I wanted to take a second and wish my lovely daughter a wonderful 2nd birthday! She had so much fun at her party on the 19th and loved her Elmo cake. We're thinking we'll start potty training soon. Wish us good luck!
We all had a wonderful Christmas and we are so blessed. There wasn't really anything I needed or wanted, except a new skillet, so I would've been happy with anything. Jason got me 3 skillets and diamond earrings. Mom & Dad got me new boots and I got money to spend on clothes. I think I did pretty well! Jason wants to start hunting, so I got him some coveralls and boots. Camo is pricey! Who knew? Ella got everything from a doll house to a Stanley tool set. She got so much, in fact, that I'm considering putting a lot of it in storage and pulling it out in the summer and she'll have "new" toys to play with. It's hard when her birthday and Christmas happen within a week of each other. As much as I enjoyed the holidays, I am glad it's over. I'm looking forward to a boring looking January. The only thing I'm "working on" is a youth trip to Nashville in the spring and that's it. Ahh...quiet. :)
12.31.2009
12.23.2009
Do You See Him?
From one of my favorite writers...
It’s Christmas night.
The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.
The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our race tracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.
It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips.
And the result?
For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty.
All of a sudden he’s everywhere.
In the grin of the policeman as he drives the paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.
In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children.
In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer.
He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas.
He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes.
And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings “Away in a Manger.”
Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.
It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin—lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half price. Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade.
But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: If he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?
From "God Came Near" Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1987) Max Lucado
IT’S CHRISTMAS NIGHT. THE HOUSE IS QUIET. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o’clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeers.
It’s Christmas night.
The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.
The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our race tracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.
It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips.
And the result?
For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty.
All of a sudden he’s everywhere.
In the grin of the policeman as he drives the paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.
In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children.
In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer.
He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas.
He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes.
And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings “Away in a Manger.”
Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.
It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin—lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half price. Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade.
But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: If he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?
From "God Came Near" Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1987) Max Lucado
12.18.2009
Santa Fe Soup (minus grass)
This is what I made that tastes so yummy, makes tons, but sometimes ends up in the front yard (see previous). I make this year-round. Hubby and picky baby loves this.
Combine all ingredients in large pot (atleast 5 quarts). Bring to a boil and simmer for atleast 30 minutes, but we all know the longer it cooks, the better it is. Serve over corn chips and with sour cream and cheese or go wild and use sourdough bread. This freezes well too! You can thank me later (but make sure you come back and comment...I love comments).
Santa Fe Soup
1 lb hamburger or turkey, browned and drained
2 cans corn (shoepeg, if you want to get fancy)
2 cans kidney beans
2 cans chili beans
2 cans black beans
2 cans Rotel (I use 1 mild & 1 original)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 packet of dry Ranch dressing
1 packet of taco seasoning
Combine all ingredients in large pot (atleast 5 quarts). Bring to a boil and simmer for atleast 30 minutes, but we all know the longer it cooks, the better it is. Serve over corn chips and with sour cream and cheese or go wild and use sourdough bread. This freezes well too! You can thank me later (but make sure you come back and comment...I love comments).
A Rough Morning
Hardly ever will I have a bad enough day to blog about, but this morning will go down in the record books with a big black X next to it. It was the type of morning when you'd call everything off and go back to bed. I had gotten up a little earlier to make my Santa Fe Soup for my co-workers. While it was simmering, I was getting ready (read: showered, but skipped washing my hair, packed Christmas presents and all of Ella's "stuff" she would need for the day so Jason wouldn't forget, laid out lunches, and outfits for the day...whew!). The time came when I could finally leave (woo hoo!) and I want to transfer the soup from my large stockpot to the crockpot for work. I kiss hubby goodbye and grab my jacket since it's raining. I make it to the door of the car and crack!...the handle to the crockpot just BREAKS. My yard (and face) is now decorated in beans, corn and tomatoes. What did I do? I said "no...." and cried. Yes, cried. Jason didn't know how to handle this, but gave me a hug and his apologies. I drove to work minus the radio. I wanted to enjoy my unhappiness for awhile. I get a call that Jason is staying home. It seems he loaded stuff up in the car and went back for Ella, who had thrown up everywhere and rubbed it on her eyebrows and in her hair. WONDERFUL. I wonder who had the worse morning?
12.04.2009
Ham & Cheese Ball
This is a quick & easy crowd-pleaser. I promise you'll be throwing this one together for years to come.
Ham & Cheese Ball
2 packages of cream cheese, softened
1 package of Carl Budding (or another thinly sliced) ham, chopped
3-4 green onions, diced
pecans
Combine the cream cheese, ham and onions. Form into a ball shape. Crush pecans (you're going for good sized chunks). My favorite way is seal them in a baggie and use a rolling pin. Pat the pecans on the ball. Serve with Ritz crackers.
P.S. Everytime we have "snack day" at work, Jason begs me to make it. It's one of his favorites!
Ham & Cheese Ball
2 packages of cream cheese, softened
1 package of Carl Budding (or another thinly sliced) ham, chopped
3-4 green onions, diced
pecans
Combine the cream cheese, ham and onions. Form into a ball shape. Crush pecans (you're going for good sized chunks). My favorite way is seal them in a baggie and use a rolling pin. Pat the pecans on the ball. Serve with Ritz crackers.
P.S. Everytime we have "snack day" at work, Jason begs me to make it. It's one of his favorites!
12.01.2009
Chaos & Christmas
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I was off for 5 days and enjoyed that extra time with Ella. Not that we were at home, but I enjoyed the time needless to say. :)
And now the Christmas season is in full swing! Our calendar is half full already, but how else are you suppose to enjoy it? We've got plans to attend the Huntsville Christmas Parade, Santa's Village, a trip to Nashville for the Opry Mills Hotel, and more. But let's not get lost in the shuffle. Under this busy time of the year lies wonderful family memories and an entire month specifically devoted to our Savior's birth. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we did that every month of the year? Not the trees and wrapping paper, but making a conscious effort to be thankful to God for sending us his Son? I wish I could say I lived like that. We get so wrapped up in our "to-do" list that we have to remember why we're here...oh yeah...what was that? We're here for His pleasure to spread the Good News.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11
And now the Christmas season is in full swing! Our calendar is half full already, but how else are you suppose to enjoy it? We've got plans to attend the Huntsville Christmas Parade, Santa's Village, a trip to Nashville for the Opry Mills Hotel, and more. But let's not get lost in the shuffle. Under this busy time of the year lies wonderful family memories and an entire month specifically devoted to our Savior's birth. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we did that every month of the year? Not the trees and wrapping paper, but making a conscious effort to be thankful to God for sending us his Son? I wish I could say I lived like that. We get so wrapped up in our "to-do" list that we have to remember why we're here...oh yeah...what was that? We're here for His pleasure to spread the Good News.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11
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