An Eventful Christmas Story Time

Jo, Mo, and our little friends singing for everyone!

 

My, oh my. What an evening! Earlier this week my hubby and I took our kids and two other neighbor girls to our local library for their Christmas story time in pajamas. Daddy wasn't able to join us last year, so we were super excited that he was coming this time.

Daddy was a big help at craft time!

I was prepared for a jam packed room just like the year before. Nope, not this time. There were only a few others there and plenty of room for us all.

All of our kids sat nicely on the floor and joined in watching a short Donald Duck movie about Christmas. It was funny and my kids were laughing out loud - too cute!

Craft time!

They were handed a cup of coca (only half full, at my request) and two cookies. I knew it was coming and had made them meatballs for dinner, with some cheese and fruit on the side. Even though I thought I fed them well, it didn't sit well in some tummies.

Soon enough, the movie lost my son's attention and he began running in circles around the group of sitting children. I kept telling him to sit and he kept jumping up. Eventually I just grabbed him in a bear hug and sat on the floor with him.... then it happened. He burped, made a funny face and then threw up all of his dinner (and Christmas party snacks) on the floor in front of me. Just like a pro, I put my hand out to help the situation and it was soon overflowing with Jo's gift. Oh. My.

I told all the kids, "Don't look over here. Just scoot away. No honey, look the other way." Knowing the way some kids are, we could have really set off a vomit chain.

Our sweet children's librarian came to the rescue with rags for me to clean up the mess. I wiped off my sons shirt and gave him some water. Did he finally take it easy after that? Not one bit! He ran in circles, laughing all the way.

Sitting still for a bead craft.

To top off the night, all four kids stood on the stage and sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". It was so precious!

Even so, after we finished the crafts and checked out a few books, I was glad to pack everyone up and head home... just in time for bed.

Oh, and my daughter was the only child to spill her entire cup of cocoa on the carpeted floor. Good thing it was only half full to begin with  :o)

After I told my mom this story she said, "Oh my goodness! You just never know what's going to happen when you take kids places." That sure is right. Life (and kids) are full of surprises!

I'm blessed to hold my kids, kiss them good night and pray over them. I try to take advantage of their requests to play Candy Land or swing together, knowing that so many moms and dads will not hold there babies on this earth again, after last week's tragedy.

So many sweet faces. They will be greatly missed on this earth.

They are now safe in Jesus' arms.

No matter the surprises kids bring into our lives, good or bad, they are such great blessings!

 

 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127:3

 

 

I thank God today, and every day, for my children. This life wouldn't be the same without them.

Blessings,

Just Checking In

Happy December!

 

I can't believe that Christmas is 19 days away and 2013 is just around the corner!

Time is flying and we are having fun.

Snuggled with a blanket under our Christmas tree.

The past few weeks we have been preparing our Kids Club float for our local Christmas Parade! It has taken lots of work and dedication to complete but my husband and I are blessed to have some great help - his parents!

Last year's Kids Club Float - what a fun, cold day!

 

 

On top of that, my man has been building a shed in our backyard and we just got a puppy from the pound two weeks ago.

A picture of Buster (our dog) would be much more interesting, I know.

I have yet to take one of him!

These things take time and we only have so much of that each day. I like to prioritize and make lists, etc but sometimes I just need to relax and go with the flow... spend an entire morning playing with my little ones (without cleaning up something on the side), enjoy a family outing to the store (without rushing), and listen to the needs of those people that God brings my way (without having all the answers).

Morning fun, decorating gingerbread houses!

 

 

The finished product - pretty houses and kids full of sugar :o)

I pray that I am learning and maturing as time ticks on, may I not be the same wife or mother at the beginning of 2013 as I was this past year.


My heart's cry is, "God, change me! Mold me into the vessel that you have planned me to be - filled with your Spirit and ready to pour out on others your love and forgiveness without thinking twice about it."

Enjoying a sweet treat after learning the story behind the candy cane.

 

May your month be blessed and may Jesus come alive in your heart this holiday season.


In His GREAT Grace,




PS - I will leave you with these verses that are resonating in my spirit this week...

1 John 4:7-11

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

 

Overwhelmed By Love

I just had the honor and joy of praying with my husband before he set off for work. Before the sun rose in the sky today, the Son rose in our hearts and took His place on the throne of our lives.
 
My heart is overwhelmed by the love of my great God and of my dear husband.

 
 

God's gift to me - a family.

 

 
What did I do to deserve any of this? God 's love and forgiveness... my husband's loyalty, care and kindness? Nothing at all.
 
 

 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

 

 
Today I am thankful for the cross and all the promises that are true in Christ!

God's little blessings enjoying the leaves.

 

As we enter this season of thanksgiving and celebrating our King Jesus' first coming, may our hearts be captured with love!

 
In His Great Grace,
 


 
 

Thank you Hannah of Crackjack-Art Photography for the family photo session. We love you and your amazing talent. We had lots of fun!

 

Colossians Study {Week 6} and Harvest Party Time!

Today is a busy day around our house as we prepare for our annual F4K Kids Club Harvest Party tonight!

 
In Texas it goes from summer days to COLD, end-of-fall-almost-into-winter days... and that happened last night. Praying for an enjoyable time tonight and for the weather to reach the 60's  :o)

 
Here are a few pics from last year's fun!

We enjoyed carnival games, a puppet show on Dark vs Light,

prizes and a hayride.

 

Dear friends blessed us by helping with food and games!

 

Face paint was a HIT!

 

A hayride topped off the night!

 

We are down to only 2 weeks left of our GMG Online Bible Study!

This week's challenge is a BIG one, for sure! And with Gods' GREAT help, we can walk victorious!


Here are the verses we studied:


 ^{7 "}in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
 
¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."

Colossians 3:7-14


As believers, filled with God's Spirit, we are to:

• Walk in NEW LIFE!

• Renew our knowledge in Christ

• View others as created in His image and LOVED by the King - no matter their lifestyle

• Love one another

• Bear with one another

• Forgive one another - just as Christ forgave us (again and again)

• Walk in the Spirit - dead to ourselves and alive in Christ!

I am challenged by God's Word to watch my tongue - not speaking in anger or frustration. This is a tough one, especially when teaching my children, who push the limits often.


These verses also encouraged me in speak and walk in love:

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

Proverbs 16:32

 

 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Proverbs 18:21

 

 

"The righteous mom walks in her integrity;

her children are blessed after her."

Proverbs 20:7 (italics are my application)

May God bless you with hope for the future and peace in your heart and home.



In His GREAT Grace,

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A Little Tape = Lots of FUN! {Thoughtful Momma Monday}

Thoughtful Momma Monday

Here's a way to have a little fun with your kids in your living room (or any carpeted area) this week! It's also a great tool to teach young ones to "stay-in-the-lines", or how to problem solve.

I used painter tape, but masking tape would work great!

We walked on the lines with our feet, and in between the lines - trying to get from the entrance to the exit. We also used cars and drove them through the maze!

Enter here!

 

Moriah pretended it was the corn maze that she heard about at the pumpkin patch (but never got to go in). 



The possibilities of designs with tape are endless. What a great way to learn to spell one's name or to learn numbers!

A little tape + some creative thinking = LOTS OF FUN!

Have fun with your little ones and have a blessed week,

Chicken Bacon Pasta

Here is a super tasty, FALLish recipe (I came across on Plain Chicken) that my family enjoyed last week! The last recipe I posted also called for bacon and chicken... hmmm, maybe I need to branch out a  little  ;o)
 
 
I accidentally doubled the amount of pasta it called for, but not the sauce. So the next day I just whipped up a batch of homemade alfredo sauce and mixed it in the remaining pasta and chicken. Oh my it was so good!

 
I will post my favorite alfredo recipe soon. A dear friend finally wrote out how she makes it and it beats EVERY other alfredo sauce recipe!
 
 
 

Make gourmet-tasting pasta at home!

 
 

Chicken Bacon Pasta
Found here

1/2 pound bacon, cooked and roughly chopped
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or less if you don't want the heat) 1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 pound penne pasta
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 whole eggs
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 grilled chicken breast, sliced (I seasoned it with garlic powder, salt and pepper)

Directions:
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until done (according to package instructions).

Place cream and cream cheese in a small saucepan. Heat over low until cream cheese is melted, and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat. Add the parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and pepper and whisk until blended.

Drain pasta (reserving 1/2 cup of hot water) and return to pot. Immediately add the white sauce and toss to coat. The hot pasta will cook the eggs. Stir in the bacon, and add some reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Top with grilled chicken.

Go ahead.... try this recipe out! You will really enjoy it!

Have a blessed weekend!



In His GREAT Grace,

I'm linked up with:

 

Women Living Well

Colossians Study {Week 5} And a Few Fall Photos!

God's Word is such a source of encouragement and correction. I am very thankful for it and for my Good Morning Girls group who keep me accountable to dig deeper every day!

Hide and Seek at the pumpkin patch!

 



Our verses this week were Colossians 2:16 - 3:6...

^{16 "}So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

²⁰ Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— ²¹ “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” ²² which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³ These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,"



This week I have been challenged to:

• Look to Christ - the substance of the Old and New Testament customs and prophecies. (vs. 17)

• Walk as a dead man - dead to self, alive in Christ!

• Receive TRUE wisdom from above, not having the appearance of wisdom only. (vs. 23)

• Stay connected to the Head (Jesus Christ) to see growth and fruit in my life. (vs. 19)

• Seek things that are above - things found in Christ. (vs. 3:1)

• Hide away in Christ - He is my fortress, my safe place. (vs. 3:4)

Praise God for His loving kindness and mercies that are new EVERY day!

We are enjoying the last weeks of warm weather and looking forward to snow! Yes, my 3-year-old asks about snow almost every day! Last year we got nothing besides a deep freeze. Hoping we have piles of snow this winter - just for her.

Playing in mounds of snow - two years ago.

But for now...

Fall is here!

 

A happy hearth

 

 

 

Framed branches

 

 

 

Painted pumpkins and fall candles... a few favorites.

 

 

Loved seeing many animals at Yesterland Farm.

 

Pretty fall colors found in nature!

Have a blessed, beautiful weekend!



In His GREAT Grace,

Colossians Study {Week 4}

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING!

 

 
We are half way through our study of Colossians and boy, have I been reminded of some powerful truths this week!

⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

⁸ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
 
¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 
 
¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
 
Colossians 2:6-15 (NKJV)
 
 

HOW WONDERFUL!

 

 

 
Truths from the Word this week (preaching to myself here):

• Walk in Christ, let your roots go deep in Him.

 

• Give thanks in everything!

 

• Let everything you learn be found in Christ, not man's ideas and traditions.

 

• Christ is the head - leads us and gives us growth.

 

• Christ cuts away our sinful flesh and gives life through His death.

 

• Requirements, that I couldn't live up to, are satisfied through Christ.

 

• The enemy of my soul has been made into a fool, as Christ conquered death and rose victorious!

 
 
What a wonderful Saviour we follow! We were separated from God in our sin, even Jesus-haters, and in that state Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8)

 
 
Jesus IS & WAS:

• ALL God in a man-suit

 

• Head of all principality and power (things seen and unseen)

 

• Victorious over sin and death

 
 
Here's what He did:

• Wiped out the accusation against us

 

• Took our sins upon Himself on the cross

 

• Disarmed principalities and powers

 

• Made a public spectacle of our enemy

 

• Triumphed over sin and death

• Set the greatest example of love, ever

 
I am ALIVE and FORGIVEN because of Christ's death on the cross. I am able to walk in victory today because Christ is my victor, my Saviour, my Friend. He walks with me, giving me strength to overcome!

  
                                                                ************

Be encouraged today - you are special, you are worth Christ's sacrifice, you are loved. If you are doubting Christ's amazing love, receive the truth today. YOU ARE LOVED, just because you are you. Because you were created by a loving Father. He longs for a relationship with you.
 
 
Just let Him know that you are ready to die to self and live for Him. Repent, turn away from sin. Believe that Jesus died for YOU. Walk in newness of life today! There is nothing on this earth that compares to the joy, freedom and life that comes from a relationship with your Creator.

                                        ************


Be rooted and grounded in Christ - He is the giver of life and He does not disappoint!

 

Learning to walk victoriously,
 

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Bacon Wrapped Smoked Gouda Stuffed Chicken

HAPPY FALL!!!!

 

Here is a simple, yet OH SO TASTY, recipe for you! This is not an every-week-meal, as it's very rich and not so low-cal.

Just a quick post, as the day is getting away from me and I have quite a bit I want to get done during nap time (although I should probably be resting too).


How many ways can you prepare chicken for dinner? Thousands, I'm sure. Bet you haven't tried this way!

My daughter thought we were having just bacon for dinner...

poor little dear  :o)

Bacon Wrapped Smoked Gouda Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Found on Food.com

Ingredients

4 boneless chicken breasts 

4 slices bacon

3 -4 ounces smoked gouda cheese (my fave!)

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions
Combine, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika and pepper.

Flatten chicken breasts to approx 1/4" thickness.

Season both sides of chicken with the cayenne mixture. Place small pieces of cheese on chicken and roll up, pressing firmly.

Wrap each stuffed breast with a bacon slice tightly and then brown over medium heat until bacon just begins to crisp.

Bake in a 350 oven for 20 minutes.

 

 

 

HOT from the oven!

 

We enjoyed them for dinner one evening and I had leftovers with a big green salad for lunch the next day.

YUMO!

 

 

 

Hope you get to enjoy this tasty meal with your family soon!

 

 

In His GREAT grace,

 

PS - Can't wait to share a simple bathroom makeover with you next week!

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