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A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine or fir, traditionally associated with the celebration of Christmas. An artificial Christmas tree is an object made to resemble such a tree, usually made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The tree was traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, nuts or dates. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles, which with electrification could also be replaced by Christmas lights. Today, there are a wide variety of traditional ornaments, such as garland, tinsel, and candy canes. An angel or star may be placed at the top of the tree to represent the host of angels or theStar of Bethlehem from the Nativity.


The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century, in which "devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes".[1] It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century.[2] The Christmas tree has also been known as the "Yule-tree", especially in discussions of its folkloristic origins.[3][4][5]

Completely plagerised from Wikipedia.

Christmas Trees have always been absolutely magical to me ever since I can remember. It has been my favourite symbol of Christmas since my childhood. I just love them. I remember sitting for hours beside them or under them when I was little. I remember going with cousins in the woods to cut them down. I remember placing the angel on top. I remember taking the extra branches that had been cut off and using them to have my own Christmas tree. I remember the smell and stickiness of the sap. Oh Christmas trees, how I love you!




Here is a little kick back photo for you, and yep that is me in the white pj's holding up the sock right in front!

xoxo
Merry Christmas
Barb

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One of my favourite Christmas traditions that we have is the wrapping and unwrapping of Christmas stories. I call it "the gift of reading". Every year we put up our Christmas tree on November 12 and under the tree there are Christmas stories all wrapped up and every night someone unwraps one and we read it togther as a family. Some are silly, some are churchy, some make cry and some make us want to be more like the Saviour. I love it!

xoxo
Merry Christmas
Barb

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Click to learn more about the story of Christmas.


xoxo
Merry Christmas
Barb

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Have I mentioned that I now work at the library! They let me do this in the front foyer a couple of Saturdays ago, and it is still standing I never been so proud! I love it got the original idea from pinterest.  It took 4-5 hours to make but that was also hauling all the books upstairs for it! Anyway I just love it!

xoxo
Merry Christmas
Barb

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On the 29 of this month I will have been married 20 years. I don't feel old enough to have been married 20 years!! But man I am so glad to have done it. Jesse and I find it quite humorous when we are watching a movie or TV show and they say something like "We have been married 8 years!" I actually am really proud of it. I feel like it really is an accomplishment, like running a marathon. If I had to write one thing down on how we have been successful in our marriage, which I believe that we have, it would be that giving up or walking out just wasn't an option. That doesn't mean we didn't have the choice it is just that we both kept choosing to be married. You usually always have a choice to be married or not, and making that choice frequently helps keep me committed to my incredibly handsome husband. 

xoxo

Merry Christmas

Barb

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Ryan…..
Ryan is 14 today we had yet another snow day so I cancelled three appointments I had booked because my kids were suppose to be in school and we took off to the big city to go to a movie. The only matinee I could find was a 3D version of Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs. Apparently I haven't taken the kids to a 3D movie before they were so funny, literally reaching out their arms in front of them at times. Oh to be a child again, and experience things for the first time. I have decided that I need to find something that I have never done this month and do it. Do you have any suggestions?

Okay back to Ryan, he is so wonderful, I love having a son. A son who is so empathetic, compassionate, smart, hard working, and protective of his little sisters. Thanks to Ryan I have learned a great deal about myself and how to be a better parent. Happy Birthday Ry your the best.

xoxo
Merry Christmas
Barb

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No, buses running today so another snow day! I am so grateful for having children, I don't really know if I have ever written that down.

My gratefullness comes from a different way than most women I know. Some of my friends had a hard time getting pregnant, some have adopted their children, some had a hard time getting or being married, some aren't married, some have lost a child, and some have almost lost a child. 

My experience has come because of Heavenly Father's commandment to mutilple and replish. Jesse and I waited 7 years to have children. Not because of medical problems, I just simple didn't want kids. I didn't feel like I was going to be any good at being a mother. I felt like my talents and abilities were in other places. 

But over 14 years ago, I had a decision to make was the gospel true or not? If it is true and I believe that it is true then shouldn't I be obeying all of God's  commandments? And according to Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." It is a commandment from God to have children. So I decided to really give my life over to the Lord and see what He could make of me. I remember sharing my testimiony in Reilef Soctiey saying that I was going to do so. In the 14 years that have followed I have had many up's and downs, but God is good and He has made me into a mother who is grateful for her children. Thank you Heavenly Father for your contiunaly presence in my life.  

And if anyone is reading this that has the same feelings as I once did, I can testify to you that God will bless you in unexpected ways if you follow His commandments. 

Follow this link to watch a great video!

xoxoxo

Merry Christmas

Barb

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Do you know what I really love about blogging is that when I am blogging I seem to be more aware of things.

For example I was driving in very bad wheather and on very bad roads the other day and was almost late for a movie I was taking the kids too. Two cars in head of me stopped which made me stop in the middle of the intersection. I didn't say anything outloud but in my head I was thinking, "What are you doing? This is so unsafe you cannot stop in the middle of the road, do I wait or go around? Why are they stopped?"

As I contiuned to watch, I saw the window roll down, and a bag of food go out to a homeless person standing in on the meridian followed by a huge cup of hot chocolate.

Just like that tears overwhelmed my eyes. Just like that Christmas was here. Chances are that I will never be able to tell the driver of that silver SUV last Thursday thank you.  But I can at least say thank you here.

"Thank you for restoring my hope in mankind, thank you for bringing the Christmas spirit back into my life. Thank you for reminding me of what I should be focusing on. 

THANK YOU"

xoxoo

Merry Christmas 

Barb

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SNOW DAY! 

There is something absolutetly magical about a snow day, especially one before Christmas. Today we sat by the fire as a family, read Christmas books, drank hot chocolate, brave the storm to check on animals and build a snow cave, worked on homework, watched Christmas movies, played 7 or 8 hands of cards, and even sang some Christmas carols.

I really do have a love hate relationship with winter. I love being cozy in my house with my family with no where to go.....because you couldn't even if you wanted to and yet my skin crawls with being locked up in my house not being able to get out. I guess it is just how you look at it. As for me today I am definately looking at the glass being 1/2 full.

xoxoxo and Merry Christmas

Barb

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It's Christmas time again and since I am desperately behind on blog posts I am committing to 25 blog posts for Christmas.  The first one will be about hair cuts. I have recently cut my hair quite dramatically. There is something wonderful about getting your hair cut. Pouring over pictures, talking to friends, family and husband, it always seems to me something of a right of passage. A big reason I cut my hair this time is because I found a neat course called Dressing Your Truth (click on link) in it I have discovered how to support my inside self on the outside with clothes. It has been a wonderful journey that I am still on but the hair cut was one of the final steps for me, and I love it.  I am not going to go into to much detail but it is because of this course that I have made all sorts of changes in my life lately if your interested in it you should check it out. Ok, here is the offical before and after pictures.

xoxoxo and
Merry Christmas
Barb