"December Photo-a-day..." Day 13

"Family"

I know, I'm back-tracking a little here, but it's the only time that we were all in the same picture. This is Christmas Eve, just after church.

Toronto Christmas Market

 Last Saturday, my mom and I took a little trip to Toronto. I found the Toronto Christmas Market online and thought that it sounded like so much fun.
I had been searching for a little Christmas excitement and what better than an outdoor market with live Christmas carolers, vendors of gifts from different countries, hot apple cider, and sausage in a bun with sauerkraut, fresh off the bbq.

 The market was held in the Historic Distillery area of Toronto. So it was surrounded by red brick buildings (it was funny because there were skyscrapers rising up behind the historic district, so it took away a little of the "old" atmosphere).  Santa was visiting, and there was a Christmas tree maze.
It was freezing, so we only stayed a couple of hours, but we were able to see everything. Some vendors were selling German toys and another was selling Dutch ornaments, and there was alpaca sweaters.

A giant tree stood in the center by a beautiful clock. Beneath the tree was a stage and there were children singing Christmas carols.
As we were leaving we slipped into an art gallery with a coffee shop. The coffee shop was selling hot apple cider with chunks of apple in it. It was delicious! And so nice to have a hot drink on our long walk back to my truck.

 

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 23

"Tree Topper"

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 18

"Stockings"

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 15

"Favorite Christmas Song"

I think it would be easier to list the Christmas songs that I don't like, rather than Christmas songs that I like. I went through all of our Christmas song books and had a hard time picking the ones that would feature in the photo shoot. I like fun Christmas songs and beautiful Christmas songs. 

My favorite Christmas carol that does not speak about Christ's birth is Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. I just feel like I need to start swing dancing every time I hear it (though it would be helpful to know more than the basic steps).

Joy To The World is pretty amazing when played by a full orchestra and sung by very talented people (it's a great song, anyways, of course). It's one of those songs that makes me excited that it's Christmas. (We just heard it played/sung by Katie's school orchestra/choir).

But my favorite Christmas song is Breath of Heaven. I like the idea of imagining what Mary was thinking for all of those months. Luke tells us that she praised God and knew that she was blessed by Him, and that "all generations will call me blessed." But what about after that? Nine months is a long time to think about the enormity and importance of her role. Nine months is a long time to turn the fact over and over in her mind that she would give birth to and raise the Savior of the World. I know that I would think about it over and over and then I would panic (and then I'd think about it some more and be ok. And then I'd think about it again and panic again, and it would be this great cycle of thinking, panic, thinking, ok, thinking, panic, and then somewhere in there I'd remember to pray). 

But then maybe Mary didn't worry or fret at all. Maybe she had peace and confidence that God would give her what she needed to be the mother of Jesus.

"Photo-a-day Challenge"... Day 14

"Christmas Tree"

"December Photo Challenge..." Day 8, 9, 10, & 11

I'm a little behind on the December Photo Challenge. We spent the weekend in Buffalo. Katie's school performed a concert in an old Presbyterian church. We also did some Christmas shopping and had lots of fun. I did keep taking pictures.

December 8 - Ornaments

This is the shop window of the Pottery Barn in the Buffalo mall. If you look carefully you can see Katie in the background.

December 9 - "Something Your Reading"

I'm known in my family for reading multiple books at a time. When I was in grade school I had four books stacked on my desk. I'd read a chapter, then go on to the next one, read a chapter, go on to the next one. I thought that I could read faster if I read them all together. However, I soon figured out that's not the case. So, now I just read two at a time. Fiction for fun and something else that is history, theology, or just seems interesting. Currently, I'm reading Moby Dick and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. 

December 10 - "Wrapping Paper"

I haven't started wrapping anything yet, but this package turned up in our living room, so I decided it would do for the wrapping paper photo.

December 11 - "Green"

Perfect time to get our tree, don't you think? Can't get much greener than a green Christmas tree. 

I haven't taken a picture for today, so I'll do another post later with today's photo.