Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego?

I have been out of pocket for a few days. Can you guess where I have been?
I am so proud of our staff at The Christmas Store, as far as we know, things went off without a hitch while the bosses were taking some time off. Thank-you Christmas Store girls.
Just so you know, some merchandise at The Christmas Store has been discounted and will remain that way at least through January 3rd. If there is something special you have been pining for call us at 800-944-1882 and see if we can fill the bill or check with us online
There is one more big weekend left in 2009 and we would love to see y'all here in the 'burg.
As always, thanks for dropping in and catching up with us. ;-)

Peace on Earth

What would our lives be like if we could experience peace on earth and show goodwill towards others? Imagine our soldiers, marines, airmen, guardsmen and sailors home with their families this Christmas. Imagine a world with no car bombs, suicide bombers or terrorists. As long as we are dreaming how about an end t0 hunger, homelessness and discrimination?

The thing is we must never give up and think our acts of kindness towards other is too small to make a difference. It was Mother Teresa that said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." Our small acts of kindness add to peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Change begins with the one person you can actually change, which is you. Thanks for visiting and have a Merry Christmas. ;-)

The Angel Tree

I just happened to wander into the bank lobby today instead of doing my usual drive thru. In the lobby of the bank stood a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree with packages beneath. As I approached the tree I noticed there were still Angel ornaments on the tree. These brightly colored ornaments listed four items each "Angel" wanted for Christmas. As I studied the ornaments in order to pick one I noticed the nature of the gifts, they were humbling. Listed were items such as detergent, stamps, stationary and lotion. There weren't any extravagances, just plain needs. This got me to thinking about how little it really takes to make someones day.

In the end I took four ornaments off the Angel Tree. My friend, Lynn, was kind enough to take two of them and I kept two. This is a tough economy and people don't have much to give. The fact of the matter is these "Angels" aren't really asking for much. Just the necessities, that's all they want. Make someones Christmas merry. Sometimes a smile, kind word, or a small donation is all it takes. Thanks for visiting. ;-)

Frohliche Weinhachten

The fun never ends in Fredericksburg. Tonight is the Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater party hosted by our favorite local dentist.

Switching gears, when my youngest son was in second grade his school performed the following well loved hymn in Spanish, German and English. Please enjoy this version of Silent Night, my favorite Christmas carol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUb8ySdERKs

What a blessing it is to be from Fredericksburg and to be exposed to different cultures. We are truly blessed. Thanks for visiting. :-)

The Cardinal

I remember my favorite Christmas Tree. Several years ago I travelled to South Texas with my family. On a cold December morning I was sitting in a deer blind waiting for the sun to come up. As the day began to come alive I glanced out to a nearby mesquite tree. It was decorated by nature with a family or two of cardinals and some mistletoe . As I let that moment sink in it occured to me that this was the prettiest Christmas tree I had ever seen. A gnarly, leafless mesquite shimmering with frost and covered in red birds chirping and welcoming the early morning. Mother Nature greeted me with a beautiful sight that morning.

Ever since that trip I have been particularly fond of red birds. For me they evoke a beautiful memory of Mother Nature showing me her splendor.

I know the Patience Brewster "Cardinal" pictured here is not exactly realistic but nevertheless, I am continuously amazed by Patience's vivid imagination that continues to delight me and help me see the world differently. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting. See you in the 'burg. ;-)

The Countdown

Fifteen, count 'em 15, shopping days until Christmas! That means 15 days to finish decorating, shopping, cooking, cleaning, wrapping, sending cards, partying etc., etc.

Or... you can do what I'm doing and jump on a plane and head to warmer climes to spend the holidays with family and friends. I am stoked to be headed to Disney World to meet up with my oldest son Charlie, my daughter-in-law Carrie and my granddaughter Ada for the holidays.

Fortunately, I have two wonderful partners, Don and John, that will have my back while I'm away. Thanks guys. And....we have a staff that is trustworthy and will work hard to keep everything spinning while the bosses play. Thanks girls y'all are the best.

Kids at Christmas

I'm really starting to get in the holiday spirit. Yesterday I attended a Toys for Tots toy drive http://www.toysfortots.org/ hosted by Sisters Morales at Casbeers at the Church in San Antonio. What a great place!

Unbelievable musicians including Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Mains, The Krayolas, Mitch West and the Swindlers, Davin James, and Sisters Morales. All these great bands and the price of admission was a toy! What a deal. This was a great event raising money for a great cause.

If you haven't stepped outside your box yet this Christmas Season and stirred up a little love then I urge you to go for it. I can imagine the face of a child on Christmas morning hugging a big stuffed reindeer. I was up late last night, but coffee and the good feelings from giving will get me through this day. Spread it around y'all! See you in the 'burg and thanks for visiting. ;-)

St. Nikolaus Markt

The best event of the year, the Fredericksburg Christmas Parade is right around the corner. The parade will kick off Friday at 6:30 p.m. with 75 to 80 entries including floats, marching bands, vehicles, fire engines and even St. Nikolaus.

Also this weekend a German style market will be held a Marktplatz. There will be 35 booths for shopping, plenty of German food and drink and of course lots of entertainment.

Visitors will be able to observe the newly installed 26 foot Christmas themed German pyramid. The rotating pyramid, built in Erzgebirge, Germany is decorated with lighted candles. It is really a sight to behold.

Fredericksburg is decorated beautifully. Store fronts, city buildings, parks, homes and streets are decked out in all their holiday finery. We have gone all out to showcase a bit of our German heritage and we would love to share it with you. This is the best weekend of the year to be in the 'burg. See you at The Christmas Store

Jareth

It is a cold and rainy day in Central Texas. I have spent the day dealing with administrative duties like paying bills.

Between tasks I have been practicing on my new set of bongos I received as a Christmas gift. Yes, I KNOW, it's not Christmas yet, but back to the story....as I tap on my drums I notice a relaxing trance like state overtakes me. I don't know what you want to call it; prayer, meditation, clearing your mind or whatever but, I believe that the repetitive rah pah pum pum is good for the soul. If it is good for the soul then it must be good for the heart and mind too. This day I give you the gift of music to stir your soul, renew your mind and lighten your heart. Enjoy and thanks for visiting. ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XYeWG3bvL0

It's beginning to look alot like panic....

Panic is setting in. It is the beginning of December and everyone I know has too much to do. There's decorating, shopping, cooking, cleaning, wrapping, etc., etc. The list of chores seems endless.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holidays remember to breathe in and breathe out. This is the most wonderful time of the year. Spend time with your family, volunteer to help others, sing carols, celebrate advent. Do whatever makes you happy with feeling.

Year after year I watch as people get so wrapped up in getting everything done that they forget to enjoy the Reason for the Season. Just think what a wonderful month it will be if we spend more time celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and less time worrying about details.

Beach, beach, beach

This is the beautiful face of a child flying a kite for the first time. If only we could maintain this child like wonder throughout our lives! This photo makes a Nana want to bust with pride. Pictured is my oldest son Charlie and my granddaughter Ada on the beach in Destin, Florida this past weekend.

We will miss Charlie, Carrie and Ada this Thanksgiving but thankfully we can Skype them. The technology that we have available to us is wonderful and makes it easy for family members that are separated to keep in touch.

Ada will be two in a week or so and she is changing daily not only physically but verbally so keeping in touch is of prime importance to a Nana in Texas.

God bless y'all, happy Thanksgiving and thanks for visiting~love on your family and friends and give them a hug from Fredericksburg ;-)

American soldiers

As Americans we have so much to be thankful for. We are approaching the Thanksgiving holiday where we take the time to gather with family and friends to share memories, fun, food and fellowship. This year someone special will be missing from our table. My son Willie (on the far right) at age 21, is serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. I ask you to remember our soldiers this year and pray for their safe return home. Many families around the country will be thinking about their special someone who is missing from the Thanksgiving table. I urge you to take a minute and have a heartfelt moment with those you love while you are together.

A real catch

2009 is the 10th Anniversary of Kissing Fish by Katherine's Collection and this is the commemorative ornament for the occasion. As always, she is a real beauty. If you have seen kissy fish before you know they are all humorous with personality plus. For kissy fish collectors/lovers the world over this ornament is must.

Lost Maples

On Sunday I took a trip out to Lost Maples State Natural Area which is west of Fredericksurg near Vanderpool on F.M. 187. Rumor had it that the color change would not be very vibrant this year. Wrong! There were pockets of deep reds, oranges, yellows and browns. Autumn colors were there in all their splendor. The sun came out from behind the clouds in the late afternoon and rippled off the water and magnified natures colors. This made for a truly majestic setting for hiking, taking photographs, chatting and taking in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. I don't know how long the color change and leaves will last but I can assure while it is here it is picture perfect.

God, psychics and tourists

On November 10th Ernestine went missing. As a side point her name used to be Ernest until we found out itsa girl! Anyway...a miracle has occured.

We were distraught when she went missing. We made posters, knocked on doors, chased down joggers and such looking for our precious kitten. No luck!

On Sunday as I was getting ready for church the Lord spoke to me and told me Ernestine was coming home. I bounded into the kitchen and shared the good news with John. In the meantime, Don had contacted a pet psychic, Suzi Dalling. Suzi informed Don that Ernestine was coming home on Sunday. Don didn't know about my message from the Lord when he contacted the psychic. He said if I had told him he could have saved $125.00!

This gets weirder...at noon on Sunday a tourist saw Ernestine's picture on a missing poster. He calls the number on the poster and says he has the cat at his B&B. John asked him where he was calling from and he was standing in front of The Christmas Store calling from his cell phone.

The Christmas Store is truly the center of all weirdness! We are so happy to have Ernestine home. By the way the psychic said Ernestine wants to be call Freesta. We're sticking with Ernestine.

Texas Pride

Everyone knows Texans are a proud bunch. From the crown of our hats to the wing tip of our boots we just bust with pride when we talk to you about our beloved state. Did I mention how big it is? How beautiful? How friendly? I could go on and on.

Texans the world over will be tickled pink to hang this ornament on their Christmas Tree and express their Texas Pride! Call Peggy today at 800-944-1882 to order your slice of Texas or visit our website at www.ChristmasStoreFred.com to shop in the comfort of your ten gallon hat and boots! Y'all give us a holler and let us help you with your Chritmas decorating and gift giving.

It's Vegas baby....

I am just back from the Pro Bull Riding Finals in Las Vegas. Wow! What a trip. I went out with my parents and my best friend and we had a blast.

Congratulations to Kody Lohstroh, the new World Champion Bull rider and to JB Mauney who rode all eight of his bulls at the finals and won the finals. These cowboys are tough athletes. All the finalist were amazing and super nice to their fans and supporters.

There was even a bull rider from Fredericksburg in the finals. We were proud to hoot and holler for Elliot Jacoby, our hometown cowboy. The performances were ultra professional and and we are already making plans to go back next year. If you ever have a chance, go to a PBR event. You will not be disappointed.

It's all good...

When I saw this photograph that a friend took I knew immediately that I needed to share it with you. One thing that Fredericksburg is famous for is our amazing architecture. When was the last time you just wandered around town and admired the sights? It is easy to take beauty for granted when you drive by it every day. Enough already. Let's take time to admire the beauty around us and appreciate the sights of the Texas Hill Country. We have been blessed with some picture perfect weather. The foliage is turning colors, the creeks are running and the pastures are lush. The Fall is the absolute best time to visit.

Enchanted Rock

I took a trip out to Enchanted Rock on Sunday. It was amazing. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was gorgeous, the leaves were starting to change colors and the creeks were running. All the elements came together for a picture perfect day.

The Texas Hill Country has been experiencing a string of beautiful days. I urge you to get on over here and enjoy Texas at it's best.

Saturday

The Christmas Store Gang let down their hair and celebrated Halloween with some great costumes, comraderie and comic relief. We took the prize for the best dressed store staff on Main Street. Of course, we made up the contest and we voted on the winner, but I'm just saying...we rocked. In this picture from left to right is John, Peg, Don, Susie, Tamara and Sarah.

Boo-Who

I am still trying to decide what my Halloween costume will be. I hope you are having more luck than I am putting your costume together. I am open to ideas. My parameters are as follows: easy, cheap and fast. Wow that makes it sound like I should be fast food!

There are a few other ideas I have been kicking around and the Christopher Radko ornament, All Hallow's Eve, on the right has given me inspiration. Spiders are creepy, spooky, and icky which sounds like the perfect theme for a costume. I think I will go as Spider Woman. I will have absolutely no super human powers nor will I save any cities from destruction but I will bug everyone!

Punkin' Perch

The countdown is on. There are only 64 shopping days until Christmas. The days start flying by this time of year. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and then we rest.

The challenge is to not get ahead of ourselves. It is so important to enjoy each and every day to the fullest. The "busyness" of this season can leave us stressed and irritable and that's bad!

This is a wonderful season with plenty of opportunities to reconnect with family and friends. I urge each and everyone of you to breathe in and breathe out, relax and enjoy each and every moment of this season as well as each person encountered.

A Dickens of a Deal

The Dicken's Village Series is celebrating 25 years. The first buildings were made in 1984. I had a one year old in 1984 and was too busy raising him to discover Dicken's Village but, there are collectors that had the good sense to start collecting in 1984 and own the first seven houses that were presented. These original seven buildings have been beautifully reinterpreted and reissued for 2009.

I'm not sure what the secondary market values are of those first seven houses issued but I suspect they are worth quite a bit of money.

The best part of the story is that although the original collection is valuable, the real value has been in the enjoyment, memories and celebrations over the past 25 years. Decorations and collections add to our enjoyment of the Holidays. Beautiful memories are made when family and friends gather for holiday celebrations in a wonderfully decorated environment. May all your gatherings be memorable!

Spirit of Hope

The Fredericksburg "Power of Pink" Breast Cancer Awareness event is scheduled for October 29. This event is designed to celebrate advances in breast cancer research and generate hope for the future.

Donna McMahon, a breast cancer survivor, will be sharing her story at the dinner Oct. 29 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ms. McMahon is the keynote speaker for the Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center Dinner Seminar and Style Show at the Bethany Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Hill Country Memorial Hospital Wellness Center until Oct. 21.

Registration is from 5-5:30 p.m. and a heart healthy dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. with a style show during dinner. The speaker panel will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be by Delicious Details.

Breast cancer survivors will be modeling for the show and include Karen Carr, Catherine Dietz, Kaye Kirkland, Etta Litherland, Donna McMahon, Vicki Mitchell, Kellie Olfers, Cynthia Pedregon, Jacque Redstone, Dolores Roos, Cynthia Kate Sawtelle, Lucas Sawtelle, Vernell Scott, Sherrie Smith and Beth Watson (me!).

Event sponsors are Beall’s, Beulah’s, Der Klieder Schrank, Haberdashery, Hill Country Outfitters, In-Step, Jabberwocky, Jacque Rudman Collections, Madlyn’s, Parts Unknown, The Peach Tree, Root, The Secret Garden and Zertz.

The panel discussion on breast cancer treatment will include a team of Hill Country Memorial Hospital Medical Staff breast cancer specialists moderated by radiologist Robert R. Murray, MD.

Come and help us celebrate the Power of Pink!!!

A Sleighful of Radko Arrives

The big, brown UPS sleigh dropped off a full load of Christopher Radko products yesterday. Peggy and John have been crazy busy unloading, unpacking and displaying the new goodies like the Siberian Sleighful Collector Platter shown here.

It is very seldom that I walk into The Christmas Store Radko Gallery and go absolutely gaga over new product, but that was my reaction to this collector platter. The detailing, quality and price all stunned me, and I mean in a good way. This is one drop dead gorgeous piece of art and will sell out quickly. Come in this weekend and see this new product for yourself. You will not be disappointed. See y'all in the 'burg.

A Grave Situation

It's scary, but Halloween is lurking right around the corner. The ghouls at The Christmas Store are getting the finger food and boos ready for a big party.

Seriously, who doesn't love Halloween? I'm on board with any opportunity to dress up in a costume, decorate like a fiend, and eat chocolate!

There is still plenty of time to treat your home to Halloween goodies and plan a spooky party. Let us help you pull together the bones of a haunting display. As we all know, this time of year, anything ghost. Witch D56 house would you like?

Boot Scootin'

The Stars are dancing tonight and their rendition of the Texas Two Step made me think about this Texas Boot ornament hand painted by Patti Lu Bowsley from Garland. Pat is one of our very favorite artists and has been for years. She and her daughter have supplied custom designed ornaments for The Christmas Store since 1994. These ornaments are dated and presented either as "Merry Christmas from Texas" or "Merry Christmas from Fredericksburg". Every Christmas tree needs a "Patti Lu" or two to complete the look and give it a little Texas flair. Visit www.ChristmasStoreFred.com and place your order today.

Home for the Holidays

Woo Hoo I'm out of town for a bit of fun! I am travelling with the Texas representative for Christopher Radko, Lynn Brammer. Many of you have met Lynn over the years. I have known Lynn as a friend for 35 years and we have worked together in the industry for 15 years.

Today Lynn has a Signing Event at Miss Cayce's Christmas Store and More in Midland. This afternoon I will get to meet Christopher Radko Top Designer Mario Tare' and the owners of Miss Cayce's Becky McCraney and Kathy Harrison. The event today is tied in with a local charity, High Sky Children's Ranch. Hats off to Miss Cayce's. Y'all rock.

Lone Star Santas

Yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting with lots of great customers and this handsome group of men. Santa was in town doing a bit of scouting around before Christmas. Did you know there are only 82 shopping days until Christmas? Santa's presence in The Christmas Store obviously caused a bit of a stir and drummed up some interest. We learned they have their own website. Santa can be reached at http://www.lonestarsanta.com/ or you can contact us for their sleigh or workshop numbers. For your Santa needs call us at 800-944-1882 and let us hook you up with one of the nicest fellows around.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. It seems like everywhere I look there is a program happening to raise awareness, fund mammograms, etc. That is fantastic. Get involved. Get a mammogram and encourage all the women in your life to get one too. Tell your moms, sisters, wives, aunts, grandmothers, granddaughters, cousins, friends, all the women in your life, to get their mammogras if it is suggested by their physician.

All I can tell you is that early detection through my annual mammogram caught my breast cancer early and probably saved my life. This disease affects a massive amount of women and education and early detection is the key to the cure.

Please don't ignore me on this one. I know what I'm talking about. Hug all the people in your life and tell you love them. You never know!!!!

Oktoberfest Man

We are getting ready for a big weekend. It's Oktoberfest! Let the oom pah pah begin and the beer flow. This is the official kick off of our Fall season and we are very excited about all the fun events that are are lined up for the next few months. The annual Oktoberfest celebration will be held at Marktplatz October 2-4. Oktoberfest is an opportunity for Fredericksburg residents and our guests to celebrate their cultural heritage. It's food, fun, drink, music and shopping. What could be better. We'll see you in the 'burg this weekend!

Yuengling-America's Oldest Brewery

America's Oldest Brewery is celebrating their 180th Anniversary this year. The Yuengling (pronounced Ying-Ling) Brewery in Pottsville Pennsylvania began brewing beer in 1829. Currently the company brews 1.8 million barrels annually and sells their brew in 13 Southern and Eastern states.

The designers at Department 56 have done a wonderful Original Snow Village building to commemorate this historic business. There are also two accessories pieces that go with The Yuengling Brewery. The first is Yuengling Delivery and the other one is entitled The Yuengling Champs.

We are proud of our German friends in Pennsylvania for their longevity and perseverance as a family owned business. If you would like more information about The Yuengling click through to http://www.yuengling.com/ . As always we can be reached at 800-944-1882 or http://www.christmasstorefred.com/

The Yellow Rose of Texas

This is one of my favorite ornaments for 2009. All Texans love "The Yellow Rose of Texas", and can probably hum the song without much difficulty. The lyrics are a different story though since there are several versions.

"The Yellow Rose of Texas" is a traditional folk song which has long been popular in the United States and is considered an unofficial state song of Texas. The actual author is unknown; the original publisher (Firth, Pond & Co.) only stated that it was composed and arranged expressly for Charles H. Brown by "J.K." The A. Henry Moss Papers in the Center for American History has an unpublished early handwritten version of what may be a similar song, perhaps dating from the time of the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836.

All I know for sure is that this is one beautiful ornament and would make a great gift for your favorite Texan.

Not to be Outdone....

My last post debuted the UT Santa and today, to be fair to all the Aggie fans out there, here is the new A&M Santa from Joy to the World Collectables. This guy is stunningly handsome and would make a great addition to any Aggie's Christmas Tree.

As you know, today is the first day of Fall and it is a fact that Christmas is quickly approaching. These collegiate Santa's have already sold out one time this year and they are quickly flying off the shelves again. Call us at 800-944-1882 to order your ornament or contact us online at www.christmasstorefred.com Gig 'em!

Hook 'em Santa

We have picked up a new line of glass that includes wonderful collegiate pieces. We now carry University of Texas and Texas A&M University Santas. These are fabulous. There are many other styles available and can be special ordered. We have a catalog at The Christmas Store that customers can peruse for ordering. Joy to the World has a wide variety of unique Texas ornaments as well as the collegiate collection. Come on in and let us help you find a fantastic momento for your favorite sports fan or that special Texan in your life. I will be adding some of these ornaments to the website this next week. Feel free to visit us at www.christmasstorefred.com and check out Joy to the World.

It's Officially Official

We have finally started receiving some of our 2009 Patience Brewster merchandise. We have had a long dry spell with nothing new from Patience and now the warehouse is beginning to see some new product. We have a smattering at this time but in the next few weeks we should be fully stocked. We have moved this product within the store in anticpation of the new merchandise to arrive. Quantities will be very limited this year so be sure and peruse our website at www.ChristmasStoreFred.com and select your favorites. Remember as always, we are happy to put items on lay away.

A Dose of Reality

Sometimes I worry about Fredericksburg losing it's rural charm. Then I get a dose of reality. Last week I walked out of the back of The Christmas Store and encountered this rooster in our parking lot. At that point, my worry about urban sprawl eating us up was put to rest.

This guy made himself at home around our box trailer. The last I saw of him he was wandering off across the Chase Bank parking lot. Hopefully he was headed back to take care of his hens. Thankfully Fredericksburg still has lots of rural charm and friendly people. Why don't you and your family come on over this weekend and see us? In Fredericksburg you can slow down and enjoy a slower pace of life and friendly faces all around. See you in the 'burg!

Picture Perfect....

Days like today are the reason I tolerate the dog days of a Texas Summer. The temperature here is picture perfect beautiful and there is a hint of the cooler weather we can look forward to this Fall. Last weeks rains have greened up our pastures and yards and given our drought ridden earth a brief reprieve. We are very thankful for God's provision.

We have so many wonderful things to anticipate in the coming weeks. The Christmas Store's 15th Anniversary Celebration will take place the first weekend of October and coincides with Oktoberfest which is, in my opinion, the best festival weekend in Fredericksburg all year long. Make your plans now. Accomodations will fill up quickly and we want to see you here. Get ready for Fall Y'all.

The Birthday Boys

Happy Birthday to Don and John. We had a small dinner party to celebrate September 14th and the fact that the twins came into the world that day. Don was out of town at another birthday party, (he is a social butterfly!) but John took the reins and managed to celebrate their birthdays in style. The best cook in town, Marissa, made us all a wonderful dinner and provided phenomenal wine to accompany our meal. Birthday hats off to everyone who planned and helped celebrate the party. I'm glad September 14th only rolls around once a year as I was a tad bleary eyed this morning.

Cristen and Brock

If you have been a customer or friend of The Christmas Store for

any length of time you have probably met Adeline. She has been working at The Christmas Store since 1994. That's fifteen years!!! Adeline is a key member of the "make it look good" team and we value her work highly. By the way, she is our only employee that can converse with our German tourists in their own language and we appreciate her for that skill. Adeline has not only worked at The Christmas Store all these years , she has been my friend. We have shared our lives, our joys and our sorrows and now there is more happy news to share. Adeline's granddaughter Cristen is marrying her best friend Brock tomorrow. I want to take this occasion to wish the happy couple my very best and to let Cristen know she has an awesome Mamaw.

Rain, rain, rain, rain

The big news here is we have been receiving priceless rainfall. The Hill Country will start to spring to life in short order. As most of you know we have been in an extreme drought since late 2007. I know that throughout Central and South Texas rain has been falling over the past week and there is more on the way. God is good and so faithful in providing for our needs. My hope is that you are receiving your portion of God's blessings where you live.

The other big news for The Christmas Store is that we have received our Christmas trees into the warehouse, or as we call it the wherehouse (as in "where is that merchandise hiding?"). We have a small selection of pre-lit trees from 7 to 9.5 feet. We have inverted trees, which are very popular as well as traditional profiles. Our trees are very natural looking. We have flocked and regular evergreen styles. Please call us asap if you need a new Christmas Tree this year as they will sell out very fast. We can be reached at 800-944-1882 or online at http://www.christmasstorefred.com/

Brave Americans

This little boy, Daylan, has a birthday today. He is two years old. I have a feeling his second birthday will be overshadowed. You see Daylan's daddy was a brave American soldier. On Friday Daylan's daddy, Darryn, was killed in Afghanistan.

Our prayers go out to Daylan and his mommy, Julie and all their family. We are absolutely heart broken and ask for your prayers for this family. They will have much to deal with and we hold them up to God for His loving grace and compassion.

Labor Day Weekend

Woo hoo Labor Day is here. We have almost reached the end of Summer 2009. This weekend is the last hurrah. We are hoping lots of you will come and visit us this weekend. There is alot of excitement around The Christmas Store and around town. We are all refreshed after our summer vacations and ready to hit the ground running during the Fall months. Fredericksburg, as always, has lots of festivals and events planned for the next few months. One of the best events planned for this weekend is the Doss Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry. If you have never been to this event in Doss you are really missing a wonderful slice of life in the Texas Hill Country. I strongly suggest you make plans to go out there Saturday night and let the fine folks in Doss serve you up some good Hill Country hospitality.

Fall is in the air!

Happy September!!!! It is hard to believe that 2009 has flown by this way and that eight months of the year are gone. I don't know why I am surprised. As I age, every year goes by faster than the previous ones. Life is like that. At The Christmas Store we have been busy merchandising our Autumn produt. We have a great selection of florals, home decor and gifts for the season.

Today I placed an order for our Fall Yankee Candles. They should arrive soon. There is just something special about this time of year. I start to anticipate cooler weather, football, holidays, family time and all the special activities that coincide with this time of year.

I wish you a blessed day and rest assured, we are counting our blessings since Tiffanie Carroll (Tamara's daughter) came through her surgery so well. I would like to thank everyone for their prayers.

New Blankies in the Baby Area

We have a new vendor in the baby area that is making the most adorable soft, snuggly blankets for little ones. We are happy to carry fabric snugglies designed by Carrie. These blankies are so soft and adorable. Carrie uses uber soft minky dot fabric on one side and vintage look fabrics on the other. All blankies are hand made with love. The blankies come in two sizes. There is a small size perfect for cuddling and a set that includes a large baby blanket and matching snuggly. These will make a perfect gift as they are small, light weight and easily packable. Children love these blankies as the texture of the fabrics are wonderful. Carrie can be reached for custom color combinations and orders at care_e_24@hotmail.com

Tiffanie Carroll

Most all our friends and customers at The Christmas Store know Tamara. She is our webmaster and IT guru and we couldn't get along without her. You may not know Tiffanie though, she is Tamara's daughter. Tomorrow Tiffanie will have heart surgery at Christa Santa Rosa in San Antonio. Tiffanie has a hole in her heart that must be repaired. Please pray for God's protection over Tiffanie and her family as they go through this difficult day tomorrow.

The World Transplant Games

Our friend Michael Walter and his family are in Australia right now for the World Transplant Games-Gold Coast 2009. Michael, along with his company MSW Computer Services, is our computer guru at The Christmas Store and we love him and his staff! Michael is a liver transplant recipient and as a matter of fact, he has had to go through that particular surgery twice. Since Michael's transplant he has worked and trained so hard and now he is at the World Games! So far Michael has won two silver medals and a gold in swimming events. We are so proud of Michael we could pop. Visit his website http://www.worldtransplantgames.com/default.htm

for further information about Michael and his story.

A True Texan Passes

Yesterday I learned that on Saturday, our friend Elmer Kelton, had passed away. I am deeply saddened by this news. Mr. Kelton was a regular at The Christmas Store. He and his kind wife, would come to the store a few times a year to sign books and chat with readers from all walks of life. This all happened when Mr. Ron Anderson had his bookstore in The Christmas Store.

There was never a nicer or more interesting man. He was old school. Polite and funny and a really interesting man to talk with about Texas and the way things used to be. More and more of Mr. Kelton's generation are passing from this world to be with their Maker. It's a fact of life. I encourage you to take the time to visit with an older person this week. They have so much wisdom to offer us. My sincere condolences to Mrs. Kelton and the family. He will be sorely missed.

The Dog Days of Summer

It is still hot, hot, hot, hot, hot here in Central Texas. School is back in session and the summer crowds are gone. Rather than freaking out about slower sales, we are using this opportunity to take a little down time and recharge our batteries. Don has been vacationing for a few days in California and now John is headed there for a little R&R. I bet I get a few days off next!

In the meantime merchandise continues to flow into the warehouse and we keep on keepin' on. Linda is busy pricing, Tamara is busy doing techie stuff and the girls behind the registers have located their dust rags and are chasing dust bunnies down for extinction.

It is sometimes hard to stay positive and upbeat when things are slow but fortunately we are surrounded by so many friends in the industry and great customers that we see the silver lining on the edge of this cloud. Traffic will pick up soon enough but in the meantime we will continue to breathe in and breathe out and be grateful for our blessings.

By the way, did you know there are 121 shopping days left until Christmas....I'm just saying!

Snowman

Check out the cute Snowman door banner from new artist Lisa Frost! Lisa's art is licensed and produced by Demdaco, the creator of Willow Tree angels and collectables.

Lisa creates one-of-a-kind pieces in paintery style for holiday, home and kids. Owning a piece from this collection will add a swirl of whimsy to your home. This is a large banner (I forgot to get the dimensions) that retails for $40.25. Call us or come visit soon! As always, we can be reached at 800-944-1882 or online at http://www.christmasstorefred.com/.