Category Archives: Family

Be Travelling Back to Bethlehem (Advent Day 9)

Yesterday before our visit with mom and dad, we went on our annual trip to Bethlehem during the time Jesus was born. It didn’t cost us a cent!

For the last few years in Vtown a local Baptist church has held an event called Bethlehem Star. It is an incredibly well organized event from the parking to the experience to the show and a cookie and hot chocolate on the way out.

Bethlehem Star begins outside where the church recreates a Bethlehem marketplace including shekels to buy things like olives, dreidels, bread. You can also see live animals, and join the Roman Army.

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After Bethlehem Star, we zoomed across town to have dinner with Nana, Papa and Auntie P. the boys broke out the handmade Nana made PJ’s and even watched a short show on the TV.

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Merry Ninth day of advent in preparation for Christmas.

Be Going on a Prayer Retreat

I was fortunate to spend yesterday morning on a chicken farm overlooking the valley. Happy 8th day of advent.

We had a listening prayer retreat led by my counsellor. It was three and a half hours with beautiful women wanting to go deeper with God.

The most important thing I want to share are these wonderful photos:

20131207-223551.jpgWhat resonates with you on this table today?

20131207-223557.jpgSpending time praying in nature. I found an angel to walk and pray with.

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20131207-223625.jpgOur leader:

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The most miraculous thing that physically happened was after two years of being stuck this hour glass started running. Look at the women’s faces. Priceless. God is a God of wonder, amazement and miracles.

20131207-223640.jpgGlory to God

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Be Making Angel Cookies

How about angel cookies to enjoy on this sixth day of advent?

These are super simple to make. If you are going to try making a Christmas cookie with your kids I would try these. The boys love making the dough into triangles and sticking in the pretzels.

We made these on the weekend then decorated them at Nana and Papa’s. These are yummy in our tummy kinda cookies. We decided to use the icing in the recipe book and banana chips for a head. Mom checked out the action from her chair.

Enjoy:

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Be Making Nachos on Parchment Paper

Happy Taco Tuesday and third day of Advent!

I want to celebrate this exciting wintery day by introducing my old friend “Nachos” back into our world.

I must admit that we haven’t made nachos for a very long time as I always worry about my wee ones burning their tiny little fingers. BUT after this weekends idea, I can see yummy cheesy nachos coming back into my life on a regular basis. Welcome back old University friend!

Step One: Put parchment paper onto cookie sheet and top with nacho ingredients of your choice. Cook!

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Step Two: Gently slide cooked nachos on parchment paper from cookie sheet to cutting board. Don’t forget to move your hips.

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Step Three: Take that cool cookie sheet with those hot nachos to the waiting boys at the table and have no fear of kids being burned by the cookie sheet that is still sitting on the stovetop.

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Woah! I love new ideas! Have you had any ideas that have startled you into excitement?

It is the simple things in life. Enjoy this waiting before Christmas. What a beautiful time!

Be Making Gingerbread Playdough

A few years ago a friend gave us gingerbread playdough for Christmas. I must admit that we still have this playdough in our stash. It was a great gift. I absolutely love the smell of gingerbread and playing with the playdough makes the aroma spread around the room.

This year JC and I decided that we were going to make gingerbread playdough. I must admit, as an imperfect teacher and a mother, I have never made playdough. Shocking, I know.

I put all the dry ingredients into the pot. I was shocked again as I didn’t know you cooked playdough. We added in the water and the oil and began to stir. Playdough goes from this liquidy sticky dough into this chunky messy mixture and ends up being this beautiful smooth playdough. Who knew!

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Enjoy! Here is the recipe we used:

Ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 tsp orange extract {optional}
Instructions

In a medium saucepan whisk together dry ingredients. Next mix in the water, oil, and orange extract and stir until a thick batter is formed. Cook the mixture over low/medium heat until a thick dough forms. Turn out onto parchment paper and knead until smooth. Makes about 2 cups of dough.

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I bought some Christmas takeout containers as well as some gingerbread men cookie cutters and viola gifts for the boys friends are done.

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Happy 2nd day of Advent. Christmas is coming. Enjoy each day.

Be Writing Letters to Santa

December 1st, 2013

Advent had begun. Yeah! We are counting the days until we celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

We put the candles in our advent wreath. We will light one this first week, two the second week, three the third and all four on the week before Christmas. We will light all five on Christmas Day symbolizing Jesus’ light coming into the world.

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We have our first door of our advent calendar open, the ornament is on the tree and chocolate covered blueberries are digesting in the boys bellies. We waited til after breakfast and we tried to choose something mildly nutritious for the calendar. Do chocolate covered blueberries qualify?

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We started our letters to Santa and we hope to put them in the mailbox tomorrow. We read this book by the Berenstain Bears to see how sister and brother bear write their letters:

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The boys worked hard with Grandma and Sexy Neck. We will see what the letters to Santa end up saying.

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Happy Advent Everyone!

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Be Rockin’ Chemo #4!

My heart is singing? Can you hear? I definitely make a joyful noise.

Mom had her fourth chemotherapy session at the cancer clinic today. This is four of six and about four weeks after her surgery.

Mom was connected with the pain management specialist in Vtown today and she worked a miracle. (Before I carry on, did you know that most towns have one. You don’t need to live in pain when you are battling cancer!). Anyways, Miss Miller is a nurse as well as a cancer survivor. Today she swooped in like Mary Poppins with her suitcase full of pain and nausea prevention ideas. She said she has even more tricks in her bag if this first plan doesn’t work!

Oh but I think it already is. Here is mom and I hanging out tonight:

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Doesn’t my mama look great! She says tomorrow she wants me to shave her head. She is tired of having her hair all over her pillow. Yeah- she ain’t tired from being in pain.

Miracles occur every day!

Filled with gratitude. Filled with love from my bible study sisters Filled with hope.