The Old Year Passes, The New Year Beckons

2011 is just hours away from being just a memory for us and the new year is waiting in the wings. The past year has been a year of waiting at the Kissiar household. We lost our home in November of 2010. The Lord led us through the dark times and we found a wonderful vintage home to rent for the past year, but we have just been marking time. We want our own home. 

Now, after months of praying, months of saving, and months of searching, we are almost ready to close on a home that will be our very own. Praise the Lord.

This is not a photo of our new home, though our new home is not much bigger and about as old as this yellow farm house. We are so excited, because we have found an old home built around the 1930s that just needs a little tender loving care. So, the new year will be a time of rebuilding for the Kissiars. It is going to be so much fun.

As I close out this blog post for 2011, I would like to thank each visitor who has stopped by since I started blogging in January. Many of you are from distant lands and there are lots of folks who live in Texas, so I have tried to include photography that gives you a sense of my little corner of the world. I hope you have enjoyed the photos and the little notes, and I look forward to sharing the wonders of Texas as seen through my eyes in the coming year.

Happy New Year to each and every one of you, and may God richly bless your lives with his love and grace.

The Old Hymns of Our Faith

This photo was taken inside a very old, very tiny chapel which sits on the northern edge of Salado, Texas. The chapel was moved to the site, it is not original to Salado, but someone fell in love with it and wanted to keep it from being demolished, so it was moved and placed next to a rare books and manuscripts store. The inside of the chapel has been decorated with salvaged fixtures from other old churches, so it is truly a non-denominational house of worship.
I loved the light streaming from the beautiful stained glass windows. The golden light streamed across the room to highlight these hymnals which were sitting on one of the pews.
If you have a good imagination, you can still the voices of the congregation singing the hymns of God and glory in this tiny chapel.

Just an Old Tomcat Sitting on a White Bench

There's something about this old cat sunning on this rustic cast iron bench that appeals to me. His eyes squint like he's thinking about sleep, but with me standing in front of him with my camera, he's not quite ready to shut his yellow cat eyes.

1955 Volkswagon Retired in Texas

I found this classic sitting in a salvage yard located on the side of Interstate 35, just south of Waco. What a great old car!

A Quiet Bay, A Single Tree and Sunrise

Now that the hustle and bustle of the past week is over, a person can stand still and relax for just a moment. Breath deeply, and allow the frantic pace of the holiday season to be replaced with a moment of sweet leisure.

This photo was taken on the shoreline of a tiny bay just outside of Rockport, Texas. The sun had not yet crested over the horizon, but it was light enough to see the details of the trees and grasses along the beach. A single large cloud drifted from right to left over the water, creating a deep shadow directly underneath it. Off in the distance, low clouds hugged the horizon, giving the illusion of a far away, mist-covered mountain range. It was a beautiful sunrise.

Seguin's Central Park Decorated for Christmas

Merry Christmas to All 

My Dear Friends

x

Christmas Eve on the Farm

I love Christmas lights. They remind me of the Light of the World that was born to a travel-weary young girl and a worried carpenter who couldn't even find a decent room for the night. Can you imagine what Joseph must have felt like when Mary told him her water broke? He did not know anyone in Bethlehem, even though it was his family's ancestral home, for if he had known family, surely they would have given the young couple a place to stay.

So, as I look at Christmas lights, it is easy to ponder on that night so long ago when Mary lay on the dirt floor of the stable as Joseph waited at her side. You know, he may have even delivered the baby himself, for who else could have been there in time?

As you and your loved ones celebrate this joyous holy day, may the wonder of the real meaning of this season fill your hearts with peace and love.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill toward men.

Have a Boot-Scootin', Red-White-and-Blue, Truly Texan and All-American Christmas

Texans can even make a cowboy boot look good on a Christmas tree!

Just in Case it Doesn't Snow....

Here's a snowman I found in an antique store in Gonzales, Texas. He'll come in handy when there is a lack of snow for the real thing (which is pretty much every winter, in central Texas). He is a little worn, but I think that just adds to his charm. I wish I had purchased him when I saw him, but he is probably gone now. I hope some one displays him in their front yard.

Christmas Dreams

When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with Christmas. I didn't give any thought at all to why we celebrate this holy day, or give thanks to God for sending his only begotten Son to be born in a lowly stable. No, I could only think about all those wonderful presents that would be under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. In my bedroom, I had a green slate chalkboard and in the upper right hand corner, there would be a countdown of how many days until "Present Day." Believe it or not, sometimes I would start the day after Christmas and count down 364 days until the next great present event.

Well, I look back and smile as I recall the simple, childish happiness I felt as I anticipated opening my presents. This shot, taken on the front porch of an old farmhouse converted into a gift shop, reminds me of those feelings. The tree sparkles and reflects hundreds of lights in the living room window, and one red ball has fallen off the tree and sits on the seat of the faded pink tricycle.

Looking at this scene, I recall an illustration our pastor gave to the little children of our church on Sunday morning. He showed them the manager scene sitting on the table in front of the pulpit and pointed to the baby Jesus, who is the reason for this blessed celebration. Then, he started showing the children different presents he had brought from his home. He read who the presents were from and to whom they were going to be given, and he placed each one on the table for them to look at. When he was done, all the children could see were the presents. The manager scene was completely hidden by the wrapped presents sitting on the table between the manager and the children. The message of his little illustration was crystal clear. Presents are nice, but it is very easy to let the gifts we give and receive block us from seeing the most important part of the Christmas celebration. For without that little baby lying in a manger, that miraculous gift of our Savior from the Almighty God to every boy and girl who ever lived, to every mom and dad, to you and to me, then Christmas would just be another day of the year, and there would be no reason to celebrate at all.

My prayer is that this Christmas, the love of God blesses you in a very special way. As you look at the brightly colored packages and the sparking lights, remember to give thanks for the greatest gift ever given, the gift of the Savior, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

A White Picket Fence At Christmastime

I love white picket fences. In fact, I would love to have one surrounding my own yard someday. At Christmastime, a white picket fence looks so elegant draped with lighted garland and bright red bows. This fence surrounds the yard of a little shop in Bracken Village, which is located on the outskirts of San Antonio.

A Texas Christmas...The Old Barn Gets Some Lights

It's been a while since this busy grandmother/photographer has blogged about her favorite state in the good old U.S.A.

However, with Christmas fast approaching, I feel the need to share some holiday cheer that has a distinct Texas twang. 

This particular barn sits in a cutesy shopping village just outside San Antonio. It is part of an old farm which has been converted to lots of old farmhouses turned into shops, and the whole place is decorated for the Christmas season.

I love the deep red of the old barn up against the black sky with all the twinkling white lights sparkling along the roofline.

Come back tomorrow for another of my favorite Christmas shots, one that has more of that Texas twang!