For Saturday, December 16th, 2017

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2017

5 DAYS UNTIL WINTER 

Sunrise: 7:48 am

 Sunset: 5:00 pm

Merry Christmas from my house to yours !

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

Today is the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party! On a cold winter night in 1773, a group of Massachusetts colonists, known as the Sons of Liberty, dumped 342 crates of tea into Boston Harbor. They did this in protest of the Tea Act, which the British Parliament had put in place to protect the struggling East India Company. The result was a virtual monopoly on the American tea trade.

In response to the midnight raid, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which became known as the Intolerable Acts. This solidified the revolutionary movement in Boston and led the colonists to organize the first Continental Congress. The rest, as they say, is history!

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Every year at just this time,
In cold and dark December,
Families around the world
All gather to remember,
With presents and with parties,
With feasting and with fun,
Customs and traditions
for people old and young.

 Helen H. Moore

Today we will be having a party of a different kind.  It’s our family feast celebrating Christmas.  There will be food and games and lots of fun for everyone !

With the promise of more snow falling I’m hoping the roads stay clear and praying for safe travels for everyone.  DS#6 will host this year’s family Christmas and he is a couple hours away.  My 5 children that live in Ohio take turns with the holidays.  Some are closer than others, but only two live close by to me. 

So today we go over the river and through the snow but not to Grandmother’s house , oh no.  

Strange as it seems tomorrow we’ll be warming up above freezing for the first time this week and we may have rain, not snow.  However the long range forecast does say there will be snow for Christmas Day!

I hope you all have a SUPER Saturday!

WHAT’S NEW IN THE KITCHEN

There is a food holiday to celebrate every day of the year!

It’s Chocolate Covered Anything Day! Chocoholics, rejoice! Today is your opportunity to top everything that you eat with chocolate. Indulge in chocolate covered waffles for breakfast, chocolate covered crepes for lunch, chocolate covered pretzels for a snack, and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert! 

This is a recipe for saltine crackers coated in caramel and chocolate.

Christmas Crack

28 to 35 saltine crackers, about 1 sleeve, enough to line your tray.

1 c. packed dark brown sugar

1 c. butter

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups chopped dark chocolate

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a 10 by 15 inch jelly roll pan with nonstick aluminum foil or spray regular foil with baking spray. Line saltines in a single layer on the bottom.

Make caramel sauce: Place the brown sugar, butter and salt in a medium sized saucepan. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, until the butter melts. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for another 3 to 5 minutes, just until the mixture comes to a boil and starts to darken. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Pour the hot brown sugar mixture over the saltine crackers. Spread to evenly coat the crackers.  Move the pan to the oven and bake for 5 minutes. The caramel will be hot and bubbly.

Melt the chocolate: Place the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Cook it in the microwave in 30 second intervals at full power, stirring between each cook time, until the chocolate has melted

Pour the chocolate over the baked crackers: Once the crackers are done baking, remove from oven and allow to cool for 1 minute, until the caramel is no longer bubbling. Then pour the melted chocolate over the crackers. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over the top.

Let the crackers cool to room temperature then move to the refrigerator and cool over night.

The crackers will form a single sheet once cool. Remove from pan and gently peel the foil away, being careful not to tear the foil.  I prefer using parchment paper.   Cut the candy into snack sized pieces using a chefs knife.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week.

COUNTING MY GIFTS

This is the power of gathering:
it inspires us, delightfully,
to be more hopeful,
more joyful, more thoughtful:
in a word, more alive

Alice Waters

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

5533. for a day to get together with family

5534. for a ride from DD and her hubby

5535. for lots of yummies for my tummy

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.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Christmas works like glue, it keeps us all sticking together. 

Rosie Thomas

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma