Christmas Eve Daybook

FOR TODAY ~ Monday, December 24th, 2018

❤💚 Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  ❤💚

 

Outside my window...  It's a beautiful day, sunny/partly sunny with a high temp of 27.  There are only a few patches of snow around our place after the warmer temps over the last week.  We hit 41 two days last week and upper 30's as well which resulted in a lot of snow melt.

I am thinking...  About our extended family Christmas gathering later today.

I am thankful...  For good traveling weather for the holiday weekend and to be with all of our family.

In the kitchen...  No cooking here today.  My brother is making a 30 pound roast and mashed potatoes.  Mom is making dinner rolls and scalloped corn.  Later in the day we'll have lots of snacks and Christmas cookies.

I am wearing...  A denim jean skirt, a navy snowman sweater from Christopher & Banks and an antler headband decked out with blinking Christmas lights.  😄

I am creating...  Nothing on the hook or needles right now.  I just finished a messy bun or ponytail hat for my niece and a large afghan for my sister in law.

I am going...  Home to Sleepy Eye, MN to my parent's house.

I am wondering...  If everyone will enjoy our family game time.  We are playing bingo this year.  Everyone has been collecting small white elephant type gifts from around their house to contribute to the prize bin.  My sister is also brining a new game this year called Scribble Head.

I am reading...  I have a few books going right now.  I'm re-reading The Imitation of Christ a little each night before bed on my Kindle.  In the mornings I am reading through Genesis and a book called, A Woman for God's Glory. 

I am looking forward to... 4 days away at my hermitage in a few weeks.

Around the house...  It's the day before Christmas... lots of boxes, bins, wrapping paper around.  😉  

A favorite Scripture for today...  "And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."  1 John 5:11 ~ We included this scripture on our Christmas picture this year.

One of my favorite things...  Hearing my grandsons say, "Love you, Nana." 💙💙  I don't think that will ever get old.  These two little darlings have been the best thing in my life these last 3 years.  They bring so much joy to all of us.  

A few plans for the rest of the week:  No Plans!  Woo Hoo!!!  

Have a lovely Christmas week

Winter Wonderland

It's happened again!

 

 

Although we had a trace of snow last week our first measurable snow of the season came yesterday and in our home that means COOKIES!  Each year on the first snow of the new season we bring our snowman cookie jar out of storage and fill it to the brim with my mom's recipe for sugar cookies.  You can find the recipe for the cookies in the link above. 

 

 

 

Andrew was pretty excited about the snow and truth be told, out of all my children he is the only one.  :-)  I think it is beautiful and enjoy the snow as long as it is not so bitter cold out.  It was actually very pleasant temp. wise so I asked forced the older boys out to indulge Andrew's winter wishes to have a snowball fight.  He even tried to get mom!

 

 

 

Update

Greetings Friends ~

So much has been happening here in our little corner of the world.  In August my mother in law was placed in hospice at home where her 4 daughters lovingly cared for her each day until she passed into the arms of Jesus on September 27th.  God graciously allowed my husband and I many opportunities to minister, encourage and witness to many family members.  The prayers of years passed were answered and the gospel shared with each of his siblings and my father in law.  Join us in prayer for those sown seeds to break open and bring forth a harvest! 

 

{Samantha and Rose ~ at Samantha's graduation}

 

Rose and I share a birthday and we had a HUGE celebration with all of her family.  All of her children, their spouses and 13 of 16 grandchildren were there with many great grandchildren as well.  Rose came from a family of 15.  She has 9 sisters and 5 brothers.  Wow!  Such a wonderful day of honoring her and sharing our hearts of love with her.

 

 

On September 10th our daughter had our first grandchild.  Little Warren is so precious.   I am loving the Nana life and enjoy every opportunity I have to spend with them.  The first word my nieces and nephews heard from me was the name of Jesus whispered in their ear and so did Warren.  Each time I see him I tell Him how much I love Him and how much Jesus loves him.  I've enjoyed singing hymns to him and praying over him while rocking him.  Such an overwhelming and amazing experience to see the next generation and to pour out your heartfelt prayers to the Father for them at such a young age. 

 

Here are a few photos from their pregnancy photo shoot with my sister.

 

And Now!!! 

 

 

The Nana pictures commence. 

 

 

A few hours after birth. 

 

 

 

Nana or Nanny T and her sweetheart.

 

 

 

Papa Scott

 

  

  

 

Here are a couple preview pictures from his infant photo shoot with my sister.  I crocheted the Hungry Caterpillar cocoon and hat and knitted the multi-colored blanket used in the basket.  There will be more photos from this photo shoot I'm sure.  :)

 

 

And so now you know why its been so silent here.  All is well.  We are missing Rose but so thankful for the gift of Warren who brings us all so much joy.

 



First Snow of the Season - traditions

In our family we have a tradition to celebrate the first snowfall of the winter season and yesterday we had the first snow of the season - we bring our red and blue snowman cookie jar out from the cupboard storage and fill it with freshly baked cookies. 

Usually our first batch of cookies are Grandma Sue's soft sugar cookies (recipe to follow), but first a bit about the snow or lack thereof!  I thought we were going to have this big "snow event" and to be sure some areas did get snow.  Many of our friends got over a foot of snow but down here in the south (45 miles) we got just a trace.  Poor Andrew, the only one who was really looking forward to getting snow this early, walked down the stairs this morning with a disgusted look on his face, pointed out the window and said, "This!  This is NOT snow!"  Haha!

Now onto our favorite sugar cookie recipe! 

Soft Sugar Cookies

1 C. butter
1 C. shortening   (I use 2 cups of butter flavored Crisco)
1 C. sugar
1 C. powdered sugar
2 eggs
4 C. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. pure vanilla
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream butter, shortening, sugar and eggs.  Add vanilla, baking soda and cream of tartar and mix well.  Add in the flour by cupfulls, mixing well between each one.  Roll into balls and then roll in sugar.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  You want them to look not quite done but not too soft.  Cool on rack for two minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.  If you want the cookies to stay softer store them in a tupperware or rubber container - they will get a little harder being stored in a cookie jar.

Enjoy!  If you make these for your family, let me know how you like the recipe.

Blessings,
Theresa