Encouraging Deep Roots

We had planned our annual holiday open house for month and Saturday, the day we scheduled it for looked clear and nice.  Then a few days ago, they changed the forecast. We ended up with this... Since the majority of our guests were coming over a mountain and the snowplows tend to take their own sweet time, we ended up postponing the party until today. I was disappointed because a number of people were no longer going to be able to come, but I ended up spending a nice relaxing afternoon drinking tea and watching birds out my window. It also gave me a couple of extra days to prepare.  So this afternoon we will have Take #2 of our holiday open house.  I've been busy baking and cooking to get ready. I plan on putting things out at different times since the open house is from 1-9 p.m., with people stopping by at different times.  We're having the following dishes/appetizers: Veggie platter with spinach dip Crackers/bread & cheese Garlic cream cro...

All the way up until Christmas, my plans to bake cookies never happened.  This was the first year that I can remember that I only made one batch of Christmas cookies.  My "get up and go" had gotten up and went.  So we were cookie-less this Tuesday.   However, we are having an open house here on Saturday so I knew I was going to have to get out of my baking slump and make something.  I've been running a cookie marathon the past two days. I've made the following... Mexican wedding cakes Cocoa snowflakes Biscochitos Snickerdoodles Gingerbread cut-outs Date nut balls Creme de menthe chunk cookies Minnesota munchers Today and tomorrow morning will be spent in shopping and pulling together appetizers for tomorrow's party.  Now if I could just get the weather to cooperate we'd be all set! :-)

I was reflecting back over 2012 and I realized that if one word could sum up this year it would be milestones. #1 - I turned 50 years old in January.  I certainly don't feel 50, but it's official.  I'm half a century! ;-)  Dan threw me a surprise party. #2 - After counting my blessings for over a year, I hit the 1,000 mark and decided to continue on. #3 - Nathan turned 21 years old. #4 - Emily turned 13 years old.  She's officially a teenager! #5 - In June both Nathan and Stephen graduated from high school.  Technically, Nathan had finished the year before and finished up one more year in the technical school he was attending and Stephen graduated in the traditional way. #6 - We had a graduation party for both them. #7 - Both boys got their driver's licenses in the summer - Nathan in July and Stephen in August.  Look out drivers! #8 - Stephen began his life as a college student.  He loves it and is doing well and just fin...

I thought I'd post some pictures of our Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve Service and this year it just seemed to be more meaningful than some in the past. As always, I took a picture of the three kids together.  They are growing up so much. Emily is looking more and more like a young lady and less like a little girl. Dan & I took a picture together. This picture made me laugh because they look like they belong to a mob! Emily sang a duet with her friend, Sarah and they did a great job. It was such a wonderful Christmas and it was one of the more relaxing we've ever had.  I hope you all had a nice Christmas as well.

I promised you all that I'd let you know what Dan's secret gift was.  First of all, this picture cracks me up.  Trying to get him to pose and smile normally is next to impossible! lol  I usually have to wait and catch him when he's not looking. Okay, now on to the gift. Dan has been working on a used laptop for the past three years.  About 7 months ago it died totally.  He has been handwriting his sermons and trying to squeeze in time to type them on my computer when he can.  It hasn't been ideal, but he never complains.  So this was something we really wanted to do for him.  That's why I struggled when we gave away the money I had saved.  I had so wanted to give him something he could use and would never expect to get! It was wonderful to see how God provided the funds again for us to do this for Dan and it was really fun to surprise him this way.  The boys got it all set up for him and he's as happy as a clam!  It has...

My children and husband look forward to Christmas every year, mainly because I try to serve food that we normally don't have.  It's hard to come up with new things each year that don't require me to spend my entire day in the kitchen!  This year I wasn't really feeling very inspired, but finally settled upon the following menu plan.  A lot of this is just prep work ahead of time. Here is the menu: Christmas Eve Baked shrimp scampi Lemon saffron rice Homemade garlic breadsticks Parmesan crusted roast asparagus Pear and greens salad I'm skipping dessert as we have a Christmas eve service with all kinds of goodies afterwards. Christmas Breakfast Cinnamon rolls Scrambled eggs Bacon Hash browns Christmas Dinner Lasagna Homemade Italian bread Tossed salad White chocolate peppermint cheesecake Sparkling Cider Other than the shrimp, there is not a lot of expense involved and yet, it will be different enough that everyone will be happy.

Continuing to pray and think of those fami lies suffering right now, yet at the same time not wanting to lose myself in another person's p ain and lose sight of my own family right here before me. Technology is wonderful but it can also be a burden.  It's easy to make this "techno" world more of the rea lity than my "real" world.   So I'm praying and feeling sadness, yet want to not forget the blessings I have in front of me.   Today I'm thankful for blessings #13 8 2- 140 5 . ♥ Children who are becoming responsible and ha rd -working. ♥ That I heeded the inner nudging 11 years ago to quit my more than full-time job and focus on my family. ♥ Dealing with special needs on a daily basis.  It keeps me on my knees and teaches me about how little I know and how much I need to rely on God. ♥ The ability to wake up each day and read to my daughter, create so mething in the kitch en or sewing room or write. ♥ A husband who keeps me grounded,...

I skipped posting this yesterday as I was just too heartbroken over the school shooting not far from here.  It just didn't seem appropriate in the light of such senseless tragedy.  My heart and prayers went out to the parents of those little ones last night and I woke up several times in the middle of the night and prayed.  It was a reminder to me at how quickly life can change and to take the time each day to really focus on the ones you love.  One of things that Emily & I did yesterday was to make these paper hearts.  You can use them for ornaments, but I actually hung these in our windows to spruce up the place. They are quick and easy and turned out really cute. Emily is off Christmas shopping with Dan and some friends today and I'm going to be busy sewing and baking.

I know I've mentioned this before but it has been such a weird year for me. The boys are growing up and are out of the house most of the time.  Lots of our traditions have changed or fallen by the wayside.   I've also been dealing with Emily's health issues.  She really is not doing so well and it's a challenge to change her diet.   I really just haven't been in the Christmas mood lately.  I'm not moping or depressed, but it just seems like any other time of the year. SOOOOO..................... I decided to take matters into my own hands and start a Christmas Countdown.  There are 12 days until Christmas so I decided to do something each day to focus on the season.  To focus on Christ and His birth.  To focus on the JOY surrounding this time of the year.  These are not necessarily big things but just little things here and there. Today, I decided to string some garland and lights above my kitchen cupboards to make things lo...

I haven't done a Thrifty Thursday in months and thought I was due for one.  Today I want to talk about decorating on a shoestring budget. I generally decorate for different events at our church.  I love being creative and making things look pretty.  However, the church is on a shoestring budget and I'm on one too.  So, there isn't a lot of money to make things look beautiful. However, there are a few things you can do to make things look nice, yet not spend big bucks.  I'll give you an example of a ladies Christmas tea I hosted at our church last Saturday. The theme was "The Simplest Package Can Hold the Sweetest Gift" and I went with a red and gold theme. I bought a pack of scrapbook paper.  Then I made petal boxes for each table.  Inside each box were 2 pieces of Ghiradelli chocolate. I also made a tea tote for each lady.  The fabric was material I had on hand that I bought years ago after Christmas. I put red & cream candles...

It's been amazing to me over the course of the past few months to see how mature Emily is becoming.  She is turning into quite the capable young woman.  Even with dealing with her health issues, she is diligent about doing what she needs to do to try and get her eczema under control.  It has been encouraging for me to see this because it's difficult raising children.  You wonder if they are getting any of the lessons you try and teach them and also there are times, when I need to let go and actually let them do things without me! A woman at church approached Emily about fixing a robe of hers.  Emily has never done anything so complicated and it was difficult for her, but she did a great job with just a little direction from me. Usually when she bakes, I'm there helping but this past weekend she wanted to make Christmas cookies on her own without me.  She did it and did wonderfully and the cookies were delicious. My baby girl is growing up and I'...

Thank you to everyone who entered in my blog give away.  I put all the names in a basket and shook it quite a few times and Emily drew out a name. The winner is... Coleen D. Since I know how to get a hold of you, Coleen, I'll be getting your gift to you.  I wish I could have given something to everyone!

I just wanted to remind everyone to leave a comment here and let me know how you have been blessed to be entered into a blog drawing.  I will draw a name on Monday evening and announce the winner on Tuesday.

What are words you think of when you picture a pastor's wife?  I know some words that go through my mind: ♦ demure ♦ sweet   ♦ gentle ♦ holy ♦ modest in dress and speech ♦ meek ♦ attentive ♦ quiet What a wonderful picture of a Godly, spiritual lady!  That's the type of person you want as your pastor's wife.  The type of woman you can turn to for spiritual guidance, wisdom and peace and comfort. I may have blown that image last Saturday night.    ;-)......... This was from a friend's cookie swap.  O ne of the games was each table had to pic k someone to be Santa and dress them from a bag of crepe paper and white cotton.  Fortu nately, I was already wearing a red jacket. G ood thing our congregation likes me the way I am!

  My favorite time of the year is upon us.  The tree and decorations are up, some presents are purchased and safely hidden, cookies are being made, Advent readings are being done.  I love all the festivities! I decided that I'm in the mood for some Christmas cheer this morning!  So am having another blog give away for the holidays.  All you have to do is leave a comment here or under this post on facebook and let me know one way you feel blessed this holiday season.  There is so much negativity in this world and it's easy to focus on our problems and cares. Take a moment and list something positive in your life and a way that you are being blessed. If you leave a comment, your name will go into a basket for a drawing that will be held on Monday, December 10th.   If you link to this on your own blog, I will put your name in the drawing two additional times! I will send you one of my Christmas aprons, some handmade Christmas cards, a Christm...

I went to a cookie swap last night that a friend hosts every year.  It's always fun with lots of friendly competition.  There are prizes for the most festively dressed, the best presentation of cookies, the best packaging and the best tasting.   This year I found the pattern for these cute little petal boxes online and made them for my packaging.  I thought they turned out so cute and I came in second for packaging.   The cookie I brought was simple, but tastes great!  A couple people asked me for the recipe so I'm posting it here. Minnesota Munchers Makes about 48 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk chocolate chips 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 2/3 cup toffee bits 1 cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease two cookie sheets. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar. B...