The Great Debate

Tonight is our Secret Sister dinner and gift exchange. I am signed up to bring a dessert. I don't know why I continue to do this to myself, but I have a bad habit of jumping in with "I'll bring a dessert."...only to worry at the last minute with "What should I make?"

Now I know it is perfectly acceptable to run by the local market and grab something from their bakery, but I just do not have it in my genetic make-up to do that. You will notice at the top of my blog I say something good is always baking in the oven. Well, that is just about true. I love desserts and there is usually a fresh one on the counter or something in the oven or ingredients in the cabinet awaiting their turn.

There in lies my problem. It's not that I can't decide what I want to make; it's that I simply can't narrow it down. I have so many wonderful recipe books and I have tried and true recipes that I've made for years and years. I hate putting it off to the last minute because then I'm tempted to go with quick and easy instead of 100% homemade and absolutely scrumptious.

I know it won't be cookies. I am going to get enough cookie baking in the next couple of weeks just preparing for Christmas. A cake is just so normal unless I can find a recipe of a "to die for" cake I haven't had before. I do have a recipe for a triple layer iced brownie concoction I have been wanting to try. Also a nice pan of gingerbread with some cool whip might be good since it is a holiday.

I just don't know. I've got about 6 hours to make up my mind, check my supplies and make a dash to the store for extra ingredients before I have to start baking. So if you have any brilliant ideas for me, please comment and let me know. Until then, I guess I'll just keep pouring over the recipe books looking for inspiration.

The Christmas Story

About 12 years ago, I wrote a poem for my Mom at Christmas. It was from the heart and I'd like to share it with you. I hold the copyright, but I don't mind if you want to share the poem as long as you link back to my blog.

The Christmas Story

Packages wrapped up with ribbons and bows,

Stockings over fires with embers aglow;

A tree in the corner strung with tinsel and lights;

A soft falling snow on a cold winter night.

Under the tree on a soft woolen skirt,

Sat a nativity scene of the dear Savior’s birth.

As I knelt down close to take a good look,

My mother would read from an old worn book.

She told of a mother, weary and worn,

Looking for a place for her child to be born.

The inns were all full, no room could be found.

They were shown to a stable with hay on the ground.

She read how the shepherds were watching their sheep

When angels came to them with voices so sweet.

She read of their messages of tidings of joy

As they told the shepherds about the birth of a boy.

We’d listen intently, eyes glued on that book

As she told how the shepherds went to go look.

How they found the sweet baby in a manger that night

And how they gave praise to God for the sweet blessed child.

We hung on her words, the picture so clear,

For this was a child the world would hold dear.

She flipped back some pages as we knelt at her feet,

While she read of some wise men and a star in the east.

She told of their journey to see the small babe.

She read of their worship and the gifts that they gave.

We heard about the frankincense, the myrrh and the gold,

As Mom quietly finished her story of old.

As she closed the worn book that she’d just read,

We’d get our kisses from Daddy and scoot off to bed.

As she tucked us all in and kissed us good night,

We’d think of that story as she covered us tight.

For we had been raised to know the Lord’s love,

And we knew that sweet Child was a gift from above.

We knew that a great sacrifice had been made,

That started with the birth of Jesus that day.

So forget all the presents, the ribbons and bows.

Forget all the stockings and lights all aglow.

For the greatest gift you’ll find on your Christmas morn,

Was given by God, the year our Savior was born.



Are you a blogaholic?



I absolutely love blogging. It never gets me down. It never depresses me. I look at blogging as a way to be me and share little bits and pieces of who I am with the world. Do I blog for fame and glory? No. Do all my posts have a purpose? No. I simply just love to write and blogging gives me the opportunity to do that. My posts are not profound and won't be changing the world. But maybe through the little things I see and do, it will bring a small smile to your face and make you want to come back another day

I find that the more I blog, the more blogs I find that share the same beliefs and interests that I share. I get such joy of pulling up my Google reader every day and seeing what is going on in the lives of my fellow bloggers. I follow blogs that I have things in common with. I follow blogs that inspire me and blogs that make me smile. I love seeing DIY projects and home decor. I love hearing what is going on in your world and seeing what makes you smile.

Am I a blogaholic? I'm not sure. I have my blogs I follow religiously and even though I don't always get to post on them, I read every single one that I follow every single day. Most people start their day by reading the paper. I start mine by reading blogs.

But do I set around and worry and stress if I don't get to read my blogs for a day or more? No, I simply keep them in my Google reader and follow up when I can. Many times when I read the blogs I follow, it feels like I'm just catching up on old times from family and friends. No different than receiving letters back in the day when we actually used the mail.

So I want to send a special thank you to all my followers for being so faithful in reading my random thoughts and enjoying the things I post each day. I also want to thank all the blogs I follow for continuing to entertain and inspire me. Keep up the good work and I'll see you in blogland.

Check out these neat Christmas Finds....

On the first day of Christmas.....

I don't want a partridge in a pear tree. Nor do I have any need for seven maids a milking. What I do like though is flitting around on Etsy to find things that tickle my fancy. So I've compiled my twelve items I would love to have for the 12 Days of Christmas.

1. These cute little crochet pine cones were the first things that caught my eye. I just thought they were so adorable.

Shop at Ahmaymet

2. I love holly and this leaf and berry is one of the most unique necklaces I have seen for Christmas.

Shop at Dangling Jewelry

3. This is a neat idea for a hair bow for a small girl.

Shop at SAuvigne23

4. Don't you just love Christmas purses. I don't have a holiday purse this year. I need to rectify that situation soon.

Shop at Lauries Gifts Biz

5. Some neat little crochet ornaments. I admire people with such talent. Although I can do a beautiful chain stitch, I can't figure out how to turn back the other direction and make anything out of it.

Shop at Zoom Yummy

6. I like this little tree. It says it all.

Shop at Lynnie Pinnie

7. How precious is this little snow couple. They are ceramic but the glaze on the jackets makes them look almost like glass.

Shop at Ju Jos

8. I wish I had found these sooner. I would love to have bought a set to start wearing today. I may have to get them and put them up for next year.

Shop at Click by Color

9. I love reindeer. This just caught my fancy. I am really into charm necklaces. This would be cute with a little thin tree charm.

Shop at Seven Blueberries

10. I love this angel necklace. It could be worn year round.

Shop at Sevgi charms

11. I love dangling earrings and these are absolutely gorgeous.

Shop at KC Mis Me

12. Bracelets are another weakness of mine and this one is so great for the holidays.

Shop at Copper Token

Just so you'll know....

It's December. It time to go a little crazy. So I thought I'd share some of my quirks about the season. I am not one of these who dreads the constant activity. I am not one who hates the whirlwind. I am one of those who lives for every single moment of the season and I squeeze every bit of joy out of it.



I still leave CHRIST in Christmas. Christmas is love and hope and peace and joy. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the madness and the craziness as long as we never lose site of the real meaning of Christmas.

Here are some of the things I love that makes people think I'm a little nuts...



.....I like to attend as many Christmas functions possible. All of the functions I like to attend are with family or church functions. I like my calendar to be full. I already have 15 things on my appointment calendar ranging from children's school programs to parades to Christmas dinners with church friends.

.....I love to wrap Christmas presents and very rarely use gift bags unless it is a bulky present.

.....I NEVER use gift bags for the grandbabies...even if it is bulky. I just figure out a way to wrap it.  Watching them unwrap is one of my highlights of the season.

.....When Daddy was alive, I helped him do his Christmas shopping for Mommy every year. When I moved to Tennessee, he would send me money and tell me what to get and have me wrap it and ship it to him. He's been gone since '99 and I still go overboard for Mommy and send it to her so she will have extra presents to unwrap on Christmas. I always tell her that in my heart, some of them are from Daddy.

.....I love to bake and I will bake like crazy...only to give most of it away because we would never be able to eat everything I bake this month.

.....Every year, I have to watch Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Christmas Story, Home Alone, National Lampoon Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street (old version), Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas, Christmas Comes to Willow Creek, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Smoky Mountain Christmas and my favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas.

.....My favorite Christmas songs are Tender Tennessee Christmas and Mary Did You Know.

.....I cry every time I hear Alabama sing Christmas Memories http://youtu.be/fS-7EfnS4tQ especially when it says "there's that old easy chair, me and Daddy sat there waitin' for Santa's sleigh. Now Daddy's gone but we carry on..."

.....I love sending out Christmas cards. I love getting them too. I read everyone of them and sometimes get them out at night and go through them again.



.....I love shopping and being right in the middle of the crowds at Christmas time. I even intentionally leave some last minute stocking stuffers for hubby until the 22nd or 23rd so I can have a reason to be out in the craziness.



.....I love Christmas eve when the family gets together and enjoys a feast and the kids get to open presents the adults get them. I still like to buy for my kids as well. My son has always been one of those that gets impatient and loves to have something to open on Christmas eve. That hasn't changed as he's gotten older.



.....I love Christmas morning. Getting up with hubby and exchanging our gifts for each other and then spending the day lounging around in sweats all day. He'll make a big Christmas dinner for us and I'll spend most of the day reading whatever new book he gets me for Christmas.

I guess I just love everything about Christmas.

The wonders of grandchildren

Thanksgiving was a special day with my family gathered at the house. My daughter had a new camera so she was "Kodak" moment happy all day. As I looked at the pictures she had taken, I realized how blessed I am to have such beautiful grandchildren. They each have developed their own little personalities. They have much in common but at the same time are very different from each other. I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos of the day of some of my favorite little people.