Nov. 7th ~ Movie... Christmas on Holly Lane

I have my favorite Christmas Movies.  You can read about some of them on previous posts here.  Some haven't been written about yet.  I was pleasantly surprised to add a new movie to my list of favorites.

Christmas on Holly Lane

It was warm, inviting and showed how the love of three friends could overcome multiple obstacles.

Watch the Trailer on YouTube here.

I was reminded that opening up your home to those you love might mean squishing up some but the rewards are tremendous!

Check it out.  It's on Freevee right now.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Favorite Christmas Movies ~ Journey Back to Christmas

Have you seen this movie?  I just love it.  I love time travel movies and this is such a good one.

A WWII era nurse is transported in time to 2016 and meets a man who helps her discover the bonds of family and that the true meaning of Christmas is timeless.  You can read about it here.

A comet is involved.

Candace Cameron Bure and Tom Skerritt are in the movie and Hallmark made it.  Need I say more?  It's good.  Here's the preview...Journey Back to Christmas.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Christmas Preparations ~ Favorite Books Pt. 1

I love books.  I'm to the point I can't bring any more books into the house until I give some away - a real dilemma for me.  I've had some books for years - umm, decades.

One of my favorites for Christmas time is "The Christmas Lover's Handbook".  It's full of ideas, craft how to's, recipes, patterns, poems and more.  No matter what - I've never let go of this book.  I'm pleased to see you can still buy it.

  

Another book - "new to me" but not new - is
"The Whole Christmas Catalogue".



The introduction states..."The Whole Christmas Catalogue is designed to help you and your family experience the holiday at its best.  We have included stories and poems that can be read aloud to young children, Christmas carols for the whole family to sing, and crafts and recipes to personalize the festivities."

Once again patterns, recipes, history, beautiful photographs and sheet music!  I believe this "new to me" book will be a keeper also.

What are some of YOUR favorite books as we look forward to and prepare for Christmas?

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

A few thoughts...

1) Last night's sky was a different color for me - almost looked dirty (brownish-gray)

2) It's "Frankincense on my Face" day. Ahhh! To see how I use Frankincense on my Face visit my YouTube channel. I have a "How To" video posted.

To try Frankincense yourself, contact me or follow this link.

3) I'm gaining ground on my "be ready for Christmas before my Music Director hat is firmly in place for the Christmas season" goal.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

We Three Kings ~ Frankincense and Myrrh

Today was the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.  The Three Kings joined us at our Nativity Manger.

Photo by Robert Thiemann on Unsplash

I brought my Young Living Frankincense and Myrrh with me today.  I enjoyed passing the essential oils around to enrich our celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Reflections as we near Christmas Eve

As we near Christmas Eve and I prepare my music notebook for multiple services (4 Masses, Children's Choir performance & 1 adult Choir Concert between the hours of 5pm Christmas Eve & 11am Christmas Day)...I'm reflecting on some things.

1st - A lot of prayer and preparation has gone into the upcoming services. We've rehearsed, we've tweaked and we've discussed the best way to minister to the people. I will rest in the fact that we're prepared.

2nd - We're making memories and reviving memories for others as well as for ourselves. People often tell me they always went to Midnight Mass as a child with their families, their grandparents, etc. We're ready to continue the tradition to worship Christmas Eve - at Midnight.

3rd - We're a better team because we'll have another Christmas "under our belt" by 11am Christmas Day.

Most importantly of all - I'm peaceful in the knowledge that my Heavenly Father can take my meager efforts and touch the hearts of others. I don't know what others need but God does. He loves us as no one else can. John 3:16 says it best - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son..."

Thanks for visiting & Merry Christmas! Reia

Coupons and Savings ~ Starbucks eGift Offer

Loads of Good Deals coming out now.  Here's one from Starbucks...

"Enjoy a $5 Starbucks Card eGift when you purchase three (3) qualifying Starbucks® products where you buy groceries (in one single transaction). It's just that easy to do."

https://starbucks.promo.eprize.com/offer3/

Fine print & details:  "Offer valid for purchases between 8/15/16 - 1/9/17.

Receipts can be submitted up until to 1/31/17.

To get your Starbucks Card eGift, purchase any three packages of Starbucks^® packaged coffee (10 oz or larger), Starbucks^® or Tazo^® K-Cup^® packs (10 ct. or 16 ct.), Starbucks VIA^® Instant Coffee (5 ct. or larger), Tazo^® Tea Filterbags or Tazo^® Tea Latte Concentrates, Frappuccino^® Chilled Coffee Drink (4-pack), Starbucks Doubleshot^® Drinks (4-pack), Starbucks^® Hot Cocoa (8-packs), or Starbucks^® Iced Coffee (4-pack) in a single transaction where you buy groceries."

 Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Thankful for ~ my St. Stephen Catholic Church Family

I've been at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Hinesville, GA since September 2010.  I haven't missed a Sunday since arriving.  I've fallen in love with the people and what they do.

Let me tell you a few reasons why...

1)  It's happening now - Thanksgiving Boxes.  Paper bags with items needed are on a table in the Narthex.  Paper bags containing the items needed are constantly being brought back.  In a few weeks the youth will fill the multitude of boxes with the items to make a full Thanksgiving Dinner (to include the turkey).  Many families will be blessed.  That's huge to me!

2)  As soon as the Thanksgiving Boxes go to needy homes - the Angel Tree will be up. These same giving people that filled the Thanksgiving Boxes will take paper angels off the tree and go buy the items families need for Christmas.  It's all secret so dignity is kept.  We had a really rough year a few years ago and were recipients of the Angel Tree.  I can't tell you how much help it was.

3)  Christmas at St. Stephen's - is meaningful and beautiful!  While it's a marathon for me as the Music Director, it's keeps the miracle of Christmas ever present.

Rehearsals leading up to our Joint Choir Christmas Concert and then the Masses begin.  Children's Christmas Eve Mass at 5pm, Concert before Midnight Christmas Eve Mass begins, Christmas Eve Mass, Christmas Day Mass, St. Stephen Day on the 26th (The song Good King Wenceslas makes more sense now), Sunday Masses then a break until two Masses on New Years' Eve and New Year's Day Mass.  Whew!  We sing a LOT from Dec. 24th through Jan. 1st!

St. Stephen Catholic Church - is full of loving, giving people that accepted me over five (5) years ago and allowed me to "jump in" and give along with them.  I've just mentioned two (2) months worth of activities.  There are many more...Winterfest, Youth Group, Craft Days, the Meditation Garden, Men's Club providing us Boston Butts and Chicken Dinners as fundraisers and a lot more.

Thanks for visiting and feel free to visit St. Stephen Catholic Church in person.  You'll find me at the keyboard above - my special little corner of the world.  Reia

Angels and Ornaments ~ the Questions I Would Ask...

One of the Hallmark Christmas movies that was new to me last year was "Angels and Ornaments" .  I watched it over & over and it's stayed on my mind a lot.  This movie always brings up a lot of thoughts and emotions for me.

What I wouldn't give to have my grandparents around at the age I am now.

As a passionate genealogist - I remember the portraits that hung in my paternal grandmother's home.  I saw them every week, I knew they were family and now they're a blur.  I never even asked who they were.

My maternal grandmother lost her mother when she was 8 years old.  I know that resulted in a drastic change for her life.  I only discovered this recently as I worked on that branch of my family tree.

My youngest daughter remarks often on the amount of questions I'm capable of asking.   My answer is - "Intelligent minds want to know". 

So as I watch this movie of a grandfather that never got to know his child or his granddaughter, I'm reminded of my own grandparents and how much they meant to me, the role they played in my life and the questions I wish I could ask them.  May I be the grandparent my grandchildren need - now and after I'm gone.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Hallmark Movies ~ Worth the Work!

I've really enjoyed the Hallmark Movies this weekend.  I've laughed and I've cried.  I've fallen in love with Christmas all over again.  I've also realized...they offer the chance to work through some tough emotions and allow for healing.

I've always believed in facing the tough things rather than run from them - this weekend of movies has affirmed my beliefs.  Face the grief, face the pain, face the lost dreams and go from there.

The movies I enjoyed this weekend were - A Bride For Christmas, A Princess For Christmas, Angels Sing, The Christmas Ornament, Christmas Magic and Christmas with Holly.

It's worth working through the emotions - getting to the other end is so worth it!

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

The Reason for the Season ~ Great Reminder

I love Facebook!  I'm on Faceboook nearly 24/7 watching for news from my children - pictures of my grandchildren, etc.

Today was an interesting day on Facebook.  My "friends and family" posted some amazing things.  One stood out and caused me to pause for a while.

Yep!  That's what it's all about.  That's why I spend so much of my waking time working on songs, arrangements, etc.  Thank you special friend for sharing this!

Extreme Christmas Trees ~ a "Must See"!

My Ginger of Literally Inspired "liked" something on Facebook today that reminded me of a show I recently watched.  If you love Christmas like I do, I bet you'll enjoy the show. (I streamed it on Netflix but I believe TLC is going to show it again soon.)

It's "Extreme Christmas Trees" on TLC.  A sneak preview can be found here.  (I took a screen shot of my Netflix account page to get the picture to show you.)

One of the places featured is just 60 miles away from us.  It's Brunswick Manor in Brunswick, Georgia.  I really want to visit it now and at Christmas, of course!

Hope you enjoy the show and thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Christmas Movies ~ What Fun!

Tonight's been a night of Christmas movies!  I love this time of the year - so many good movies to watch!  These are "Reia tested & approved".  So feel free to watch and enjoy!

A Golden Christmas 2

A Golden Christmas 3

A Christmas Kiss

Holiday Road Trip - couldn't find a picture but here's a picture of Patrick Muldoon - the male star of this movie.

I've had a good evening of Christmas movies - hopefully you'll enjoy them also.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Advent and Christmas ~ it's almost here!

It's time to prepare for Advent and Christmas.  As the new Music Director of our local Catholic Church I've gone back and forth with ideas.

I know I want it to be different from the past because - well - things have changed.  There are so many songs in our new Purple "United in Christ" book that we haven't explored yet.  So...first thing...make a cd of the songs we haven't sung before since that's the best way to rehearse when we can't formally rehearse often.

I'm not sure if you'll know any of them but here's the list of the songs and the YouTube links for the songs that we haven't sung before.

  by  roger4336 

Advent Songs

Awake, O Sleeper - 266

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Byh3ElOl_Q

A Voice Cries Out – 271  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY04L2j0WbI

The Advent of Our King – 272

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9yEQOdBFow

People, Look East – 274

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbfKd5u8gmI

Every Valley – 276

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBndmHyuicg

Creator of the Stars of Night – 277

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOXOE2caXpo

Save Us, O Lord – 280

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVMAklBA7ps

The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns – 285

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWxBIIm84xE

O Come, Divine Messiah - 288

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOIQAICNeIw

(By the way - Advent's all about a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.)  I'm looking forward to Advent ~  I'll keep you posted about what we decide to sing from the list above.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Christmas Gifts After Christmas ~ That's ME!

In 2011 - after reading "You Can Do it! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grownup Girls" - my

  daughter (Ginger from www.literallyinspired.com) encouraged her readers to earn their "Quit It" Merit Badge.

I jumped on board and earned mine.  (I wrote about it here.)  I chose 5 things to "Quit".  The 3rd item I "Quit" is below:

"3 - I'm going to "Quit" feeling bad that my family never gets their cards and gifts before their birthdays and holidays. I don't like my children disappointed and the "Nurturer" within me knows...after the envelopes and the wrapping paper have gone into the trash, my family has something to look forward to - one more gift or card - from me."

I'm writing this because I finally got packages out to my granddaughters and my nieces and nephews last week.  I made the boxes festive and filled them with little things from my heart plus some Christmas Crackers that I've fallen in love with.

My daughter sent me the following picture to show how much they enjoyed their packages.

My granddaughters hugging the Rapunzel ornament and Minnie Mouse ornament I sent.

I'm thankful that I "Quit" feeling bad about sending gifts late.  It was so much fun to know my family had something to open and enjoy when life had returned to normal.

Is there anything that YOU want to "Quit"?

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Fireplace for Your Home ~ Virtually

You never know what's going to trip someone's "Happy" trigger (mine included).  I've got to admit, I have been streaming the following videos a LOT recently because they DID trip my "Happy" trigger.  I want to share them with you.

I found most of these on Amazon Instant Video and one (1) on Netflix Streaming.  They run about an hour in length.

(If you don't have Amazon Prime, they can be purchased and kept in your Amazon video library for just a few dollars.)

Fireplace for Your Home - the fire "crackles" as it "burns" on your tv.

(Netflix Streaming has this version with 2 episodes.  The 1st episode just "crackles".  The 2nd episode "crackles" plus plays Christmas music.)

Fireplace for Your Home Christmas Music Edition

(In my Southern fireplace-challenged home - I have enjoyed this version often this year.)

The Merry Yule Log

There are more but these have been my favorites so far this year.

Now - last but not least - it's 31 minutes of "pretty cool".

Aquarium for Your Home - Goldfish

These videos have made me smile and even relax a little.  They have definitely brought me a lot of enjoyment.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to try them out.

Reia