Christmas Memories...from Russia to Ohio

Another one of my Christmas Guest posters is Hannah from A Country Mix.

"We moved to Russia when I was eleven.  Christmas was very different from what we were used to.  They have a New Year's tree and exchange gifts on New Year's, and they observe Christmas in January,  but they didn't celebrate it much.  Our town would set up a big pole with little holes all up the sides. They would stick pine branches into the holes and make a "larger than life" New Year's tree.  Then a snow plow would make a huge mound of snow there in the town center.  Men would carve steps into the side. The fire truck would hose water down the front. Of course, at -20* to -40*, the water quickly froze into a slippery slide for all the kids to play on. Sometimes they would pour red water on it to make the slide festive.  On New Year's Eve, the whole town would come to the town center and light fireworks.

Christmas was very important to our family,  so we continued to celebrate it among ourselves. It's a little bit different to not have other family to celebrate with, but we became very close to each other that far away from our other relatives. 

We tried to make Christmas special for each other. One thing that we did each year was draw names to get something special for one person. We kept it a secret. The month before Christmas we were busy doing extra chores to earn money. Sometimes my mom would help us make something for each other. One year my brother made me a Teddy bear.  He had sewn it on the sewing machine,  turning the crank by hand because he was didn't know how to use the foot pedal. 

While I was in college, I couldn't go home to Russia to be with my family for Christmas. One year my friend Maria invited my sister and me to her house in Missouri. We had so much fun meeting all her relatives and singing with them. They made us feel so special. Thank you, Maria, for loving two college girls at Christmas!"

It's so interesting to hear about other cultures!

Cheesy Christmas Trees.....from Arkansas

My bestie, Tinyla...in Arkansas!

"Every year we decorate Christmas cookies as a family and give them away to the kids in our church.  One year we invited the kids over to have a cookie decorating contest, and then let them eat the cookies.  This year we invited the girls to decorate cookes at church  while the boys went out and collected food for the orphanage." (read more about this at My Life at Home Blog)


One tradition our family has that was my {wonderful} husband’s idea is to make Christmas a time of doing for others.  


Every year, since the Christmas before we were married, we have made Christmas cookies for the children in our church.  Every year on Christmas day we go to the care homes in our area and sing and give a little devotion to the elderly and shut-in.


One of my favorite Christmases  was when we invited a single gentleman to our home to have Christmas with us (this was before we had children).   He has since called us and told us that being with us that year  meant A LOT to him.  He was orphaned as a young boy, then adopted; but his adopted parents died.  Later his fiancé was killed in a car accident so the holidays are usually a sad time for him.  


One year on Christmas Eve we made bags filled with Christmas cookies, a Christmas tract, and a Christmas card from our family and went caroling to our neighbors.  After singing we presented them with the goodie bags.   I have to admit that I was the most nervous about caroling to our neighbors because one or two of them were a little “cold” towards us; but it was great.  They warmed up to us a lot after that and it was a great way to share a gospel tract with them. {Most people won’t slam the door in your face when you are trying to do something nice for them and give them cookies at the same time!}   


This year we will be caroling at the care homes; but we also invited the children in our church to decorate cookies that they will be eating at our Christmas party.  

I hope one or more of these ideas inspire you to think of others during this season of remembering the birth of Christ." 

Cheesy Christmas Trees 

½ cup mayonnaise

1 TBS. dry ranch salad dressing mix

1 Cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

12 slices of bread

¼ c. small red bell pepper strips

¼ cup green bell pepper strips

*I realize that some of you dear ladies may not have dry ranch salad dressing mix at your nearest Wal-mart (smile!) so you may use this instead:  1 TBS dried parsley, ½ tsp. dried dill,  ½ tsp garlic powder,  ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp dried basil,  ¼ tsp. pepper,  ¼ tsp. salt.

1.  Preheat broiler.  Combine mayonnaise and salad dressing mix in a medium bowl.  Add cheeses; mix well.
2. Toast bread slices; cut into Christmas tree shapes using large cookie cutter.
3. Spread each tree with about 1 TBS. mayo mixture.  Decorate with red and green bell pepper strips.  Place on baking sheet.  Broil 4 inches from heat 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbling.  Serve warm.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas,

T' Time {#49}....from Kansas

My Take the Time to guest poster today is one of my best friends (and next door neighbor) growing up.

"Hi!  I am Christina.  I am a Missouri girl through and through...but am currently loving life in Kansas!  I am married to a gorgeous man named Zach and we have 3 super ornery children.  Ok....they are cute too (they look just like their daddy).  We've got Caleb who will be 8 in a couple weeks.  Riley Jo is 6, and Silas just turned 4 in October.

I am a lucky girl who gets to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool all 3 of them.  And in my spare time I love Photography, Music and Art.  If you were to walk in my house right now...you would be tripping over my Ukulele (that I just got this year...and am still trying to find time to learn).  As well as my camera equipment laying all around my desk.  (I know.  I really need to get organized!)....and probably about 5...make that 6 unfinished art projects.  There are just not enough hours in the day!  {smile}

Today I thought I would share with you a craft we did last week.

  My  kids really enjoyed it...and it was super simple!

First.  Run up to Salvation Army or Goodwill and buy an old hymnal!

Tear a few pages out and let your kids cut them into strips.

* Tip of the day: Glue sticks work much better than Elmer's

Put a dab of glue on one end....and push the other end onto of the glue.

  Hold for just a second...and then loop the next strip through and repeat.

This is SO old school...I know....but I love the vintage Music paper!

   I really like it when the kids can do a craft...that I am not embarrassed to hang up!

  LOL  And this is one of them!  {smile}

The next thing I thought I would show you how to make..are Pom  Pom's!

This was a first for me...and all you need is yarn, scissors and a fork!

Then cut another long piece of yarn.  (from #3) Wrap around the fork until you reach the end.  (#4) Pull one of the short yarn ends up and over through the middle of the fork.  Now you should have both strands on one side.  

(#5-7) Now you get to choose!

You can either cut the loops on either side while on the fork...

or you can pull the yarn off....and cut the loops.

  Once all the loops are cut....you will have a pom pom!

I tied my 4" strands...so that they could either hang on the tree...or you can attach them to a ponytail holder...or make the loop small...and the kids can wear them as rings!

  Fun stuff!!!

There are so many different crafts out there for Christmas...but I hope this one is simple enough for everyone to enjoy...as well as for the momma's to enjoy displaying!   {smile}"


You can see more of Christina's beautiful photography HERE.
I {love} Christmas time,