December 10

 Lots of Christmasy happenings here today!

Mr. T baked and frosted another batch of Eggnog Logs.  He also baked a batch of Lemon Shortbread Thumbprints and made a batch of Special Holiday Fudge.

I finally got around to baking Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies from Ambitious Kitchen.  They involved a lot of work but are beautiful and delicious.  There was an option to make them a peppermint mocha flavor so I did that.

I listed a few more Christmas cards in my Etsy shop and worked on more posts for my Christmas blog.

We got the lights on our Christmas tree and then between us we mostly got it decorated.  There are a few more things I want to add, and a few more decorations to go up in the house, but mostly we are in good shape for our annual grandkids breakfast and craft time which will be Saturday.

It snowed all day, which was another Christmasy thing, and I had Christmas music playing as we worked on our various projects.

December 9

 

Let's see,  I feel as if very few Christmasy things happened today.  On my part, at least.

My hubby baked a second batch of the Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies because he had streusel topping left from yesterday's batch and wanted to use it up.  

He also baked a pan of the Cranberry Cheesecake bars.

I was going to try a new chocolate candy cane cookie recipe and even softened the butter for it, but it was after 2:30 by the time I could have started, and that just wasn't happening.  Tomorrow!

He is currently working on putting up the Christmas tree, and he restrung the lights on our little outdoor fir tree to make them look better.

I had soooo many computer tasks to attend to; things to order, customer service people to communicate with, emails to send on my hubby's behalf.  I had an Etsy order to prepare and send.  I did send several Christmas cards to friends, and a birthday card to a Nevada granddaughter.

Tonight I need to compose some more Christmas emails to missionaries.  We may get a start on decorating the tree, but we'll see what happens!  Tomorrow is supposed to be snowy, so we will be happy to stay in and enjoy our Christmas preparations.

December 8

 

So yesterday afternoon we were able to go to the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert, titled North Pole Playlist.  Our granddaughter and several of our friends play in this orchestra and the Christmas concert is always a fun one. 

Today my hubby has been baking cookies and stringing up outdoor lights.  I think he also is thinking of bringing in the Christmas tree this afternoon too, but we will see!

He is currently working on Christmas tree spritz

and earlier finished Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies.

 
I've been cleaning, doing laundry and just a bit of decorating, working on Etsy listings too.  I just scanned the little 1950s Rust Craft card, below.  Isn't it fun?

 
And soon it will be time to think about supper!  Another busy December day, but I am seeking to do every bit of it in a celebratory spirit, as to the Lord.

Sunday Scripture

 I'm planning to post 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.  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 first week's verses are focused on Hope.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 1.

S= "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.  And the angel departed from her."  (Luke 1:38)

O= This is Mary's response to the angel Gabriel as he came to her and explained that she would become the mother of the Messiah.  Though she didn't (and couldn't possibly) comprehend all that was to entail, she responded with "behold, the handmaid of the Lord" -- basically saying "I am God's servant."  

And then she added, "Be it unto me according to thy word" -- or, "let it happen as you have said."  What an amazing statement for an unwed teenage girl to make!

David Jeremiah comments, "This is the glory and wonder of Christmas, that God could plant not only into the womb of this woman the Son of God, but He could plant in her heart the faith to believe the message that she received from the angel. Her response has always overwhelmed me with a sense of absolute submission that ought to be in the heart of every child of God. Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word'..” 

A= I have the entire Bible.  I may not understand all of God's plan for my life, but I know it's a plan for good and not for evil.  Therefore, how much more do I need to obey God unquestioningly.  I need to see myself consistently as God's servant, and to accept His plan for my life -- without question or complaint.

David Roper wrote, "What is God asking you to do? It may be something magnificent, or something ordinary. It may be to respond actively to a command of Scripture, or to submit patiently to present suffering."

“What God arranges for us to experience at each moment is the holiest thing that could happen to us,” commented the 18th-century writer Jean-Pierre de Caussade.

"Are you able to accept each moment with grace and submission? Can you respond to the Lord as Mary said to the angel, 'Let it be to me according to your word'?" -- David Roper

P= Lord, I thank You so much that you have provided the example of Mary for us to observe.  We see her trusting response to the angel's news and are so rebuked by it.  So many times we want to question what You are doing.  Mary had questions too, yet once the angel provided reassurance she had this response of unhesitating acceptance.

"I pray that You will help me to be Your trusting, obedient servant, as Mary was.

I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen."

And there is the very simple (yet profound) Sunday Scripture for this first Sunday in December!

December 6

Lots of Christmas busyness today.  My hubby has made salted caramel fudge and has frosted the Eggnog Logs he baked yesterday.  He has just finished putting together a cookie tray for a Christmas party we'll be attending this evening.

He's baked a lot of Christmas cookies in the past few weeks, and I more or less finalized our tentative Christmas cookie list, not a moment too soon.

I've packed an Etsy order and listed a few more Christmas cards.  Also ordered gifts for December birthdays, one Christmas gift,  and worked on a future Sunday School lesson.  Lots of laundry too.

I also wrote a Christmas blog post and worked ahead on some Sunday Scripture posts.  Tonight we attended a Christmas party with the logging crew my hubby used to work with.  A very nice time and lots of yummy food.  It's always a highlight of our season,

December 5

 Let's see, what Christmasy things have I done today?  Quite a few, actually, though not as many as I had hoped to do.

First off was the Advent Bible study I've been working through.

Next, I prepared an Etsy order, a sweet little vintage Christmas card someone had ordered.

We went downtown, mailed the order and visited a favorite thrift store.  Mr. T found some timers for his outdoor Christmas lights, and we picked up a few lovely things that we may use for gifts.

Next we cleaned the church, and I put away some harvest-y decor there and got out a few Christmas things.

We came home, had lunch, and I prepped another Etsy order, this one filled with vintage Christmas goodness.

We had errands to do downtown anyway, so we mailed that order and then did our grocery shopping.  Mr. T popped into our local soap works, right next to the post office, to get some of their shampoo bars as he is running really low on that.

At the grocery store we picked up many components for cookies, fudge, and other food gifts.

We came home, I got supper into the oven and worked on more Etsy listings while Mr. T baked Christmas cookies.  In the meantime, a third Etsy order showed up, but I'll package and mail that one tomorrow.  

Now it's after supper and I'm working on posts for both blogs.  A busy day!

December 4

Probably the most Christmasy thing I did today was to put out some Christmas decorations at our little cottage.  The sign above, for one.  I got out other signs and ornaments and put them here and there, even adding a vintage dish Christmas dish towel in the kitchen!

Meanwhile, Mr. T got the Christmas tree out of storage and put it in the loft window.  With the help of grandson Sam, he strung outdoor lights on the gable end -- colored icicle lights!

He has also baked two batches of cookies today and made a batch of fudge!