it as yet?  Take care and have a wonderful week.

I AM CELEBRATING!

       Well, we are now in the month of December and that means Christmas is near and Hip, Hip, Hooray, the hurricane season is over for this year. The hurricane season is from June 1 - November 30 in my part of the world. 
      Janine and I faced the weather conditions of storms and hurricanes while we were together and I am yet to experience one without her. The first and worst hurricane that we experienced was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. In an earlier post titled FACING WILD WINDS TOGETHER I shared this experience.
       I hope today you have several reasons to celebrate!

Myspace Good Day Comments & Graphics

CREATIVE THURSDAY BLOG HOP

Creative Thursday is a hop where you can add all of your creative posts.Hosted by Clairejustineoxox and JUDY H-J'S THOUGHTS - A TWINLESS TWIN it is a hop to share fun things you have been doing.Over the next few weeks our theme will be Christmas but as usual you can link any creative posts to the hop.So one question, what has gotten you creative this week?
Please join us and hop around to see what everyone else has been doing this week and remember you can add as many posts as you like...

DECORATING WITH CHRISTMAS CARDS
     Over the years Janine and I received many Christmas cards and we always used them to decorate our home. These days I receive several Christmas cards via the internet. Those that I get through the post I still use to decorate areas of our home. Do you still get many Christmas cards in the post? If so, how do you use them to decorate areas in your home? Now I mainly place them on the bookshelf in my room or on tables in our living-room. Below are pictures that Janine and I took beside our Christmas card decorations.