December 2

 

I'm trying to post daily in December at both of my blogs.  It may not happen daily here at my kitchen table, but there is plenty to talk about so I will share a little today.

Mr. T has accomplished so. much. Christmas cookie baking.  He's a dynamo in the kitchen!

He has made every cookie on this list from the Lemon Thumbprints down through the Sacher Torte cookies, making double batches of most.  He's also made some that are not on this list -- Macaroon Kisses, for one, and he is currently in the kitchen working on Peanut Blossoms to use up the chocolate kisses!  Peanut Blossom recipes are fairly easy to find, but if you want to try the Macaroon Kiss cookies -- which are scrumptious -- look here: Cookie recipes from an old magazine. 

He's also made, I think, four batches of Heavenly Delight fudge (shown above).

I haven't done a drop of Christmas decorating yet, other than turning a flannel throw to its Christmasy side, just this morning.  Its everyday side is dark green flannel.

 
Yesterday we spent the day helping out at The Wilds of New England (and I couldn't make myself begin Christmas decorating in November), so today is the day I begin with some simple first steps to Christmas decor.

I've completed a few small handmade gifts and one larger one, but have much more to do.

Today is this sweet girl's birthday!  Rosemary, shown here with her mom, turns 2 years old today.  So happy she could be here in NH with her family in September!

 
That's today's simple December post.  Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Some goals for December

 

Time to set some goals for December:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Continue working through the "Make Room Challenge" from Make Room for What You Love
* Make Christmas plans and preparations
* Decorate our home for Christmas
* Enjoy our traditional Christmas activity with four of the local grands
* Attend a Christmas party with Mr. T's former co-workers
* Take part in our church Christmas program
* Plan and celebrate Christmas with family and friends
* Post in this blog as often as possible -- hopefully every day
* Post in my Christmas blog every day
* Write and schedule December posts for both blogs
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Craft some homemade Christmas gifts and decorations
* Prepare and send at least one Christmas box to Nevada
* Do some sewing projects ( a few more sachets to stave off musty odors, plus maybe curtains) for the cottage
* Spend a little time on some UFO craft projects
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Spend some time on my trust responsibilities
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Memorize several Bible verses and review some older ones
* Get back into our study of the book of Daniel with younger believers
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Drink enough water each day
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

HEALTHY HABITS FOR DECEMBER:  Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/intermittent fasting

End of November hodgepodge

 

 It's Wednesday again, so time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond, asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers on their own blogs.  This week's Hodgepodge questions help us sum up November and begin to think about December fun.  Here goes:

 1. Sum up your November in ten words or less. 

Wonderful, heartfelt times of fellowship with family and friends.  

 2. Are you hosting any holiday parties this year? Attending any? Party pooper, party animal, or life of the party...where do you land when it comes to parties? 

Not planning on hosting one.  So far we are planning on attending one, with my hubby's former work crew.  It's always a low-key time with lots of delicious food and he enjoys catching up with everyone.   Out of the partier categories mentioned, I guess you would say we are both party poopers.  We tend to go to bed early and so we don't stay late anywhere.  My hubby is Mr. Congeniality and can talk to anyone about anything, but he wants to leave a party by 9 pm if not before.  Thankfully the one party we are planning on is always an early night.

Above you see Mr. T with our daughter, son-in-law, and friend Patty.  He learned a new game on Thanksgiving and had a blast doing so.

3. Do you purchase holiday clothing of any sort (sparkly tops, Christmas jammies, Santa suit, etc). 

Maybe a holiday sweater or vest.  Possibly socks.   I have a couple of Christmas-designed turtlenecks.  The great thing about festive clothing is that it's worn for such a short season it tends to last for years, so I haven't bought anything like this in awhile.

4. What's your go-to recipe when you're asked to bring an hors d'oeuvre to a party? 

This time of year it is always my Festive Cheese Log which I've been making for years.  It travels well and only needs a box or two of crackers to accompany it.

Photo is from Taste of Home, but my cheese log looks quite similar.

5. December 3rd is National Play Outside Day...what might you do to celebrate? 

 Let's see, it will be Saturday.  Maybe a hike or a walk if the weather is nice.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

We got to stay overnight at our little camp on November 27.  The night was rainy but warm, and we must have warmish temps to stay there in winter or late fall.  Much of the building is not insulated and our main source of heat is a wood stove which doesn't hold a fire all night.  So we have to pick and choose our times.  One thing my hubby did while there was to get the lights on the loft Christmas tree.

No, we don't have that much snow yet!  Almost no snow, in fact.  The photo below is from last December.

Oh, and just an FYI to all who are interested -- I'm going to try and post daily during December in my Christmas blog, and hopefully here at my kitchen table as well.  Stop in and visit when you can!

There's the Hodgepodge for this week.  Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Sunday Scripture

 

Photo from Incourage.me

Again this Sunday, I'm sharing from the Made for Community reading plan from Love God Greatly that I worked on back in 2015.  With this study, as I have often done, I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  Just a quick reminder that the S is for Scripture, O is for Observation, A is for Application and P is for Prayer.  The seventh section is Living in Community in Our World.  So here we go with the Scripture for the second day of that section. 

S= "Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hidden.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  (Matthew 5:14-15)

O= Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is recorded in Matthew, chapters 5 through 7.  C.I. Scofield summarizes the teaching in this sermon as "The principles and the Rule of the Kingdom."  The first 12 verses of chapter 5 record Jesus' teaching on the Beatitudes.  Verses 13-16 record what Scofield, at least, calls the Similitudes.  The teaching compares believers with everyday, important substances -- light, and salt.

In verse 14 He says that believers are the light of the world.  (He also says the same of Himself in John 8:12.)  "World" here is the Greek word kosmos -- meaning organized humanity -- the world system.  

Jesus adds that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  And that is true.  Think of the lengths to which cities have gone in wartime to fit windows with blackout curtains, and even enforce a nightly blackout, in order to disguise the city and protect it from air raids.  It's very difficult to disguise a city.  And so the fact that we are Christians cannot and should not be hidden from the world.

We are to let our light shine before others for two important reasons: 1) that they may see our good works; 2) that this will cause them to glorify our heavenly Father.

A= Am I taking my responsibility as a light to the world seriously enough?  Are the "windows of my city" (so to speak) clear and free of smudges so that the light is spilling out, visible to the world?  The world needs to see the light of believers to see that we are different, and to give the glory for this difference to our heavenly Father.  The world will not want the hope that believers have unless they can first see that we are different.

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You for bringing me into Your kingdom.  Thank You for Your Word which makes it so clear how citizens of Your kingdom are to conduct themselves.  I pray that You will help me to truly let my light shine in such a way that the world will see a difference and understand that You are that difference.  Help me to bring honor and glory to You with all that You have given me.  I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

That's the study for this week!  Let your light shine, friends!

A timely reminder ...

 

 I've shared this post before, but I'm feeling led to post it again this year and maybe make it an annual tradition.  I'd like to encourage my readers to do an Advent Bible study or participate in an Advent or Christmas themed Scripture writing plan.  It has never been more important for believers to become thoroughly grounded in God's Word.  You may have plans to get more serious about Bible study in the new year, but why not start now? 

 One of the easiest ways to do this is to participate in Abby's 25 Days of God-Given Gifts at Little Birdie Blessings.  Abby has beautiful free graphics -- like the one above -- for each day, as well as verses and illustrations for each God-given gift.  These readings are not lengthy but they are most meaningful, so you might wish to go over and look at this series each day, maybe writing out the verses and even journaling them using the SOAP method of meditating on Scripture.  I have done this in the past.  Abby also provides links to follow the series on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Another relatively easy way to do an Advent study  is by doing a Scripture writing challenge.  You can find  a number of Scripture writing and journaling plans at Rachel Wojo, among other places.  

The one shown below,  the Birth of Christ Scripture writing plan, is from Shannon at Sweet Blessings.

 

A couple more from Shannon are Gifts & Blessings, Peace, and a general December plan.  It looks like Shannon is no longer writing Scripture plans,  but the older ones are still easily available.

One plan I have done in the past is The Light, from Rachel Wojo.  It was such a blessing!

 
The Road to Christmas, from Love God Greatly is an Advent study I've done in the past and highly recommend.  God With Us is another Advent study I've done from Love God Greatly.  It seems as if the journal and reading plan may be downloaded for free on their site, but if you want to purchase the book it may be found on Amazon.

Another Advent study I have done which I greatly enjoyed in the past was this free download from Good Morning Girls: Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus. 

In 2020, I used Peace, Be Still: A 31-Day Christmas prayer journal, from Women Living Well.  I'm thinking that I may use some of my thoughts from this study as Sunday Scripture posts during December, but we will see!

I definitely suggest starting an Advent study or Scripture writing plan if you can make the time.  You will gain so much.  It is never too late to begin a good Bible study that may impact your life for eternity!

For one final bit of inspiration, you might visit my Christmas devotionals Pinterest board.  Lots of good reads there, and also a Christmas-themed Scripture writing plan that, again, it wouldn't be too late to start.

I hope you will seriously consider an Advent study or a Scripture writing plan for December.  You will find it such a blessing!

Cruising into Thanksgiving with the Hodgepodge

 

 It's Wednesday again, so time for the Hodgepodge -- the linkup where Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond, asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers on their own blogs.  This week's Hodgepodge questions involve Thanksgiving, Christmas plans and much more.   Here goes!

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so where did you go and how did you like it? If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday? 

Nope, no desire for a cruise.  If I was ever to take one,  I would want it to be either a cruise down the Mississippi or possibly an Alaskan cruise.

A lake cruise is a lot more my speed and I've been on a number of those on large lakes.  Below are a couple of scenes from the M/S Mount Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee. 

 

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans...are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your 'must have' sides? Tell us one thing you're especially grateful for this year.

Not hosting, but I am helping with food.  Turkey, cooked by my daughter using Deanna's method, will be the main event.  It's stuffing in our family, but not everyone likes it so I'm making stuffing separately and bringing it in a crockpot.  Homemade cranberry sauce is my preference, but the grandkids all like the canned jellied kind.  Only thing is, it must be the Woodstock organic kind as one of my grands cannot tolerate high fructose corn syrup.  Woodstock is the only brand I've seen without it.  Pies are definitely on the dessert menu -- an apple cranberry, two pumpkin, and a pecan so far.  Must-have sides include Carrie's make-ahead mashed potatoes and honey rolls, and broccoli casserole from my sister-in-law Dawn's recipe.

One thing I'm especially grateful for this year is the opportunity to know God through His Word.  Knowing Him and learning about His character makes it more possible to see His sovereignty over all things and to rest securely in His care regardless of all that is going on in our world.  It helps us too to understand that He has the power and wisdom to do what's best and to change things as He chooses.

Above is my Caramel Pecan Pie:

CARAMEL PECAN PIE

36 caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup pecan halves
1 9-inch unbaked pie crust

Combine the caramels, butter and milk in a heavy saucepan; heat until the mixture is creamy and caramels are melted, stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer; gradually blend in the caramel mixture. Fold in the pecans and pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake at 350º for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Cool pie until firm before cutting or serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

And I'll add my pumpkin pie recipe too:

EASY PUMPKIN PIE

1 9-inch unbaked pie crust
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 425º. Combine all ingredients except pie crust in a large bowl and beat with electric mixer until well combined. Pour into crust.

Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350º. Bake pie for 35 to 40 minutes longer or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Cool pie before cutting or serving. Refrigerate leftovers.
 

On a more temporal note, I'm super thankful to have sold the last piece of property for my dad's trust.

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

No to all.   I will put money in a Salvation Army kettle if I encounter a bell ringer at Christmas time.  

And of course we give to our local church all year round.  We also have some missionary friends we have personally helped to support for years.

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Is your tree up? Shopping done? Wrapped? 

No to all.  I have started my shopping and making, but nothing is wrapped.  My tree is not up and my decorating not started.  My hubby has, however, started baking Christmas cookies and has gone through two batches of fudge already giving it out for various occasions.

 He has baked a batch of Whipped Shortbread (above);

 a double batch of Secret Spice Cookies (above);

and two batches of Heavenly Delight fudge (below).

He's also baked a double batch of Chocolate Mint Crisps.  And he's talking about baking more cookies today.

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

Trustworthy God

Home (heavenly as well as earthly)

Abundant blessings

Nearby family and friends

Knowing God through His word

Salvation in Christ

(I borrowed part of this from last year's "Thankful" acrostic.)

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

So looking forward to Thanksgiving!  My favorite holiday, though I love Christmas dearly as well.  If you've never read my Thanksgiving memories, you might enjoy them here.

There's the Hodgepodge for today.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

Sunday Scripture

 

 Again this Sunday, I'm sharing from the Made for Community reading plan from Love God Greatly that I worked on back in 2015.  With this study, as I have often done, I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  Just a quick reminder that the S is for Scripture, O is for Observation, A is for Application and P is for Prayer.  The seventh section is Living in Community in Our World.  So here we go with the Scripture for the first day of that section.

S= "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  (John 3:16-17)

O= These verses are part of a conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to him by night with questions.  After explaining that a man will not see the kingdom of God unless he is born again, Jesus goes on to tell why He came to earth -- that God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for their sins.  Whoever truly believes in Jesus will not perish, but will have eternal life.  

C.I. Scofield notes that "belief, in the New Testament, denotes more than intellectual assent to a fact.  The Greek word [pisteuo] means adherence to, committal to, faith in, reliance upon, trust in, a person or an object, and this involves not only the consent of the mind, but an act of the heart and will of the subject ... 'whosoever trusts in or commits himself to Him'."

Verse 17 tells us that:
* God didn't send Jesus into the world to condemn the world;
* God sent Jesus so that through Him, the world might be saved.

A= Verse 16 is an oft-quoted Bible verse that many people have memorized.  Yet many of those who recite it so glibly haven't personally applied it.  Intellectually, they believe in Jesus, but they are not truly saved.  

I need to be sure I am telling others of God's love for the world, and just why He sent Jesus.  I also need to make sure they go beyond intellectual assent to true belief.

P= "Lord, I am so thankful that You sent Your Son Jesus into the world so that we might be saved from sin and have everlasting life.  I thank You for drawing me to You.  I pray that You will help me to be faithfully sharing that Good News with others so that they also may trust Jesus as Savior.  I praise You for the opportunities You will give.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

There is the simple study for this week.  I would love it if, one of these weeks, someone else studies out the Scripture with the SOAP methods and shares their thoughts.  It would be interesting to compare notes!