Christmas Vacation

Some of the happenings around our house during Christmas Vacation.....

We made it through some VERY cold weather...

We attended some good basketball games...

(my son is shooting the free throw)

Presents were opened...

Lindsey fixed McKenzie up "pretty" with a blue headband...

She also helped Mommy bake cookies...

A little Christmas tea party....

Can't get any cuter than this....

Cousins got together to be CRAZY and wild!....

And then they were made to sit still to get a group shot with Grandpa...

Candy canes were enjoyed....

Homemade gifts were pleasantly put to good use...

(this is my brother with the rice heating pad on his neck that Kaycie made for him)

Family time was treasured and will be fondly remembered....

(my Dad, in the middle, with my 2 older brothers)

God has been good to us this year. He is always faithful. He is always true.

His love never fails.

Happy New Year.

Crafty Gifts

Kaycie is my little crafty girl. She loves anything she can make with her own hands. She chose to make these rice-filled heating pads and everyone LOVED them!

There were actually more than what is in the picture but she had already wrapped some up for gifts.

Super easy, super quick, and super useful!!

Some were scented with peppermint oil and others had chamomile tea mixed in with the rice.

I try to stress to my kids the importance of thoughtful, handmade gifts. They all love to create something that they can be proud of and get so excited to share with family members.

Ryan knit a scarf for Great Granny. We have some of the rectangle and circular looms to make scarves and hats. Those are quite addictive, by the way.

We aren't done with Christmas yet. Tonight is a get-together at my Dad's house with my 2 older brothers and their families. So I need to get off here and get the bread baked for dinner.

Have a wonderful week with your families. Enjoy the peacefulness of the Christmas Season.

My Christmas Wish

There are times when I long for an old-fashioned Christmas.

Simple things.....

Laughter........

Homemade gifts...........

Celebrating the birth of a Savior..........

Where has Christmas gone? Why have we forgotten the true meaning?

Why has materialism and commercialism become the norm?

Every Christmas I wish for the same thing and I make a pledge.

"Next year is going to be simpler."

A candy cane, an orange, one candy, a bag of peanuts and a small toy in the stocking.

3 gifts under the tree. Preferably plenty of homemade and thoughtful ones wrapped in brown kraft paper and tied up with raffia twine or red ribbon.

Christmas music playing softly. No fighting over the Playstation or what show to watch on TV.

The Bible laid open to the first couple chapters in Luke.

Candlelight and Christmas lights twinkling.

Doesn't it sound lovely?

And then again, I'm drawn into the hustle and bustle. The waiting in lines. The frustration with people. Forgetting to remember each and every second, the birth of Jesus.

God is so gracious and loving....... so merciful and kind........
He knows my heart and my wishes.....

And again, I say "Next year..........."
Next year it will be simpler.

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over the flocks by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
---- Luke 2: 8-11

The shepherds weren't trying to score the best deal at the store.
They weren't even worried about their flocks.

In Luke 2 verse 16, it says that they "came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger."

And after running out of the hills, into Bethlehem, finding the Baby, panting because of their urgency to reach the Child........ What did they do?

Verse 20----
"Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen..."

May we all glorify and praise God for all the things that this holiday means. And the gift that was sent directly from Heaven.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Glory to God in the Highest!

Sugar High

BEFORE:.......................

DURING:.............................

AFTER:...................................

My Grade?.... Incomplete!

Ok, so I haven't finished the Bible quilt I was making for someone special.

Christmas is what?.... 7 days away!... really?

It's that close?!!!

I just haven't had any time to sit down and work on it. I wish I had planned ahead better. Oh well, she will love it even if I finish it in May.

I don't believe in Pass/No Pass grading systems. A kid should receive the grade that has been earned. So I guess in this case, I've received a BIG, FAT F!

On the other hand, I have been busy at the kids' school. Watching basketball games, taking inventory for the booster club, volunteering for Holiday Hobby Day (super fun!), helping with gingerbread houses, etc.

We also went caroling at some Assisted Living Homes last Sunday. The kids had such a great time and it blessed my heart to see my children interacting with those people. I know that they enjoyed singing and visiting with the elderly folks.

2 more days of school!!! I'm jumping for joy! Can't hardly wait to have my kids home so we can stay in PJ's and bake up a storm!

I hope and pray that you all are enjoying this Christmas and being able to spend some time reflecting on the greatest gift of all time... Jesus!

Merry Christmas!!

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."------- John 1: 14

Yummy Recipes to Share

Easy Cinnamon Rolls
2/3 cup warm milk
2 eggs
3 cup bread flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tbsp butter
2 tsp active dry yeast

I set my bread machine on the dough setting and add all the ingredients. When it's completed the cycle, I turn out onto a floured surface and roll into a large rectangle. Sprinkle generously with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up long ways. Slice into 1/2 inch slices and lay in a baking pan sprayed with no-stick spray. Cover with a dishcloth and let rise until doubled. bake at 375 until golden brown.

these are best when warm from the oven!

Crunchy Butter Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1cup brown sugar

Cream these together. Add:

1 egg

1 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

Mix until well blended. In separate bowl combine:

3 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp baking soda

Gradually add to creamed mixture. Then add:

1 cup oats

1 cup crispy rice cereal

1 cup flaked coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Press tops lightly with a fork.

Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees

Breathtaking!

Being outside right now literally takes your breath away. Not only the beauty of the frost and ice but also the air chill sucks it right out of you!

Our pipes froze up early yesterday morning, so Ken and I spent the entire day trying to thaw out the pipes. Finally got it at about 7:30 last night. Yea for water!!!

We just aren't used to or prepared for this kind of cold. Yesterday morning was 9 degrees and this morning it was only 6 degrees.

The woodstove is definitely getting its workout, Burning nonstop!!
I'm also spending alot of time trying to keep the animals safe, warm and watered. Not an easy task when the water freezes up within minutes of putting it out!!

Last week, before this arctic chill hit, Bear and I went for a hike up on the hill by the house.
It was absolutely breathtaking!!! The sky was the most beautiful, crisp blue and the views are amazing of the valley.

We spent awhile just sitting on an old tree stump, admiring the view.

We could see for miles without a single evidence of civilization!

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

--- 1 Timothy 6: 6-8

Giveaway:

Kimberly over at Brown Bag Studio is giving away some adorable, handmade Christmas goodies!

She is being very generous with her talents!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Brrrrr!!!!

The kids and I went out to the pasture to see how frozen the little pond had gotten with all this freezing weather we are having.

Check out McKenzie (the dog) in this picture above. She is so funny! Just having a grand ole' time with her kids!!

It's been so beautiful!

Frosty, cold mornings. The afternoons are barely getting above freezing and everything is crisp and there is a definite nip in the air.

The ice was only about 1/2 inch thick. Surely no ice skating! But the kids had a great time picking up big chunks of it and skimming it across the pond. It sounds like glass shattering!

The air smells delightfully smoky from all the woodstoves warming up the homes throughout the valley.

I love that smell!!

A little pink snowangel. Rosy cheeks and cold nose!

Bear... in an ever thoughtful mood.

There's McKenzie again. Waiting for Kaycie to toss some more ice for her to chase.

The kids are praying for snow. The weather reports are saying maybe by the end of the week there may be some..... Pray harder, kids!

I think that a snow day is due!!!

Primitive Annie Stitchery Pillow

Remember the little stitchery I was working on a couple of days ago?

Well, here it is..... all done!

And the back:

It was a fun and easy project to put together in a day. I will probably be doing some more of these.

My Kind of Christmas

Some little glimpses of Christmas at our home:

Christmas Hearts by Tim Roehl--- Get it, read it, treasure it!!

What it's all about!--- Jesus

I love those cheap, velvety bows from the Dollar Tree

Stitchery in progress. Free pattern from the Gum Tree Designers.

Hope you all are having a blessed Christmas season so far. God is good.

Cozy Comforts

Jack Frost paid us a visit last night! He left his beautiful handiwork all over.
I don't mind at all! Because the girls (Kaycie is home from school, not feeling well) and I are wrapped up cozy in quilts and jammies next to this:

Please don't pay attention to the dirty woodstove. We use it ALOT and I don't clean it every day.


And if you happen to see this at the grocery store, you better get it! Or maybe you could drive all day just to find it.... I think I probably would! Yes, it's that good!!! :




I also have plans for some crafty fun today.
Found this pattern to use for the school Hobby Hour on the 16th. So cute! :


I'll have to get some kits made up for the elementary kids to put him together.
Check out the Kaboose site for a bunch of great kid crafts, ornaments, gifts, etc.

I stumbled upon this site, Homeberries. Oh my gravy!!! I'm in love with all the stitchery patterns here. And the best part, they are FREE!



Now don't ya just wish you could hang out with my girls and me today? (or is it, my girls and I?)
Jammies, quilts, woodstove, peppermint Chai, and crafts. What could be better?

The only hitch in my plans today.... I have to go into town to pick up a certain prescription. Ya know the kind... it keeps my kid count at 4.

Hope you all have a blessed day! Remember to give God thanks for His amazing love and the wonders He surrounds us with each day!!!

(Question for you bloggers: When I post a link, such as the Kaboose site above, why does it say that the link is broken when you try to click on it and go to the site ? Am I doing something wrong when I type in the site address?)