1. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
ALWAYS Christmas day. Sometimes we let them open one on Christmas eve, but it's usually one at my brother's house.
2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie or candy?
Really not a big cookie or candy eater...but my favorite Christmas dessert is this chocolate peppermint ice cream cake that my mom gets some times. MMMMMMMM
3. What's the worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hmmmm, see, I honestly have a hard time answering that question. I appreciate everything because it honestly flatters me when anyone even thinks about me enough to give me a present. Ok, the first thing that comes to my mind is these hair barrettes I got when I was like 13 or 14. They were these big lace things with ribbons hanging down and had roses on the ends. Did I mention I was a teenager? lol
4. Christmas song that you love?
My favorites are O Holy Night, especially when Billy sings it, Mary Did You Know?, and Breath of Heaven.
5. How many trees do you put up?
um, my house is little, so one is plenty! :)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Delicious Slow Cooked Baked Potato Soup
I got this recipe from the Methodist church that we used to attend. They would make it occasionally for our Wednesday night meals, and it was soooooo good. It's quite easy, and a great meal for these chilly nights. All my kids love it, which is an added bonus - it's very hard to find something we all agree on!
6 or so potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small onion, diced
3 cans chicken broth
1/4 c. butter
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp pepper
1 c. half and half
1 c. (or more depending on taste!) shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz. sour cream
3 tbsp chives, if desired
chopped cooked bacon
Combine first 6 ingredients in crock pot. Cook 6 hours on low. Mash up potatoes, then stir in half and half, cheese, chives and bacon. Cook another hour or so until creamy!
6 or so potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small onion, diced
3 cans chicken broth
1/4 c. butter
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp pepper
1 c. half and half
1 c. (or more depending on taste!) shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz. sour cream
3 tbsp chives, if desired
chopped cooked bacon
Combine first 6 ingredients in crock pot. Cook 6 hours on low. Mash up potatoes, then stir in half and half, cheese, chives and bacon. Cook another hour or so until creamy!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Songful Sunday - December 5th
My sister-in-law challenged me to blog every day in December with her and our friend, and I don't know if I'll get to EVERY day, but I will try my best...today is "Songful Sunday" - a day to post the lyrics of a song that really means something to me. The first one that came to my mind is "Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns. EVERY time I hear it, I have to stop whatever I'm doing and just worship God.
I was sure by now, God, that you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
Stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say Amen,
And it's still raining.
And as the thunder rolls,
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you."
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm.
I remember when, I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find you?
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you."
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands
and praise the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
(repeat)
Chorus
This song always reminds me that even through the most trying times, I have a Heavenly Father to cast my cares upon.
I was sure by now, God, that you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
Stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say Amen,
And it's still raining.
And as the thunder rolls,
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you."
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm.
I remember when, I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find you?
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you."
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands
and praise the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
(repeat)
Chorus
This song always reminds me that even through the most trying times, I have a Heavenly Father to cast my cares upon.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
6 word Saturday
What are 6 words to describe this past week?
"All I did was study hard."
Pretty self explanatory, I think. I spent about 7 hours each day over the last week studying just Biology. I knew this test was gonna kick my booty, so I did everything I could to cram as much of it in my head that was possible. Well, apparently alot of it leaked out...I only made a 78 on the test after all that. Sigh. What can I say though? I did my very best. Biology just isn't my thang. Praise the Lord that it is all done, and I don't have to read that darn textbook (that the bookstore won't buy back because they are changing editions AGAIN....grrrrrr) ever again.
"All I did was study hard."
Pretty self explanatory, I think. I spent about 7 hours each day over the last week studying just Biology. I knew this test was gonna kick my booty, so I did everything I could to cram as much of it in my head that was possible. Well, apparently alot of it leaked out...I only made a 78 on the test after all that. Sigh. What can I say though? I did my very best. Biology just isn't my thang. Praise the Lord that it is all done, and I don't have to read that darn textbook (that the bookstore won't buy back because they are changing editions AGAIN....grrrrrr) ever again.
Friday, December 3, 2010
5 Question Friday
Phew, just barely made it! Busy week, busy day...
1. What's on the top of your holiday list and why?
Well, at the risk of sounding corny - I really just want health, happiness, and success for my family. Honestly. But, I do have to make a list for my parents (that is their rule) for Christmas presents...the first thing on my list was a handheld vacuum. Exciting I know, lol. Most of my list consisted of books....surprise, surprise.
2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?
That one is easy! That would be my Natalie Elizabeth, born on 12/26! Our little Christmas baby!
3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when your grow up?
Well, first and foremost, I would choose mommy over and over. But, I also want to be a librarian, and I am working on that right now.
4. When do you put up your tree?
Always the day after Thanksgiving. We make a big deal out of it. We decorate, I make a big buffet of finger foods, and we eat near the tree while watching a Christmas movie.
5. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, of course!
1. What's on the top of your holiday list and why?
Well, at the risk of sounding corny - I really just want health, happiness, and success for my family. Honestly. But, I do have to make a list for my parents (that is their rule) for Christmas presents...the first thing on my list was a handheld vacuum. Exciting I know, lol. Most of my list consisted of books....surprise, surprise.
2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?
That one is easy! That would be my Natalie Elizabeth, born on 12/26! Our little Christmas baby!
3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when your grow up?
Well, first and foremost, I would choose mommy over and over. But, I also want to be a librarian, and I am working on that right now.
4. When do you put up your tree?
Always the day after Thanksgiving. We make a big deal out of it. We decorate, I make a big buffet of finger foods, and we eat near the tree while watching a Christmas movie.
5. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, of course!
Monday, November 29, 2010
A Day of Remembering - November 29
9 years ago today, we found out that the little one we were expecting had gone to be with Jesus. This was absolutely the most devastating day of my life. It was a surprise pregnancy, but we were so excited!! A couple weeks later, I started bleeding, but it was very slight. We went to the doctor and he did an ultrasound and...a tiny flickering heartbeat. He said everything was fine, that spotting can be normal. I went home reassured. Another week goes by, and a little more bleeding. We went back to the doctor for another ultrasound. The baby was growing, and the heartbeat was strong. This happened twice more. Then, 11/29/2001 I started bleeding quite heavily. But I was convinced by now that everything was fine. After all, this baby had been developing on track, with a steady heartbeat. I even convinced Billy that he didn't need to go to the doctor with me this time, because everything was fine. The doctor started the ultrasound, and he didn't say a word for a few minutes...then he simply said, "I'm sorry." I remember hearing a heart wrenching scream, and wondering where it was coming from, before I realized that it was me. The nurse immediately took Natalie out of the room (I am grateful for that). The doctor kept looking, and said "I'm sorry. The heart is no longer beating." I just couldn't seem to comprehend this. I think I turned completely numb. The doctor started telling me my options....let the miscarriage happen naturally, or to go in and do a D&C. My brain, and my heart, could not deal with this right then. I remember having to leave the room with my 2 girls - Natalie was 4 and Emily was about 6 months) - and walk through that waiting room full of pregnant women. I felt so ashamed - like I had done something wrong. I went to pick up Billy from work, and when he asked me how the appointment went, I told him tearfully "the baby died!" I knew he was in shock...he kept saying over and over, "no, everything is fine. we'll go to another doctor." But, I knew. It was the hardest day of our lives.
This was our precious angel baby the day I found out she went to Heaven. I could see her precious head, her little hands up by her face, her little belly...but no flickering heartbeat.
I spent a long time asking God "why?? why me?? I wanted this baby SO much, how could He take her away from me?" I'll admit it, I was ANGRY at Him. But I turned to Scripture for answers. One that I came across was Ecclesiastes 11:5 "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in the mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." Slowly I came to realize that God doesn't WANT things like this to happen, but He can see all things throughout all time, and there must be some reason, this little baby was not meant for Earth. What brought me comfort was knowing that some day I WILL see her again in Heaven.
Does the pain ease over time? Yes, it does...but, it will never completely go away. And November 29th is always a difficult day for me.
For those who have experienced miscarriage or infant loss, I recommend the book I Will Carry You by Angie Smith. She is the cowriter of the song you hear on this page.
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