5 1/2 cups (14 oz. Bag) coconut

1 14 oz. can condensed sweetened milk

2 tsp. vanilla

slivered candied cherry pieces

Combine coconut, condensed milk and vanilla. Mix well and thoroughly. Drop by the teaspoonful on a very well greased cookie sheet. Top with a  slivered piece of red or green candied cherry.

Bake at a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes watching carefully they do not brown too much. Remove at once using a moistened spatula.

Note: These will be very soft when hot and very fragile.

My prayer for today is for each person who comes to read this to have a blessed and peaceful Christmas surrounded by loved ones, a solid faith and a peaceful heart. As I sit here quietly in the dark with just the glow from the Christmas tree lights, I reflect upon the Holy family and the one True Light. How it must have been for Mary, the mother of Christ, to know that she was carrying the baby Jesus within her. The peace and blessing of  motherhood is an awesome thing, but to know you are carrying our dear Saviour. Then there is Joseph, the great protector and head of his family. He is the earthly father of Jesus, part of God's great plan. He is here to protect Mary and Jesus, to teach Jesus, to guide Him. Both Joseph and Mary had such a powerful Gift that first Christmas that came with such a heavy responsibility: to love, protect, teach, train, guide,- all these and then some- in knowing that they were raising the Son of God. A song that would be worthwhile for anyone to listen to if they can locate it is Joseph's Song sung by Michael Card. Your local Christian book store should have it or at least be able to get it for you. Every time I hear this song, my heart just cries. It talks about Christ from Joseph's eyes as he looks and holds the infant Christ. This is a song that truly gets one's mind thinking and your heart filling with love and compassion. So, this Christmas, may the Infant Jesus shine His loving and gentle face upon you and your family. May there be many blessings upon your family. Think on as everything that comes to your  pathe as a precious gift from the One above and leading you back to Him that created you.

Blessings and prayers,

Sharon 

The beauty of a hope chest- so many ideas and thoughts come to each of our minds when we hear the words Hope Chests. The first documented use of a hope chest was during the Italian Renaissance Era (1600's) and was called a "cassone" meaning chest. At that time, the hope chest was engraved with pictures on it telling a story usually something Biblical or from Greek mythology. Sadly, during the 1900's, the hope chest has seemed to go out of style, so to speak. Thankfully, it is starting to be renewed. Many times, a young woman quilted, embroidered sheets and towels, and collected household items that she would need and use when she wed. As the new bride emptied her hope chest, the chest was replenished with family memories, often the bride's wedding gown, special keepsakes, and such. What a beautiful way of having our loved ones from our past surround us with their love and their presence than by having items from them in our home to remind us of them and all they had gone through. Hope chests reminds me of the value of femininity, the beauty, importance, virtue and grace of being a wife, mother and a homemaker lovingly serving my husband and children in a Christ centered home. Each item I make and place in my hope chest, I think of future generations to come and what will I leave them for their future hope chests.

Blessings and prayers,

Sharon

"As the deer pants for the water brooks,

  So my soul pants for You, O God.

 My soul thirsts for God,

  for the Living God;

 When shall I come and appear before God?"

         Psalm 42:1,2

What a beautiful verse to remind me of what this Advent is truly about, the coming and preparation of my self, of my soul for the coming birth of Jesus. In this time before Christmas, my soul truly longs for Him, the One who was born to save us from our sins. How I truly long for "the Living God" because in Him and because of Him, we each truly have Eternal Life. In this time let us not get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas where we have let society get us caught up in the "I want this" or "I have all these gifts to buy for all these people." This is not a time to think that we must have our house and yard decorated with lights and decorations full to overflowing, and we have all seen the houses that have so many lights on them and lighted decorations where it is brighter than the sun, or to feel obligated to send out hundreds of cards, or to buy gifts for the mail person and the person who delivers the paper or to have a spare gift just in case. We have all already received the most Precious gift, the gift of Christ Himself. Let us reflect on that thought. This is a time for families to open their hearts to receive the Baby who was born in a manger.

Blessings and Prayers,

Sharon

Blessings. I wanted to open here with sending blessings to each who have visited me here. Blogging is something fairly new for me though I have read and enjoyed many blogs from many Christ centered women. My main reason to blog here has been to journey with other women who are Christ centered and travel with them on our way to living a more simple, home-like life and we strive to live a truly Christ filled life. Whether we are married or single, with children or no children, I hope and pray through His grace upon this blog, I pray that with the recipes, ideas and craft ideas presented here, we may all strive to grow and become true women of home and simplicity.

Blessings and prayers,

Sharon