Christmas Countdown - 2017

[Holiday]

Special Post Day 4​

Christmas is in my heart. It isn’t in a box under the tree, it doesn’t arrive in the mail, and it won’t be brought from a relative who comes for a visit.

Because Christmas is in my heart, it is celebrated all year long. I have Christmas in February, April, July, October and all of the months before, during, and after those listed. It isn’t a day or a season, but a state of mind. This is the way at “MMC.”

I joined MMC in Early 2009 and by Christmas that year I was really starting to become one of the gang. On December 23, 2009, it all changed for me.

That year, I kept hearing about Darlene Love Night. I had no clue what or who that was. Someone that made me laugh a lot that year, Binger, had gone on and on about Darlene Love Night. By accident, I found myself on MMC that night as David Letterman came on and thought I will find out what all of the fuss is about. Made, who joined right around the time I did (within days of each other) showed up, Binger showed up, and then Darlene Love showed up. It was magical! The Christmas Spirit had me so excited that night.

After that night, the traditions kept coming….Christmas in July, the special posts, joining everyone here on Nov. 12 around 11:00 p.m. as we bring in the season on Nov. 13, Darlene Love nights, being here at midnight on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day….

We’ve been here for the Blossoms threads, for the birth of children, plays and recitals, building cars, through tornadoes and hurricanes…..

Crown’s Countdown….

And the tough time that followed during the loss of Louann….

Those are the reasons I come here….because WE come here. We come together. A website full of family who has never seen each other but share the pains of this world and the joys of our life….

And here we are, again.

Friends….no, family….thank you for having me the past 9 Christmas seasons….I look forward to seeing some of you Nov. 12 at 11:30 EST/10 CST to ring in the season and I eagerly anticipate another magical Christmas with you this year.

Merry Christmas!

And so it comes to this….2 days until the season….

With love,
Ballcoach

Beautiful! Well said!

 

[chrimbo_bear]

Proud to be a Northerner

Oh yes the old small towns you can't find on the maps are always the best. Where are you from North ? South?

Ah, from "uup nerth"

I'm actually a Londoner, born and bred... hence why i can't wait to get over and get stuck in to the Pie, Mash & Liquor

 

[Holiday]

It's been a couple of years, since I have truly been here in spirit. There was a time to where I was here almost every day, loved it. I couldn't wait each and every day to hear from everyone and to be apart of the is family. My world came crashing down around me when I came home from work one day, to discover a note on the kitchen counter informing me that my wife of 23 years decided she did not want to be married any longer. And of course, it was right after Thanksgiving and into my Christmas. It devastated me completely. And I had both kids with me at home too.

It did take me an extremely long time to get over that, and to some degree, I know we do, but we just cannot forget those years, so the memories always are there. It also effected me, and my kids in our spirits, for celebrating Christmas. I personally shut down for the longest time and even stopped coming here.

Since those years, I went thru a lot of changes, growth and re-birth in a lot of ways. I've come to know the Lord and I became a born again Christian, I learned to forgive (not forget) but to let things go.... There is a reason for everything in our lives and I found that God has a way of taken those broken pieces of our lives and he re-shapes them into a new future, a new life for us.

I learned to love again, and I fell in love with a beautiful school teacher from Connecticut. After a year in a half of dating between Connecticut and Maryland, I packed everything up, quit my job, and I moved up here to Connecticut. We got married last month.

I'm back here on MMC, and today I felt in my heart that I really needed to do something special, so I looked at the amount on Santa's Sleigh that was short of the 1500.00 goal. And so I just made the donation of 109.00 to reach that goal of 1500.00. And I also just made a 100.00 donation to fund MMC for this month. Why, It's Love. I love the Lord, I love Christmas and I Love MMC and all that it represents in this world that we live in today.

May God Bless all of you and your families.

We are glad to have you back! ♥

 

[Holiday]

Well, the outside decorations started going up today!
Santa, sleigh and reindeer are on the roof this year!
Still a little more to do tomorrow morning. We ran out of time today to get things finished. Not much left though; two more strands of lights on the roof, some small stuff around the tree in the front yard and a couple of little things on the porch.

It was chilly today, but nice enough to be outside working. Hoping to finish up before rain sets in tomorrow.
I might make some pumpkin bread (from fresh pumpkin) tomorrow too!

So exciting!!!!

 

[Holiday]

Because I am having computer issues still and this machine will not always let me access this site, I am posting my Day 5 special post now while I can.

SPECIAL POST DAY 5

And so at last it has come down to this, Christmas season eve.
The day before the most wonderful time of the year !
So much has already been said in our special posts that I almost just wrote "what they said "

But sitting here I started thinking, what is the best thing about Christmas ?

Is it the music?
Is it he gifts ?
Is it the meeting of friends and family over a special meal ?
Is it spending time here with such an amazing group of folks that have not met in person, but certainly met in hearts ?
Just what is it that we love so much about the whole Christmas season?

For me it would be the reminder that a little baby born in a cold, dark, smelly barn, whose first crib was a cows feeding trough grew up to bring life and love to everyone who is willing to accept His gift so freely given.

So let us enter into this wonderful time of the year with hearts full of wonder like that of a child. Let us always be kind and gracious to everyone. Give from the heart not just now but all year long. For it is this spirit that makes Christmas truly special, all year long !

See you all on the other side !!!

Thanks CS! Another wonderful post!!!

 

[MerryCarey]

To be honest, I don't listen to Christmas music on the radio anymore. Just too many commercial interruptions and too many modern rock-based songs.
I have my recorded collection of several hundred old-time Christmas music selections (think Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Percy Faith orchestra, Glen Miller band, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, etc.)
I play that on my computer at home and use an MP3 player in my car.

Your Christmas music opinions sound a lot like mine (right down to the selection of artists! although I have a little bit of everything ranging from 1894 to 2016). I listen almost exclusively to my own collection during the season. In my digital library alone I have over 2,000 Christmas tracks. That doesn't count the CDs, LPs, and cassettes that Mr. and I have. It's ridiculous that every year I wind up buying even more Christmas music! I just can't get enough.

(I think of you when Percy Faith pops up in the shuffle!)

 

[MerryCarey]

I’m with you to an extent. I listen to my playlists far more than the radio. For some reason, though, there’s just something exciting to me that first day the station flips!

I’ll have to check out Percy Faith Christmas! Thanks for the tip.

It's an orchestra with a lot of lush arrangements, some including a choir ... lots of strings. If you heard them at Christmastime while growing up, they stick with you!

 

[Puternut]

Well I'm getting excited, cooler temps this week means get up in the hot attic space and get all lawn items down and get our display set up, but first tomorrow I mow the lawn for the last time for several months. Yea!

 

[Holiday]

Afternoon all!! Christmas lights got you down? Heave em out the garage door!!...and hit the neighbor as he sneaks up wondering what all the cussing is about!!--- true story

OOPS!

 

[Holiday]

View attachment 40729

She's lucky she's cute!! We're getting the real tree next Friday and I just hope she stays away from that one! (Yea right! Haha!)

OMGosh!! SO stinking cute!!!

 

[MerryCarey]

Lol..I have been watching instructional videos on Youtube for crochet.

That's a great way to learn! If I get stuck on something, I can usually find a video demonstrating a particular stitch or technique.

 

[MerryCarey]

Merry Christmas season to all on MMC....Everyone across the pond must be getting excited about Thanksgiving..Enjoy your build up to your Holiday guys

Thanks! One week from Thursday!
Our workplace is also having a Thanksgiving potluck on the 21st ... they provide the turkey, stuffing, and gravy, and the employees supply everything else. We've been doing it for a few years, and it's always quite an extensive spread!

 

[Christmasplease]

A very pleasant morning to one and all. Was sleeping during the countdown and now I'm taking a break from cleaning my garage. Yes, even at 1AM, there are things that I can be doing. The Halloween crate has been stowed away and the Thanksgiving one is off to the side for storage in a mere eleven days. Some of the Christmas boxes (or very large plastic totes) are coming out so I can see what is available this year and while the wife and daughter are sleeping, I may finish the lights on one of the trees (that one will be all green this season).
One of the things I love most about Christmas, besides the most important in our Savior's birth, is the way it affects and causes change within so many. You can hear it in the songs, view it in the writings, feel it in the generous spirit and of course see it in the eyes of both young and old alike. The magic, the wonder, the joy, the peace we feel are but a few of the presents all who truly believe in this time of year receive freely. What gift from a store could possibly equal it?
I actually feel sorry for those who view it as only once a year or take offense at the early arrival. Over commercialization has indeed ruined it for some, but those who carry it all year round in their hearts see past the greed and those who would try to encompass every manufactured product under the banner of Christmas. We know and understand better than many, to our joy and their unknown loss.
So to each, a very happy holiday season and whether you still have Thanksgiving to look forward to our if it has passed, the best, as they say, it yet to come...
View attachment 40738

Lovely!!!

 

[MerryCarey]

Happy New Week and First Monday of the Season!

I took today as a vacation day, hoping to do some Christmas recording, but some sort of construction hammering and banging is going on across the street. I'll have to find something else Christmas to do. Shouldn't be hard!

 

[Christmasplease]

** CHRISTMAS SEASON DAY 1 **

Gooooood Morning, Guys!

Hey! Christmas Season 2017. It is here. We are in it.
Hallelujah!

But the count goes on.
(Albeit shortened by one line.)
Days to Thanksgiving: 10 (SINGLE DIGITS FROM TOMORROW!)
Days to Christmas Day: 42 (Six weeks from TODAY!)

Getting close to that Gobble. (And the parade!)


Still rather chilly here yesterday but the sun was out and no precipitation fell.
Today, we should climb up close to 60, but it is coming with with some rain.
Right now, we are at 46 wet degrees to begin day one of the Season.


Have a Marvelous Monday, Everyone.
And a Stupendous Start to Christmas Season 2017!

Thanks you for the fun countdown lastnight Crown!!!!!

 

[NcGunny]

That's a great way to learn! If I get stuck on something, I can usually find a video demonstrating a particular stitch or technique.

If I learn I want to make one of those 3 ft. stocking hats.

 

[Christmasplease]

Good morning MMC!!! Merry Christmas Season!!

I'm looking forward to catching up on the special posts & the countdown! I fell asleep on the couch last night & woke up at 11:45 - my 1st thought was to log on for the countdown, but I was just too sleepy!!!!
My sunroom tree is up & decorated, & so far Little Lu has let it alone! xx I loved yesterday ~ Christmas music cranked through the house, decorating. Then I sat by the tree & watched Garfield Thanksgiving & then Hallmark Christmas movies. That's was a good Sunday Funday!!

View attachment 40749
I want to go back & do it all over again! Ah well - Monday, Monday!

Have a good Monday everyone!!!

Very nice Holiday!!

 

[MerryCarey]

If I learn I want to make one of those 3 ft. stocking hats.

Now I have to find a pattern for one of those ...
It should just be a long tube shape, with decreases at the top.

 

[NcGunny]

 

[prancer]

So exciting!!!!