ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2013
17 DAYS UNTIL WINTER
21 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Sunrise:7:39 am
Sunset:4:59 pm
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
Matthew 1:22-23
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us’.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
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 by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994
There is no one in history that has been given more names or titles than Jesus Christ. However, there is no name more significant than Immanuel. With the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, Immanuel, God With Us, takes on a whole new meaning. He came to be with us, not just at Christmas, but all the time.
I finished all my decorating on the inside of my house and now just have the few things I put up every year on the outside yet to do. This week is a little warmer so the ideal time to do that would be now. It’s not much fun when it’s below freezing out and the wind is blowing. I did manage to get my Turkey Flag down from the front porch that I had up for Thanksgiving.
I have such a mess in the basement and need to restack my storage bins and make room for a gift wrapping station down there. Wrapping takes a lot of time and it goes faster when I have everything I need right at hand.
DD had posted this recipe for Potato soup and I made it and will be eating for a few days now.
2 1/2 pounds baby red potatoes, sliced into small bite sized pieces
1/2 regular package uncooked bacon, finely diced
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 bunch celery, diced
8 cups milk
4 cups water
4 chicken bullion cubes
(you can use a cup of the hot potato water to dissolve, then use the cup of hot water in place of one of the above cups of water)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup salted butter
3/4 cup flour
1/4 bunch freshly chopped parsley
1 cup whipping cream
For garnish
Shredded cheese. fried bacon bits. chopped green onions
In large pot, boil potatoes in water 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. In sauté pan, cook bacon until crisp. Drain bacon fat and place on paper towel over plate to drain more. Add onion and celery to bacon pan over medium-high heat until celery is tender, about 5 minutes. I added a little chopped carrot to mine too.
To the large potato pan, add milk, water, bullion, salt and pepper. Cook over medium high heat until mixture is very hot, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Do not let mixture boil.
In small, heavy saucepan melt butter. Add flour and mix well. Cook over medium-low heat until mixture bubbles, stirring 2 to 3 minutes to make a roux. While constantly stirring soup, add roux slowly until soup is thick and creamy, about 4 minutes. Stir in parsley, reserved potatoes, and cream. Usually the potatoes will provide thickening all by themselves but I used half and half instead of cream and it worked just fine.
Garnish with cheese, bacon bits, onions or all three. Serve hot!
Hope you all have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!
COUNTING MY GIFTS
Nor will they say, Look, here it is! or There it is! For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.
Luke 17:21
I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for this past year and have now reached my 1000 gifts. I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting. There is always, always something to be thankful for.
1190. for a few warmer days
1191. for hot soup
1192. for gifts to wrap
Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!
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 !
Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.
Ruth Ann Schabacker
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
3 comments:
A beautiful post! The soup sounds wonderful!
I like that recipe for the soup, Ma. I think we'll make it soon; sounds like it will be a good one for the cool winter weather! Glad to hear your decorating is going well. I do remember putting up lights when we lived in Montana. We did try to find those warm times indeed!
betty
I like the sound of that soup, it would be good with cornbread! :-)
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