Family Dinner

I'm always looking for great after church meal ideas. Well, this one is fantastic! I found a Butterball turkey breast in the frozen section of Safeway. This is the way to go for this small family. The best part is, you can put the frozen turkey breast in the oven and cook it while you are at church! We arrived home to the smell of roasted turkey :-) All I added was Stove Top stuffing and microwaved vegetables. Shhh...don't tell, it's our little secret!

Mary Did You Know...

Mary, did you know That your baby boy Would someday walk on water? Mary did you know That your baby boy Will save our sons and daughters? Did you know That your baby boy Has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered Will soon deliver you. Mary did you know That your baby boy Will give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know That your baby boy Will calm the storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy Has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, You've kissed the face of God. The blind will see The deaf will hear The dead will live again The lame will leap The dumb will speak The praises of the Lamb. Mary did you know That your baby boy Is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know That your baby boy Will one day rule the nations? Did you know That your baby boy Is heaven's perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you're holding Is the Great I Am !

Look, Listen

I'd have missed it too....
If I had been there, I would have been busy, incredibly busy. I would have been up before the cock crowed and I would have gone about the chores of the day. I would have fetched the water, I would have fed the baby, I would have swept out the barn, I would have fed the animals, I would have made the bread, I would have pressed some olives, I would have woven some cloth, I would have made my way to the market, I would have conversed with the women in the market, I would have 'heard' the rumors, I would have returned home,I would have put the fire on, I would have made dinner,I would have put the baby to bed,I would have looked up in the night sky, I would have missed it,~and~I get up before the alarm goes off, and I go about my day, Getting up, Making Breakfast, Doing Laundry, Emptying the dishwasher, Teaching lessons, Addressing the cards, Calling a friend, Responding to emails, Wrapping the gifts, Mailing the packages, Going to the grocery, Chauffeuring the children all around town, Making dinner, Unloading the groceries, Reading the bedtime stories, Chatting with an old friend, Hearing the songs, Looking up at the stars in the night sky. I'm afraid that I might miss it, not because I want to...she missed it 2,000 years ago, not because she intended to...she had heard all about it, MEANT to be there, but she was just too BUSY. I am her, I am the same as that woman in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Simply too busy to notice WHAT was going on around her. I can learn from her, the lesson of a lifetime,don't miss it! The heavenly hosts will announce it, The shepherds will find their way, The Kings will bring gifts, andIwill notice, I WILL not be too BUSY this year, I WILL see that star in sky, the star of HOPE, the star of LOVE, the star who was GOD, coming to dwell with us. It's going to take some doing....but miss a divine moment, that would be a shame, all because I was simply too busy to notice. Peace in Him.

You Better Watch Out

We took out our Christmas decorations today. In years past, taking them out meant putting them up. This year though, we took out all the decorations and planned what to put up! I did get Tyler's tree decorated and lit up for his room. I'll have to admit, it is a lot harder to do this without the girls here to help! While it may take a few days to accomplish, we will get it done!

Christmas Time Is Here...

Remember the Charlie Brown Christmas special with the pitiful Christmas tree?

We are going to be lucky if our tree survives our Bella. She is determined to scratch and bite into what is Tyler's bathroom wall. I'm not even sure if I am prepared to see what she uncovers! If we bring a "real" tree into our house, I'm sure she will see it as an "intruder" and make sure she abolishes it!

I'm thankful that Bella feels the need to protect us, but at the same time, I would like to have some holiday spirit!

After School Program

One of our great moms bought enough kits for every child in the after school program (19) to make this adorable nativity scene. We have children from K-8th Grade for 2-3 hours every afternoon. This is going to be such blessing for us to spend time making these adorable ornaments. Fridays are l o n g days because of early dismissal. We usually have a movie, popcorn and a craft. Thank you Kim for this great craft!!

Operation Tango Mike

To those who know me well, you know that I oppose war. I know there are principles of God and Country involved, yet I oppose war. I picture myself on a battleground and wonder, could I kill another human for what I believe in? Once again, for those of you who know me, I would probably make them soup and wrap them in a warm blanket.
All politics aside, there is a great humanitarian effort alive and well in Lake County. If you see an "Operation Tango Mike" donation spot, please give. Our men and women are serving faithfully and need many things (that we take for granted). Please give to them. Wrestle with your conscience later.