Merry Christmas!

This beautiful painting is part of the collection of Spanish colonial art at the Denver Art Museum which I visited recently The oil painting with gold filigree, by Peruvian artist Ignacio Chacon circa 1765, is titled "Madonna and Child with Bird."

If it looks familiar it is because the image was selected by the United States Postal Service for the 2006 stamp Christmas stamp! The theme of each traditional U.S. Christmas stamp issued since 1978 has been the Madonna and Child, and according to the postal service web site these holiday stamps have attracted a devoted following over the years. I know I always choose them for my holiday stamps.

Also in the Denver Art Museum collection is this painting titled " Adoration of the Shepherds" by Nicolas Rodriguez Juarez, Mexico, circa 1675. I just loved the ornate wood panel the canvas was mounted on.

My family's Nativity creche circa 1974. It was one of the first Christmas items we purchased as newlyweds.

I received a beautiful e-mail Christmas card from Abby Press , an online store for religious and inspirational gifts where I have purchased gifts many times over the years, which contained the following sentiment that I'd like to share with all of you:

"This Christmas... Let's Give a Little Jesus, a thoughtful word or deed,

An act of generosity for someone who's in need.

Let's Give a Little Jesus to everyone we meet--

The salesclerk or the server, the person on the street.

Let's Give a Little Jesus, that's what really counts--

Not what's spent or bought, for whom, in what amounts.

Let's Give a Little Jesus to everyone, large or small...

For Jesus, the Messiah, is the Greatest Gift of All!"

--Lisa O. Engelhardt.

My 2009 Christmas tree!

Merry Christmas from my house to yours!

Santa cookie jar --a gift from my husband a few Christmases ago.

The Joy of Giving

"Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you;
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to make you glad."

~ John Greenleaf Whittier

I would like to thank everyone who visits a very blessed and Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2010!

Thank you for your kind interest, comments and encouragements on my blog and also for sharing a bit of yourselves on your blogs. It has been a wonderful and enriching experience to make blog friends all around the country and the world. I've learned so much from all of you and I appreciate all you do!

One of my favorite ornaments.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

~Charles Dickens