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MERRY CHRISTMAS

A little about our Christmas and presents....

First of all, I love Christmas. I wasn't raised celebrating Christmas from a very Biblical perspective so the pattern that I grew up with has been quite a bit different from the different things that I've done to celebrate this very special day with my family. Many of the things I do are not original, I learned many things as a young Christian mother from wonderful Godly women that the Lord allowed me the privilege of knowing. When I was very young, my focus was on lots and lots of presents. I've tried to put more of the focus on the Lord and 'family' with presents being a part of the celebration.

I met a mother once, who had five children and said that the kids got $50 allotted for Christmas to each of them. They could have their parents pick surprise gifts, make specific requests, or pick one thing at that price. (BTW this was about 13 years ago.) She said the interesting thing was that since they had started this system that the children stopped asking for one fancy-name-brand shirt that would take the whole $50!

We have had several years with a similar system. Previous years things have been done differently based on what was affordable. One year, about 12 years ago, I made most of the presents. I made old-fashioned night shirts from a brown and black flannel, a cloth-book about the Christmas story, vests, and a few other things and I picked up several presents from yard sales where like-new goodies were found. (Like a cool green and purple turtle backpack.)

A couple of years, we've had bigger blessings to work with and went all-out. One year we bought every child (yes, all 6) their own guitar, and to share; a brand new big TV for the den and a game system along with several games, and extra controllers.

Most of the last few years, things have been more limited. The kids were allowed to pick 2 "medium" presents or one present up to a certain $ amount. The younger kiddies would pick two, the older kids would pick one 'big' present, usually. That's what we did this year with the oldest getting cash since he's at the teenage-age. You know...gotta try it on...don't know what I want....depends on what's on sale...blah blah blah. :-)

One year we went by that system and ended up getting an extra, unexpected check so we couldn't resist and picked up two more 'surprise' presents.

The biggest part of Christmas is centered around the 'family time'. I try to do similar to my Thanksgiving Feast Meal, and cook up a giant mess of food. After eating, we open presents, and then spend the next couple of days playing together and just hanging out and eating as we get hungry.

This year I cooked a 22 lb turkey, a 9 lb. spiral ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, rolls, veggie stick tray (carrots, celery, pea pods, with cheese chunks and dip), dressing, kids made homemade sugar cookies, homemade Pecan Snowball Cookies, baklava, our traditional Birthday for Jesus Cake, 2 apple pies, 1 pumpkin pie, 2 pecan pies, and probably some other things that I can't remember. (The oldest ate nearly 3/4 an apple pie in one setting! But hey...he can't do that every day! ;-)

Another fun thing for the kids is that they have some relatives that usually send them a whopping $50 each! This turns into a very exciting day as they all get to go shop and pick out their own presents with that money. This year, several Webkinz were bought. A very, very favored toy here. ...We were able to catch some sweet deals on these at B.A.M. They had buy one get the second half off on the retired pets and I was able to check out in such a way as to earn coupons - 2 for $5 off. (Yeah! Go mom!) (My nine year old now tells me that Walgreens will be running a sale on the Lil'Kinz, B1G1F.)

Next year, we will likely do all 'surprise' gifts and the children will likely not know what they will be getting for presents. I wanted to do that this year but DH really wanted them to 'have the desire of their heart'! :-)

....I've also incorporated a few more traditions, I'll share more about them soon!

Feel free to share how your family handles Christmas and presents! Etc!

We are still on the busy side so my posts will still be scattered.....I'll tell ya more about the busy side too.....:-)

Glad tidings!

It's been sooooooooo busy around my house here lately!
This month always is but- it is a month of memories that are very important!!

I've missed my blog but let me give you a run down of what's been up:
-I got a UTI and ended up in the ER with it and had to take lots of meds and felt real bad for several days. I haven't had one of those in 20 years so I am more thankful that I'm not one that's usually prone to those and I'm also reminded of the need to be sympathetic to others when they feel bad. Nothing like sickness to make one more sensitive to others!
-We have been spending extra time on a couple of read-aloud projects.
-We've had to be very creative with ways to pick up Christmas for the kids. The older kids went with me to get the younger kids' presents; the older kids presents were ordered. (Have I ever told you about our 'frugal' Christmas?)
-We've had a very special family-Christmas project that has required all's participation and some time on e-bay to raise the funds, as well as some time running off to ship items to our buyers. (I will certainly discuss this more in the future!--it involves raising funds, and losing lots of sleep...anyone wanna guess?)
-During the next few days, we will have our family's Christmas time together so there is much to do in preparation!
-We've been doing our traditional "Christmas Box" every night. (I'll try to tell you more about this. It's part of our celebration that takes us from Dec. 1st to Christmas day.)
-My oldest son has became a volunteer at our little community Fire Dept. and I've had to listen to A LOT of stories about following hoses through a dark room, being called out only to have the 'call' canceled, and 'how fast I can get my gear on'! :-)
----and of course there's soooo much more but those are just some of the big and not-so-ordinary things that have hindered me here. But I'm grateful for them all! And even though I'll be busy the next few days/week or two; I'm thankful for all of the busy-ness of this time of year!
------I hope all of you out there in blogland are having a great Christmas Season! And I hope all of you are taking time to celebrate the birth of our Lord! It is a WONDERFUL time of year! Blessed be the Lord!

Sing Unto the Lord

Rise, my soul, to watch and pray, from thy sleep awaken;
Be not by the evil day unawares be taken.
For the foe, well we know, oft his harvest reapeth,
While the Christian sleepeth.

Watch against the devil’s snares lest asleep he find thee;
For indeed no pains he spares to deceive and blind thee.
Satan’s prey oft are they who secure are sleeping
And no watch are keeping.

Watch! Let not the wicked world with its power defeat thee.
Watch lest with her pomp unfurled she betray and cheat thee.
Watch and see lest there be faithless friends to charm thee,
Who but seek to harm thee.

Watch against thyself, my soul, lest with grace thou trifle;
Let not self thy thoughts control nor God’s mercy stifle.
Pride and sin lurk within all thy hopes to scatter;
Heed not when they flatter.

But while watching, also pray to the Lord unceasing,
He will free thee, be thy Stay, strength and faith increasing.
O Lord, bless in distress and let nothing swerve me
From the will to serve Thee.

–Johann Freystein, 1697

Soured Oatmeal Coffee-'cake'....

This was an interesting experiment! It's a cross between cake and baked oatmeal when it's hot but once it's cooled, it becomes more cake-like.

Soak overnight:

3 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 3/4 cup of water

(I didn't want a real sour taste but I did want the benefits of soaking!)

Mix in:

1 1/2 T oil

3/4 cup cane sugar

1 t vanilla

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1 t cinnamon

1 T orange zest

1 beaten egg

2 cups of plain flour

Pour into baking dish and make the topping:

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup cane sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 cup shredded coconut

Sprinkle over cake and bake at 375 for approx. 30 to 40 minutes.

What's the easiest way to keep kids quiet while you read to them?

I try to take time everyday to read to the kids on various subjects. Currently, we are reading a set of History books together, after their homework is finished. A little before bed we are reading a book about a little Pilgrim girl. And at bedtime and often other times of the day, we read our Bible.

*

The hard part is the earliest reading. It's hard to keep them quiet and still

Soooo...

I made this little snack plate to help them out a little!

Whole wheat crackers, Colby cheese, Havarti cheese, raisins, and sardines to spread on the crackers! 4 out of my 6 loved the sardines!
-And- it worked!!!
They were quiet and more attentive!

Orange Baskets

Slice an orange in half. Scoop out the insides into a bowl. Slice bananas and mix with the oranges then toss in a spoon or two of powered sugar. Return to the 'bowl'. Chill and serve.

For more In Season (orange) Recipes, visit Tammy's Recipes!

Gratituesday.............Thankful for Wildlife

This week, we are thankful for wildlife! It's part of our Thanksgiving celebration....
We string up cranberries and popcorn and then decorate an outside tree with our 'garland'.

This is one of our special traditions that we do around this time of year.

A lot of the times I let the kids do this while I am cooking one of our celebration dinners.

Everyone gets involved and helps to take them outside to string them.

They know that we are giving our wildlife a reason to be thankful too!

Happy Gratituesday everyone!
For more about Gratituesday, visit Laura's
!

Quick Cream Cheese Bars

Need a quick and easy dessert that has a touch of class? If so here's the treat for you!

My children thought this was super great! They also said that they couldn't really taste the cream cheese in it.

It's easy to make and versatile.

Fruit and other toppings could be served on top of each serving if you like.

Coconut, chocolate chips, etc. could be added in the filling.

*

1 box of yellow cake mix

mixed with

1 stick of melted butter

1 beaten egg

Mix these 3 until all moisten. It will have a crumbly type texture.

Press it out in a 9x13, going up the sides slightly.

Cream; 1 8oz package of cream cheese.

Beat in 2 eggs

and

2 cups of powdered sugar

Mix well until creamy and all lumps are gone.

Pour over cake mixture.

Bake at 425 until the middle is set. It will be lightly golden.

Cool and cut and serve!

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Cherries, other berries, etc could make this a more formal treat, but it's great just like this!

You could also melt some chocolate chips or white chocolate and drizzle on the servings.

Gingerbread Men....

Run, run, as fast as you can

You can't catch me

I'm the gingerbread man!

These are so cute and fun! And they won the taste buds of my whole crew! (They can be pretty picky about spice breads and cookies.)

2 cups of molasses

1 cup of fat (I used 1 stick of butter and the rest beef tallow; lard would work too),melted

1 T ground ginger

1/2 t cinnamon

dash of nutmeg and allspice

1 t soda

Mix fat and molasses then the remaining ingredients.

Mix in several cups of plain flour until dough cannot be stirred with a spoon.

Roll and cut out men on heavy floured surface.

Make sure the bottoms are floured before placing on baking sheet, or they will stick.

Bake at 350 until cookies are golden brown.

For the icing, I just mixed1/4 stick of butter, dash of vanilla, several (approx 4) cups of powder sugar, and a T or two of milk. You want it thick so it will set up pretty stiffly on your cookies.

*Put icing in baggie and cut corner off.

*These make a nice gift!

(I gave some of these away with a container of homemade hot cocoa! They're good with coffee too!)

And they WORK FOR ME!

Click here for more Works for Me Wednesday.

Chapatis

Chapatis:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 T fat (I used beef tallow, lard or butter would work)

3/4 cup water

1/4 t sea salt

Knead and divide into 8 balls.

Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

Roll out flat into approx 8or 9 inch circles.
Allow to rest again while you heat a griddle.

Lightly grease or spray the griddle or skillet and cook until browned.
***
I like to double this recipe and roll out thicker breads to make 'flat-breads' for gyros and fajitas.