Friday, December 20, 2013

A Christmas Ball, The Sacred Everyday...Gifts from God

Our two youngest daughters, Zuzu and Grace attended a sweet Christmas Ball last week.  The ball consists of English folk dance, much like you would see in Pride & Prejudice.  It's nice.  It's a sweet ball where everyone mixes and everyone is encouraged to dance with everyone at least once.   

 Zuzu is here in her ballgown, this was a find from the resale shop.  Zuzu and my mom made the straps from the matching shawl.  Zuzu bought a couple of yards of wide black ribbon to tie around her waist and the black gloves are my mother's from the 40s (so neat).  Voila!  For under $5.00 a beautiful Ball ensemble.


Grace is here in her lovely ballgown too. : )  She ordered the pretty blue dress from ebay and added the white scarf-like sleeve and sash that flowed down the back along with rhinestone sprinkles and a head piece. It was sweet, when she was at the fabric store, an older lady was so pleased that Grace knew how to sew, the lady shared it was such a shame young ladies don't sew much.  I so agree!  Grace's ensemble was a little more expensive because the dress was bought new.  Her complete ball outfit ran right around $35.  


Our retro tree...See my little elf peeking out?  He was my Italian grandma's little elf.  See the reflectors?  Those are very old, those are from my German grandparents...See the striped ornament?  That is from our home when I was a very small little girl. : )  I love old fashioned icicles too...Sooooo retro. So period.  

Prayer time with our Charlie.  He is one of our rescued dogs as you may already know. Rebecca rescued him when she was around twelve for her birthday...He is so dramatic.. a dreamie little dog.  He looks up at us as to say... Do you still love me?  Do you?

Last night our family watched this Christmas movie with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray along with a beautiful Beaulah Bondi.  "Remember the Night"  (1940).  It's a sweet romantic movie.


Another Christmas movie, another very sweet romance with a very important life lesson.  Sooooo darling:
It Happened On 5th Avenue DVD

 Perhaps you are wondering about our little Guisseppe?  I had shared in my last entry that last Sunday night his eye came out of socket, Monday he was in surgery; our sweet vet is trying to correct the situation, his eyelids are actually stitched shut, bless his heart.  Guisseppe is another one of our rescue doggies... He's an angel.  The vet and his staff are angels too, a farm vet in old town. We love Guisseppe's half smile...he such a good natured little man.


I'll close with this shot of Grace running to the car for her first day of work one morning...Grace is our baby at 20 years of age! we've been married for 33 years!  Where has the time gone? : )

Listening to:

Listening to: James Taylor At Christmas.  This is so mellow and Christ centered.  I love his voice and always have.  Plus...his face reminds me so very much of my precious step-dad Al, who is with the Lord now.  Al was from the Bronx and he had the sweetest heart ever.  He was such a good grandpa to our little girls...and he left us suddenly of a heart attack, my mom was sent home from the hospital with his clothes across her arms in a taxi.  Yeah...so much my heart holds.  This brokeness makes us whole in the Lord though...Much like a Tiffany lamp?  It makes us broken yet whole to share with others, to comfort others in a sincere way...The Light shines beautifully through the broken pieces...Warm, gentle, Light to comfort and to bless...to understand...and hopefully to be understood...

It's the time of year we remember our loved ones.  We'll see Al again, he is with God.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Today is a cozy balmy day...

This is the real gift: we have been given the breath of life, designed with a unique, one-of-a-kind soul that exists forever-whether we live it as a burden or a joy or with indifference doesn't change the fact that we've been given the gift of being now and forever.  Priceless in value, we are handcrafted by God, who has a personal design and plan for each of us.

Christmas love to All,   *a thoughtful smile to you*    ~Amelia

6 comments:

Barbara said...

Beautiful ball gowns -- that must have been a fun and lovely event.

Yes! Young girls need to know how to sew!!!

Your movie and music suggestions are a great encouragement!

Merry Christmas!

Amelia said...

Awwww Barbara! What a gem you are dear one! So great to hear from you.

I hope you have a blessed and very, very merrrrrry Christmas! : )

Diwakar said...

Hello Amelia, Wish you a very spiritfilled, blessed and Christ centered New year. So good to stop by your blog post once again. Your blog "My forest Cathedral" and the post on in it "Christmas ball the Sacred Every day... Gifts from God". Those are beautiful pictures which reminds us of the brith of Jesus Christ that brought joy to the Whole world. I have been following your blog post and it has been a blessing. I am a Pastor from India and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.

Amelia said...

Hello Diwaker, Thank you so much for coming by and letting me know you read here! : ) I'm so thankful that the blog here has blessed your heart in Christ. Sometimes I'm at a loss as what to write, if I am writing things that would help others; but as my husband reminded...Just write how the Lord leads. Your comment is a confirmation of that. Thank you so much for being a faithful Brother in Christ and taking that time and effort to encourage a Sister in Christ all the way from India! That is so great! Your comment is a timely one I assure you. Thank you for listening to the Heart of the Lord. It's an honor to receive your comment.

Praying for your ministry there, may God bless you in His Ever Presence.

Sandi said...

It is the end of May and hot as the sun here, but it is nice to see Christmas photos. :)

We have a similar elf, but he scares my two year-old nephew so he is relegated to the back of the tree!

Sandi said...

And...

"we have been given the breath of life, designed with a unique, one-of-a-kind soul that exists forever-whether we live it as a burden or a joy or with indifference doesn't change the fact that we've been given the gift of being now and forever. Priceless in value, we are handcrafted by God, who has a personal design and plan for each of us."


AMEN!!!!