Well, here in Seattle, we have just gotten back from a HUGE jr/sr high youth event at church. My husband and I put on the "Cafe" for the event, and we're finally home. Whew, my feet hurt.

But I just have to say, "Hello" and pray that you all have a wonderful jump start to a new year full of exciting things the Lord will bring you through!

God Bless!!

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Here's a couple quotes I have posted

on my kitchen cupboard door.

I just love reading them each morning,

- it helps put things in perspective.

"I resolve to endeavor

to my utmost

to act and think

as if I had already seen

the happiness of heaven

and the torments of hell."

--Jonathan Edwards

"Your life is short,

Your duties many,

Your assistance great;

Therefore faint not,

Hold on

and hold up,

in ways of well-doing,

and Heaven shall make

amends for all."

--Thomas Brooks

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MMMMMmmmmm

Here's a salad my SIL brings each year:

--~~*~~--

Diced unpeeled apples (a variety)

Whipped Cream / or Cool Whip

Cut-up Snickers or 3-Musketeers bar

Mix - Serve. MMmmm

This past weekend I made this

but added sliced bananas, diced orange slices,

fresh pineapple chunks, diced kiwi and grapes.

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Well, the Christmas Exchange is in full swing

between our his/my siblings' families. And of course,

with it comes,

"So, what do you want for Christmas?"

I just don't know??!!

Sure, I'm crafty -

but I have drawers and

a closet full of stuff I don't use already.

I love to bake and cook -

but I have cookbooks galore

that I just don't use.

I love magazines -

but rarely do I get around to reading

my Better Homes

let alone get

ALL the way through TOS

Books?????

I have so many already,

and don't naturally gravitate

toward them in my free time.

Jewelry??

My jewelry box is full of costume jewelry,

and I don't want anyone to spend

$$ for the real stuff.

And I pretty much wear

the same earrings 24/7

except for an occasional

'special outing'.

Journals??

Have plenty of them...

mostly unused.

Kitchen stuff??

I'm a pack-rack in my

pocket sized kitchen already.

I've picked up 90% of my appliances

and gadgets from

thriftstores and hand-me-downs.

OK - I'm a thrift-store-a-holic.

Maybe I should just ask

for gift cards

to Salvation Army

and Walmart.

How tacky   is that??

I just don't know.

What do you want for Christmas???

(for extended family exchanges,

there's a $30 limit)

-----Oh how about a few new spices

for my spice rack?

That would be nice...

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Tonight I'm making up some yummie

"Pizza Cups" as I call them.

I use to make them a lot when the kids were little, but kinda forgot about them, till I was trying to think of something to take to a birthday potluck party tomorrow.

**Usually I'd make and serve them warm, but we have to leave at 9am, to drive about 90 minutes to visit a church (I really want to move to that rural area), then right afterwards drive 20 minutes north to my brother/SIL's church for a surprise birthday party for my brother's 40th!! So....I figure I can keep them in a cooler in the car, and just warm them up at the party.

(I would have added a photo here,

but the camera's charging for the party tomorrow.)

OK,OK...here's my nifty little delicacy:

PIZZA CUPS

1. Place a fresh or canned buttermilk biscuit in a muffin tin. (the 'jumbo' size canned biscuits kinda overflow the reg size muffin tins)
2. Press it into the muffin cup, creating a cup for the filling.
3. Fry up hamburger (I also add onions and garlic).
4. Then add a small can of tomatoe sauce/ pizza seasoning (I get some great stuff from Penzeys.) and sliced black olives. Heat through.
5. Spoon a tablespoon of hamb/pizza mixture into each cup.
6. Sprinkle a pinch of grated cheese on each.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

MMMMMMMM..great for lunch or dinner.

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We've been experiencing an "Artic Freeze" this week so far -- yea, it does snow in Seattle once in a while. Well, this afternoon, while the kids were playing outside, I thought of a great way to make S'MOREs.

MMM, we took graham cracker squares, sprinkled on a few chocolate chips, and a few more mini marshmellows (cover the cracker completely)....make up 6-8 of these on a cookie sheet. Then put them right under a hot broiler and within seconds you have toasted marshmellows and melted chocolate. Bring it out and top with the other graham cracker square.

Lickity Split Yummies!!!

"make sure you let them cool briefly, they're hot."  --15yr "K"

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I can't help but think about sitting on my couch with my cherubs when they were 4 or 5 as we read the Christian Liberty Press book about the Mayflower and the landing of the Pilgrims. I remember the grimaces on their little faces when we read about the living conditions....the cramped, stank living area, the gut wrenching filth, and unsavory food, the monotony of  the constant rocking motion and the filth and death all around them. They endured, held on, prayed through.....believed that this was the right choice. Freedom hung heavy in their weary hearts.

How can I thank them? How can I truly understand the freedom they were fighting for each moment on that boat....and that devastating year when half their group died trying to establish life in America.

How can I truly appreciate the men and women who are in possibly similar situations all around the world?  Whether they are nationals fighting for their civil or religious freedom, missionaries facing persecution, military personnel in combat or safe on a post somewhere in our world.....they are in their own wait, waging the war for us....for our freedom.

Thankful, yes!! Yet, it's hard to truly grasp the depth of their fight while I prepare to serve a grand feast for my loved ones within arms' reach.

Pray.....I can pray, give, send, call....whatever I can to let my brothers who served in the Gulf War, my cousin who's been in Iraq on two tours, my father who served, the missionaries I support, the persecuted pastors I read about...that I am truly thankful for them and their dedication.

I can do what I can do right here and right now. 

I can do that.

Treasure Thanksgiving in your home every day of the year.

Roberta

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I'm trying out posting within a specific category. We'll see if I can make it work. Thanks for your patience while I figure this out.

FYI - I love sewing and I just purchased some really cute fabric off the clearance rack at Joanns to make some fleece Christmas stockings, and fabric 'gift' bags....

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I just have to say that I'm so glad it's Sunday!! It's like an "extra" special 'do-over', or 'fresh start'.

I don't know what it is about Sundays, but I feel so refreshed and renewed (and we haven't even left for church yet). I just want to do everything to live for God....make right choices on every corner.....deny myself to be righteous...holy. He promises us that He's given us everything we need to do right, then why not skip my ritual coffee and drink a big glass of water instead. Why not pick up my bible instead of a woman's magazine. Why not stop to pray instead of respond to a teenager's snide remark with equal snide-ness.

Why not??!! I'm a new creation....I've died to myself....I am a child of the most Holy King!!!! Why not act like one??? Sometimes my husband and kids give me a weird look or plead against my healthy snacks or suggestion to turn the TV off for awhile. I'm certainly NOT  perfect, I'm actually the queen of inconsistency and have a parental firmness of soft clay. (Well, sometimes the latter, anyway.) Why NOT take the mind of Christ. Why not be light in the dark. Why consume processed garbage, when I know a crisp apple tastes a thousands times better anyway. 

OK, enough of my rampage. I'm just relishing a sweet, strong spirit to 'do what's right' today.

Be blessed, homeschool comrades!!

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