I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We spent the New Year's holiday at Opryland Hotel in Nashville and had a good time. We didn't take our computers, either!

I'll be back soon with more, but I want to leave you with just a couple of pics from our trip. If you've never been to the Opryland Hotel, you may not know about the beautiful gardens they have inside the hotel. Here is a sampling of what they have planted:

This is my Christmas poem from last year. It's a tradition in our family to write one every year. And no, I haven't gotten this year's poem done yet! I hope all of you have a happy holiday!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
The lights they all twinkled and so did the spouse
No stockings, no stuffers, just one little tree
Was all that could fit in this place that we be

The cards have gone out, good tidings to all
Do we have to make that last trip to the mall?
The craft table is filled all the way to the brim
With scraps and glue and all sorts of trim

Yarn has been knitted, warm things made with it
Cookies are baking, our clothes - they won't fit!
Paper cut, stamps stamped and ink everywhere
Shows how merry our holiday is this year

And while we fill our holiday with family and cheer
We hope you, too, will always be near
To those dear to you and those you wish merry
And good tidings shall you continue to carry

For into the new year and every year after
We wish you joy and much laughter
And all good things that could possibly be
And the last thing I can wish to thee:

Have no sadness and have no fear
But have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I made a couple birthday cards to get into the mail today. They are for two teenagers of the male variety and try as I might, I'm not sure I came up with anything that they won't look at and think "how lame". You know how teenagers can be!

I would show them to you but I forgot to take pictures of them, darnit.

Instead, here's a card I made for a challenge over at The Vintage Veranda. There is always a challenge going on there, come on over and join us in the fun!

In these holiday cards, I used some leftover gift wrap. It's a shiny red and gold and I thought it would look great on a card.

I'm also keeping the canceled Christmas stamps that are coming in on the cards we're receiving. Living up to my name!

Christmas is almost here!

I can tell, because I'm receiving lots of cards to hang on my door and lots of goodies to tuck under my tree!

I've got some beautiful, handmade cards from some special people - obviously there are those who have it together this year! (I wouldn't be included in that group.)

Today I received two lovely gifts:

Christina, a fellow Angel, sent me a tub of homemade cookies. YUM! They are delicious (of course I ate some already) and what a sweet thing to do (literally)!

My secret sister sent me a gift certificate to 7 Kids College Fund. How cool is that? Now I get to go shopping! Of course since it's a secret I don't know who it's from, but thank you!

I'm still working on Christmas cards. I'm determined to send some out this year, although it's getting close enough for me to consider saving them for a head start on next year. (Is that bad of me?)

* Image from The Angel Company