joy post and apples

i got this weird thing from a pal ... it was a hostess gift and when i opened it she said, do you know what it is ... well ... no .... so then i read what it is ... and is still wasn't quite sure .... 

do you know what to do with it? why would you carve a candle? 

well ... now i have it all figured out ... you use it to do an easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy job of making fab votive candle holders .... it's not actually carving a candle .. it is carving out a spot in produce to put a candle .... 

today, i changed up my usual advent candles to apple advent .... 

each sunday in advent you light the next candle ... purple hope, purple peace, pink for JOY, purple love and then the white one of christmas for baby jesus's birthday .... and we have a song we sing for each candle .... but now we have apple candles .. pretty spiffy, right? 

i had a grand joyful day today ... took mini me, i mean little.e.beck.artist , out for some christmas shopping .... she's now done with her shopping and wrapping ... then came home for three guitar lessons and some produce carving for candles .... then took girl.beck.artist out for some shopping ... i can't say enough about the happiness of one on one time with the kids .... 

and then we had dinner out as a family ... with two other families ... both old friends ... one in town pals ... one out of town pals .... and it was really great ... and happy .... and sweet .... and it felt like christmas time happiness .... 

i was looking for pics of my advent candles from previous years, but instead ran across this post and especially like rereading it .... it's nice and christmas happy .....

joy to you!!