Family Dinner

Maybe...if we have something to talk about...we will have family dinners around the table more!  Sound like a plan?  This little box would be a great stocking stuffer for families!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Family-Dinner-Box-Questions/dp/B0026IOG7M  

The Lord is My Shepherd

I posted this song on FB today too, because it's sooo good. It's a great song to listen to in the morning before you start your day.  It's a great song to dance to, before you leave the house.  It's a great song to worship to, throughout the day!

Enjoy...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO3dxZ46WkQ

Breakfast Deluxe

DELICIOUS - We made this recipe for a work party - as a compote to serve over Belgian Waffles.  It was scrumptiously good and would be great for your family on a holiday morning! 

Click here for Cider-Glazed Christmas Fruit!

Leftovers!

Still have leftover ham from Thanksgiving?  And dinner rolls?  Why not make your own breakfast treats, by frying an egg, then the ham, then toasting the rolls and adding a bit of cheese for tomorrow morning?  Easy and quick - and quite tasty! And if you don't like eggs (like me) then just omit it!

Cake Carrier

This is only in the store at WorldMarket, not online,  but sooo cute - a retro cake carrier!  What a great hostess gift (with cake inside) or just a cool surprise to a food lover in your family! It's $24.99 and comes apart so that the cake can be presented, as well as carried!

Hopla!

Tree Trimming Parties - do you have them?  We have them with our kids each year the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We decorate the tree, eat fun foods, play a new game, watch a corny Christmas movie, and ask questions of each other and answer.  We especially enjoyed a retro game we played tonight called Hopla! We got it at World Market!

So Cute!

Why not try your dinner in individual serving pots for each person attending your dinner table?  It makes for a personal meal, elegant presentation, and it’s so fun to eat from these cute dishes found at my local grocery store.  Pictured here is an expensive version, but they are available at HEB for $3.00 each! (and in other colors!) The recipe I'm trying is chicken and broccoli casserole from the Southern Living 2011 Christmas Cookbook.

Retro Christmas

World Market has the cutest retro toys...who knew!  We scored big with these on our Black Friday shopping excursion today! Check these out and get several for your kids...young and old!  Click here to view.

Lie Back

November 24, 2012

Just before Jesus was taken to the cross, he fell into the hands of ruthless men bent on crucifying him.  He willingly chose to lay down his life, but these men grabbed him and took him, not realizing they really had no power at all to kill him.  Jesus could have stopped the process at any time. Nevertheless, Jesus fell into their hands…and wound up on the cross…dying.

Just as Jesus was about to die, he said this to his Father, “…into your hands I commit my spirit.” At this point, Jesus was falling into altogether different hands.  The hands he was now falling into were safe hands, hands that would in three days restore new life to this son, and in fact give eternal life to all who believe in Him.  

Sometimes we fall into the hands of others, and we’re not treated very nicely.  We’re shuffled around, ridiculed, taunted, teased, judged, etc. and we feel as though we’re dumped on the side of the road, bruised and angry.  It’s at these very times that we need to lie back and fall into HIS hands.

People can and will hurt us with words and deeds.  There’s no denying the scars from that.  But God’s hands, when we commit our spirit into them, have resurrection power that sends us forth completely restored in body, soul, and mind.  It’s a process for sure, but it’s a sure one!  And His hands will never hurt…only heal.

Father, we fall into your hands today.

Black Friday

Black Friday is tomorrow, and I go every year with my mom to shop for about 20 people, buying them multiple gifts each.  We have it down to a science...almost . Here are my top three hints:

1.  Have a budget and stick to it.
2.  Wear comfortable shoes.
3.  Don't forget your coupons from the newspaper and online!

Have fun shopping!

Family Fun!

Today is  Thanksgiving Day.  We are eating lots of good food, but we're also doing two things as a family for fun, that I found on the internet.  We are going to say "Thank you" in several different languages and pray for those countries...and we're going to tear a shape of a turkey out of construction paper behind our backs to see who can make the best one! 

Easy Centerpiece

Just made this for our centerpiece for Turkey Day - layered beans, pumpkin seeds, burnt peanuts, green peas...whatever you'd like...in a cylinder vase, then add your candle.  So pretty...

Jesus Culture

We heard Kim Walker and her husband lead worship tonight. They are in a band called Jesus Culture and their new album is out soon. Pre-order it now for a Christmas gift for yourself...or a friend!

Little People Nativity

The black Friday deals have already started - especially at Family Christian Bookstore! $5.00 deals galore! This is not a $5 deal, but we bought one last year and it's on line again - a great find for kids this Christmas season!

Little People Nativity Set

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Cute idea for your Thanksgiving table. Purchase three sprigs of fake flowers, with flowers that go down the stem (from the Dollar Store)- place them in three glass cylinders under water, with a floating candle on top - place down your table, atop your runner! (be sure to tie a rock on the bottom of the sprig so it stays underwater)

Ornaments

Cute fabric ball ornaments at Target for $2.50 each! An entire tree of these would be awesome! (There are also cute ornaments for $1.00 each in the store)

Free Will

November 15, 2012 I was thinking this morning of all the needs I know about in my small world, and the problems so many people are having, and I literally asked God, "Are you ever sorry you gave man free will?" I thought about Adam and Eve and how they were given the choice to obey or not, and since they chose to disobey - look at the mess our world is in. As I paused to listen, I was reminded that God not only gave his creation free will, but Jesus too had free will. It says in the New Testament that he was given the freedom to call angels to rescue him off the cross, so he didn't have to suffer and die. He could have chosen not to die, not to save us, not to conquer death. Then it hit me. The very nature of who God is - is free will. He freely loves us, not because he has to, but because he IS love and he FREELY loves us. It's who he is. It's who Jesus is. So how could he create something in His image that was any different? WOW! We are created in his image, we have the free will to love him, obey him...or not. And that truly is the very part of our being that is like him. May I always choose to obey, because even in the worst pain and suffering that could possibly come my way - He has promised a resurrection from death - into life.

Spiced Chestnut!

I just purchased this dish soap in the spiced chestnut scent (it’s blended with cinnamon and clove) and it has filled the kitchen with the greatest fragrance of the season. I love it!  It’s from William Sonoma – pricey – but worth it.

Tepee Tent

Did you know that World Market has kids' toys?  This tepee tent was a lifesaver today! I had bought it for my nephew but needed to use it today for some kids, and it was so easy to put together and so cute when set up!  http://www.worldmarket.com/product/tepee-pop-up-tent.do. 

What a great Christmas gift idea!

Olive Oil

Great Christmas gift idea – package up a bottle of olive oil with a package of herbs, and add either a cookbook with recipes using olive oil, a mister, or some cute placemats rolled up beside.  We just bought several gifts like this, and this is a gift I wouldn’t mind getting myself!

Corn in a Cup

We ate at a new restaurant today where one of the items we ordered was corn in a cup.  Have you had it?  It's grilled corn off the cob, mixed with chile mayo, cilantro, lime juice and cotija cheese.  It's absolutely delicious! 

Hands

November 11, 2012

Have you ever wondered why the Bible says God gave the enemies over into their “hands,” they were defeated at their “hands,” or they were delivered into their “hands?” Why hands and not feet?  Feet are powerful when used for defense.  Why not wit?  Power of mind against mind can be excruciating painful and a killer!  So why were all the battles fought with hands?

I don’t know the answer, but I’m thinking about it.  Hands were created for worship, for giving, and for holding.  They raise high in surrender and worship of the one who created us all, as we adore his greatness.  Everything he gives us is placed into our hands, only to be turned around and given out to others in needs.  And our hands hold the hands of our children, of the weak and dying, and bring comfort to those in need.  

So…I’m thinking that battles were fought with hands because they represent the very essence of why we exist, and when we win victories using them – our hands can then respond in like manner!  When a battle is won, our hands go up!  When those fighting beside us are weary and weak, our hands open to share.  And when our hands hold the hands of those next to us – we become a mighty fortress – and the enemy retreats!

Whose hand are you holding?  Are your hands hanging down in despair?  What are you giving out? 

I think when we stop to answer those questions and position our hands as they were meant to be positioned…more battles will be fought…and won.