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{March is well under way}

February days are now gone and March has officially kicked in.   I finally purchased a new monthly focus board.  We ventured out for a day date which included a movie. I love our day dates. I will give my honest review about the movie for those interested. I wanted to see this movie as it was based on a true story. I did enjoy the movie but oh my, it was a tear jerker from the get go! It ended good but mercy! Let's just say that I am thankful that no one was sitting close enough to see my tear stained face. I am glad that I saw it but I am good for a while on sad movies, even if they do end good!   My oldest daughter, her husband and their son participated in the Spartan race which is a series of obstacle courses that challenge. They done so well. As you can see from the pictures it gets pretty muddy!  My three daughters participate each year in the Gate River Run. I love it that they do this together. They have so much support & encouragement from all the onlookers. I am just

{It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year}

Can you believe Christmas is almost here! I was a little late this Christmas season decorating for Christmas. But it might have been a good thing because as I was bringing out the Christmas stash I found dishes I had bought last year after Christmas on sale and FORGOT I HAD THEM!!!!


I felt like someone had just given me a Christmas present and I was thrilled that it was dishes! Remember....My name is Cindy and I am a dishaholic!


They went perfectly with my kitchen and dining room theme I wanted to achieve for Christmas this year.


Simplicity took over at my house for Christmas with the decorating this season. Lack of time and energy seemed to be my excuse. Recently a friend of mine said she thought her new WORD for 2016 might be simple and I grabbed a hold of that for the rest of my 2015 year! I thought, "Okay, I can kill myself trying to make it all look stunning and brilliant or I can simplify and actually enjoy the holidays. I chose to ENJOY

I love my Christmas platter along with that wonderful smelling candle that some friends gave to me this year. Made it my centerpiece.


Aren't these cute ornaments? Another little hidden stash I found too!


You can't go wrong with poinsettias can you?

I must say, I love my simple Christmas tablescape this year!


And the tablescape tied perfectly in with my Christmas tree in the dining room.




Here is the story of the poinsettia.

A popular legend surrounds the poinsettia. Long ago, on Christmas Eve, a little Indian girl in Mexico wanted to bring a gift to present to Baby Jesus, lying in the creche at her Church. Being very poor, she could not buy a gift, as did the other children of the town. So on the way to Church, she gathered some green weeds on the edge of a field. Like the other children, she walked down the aisle of the Church and placed her bouquet at the creche. Suddenly, the green weeds turned a beautiful red, because she had given the most wonderful gift of all, the gift of genuine love. Since then, the poinsettia has been known in Mexico as flores de la Noche Buena.

These decorations, while perhaps originating in pagan times, have a much more beautiful meaning for Christians.
The bright red leaves symbolize the burning, divine love of our Redeemer. The shape of the cluster of leaves and the contrast of the red with the green also remind one of the star of Bethlehem that shone so brightly the night our Savior was born and then guided the Magi to visit Him. The flowers are red, which reminds us that the baby born in a manger became the Savior of the world. Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven.


No matter how we decorate our homes for Christmas may we be reminded of the true reason for the season. 


Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Comments

  1. I love your dishes but I am a huge poinsettia fan.
    Connie Royals

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  2. That must have been so fun to discover those dishes you had forgotten about!! It all looks so lovely and festive!!

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  3. Cindy, how fun to find those dishes you forgot about. I love things like that, it makes me happy Your table looks very pretty with your new dishes. The poinsettia story is such a lovely story. My husband was just buying poinsettias for his office staff.

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  4. You and I need to start a "dishaholic" group (wink and smiles)---I have a serious issue with dish shopping...anyways, very lovely and I love the dishes. Many Holiday Blessings to you...and I already put up my 2016 Word as well.

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    1. Linda...all I know is that it's a good thing we don't live closer...we might get into serious trouble with our dishes! LOL!

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  5. I've always liked poinsettias. Love your dishes and reading the thrill of finding them after last year's sales. Simple is elegant and you are once again showing us so much pizzazz at holiday time. I am inspired by your talent!

    Big Christmas Hugs,
    Mary

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  6. I relate to finding things you forgot you had. Your tablescape and tree are pretty. I like the word "simple" too.
    However, I had a large gathering of my Sunday School class at my house last night for a Christmas party. Set tables for 28 so I am tired today. Most of the dishes are put away but I'm taking a break. I enjoyed preparing for it and was pleased with the turn out.
    I hope your Christmas will be blessed and full of happy memories.

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    1. I bet your party was lovely. What a servant's heart to host such a big party for your Sunday school class. I am sure they enjoyed every minute of it Bonnie!

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  7. What a nice surprise, I'd be so exciting! Your table is absolutely gorgeous!

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  8. Everything looks so pretty and those dishes...oh my, be still my heart!! They are so pretty and your table setting is so Christmassy and inviting! Merry Christmas!

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    Replies
    1. I had this feeling Miss Mary you would love my dishes too!

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  9. Cindy, I absolutely love your dishes! Beautiful tablescape and tree, and I love Poinsettias! Thank you so much for sharing, and Merry Christmas to you and yours. God bless you. :)

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  10. I love dishes, but have no storage spaces left. Your decorations are so pretty....love the poinsettias. I did simple this year, too. Hope you've had a great day.

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    Replies
    1. I know Deb...storage used to not be an issue until I got greedy! LOL!

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  11. Hi Cindy, I Love your table setting for Christmas and your dishes are gorgeous. What wonderful treasures to forget you had and then re-find in your stash!! Early Christmas gift. Simple is beautiful and I did simply simple this year too. Your tree is beautiful and I love the poinsettias on it. Thank you for sharing the beautiful story too of this gorgeous winter flower. My mother used to grow them wonderfully and then put them away during the summer covered with a brown paper bag to go dormant, bring them back the following winter and they would bloom all over again. I tried that with NO luck at all. I guess I didn't have mom's touch! LOL Thanks for sharing the inspiration my friend and thank you for a great year of blogging friendship. Have a great week up to Christmas Day. xo

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    1. I would love to be able to grow poinsettias but I am afraid I would have a green thumb for sure! LOL!

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  12. Well, sweet friend, you're looking at a dishaholic out of the closet, as I used to hide the fact so no one would know, or not tell cause some thought I was nuts for having so much dishes; but now everyone knows and I've relaxed and admit it!
    Your house looks lovely and your newly found C'mas dishes are adorable. Your table is full of color and very pretty, I love it. Sometimes less is more like here.
    Thank you so much for your sweet comment on our new bundle of happiness.
    Wishing you and your beautiful family a happy and blessed Christmas.
    FABBY

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    1. Thanks Fabby. I know you are enjoying the grandgirl.

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  13. I can feel your excitement over your forgotten gift to self, Cindy--I can relate!! The dishes are beautiful, and I can't believe how they match your lovely tree (love the raffia streams on it!). Wishing you a joyous Christmas season with your lovely family, Cindy. Thank you for a year of wonderful and inspiring posts. I'm already looking forward to your 2016 "gifts" to us all!! ~Zuni

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  14. Oh Cindy, those dishes are beautiful! Your table is so inviting and sweet. I found a few things in my Christmas stash from last year I had forgotten about too.....little things like that mean so much.

    Love & Blessings,

    Debbie

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  15. I got w-a-y behind this year! Several things were going on at the same time when I 'should' have been decorating. My decorating was extremely minimal this year - and we still had a great Christmas! Your table and decorations are gorgeous. I, too, am moving toward much more simple in the way I live life and decorate my home. I didn't plan to have it quite as simple as it was this year - but it worked!
    ~Adrienne~

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  16. It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year
    Jim and I say this to each other both when things are getting overwhelming and also when things are going smoothly. A perfect reminder to enjoy the blessings of the season.

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  17. Cindy,
    Love your dishes!! Stunning! And your decorations are lovely! I will be revealing my One Word for 2016 this coming week too.
    Hugs,
    Deb

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So glad you stopped by to visit.
Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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