Christmas 2014

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CHRISTMAS 2014 YARD AND INDOOR DECOR

This 2014 Christmas season, I got our outside Christmas yard decor and lights up and running by Thanksgiving of which is the earliest to date.  This page is basically a copy and paste from our 2013 Christmas as far as the indoor and outdoor decor but this year without the 12 feet tall snowman and the 8 feet tall Polar Bear and driveway lights.  The blower motor on the snowman apparently lost much efficiency and wasn't able to fully inflate the snowman and the company no longer makes the 12 feet one and down sized it to 8 feet.  Each year we tend to scale back a little due to products of maturity and the date on our birth certificates.........grin if you must.  My bride enjoys the Christmas season tremendously and we both keep elements of Christ in all of our decor both inside and outside since "Jesus is the Reason for the Season."   My bride did have some help this year decorating her Christmas tree by one of our grandsons Trevor Lane Huneycutt which was a big help to her and really appreciated.  As usual, I did the brawn stuff like setting up the tree and bringing boxes up from the basement, etc., whereas she does the more intellectual and artistic decorating.

Our Star of David which is 10 feet across and about 40 feet off the ground was still in good shape from last season and only had a few bulbs burned out or broken and still looked excellent.  Our cross in the back yard operated for a week and several sections of lights went out and unplugged it and will refurbish it come Spring when the weather is more conducive.  Pix below of the Star of David above the three Peace On Earth angels: 

Most of our Christmas decor both inside and outside has remained unchanged the past 5 to 10 years and each year we downsize a little more but will continue to display the outside decor as long as I am physically able to do so.  In the future, I might have to employ the assistance of a bucket truck to repair and refurbish the Cross and the Star of David.  My comfort zone above the ground is now around 25 feet and 40 feet above the ground brings about some additional prayer for certain!

My bride and I are thankful for each and every day that the Lord allows and I am going to copy and paste something that I wrote in one of my short stories from four years ago which still sums up my view for our Christmas Holiday and Season.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

With all the commercialization of our CHRISTMAS Holiday and so many attempting to get on the Political Correctness Band Wagon of not wishing to offend anyone and to me, they have no backbone and don't stand for anything that really matters and are mere puppets; "Pull my little strings and I'll do anything."  Without Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, there would be no Christmas since Jesus is the Reason for the Season!   Whatever your personal Faith and Religion are, it is your choice and right;  I choose to be a Christian!  I have a lighted Star of David and a Cross elevated about 40 feet above ground to give symbolic tribute to Christ and the Christmas Season and several Angels to go along with the traditional seasonal decor.  Laus Deo "Praise be to God."  With that said, below are some of the Porter Home Christmas Yard Decor; Click on the thumbnails for a larger screen view:  

Click on below thumbnail pixs for a larger screen view of our standard inside Christmas decor:

My bride stated that she wanted to change the entire decor and theme of the Christmas tree next year and I am sure by then she will have new ornaments in order to do so.  She changed the decor a little but didn't find what she was looking for.  It seems this year there wasn't as much Christmas decor available in the stores for sale for what ever reason.  Also, we noticed that not too many homes in our town were placing outside Christmas lights like they have done so in the past.  Our street looks like folks have boycotted Christmas with no outside decor or lights to mention other than what we had in place.

THE PORTER FAMILY AT THE SMOKEHOUSE GRILL NEAR JEFFERSON, SC 12-21-14

The Porter family which included my brother Allen and his family; Betty Jo, Monica, Jason, Porter, Kambrie, Cammie and Kristyne; My sister Susan and husband Douglas from Reidsville, NC, whereas my bride and I met this past Sunday at The Smokehouse Grill near Jefferson, SC and had a wonderful meal.  Fellowship with family is most rewarding anytime you can make it happen, especially during special Holidays.  Afterward, we drove to Monica and Jason Kearns's lovely home in Mt Croghan, SC and had cake and coffee and continued with the friendship and fellowship.  Didn't have the ole trusty camera with me this time but made some lasting memories nevertheless! 

CHRISTMAS EVE FINGER FOOD PARTY AND GIFT GIVING

The immediate Porter family met at our home for some finger food on Christmas Eve with my bride aka Joyce, Laura, Shane, Travis, Trevor, Steve, Xander and myself present.  Lisa was sick and unable to attend and Cris, Shane's son must have had a serious date scheduled.  Our son and his family live in Vista, CA and we do miss them on these special Holidays!  We had a great time and below are thumbnail pixs taken.  Click on thumbnails for a larger screen view:

 

The best part of Christmas is and was watching the small kids with such excitement, energy and enthusiasm awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus to bring them gifts.  I can still remember my own excitement back in the early 1950s trying to stay awake at night and catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, his sleigh pulled by the Reindeers with Rudolph and his bright shiny red nose leading the way, stopping on our roof top with Santa Claus to descend down the chimney to deliver the Christmas gifts we had requested which was wonderful and magical indeed, however I never managed to stay awake to witness the event.  It is sad that there are many not able to enjoy such amazing times for whatever reasons.  I am so thankful that our parents (deceased) allowed us to enjoy the secular part of Christmas and at the same time teach us the true meaning of Christmas which my Bride and I have done the same thing with our children.  Our parents enjoyed the Christmas Holidays just as much as we did and I certainly do miss them and our Grand Parents as well.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

Web published by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 12-25-14.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please take this moment to accept him by Faith into your Life, whereby Salvation will be attained.   

Ephesians 2:8 - 2:9 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Open this link about faith in the King James Bible.

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Open this link of Bible Verses About Salvation, King James Version Bible (KJV).

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

IN GOD WE TRUST - GOD BLESS AMERICA - "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE"   JOHN 3:16 KJV 

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