"Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more..." The Grinch

"Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more..."  I've thought about this quite a bit this Christmas season.  I love Christmas, "the whole Christmas season."

I go all out some years, and this was one of those years.  We decorated the house inside and out.  I made homemade gifts for all of my neighbors.  I got together with some of my friends and did a cookie exchange.  We bought gifts for our extended family members that we thought they would really enjoy.  As a family we went to Lessons & Carols service at two churches, 3 of the advent services, and I went to "Let Your Heart find Christmas" event.  We went to the movies as a family and saw "Christmas Vacation."  We watched "Christmas Vacation" at home.  We had friends drop by and we dropped by friends' houses.  My children had activities with their friends and with their schools.  We traveled to our families' homes over the Christmas break.  We went all out...but with purpose.

Yes, "Santa" still visits our house even though my children are grown.  Yes, we still celebrate the birth as being on December 25th, even if it is the winter solstice, and not in the Fall.  Yes, I give my children a ton of gifts and decorate more than my local Target store.  Yes, we still watch all the Christmas programs depicting the wise men showing up when Jesus was a babe lying in a manger, although he was already a toddler when they actually arrived.  Yes, these things are not what the point of it all is.  The point is that Jesus has come.

You see, I love Christmas for one big reason.  This is the celebration of the birth of my savior Jesus.  I really believe in this stuff.  I think it's okay to go big and celebrate it.

I go all out because it's a celebration.  And not just any celebration.  In my book, it's THE celebration.  I am celebrating my point of hope.  The moment where a child was born that was God.  A point where the prophesied law was fulfilled and set into motion my salvation.

Today, I had a preacher say to me while commenting on our outdoor Christmas display, "You win the competition."  I notice that a lot lately. People not catching what is really happening, just looking at the surface.  People saying that we shouldn't go all out at Christmas.  That Christmas should be a season of society rules.  We shouldn't be so excited and celebratory.  Well, I'm not in competition, I'm in THE celebration.  And it is good.  I hope you are celebrating, too.  May God's Love Shine on you.

Merry Christmas, All The Year Through!

p.s. I will be solemn on Maundy Thursday.  But, I'll be all excited again on Easter.  Just a warning.

Friday Par-ta

This is what happens when you keep your pumpkins a little too long. 

Friday Par-ta

It's January.  You need to spice things up.  You need more fun.  You need a party with lots of interaction and games. 

How about a Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Game Night?

Here's the activities for the party (Play these at your own discretion.  Someone might get hurt, so be careful. It's not my fault, I warned you.):

1.  The boiled egg vs. raw egg challenge.  Hard boil 8 eggs.  Leave 4 eggs raw.  Mix them up and place them back in the carton.  Have two challengers face each other.  Each one takes a turn, draws an egg out of the carton and busts it on his/her forehead.  The first one to two raw eggs busted, looses.  

2.  Lip Sync Contest.  Each contestant lip syncs to various songs picked by the audience.  The best or funniest lip sync wins.

3.  Pictionary.  Everyone breaks into two different teams.  A bowl with 12 different titles of movies, books or songs are listed on separate pieces of paper.  Each team selects a person to pick from the bowl and draw on a large drawing paper with an easel (so everyone can see what they are drawing).  Their team tries to guess the answer within 2 minutes. If they cannot, the other team gets one chance to guess the answer.  The team with the most points wins after the 12 titles have been drawn.

4.  #Hashtag.  Cut posterboards in half and at the top of each write one of the following hashtags.  Set around the house and include a pen for writing.  Get your guests to write an answer for each of the hashtags throughout the party.  This will drum up good conversation. Here are some good #hashtags to use taken from http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/hashtags/#item=308535:  #momtexts, #dadquotes, #weirdholidaymoment, #ifIwerepresident, #IthoughtIwascool, #worstgiftever  or Just make up some of your own.   

Another fun twist:  At the beginning of the party, pick one guest (make sure they agree, otherwise it won't be fun.) and make the the hashtag #make(guest's name)say   Although you might want to make it clear that it should be clean and not mean.  So, at some point in the night, after the lip sync would be a good time, this person gets up and says all the hashtags out loud.  Would be cute if this is a party for your children, that the dad is the one that has to get up and say everything or the grandma.  

Okay, have fun!

Verse

Proverbs 1: 28-33

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.  Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.  For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your wisdom that You wish to bestow upon me.  Please let me hear You and follow You, Lord.  Let me turn from the world and the bad ideas I have.  Thank you Lord for all you have made, including me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Household Hint Monday

Household Hint Monday

Did you know there is such a thing as stainless steel cleaner wipes?  

Once a month, I use them.  I wipe down the stainless steel pieces in the house with the wipe, then wipe the item down with a kitchen towel.  It takes away all the streaks and water marks, making these items look brand new.  I use this product on my refrigerator, dish washer, oven, sink faucets, shower faucet, and dorm sized mini-fridge. It's quick. It's easy. And it looks REAL good.

Verse

Proverbs 1:24-27 

But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you — when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
 when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please allow me to listen to You.  Let me pay attention and hear Your Words, Lord.  Let me be the one to laugh when the world is in chaos.  Do not let me join in the storm and be the laughing stock of the fool. 

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Family Dinner Sunday - A day for a recipe or two.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could cook like this?  This is the dessert dish served at our church's "Let Your Heart Find Christmas."  They really fancied it up this year. And yes, it tasted as good as it looks.

Family Dinner Sunday - A day for a recipe or two.  

You can find my cookbook at: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/cbright123 

Sugar Biscuits

1 package of whomp biscuits (aka canned biscuits. Don’t use flaky biscuits on this recipe, it’s better to use the regular kind)

Butter

Sugar

Cinnamon

1.     Smash each biscuit in your hand until it’s pressed down and looks like a flat oval. 

2.     On each biscuit, place a pat of butter, 1 tsp. of sugar and ¼ tsp. cinnamon.

3.     Pinch each biscuit closed.  With the pinch part facing upward to the sky.

4.     Pop in the oven and cook according to biscuit package directions.  Usually 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Icing:

½ package of powder sugar

¼- ½ cup of milk

1.     In a bowl, put the powder sugar.  Slowly pour and mix in the milk.  Mix until it’s like thick syrup.

2.     Pour over the biscuits as soon as they come out of the oven. Yum!

Italian Sausage Sandwiches

Smoked sausage links (one per person)

Potatoes (on and one half per person)

Small onion (one per person)

Vegetable oil

1 teaspoon or oregano

1 teaspoon garlic salt

French roll (one per person)

Mustard

Ketchup

1. Warm up about one inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan on the stove while you slice up the potatoes and onions.  Place one piece of potato in the frying pan to see when the oil is warm enough.  The potato will begin bubbling from underneath when the oil is warm enough. 
2. Add in the potatoes and onions.  Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of oregano and 1 teaspoon of garlic salt.  Cover with a lid and let them cook by themselves for about 7 minutes (or until the onions become translucent).  Stir at least twice. 
3. Add in the sausages.  Cover back with the lid. 
4. Toast your bread. 
5. Place bread on plates and put mustard on one side and ketchup on the other. 

Turn off stove and put one sausage and some potatoes and onions on each piece of bread.  (You may want to drain the oil off the sausage, potatoes and onions on a paper plate with paper towels, before you put it on the bread.)

Verse

Proverbs 1:20-23

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out,
 at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?  How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke!  Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for loving me.  Help me to turn from the simple ways of the world.  Help me to see that you are telling me everyday that you love me and want to teach me.  Open my eyes to see you, Lord.  Open my ears to hear you, Lord.  Let me speak your words of love to others, so they may see and hear You, Lord. 

In Jesus Name, Amen.  

Seasonal Saturday

String is a favorite toy.

Seasonal Saturday

The week after Christmas can be a let down or it can be a perk-up!  I like to wait until my kids go back to school to put away the Christmas decorations.  This is the week that I just stop and enjoy.  I drink more cups of coffee. I stop and listen to the conversations that my children want to have with me.  I watch more of the television shows with my husband which means more football, Pawn Stars, and Ancient Aliens.  I relax and stare at the Christmas lights on the dried up tree.  I eat left-over candies and cookies, because it's not January 1st yet.  And I daydream about the coming year and the good it can bring.

Verse

Proverbs 1:17-19

How useless to spread a net
 where every bird can see it!  These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Prayer

Dear God,

Please let me remember to keep You first in my life.  When life is good and full of abundance, do not let me turn from You.  When life is bad and there is famine, do not let me turn from You.  For You and You alone, provide what I really need…Your Love.  Thank You, Lord. 

In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Fri-day, Par-tay!

The Houston Zoo Lights were amazing! And very crowded.

Fri-day, Par-tay!

Okay, so it's a couple days after Christmas, you can still do this.  Your decorations are probably still up. Even if you've taken them down, you can still celebrate...all..year...long.  

Christmas Movie Night! No scheduling required.  All that is needed, tune into ABC Family Channel or rent your favorite Christmas movie or dig out that ole DVD, pop some popcorn, and make hot chocolate!  If you have a fireplace stoke the fire.  Turn on your Christmas lights.  Get out some blankets for lying around on the couch.  Wa-La!  Fun, relaxing night. 

Verse

Proverbs 1:10-16

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.   If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder; cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot ”— my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;  for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Help me to go against the crowd.  Help me to love my neighbor enough to have Your Courage.  Help me to see the wrong and be a part of the right.  Thank You for watching over me and protecting me.  Thank You for loving the world, Lord. 

In Jesus Name, Amen