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Autumn is my favorite season, but Christmas is my favorite holiday. So when I spotted Marcia's White Christmas in July at One Heart at Home, of COURSE I had to join up. And I'm so glad you're here to join in this fun happy holidays party blog post. If it's chilly where you're at, the weather is perfect. And if it's roasting, just crank up the a/c, turn on the Christmas carols, light the candles and we'll both be feeling a lot cooler and enjoying some sweet smiles, cute holiday clipart, lovely music, and fun ideas while we're in the midst of caring for elderly parents and taking care of the kids or babysitting our grandchildren (that's me đ ).
Easy crafts for kids and seniors is one of the favorite grandparent and grandkid activities around here and that's especially true at Christmas. Would you believe it, my grandchildren and I made these cute igloo foam crafts a month AFTER Christmas when I managed to snag them for about 75% off at an after-Christmas clearance sale. I never got a chance to post the pictures I shot with my handy dandy easy to use digital camera, so here they are – perfect for this White Christmas in July!
One of the things about the Sandwich Generation is that things can change dramatically in less than no time! One minute you're working peacefully amd things are going smoothly. The next minute, someone is sick and WHAM! There goes the schedule. So I've learned to plan ahead for holidays AND plan for simple and easy solutions to gift-giving and decorating. That's one of the reasons I LOVE blogging at SandwichINK. Even when life is a bit crazy and not too many decorations get put up at home, I usually manage to decorate at SandwichINK. Plus I can always find good friends with lovely decorations up and enjoy theirs. Like Caregiving.com's Progressive Holiday Blog Party every December. đ
Two of my favorite gifts for everyone, from the elderly parents and relatives in my family on down to the young grandkids are:
A "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade Scripture Calendar 2012 – full of encouraging Bible verses and lovely pictures to delight our senses. And OH MY! They are already out! Talk about making it easy to plan ahead! đ
A Christmas Music cd – full of lovely holiday praise and worship hymn songs and music
And guess what! According to New Release Tuesday, these are some of the Christmas Christian albums coming out this fall. I know my grandkids will be interested in them:
- This Is Christmas – Kutless brings Christmas cheer to your Holiday season with the classics “O Holy Night,” “Breathe of Heaven,” “Lil Drummer Boy,” “This is Christmas” and more!! Due out October 4, 2011
- The Heart Of Christmas – Matthew West returns with his first-ever Christmas album, The Heart of Christmas. Due out October 04, 2011
- Christmas In Diverse City – TobyMac returns with his first new Christmas album in 10 years. Christmas In Diverse City showcases TobyMac at his best mixing rock, pop, soul, hip-hop. Due out October 04, 2011
Hmmmm, those are definitely staying on my Christmas gift list for now. I love TobyMac and Matthew West and I have a couple of 20-somethings who enjoy Kutless immensely. đ
Christmas music gifts for the elderly parents and relatives in my family are more along the lines of The Gaithers Homecoming Christmas praise and worship albums, like Christmas with Bill & Gloria Gaither And Their Homecoming Friends. And since Christmas is definitely more fun with plenty of Christmas music, here's one of my Smilebox eCards Creations, with one of the songs from that album, just for you! đ
Another of our favorite things we often enjoy is to watch a holiday move or two. Some of my favorites include:
- Holiday Inn
- Family Man
- All 3 Santa Clauses – and I don't even do Santa Claus, but I just love the movies. đ
They are so much fun and full of happy smiles. What's your favorite holiday movie?
I think one of my absolute top favorite traditions is to get out all our nativity sets and share the Christmas story with the grandkids several times throughout the season. They love helping me tell the story as I hold each piece up and they also enjoy playing with the sets when we're done.
That's White Christmas in July for this Sandwich Generation family. Now it's your turn. What are some of your favorite holiday traditions, music, foods, etc.? We'd love to hear about it in the comments below, at Facebook, or at your site – just leave a link so we can visit. Also, be sure to visit One Heart At Home for more sweet music, great site-seeing, and plenty of party blog posts to bless and encourage all of us in the midst of elder and younger care. đ And Have a Happy and Merry White Christmas in July.
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Hi Amy, You’re very welcome – and isn’t this fun. I visited one site with the BEST collection of Christmas Carols – just kept it on for about an hour and enjoyed it thoroughly đ Have a blessed week! đ
I have a hard time getting ready for Christmas in December, never would I give it a thought now. Too, too hot. However, your presentation made me thing cool.
you know i cam for WFW, but I gotta comment here, glad to know i’m not the only one who gets excited about christmas starting in July! LOL hugs, thanks for your help today!
Hi Kaye, I’m so glad you joined in. To be honest with you, I’ve had so much fun preparing, going through my old Christmas posts and listening to the White Christmas music that my heart is full. Isn’t it great when God uses something we intend for others to bless us too? Love it.
I love those cute igloos and I am a huge Thomas Kinkade fan. I have three of his paintings in my home. One is very special which my husband purchased for me a couple of years ago for Christmas. It’s called Cobblestone Bridge. I can honestly get lost in his paintings.
I’m going to have to watch Holiday Inn sometime this Christmas season. I’m sure it’s wonderful.
Thank you again for joining in.
Love and blessings, my dear.
Thanks LV – that’s such a sweet compliment đ Have a Merry July đ
Oh Marcia – you’ve never seen it! How fun! I bet you’ll LOVE it – it has Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire and they are such a hoot – and they celebrate ALL the holidays thru the year – it’s just so much fun! Thanks again for such a fun time – I’m with you. I have had a blast listening to Christmas carols and being blessed throughout. Merry Christmas đ đ đ
Hi Kaye,
Happy White Christmas in July!!!
XO
Cindy
Hi Cindy! So fun to see you at the blog party! đ
I’ve been out working in the garden this morning…..it is hot out there! But your post (and the good ol’ AC, not to mention a long cool shower too) have totally revived me. I enjoyed your smilebox e-card and all the fun clip art. What a delight it is to come here and find this special Christmas in July post.
Thank you Kay.
Wishing you and yours a most beautiful day…..
YAY – That’s such a sweet encouragement, Robin. Especially since I’m feeling so hot right now as I’m cleaning. đ Have a blessed day as well! )
What a happy blog you have. Thanks for the visit to my WFW post and I invite you back to share in my spirit inspired theme , Reflections on the Times.. sharing Light form the scriptures on the ills that beset us in our world today. I would love to see bloggers take the challenge and share from your vast spiritual maturity helps along the way. Thanks and God bless
I was particularly interested in your topic because I’m helping my parents who are struggling with some rather significant health issues (e.g., my dad has late-stage Alzheimer’s Disease) as well as trying to raise my daughters who both have special needs.
Planning ahead and trying to get some new things made/done during the summer and fall is what helps me better enjoy the holiday season…and be able to appreciate the little things that make each day so special with my parents as well as daughters.
Merry Christmas, and I love your little igloos! Made in January or December, the best part is you made them with your kiddos.
Merry Christmas and we LOVE the Gaithers too!
Thank you Carolyn! I appreciate that so much. In fact, I’ll be touching on just that type of subject tomorrow, Sunday. đ Have a blessed week.
Amen, Ann! I am constantly planning. Of course, as I’m sure you’ve also experienced with your own Sandwich Generation family, many times those plans fall by the wayside when crises, problems, and just day to day happenings get in the way. But still, some of those plans do come to fruition and that makes it worthwhile to keep on planning for me. đ Happy White Christmas in July đ
HI Jenny, Merry White Christmas in July đ Thank you! We did have fun with those igloos – and as I drive around in 99+ and humidity I have to admit, I’m missing the snow that surrounded us as we made them. đ Have a blessed week!