Decorating has begun!

We have always made it a tradition to decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  This year was no different.  We are ALL very excited for Christmas this year.  Perhaps it's the new house, or maybe we are all just in a really good place Spiritually!  I think it's a combination of both!  I will continue to add to our decorations over the next couple of days.  I want to start collecting gingerbread men for the kitchen!  I could even leave them up longer. 

We all get involved!  It's such a fun family time. 

Katrina carefully placing the fragile ones on the tree.

Andrew is very particular on where he places the ornaments.  It's the perfectionist in him.

Hannah is our Christmas girl.  She loves everything about Christmas!!  She helps us keep the joy during this time.  She is always smiling!

Now it's time to pose in front of the tree.  Katrina.

Hannah.

Andrew.

Got to love our hats!  I wanted to look more like an elf!  LOL!

And of course Charlie!  Don't you just want to give him a squeeze?!

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Another free digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

Are you ready for Jesus?

While reading an Advent devotional I came across something that really struck me.  Whenever I'm out and about shopping, at the bank or where ever I'm always being asked "Are you ready for Christmas?" Or until recently "Are you ready for the holidays?"  Then I got this devotional from Biblegateway.com.  I'm going to share the poem with you.

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high...
Then wearily sat for a moment AND READ
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father!  Forgive me, I see what You mean!
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree. 
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him.

What do you think it means to be "ready for Christmas?"

What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?

It is so easy to get caught up in the glitter and glamor of CHRISTmas that you loose focus on why we have it in the first place.  We give our children 3 gifts for CHRISTmas.  Each represent the gifts Christ got from the wisemen...Gold (usually the most expensive one), Frankincense and Myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)
We are also going to start the hunt for Baby Jesus this year.  We will hid the baby and the kids will search for him.  When they find it we will read the CHRISTmas story....before they open any gifts.  We will see how it goes.  We really want our children to focus on Christ before themselves.

Homemade Peppermint Patties

I LOVE peppermint patties.  Although I do not like chocolate the mint flavor really covers up the chocolate.  When I was looking through some of my Taste of Home books I found this one.  It looked too complicated for me...well not complicated, but too much work.  I don't like to work for my food!!  Especially my treats.  So I changed it a little.  You can see the original HERE.

Peppermint Patties

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons softened butter

3 teaspoons peppermint extract (or less if you don't like a lot of mint)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup evaporated milk

2 cups chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shortening

In a large bowl combine sugar, butter, peppermint extract and vanilla mix well.  Add milk stir until combined.  Spread onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.  Place in the freezer until firm.

Melt half of the chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of shortening in the microwave.  I did 30 seconds and stirred.  I did this until the chips were all melted.  Spread over the mint layer and pop back in the freezer until firm.

Melt remaining chips and shortening the same as above.  Flip the chocolate and mint layers over.  Spread melted chocolate on mint layer.  Pop back in the freezer until firm.  Let set out at room temperature and cut into sizes you like.

Cooking Thursday~~Peppermint Bark

This recipe is one I've seen many times, but I often shy away from recipes that "sound" too complicated.  I mean come on it's candy...It HAS to be difficult to make.  This could not be any easier!!

Peppermint Bark

1 bag of white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon shortening (you don't have to use this but I find the chocolate melts better)

10 or more candy canes

Place white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds...stir.  Microwave for another 30 seconds...stir again.  Repeat until white chocolate is melted.

Crush candy canes (I think most of you know to unwrap them first right?!).  Leave some big pieces.  I then place the candy cane pieces in a metal strainer and shake the candy cane dust into melted white chocolate.

Line a cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) with wax paper.  Pour the white chocolate onto cookie sheet...I tap the sheet on the counter a few times to make it smooth on top.  Sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces on top of the white chocolate.

Place in the refrigerator until firm.  Break into chunks. 

To see more recipes go on over to Diary of a SAHM.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

We really do not decorate a lot around our house.  I believe it takes away from what CHRISTmas is really about.  Also, it's just more I have to put away. 

Decorating the tree.

This is Hannah's favorite time of the year.

Here is how Katrina helped us! LOL! She did help more than this, but would not let me take her picture.   I am such a proud mama with my teenager!  Last weekend she hit the streets sharing information about the church we are starting with a few other families.  She was not afraid or shy about telling people in our town.  Even after the very first person she talked to said NO.  She kept going.  I do not know of many teens who are willing to do this.

The only one tall enough to put the angel on the tree!

This is a crocheted CHRISTmas tree my Mom made me.  I love it.  I wish I could crochet like her.  I just need to do it more and I would be able to.

We had a cookie baking day at church yesterday.  7 of us got together and made cookies.  We use to do it at a woman's home but outgrew that quickly.  This is a little like a cookie exchange, but it's fun to get together and bake.

This is only half of what we ended up with.  We had 4 huge tables full of cookies.

My greatest accomplishment recently is my quest to read through the Bible!!  As you will remember a while ago I posted about the challenge that was given to me.  Read through the Bible in 4 months.  I'm so blessed I took this challenge.  You can read my post HERE. 

How are your CHRISTmas plans coming?

 

Virtual Cookie Exchange

Who doesn't love cookie exchanges?? I just wish we did them more often! The Hillybilly Housewife is hosting one on her blog. There are so many recipes it will keep you baking for months!

Go on over and visit!

Paper Luminaries

I have been busy preparing for the upcoming holidays. I made 2 paper luminaries today. The first one is using the Christmas Story Stamp from Close to my Heart. I love the way this one turned out. You can not see the flaps that are on either side of the vellum but it reads "A baby, a manger, a bright, and shining star.....go to my website to read the rest of it.

Products used for the Christmas Story one above: Visit my website for details on products used.

(1395) Vellum Paper; (X5643) Chocolate Cardstock; (C1377) Christmas Story stamp set; (Z2140) Outdoor denim ink; (3505) Water color pencils

This was the first luminary I did. Since I did not have an autumn colored cardstock I did a ink and sponge effect all over the white daisy cardstock. This one is using November's Stamp of the Month. I'm not extremely happy with the way it turned out. But I think it is cute.

These were SO easy to make. Products used for this one was: (1395) Vellum paper; (1385) White daisy cardstock; (Z2101) Autumn Terracotta Ink; (Z2104) Barn Red ink; (D1377) November Stamp of the Month (not available until November 1)