A few weeks ago I had to have an oral surgery. The procedure had been planned for about a month prior and I thought it was good planning due to the weight loss that would come during recovery. A liquid and soft food diet right between two major eating holidays.
I didn't realize how much time I was going to lose as well, having this done so close to Christmas. I have been put to sleep for procedures in the past but I forgot about the energy it takes out of you and how forgetful you can become. Of course my boys found humor a few days later when I kept saying, "We talked about that?"
It was just this past week that I finally began to feel like myself again. I was really getting into the spirit of the season. We need to wrap those gifts, get those recipes made and...that's when I realized I had lost about two weeks time for enjoying those things. Now Christmas is upon us. Will we get everything done?
A few nights ago we had the pleasure of going to the Christmas program where our sons attend school. Our son in 4th grade was a part of singing songs that spoke to my heart. A reminder to enjoy the season by sharing it with others, "Do Your Giving While You're Living," "Lend a Hand."
Our oldest son, being in the 8th grade, took part in the play. What a wonderful story. A "small town" community church decided to raise money during the month of December. They would talk to the folks at the Salvation Army and bless the poorest family in town with the money raised.
The focus was on the particular ways a family from the church decided to go about raising money for the cause. A few days prior to Christmas the pastor of the church came to their door with an envelope. It had been decided that they would most benefit from receiving the church's gift. The news was not well received. Especially when the saw the amount of check and knew that they had privately given the majority of the amount.
They were determined not to use the money themselves but to pray and seek out someone who could use it more. In the end a missionary from Africa (my son) visited the church and shared about how the church there only had a grass roof that did not hold up well in rain.
As they were leaving church the family, a single mom and three teens, decided this was where the money should be given. They approached the missionary and asked him to please accept their gift. "Just say it came from the richest family in town."
What a blessing and an encouragement to be reminded it brings so much more joy to give than to receive. Maybe we won't get everything done we hoped to this Christmas season. We were able to do some prior to my procedure and now we're just pickin' up where we left off.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Share A Tradition
Our family loves Christmas lights. We put them up early at our house and are so excited as gradually the lights begin going up on other homes in our neighborhood. We live in a great, friendly cul de sac which shines this time of year. We can look out our dining room windows in the front of the house and enjoy the sights of seven other homes lit up for the holiday.
Each year we take an evening drive to look at the many Christmas light displays around town. Sometime during the first half of December and again always on Christmas Eve. We take hot chocolate and coffee with us, put on a Christmas CD, roll down the windows and turn up the heat.
For the past few years we've made the Christmas Eve drive a tradition because it is an opportunity to help feed the hungry in our "small town" community. There is a neighborhood in the east side of town where each large home on the street has a spectacular display of lights and the neighbors organize a food drive during the few days leading up to Christmas.
Our boys help us pull some extras out of our pantry to share with those in need and with glad hearts we head out to enjoy the sights and bless those we don't know. I encourage you to find a similar opportunity in your "small town."
This tradition of family light seeing goes back to when I was a child. Each December when I was growing up my parents, sister and I would take my great-grandma and her sister, when she could go, all over town to experience the joy of the season after dark.
Is there an elderly couple or individual you know in your "small town" who, for whatever reason, doesn't get out much or at all anymore after dark? Imagine what a blessing for you and them if you made an invitation to spend an early evening touring the lights. Share the holiday joy!
Each year we take an evening drive to look at the many Christmas light displays around town. Sometime during the first half of December and again always on Christmas Eve. We take hot chocolate and coffee with us, put on a Christmas CD, roll down the windows and turn up the heat.
For the past few years we've made the Christmas Eve drive a tradition because it is an opportunity to help feed the hungry in our "small town" community. There is a neighborhood in the east side of town where each large home on the street has a spectacular display of lights and the neighbors organize a food drive during the few days leading up to Christmas.
Our boys help us pull some extras out of our pantry to share with those in need and with glad hearts we head out to enjoy the sights and bless those we don't know. I encourage you to find a similar opportunity in your "small town."
This tradition of family light seeing goes back to when I was a child. Each December when I was growing up my parents, sister and I would take my great-grandma and her sister, when she could go, all over town to experience the joy of the season after dark.
Is there an elderly couple or individual you know in your "small town" who, for whatever reason, doesn't get out much or at all anymore after dark? Imagine what a blessing for you and them if you made an invitation to spend an early evening touring the lights. Share the holiday joy!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Share A Hobby
This fall I was looking over a few ministry opportunities at church and came across a flier for the Homeless Ministry. Among the list of needs, scarves. Is there a better way to enjoy a hobby than for it to bless someones heart? Do you have a hobby that can be used to reach your "small town"?
About 5yrs ago I was at a friend's house for a ladies night out. We brought snacks to share while we watched American Idol together and I began to learn a new favorite hobby...knitting. To keep it simple, so I would continue to enjoy it, I only learned how to make scarves. Someday, when I have more time, I would like to expand my knitting horizons. But for now, I change it up a bit by using different needle sizes together.
You can guess what the gift of the season was for Christmas that year. My mom, sis, school teachers, anyone I could think of that might use a scarf, got a scarf that year. I also enjoy wearing them but by the time I had covered that Christmas, a couple of birthdays and 5 or 6 scarves for myself, the hobby slowed to a halt.
I still very much enjoy knitting scarves, but what to do with them? My kids have been wanting to learn how to knit but until this fall I was not quick to teach them how. Again, what to do with the scarves?
This year we have begun a new family project and tradition. We have chosen to recognize the homeless in our community "small town" as our neighbors. We started knitting scarves together. None of us are very quick and we started in late fall so we'll have just a handful to give this Christmas. But as we finish more during the winter season we will continue to take them to church to be shared.
We have enjoyed the time spent together on this project. I am so excited about the coming year. An opportunity to keep my hands busy knitting in the evening, rather than snacking. What fun to enjoy my hobby for the blessing of another heart.
About 5yrs ago I was at a friend's house for a ladies night out. We brought snacks to share while we watched American Idol together and I began to learn a new favorite hobby...knitting. To keep it simple, so I would continue to enjoy it, I only learned how to make scarves. Someday, when I have more time, I would like to expand my knitting horizons. But for now, I change it up a bit by using different needle sizes together.
You can guess what the gift of the season was for Christmas that year. My mom, sis, school teachers, anyone I could think of that might use a scarf, got a scarf that year. I also enjoy wearing them but by the time I had covered that Christmas, a couple of birthdays and 5 or 6 scarves for myself, the hobby slowed to a halt.
I still very much enjoy knitting scarves, but what to do with them? My kids have been wanting to learn how to knit but until this fall I was not quick to teach them how. Again, what to do with the scarves?
This year we have begun a new family project and tradition. We have chosen to recognize the homeless in our community "small town" as our neighbors. We started knitting scarves together. None of us are very quick and we started in late fall so we'll have just a handful to give this Christmas. But as we finish more during the winter season we will continue to take them to church to be shared.
We have enjoyed the time spent together on this project. I am so excited about the coming year. An opportunity to keep my hands busy knitting in the evening, rather than snacking. What fun to enjoy my hobby for the blessing of another heart.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Holiday Joy
Thanksgiving came and went beautifully. A nice long weekend with family and delicious food. Each year at our house we enjoy decorating for Christmas over this long weekend. It seems for a moment that we rush from one holiday to another. Putting away the fall decor, cleaning house and pulling out the Christmas decorations. But, in the rush is always excitement for Christmas and the start of the winter season. Oh, yes, and I am still young enough to thoroughly enjoy having my birthday during December.
To start with we are always sure to have the lights up outside before Thanksgiving arrives. Mostly because we want to be able to turn them on the night of Thanksgiving, but also because my husband's holiday work schedule is so packed full. With the backyard outlined in colored icicles and our front yard decorated in white we are ready for our indoor decor to go up.
We have the eggnog cold, the Christmas music on or a Christmas movie playing in the background and we begin transforming our home from its fall scene to the coziness of winter indoors. I enjoy decorating our Christmas trees, each with a different theme. Two trees in the living room, one with country decor ornaments and the other with snowmen I have collected and very special snowflakes that my grandma hand-crocheted for me years ago when my husband and I were first married. In the dining room is a 6ft tree with ribbon and candy canes on it. Each of our boys have a 3ft tree in their bedrooms to decorate themselves.
At some point during the hustle and bustle of decorating a feeling of tiredness comes over me and I just want to be done so we can enjoy the beauty and "simplicity" of the season. Finally, though, I come to the village that gets set out on our sofa table, between the living and dining rooms. I realized this year that for the past several years I have come to escape into that simple winter village. After the buildings are in place I arrange the people in a way that I imagine to be a caring, friendly village. People with packages coming and going, smiling and waving. Children playing in the snow and carolers singing.
What a good reminder for asking ourselves who we can be kind to and share the joy of the season with? Who is a part of your "small town"? Neighbors, co-workers, single parents, the homeless, foster children?
Over the span of my next few entries I will share some ideas with you on how we might enjoy that "small town" feeling of doing good for the sake of others and the blessing our own hearts will experience by doing so.
To start with we are always sure to have the lights up outside before Thanksgiving arrives. Mostly because we want to be able to turn them on the night of Thanksgiving, but also because my husband's holiday work schedule is so packed full. With the backyard outlined in colored icicles and our front yard decorated in white we are ready for our indoor decor to go up.
We have the eggnog cold, the Christmas music on or a Christmas movie playing in the background and we begin transforming our home from its fall scene to the coziness of winter indoors. I enjoy decorating our Christmas trees, each with a different theme. Two trees in the living room, one with country decor ornaments and the other with snowmen I have collected and very special snowflakes that my grandma hand-crocheted for me years ago when my husband and I were first married. In the dining room is a 6ft tree with ribbon and candy canes on it. Each of our boys have a 3ft tree in their bedrooms to decorate themselves.
At some point during the hustle and bustle of decorating a feeling of tiredness comes over me and I just want to be done so we can enjoy the beauty and "simplicity" of the season. Finally, though, I come to the village that gets set out on our sofa table, between the living and dining rooms. I realized this year that for the past several years I have come to escape into that simple winter village. After the buildings are in place I arrange the people in a way that I imagine to be a caring, friendly village. People with packages coming and going, smiling and waving. Children playing in the snow and carolers singing.
What a good reminder for asking ourselves who we can be kind to and share the joy of the season with? Who is a part of your "small town"? Neighbors, co-workers, single parents, the homeless, foster children?
Over the span of my next few entries I will share some ideas with you on how we might enjoy that "small town" feeling of doing good for the sake of others and the blessing our own hearts will experience by doing so.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Dinner Is Served
Italian Curly Noodle Dish
1 lb ground beef(seasoned w/salt,pepper & onion flakes)
1 26oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 lb cottage cheese
1 8oz cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 green bell pepper(optional)
1 pkg curly noodles
Brown meat with onion flakes & chopped bell pepper. Season with salt & pepper. Add spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Have noodles cooking at the same time as the meat. Set both the browned meat mixture & cooked noodles aside. Let cool completely if you are putting this dish together in the morning for dinner at night. Combine cottage cheese, cream cheese & sour cream. Mix until creamy. In a large baking dish, layer noodles on the bottom, spread cheese mixture over noodles, then pour meat sauce over the cheese mixture.
If you are refrigerating for the day be sure to pull dish out a half hour prior to putting it in the oven. Otherwise, Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Enjoy with steamed vegetables or a green salad, rolls or french bread.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am very well taken care of. My husband, of more than 15 years, is the cook in the family. He also does the grocery shopping. I am so blessed. The only time I really enjoy being in the kitchen is when I am baking or working on summer side dishes.
Each year, for the past nine, my husband's job as bakery manager has required him to be at work for 12 to 16 hours a day for the week prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas. About three days before that week begins my two growing boys, 13 & 9, look at each other and then ask, "What are we gonna have for dinners this week?" For the record, we have never had to go
hungry. But, they know I struggle these weeks. What to have, how to have it and what to have with it?
The Italian Curly Noodle recipe above saves the day. I enjoy making it because it doesn't require a lot of time or effort and is always satisfying. I hope your family will enjoy it as much as mine does.
1 lb ground beef(seasoned w/salt,pepper & onion flakes)
1 26oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 lb cottage cheese
1 8oz cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 green bell pepper(optional)
1 pkg curly noodles
Brown meat with onion flakes & chopped bell pepper. Season with salt & pepper. Add spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Have noodles cooking at the same time as the meat. Set both the browned meat mixture & cooked noodles aside. Let cool completely if you are putting this dish together in the morning for dinner at night. Combine cottage cheese, cream cheese & sour cream. Mix until creamy. In a large baking dish, layer noodles on the bottom, spread cheese mixture over noodles, then pour meat sauce over the cheese mixture.
If you are refrigerating for the day be sure to pull dish out a half hour prior to putting it in the oven. Otherwise, Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Enjoy with steamed vegetables or a green salad, rolls or french bread.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am very well taken care of. My husband, of more than 15 years, is the cook in the family. He also does the grocery shopping. I am so blessed. The only time I really enjoy being in the kitchen is when I am baking or working on summer side dishes.
Each year, for the past nine, my husband's job as bakery manager has required him to be at work for 12 to 16 hours a day for the week prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas. About three days before that week begins my two growing boys, 13 & 9, look at each other and then ask, "What are we gonna have for dinners this week?" For the record, we have never had to go
hungry. But, they know I struggle these weeks. What to have, how to have it and what to have with it?
The Italian Curly Noodle recipe above saves the day. I enjoy making it because it doesn't require a lot of time or effort and is always satisfying. I hope your family will enjoy it as much as mine does.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Remember the Blessings
With the close of the autumn season comes Thanksgiving. A time of giving and pondering what we have been given. Before it is here and gone, I wanted to suggest a couple of ways that you and your family can begin reflecting on the many blessings you have received over the last year.
The first idea is to keep a tablet of paper and a pen or pencil handy in the kitchen. A magnetic pad of paper would be great on the refrigerator. You'll be less likely to misplace it. Anytime a family member gets into the fridge or even just goes into the kitchen, have them write down something they are thankful for. It may seem hard at first to think of something. Likely, though, that whatever they were after in the kitchen, they are thankful for it. Have them write it down. Even if you send them in to do the dishes. Hooray for the dishwasher! Mom, perhaps they are your dishwasher. You can write that down. You can also encourage thankful thoughts by writing what you are thankful for prior to putting the tablet on the fridge. List each of your family members by name. Are you thankful for your job? Are you blessed to be at home? Are you thankful for pets, a teacher, friends or your freedoms?
Once the list begins to grow, I hope you will be surprised at how much we really do have to be thankful for. Add to the list over these next few days. Before serving up the Thanksgiving meal take time together as a family and read the list out loud. Remember the Blessings!
Another suggestion for pondering what your family has to be thankful for requires kernals of corn. If you have an ear of Indian corn you've been using to decorate with then plan to pass it and a small bowl or basket around the table during your Thanksgiving meal. When the corn is passed, each person takes off a kernal to put into the basket and share what they are thankful for. As the kernals begin to cover the bottom of the basket, families are reminded there is so much to be thankful for. This idea can be a great conversation starter. If you do not have an ear of corn then you can substitute popcorn kernals. Place 3 or 4 at each place setting prior to dinner. As the basket comes around...Remember the Blessings!
The first idea is to keep a tablet of paper and a pen or pencil handy in the kitchen. A magnetic pad of paper would be great on the refrigerator. You'll be less likely to misplace it. Anytime a family member gets into the fridge or even just goes into the kitchen, have them write down something they are thankful for. It may seem hard at first to think of something. Likely, though, that whatever they were after in the kitchen, they are thankful for it. Have them write it down. Even if you send them in to do the dishes. Hooray for the dishwasher! Mom, perhaps they are your dishwasher. You can write that down. You can also encourage thankful thoughts by writing what you are thankful for prior to putting the tablet on the fridge. List each of your family members by name. Are you thankful for your job? Are you blessed to be at home? Are you thankful for pets, a teacher, friends or your freedoms?
Once the list begins to grow, I hope you will be surprised at how much we really do have to be thankful for. Add to the list over these next few days. Before serving up the Thanksgiving meal take time together as a family and read the list out loud. Remember the Blessings!
Another suggestion for pondering what your family has to be thankful for requires kernals of corn. If you have an ear of Indian corn you've been using to decorate with then plan to pass it and a small bowl or basket around the table during your Thanksgiving meal. When the corn is passed, each person takes off a kernal to put into the basket and share what they are thankful for. As the kernals begin to cover the bottom of the basket, families are reminded there is so much to be thankful for. This idea can be a great conversation starter. If you do not have an ear of corn then you can substitute popcorn kernals. Place 3 or 4 at each place setting prior to dinner. As the basket comes around...Remember the Blessings!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Autumn Treasures
It's getting dark outside earlier and autumn will soon be winding down. With one of the most gorgeous seasons nearly over is there a way to make it last a little longer? The vibrant colors of fall can be brought indoors...
We use to take walks with our young family on sunny autumn afternoons down a street called Snowy Butte and on through the neighborhood. The special thing about Snowy Butte was all of the Birch trees that lined it. With the sun shining and the breeze blowing it was beautiful to see the golden leaves falling down like snow as we walked. Our kids each liked to bring along a bucket to carry their many different kinds of favorite leaves home. We would spread them out on the center of the table to enjoy but it wasn't long before they were curling and crumbling.
One way for kids to enjoy leaves indoors, before they are too dry, is to lay a piece of paper over the leaves of their choice. Then, using the side of a crayon, rub over the paper in the area of the leaves. Soon you will see the appearance of their Autumn treasures on the paper. If you have large enough sheets of paper place mats could be designed for the family meal at Thanksgiving.
While the kids are at work on the place mats you could decide which leaves you would most enjoy in the center of the table. Pull out your ironing board and turn on the iron. With the leaves between two sheets of wax paper, press them with your hot iron (using NO steam).
A number of years ago my grandma waxed leaves for me. She picked a few small branches from her trees up at the ranch. I was able to decorate with those branches for many years. Laying them out with the Thanksgiving Dinner buffet. Using them as a centerpiece on the table. Special, of course, because they always brought Grandma to mind.
So even though the nights and days are getting colder and the leaves are falling faster, you can make it last a little longer. Take advantage of the next sunny day. Walk with the family, take in the fresh air and bring your autumn treasures inside.
We use to take walks with our young family on sunny autumn afternoons down a street called Snowy Butte and on through the neighborhood. The special thing about Snowy Butte was all of the Birch trees that lined it. With the sun shining and the breeze blowing it was beautiful to see the golden leaves falling down like snow as we walked. Our kids each liked to bring along a bucket to carry their many different kinds of favorite leaves home. We would spread them out on the center of the table to enjoy but it wasn't long before they were curling and crumbling.
One way for kids to enjoy leaves indoors, before they are too dry, is to lay a piece of paper over the leaves of their choice. Then, using the side of a crayon, rub over the paper in the area of the leaves. Soon you will see the appearance of their Autumn treasures on the paper. If you have large enough sheets of paper place mats could be designed for the family meal at Thanksgiving.
While the kids are at work on the place mats you could decide which leaves you would most enjoy in the center of the table. Pull out your ironing board and turn on the iron. With the leaves between two sheets of wax paper, press them with your hot iron (using NO steam).
A number of years ago my grandma waxed leaves for me. She picked a few small branches from her trees up at the ranch. I was able to decorate with those branches for many years. Laying them out with the Thanksgiving Dinner buffet. Using them as a centerpiece on the table. Special, of course, because they always brought Grandma to mind.
So even though the nights and days are getting colder and the leaves are falling faster, you can make it last a little longer. Take advantage of the next sunny day. Walk with the family, take in the fresh air and bring your autumn treasures inside.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
How Would You Have Spent Friday Night?
An invitation to a 14 year old's birthday was exciting to my son. A Friday evening with friends, pizza, cake and ice cream. The highlight of the night was a scavenger hunt. My friend was short on drivers and asked if I would be willing to help her out. I had not planned to spend Friday night with a car load of teens. Not my cup o' coffee (or so I thought).
My son, being a teenager, was looking forward to a night of independence. I was looking forward to a quiet night at home. However, for my friend's sake, I was happy to go along and as it turned out, my son even wanted to ride in my car. I had never taken part in a scavenger hunt before.
Everyone (about 25 of us) had a blast!
There are a variety of ways to organize and or budget for a scavenger hunt. You could provide a certain amount of money to each team and see which group comes back with the most items. You could spend only the cost of fuel to send out teams each with a digital camera and list of items to photograph. Another idea would be to turn teams loose in a neighborhood with a list of items to collect and bring back to the base.
Our scavenger hunt was 3 teams each in their own cars with 70 minutes to go and take 15 pictures of items listed for us. We brought back an egg, flag, feather, blue rubberband, a dog treat and a mouse.
The cool thing was that when we got the teams back together, these teenagers, got to share what was found and accomplished. There was no Grand Prize and none of them seemed to notice. They had such a fantastic time of competition and working together that they truly seemed to feel the reward on the inside.
For that reason, I would gladly spend another Friday evening with a carload of teens!
My son, being a teenager, was looking forward to a night of independence. I was looking forward to a quiet night at home. However, for my friend's sake, I was happy to go along and as it turned out, my son even wanted to ride in my car. I had never taken part in a scavenger hunt before.
Everyone (about 25 of us) had a blast!
There are a variety of ways to organize and or budget for a scavenger hunt. You could provide a certain amount of money to each team and see which group comes back with the most items. You could spend only the cost of fuel to send out teams each with a digital camera and list of items to photograph. Another idea would be to turn teams loose in a neighborhood with a list of items to collect and bring back to the base.
Our scavenger hunt was 3 teams each in their own cars with 70 minutes to go and take 15 pictures of items listed for us. We brought back an egg, flag, feather, blue rubberband, a dog treat and a mouse.
The cool thing was that when we got the teams back together, these teenagers, got to share what was found and accomplished. There was no Grand Prize and none of them seemed to notice. They had such a fantastic time of competition and working together that they truly seemed to feel the reward on the inside.
For that reason, I would gladly spend another Friday evening with a carload of teens!
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