Christmas Cards.

Right, I know it's February and a little un-timely, however maybe you will enjoy this and can remember to do this next year.

I by any means didn't invent this idea. A matter of fact I know several families that put them in a basket on their table. We used to do this but little hands would go thru and they would get to messy and out of order.

This year I hole punched all of our christmas cards and put them on a little keychain ring.

Each night we take turns as a family (including the kids) to pray over one of the families.

I love how it gets our children praying for other people. We also keep a journal of needs that we know of, and we pray over them every-night until the prayer has been answered. We also record the praises ! At the end of the year we will rejoice in what God did and continue to pray over the needs in our family, and friends lives.

How are you being intentional about praying over people and teaching your kids to pray ? Would love to hear your ideas!

A little bit of this and that with picture fun.

Our kids have been out of school since last Wednesday.

We are having a great time.

This week we got a bunch of snow dumped on us in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Monday we got about 9 inches.

Then we got another 7-9 Inches between Wednesday night and today.

It's midnight and just now tapering off. You can see the bottom picture to the left is my three year old and that is the snow at her height.

I don't have many pictures of Connor, because he really doesn't like the cold for to long. He enjoys it for a bit and then loves the hot chocolate afterwards. Secretly I think he goes inside and plays star-wars thru the whole house.

Below is some serious redneck ways of playing in the snow. When we lived in Michigan we had all the snow gear you could possibly think of; sleds, boots, shovels. Well when we moved to Georgia I got rid of most of it and the stuff I didn't get rid of well accidently got left behind in Georgia.

The top picture is my neighbor shoveling his grass ?!?! FOR HIS DOG!!!

Reason #598 why we don't own an animal.

Picture two to the right... Sled in Georgia = Sand box lid as lid in Colorado.

Hey whatever works right ?

The last one on the bottom... doesn't everyone use shovels, and sand buckets when they play in the snow ?

Creative Friends Wanted.

So we are in the home stretch to Christmas, my most favorite time of the year! I mean really I could not ooze my excitement all over the blog if I wanted to. Since I was a child I have loved it, and as an adult the meaning and feeling just become deeply rooted over the years.

That brings me to today Monday Night, exactly 6 nights until Christmas!?!?

My husband and I have been in a position for the last 3 years where we have not exchanged gifts to do lack of funds. I think last year we did something small in our stockings, but nothing major. Every year we also get each other Christmas PJ's (ha about the only time of year we buy pj's), but not this year.

This is where you come in...

I want to do something creative for my husband that cost $0.00. Is that even possible you ask ? Umm I'm sure I mean there is a few obvious one's that I could do that I won't post on my blog ;)

I have googled, and used Pinterest (I heart that site), but still my creative brain just isn't coming up with anything.

So sweet friends... Have you ever done something like this before ?

If so what have you done ?

I know I will come up with some sort of idea.

This year is really special to me, to do something unique.

You see he has had a growth/cyst for several months, and had it removed.

I only told a few people because my nerves were kinda rattled. I trusted God and knew things were going to be okay, but prayer from other folks totally helps when you feel your on the front of the battlefield ya know.

Well today at his appointment the pathology report came back and that ucky C word that is thrown around way to often was used in a positive light. His body is Free of it!

Thank you Jesus.

I wish it didn't take moments like those to wake you up a bit, but well I'm human and it did.

So can u help me come up with something ???

Yippee can't wait to read your ideas!

P.S. ----> This blog was not asking for $, just asking for ideas!

Can Martha have a "Mary" Christmas ?

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42.

Now before we all start slinging eggs and telling Martha how her priorities are out of whack, let's honor her side of the story. If Martha was alive today, and she was like any typical women she would freak out if she found out guest were coming. She would be washing linens, heading to the local Piggly Wiggly to stock up on groceries, and spend the rest of the day preparing for her guest by cleaning and cooking. She wants her guest to feel honored and special when they come especially since one of those honored guest was Jesus. The twenty-first century women are just like the Martha way back when. Do I think Martha was wrong ? No. I think her priorities were out of sync a bit.

If time doesn't allow us to spend time at Jesus feet which is the better, then maybe we need to change our Martha approach. Christmas is coming maybe the Martha inside of us needs to plan a little more, and do a little less. Instead of Roasted Lamb with 15 sides she serves a Roast out of the crock-pot with 2 or 3 sides. Maybe make one room in the house the catch all room that everything gets shoved in. If your choosing to spend more time prepping to serve your guest and not equivalent or more serving and sitting at the feet of Jesus, the sweet baby who was born in a dirty cold stable then the Martha side of you has won over.

As women in ministry we lead by example. If we are always being Martha then the women who serve with us and next to us will never learn to appreciate the restful, peaceful side of what's better. Simply sitting at Jesus feet; listening, honoring and cherishing the simplicity of the moments. If we choose to lead from a place of simplicity, and what really matters the women around us will get a healthy balance on how to be Mary & Martha.

This Christmas I urge you to choose what's better. Sure, things still need to be done, but choose your priorities wisely. I saw this anonymous quote somewhere and wanted to leave it with you.

"Thinking about how much time I am spending on Christmas and how much time I am spending on Christ. It is too easy for the first one to have nothing to do with the second."

So to help simplify your Christmas I am sharing a yummy simple recipe, that I acquired many Christmas's ago.

Ingredients

1 package (18 oz) Oreo cookies1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

1 container Chocolate Chips

Directions

* Take your oreos and place in a food processor until all all coarsely chopped.

* Add cream cheese to your oreo mixture and mix in the food processor until they are well combined.

* Roll into 1-inch balls and place on parchment paper lined on a cookie sheet.

* Place in refrigerator until firm. A few hours or overnight.

* Melt chocolate according to package directions.

* Take your balls that you have rolled and dip in the chocolate, and place on the wax paper to dry. Place back in the refrigerator, and serve them chilled.

Feel free to mix chocolates dipping some in white and some in dark chocolates. Sprinkle some reserved oreos on top if you would like. These are really rich and really yummy!

Some days.

Some Days you just need one of these nice cups...

add to it some yummy hot chocolate mix and some steamed milk.

Then take one of these low fat, no calorie, zilcho sugar marshmallow stir sticks...

and I promise you that you will get one of these...

a priceless smile from your three year old.

Now you don't think after yesterday's post that I would partake in such indulgence do you ?

No of course not... I was eating the other treat choc. covered oreos ;)

Chocolate Covered Oreos

*Pack of Oreos

*Almond Bark/Candy Coating

*Christmas Sprinkles

Step one- Check for broken oreos and eat immediately :)

Step two- Melt your chocolate. (I do thirty seconds at a time until fully melted in microwave, yes I know the microwave sucks your brain cells, and distorts the nutrients but really I think in this case the nutrients are long gone.

Step three- Using a large fork to balance cookie dip in chocolate. Let it drip a bit and then set on wax paper to dry.

Step four- While still wet sprinkle with fun Christmas Sprinkles.

Stir Sticks

*Large Marshmallows

*Coffee Stir Sticks

*Bag of Choc. Chips

*Crushed Candy Canes

Step 1- Put the stir sticks in marshmallows

Step 2 - Crush candy canes

Step 3 - Melt chocolate

Step 4 - Dip Marshmallows

Step 5 - Sprinkle with Candy Canes

Step 6 - Let dry on wax paper

Step 7 - Wrap up in cute cello bags, put in a much with a packet of Hot chocolate. Inexpensive gift :)

Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes

Sometimes in life you just need a little bit of chocolate, and then their are times that you need chocolate and well some peppermint :)

I love to bake cupcakes, and sometimes I am so thankful for an excuse to make them. Not that I need one, but well this time I had a reason :)

At our church here in Colorado we house students who are training to go into full time ministry. Well we adopted one of the chica's into our family. We just love us some Mary Helen! She's a sweet southern girl from Alabama who loves to say yes ma'am and make me feel way old.

Yesterday was her Birthday and since she is away from home well the girl needs something yummy to indulge in for her birthday! So I made her some yummy cupcakes!

She texted me a picture later of the pan of 2 dozen cupcakes that were demolished by the students.

Okay so I normally don't share my recipes but this is a cheater recipe that is soooo EASY!!!

Semi-Homemade Chocolate Cupcakes w/ a Stuffed Andes Peppermint inside (yummo) & Cream Cheese peppermint Icing. Sprinkled on top are the soft baking chips that andes makes at Christmas!

Cupcake Directions

Cupcake:

1 package devil’s food cake mix

1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix

1-cup sour cream

1-cup vegetable oil

4 eggs; lightly beaten

1/2-cup warm water

1 teaspoon of vanilla (could use peppermint, but I prefer to taste the chocolate)

Package of Christmas Peppermints (round and large)

Frosting:

8 Oz Cream cheese (room temp)

6 tbsp. unsalted butter (room temp)

1-2 tbsp peppermint extract (do it to your taste)

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tbsp heavy whipping cream

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

* Line muffin tins (this recipe will make close to 3 dozen)

* In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs, vanilla and water.

*Divide the batter into the prepared pans. I use a pampered chef melon scoop :)

*Bake for 15 minutes, and then take your Peppermint and unwrap and push down into cupcake. At this point your cupcake will not be all the way cooked that's okay!! Push it down and then allow the cupcake to "swallow it up" and continue to bake for another 3-5 minutes until the top is springy to touch.

*Cool cupcakes all the way before frosting.

To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Blend in the vanilla extract. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar until incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Add the heavy cream to the bowl and beat on medium-low speed just until mixed, then up the speed to medium-high and whip for several minutes until light and fluffy. Once cupcake is cooled, grab your favorite tip and bag and decorate away. Sprinkle the top with red and white peppermint Andes (baking isle).

Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer!

Enjoy!

Christmas.

Love this new tune by Hillsong...

What do you think ?