On Tour With The Nester - 2010

I linked up with The Nester last year for the tour of homes, but being a new blog reader, I didn't realize that it was her first year for the Christmas link up. Well, she's back this year, and so am I. Without further ado, I give you our Christmas House - 2010:

Welcome to our Home!

It's hard to get a perspective of our house, but I hope this helps - living room to the left, library in the center, kitchen off to the right (you can't see) and I'm standing in the corner of the dining room.

Peter says I say the same thing every year, but I told him that this year I meant it - prettiest tree yet!

This is on a table in our library - when the sun comes through the front windows in the afternoon it's just beautiful! You can't capture it with a picture, but I tried.

Memories of our time in London - literally about 8 hours layover while we were on our way to Tanzania to work with Helimission. This ornament always makes me smile because I chose it because it was only 4.50. When we left the store, Peter reminded me that due to the exchange rate, I'd just paid about $9 for it. {sigh}

This was new this year - I had the blocks, but I decided to use them to add some Christmas cheer while I was washing dishes.

Also new for 2010 - I used the glass hurricanes that I made back in the fall and loaded them up with tealights on top of the hutch in our dining room. I love how it looks when it's illuminated!

I have five Nativity sets, but this one is the oldest, and one of the most special. My mom gave it to me when I was around five years old and I loved setting it out each year. Eleven years ago, our first Christmas as a married couple, we found ourselves packing up and moving the day after Christmas. Somehow, in the chaos of the move, Baby Jesus was lost - we always suspected he was sucked up by the vacuum. For the next nine years, we had a Jesus-less Nativity set (how wrong is that?). Last year, Peter surprised me by carving and painting a new Jesus for the Nativity - it's perfect and now even more special!

This is also new this year, and I love it! We've never been able to figure out what we wanted to do with the top of the stairwell wall, so for the last 5 years it has been left as a bare 2 x 6 top until we don't even notice it anymore. However, I decided that this year I wanted to dress it up and I love the way it turned out. There is nothing that some greenry, ribbon, and Christmas lights can't help! Maybe 2011 will be the year we finally do something to the top of the wall!

The brick house on the left is our home - complete with snow! The house on the right is our newly purchased rental home which is currently being renovated. However, I HAD to give it some festive cheer. It's too dark to see, but I have greenry on the handrails, a wreath on the door, and if you strain you can see the Charlie Brown tree we set up in the window - complete with lights and a few ornaments. The house may be total chaos inside, but it looks holly and jolly from the street!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

[...]

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

* Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 *