Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Our First Christmas with Luke




This was my first year EVER not spending Christmas Eve night with my family and cousins. I was kind of hesitant about just being the 3 of us at home Christmas morning. Sounded kind of boring to me when I am used to waking up early with 9 or more additional people. I was actually feeling pretty bad for Luke too that he had to be by himself.


But of course it turned out wonderful. We all slept in till about 8:00 and then opened our stockings together. And Luke received his first Santa present, glitter and all. I really really really enjoyed being with my own little family. Christmas is so much better with kids!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Free Red Box Movie!

Enter promo code 545DZ9 to get a free Red Box Movie TODAY!

Thanks Rachel!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Away in a Manger...

We took Luke to the barn the other night to see what it was like where Jesus was born (and to see the new baby calf!). He got up close and personal with this one!


Away in a manger,
No crib for his bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Look down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying he makes
I love thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
Till morning is nigh

Friday, December 19, 2008

Saving America From Bankruptcy

Crown Financial Ministries had a great radio program on today and yesterday title Saving America From Bankruptcy. The link is http://www.crown.org/Media/
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 (New International Version)

12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. 16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. 20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. 22 Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Deuteronomy 11:13-28 (New International Version)

13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the LORD's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him- 23 then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. 24 Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea. [a] 25 No man will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.
26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

First Autographs!




Here are some pictures of Luke's first autographs on his cast. Since then Grandma and Grandpa H. and Aunt Rachel have signed it also. And he has figured out how to crawl!!!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Luke




Luke broke his wrist Monday afternoon. We took him to the urgent care around 6:00 and they put him in a splint. Then yesterday morning we took him to the orthopedic doctor and they put the poor little guy in a cast. :( He seems to be in fine spirits. A little frustrated that he can't crawl around, but we are hoping he will figure out someway soon. Pray for the little guy and for us please! He gets the cast off on January 7th. So just before his 1 year birthday!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Kroger $25.00 Giveaway

Click on the Stretching a Buck link to the left to register for a $25.00 Kroger gift certificate.

Christmas Cookies 2008!


For Christmas Cookies 2008 we only got to two of the new recipes I wanted to try. The Marbled Chocolate Treats and the Orange Snowballs. The Orange Snowballs are delicious! Definitely a recipe keeper! Here it is:


1 c butter, softened

3/4 c sifted powdered sugar

1 Tbs finely shredded orange peel

2 tsp finely shredded orange peel

1 Tbs orange juice

2 2/3 c flour

3/4 c granulated sugar

1 tsp gold edible glitter (optional)


Beat butter on high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in orange juice. Beat in as much flour as you can. Using a wooden spoon stir in the rest of the flour and 1 Tablespoon orange peel.


Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.


Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes.


Meanwhile combine the 3/4 c sugar and 2 tsp granulated sugar. Add edible glitter if desired. Roll the baked cookies, still slightly warm, in the sugar mixture. Transfer to a wire rack; cool.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Complete!

It's all done! I even had time to start getting my kitchen geared up for the big Christmas cookie day tomorrow. The recipes I pulled out to make are:

Vanilla Sables
Marbled Chocolate Treats
Mint Thins
Orange Snowballs
Maple Log Cabins and Trees
and of course regular cutout cookies.

These are all new recipes (even the cutout cookies) so we'll see how they turn out tomorrow!

Beginning of a new day...

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever!

A Monday morning is a great way to start a new ride. I'm writing my to do list on here to hopefully motivate me to get more accomplished.

Shower - check
Pick up our bedroom - check
Spend time in the Word - check

2 loads of laundry completely done (includes being put away)
Order extra Christmas cards
Give Luke a bath
Dishes washed and put away
Start working on grocery list from other wonderful blogs
http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/ Meijer and Kroger deals
http://www.nwohiocoupons.com/best_deals/ Community Market deals
And what I'm most excited about...picking out recipies for our annual Christmas cookie baking day tomorrow! This will be our 4th year for my sister-in-law and I to do this. Can't wait!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Day One...

Well I'm pretty excited...I'm actually starting a blog! This is my attempt to capture my life...one day at a time. I am committing to slowing down and enjoying life. May this be a motivator for me. Lord may you fill me with peace and joy as I start this new adventure...