December 12

 

Today is another busy day with lots of Christmasy plans, preparations, and events happening.  

After our quiet times this morning we headed straight to the grocery store.  I think that this trip has caught us up to date on components for cookies and kitchen gifts.  I haven't calculated how many pounds of butter we've bought this season, and it's probably just as well not to know.

After putting the groceries away, I made a schedule for the rest of my day, and my hubby went to the kitchen and started making cookie dough for a new kind he wants to try: Maple Thumbprints.  We'll see how they come out.  If we like them I'll link to the recipe.

Then I added a ribbon and tag to my gift for tonight's Ladies of Grace Christmas party.  

After lunch I plan to put together breakfast sliders for tomorrow's breakfast with four of our grandkids.  This breakfast is a tradition every December and is followed by crafting and possibly candy making.  In the afternoon we'll head out for ice cream sundaes at a favorite destination.

The breakfast menu will include the sliders (with sausage, eggs, and cheese), a hash brown casserole, cinnamon apples (I'm trying a crockpot recipe this year that's different from my usual skillet but sounds scrumptious!) and a simple coffeecake.  (Not sure yet if I'll bake that tonight, or in the morning.)

There is likely to be a plate of Christmas cookies to snack on during their crafting endeavors.  I don't have specific crafts planned; I'll just get out the totes and boxes of Christmas craft materials and the kids will take it from there with their endless creativity.  I may even get to make an ornament or two myself!

I'm hoping to do a little more Christmas decorating and possibly some cleaning this afternoon.

I'll be bringing lasagna and a cookie plate for tonight's party, which is always a lovely time.  

It looks like my hubby will be wrapping up his cookie baking soon.  It will be nice to have that all done!

December 11

 Today has been busy with all kinds of things, including a dental appointment for me and putting snow tires on our car for Mr. T.

In addition, he baked the apricot-filled Sacher torte cookies and the lemon spritz cookies shown above.

I made a lasagna for our Ladies of Grace Christmas party which is tomorrow night.  It's an easy make-ahead, so I prepared it today and will bake it just before the event.

I also made a hash brown casserole for a breakfast we'll be doing on Saturday with some of the grandkids.  Very helpful to have that done ahead.  I will try to do more components for that meal tomorrow.

Another Christmasy  thing I did was to wrap my gift for tomorrow night's gift exchange.  

And worked on posts for my Christmas blog ... that may be about it for today.

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,