December 27

 

 Still a few Christmasy things going on.  I'm working on a gift for a friend and today I washed the fabric I'm using to make a small table runner to include.  I had hoped to sew that today, but it didn't happen.

My hubby baked more cookies -- the gingerbread chocolate thumbprints that are a big favorite with many people.  So thankful I found this recipe and he tried it!

We did a little after-Christmas shopping at our favorite thrift stores and bought a few tins for kitchen gifts for next year.  We were also looking for a votive candle holder of a specific size to use as a component of a gift.  We bought several possibilities.  Most of them fit, so it's just a matter of deciding which goes best with the rest of the gift.

We were tempted by a beautiful winter jigsaw puzzle and will probably go back to get it during the 20% off senior discount hours on a weekday.

I also listed two vintage Christmas cards on Etsy, and  wrote a couple of Christmas thank-you notes.  And that has been our day!

December 26

Today has been quiet here.  Mr. T and I went out at midday and got gingerbread coffees at the cafe in our local supermarket, then picked up a few essentials that should tide us over until next week.

He has been baking, replenishing his stock of chocolate orange cookies and lemon thumbprints, and also making another batch of Heavenly Delight (chocolate peanut butter) fudge.

I've been puttering around doing this and that, putting some things back to rights after a busy week.  I started work on a new crocheted hat for my hubby using a new-to-me pattern.  If it works out well, I will probably make more for next year's Christmas gifts.  

I froze the remaining Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls, wrapping them by twos in plastic wrap and then stashing them all in a large plastic box.  We can thaw out two at a time as needed (or, more accurately, wanted).

I also had a lovely chat with my young friend Jennifer which was a blessing to both of us.  It was a delight to hear about their Christmas.

We had leftovers for supper, which simplified the day even more.

All in all, a relaxing day after Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

 

Sending out a hearty "Merry Christmas" to all of our friends!

We had a lovely day of celebrating our Savior's birth.  This morning (following our quiet times) we worked on food to take to our daughter's home in the next town.  I brought a chicken dish, maple glazed carrots, mulled cranberry orange juice, and a cookie tray.  We also had a beef roast, mashed  potatoes and herbed rolls.  A feast!

The afternoon was filled with gifts, laughter and a game played together.  

How I love this precious season!  It has been a busy December  (and it has seemed to pass far too quickly) yet I have found it relaxed in many ways.  I trust that each of you has had a wonderful Advent season and that you had a merry, merry Christmas!

December 24

 Another day of Christmasy doings!  We had maybe 4 to 5 inches of snow overnight and it certainly does make everything look like a Christmas card.

Let's see ... I wrote a few more last minute Christmas cards.  They will be late, but I tell myself that it's the staying in touch that counts.

I made a homemade ranch dressing mix that will go in my Ranch House Chicken for tomorrow.  

I had a sweet phone visit with my young friend Rebekah who has moved to Minnesota.  She is trying so earnestly to make Christmas special for her husband and very young children in a new home!

Then I spent nearly the entire rest of the day wrapping gifts.  I try to get a little bit creative so that not everything is obvious.  We will see how that works out!  The gifts are all wrapped except for a couple of last minute kitchen gifts that will be done tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile Mr. T baked some repeat batches of three kinds of cookies -- Chocolate Spritz, Lemon Spritz, and Christmas tree spritz -- and made another batch of fudge.  He also made the chocolate dipped orange slice candies.

This evening I finished some Christmas emails to missionaries and plan to spend a few minutes relaxing with Glad and Golden Hours!

December 23

 Well, a day filled with Christmasy doings!

First, a trip to town (following our quiet time) to purchase two final gifts and the last few necessary groceries.

Then home, to prepare some cookie trays and kitchen gifts.  

Next, we headed to the home of relatives to drop off cookies, fudge, apricot cakes, and Christmas granola.

Then it was out to lunch with friends from Missouri at the Bird Dog Cafe, a favorite local spot of ours.

Home again to pack a box to send to faraway loved ones -- really more of a birthday box for a late-December birthday, but also containing plenty of cookies and fudge for the entire family.

Then my hubby's sister stopped by, so she had to sample fudge and cookies and she filled a paper plate "to go".

While Mr. T went to the post office, I called our Nevada daughter for our weekly chat.  While we talked, he baked a batch of Whipped Shortbread, the cookies pictured at top.

And that has been our day.  A good day!

December 22

 

I honestly feel as if I accomplished very little today, but my  hubby says that getting all of the Christmas cards written and on their way is a very big accomplishment indeed.  And I know he's right.  It was a lot of cards.

It all reminds me of an older poem which I'd found in a used Christmas book and blogged about on my Christmas blog in 2014.  Here it is:

LORD, BLESS THE CARDS WE'VE WRITTEN
 Myrtle Beeler Day

Lord, bless the cards we've written;
May they bear a joyous greeting.
Bless the gifts we've wrapped and tied;
May they radiate Thy love.
Bless the wreaths that we have hung
In doorway, stair, and hall;
May they speak of life eternal.
Thy dominion over all.
Bless the lovely candle
Shining forth into the night;
May it carry far and wide
The wondrous message of Thy light.
Bless all the sweet traditions of Thy dear, holy birth;
May they lead us in the worship of
The Savior, Lord of earth.

There are some wonderful thoughts there and some timely prayer requests! 

So let's see ... yesterday afternoon I made another double batch of Christmas granola and packaged it in quart jars for gifting.  I also put together a cookie plate for our neighbor who I knew would appear at our door any day bearing a loaf of freshly baked sourdough rye bread.  

And in fact, that exchange of goodies took place today.  Tomorrow I would like to make a few more kitchen gifts and get a package on its way to Nevada, but we will see!

Sunday Scripture

 

I've been posting Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to get it, though it might not be of a lot more use to you this year.  You could save it for next year!  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This fourth week's verses are focused on Peace.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 23.

S= "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."  (Isaiah 9:6)

O= Written by the prophet Isaiah, these beautiful words speak eloquently of Christ's birth.  No ordinary Child, the government would be upon His shoulder.  The fact that this child is given these names of God -- Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace -- prove once again that Jesus is in fact God.

Since the emphasis this week of Advent is on Peace, I wanted to look somewhat more closely at the name Prince of Peace.

Jesus is the One Whose rule will bring peace At His birth (and death) He made possible peace between God and man. At His second coming, He will establish His kingdom in peace at the onset of the Millennium. Our world desperately longs for and tries to achieve  peace in the middle east, but as believers we realize that lasting peace will not transpire until the end of this age when the Prince returns and bring His peace.

Adrian Rogers notes that Jesus "is the secret of peace—of personal peace, domestic peace, international peace. And, world peace waits upon His coming, but friend, you don’t have to wait ’til Jesus to come for you to have peace. For the Bible says that 'therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (Romans 5:1)." 

A= I've been reminded that "Wonderful" is a noun and speaks of Christ's Person  and His work on my behalf.  Because I have accepted His free (but oh-so-costly) gift of salvation, I can see Him at work in my life every day in these magnificent roles.

Counselor -- I can turn to His word every day for guidance and wisdom.

The Mighty God -- He is sovereign and all-powerful.  What a difference it makes in my daily life when I acknowledge this!

The Everlasting Father -- God Himself is my Heavenly Father and cares for me in every area of my life.

The Prince of Peace -- As I trust my Heavenly Father and rest in His love, trusting and acknowledging His sovereignty over my life, I will have His peace in my heart.  This peace that passes all understanding could only come from the Prince of Peace!

An Our Daily Bread devotional helps with our application: "Christmas is the season of peace. The Old Testament tells the story of how God set the stage to introduce the Prince of Peace. Jesus came to break the cycle of sin and blame by making peace for us with God 'through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20)   Instead of blaming us for all the trouble we cause, He bore the blame for all of us ... When we accept forgiveness from God, we lose our desire to withhold it from others. And when we live in peace with God, we are eager to make peace with others. We can both give and receive the gift of peace this Christmas. "

P= "Lord, I praise You for all that You are, as depicted in this beautiful verse.  I praise You for Your magnificent work in salvation and for drawing me to where I accepted Jesus as my Savior.  Since that has taken place, I can see the realities of this verse in my life every day.

"I thank and praise You for Your Word, in which I can find counsel, guidance, and direction for my life.  I praise You that You are the Mighty God, omnipotent and sovereign over all the events of history, working all things together for the good of Your children and for Your glory!  I thank You that You are my Heavenly Father, perfect in Your love and care for all of Your children.  And I praise You so much so much for Your peace which garrisons my heart as I commit my cares to You.  Truly, You are wonderful!

I praise You in Jesus' name, Amen."

And that's the Sunday Scripture for this third Sunday in December!