Show and Tell

Kelli is hosting show and tell Friday so swing over and join in the fun. Here is my show and tell today.This is a post that I have on my other blog about the spending we do around Christmas. I hope that you like this pretty hand crafted doll.

Here is the story behind this pretty doll:

I have written quite a bit about not spending money over the holidays. My reasons are many. Today I am going to explain another reason why it is so important not to spend on frivolous things, but to cherish those around you.

In 2000 my daughter was five years old. For Christmas that year she received a humbling gift. She received a home made doll. Here is the letter that came with the gift:

December 2000
This year would have been Catalina's 2nd Christmas. My plan for her Christmas present was to make her a doll. Heavenly Father decided that she was needed more with Him than here on earth, so I'll have to wait to make her that doll.
So for Christmas, I give to you the doll I would have given to her. I want you to know that each stitch was made by my hand with love. With each stitch, there is a memory of another in it. These memories I share with you along with the love from a cousin you'll not know in this life.
I want you to know that we have a Heavenly Father and that His Son Jesus was born and died for you, because He loved you so much.
Always remember that you have a special "angel" in heaven watching you. This gift is yours with love from your Aunt Melissa and your angel Catalina.

As you may have realized, precious Catalina died that year. She drowned on the day before Mother's Day 2000. She was a twin and the 3rd child. Oh was she such a love. So Melissa had to have her first Christmas without her daughter and she revealed to me that she was making this gift for Fourth. I cried a lot that year with Melissa, and still choke up. But Melissa taught me a huge lesson that year, and that is one of the main reasons that I try not to overspend (or this year spend any money) on Christmas.

The most precious gifts you can give to your family and friends is yourself. Share the love that you have, make presents for those you love and never count on any more time with those you love than you have in the moment. I promise you that you will love more, listen more, hug more and become the best mom, dad, wife, husband , friend and child that one could ask for.

Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour. He gave us a gift that is priceless. Before it is too late receive Jesus as your Saviour, as it will make all the difference when it is your time.

Thank you Melissa for this, as Catalina is always dear to us.

I thank you for stopping by and reading this post today.I also posted this on Pen of Jen.
Jennifer

Show and Tell Friday!

Kelli over at" There is No Place Like Home", is the host of Friday Show and Tell. She explains it this way:"Welcome to Show and Tell Friday! Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!"
Click on the link below to join the list!
There is no place like home




So far I have written the War and Peace of Show and Tell's. Today a slight reprieve... as my husband and daughter found this crookneck squash on Wednesday.

I think it is beautiful and FoUrTh is going to enter it in the County Fair next week!!

How do you like the pretty Swan that we found in the middle of the desert?

Show and Tell Friday

Kelli over at" There is No Place Like Home", is the host of Friday Show and Tell. She explains it this way:"Welcome to Show and Tell Friday! Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!"
Click on the link below to join the list!
There is no place like home

Love Letters
My husband and I met and 2 days later he proposed. We were married six weeks later. I often wondered how we have had such an incredible marriage, and decided that this would be my show and tell for the week.

Right after we married Bill enlisted in the military, so we had several months apart. So although we did not date, we were able to get to know each other through the letters.

Several times in the first six years we were apart due to military assignments(in fact we were apart over 1.5 years in the first six if you added up the time). So we wrote letters. And more letters. And I keep journals of the activities of the growing family. So here are over 167 letters in this photo.


Here is another shot, more organized. It is amazing how much we learned about each other. And we were able to express goals, dreams and fears without any pressure.



Then the habit stuck. Before cell phones, when Bill was at work he sometimes would have a moment that he thought about me, so he would use a police report form and write me a note. Sometimes, because the kids took up so much of our time, the letters gave us an intimacy. The older I am the more I think back and appreciate these notes.



I would be struck by something, and would quickly make a note for Bill. This is from a magazine ad.



I then let Bill know that he was my lifesaver!

For Christmas 1991 we had been apart for 3 months, so when we were reunited, we gave each other carefully crafted cards. This is the envelope and the inside.



I must say that this is all made with a grown man using children's scissors. He also helped the oldest create a special card for Momma.

I am sharing these letters on Show and Tell because it is something that I value. Many times we wives forget that marriage is not like in the movies, and it takes a tremendous amount of time for each other. We are to cleave unto our spouse. But, when we spend time with our girlfriends, our parents, our children, or even a hobby to the neglect of our spouse, then we are in trouble.

I am ever so grateful that I had an opportunity to learn this due to the situation, that marriage, and the love you have needs to be constantly fed, loved and nurtured. Marriage in the United States seems to come with an escape clause. God told us that marriage is a covenant. He held marriage with importance, and so should we.

Show and Tell Friday

This is my first show and tell Friday. I have seen many of my blog friends share on this theme and I loved the idea.

Pam wrote this, so I borrowed her explanation....Kelli over at" There is No Place Like Home", is the host of Friday Show and Tell. She explains it this way:"Welcome to Show and Tell Friday! Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!"
Click on the link below to join the list!
There is no place like home


Here is a picture of my daughter, FoUrTh and my garden sunflowers. I live in New Mexico and it is very difficult to grow anything, due to the lack of water. We are on water restrictions, so instead of much of a lawn, I grow small vegetable gardens.


The sunflowers brighten the desert and add to the flavor of my yard. In front of the sunflowers are the zucchini and tomatoes! We are actually selling the surplus, as we cannot eat the food as fast as it is growing.

BTW... I am putting together a post, and I need my blog friends help. Please read the post below for information.
Thanks for stopping by.
Jennifer