WHY IS THE ACCOUNT OF CHRIST'S BIRTH IN ONLY TWO OF THE FOUR GOSPELS... VERY INTERESTING!

I love the Christmas story as it is told in the Bible... in the books of Matthew and Luke!

But, I think the most famous telling of Jesus' birth is Luke 2...

From the Bible to Charlie Brown's Christmas Pageant, this story has been told for centuries!

But do you know why the birth of Jesus is only told in two of the four gospels (the story of Jesus living on earth)?  Very interesting...

RUSSIAN TEA BALL COOKIES

Russian Tea Balls are the cookies that say Christmas to me!  My mother always made them at Christmastime and I could not wait to eat the sweet snowball-of-a-cookie.

Russian Tea Balls are shortbreads infused with real vanilla and tiny bits of walnuts... pure heaven!

They are so simple to make. Using few ingredients, Russian Tea Balls mix together into a mouthful of delicious Christmas flavor...

A FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS

StoneGable's farmhouse kitchen is finally dressed up for Christmas.

This year, as in years past, I'm using lots of naturals with fun Christmas touches!

Come on in... have a mug of hot chocolate and let's look around...

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER... CHRISTMAS EDITION

Oh my gosh... There are only 2 weeks until Christmas!!!!!

If this facts makes you scream, panic, faint, stress out, want to eat a gallon of ice cream, cry, hide or makes you queasy... then you will want to read this! 

I have some easy last minute decorating ideas for anyone who feels that Christmas has sneaked up on them this year!

And if you are super organized and all decorated you might want to read this too and... a)  help a needy unorganized friend with the above symptoms or b) save these tips for next year.

Here are some easy peasy, low or no cost, fast ideas to get your halls decorated in no time at all... and a few last minute tips to boot.! These are my BEST last minute Christmas tips...

THE SCOOP #96

Welcome to

THE SCOOP #96

This week is a fun and busy week...

Wednesday I'm participating in the

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER CHRISTMAS EDITION...

Me and 5 other fabulous and creative bloggers will be sharing ways to create, decorate, and  work some Christmas magic... at the last minute! So if you need a little Christmas inspiration you will want to stop by!

Thursday I am part of a Christmas Farmhouse Tour... I've been waiting to share all the Holiday decor in my Farmhouse kitchen!  If you like "farmhouse" you will love this tour of Christmas farmhouses!

Then on Friday, I'll be sharing my very favorite Christmas cookie as part of

CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

Last year I did a Christmas letter called

YEAR IN REVIEW

I sent it to all of our out of town family and friends with their Christmas cards.

I have gotten so many emails lately requesting another YEAR IN REVIEW template... so here it is...

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ THE REAL STORY ST. NICK

photo credit:master isolated images


December 6th was St. Nicholas Day... a day to remember a devoted follower of Christ who lived in Patara, Lycia (part of Greece in Nicholas' time, but today lies on the southern coast of Turkey).

There is not a whole lot documented about Nicholas... but this we do know...

COFFEE FILTER TREE AND WREATH DIY

If you are looking for an EASY , IMPRESSIVE, FESTIVE ... and CHEAP Christmas project...

THIS IS IT!!!!

Even if you are not a crafter, this  Coffee Filter Tree And Wreath are soooo much fun to make and the result is AMAZING!!!!!

I bought all I needed (except the tree cones and star) at the Dollar Store and got busy...

Here's how I made my Christmas decorations for next to nothing...

DECK THE HALLS HOUSE TOUR

 Fa-la-la-la-la..... la-la-la-la! I love to decorate my kitchen and breakfast room for Christmas!

It's my absolute favorite!

Come on in... baby, it's cold outside...

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR

Welcome to

 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Christmas has come to StoneGable... well sorta!

It's come to PART of StoneGable... let me explain...

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR~ SIMMERING POTPOURRI

It's not Christmas at StoneGable until the aroma of cloves and cinnamon and orange and other wonderful spices is wafting through the air!

I've made Simmering potpourri for decades... tweaking it for different seasons and holidays.

Here's an easy to make simmering potpourri... a Christmas Potpourri... to fill your home with the unmistakable smell of of the Christmas season...

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS TOUR THIS WEEK

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY  TOUR

begins today!

Here is the schedule to go on a virtual Christmas Home Tour all week long!!!!!

Stop back on Thursday... I'll be opening up my home... full of Christmas cheer!

THE SCOOP #95

Hi Friends! Lots and lots of great info on THE SCOOP! Make sure you read all about it!

At StoneGable its all things Christmas this week! I'll be sharing lots of Christmas decor!

Today's guest host is from my neck of the woods and is a darling gal! Make sure you stop by her blog and show her some bloggy love. She is really a special lady and a great talent!

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ WEEK OF DECEMBER 2, 2013

Hi Friends! Can you believe it's already December? Only 23 days until Christmas!

No one is more aware of the calendar than I am! As I am writing this I am sitting up in bed, legs wrapped in ice and very sore! Recovering from bilateral knee cap surgery is such a mess!

Way, way, way to slow of a recovery for me!

And I see the calendar days quickly moving by and I just can't wait to get back to normal!


I doubt I'll be making anything on my menu this week... But old habits die hard!  If I can't cook this week, at least I can plan a menu, right?

Have a wonderful week... Enjoy some holiday music...it's time to get in some jolly Christmas spirit!

Now here's what's On The Menu...

THANKING GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART

photo credit: nuchylee

Today's Sunday Scripture was originally prepared last week, but due to my surgery recovery it was not posted. I think it is still applicable as we go into the Advent season.


I recently did a survey on my Facebook page and asked...

"WHAT IS YOUR VERY FAVORITE HOLIDAY?"

Not surprising to me, the #1 favorite holiday was...