New Year's Eve with this little man

Son of God, purest Light ...

My favorite Christmas album in the world is "It's a Wonderful Christmas" by Michael W. Smith. On that album is the song, "Son of God." The music is SO amazingly beautiful ... and the words! So I designed my Christmas card this year around that song.

I always put this Christmas card making off until the very last minute--and I DO regret that this year. Because had I started earlier, I might have tweaked the fonts and word placement (size, etc) a bit more artistically. But I've learned my lesson. I actually have 2-3 various OTHER cards designed and so my hope for Christmas 2018 is that I jump on it early enough to even take advantage of the 40% off October special given every year by PhotoEvo. 

Well, even if I do not accomplish that ... I do LOVE making cards and I am glad for this one ... though far from perfect.

A Girl's Night ...

December 30 pm:  Saturday afternoon/evening. It was just the girls tonight--the boys had other plans. SO, my two lovely granddaughters (the only ones I have in all the world) came over to spend some time with their grandma! Yes!

 We played our "Snakes and Ladders" game, which is actually a puzzle we put together first, and then we play. We used our mousies from our Mouse Trap game to be our tokens. 

 Emma was a sweetheart and played so nicely with Kaity, showing her some interesting stuff about numbers and how to roll a die "the proper way." Kaity adores Emma.

 Kaity and I played a long time with her sticker/transfer book. We are making a very nice farm together. We have a poster of the INSIDE of the barn, as well as the OUTSIDE in the farm yard. There are all kinds of fun animals to "transfer" on to the picture. Kaity enjoys this very much.

 We also played with her animal sticker book, the one that you can re-use the stickers--they are the poofy kind--and we had all kinds of fun with that.

 Emma listened to beautiful music on my computer while watching a few DIY videos ...

 We lit every single candle in my house, while Kaity enjoyed the fire and blowing out my matches.

 Isn't she something else?!!!

 This is Kaity-Jae showing me her "Pledge of Allegiance" pose ... she tells me that she says this pledge EVERY day at school.

It was a nice, quiet, lovely evening with my TWO best girls. Thank you, Lord, for such treasures as these.

A brutally frigid winter walk ... NOT a hike

December 30 am:  I woke up Saturday morning to a most beautiful sight. NEW SNOW on top of other NEW SNOW ... AND unbelievably, the sun was shining! AH! A perfect combination for great winter pictures. I couldn't resist. Except ... it was 3 degrees (or something like that). I layered up like a mummy and headed on out ... 

Chauncey Avenue, going north ... 

 Chauncey Avenue, south (with a paint brush effect) ...

It was TOO cold to even consider hiking ... so WHERE could I go that would guarantee pretty pictures?!!!!  

 Just 10 minutes up the road is Townsend Park, my dear old friend, true blue for pictures, always ...

 The only negative is that there are SO MANY BRAMBLES that block a clear picture! So I just have to accept what IS and keep going, right?

 I did manage to walk through thickets and thorns, etc. to try to get somewhat of a clear shot now and then ....

 I can't decide which is my favorite shot ...

 But I think the one below is it!

 Or perhaps this one?