It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas....

I let the kids place the ornaments this year and I haven't even changed the placement! Imagine that! They did a great job, even if the sides of the tree are a little bare.

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney with Care.... Last year, I finally broke down and bought everyone matching stockings. Don't you just love Pottery Barn?! I have to admit that every time I look at them they make me smile. Kaden and Lauren chose their own motifs. Of all things, Kade chose the Christmas Tree.

My dining room table. I saw a similar look at Crate & Barrel and fell in love with the blingy glittery trees. Looks pretty, but a little impracticable when we need to seat more than our breakfast nook can fit.

Our collection of nutcrackers and smokers from Germany. I had the dentist nutcracker and smoker custom made for Kevin by the cutest little German woodworker. He was truly a master at his craft! For those of you wondering what a "smoker" is, it is the little dentist guy up on the chest right in front of the "Home" sign. To learn the history of German Smokers and what they represent click here.

This is one of my favorite paintings of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. It was painted by a very talented artist and my dear friend Megan Rieker. It is part of her religious series "Women of Inspiration". She has many beautiful paintings and her prints are available on her site.

I actually had the pleasure to sit for Megan as a model for one of her paintings titled, "Mother: a Precious and Chosen Vessel". My Kaden is the little boy seated with me on the sofa. I am also 38 weeks pregnant with Lauren in the painting, hence the large, beautiful belly! :)

"This painting made it into the competition held every 3 years by the Museum of Church History and Art and was subsequently displayed at the museum in 2006 and printed in the August edition of the "Ensign" magazine.

The painting, although belonging to the "Women of Inspiration" series, differs due to the fact that it portrays an ideal instead of a specific woman in the history of religion. The concept being portrayed is that women - and especially mothers - are constantly giving of themselves. The term "A Precious and Chosen Vessel" is taken from the description given of Mary, the Mother of Christ, and is used here to show that those who choose motherhood are precious tools for our Father in Heaven.

There are other side-stories in this diptych ( a double painting ) that the viewer can read in many ways. In the biblical portrait, there is a man drawing water in the background, and in the modern day portrait, there is a painting of Christ with children. There is also a single light source coming from the window that reaches through both paintings, and also there is the fact that the families, although slightly different, are in a mirror image of one another, although one is dealing with physical sustenance and the other with spiritual sustenance. Throughout time the role of "Mother" has remained constant: a nourisher, comforter, teacher, and caretaker. She is the vessel through which God may do his work - be it physically or spiritually, in so many ways she will be his hands on earth. This is why women must choose to partake of only the best... so they, in turn can give the best to others..." http://www.meganrieker.com/