Christmas Preparations

Every year, I intentionally slow down during the Christmas season to soak up the joys of the season, and I am determined not to get caught up in the busyness that the season has become.  Yet, every year, it is hard to maintain. There are endless parties, gatherings, social events, expectations, gifts, and more. I'm sure you can relate. This Christmas, we are being intentional about giving handmade/thrifted gifts and spending more time just being together without any big endeavors. I usually bake mountains of food/cookies to have on hand and give away. This year, I've kept the recipes simple and easy.  

Our family tradition continues - we have been making Paintbrush Sugar Cookies together as long as I can remember. My mother started the tradition with us children, and I have continued it with my own. 

Dan held Baby Clara while we made the cookies. She is the cutest little darling! They are our two miracles! 

Danielle's beautiful painted cookies! 

Danika enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights I had just managed to get put up hours before they arrived! 

I finally got boxes out of storage and put up some Christmas decor. 

I love having lots of lights at Christmas! 

I baked some cookies to give away to neighbors as well as sharing the Paintbrush Cookies too. 

The kids requested a favorite family meal - Chicken and Dumplings. I made the dumplings using sourdough, and they were wonderful! And yes, Gramma can still manage to hold a baby and eat with one hand {smiles}

This is Dan's Mom's chicken and dumpling recipe. I made a big pot of them and sent large helpings home with the kids. 

We have been going to Cardiac Rehab 3 days a week.  One of those days, they hold a cooking class, and we get to taste what they've made. The recipe is provided. These are heart-healthy recipes! 

This yogurt parfait was especially delicious, made with cherries, cranberries, and mandarin oranges to give it a tropical taste.

 

I've enjoyed many cups of tea as we have LOTS of rain this past week. A dear friend sent this tea bag in a card. I enjoyed the tea very much! It was caffeine-free, which Dan and I are now being very careful to watch our caffeine intake. 

Riley got soaking wet on one of our walks. The rain really came down as we walked this week. 

Many of you have heard in the news about the flooding rains that we have been having here in the Northwest. Thankfully, where we live, the water runs off, and we don't have any issues with flooding, but there are communities nearby that have had roads and bridges wash out because of the rain. 

There is so much sorrow and grieving in our world right now, and our hearts are broken for those who weep for loved ones taken from them in horrific ways. Our hearts grieve with them, and lift each broken heart and family to the Lord as the Christmas season approaches, and their lives are forever etched in the tragedy of the loss. 

I'm sharing a Christmas Medley video for you to enjoy in this Christmas season as we rest our hearts in knowing that Jesus is our comfort, our strength, our peace in the midst of the season's busy-ness, in the midst of grief and loss, and in spite of whatever we may be facing - our hope in Jesus brings great comfort. 

One of my favorite scriptures in the Christmas story is where Mary is being told by the angel she would bear the Messiah child as a virgin, and to her incredulous ears, these words were spoken, Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible." The angel spoke these words to let her know that God himself was going to take care of the details, all she had to do was believe. 

Mary responded to the angel with these words:  "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

In faith, Mary believed the impossible words from the angel and spoke in faith despite all that she had heard.  

This scripture has always been a reminder to me that God does not always choose to work in ways that we understand, but when difficult situations come, we must believe, even as Mary did, with an incredulous heart, that the plan of God would make sense in the days to come. 

As we ponder the birth of Jesus this week, and what it means to each of us, I pray that you feel His peace and His presence, and that you have come to know the Savior personally, the precious gift of salvation that He brought to us. 

May this week be full of quiet and reflective moments where you treasure the gift of the birth of Jesus, our Savior!  

Merry Christmas and JOY To the World, Jesus has come!