Christmas Blessings

Only 4 more days 'till Christmas!! My little ones are busy counting down the days.  You can almost see Emma shaking with anticipation as she tries to think of something else but you know her mind is on that chubby red clad fellow who will be whisking presents through the air for all the good boys and girls!  In the evening we try to turn their attention at least for a moment toward the true reason for Christmas.  In our Christian Catholic faith this holiday represents one of the most holy days of the year second only to Easter, this is the day when the light of the world was born! Jesus Christ!!
We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of what in essence is good spirited, buying gifts, cooking meals, baking all sorts of goodies, keeping up with other festive commitments and sometimes we get caught in a whirlwind of activity that we scant have a moment to sit and BE in the moment or to LIVE the season and all its wonder.  So in the evening as we try to reign the girls in from their Christmas lists to Santa, we actually manage to reign ourselves in for a little while too.  We sit and talk about the different events that led up to the birth of Christ, what our Christian traditions are and our family traditions and how together they help us to relive what that special moment must have been like more than 2,000 years ago.  The girls are amazed and filled with a special wonder for a few moments before they drift off to sleep. 
It is in those quiet moments when all is still that I can run my fingers through their fine hair and take an account of all the blessing in our lives.  I am thankful for so much.  My faith, my family and friends and our health.  But this year amongst all those blessings that I have counted are our sheep our beautiful gentle Icelandic sheep.  I am ever so thankful that the Lord has placed them in my care.  They enrich our lives in countless ways and this being our first Christmas with them I will count them as EXTRA special Blessings!
There is something that moves me from within, the knowing that somehow in this life's journey I became a Shepherdess, just like those Shepherds thousands of years ago.  Somehow I was given the privilege of being a steward of these special creatures.  So, in the day to day I know I don't think of them this way as often as I should but...tonight I pause and reflect that they are part of ALL the many Christmas Blessings we have been bestowed this year and we are eternally grateful. Enjoy the pictures!!

May you all have a very blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.  For my non christian friends...enjoy your own faith traditions and may you too take a moment and enjoy your blessings.

Sandy
Shepherdess

 Arna the regal elf

 Eliza Jane

Four of our little blessings.

Wet Felting During The Snow Storm

We had at least 26 inches of snow! It was so cool to see the sheep...at least the first couple of days, attempting to find a blade of grass but by the the third day of falling snow they kept under cover in their little barns.  I wasn't able to get any pictures of the wonderful scene.  I'm hoping that under such close quarters...babies are in the making! ;)

But what else to do to keep busy but play with more fleece! This time around I wet felted a small hand bag and a small pouch.  So much fun!!  Still need to add a strap on the yellow one and a clasp  on the little pouch. Let me know what you think? And please post some pictures of projects any of you have made, would love to see them!