It's Time

A time to decorate and a time to put everything back in it's place. I know, I know, that's not part of the Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8 scripture, but after days of celebrating Christmas with the family, and having the house in Christmas chaos, it's time to put all the decorations away and get my house back in order. It`s also time to start to think about the New Year that's ahead. With this last day of 2011, I find myself thinking about the changes that I want to see in me. I think it was Mahatma Gandhi who said And while I am not one to make "New Years' resolutions" I do know that there are some things in my life that I want to change. Way back when I was in school, I remember for one my assignments in English class we were write our own obituary. I know that sounds kind of depressing. But when you think about it, what you want to be said about you at your funeral, well that's how you need to live your life now.

So as I write my final post for 2011, I want to leave you with my favourite scripture verse. From Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And while I do not know what 2012 nor the future holds for me I do know the one who holds my future.

Blessings

Making Memories

Over the past few days we've been busy with playing games, sitting in the hotub, eating good food, spending time together with our family, and of course taking many pictures. Trying our best to make each moment count. We had so much fun together and as always, the time went w-a-y too quickly.

Blessings

Storm Day

oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is mmhmm delightful, and since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

With this stormy weather, I am glad we are not on the road. Since we ended up taking Kyle back to Orillia yesterday because he needed to work we were thankfully not driving today through this storm. While I do love the snow and the slower pace it tends to bring, I hate driving in storms.

Days like this are good to be curled up by the cozy fire and read a book, or blog, or even start some soup in the crock pot. Since we both love potato soup, I decided to give the one that Krystle made for us a try. Baked Potato Soup - Slow cooker style
Ingredients:
- 5lbs Russet Potatoes, washed but NOT peeled. Diced into 1/2 inch(ish) cubes
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 10 cloves of garlic (you can use whole, crushed, or minced)
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 16 oz cream cheese (I used 8oz regular and 8oz lowfat)
- 1 TBS seasoned salt or all-purpose seasoning
Garnishes:
- Crumbled bacon
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Green onions
Directions:
- Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning and chicken stock to slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.
- Remove and puree the garlic cloves (if you used whole cloves) along with 1/2 to 1/3rd of the soup, and then reintroduce to the remainder in the crock pot.
- Stir in the cream cheese and allow to melt. Stir every 10-15 minutes until soup is well blended.
- Top with your choice of garnishes, serve & enjoy!

Blessings

Home for Christmas

Having everyone home for Christmas made my heart swell with love. And of course I couldn't resist taking a family photo. "maybe this can be my Christmas card for next year?"

Since the fall, Wayne & I have been empty nesters and over time we've gotten used to the quiet. Having the boys home for a few days and then celebrating Christmas with the whole clan, our house was full of laughter, good food and much love. Our time together was very special and I'm so thankful for each moment.

So from our family to yours "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Blessings

almost

We're almost ready to celebrate our family Christmas. There's only a few minor things to finish up and then we're ready! The presents are all under the tree. The baking is finished. The table is set and most of the food prepared. The stockings are hung waiting to be emptied and worn. er, um what? Yes, that's right. After our kids empty their stockings, they wear them. It's a silly tradition that Kyle started a few years ago and one I look forward to every year. It makes me smile when my adult son gets silly and it's encouraging that his siblings soon follow suit. Since our kids all live in different cities, it's hard to have everyone home at the same time. Needless to say I am bursting with excitement at having the whole family together tomorrow to celebrate.

Blessings

Winter Solstice

Today marks the winter solstice, the first day of winter and the darkest day of the year. It's all due to Earth's tilt, which ensures that the shortest day of every year falls around December 21. Making it the shortest day and longest night of the year, and thankfully only lasts only a moment in time. Dark days like this can be crushing if we don’t remember that the solstice heralds the beginning of a renewal. From this day forward, the world (at least in the northern hemisphere) will only get brighter. The light will return, slowly, but surely. But it can be tough, sometimes, to remember this simple fact. For many people especially those who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) - like I do - this time of year can feel like a heavy burden of despair hanging over their heads. Especially without snow, I find that these short daylight days seem even more gloomy. Thankfully, tomorrow the days start to get longer - Yay!

Blessings

Snowflakes

With all the rain and gray weather we've been having, it's made me realize how much I love and miss snow. Did you know that Snowflakes form in a wide variety of intricate shapes, leading to the popular expression that "no two are alike". Although statistically possible, it is very unlikely for any two snowflakes to appear exactly alike due to the many changes in temperature and humidity the snowflake experiences during its fall to earth. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity. Each snowflake in unique in structure. Why then should I be surprised that I was made so uniquely. After all if God decided that no two snowflakes would be alike, it shouldn't surprise me that no two people are alike. We've all been given different gifts, strengths, weaknesses, abilities, likes & dislikes. Let's celebrate our own uniqueness, rather than trying to blend in with everyone else.

Blessings

Misfit

After more than 40 years, the 1964 holiday special Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer is still one of the best Christmas stories.

Narrated by Burl Ives, Sam the Snowman tells the tale of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being teased and shunned by the other reindeer because of his beaming nose, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudolph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. Rudolph becomes a hero when he guides Santa through the storm and enables him to deliver Christmas presents to children all over the world.

During one of the scenes Hermey & Rudolf sing their song about being misfits. We're a couple of misfits
We're a couple of misfits
What's the matter with misfits
That's where we fit in!

We're not daffy and dilly
Don't go 'round willy nilly
Seems to us kinda silly
That we don't fit in.

We may be different from the rest
Who decides the test
Of what is really best?

We're a couple of misfits
We're a couple of misfits
What's the matter with misfits
That's where we fit in!

Sadly, I can identify with these two. There are days when I too feel like I am a misfit. Not quite fitting in, not one of 'in' crowd, but desperately trying to find my place. If we all have our own different gifts, strengths, weaknesses, abilities, likes & dislikes, why then do I feel that I am such a misfit?

Blessings

that don't make no sense

This time of year it's not uncommon for me to be listening to Christmas music. I've found this new station on the TV that plays all the classics whether they are Christmas carols or the modern songs of the times.

But have you ever really listened to the lyrics of some the songs? Some make no sense. Tim Hawkins helps to explain:

Now, was I right? or was I right?

Blessings

Linus & Luke

I need a good dose of Christmas TV specials. I haven't seen any holiday movies or TV shows this season. This Christmas marks the 46th year of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and its shining moment of Linus reciting from the gospel of Luke. Since its original airdate, the special has become a classic to watch during the Christmas season. In a year where neighbours are objecting to private nativity displays, where Christmas trees are about to be renamed to a more "politically correct" term, and where commercialization is squeezing the last breath out of this holy day--here comes Linus to tell us all the real meaning of Christmas. In this day and age, it almost takes your breath away to think that ABC is willing to broadcast the precious words of Scripture on national television. What was once commonplace is now almost shocking because of the way Christians been marginalized in mainstream culture--and this just over the course of my own life.

I was fascinated to find out that a documentary filmmaker was at the bottom of it all, producer-director Lee Mendelson. He and "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz worked with animator Bill Melendez to create this television special. According to the Post, "Charles Schulz was long viewed as a man plagued by anxiety, self-doubt and fear of rejection. Yet when it came to the production of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' Mendelson says, Schulz was the epitome of confidence and assured cool." He was also the one to hold the line about the show's focus, according to the newspaper. Schulz insisted on one core purpose: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" had to be about something. Namely, the true meaning of Christmas. Otherwise, Schulz said, "Why bother doing it?" Mendelson and Melendez asked Schulz whether he was sure he wanted to include biblical text in the special. The cartoonist's response, Mendelson recalls: "If we don't do it, who will?" To Coca-Cola's credit, Mendelson says, the corporate sponsor never balked at the idea of including New Testament passages. The result -- Linus's reading from the Book of Luke about the meaning of the season -- became "the most magical two minutes in all of TV animation," the producer says. Mendelson also credits part of the power of the scene to child voice actor Christopher Shea, whose tone of wise innocence, the producer says, fits the moment perfectly. Note how when he gets to the verse about "fear not," he drops his beloved security blanket. A wonderful example for us all this holiday season!

Perhaps there's a glimmer of hope to be found there, for what is now rare may actually carry more weight and meaning. Perhaps because it is so unfamiliar, the idea that a Savior was born will provoke curiosity instead of the contempt of the overly familiar. This is my prayer.

May the Holy Spirit impress that truth upon hundreds--even thousands!--of viewers this evening. Hallelujah, our Savior is born!

Blessings

No need to panic

With Christmas only two weeks away, to say that I am a little excited is an understatement. There was a time though at this point in the Christmas season that panic would start to set in. You see I don't have the presents all purchased, the baking isn't finished and I haven't even started to compile let alone buy the list of ingredients for our family Christmas dinner.

Now I hear you saying, ach Anita, there is still two weeks till Christmas, but you see my dear my friends I used to panic if I didn't have my Christmas check-list complete by now.

Either I've become more relaxed in my old age or I've learned there's no point to panicking cause when I think about it, there is still two weeks until Christmas. Besides that, Christmas according to my wise husband will still come whether I am ready for it or not. {he's such smart a**}

Blessings

Back to Reality

We've been home for almost one week and it's been back to reality for us. With work, laundry, cleaning, bookwork, cooking, the list goes on and on.

It was so wonderful to get away from everything, not only the work but all the stuff that has been weighing heavy on our minds. Since we've been back, it's all come tumbling back upon us. It's been tough too. While we were away we could totally leave the troubles behind us, unfortunately they are still there waiting for us when we returned, Really though, I think I'd rather be on holidays. Blessings

Winter Wonderland

It was quite exciting to wake up to the snow fall this morning. I couldn't resist taking my camera out and snapping a few photos. It seems my wish for snow came true.

Blessings

Dominican Christmas

While we were away on holidays in the Dominican Republic quite often throughout the day we would sit in the hot blazing sun, listening to Christmas music. er..um. ... what! yes that's right, Christmas music. After all it is/was less than a month away.

In fact there was Christmas lights and even a Christmas tree set up at the resort.

To be honest it seemed quite bizarre thinking about Christmas while I watched the palm trees blowing in the wind as I sat in my bathing suit by the swimming pool. But I guess if you grew up with that you'd think nothing of it. But for us we like to have our snow, somehow it seems much more like Christmas.

Here's hoping for some snow! {fingers crossed}

Blessings

Toes in the Water

a** in the sand,
not a worry in the world,
a cold beer in my hand,
life is good today, life is good today!! The Zac Brown band knows what they're talking about! I mean how can it not be good. After all we stayed at an All-Inclusive resort, with nothing to worry about, except perhaps.. .. . .. nope nothing to worry about. We pretty much ate when we were hungry, slept when we were tired, jumped in the pool when it got too hot, stood under an umbrella when it rained, and wore our bathing suits for most of the time. It's probably the best way to holiday. Although one can tend to come away from that type of holiday more than a little spoiled.

Blessings

Welcome Home

After traveling for more than 12 hours we arrived home safe & sound from our holiday in the Dominican Republic.

Nothing beats seeing your home after being gone for a week of holidays... the emotions it invoked for me were overwhelming. I guess you really do appreciate what you have when you've been away from it for a while.

It was good to see our kids {and we sure missed our puppy - read about her holiday here} and to catch up with them and their busy lives.

Tomorrow it'll be back to reality.. . .. not sure I am ready for that, I kind of liked being a lady of leisure.

Blessings