When you think of celebrating the birth of your own child, preperations are sometimes extensive.....
invitations sent out...
fun and games planned...
and of course, the cake
SO I ASKED MYSELF THIS:
"what if I was to prepare a birthday party for Jesus...God's only son"
first off the pressure would be insurmountable...but knowing only He is perfect sure helps me...
I had this whole photo shoot set out in my mind to have a white cake in the barn...with the animals around...and sort of "re-create" the manger idea
but then I awoke this morning to this:
It was as if God Himself whispered His sweetness on the farm
a dense fog surrounded our property, and beyond the woods you couldn't see...
beyond the prairie was mystery
beyond anything any one of us could ever do
I quickly baked the cake, but had an idea to put it in the winter-storybook-like woods
with silver...crystals...white...and the cake
for Him
How did I set about doing this?
I thought for a moment...and came up with this:
Jesus is filled with awe and wonder
(like the woods that surrounded this)...
He is masculine and bold
(like the heavy metal table and strong branches)
He is sweet
(like the cake)
and pure
(as the snow that inspired this photo shoot)
Happy Birthday Sweet Jesus
and
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!!!
xo+Christmas Blessings,










So Beautiful! Love how you celebrate the simple things so lovely.Warmest Blessings!~Amy
ReplyDeleteHi, Anne Marie, good Blessings from Germany!!!
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful christmas time and thanks for your wonderful winter pictures; it is a winter wonderland!!!
Merry christmas!! cornelia
Beautiful~ Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteAnd you know it will be a perfect setting and cake because HE loves you always. Simply breathtaking. Jennifer jennsthreegraces
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful!! Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus!
ReplyDelete"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15
What a wonderful way celebrate and your pictures are absolutely beautiful. Preparing for Jesus and His birth is such a blessing to us! Thank you for your inspiration and thoughtful words.
ReplyDelete~Julia
Simply & elegantly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHave a joyful & blessed Christmas celebration.
Merry Christmas!
TTFN ~
Hugs,Marydon
This is a beautiful and meaningful post Anne Marie. Wishing you and your family all the blessings of Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Anne!
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie, this is truely the most beautiful thing I have seen this season. I felt such reverence in the amazing setting. I can't thank you enough for this beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the lovely post you included me in. It made my day to see it.
Wishing you and your beautiful family a Merry Christmas!
Love to you...
fabulous and beautiful post! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis deserves to be in a magazine...it is that beautiful. I have baked a cake for baby Jesus but it was never this extravagant. This is from a heart of pure worship Anne Marie. Merry Christ-mas to you and yours on the farm too. ox
ReplyDeleteCan I mention your beautiful worship here in this post on my blog linked to come 'see it' visit?
ReplyDeleteI love your post, not only because of the beautiful pictures but also the message.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Abby
Touches my heart with your inspirations and your words of kindness that shows a strong message. This post brings you in touch with what is important Jesus,God and life itself.Your photos are breath-taking.It's like being back home again.Thank-you for making the time to share. Stay warm and cozy...Chickie
ReplyDeleteOh, Anne Marie this is so breathtakingly gorgeous...what a wonderful post. Merry Christmas ♥ Tricia
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie,
ReplyDeleteThis post brought tears to my eyes for so many reasons. First of all...God is SO good.
Your photos reminded me of the morning my Dad passed away. We had celebrated our last Christmas with him on Earth just three weeks earlier and had been at his side since. He was struggling to let go and that very morning, we had the most beautiful snowfall...just like the one you were blessed with this morning. I walked outdoors in my coat and scarf and just stood for about an hour. Praying. Letting the snowflakes fall on my cheeks and chill my tears. It was so peaceful and quiet and at that moment, it was the closest I have ever been to HIM. It was pure. It was beautiful. My dad passed away peacefully that evening.
Thank you so much for carrying me back to that precious memory. I am blessed to know that I will see HIM someday...and that my dad will be standing beside him...welcoming me with open arms.
SO... you see why your post made me cry? ;)
Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!
Merry Christmas to your precious family!
Love,
Melanie
Merry Christmas dear Anne Marie.. I hope this season brings you much joy and happiness.. xxx Julie
ReplyDeleteHeavenly...the fog makes it look other worldly.
ReplyDeletewith love for a wonderful Christmas!
Debra
Anne Marie, that is absolutely gorgeous...thanks for sharing. Have a blessed, merry Christmas. xo!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and beautiful post...so moving! This is a great way to celebrate Christ and his birth...thank you for sharing something so special with us all!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family!
Hugs,
Victoria
You, my dear, are blessed and it shows. You have an eye for bringing the simple and mundaine to life in one fail swoop. Those pictures are breathtaking--all that white!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a vision to wake up to.
Oh Anne-Marie.....your post today left me in tears. The music behind the photos and the whole scene you created. I can only imagine the emotions flooding your body as you walked out there with that cake in your hands.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the photo of the cake on the table under the trees....I just wanted to fall to my knees and cry. That photo in itself - is what Christmas is all about. And for you to give so much of yourself with only Jesus in mind, humbled me to the core.
As I scrolled through the rest of the photos, I found myself lifting my face to heaven and sobbing for forgiveness. For Him to change me. To make me more like you. To take away my greed, my selfishness, my wants; and to be remade and reborn into the woman He wants me to be. To place me on whatever path I was born to walk upon with Him as my guide and to keep Him alone as my focus.
How can I thank you for this moment, Anne-Marie? I do thank God for you. For allowing us to meet and share and grow in Him.
You are a blessing to me. I love you, my sister-in-Christ. ♥
xoxo laurie
Dear Anne Marie:
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea...executed as only you can. The images are stunningly beautiful. I found myself catching my breath with slightly damp eyes. Your post and photos really touched my heart. Well done, my friend. Well done.
Love and wishes for a Merry Christmas.
xoxo
Donna
Dear Anne Marie, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteBig Kisses,
Yvonne
Dear Anne Marie,
ReplyDeletethese shots....seems like Heaven has come on Earth...I think He wanted to thank you for this beautiful "birthday presents" you prepared for Him!
May this be a joyful and peaceful Christmas for you.
Fra
I love your unabashed affection for our Lord and SAVIOUR
ReplyDelete... let earth receiver her king, let heaven and NATURE sing!
captured beautifully ...
Merry Christmas from our farmhouse to yours
Dear Anne Marie,
ReplyDeleteYour farm is just gleaming and sparkling with joy! I am in awe of the snowy trees and lanes, the spectacular table setting, and your thoughtful heart warming words. I love hearing your stories of how you and your family are doing and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Warm wishes, Bonnie
Your shiny heart shows.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas............
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Love Ria....
What an amazingly perfect idea - you did it beautifully, with the best inspiration ever.
ReplyDeleteI just found your site! All I can say is "Beautiful!" Blessed Christmas to you!!
ReplyDeleteHi Anne Marie,
ReplyDeleteThis is the prettiest post!
Happy Birthday sweet Jesus, oh let us rejoice in His love.
Thank you for your sweet comment about Zeke, I know your sweet Sam was wonderful with a huge heart too.
Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family, Anne Marie, it's the best that you have such beauty where you live and always take it to heart.
xoxo~Tracie
This is very beautiful Anne Marie... it s just what I needed after having a heartbreaking day hearing mt fathers illness has taken a very sad turn. This beautiful music & your message gives me strength. I also reveived your lovely package today & am wearing the scarf.It came at the right time. God Bless you & your family. Merry Christmas I wil be in touch.. xoxo Laura
ReplyDeleteThis is so so lovely.... and so inspiring... He is truly the reason of the season isn't He! Awesome Friend, awesome Father of us all!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this inspirational post, and may you and yours be filled with His peace and joy this Christmas and always...
cielo
These shots are exquisite! A Happy Christmas to all of you at the farm.
ReplyDeleteI was so touched by this gesture, it almost made me cry.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to your family.
Linda
Simply Beautiful! ~Amen Kim
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOut of this world ... captured perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours the happiest new year to come!
xo
Jill
Anne,
ReplyDeleteThis is the prettiest thing I have seen all year.
What a lovely day HE gave you to do this. Such beauty.
I hope you had a very blessed Christmas.
Love,
Ange
Your styling of this scene is so beautiful, Anne Marie, and your pictures just magical!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family had a very merry Christmas, and I wish you all a happy New Year to come filled with love, joy, and good health!!
xoxo,
Jo :)
Just gorgeous! There's only ONE who can decorate like this!
ReplyDeleteWe host a Happy Birthday Jesus part at our Sunday School every year--though it is certainly not as elegant as this.
Happy New Year Anne Marie
Soo beautyful pictures.. And so Nice story u tell... God is goooood!!! Happy hugs and merry christmas from norway!!
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty and love for our Lord Jesus... thank you for sharing His love to all of us.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a most blessed New Year in Him
Rebecca
With tears down my face - Thankyou what a fitting Happy Birthday to our Lord Jesus - thank you for sharing your beautiful winter wonderland.
ReplyDeleteWhat an unbelievable way to celebrate our Savior's birthday. You have created a magical setting, Anne Marie.
ReplyDeleteWe have a baby in heaven with Jesus, and I love to think about him sitting at Jesus feet singing Happy Birthday to Him.
What a creative mind you have, I never would have thought of bringing a white cake outside for a white birthday party for Jesus!!
ReplyDeleteSimply lovely....reminds me of a scene in Narnia...winter whites are dazzeling eye candy...
Mel's Cabin
What a spectacular site for a winter wonderland of a birthday for Jesus. The looks like perfection to me! Have a happy new year Anne Marie!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely breathtaking! What a beautiful scene...
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought of making a calendar or a book with your pretty photos? You are a truly gifted photographer with beautiful ideas and messages that so many enjoy! Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteSo utterly beautiful.... I am a new follower of your wonderful blog, I don't want to miss another gorgeous post! Theresa xoxo
ReplyDeletepure, beautiful, magic... love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a breath-taking scene this is for our precious King of Kings! I so love this!!!!
ReplyDeleteJoy!
Tammy
I know I'm a little late with this comment, but I just have to say this was an inspired post. Knowing where the inspiration came from makes it even more beautiful.
ReplyDeleteA celebration fit for a king...our King of Kings.
Debbie
Like Debbie, I am late getting here ...but in light of the
ReplyDeletetragedy in Japan it seems fitting. We don't need reminders of Gods goodness..but sometimes I need to be reminded of the big picture.Thank you!