Monday, December 31, 2018

Sweet Tidings For A Happy New Year...And Fun Craft Tags

Merry Greetings and Sweet Tidings 
to you all!
And fling open wide the doors to
 the new adventures and 
possibilities of
a new year. 
A fresh beginning.
Does that give you hope
in your heart?

***

I do hope that you're all doing 
well and have had a 
joyous time this past month.

My holiday was more meaningful this year.
Sharing our music was a joy as several 
  family members visited 
a home for the elderly. 
We sang carols and 
visited with these sweet ladies. 
They were so grateful and we just LOVED
our time with them! 

We also sang at the community 
Reason for the Season
program and were able to have two benefit
nights to raise money for
local Angel Tree kids and the volunteer
fire depts. I was so happy to be able to make a difference for Christmas by sharing our music.

The time was full while trying to keep in
 mind that Christmas 
is about love and that
kindness and sincerity are some of the most 
precious gifts that I can share.
This season has been 
 filled with so much 
good cheer and good things.
Cookie decorating with our
 kids and grandkids.

Twinkling lights~
Sparkles of the garlands~
Brightly colored packages 
with pretty ribbons and bows~
I enjoy it all so much!

But this year I took a little more time for me.
Making time to sit by the fireplace with 
hot cocoa and a good book.
Taking walks, reflecting 
and putting more value on my time.

I had a lot of peace 
this Christmas just 
knowing that God is working in my life. 
I'm so grateful for His goodness
and guidance as my life takes a
different turn. 
He is with us always.

But to be honest, there were 
some sad times too. 
I was missing my dad so much. 
We said goodbye to him 
16 years ago on Christmas eve.
(I wonder if they know how much we miss them.)
And missing my Ohio girl is always there.

 My heart goes out to all of you 
who have had hard things 
this Christmas season 
and heading into the New Year.
Amidst the magic of these special times, 
I found a little creative time and 
enjoyed making these
tags for my 
grand daughters.

Tags are so easy and can be 
for any occasion. 
I love layering and using bits and
baubles of any kind. 

They each have a
 pocket to tuck a little surprise in. 
 Both were tied with
a ribbon and a had a tiny note written 
on the back with the date. 

*************

I am sending warm greetings to
each of you for a New Year
that is abundant in love and wisdom, 
MAGIC and inspiration!
Prayers for finding your way through
the hard things while
embracing the times of growth.
May your hope and peace
 be overflowing for all that
comes your way.

Here's to you
and your best year yet! 
May it sparkle.

Cheers to 2019!
clink ;)


Blessings to you and thank you for 
coming by.

Tamara
XO










7 comments:

Junkchiccottage said...

Happy New Year Tamara. I love the tags you made for the grand girls. Just adorable. How sweet you could use your talented hearts and bring your singing to so many. I know they all appreciated the lovely music to fill them with Christmas Joy. There have been so many struggles for so many this past year so my wish for all of us and I pray that we all have less struggles and more peace and happiness in the coming year. May new adventures await us and we find Joy in every day. Thanks for sharing your sweet friendship this past year.
Hugs,
Kris

handmade by amalia said...

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2019, dear Tamara. The tags are so sweet, love them.
Amalia
xo

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

The tags or cards you created are beautiful, and they could even be hung on the Christmas tree! It is wonderful that you were able to use your singing to bring joy and benefit to the lonely and needy at this time of year. I hope your New Year is wonderful with moments of joy. xo Su

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

It's wonderful to sit back and just enjoy the slow simple moments! Love that handmade tags, so much fun to make and give! May the Lord bless 2019!

Kezzie said...

It's a long time since I read your blog Tamara but you popped up in my blogfeed (which I haven't looked at much!) and I was delighted to come over and see you and remember what a beautiful blog you have. I am so glad you shared your beautiful songs and music with the elderly residents- that is such a joy, I know. I took my school choir to sing at a Care home and it is always lovely to go there and sing to them. Sorry to hear your sadness at missing your Father. For my husband, it was the first Christmas without his Dad and it was so sad that he wasn't there. I cried when I looked at photos of him and realised he wasn't there. He was my favourite member of my husband's family and he and I always got on so well and it made me realise how hard it must have been for my husband since that was his Father. I am so grateful to still have both my parents.

I am glad to hear you had some lovely rest time and craft-time. I do think that in all the busyness and frenetic nature of Christmas that we do take the time to rest.
xx

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Happy New Year to you. I love the pretty tag you made!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Hello Tamara! Enjoyed your blog post today... how wonderful to be able to share your music with the dear ones at the nursing homes, how they must have loved to hear it! And those tags you made your granddaughters are darling! It is always so fun to "bling" things up! Praying that the blessings of the Lord are with you in this new year :)