For Monday, December 12th, 2011

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

DECEMBER 12th,  2011

It's MONDAY!  

Poinsettia Day

These beautiful flowers are recognized as a symbol of Christmas. Poinsettia Day was pronounced as an Act of Congress. It is in honor of  Joel Roberts Poinsett, who died on December 12, 1851. Poinsett was the first Ambassador to Mexico who brought the plant back to his plantation in the U.S.  He grew the plants in his Greenville, S.C plantation and gave them out as gifts to friends.
In Mexican folklore, there is a story of a little poor girl who had nothing to bring to church for Christmas. On her way to church, she picked some plants by the side of the road. As she entered the church, the ends of the leaves turned into bright, brilliant red flowers. You guessed it... Poinsettias.

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. 

Author Unknown

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

AMBROSIA DAY

This cool and creamy citrus fruit salad is a light and tasty side dish or dessert.

AMBROSIA SALAD

1 cup seedless grapes

1 cup mandarin oranges

1 cup pineapple chunks

2 cups sour cream

1 cup flaked coconut

Combine first 3 ingredients; add sour cream. Toss lightly with coconut. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled; serve.

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it.  

Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book 

Today is my day to start wrapping it all up.  Most everything is done that will be done here.  The making and the shopping have just about run full circle so I'll try to get it ready now to give away.

Saturday is not very far away at all now and that is when our family will be celebrating Christmas

DS#2 and #4 and their families won't make it home so that means that very soon I should put their gifts in the mail.  

I do still need to do a little grocery shopping as I'll need to make a few things to share at our family feast.  I hope to do the mashed potato bar again.  This time though I'm doing regular potatoes only as the sweet potatoes were barely touched at Thanksgiving.  I will be making some other things too, but have to check in with DS#5 and his wife first as that is where our celebration will be.  

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?

Author Unknown

9 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

12 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

 

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma