Swap Goodies

Oh my goodness...Christmas came for me just a little bit early this year when I went to get the mail and saw a GIANT box from Kendra over at The Stone House Prims...she was my swap partner in Amy's Gingerbread Swap !

Ok...first I have to tell you that Kendra lives in a little town in northern Illinois...dot on the map if truth be told but guess what ? I used to live there back in the 90's...small world right ? We knew lots of the same places and she is just the kind of person who lives there too...sweet, salt of the earth, hard working and totally awesome !!!

Well I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her during this swap and found we have TONS of things in common and I am sure once you see all the goodies she spoiled me with you will understand that this gal TOTALLY GETS ME !!! We like sooo many of the same things and it was like she was inside my head...seriously...look at all the treasures she made or chose for me...

First this big box....patience...or at least thats what I told myself as I ran for the camera...and we all know I DONT RUN !

And out of that box came gift after beautifully wrapped gift...

And ooooooooooh just look at how pretty these items are...

Plus she made me this....

and these smell yummy enough to eat !

 

I am busy finding homes for everything but did want to show you where I put a few of the things...

Funny thing...see that vintage skate with the gingerbread man ??? I actually made that for Kendra and then was reading her blog and saw that she already had one...so I thought it looked just perfect with all the things she sent me...what do you think ?

I just love this little Genoa salt glazed ornie...Kendra knew I collect salt glaze and it was just sooo thoughtful !

And isn't this ornie just too sweet ??? Oh and the candle made the house smell sooooo heavenly. Add to that some of her homemade gardners salve, cookie mix, soap and sweet grocery list and you can call me spoiled rotten...I have already told Kendra I think she over did it but I just want to publicly thank her and Amy of course for hosting another wonderful swap.

I am busy trying to finish my items for next week Primitive Handmades Mercantile update and I have lots of Before and After projects to show you all but as usual I am running behind. I am not sure how that happens...when I had 3 kids at home and worked full time I got more done !!!

I have been saving THE BEST news for last...the best Christmas gift of all time ....we just got word a few days ago that our son Kyler, the Marine who has been deployed for over 9 agonizingly long months, will be arriving at our house on December 22nd ! YIPPEE  YIPPEE  YIPPEE

I have been so depressed because his deployment had been extended and they thought he could be gone a few more months...add to that this is the first Christmas our other son, Kirk, wont be with us either. Since moving to Virginia back in June he has been home a few times but he cant get time off work over Christmas...and of course our daughter, Kait is out in Colorado so I thought we would be completely alone (and I was not really handling it very well...couldnt get in the Christmas spirit at all). Now I am in major Christmas RUSH mode...no cookies baked yet, not a single gift purchased yet and I am not sure I will ever get the outside lights up this year...At least the trees are bought and put up and I have one decorated (Light fiasco to follow another day, lol).

Well...I know this was a long post...thanks for sticking with me ! Many hugs and much love to all of you !

Grace to you,
Margie