TELL ME A STORY

TELL ME A STORY
"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3
Showing posts with label Jesus' Birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus' Birthday. Show all posts

Sunday, December 1, 2013

JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS: Bank & Birthdays

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


2013 JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS:
 Bank & Birthdays

Ever wonder where Santa does his banking?

Do you have a Christmas Birthday?

 Today's true story is from my friend, Diane.
Diane and I grew up in Liberty, Missouri.
We graduated in 1967, from Liberty High School.

Diane and Her Grandson.  Copyright 2013 Diane Cottingham Justice

 Thank you, Diane, for sharing your wit and wisdom!

Santa's Bank & Christmas Birthdays



I didn't think I had a Christmas story to share until your Santa blog made me remember this. 

We moved to the little town of Calais, Maine, when my son, London, was five and my daughter, Alexis was three years old.

 Calais, Maine
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=mcafee&va=Calais%2C+Maine


 A man who worked at the Machias branch of our little bank had the white hair & beard and other physical attributes of Santa

He would dress up and visit our branch once a year to see the lucky children of customers. 

I told my children that our bank was the closest to the North Pole and Santa came there to do his US banking

Machias, Maine 
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=mcafee&va=machias+maine

Because it was a little town, he could remember the children from year to year, and call them by name. He commented on how they had grown.  

He remembered that our daughter, Alexis, was born on Christmas Day, and talked to her about the privilege of sharing a birthday with Jesus

Because of him, my children really believed. Other children would try to enlighten them, but they knew better.

Alexis and London Justice.  Copyright 2013 Diane Cottingham Justice

My mother's birthday is the day after Christmas and she gave my daughter, Alexis, an article by Erma Bombeck about Christmas birthdays.
By
 Diane Cottingham Justice


THANK YOU, Diane, for sharing your story.

Erma Bombeck was one of my favorite writers!

Where Did Christmas Go?
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
Erma Bombeck 
http://www.milkyspit.com/articles/bombeck-where-did-christmas-go.html




2-for-1 HOLIDAY OFFER: CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAYS
BY ERMA BOMBECK
 


Happy Birthday, Jesus - and Aunt Martha and my cousin Dede, and everyone else that was born on this day.

The savior excepted, I think I know what the rest of you birthday babies are thinking.
All your gifts are wrapped in Christmas paper - as usual.
Most of the family has already whispered in your ear, "I bought you one BIG gift for both occasions."
Your Christmas cards have a P.S. on them: "Happy Birthday."
Your favorite cake is chocolate but you will get a white one with white icing, trimmed in red.
If you hear one more person say, "What a bummer to be born on Christmas," you'll slap him.
There are never any balloons on this day, only reindeer and poinsettias.
You are rarely surrounded by your friends at a party because they are at home celebrating Christmas.
My gift to you is a birthday column that is for people born on this day.
Why do you suppose you were chosen to share the most celebrated birthday in the history of Christianity?
There are 364 other days to choose from, but you were chosen to enter the world on a day when peace and joy reign.
It's the best time to enter a world. Truces are sometimes called during wars - old prejudices and hatreds are put aside - and people who have never done so before reach out to one another.
No one could plan a bigger celebration of your birth. The streets are lined with Christmas greenery.
Houses glow in the light of a million candles, and the anticipation of the day is almost more than a child can stand.
Whenever I hear of a person born on Christmas, he becomes special to me. Babies are always gifts, but to have an infant placed in your arms on this anniversary cannot help but invite memories of Mary holding her newborn for the first time with no less wonderment.
I think Christmas babies feel it too. Their birthday culminates in a season of magic. There has been no Bozo the clown doing magic tricks, no catered party complete with noisemakers, no planes in the sky spelling out their names in smoke.
It is a day when the world turns kind.
I share a birthday in February with Rue McClanahan and Tyne Daly. It doesn't get a whole lot of attention...but then Silent Night, Holy Night is not our birthday song. 
.

Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

 

Saturday, November 23, 2013

JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS 2013: CHRISTMAS CARDS/FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

CLICK on images to enlarge.

JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS 2013

What's your favorite Christmas tradition?

Do you send Christmas cards either through snail mail - or email greetings and facebook postings?   

I do all three, and not just because I'm a first-born-overachiever.  

It's my heart's desire to reach out to as many people as possible with the Good News that God sent us a Savior.   
What do you talk about in your Christmas letter?

Vacations?  
Awards?  
Promotions?  
Problems?
Probably not.

Some people are lonely during the holidays.  Some are overcome with sadness because of  health struggles, family problems, job issues and loss of loved ones.  

No one is immune.  

We all need prayer
and tangible demonstrations 
of love and support.   

CLICK to ENLARGE.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood
Each year I create our family Christmas cards with family photos, my songs, and messages of what God has whispered to me throughout that year.


I love to give and receive Christmas cards 


Christmas Eve our family spreads the cards we have received on the floor under the Christmas tree.  

We take turns reading each card aloud.  

Some years this has taken one hour!  

It's like all those who send cards and photos are with us on Christmas Eve.

JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS 2011.  Editor:  Marcia Norwood


Then we read or recite the Christmas Story, from The Holy Bible 
Luke, Chapter 2
and finally we open gifts.




We celebrate the FUN Christmas (Santa Claus, Gift-giving, Elves, Snowmen, etc.) and the REAL ChristmasJesus' Birthday.
  

Christmas 2007:   Grandson Joshua's Baptism at Lake of the Ozarks.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood  Note:  Pastor Joey (in this photo) went to Heaven this week.  He'll spend Christmas 2013 in Heaven with Jesus. 
Do you take family photos as a keepsake or for your holiday cards?



  Copyright  2001 Marcia Norwood
I make my children and grandchildren dress up in matching/coordinating outfits and pose for our Annual Family Photo Shoot.  Sometimes - they even have fun!

Here are samples of our family photos that might inspire you to take some of your own photos, or confirm your convictions not to. 


Christmas 2013
Theme:  "What Does the Fox Say?" 

Have you heard the song, "What Does the Fox Say?"
Did you see the stars dance to the song 
on "Dancing With the Stars?"
Le Moyne College - Blog Main Control 
I purchased berets and scarves 
for a French "Joyeux Noel" photo shoot - 
but my girls rejected that idea.

We compromised on the FOX theme. 
 
 COPYRIGHT 2013 Marcia Norwood

Dancing With the STARS:  "What Does the Fox Say?"
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KIo.CKN5FS3RgA9w77w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTByZWc0dGJtBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMQ--?p=dancing+with+the+stars+what+did+the+fox+say&vid=7f6fefe4e854130877f497f888334621&l=2%3A44&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4554629370806797%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5UZWPwzyWbM&tit=What+Does+The+Fox+Say+-+Dancing+With+The+Stars&c=0&sigr=11at7r6hc&sigt=11e5fqki2&pstcat=arts+culture+and+entertainment&age=0&&tt=b


Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood



Daughter Faith.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Daughter Faith.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood






Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood




"Through The Portal."  Sarah, Megan and Faith.  Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood



Christmas 2012
Theme:  "The Church Mouse" 
According to the narration in the "Silent Mouse", the true story of the famous Christmas carol "Silent Night Holy Night" started in a little town in Austria where a chain of strange events happened on Christmas Eve. According to the story this carol was miraculously created by a poor church mouse when it walked over a blanked music sheet and its little paws imprinted their marks on the paper, thus the carol "Silent Night, Holy Night" was composed.
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdcdXWBHJi4

Daughter Faith holds Izzy Belle.   Granddaughter Megan holds Daisy Duke.  Daughter Sarah holds Pearl Ming Zhu.  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood.

Daughter Faith, Granddaughter Megan, Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

Daughter Faith, Granddaughter Megan, Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood


Daughter Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

Daughter Faith Fu Ju and Izzy Belle (Schnoodle)  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

Izzy Belle (Schnoodle)  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

Daughters Sarah & Faith, Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood


Granddaughter Megan Jewell and Daisy Duke (Chinese Crested/Chihuahua)  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

Granddaughter Megan Jewell:  "Another Family Photo Shoot?!"
  
Daughter Sarah and Pearl Ming Zhu (Peek-A-Poo) Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

  
Granddaughter Megan, Daughters Faith and Sarah.  Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood

Christmas 2011
Theme:  "GARDEN WITHIN:  POINSETTIAS" 

The girls each chose their favorite dress,
and posed for me at Farrand Farms.
Look for a greenhouse in your area for your family photo shoot!
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://farrandfarms.com/ 
   
Daughter Sarah, Granddaughter Megan Jewell, Daughter Faith.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood


Daughter Faith, Granddaughter Megan, Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

Daughter Faith, Granddaughter Megan, Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

Charlies' Angels?!  My Angels!  Faith, Sarah and Megan.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

Granddaughter Megan Jewell.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

Granddaughter Megan Jewell.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood


Daughter Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

 
Daughter Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood




Daughter Sarah ZK  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood
  

Daughter Sarah ZK  Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood


Granddaughter Megan Jewell.   Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood


  Christmas 2010
Theme:  
"Christmas Kisses & A Cup of Christmas Cheer" 

My girls dressed in PJ's, scarves and plaid Christmas hats.





  COMBINATION:
Christmas 2009 & New Year 2010 

The girls browsed through the hats in my closet, and chose their favorite hat to wear in our photo shoot!  
I used the photos to personalize cards from the Kodak website.   Kodak customers are now referred to Shutterfly.
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://www.shutterfly.com/lp/photocards/?cp=search&kw=photo+cards_phrase&cid=SEMSN.CARDS&mpch=ads&s_tnt=163182:8:0 

Daughters Faith and Sarah, Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

Daughters Faith and Sarah, Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood


Daughters Faith and Sarah, Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

2010 NEW YEAR CARDS:   Daughters Faith and Sarah, Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

Granddaughter Megan Jewell.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood


Daughter Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood
 

Daughter Sarah ZK.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood



Daughters Faith & Sarah, Granddaughter Megan.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood


Christmas 2008
Theme:  "JOY" 

 My girls wore matching T-shirts and ribbons.
They decorated paper letters with scrapbook paper 
to spell out J O Y!
   








  Christmas 2007
Theme:  
"Christmas HUGS!" 

The girls dressed up in robes and Christmas hats.
I created the designs in Print Shop.
I printed the cards on my Kodak EasyShare 5300 printer, 
and used the images to send Christmas letters via email. 




Granddaughter Megan Jewell.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood

Daughter Sarah.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood

Granddaughter Emily Grace.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood
Grandson Caleb Edward.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood
 
Granddaughter Emily Grace, Grandsons Joshua and Caleb.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood

Christmas 2007:  Grandson Joshua's Baptism at Lake of the Ozarks.  Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood  Note:  Pastor Joey (in this photo) went to Heaven this week.  He'll spend Christmas 2013 in Heaven with Jesus. 


Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking