Merry Christmas!

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, 

and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, 

and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, 

which enlightens everyone, 

was coming into the world.
He was in the world, 

and the world was made through him,

 yet the world did not know him.
He came to his own, 

and his own people did not receive him.
But to all who did receive him, 

who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, 

not of blood 

nor of the will of the flesh 

nor of the will of man, 

but of God.
And the Word became flesh 

and dwelt among us, 

and we have seen his glory, 

glory as of the only Son from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.  

(John 1: 1 - 5, 9 - 14)

For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only Son,

 that whoever believes in him 

should not perish 

but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world

 to condemn the world, 

but in order that the world 

might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe

 is condemned already, 

because he has not believed 

in the name of the only Son of God. 

(John 3: 15 - 18)

Christmas Ornaments

This is my second attempt at writing this blog post.  I almost had it written when Blogger decided to stop working, and then when I went back to edit it, I had two with the same title and inadvertently deleted both of them!  I started again, but the information I needed was downstairs and I didn't want to make the trip down to retrieve it, especially after I sprained my ankle!  That's my story, and I am sticking to it. 
My husband was released from the hospital on November 23 after a long 18-1/2 day stay.  Recovery from a stem cell transplant is very slow, and although Phil has regained a bit of strength (e.g., going up the stairs is now somewhat easier than the first time he did it after being released), he has a long way to go.  We have to go to the lab for blood tests twice a week, as well as going to see various doctors whenever they say.  We can also be called to the hospital at any time should Phil need fluids or blood products.  This week we have two doctors appointments on top of the visits to the lab, and the possibility of a transfusion of red blood cells is a real possibility.

I haven't had a lot of time, energy, or motivation to do much.  I did manage to stitch and finish the yearly ornaments for my children, as well as finishing a couple of other ornaments I stitched last year.

Grace and Anthony adopted a dog mid-summer, a cute Corgi named Amelie.  Naturally, I had to choose an ornament for them with a dog on it.  I did change the shape a bit as well as the coloring so it would look more like Ami.

A Dog's Christmas is by Elizabeth's Designs and I found it in the Just Cross Stitch 2007 Ornament issue.

In August, our daughter, Sarah, adopted Posie, a wild lively cat during our local Humane Society's free cat adoption event.

(I am sorry the picture is so washed out!)  I don't have the name of the design, but it is by Brittercup Designs, and is from the 2010 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Preview issue (July/August).

I hope to be back soon with even more pictures to share!