Sunday Scripture

 

Well, we're back to our ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 7.  It zeroes in on verse 10, but I chose to SOAP verses 1-10.

S= "O LORD my God, in Thee do I put my trust;save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me,
"Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
"O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands,
"If I have rewarded evil unto him who was at peace with me (yea, I have delivered him who without cause is mine enemy)
"Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honor in the dust.  Selah.
"Arise, O LORD, in Thine anger; lift up Thyself because of the rage of mine enemies, and awake for me to the judgment that Thou hast commanded.
"So shall the congregation of the peoples compass thee about; for their sakes, return Thee on high.
"The LORD shall judge the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to Thy righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
"Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God testeth the minds and hearts.
"My defense is with God, who saveth the upright in heart."  (Psalm 7:1-10)

O=  C. I. Scofield has titled this psalm "A prayer for deliverance."  The biblical heading for it is "Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite."  A hand-scribbled note under this explains that this person -- Cush, the Benjamite -- is "one of Saul's henchmen who accused David of treason."  The NKJV heads the psalm this way: "A meditation of David, which he sang to the Lord, [etc.]".  The ESV defines "Shiggaion" as "probably a musical or liturgical term".  Interestingly, Habakkuk chapter 3 is also introduced as a prayer "upon Shigionoth" which one Bible defines as "probably musical instruments" and another "according to variable songs."

 For "put my trust" (v.1), ESV has "take refuge." 

Cross-reference: "In the LORD put I my trust; how say ye say to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  For lo, the wicked bend their bow; they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart."  (Psalm 11:1-2)

Cross-reference for "save me" (v.1) -- "My times are in Thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from those who persecute me."  (Psalm 31:15)

Cross-reference for "a lion" (v.2) -- "For [mine affliction] increaseth.  Thou huntest me as a fierce lion, and again Thou showest Thyself marvelous upon me."  (Job 10:16)

Job is speaking to God here, or rehearsing what he will say to God.  The ESV reads: "And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me."

Cross-reference for "none to deliver" (v. 2) -- "Now consider this, ye who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver."

Cross-reference for "if I have done this" (v. 3) -- "And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou worthless fellow; the LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, thy son, and behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man."  (2 Samuel 16:7-8)

Cross-references for "iniquity in my hands" (v.3) -- "Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know then and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it."  (1 Samuel 24:11)

"And he said, Why doth my lord thus pursue after his servant?  For what have I done?  Or what evil is in mine hand?"  (1 Samuel 26:18)

Cross-reference for "him who was at peace with me" (v.4) -- "He hath put forth his hands against such are at peace with him; he hath broken his covenant."  (Psalm 55:20)

Cross-references for "delivered him who without cause is my enemy" (v.4) -- "So David restrained his servants with these words, and permitted them not to rise against Saul.  But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way." (1 Samuel 24:7)

"And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?" (1 Samuel 26:9)

Cross-reference for "tread down my life upon the earth" (v.5) -- "Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant; thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground."  (Psalm 89:39)

Cross-reference for "arise, O LORD, in Thine anger (v.6) -- "Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God; for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly."  (Psalm 3:7)

Cross-references for "lift up Thyself" (v.6) -- "Lift up Thyself,  Thou Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud."  (Psalm 92:6)

"Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted, now will I lift Myself."  (Isaiah 33:10)

Cross-references for "awake for me" (v.6) -- "Awake, why sleepest Thou, O LORD?  Arise, cast us not off forever." (Psalm 44:23)

"Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right, even to my cause, my God and my Lord."  (Psalm 35:28)

"They run and prepare themselves apart from any fault of mine; awake to help me, and behold."  (Psalm 59:4)

Bildad told Job, "If thou wert pure and upright, surely He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous."  (Job 8:6)

Cross-reference for "judge the peoples" (v.8) -- "So that a man shall say, Verily, there is a reward for the righteous; verily, He is a God that judgeth in the earth." (Psalm 58:11) 

Cross-references for "judge me, O LORD" (v.8) -- "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide."  (Psalm 26:1)

"Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man."  (Psalm 43:1)

Cross-references for "according to my righteousness" (.8) -- "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me."  (Psalm 18:20)

"Judge me, O LORD, according to Thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me."  (Psalm 35:24)

Cross-references for "test"(v.9) -- "The LORD testeth the righteous, but the wicked and him who loveth violence His soul hateth." (Psalm 11:5)

"But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tested me, I shall come forth as gold."  (Job 23:10)

Cross-references for "minds and hearts" (v. 9) -- "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; test my heart and my mind."  (Psalm 26:2)

"I the LORD search the heart; I test the conscience, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."  (Jeremiah 17:10)

The phrase "my defense is with God" (v.10) literally means "my shield is with God."

Cross-reference for "with God" (v.10) -- "Trust in Him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before Him.  God is a refuge for us.  Selah." (Psalm 62:8)

Cross-reference for "upright in heart" (v.10) -- "But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings; wherefore, their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests."  (2 Chronicles 29:34)

Daily Walk Bible points out, "The enemies of God's people are also the enemies of God.  Responding to those enemies is David's burden here.  In the face of dangerous opposition, David seeks God's justice."

A= My enemies are also God's enemies, and I can trust Him to act justly in any situation I face.  I can do as David did and cry out to God for justice, deliverance, and vindication, while also asking Him to search my own heart for any wrongdoing.  He is the One who tests minds and hearts.

I'm so thankful that my defense is with God and that He is the One who saves the upright in heart.  He does vindicate His people in His timing.  Justice eventually is done, and deliverance comes in His time as well.

Warren Wiersbe shares some helpful thoughts in With the Word: "We do not know what Cush said about David, but apparently he was one of the 'court liars' who flattered Saul and made life difficult for David."  Wiersbe counsels: "When you have a 'Cush' in your life, do what David did:

* Be honest with God.  David did not say that the enemy was telling the truth, but he was willing for God to examine his heart and punish him.  He had nothing to hide.

* Let God be the judge.  It is wise to let God be the judge because His judgment is always right.  We do not see ourselves and others as He sees, so it is best to turn the matter over to Him.  David was careful to maintain his integrity and let God be his defense.

* Wait on the Lord.

* Give God thanks.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that I can trust You to deal with my enemies even though they may speak against me and falsely accuse me.  You know my heart and You know the truth of every matter.  You will bring about justice, deliverance, and vindication in Your perfect time and in Your perfect way.  You will be a shield for me even in the midst of verbal attacks, and You will help me to stand strong.  You will judge my enemies and will deal with the wicked in Your timing as well.  I trust You to act justly and righteously.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David was crying out to the Lord for justice, deliverance and vindication, while asking God to search his heart.

Have you ever been blamed falsely for something?  How did you handle it and how was God your shield?

My response: Yes, I have been blamed falsely for things a couple of times.  In both cases I committed the situation to the Lord.  In the first case the accuser ended up apologizing to me -- but it was not really an apology; more along the lines of "I'm sorry you were hurt by what I said".  Not an apology at all really, but I accepted it as maybe the best he was capable of.

During the second situation, which was lengthier and much more public, I remember feeling emotionally battered and bruised a lot of the time -- and reading through Psalms and recognizing God as a refuge and shield for me helped tremendously.  I did feel shielded and  somewhat "hidden from the strife of tongues" even though a great deal of talking and accusing was going on.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 7.  I hope it was a blessing to someone!

First hodgepodge of 2025

 

After a break for Christmas,  I'm joining in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Here we go ...

1. Oxford's Word of the year for 2024 is 'brain rot'. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to 'capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media'. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

I am not familiar with this term, but I would agree that the condition it describes seems endemic in our culture today.  I don't suffer from it myself as I tend to avoid low-quality content of any sort.  But I believe that were my hubby computer literate, he would be suffering from it.  He used to be that way about television -- at a store, at someone's home, wherever -- if it was on, he had to look at it no matter how useless it was.   He has the tendency to be the same with any screen.

A word to capture 2024 for the nation/world?  That's a tough assignment.  Maybe conflict?  Uncertainty?  Trepidation?   Surprising?

2. It's National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)...will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year's Day menu? 

No plans for any such event.  I hate cold water and thank God every day for the blessings of heat and hot water.

I'll probably spend the first day of January doing some planning and goal setting, plus starting a new Bible reading program and other new year stuff.

We don't have a traditional New Year's Day menu.  

This rushing, icy waterfall is part of a favorite shopping center.  They usually put a lighted tree partway down.  I love that!

3. What's something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Crafting.   How will I do more of it in the new year?  I really have no idea, sadly.  It seems something else will have to go.

A project I hope to start soon.

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What's one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

No, I don't struggle with January blues.  I tend to look at a new year with a lot of optimism and I always love the idea of fresh starts.

5. Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.

I don't always choose a word, but I have in fact already chosen one for this year.   I will hopefully be blogging about it soon.  I don't make resolutions, but I do set some goals.  I haven't spelled out yet what those will look like for this year, though I have set some goals for January and posted them yesterday.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Sewing bigger projects (and we are talking a lap size quilt here) seems to be more of a challenge as I age.  No plans whatsoever to make any more of these pillow quilts once these two are done.

Previous pillow quilt

And there is the very first Hodgepodge of a new year!

Looking to a New Year ... and a few January goals

 

Since I've scheduled a Hodgepodge post for January 1,  I thought I would share a quick New Year post on this last day of 2024.  Astoundingly, this will complete 31 days of December posting in both blogs.  It took time, more time than I had some days, but I'm happy to have met this challenge.

I shared the following last January 1, but I think it's a good reminder (for me, and maybe for you as well)  so I'll share it again:

As I wrote in countless Christmas cards last month, my wish and prayer for each of us is a happy, healthy, and spiritually prosperous year in 2025.  I have often thought about what the apostle John wrote to his friend Gaius in 3 John, verse 2: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."  Gaius obviously had such a strong, vibrant spiritual life that John prayed for his physical health to be as vigorous as  his spiritual state.  I wonder, what would our physical health look like if someone were to pray that prayer for us?  Something to think about in a new year!

If you could use some fresh inspiration for the new year, you might enjoy a visit to my Pinterest board A New Year, A Fresh Start.  I'll be revisiting it myself! 

It's also time to set some goals for January:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Get back to working through the "Make Room Challenge" from Make Room for What You Love
* Decorate our home for winter
* Get together with friends in early January
* Have my friend Jennifer and her toddler over for lunch
* Enjoy our church ladies' gathering
* Post in this blog as often as possible
* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Begin reading through the One-Year Chronological Bible
* Continue with my study of Psalms for my Sunday Scripture series
* Begin studying and preparing for my ladies'' Sunday School class -- to start in a few months
* Continue through the wonderful Daily Grace Co. study of Habakkuk, Even If (this is intended to be a 3-week study; it has taken me months since I only work on it on Saturdays)
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan menus and begin food preparation for a ministry opportunity in mid-January
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Get back to memorizing the book of James
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home
* Drink enough water each day
* Resume the habit of getting outdoors for the morning light
* Start a 40-day sugar fast
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

HEALTHY HABITS FOR JANUARY:  Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/intermittent fasting/limit carbs

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

On this last Monday of 2024,  I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

The Weather:::

At 9 am, it's an unseasonable 42º and cloudy, with a gentle rain falling.  The rain has been heavy at times overnight and is predicted to end by 2 this afternoon.

As I look outside my window:::

We already had a decent amount of snow, so our driveway is now a combination of slush and mud.  The roads are bare but wet.  There is still plenty of snow on the ground, and a light rain continues to fall.

Right now I am:::

 Working on a blog post. 

 
Thinking and pondering:::

 About so much from Glad & Golden Hours, which I am continuing to work my way through.  Here are a few lines:  

"It is a worthy care to keep the family gate, admitting only that which contributes to the well-being of those within.  There are plenty of things that we cannot control in life, but the atmosphere of our living spaces is entirely in our hands."

That last sentence was both a jolt and an encouragement.

On my bedside table::: 

 A lamp, a book, 2 pens and a tube of Blistex.

Listening to::: 

The rain dripping from the eaves.

On the Breakfast plate::: 

I do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. Lunch will be a salad of leaf lettuce, cubed turkey,  and cheddar cheese or pepperjack.

On the dinner plate::: 

Kielbasa roasted with onions, peppers and Brussels sprouts

On the menu for this week::: 

 A few meals on my menu plan:

Hamburgers, cauliflower mac'n'cheese

Pork chops divan

Taco pie, green beans

 

On my reading pile:::

 

  Glad and Golden Hours, by Lanier Ivester -- an early Christmas gift from my daughter that I am loving.  I just finished my more-or-less annual reread of Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon, and am back to Spiritual Mothering, by Susan Hunt.

 
On my to do list today:::

 

 Spend time cross stitching

Begin work on pillow quilt
Make a couple of freezer meals for my local daughter
Weekly home blessing

Crochet a square for my temperature blanket

We plan to stay at our little camp tonight since the temperatures are so mild

Plans for this week:::

Ironing

Blogging

Start a pillow quilt

Make some fudge and no-bake cookies for kitchen gifts

Begin decluttering our paperwork

Work in zones 5 and 1 

Update my Christmas notebook

Begin planning menus and groceries for a ministry team

What I am creating:::

 

⛄  Winter cross-stitch projects

⛄  Pillow quilt

⛄  A granny square temperature blanket

 

Above is progress on the temperature blanket, which I started February 1, 2024 -- so it won't be finished until the end of January.  Counting the extra squares which are needed to help this blanket come out square, I have 35 more squares to add.

Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::

 

A thought-provoking quote from Spiritual Mothering:

 

"Kindness is foundational and should characterize our relationships both in and out of the home.  The dictionary defines kind as warmhearted, helpful, tolerant, charitable, considerate, thoughtful.  Paul gives further definition to kindness when he says, 'When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, no because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.'  (Titus 3:4-5)  God extended kindness to us when we neither deserved nor appreciated it.  To emulate our Savior, we are to take kindness to the same level in our relationships -- to those who do not 'deserve' it and appear not to appreciate it."

 

On my prayer list:::

 

Friends & family
Church family
Missionaries
Our country

Those in North Carolina and parts of Tennessee still displaced by the results of Hurricane Helene.

 

I will be sharing an entire post about this tomorrow.

 

And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday  for this week!

 

 

 

 

Sunday Scripture

 

 It's time for another Sunday Scripture!  Today, after our Christmas study, I'm returning to my ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 6.  It zeroes in on verses 6 and 9, but I chose to SOAP verses 2-4 and 6-9.

S= "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak, O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
"My soul is also very vexed; but Thou, O LORD, how long?
"Return, O LORD, deliver my soul; oh, save me for Thy mercies' sake ...
"I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
"Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it groweth old because of all mine enemies.
"Depart from me, all  ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
"The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer."  (Psalm 6:2-4, 6-9)

O= The biblical heading for Psalm 6 is "To the chief musician on Neginoth, upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David."  In the NKJV it reads "To the Chief Musician.  With stringed instruments.  On an eight-stringed harp.  A Psalm of David."

C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 6 "A cry for mercy".

Cross-references for "heal me" (v.2) -- "O LORD, my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me."  (Psalm 30:2)

"I said, LORD, be merciful unto me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee."  (Psalm 41:4)

Cross-reference for "my bones are vexed" (v.2) -- "For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed."  (Psalm 31:10)

Cross-reference for "vexed" (v.3) -- "For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth near unto the grave."  (Psalm 88:3)

Cross-reference for "how long?" (v.3) -- "Return, O LORD, how long?  And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants."  (Psalm 90:13)

Cross-reference for "weary" (v.6) -- "I am weary of my crying.  My throat is dried; mine eyes fail while I wait for my God."  (Psalm 69:3)

There are many cross-references for "eye is consumed" (v.7) but I will share only a couple.

"Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are like a shadow."  (Job 17:7)

"My heart panteth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it is also gone from me."  (Psalm 38:10)

Cross-reference for "depart from me" (v.8) -- "Depart from me, ye evildoers; for I will keep the commandments of my God."  (Psalm 119:115)

Cross-reference for "workers of iniquity" (v.8) -- "How long shall they utter and speak hard things, and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?" (Psalm 94:4)

Cross-reference for "supplication" (v.9) -- "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not Thyself from my supplication."  (Psalm 55:1)

In these verses we see that David knew he was weak; not only his soul but even his bones were troubled.  He was asking God for mercy and healing.  He seems to be questioning how long God might wait before answering.  

He asks God to deliver and save him for His mercies' sake.  Based on what he knew of God's merciful character, he asked God to act.

David had shed so many tears that his couch was drenched with them.  His eyes were sore and his vision clouded as a result of all the tears that he had shed.

But in verse 8 David's thinking takes a turn.  He tells all the "workers of iniquity" to depart from him.  He has the assurance that God has heard the voice of his weeping.  God will act on his behalf!  He has heard his plea and will answer his prayers.

A= We too can cry out to God for mercy when we are weak.  We can ask Him to bring healing when our souls are troubled and our bodies are weary, when our trials leave us battered and bruised and even unable to sleep.

I think of how David's enemies often mocked him for his trust in God.  His words "depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity" make me think of how we can tell Satan to "take a hike".

David refuted the lies of his enemies with the truth of God's character: 

* The LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
* The LORD hath  heard my supplication. 
* The LORD will receive my prayer.

And we can refute the lies of our enemies in the very same way.

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You for all that I can learn from this psalm of David!  I am so thankful that we can cry out to You for mercy because we know that You are merciful.   I praise You for how You have heard and answered my heartfelt cries (and even some that I couldn't voice) out of hard places over the years.  You have even given me sleep in those times!  

"I praise You that we can refute the lies of Satan and other enemies with what we know to be true about You and about Your character.  I praise You that You ARE truth!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David was so discouraged that he could not sleep.  His bed was flooded with tears but he knew that God saw him and heard his prayers.

Have you ever cried out to God feeling like God has abandoned you, only to later realize that He was strengthening you?

My response: I have thankfully never been so discouraged that I could not sleep.  I have been in very hard places in life, but God has always graciously allowed me to sleep.

And I have known the truth that God will not abandon me, but I have been in situations where I felt very alone and vulnerable to attack.  I recall one incident where I felt too numb and bruised to even pray for help, yet God strengthened and upheld me to take a stand against difficult people in a hard situation.

There was even a time (which included the incident alluded to above) in which I felt threatened and so vulnerable even in my own home.  For my quiet time I retreated to a bedroom corner away from windows, where I felt safest.  And God always met me there.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 6.  I hope it was a blessing to someone!

Our traditional grand breakfast

 

Again this year, we had four of our local grandchildren over to carry on a tradition we've been tweaking for many years -- I would say at least a dozen years.  It used to be breakfast (or supper, once or twice) out, then Christmas shopping for their parents, followed by ice cream sundaes at Kellerhaus.

It has evolved over the years and most often began with breakfast out at McDonalds or a diner.  But ever since 2020, we have found it works much better to skip eating out and also to skip shopping (as three of them have jobs and can surely buy their own gifts).  Instead, after breakfast, we have a time of crafting, candy making, or both (and sometimes a spot of tree decorating).  I thought today I would share about this year's breakfast.

As usual, I kept breakfast simple but hearty with breakfast sliders 

 

and a Hash Brown Casserole.  The hash brown casserole is always a big favorite with this crowd. 

I also made the Cinnamon Fried Apples recipe you see at the top of the post.  I change that up a little in that I substitute 1/4 cup pure maple syrup for the sugars that are called for.  I also slice the apples rather than chop them.

I had planned on making this coffeecake to fill in any gaps.  I had made this in a previous year and the kids enjoyed it.  But even though it is super easy and fast, I ran out of time.  I had squares of pumpkin coffeecake, blueberry coffeecake,  and cranberry breakfast cake in the freezer, so I warmed those up instead.  

And that was this year's grand breakfast!  The company was even better than the food.

Friday five, Christmasy doings edition

 

Christmas 1952

Here's a quick Friday five, listing more Christmasy doings from the past week:

🎄 1. Last Saturday we found a conducive time for our Christmas tradition with four local grandkids.  We enjoyed a wonderful homemade breakfast, lots of Christmas crafting time with Grammy's crafting stash, a bit of candy making, and then a trip to Kellerhaus for ice cream sundaes.  I'll write an entire post about this on one blog or the other, but here are a couple of photos.

 

Grampa and Ari study the Rolo bag to check the candy recipe. 

The above was my sundae.  About all you can see is whipped cream, salted peanuts, and banana chips, but there was homemade vanilla ice cream under there, along with hot fudge, hot butterscotch, and warm peanut butter sauces.

🎄 2.  Our church kids and teens put on a Christmas musical play.  It was well attended and greatly enjoyed.  Below are four of our grands who took part: the older three singing and the youngest one who had an acting/singing role in the drama.

🎄 3.  My hubby helping out with lots of baking.  You can see some of the fruits of his labor below on the Christmas dessert table at our daughter's home.

🎄 4. Finding time to bake, cook, and deliver goodies to friends in this lovely season of giving.

🎄 5.  A wonderful Christmas afternoon with our daughter, her hubby and family.

 

 

There you have it!  Friday five with a Christmasy vibe!