For Sunday, December 1st, 2019

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1ST,2019 

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.

20 DAYS UNTIL WINTER

24 Days Until CHRISTMAS 

Sunrise: 7:34 am

 Sunset: 4:59 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark 

WELCOME DECEMBER

December is Aids Awareness Month, National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, National Pear Month, National Tie Month, Operation Santa Paws, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Universal Human Rights Month, and Worldwide Food Service Safety Month,

Today is the first day of the Advent Season. It’s the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day.  The theme during Advent is to prepare for the Coming of Christ at Christmas. 

Many Advent traditions take place in the United States in the prelude to Christmas Day.  For example, the Advent wreath is becoming increasingly popular. 

Wreaths are docorated with gold and silver ribbons and are usually placed on the table where family and friends sit while singing carols and preparing handmade gifts.

 Advent calendars of all designs are also given as gifts this time of year.  The calendars feature openings the form of windows or doors that are numbered to count the days to Christmas.  Calendars may contain, chocolates, toys or candy and are given to children as a fun way to observe the Christmas countdown.

Advent traditions spread from Europe to the US and became popular after the WWII as military personnel and their families  were stationed in Germany  brought them home and made them part of their preChristmas traditions.  

 

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.

Dr Seuss

Thankfully I was able to get a lot of decorating done here over the weekend and my Advent wreaths is ready and waitng. Each Sunday I’ll be lighting another candle until Christmas comes and hopefully be sharing a little Advent tip each Week too.  We need to remember the reason for the season: Jesus.  Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Him.  

Advent tip for the first Sunday of Advent 2019:

Make a resolution at the start of Advent that bring you closer to Christ. Read some kind of daily devotion.

As I’m also preparing for our Family Christmas vacation, this week I’ll be making a packing list of things to take.  It’ll be a checklist so I don’t forget something. I do love lists to help keep me organized and on track.  So that’s what I’ll be doing after church today. 

The pictures today are of my candles, nothing extravagant, but the wreath has been around a long time.  It’s always been a tradition here at my house. 

I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

The greatest gift you will ever receive will nnver be found under a Christmas tree.  It is far too valuable to be stored in other place but in the depths of your heart.

Anonymous

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

7645.for my Advent wreath, counting down the weeks until Christmas 

7646. for lists that help keep me on track

7647. for traditions and customs that help celebrate the holidays

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

Somehow, not only for Christmas

But all the long year through

The joy that you give to others

Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing

The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of your hearts possessing

Returns to you glad

John Greenleaf Whittier

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Friday, November 2nd, 2018

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.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2018

53 Days until Christmas

Sunrise: 8:01 am

 Sunset: 6:22 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

  

Today is Cookie Monsters Birthday which celebrates everyone’s favorite blue monster with a voracious appetite.  Jim Henson created the original version of Cookie Monster for a General Foods commercial in 1966, and the beloved character appeared in the first episode of Sesame Street in 1969.  Cookie Monsters google eyes are never too big for his stomach, and he’s aways ready to enjoy more cookies.

Cookies are one of the most popular treats during the holiday season which is fast approaching.  So embrace your inner Cookie Monster today.  Spread the word that C is for cookie.  Celebrate with a plate of your favorite cookies or stop by your favorite bakery.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Cookies are made of butter and love.

Norwegian Proverb

Today’s pictures have nothing to do with cookies, except they make really good treats.  The pictures are of some trick or treaters in my family on Halloween.  We had a Rainey style holiday here with lots of rain, but others were blessed with better weather.  

My youngest son was known as the cookie monster in our family, but I think they all enjoyed cookies.  I tried to keep our cookie jar filled at all times when they were young.  That was no easy feat.

I love homemade cookies.  They always seem so much better than the packaged kind or even the ones you buy at a bakery. I don’t make many these days as I’m the only one here to eat them.  But now and then I do make my favorites which include peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate chip.

As I’m always looking for a new recipe to try I found this cookie recipe to share for today.  

Pecan Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Makes approximately 42 cookies

1 1/2 c. light brown sugar

1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs.

1/2 c. canned pumpkin

3 tsp. vanilla

2 3/4 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp allspice

1/8 tsp. cloves

pinch of cardamom

1 1/3 c. finely chopped pecans

1/2 c. white vanilla baking chips

4 oz. vanilla flavored candy coating, or almond bark, chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease cookie shed or line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed.  Stir in flour, baking powder and spices.  Stir in pecans and white chocolate chips.  Drop by tablespoon full onto cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 14 minutes until edges are slightly browned.  Remove from oven and cool.

Place candy coating or almond bark in a resealable freezer bag; seal bag.  Microwave about 1 minute until softened.  Gently squees bag until coating is smooth; cut off tiny corner of bag.  Squeeze bag to drizzle coating over cookies.  Let stand until set.

I think these would be good even without the drizzled coating and may just skip this step.

Today’s holiday tip:  Begin drafting your Christmas letter

With the arrival of November,  it’s time I started on my Christmas letter.  I used to send them out all the time, in order to let those I know find out more about how our family was doing.  Now a days I usually just add a note on the cards I send out.  But I’m thinking that this year might just be the time to revive it.  We’ll see…

Yesterday was such a miserably rainy day that I decided to get out and get my flu shot.  So once agin I’m hoping not to catch the flu.  I did get a very bad case of it last year and I think it was a good full month before I recovered.  Hopefully they got the dose right this year.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Author Unknown

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

6484. for Halloween fun

6485. for a new recipe to try

6486. for flu shots when they get the dose right

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

Think of what a better world it would be if we all -the whole world- had cookies and milk about 3 o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap.

Robert Fulghum

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma

For Thursday, November 1st, 2018

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.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2018

54 Days until Christmas

Sunrise: 8:00 am

 Sunset: 6:23 pm

Life is a Special Occasion!

Hallmark

WELCOME NOVEMBER!

The month of November is National Diabetes Month, Native American Heritage Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Military Family Appreciation Month, National Georgia Pecan Month, National Gratitude Month,  and National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. 

  

Today is National Men Make Dinner Day which is day for men to take charge in the kitchen and cook for their loved ones.

Their are rules which include no grilling, no take out and no dishes left in the sink. The men must use a recipe that involves at least four ingredients and a cooking utensil other than a fork.

For a long time the kitchen was considered to be the domain of women and was off limits to men.  Today men and women have become equal partners in the family and share more and more house related tasks like cooking, cleaning and parenting.

Men Make Dinner day is an attempt to spread the message that men can cook.

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

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

We may live without friends, we may live without books, 

But civilized man cannot live without cooks.

Owen Meredith

While all of my sons are great cooks, my DDH was not.  He didn’t know how to cook even the most basic of recipes and the times he tried to help out and cook usually ended up as disasters.   He was good at grilling outside and made good hot dogs and hamburgers though.  The boys, on the other hand were always in the kitchen, and learned to cook, because they loved to eat.  

I love it when anyone else cooks dinner besides me.  Most of the time I eat what I fix and while I do like it, it’s always nice when someone else makes dinner.

I managed to get my yard work, mulching up leaves, done on Tuesday, but today it looks the same all over again, maybe even worse than it did before. and the glorious tree in the first picture is more than halfway bare now. More rain they say coming our way.  

The pictures are of a few of my sons in the kitchen.  They all make sausage bread for the holidays.  It’s become a family tradition.

Holiday baking tip for today: Keep a well stocked pantry

Having a well stocked pantry ensures that you are all set, when you are ready to tackle it all. 

I’m thinking most of what needs to be done around the house has been done for this week so for the next few days I’m planning on spending more time in the craft nook.  There is still much to be done.

I hope you all have a GREAT day.  Happy Thursday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

There’s always something to be thankful for.

Charles Dickens

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

6481. for good cooks everywhere

6482. for a full pantry cupboard

6483. for something to keep me busy

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

The key is to learn the basics so cooking isn’t a chore.  It’s really very easy to cook.  And with a glass of wine at the end of the day, putting together simple tastes in your kitchen is a wonderful thing.

Julia Child 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma