A New Cookbook

Sky got me Deceptively Delicious for Christmas and it's just that! It's really the way I've been cooking for years but have never had actual recipes to make appetizers, desserts and the like. Soups and casseroles - no problemo... the other stuff, help!

What I'm talking about people is sneaking veggies into your everyday cooking to get your family eating better, healthier! YES!

Tonight, I am adapting her Meatball Soup. I already have meatballs on hand so I just added the sweet potato puree to the liquid. I'm using my canned goods from when I was canning so that pleases me greatly!

So, we'll have a delicious soup that everyone will love and get our veggies, too!

While I'm in here cooking, DH is outside with Melynda, Paco and Javier sledding. I'm going to have sneak some shots of them!!! Oh, Zorro, too!

The Rock

How fitting for a Nativity to be carved in stone. This is from my mother-in-law. It's on my shelf and I love having a verse to read when I stand in front of it.

Yes, I walk around and stand in front of my Nativity Scenes. I'm drawn to them.

Are you?

Merry Christmas! By the way, baby Jesus is now resting in his manger. It's perfect.

Happy Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is here at last - a time for family, tradition and celebration! I can't wait for our candlelight service tonight. It's beautiful. Meaningful. Simple.

And long last, here is my main nativity. This was a gift from our dear friends, Larry and Dee, for our wedding. It's really something. In a simple way. It's a Fontanini, and has the whole village capability. What's also so awesome is each piece is handmade of wood so they don't break! And, each figurine comes with a fictional stroy card to create a story line of what might have been happening in the Bethlehem that day. We have the stable and village people. Here, take a look:

The Stable Scene:
I can't wait for baby Jesus to be born tonight!!!

Larry & Dee got us this little lady the year I was pregnant with Javier.

And a "ho ho ho" from Javi:

And now, something I read this morning and cried.

Twenty-five Questions for Mary

by Max Lucada, "God Came Near"

1. What was it like watching him pray?
2. How did he respond when he saw other kids giggling during the service at synagogue?
3. When he saw a rainbow, did he ever mention a flood?
4. Did you ever feel awkward teaching him how he created the world?
5. When he saw a lamb being led to slaughter, did he act differently?
6. Did you ever see him with a distant look on his face as if he were listening to someone you couldn't hear?
7. How did he act at funerals?
8. Did the thought ever occur to you that the God to whom you were praying was asleep under your own roof?
9. Did you ever try to count the stars with him...and succeed?
10. Did he ever come home with a black eye?
11. How did he act when he got his first haircut?
12. Did he have any friends by the name of Judas?
13. Did he do well in school?
14. Did you ever scold him?
15. Did he ever have to ask a question about Scripture?
16. What do you think he thought when he saw a prostitute offering to the highest bidder the body he made?
17. Did he ever get angry when someone was dishonest with him?
18. Did you ever catch him pensively looking at the flesh on his own arm while holding a clod of dirt?
19. Did he ever wake up afraid?
20. Who was his best friend?
21. When someone referred to Satan, how did he act?
22. Did you ever accidently call him Father?
23. What did he and cousin John talk about as kids?
24. Did his other brothers and sisters understand what was happening?
25. Did you ever think, That's God eating my soup?

Blessings, my friends, family and readers. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Eve

Our present opening time starts tonight! We have DH's family over tonight and I have pozole cooking on the stove. Nothing like a good soup bubbling on the stove all day to keep one hungry!

Are you ready? Are you ready to celebrate our Lord's birth? I'm really trying but man oh man, I'm so overwhelmed right now! I think I have it all together and am ready and each day brings something new and challenging; which is good, I guess, but it's hard at the same time.

This is my favorite time of year - so why I am walking around barking orders and feeling angry??? What attitude adjustment do I need to make on my part? What can I let go of? What doesn't matter?

I'm ready for your birthday, Jesus, really I am! I just wish it was here already! But I want to enjoy the moment now, too, and I'm not. :( I'm sorry, I'll try harder.

I got our powerpoint done for our Candlelight Service tomorrow night. I'm ready to worship you in both English and Spanish! It's going to be AWESOME!

I want to rest in you, Jesus. Please help me. It's all about You! You're all that matters! Help me remember that each moment.

The Three

My Mom gave me this statue some time ago and I really like it. It's almost a paper mache but a little heavier.

I love the simplicity of just Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Always makes me stop. Makes me remember Who I'm doing this all for, anyway. In the hustle and bustle of baking, cleaning and going - there is ONE who desires my attention. ONE who desires time with me. ONE who died for me. I pray you know Him. He's my best friend.

Now, I'm off to make granola and do some baking - 'cause I want to! :)

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Roy and I are singing our first duet ever tomorrow! We're singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" in English and Spanish!

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me.
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI_ihzSc_IE

Does the plea get any more real than this? I can't change the world but I sure can work on me! Peace - it begins with me and will be made complete through Christ Jesus, my LORD and SAVIOUR!

Green Gift Bags - aka CHEAP TOTES!

Have you ever wondered about all the pretty glossy wrapping paper and where it goes after your loved one has unwrapped it? Well, it goes to the landfill. The percentage of people who actually re-use wrapping paper is VERY small! It's too much work at Christmas and the amount of wrap we're talking about it HUGE!

And the gift bags? Aren't they easy? YES! But again, unless you re-use them (like I do) they go to the landfill. Gift bags are easier to re-use than wrapping paper to be sure and it is more accepted to re-gift a gift bag than crinkeled up torn wrapping paper. The biggest bummer for me and wrapping paper is, it's glossy so it can't be burned or easily recycled!

What's the answer? Well, the Sunday Comics are an answer if you want to wrap. Also, I've seen advertisements used as wrapping.

But what about this? Re-usable bags/totes!

These grocery totes (above) sell for .99!

This canvas tote (above) is .99, too while the colored canvas ones are $1.49.

These Gusett Non-Woven Poly Propylene Totes are .99!
These smaller gift totes are a a mere .69 but they are sold out until January 1st.

This is a promo tote so buy while it's a cheap at .69!

For the guys in my life, I found these awesome Boise State Brocos bags on sale for a buck and will enjoy wrapping presents in these! Go BSU!

There are many places you can find re-usable bags or totes for a dollar or less. Here's what I'm going to do this year:

1) Not buy any new gift bags - not just talking Christmas but for everything.

2) Keep an eye out for re-usable bags and use them instead

3) Use the newspaper we have on hand as tissue paper

4) Wrap in comics, when needed

Now, I have some wrapping paper on hand from years past so it may take me a few times to actually run out of the wrap. What I'm changing is NOT buying any more!

I'm so excited!!! Are you?