Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for…

361. leftovers

362. new devotionals

363. uncles meeting their nephew

364. chardonnay

365. finding my one word

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.
Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

end of the year

We find ourselves closing in yet on another year, on another chapter of our life-story.

I am not sure what 2015 brought for your family, or whether you are ready to let go of the last 365 days or whether you anticipate the days ahead. Maybe time has flowed smoothly and great ideas, adventures, and memories were sought after and enjoyed. Or maybe, on the other hand, your journey also included saying goodbye, loss of some kind, or moments you would rather forget. But it is the end of another year.  Another year to look behind us to where we've come from and another year to look forward to. 2016 is brand new, fresh, with a newness available each and every day.  It is true! We can begin again.

I don’t know about you, but I am terrible at New Year’s resolutions. I find myself trying really hard for the first few weeks. Then forgetting, ignoring, avoiding, and usually just giving up. That's just way too much pressure for this girl.

What if we let go of the idea of making a New Year’s resolution at the beginning of the year? Just be over and done with it. What if instead of a resolution in 2016, you come up with a word to represent your year? One word to focus on and remember throughout the day. One word that will lift you up this year. One word that makes you be a better you. When you see your one word it just makes you feel stronger.

This is my fifth year choosing a word of the year. And I look forward to it every year. In 2012, I started with Honest, then 2013, I became Authentic, and worked towards being Intentional in 2014 and last year, 2015, I was Thankful. 

At the end of every year, I seek God to give me my One Word 365. And a creative way to remind myself of it day... because sadly, I know myself all too well… 

Are you with me?

Stay tuned for the 2016 word!

Take Care

Book list

You'll remember that at the beginning of the year, I set for myself a goal to read 100 books in the year.

And while I didn't quite make it to 100. I did read. ALOT... so here it is ~ the list of books that I read in 2015...

# 1 Die Again ~ Tess Gerristen

# 2 Sinners & Saints ~ Eileen Dreyer

# 3 The Consequences ~ Colette Friedman

# 4 Promise Me ~ Harlan Coben

# 5 Hush ~ Karen Robards

# 6 Getting Rid of Matthew ~ Jane Fallon

# 7 Vintage ~ Susan Gloss

# 8 Seconds Away ~ Harlan Coben

# 9 Eyes Wide Open ~ Ted Dekker

# 10 Last Seen Leaving ~ Kelly Braffet

# 11 Necessary Lies ~ Dianne Chamberlain

# 12 White Plague ~ James Abel

# 13 The Bishop’s Wife ~ Mette Ivie Harrison

# 14 Choose the wrong guy, give him the wrong finger ~ Beth Harbison

# 15 Therapy ~ Jonathan Kellerman

# 16 The Juror ~ George Dawes Green

# 17 The Delicate Storm ~ Giles Blunt

# 18 Digital Fortress ~ Dan Brown

# 19 Heartstone ~ Phillip Margolin

# 20 Too Close to Home ~ Lynette Eason

# 21 Don’t Look Back ~ Lynette Eason

# 22 A Killer Among Us ~ Lynette Eason

# 23 Trespasser ~ Paul Doiron

# 24 Crash & Burn ~ Lisa Gardner

# 25 Lizzy & Jane ~ Katherine Reay

# 26 The Power of Three ~ Laura Lippman

# 27 The Girl in the Green raincoat ~ Laura Lippman

# 28 What we’ve lost is Nothing ~ Rachel Louise Snyder

# 29 Someone’s is Watching ~ Joy Fielding

# 30 What the Dead Know ~ Laura Lippman

# 31 Deadly Devotion ~ Sandra Orchard

# 32 I’d know you anywhere ~ Laura Lippman

# 33 NYPD Red ~ James Patterson

# 34 The Never Never Sisters ~ L. Allison Heller

# 35 The Mermaid’s Child ~ Jo Baker

# 36 Secrets of a Charmed Life ~ Susan Meissner

# 37 The Accidental Book Club ~ Jennifer Scott

# 38 Every Fifteen Minutes ~ Lisa Scottoline

# 39 Left Neglected ~ Lisa Genova

# 40 Love Anthony ~ Lisa Genova

# 41 One mile Under ~ Andrew Gross

# 42 Life or Death ~ Michael Robotham

# 43 The Stranger ~ Harlan Coben

# 44 The Liar ~ Nora Roberts

# 45 Bleed for me ~ Michael Robotham

# 46 The Fall ~ John Lescroat

# 47 The Forgotten Room ~ Lincoln Child

# 48 Bones Never Lie ~ Kathy Reichs

# 49 The Guest Cottage ~ Nancy Thayer

# 50 Memory Man ~ David Baldacci

# 51 Saving Grace ~ Jane Green

# 52 Cash Landing ~ James Grippando

# 53 Truth or Die ~ James Patterson

# 54 Breaking Creed ~ Alex Kava

# 55 Blackberry Winter ~ Sarah Jio

# 56 The Secret between us ~ Barbara Delinsky

# 57 Buried Secrets ~ Irene Hannon

# 58 As Night Falls ~ Jenny Milchman

# 59 The Last Breath ~ Kimberly Belle

# 60 The Violets  of March ~ Sarah Jio

# 61 Alert ~ James Patterson

# 62 Broken Promise ~ Linwood Barclay

# 63 The Bungalow ~ Sarah Jio

# 64 Morning Glory ~ Sarah Jio

# 65 Wildflower Hill~ Kimberley Freedman

# 66 The Governor’s Wife ~ Michael Harvey

# 67 Got the Look ~ James Grippando

# 68 Friction ~ Sandra Brown

# 69 At the Water’s Edge ~ Sara Gruen

# 70 The Winter Lodge ~ Susan Wiggs

# 71 Beauty ~ Louise Bagshawe

# 72 Silent Creed ~ Alex Kava

# 73 The Murderer’s Daughter ~ Jonathan Kellermen

# 74 The Last time I saw Her ~ Karen Robards

# 75 Damaged ~ Alex Kava

# 76 Woman with a Secret ~ Sophie Hannah

# 77 Death by Honeymoon ~ Jaden Skye

# 78 The Murderhouse ~ James Patterson

# 79 The Perfect Husband ~ Lisa Gardner

# 80 Not my daughter ~ Barbara Delinsky

# 81 Gathering Shadows ~ Nancy Mehl

# 82 Never let go ~ Erin Healy

# 83 Rogue Lawyer ~ John Grisham.

# 84 Deadly Echoes ~ Nancy Mehl

# 85 Justice ~ Karen Robards

# 86 Pretty Girls ~ Karin Slaughter

# 87 Playing with fire ~ Tess Gerritsen

# 88 Mind Games ~ Hilary Norman

# 89 Wildwood Creek ~ Lisa Wingate

# 90 Those Girls ~ Chevy Stevens

# 91 Cross ~ James Patterson

# 92 Firefly Island ~ Lisa Wingate
# 93 A Mistletoe Promise ~ Richard Paul Evans

# 94 Negative Image ~ Vicky Delaney

# 95 The Beach House ~ Jane Green

# 96 Suspicion ~ Joseph Finder

# 97

# 98

# 99

# 100

Looking forward to 2016 and finding unknown authors to discover, different worlds to explore and a whole new set of books to read...

Take Care

mhmm monday

Rudolph’s nose won’t be the only one shining bright after one of these frosty martinis.

Holiday Cocktails: Reindeer Tracks

{photo credit and recipe website}

Ingredients: 
2 Chocolate cookie wafers 
2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka 
1 oz Hazelnut Liqueur 
1/2 oz Crème de Cacao 
Splash of Cream 
Ice

Directions: 
Rim a martini glass with crushed up chocolate cookie crumbs and set aside. 
Into a martini shaker add remaining ingredients and pour into the martini glass. 
Dust top with more chocolate cookie crumbs.
Enjoy!

Take Care

So this is Christmas

It truly is a wonderful blessing when the family all comes home.

We were so busy enjoying our day, that it wasn't until it came to an end, that I remembered we needed to take an updated family picture.

So many wonderful memories were made today, that I am overwhelmed with joy!

Take Care

Merry Christmas

From our house to yours...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Take Care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for…

354. holidays

355. time spent with family 356. Jesus birth 357. christmas carolling 358. candlelight services 359. christmas eve invitations 360. sharing of God’s word

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

tasty tuesday

It seems that during the holidays you always need a quick treat for the numerous parties, luncheons, potlucks, and any unexpected visits.

White Chocolate Chex Party Mix

{photo credit and recipe website} 

or Christmas Crack ~ as it's known around here!
Ingredients:

1 (10 oz) package pretzels
5 cups Cheerios (you can use plain or my favorite is the Multi-Grain Peanut Butter)
5 cups Corn Chex 
2 cups peanuts (or mixed nuts) 
2 (12 oz) packages plain M & M’s
2 (12 oz) packages white chocolate chips 
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil 

Directions:
In a VERY large bowl (or two medium bowls), combine the first 5 ingredients. 
Set aside. 
In a microwave safe bowl, heat white chips and oil on high for 60 seconds (you could also melt chocolate and oil in a double boiler pan). 
Stir and microwave for another 30 seconds and stir until completely melted and smooth (you may need to microwave for a couple more seconds). 
Pour melted chocolate over cereal mix and stir until all the cereal is evenly covered with white chocolate. Spread cereal mix on 2 large baking sheets (I used cookie sheets) lined with wax paper.
 Let cool and then break apart into chunks.Store in an air tight container.
Serves 15-20 people. 
Enjoy!

Take Care

Christmas time is here

With only 4 days left, I find myself feeling a bit like Charlie Brown...

take care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for…

347. outside porch decor

348. caramel popcorn

349. snowmen

350. christmas break

351. christmas card making with my girl

352. snuggles from a newborn

353. christmas caroling

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are. Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

Book Review ~ Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire is a gripping stand alone novel by Tess Gerritsen; 

which asks the question; 

Imagine if you were home alone and your three-year-old daughter violently attacked you?

From the inside jacket:

A beautiful violinist is haunted by a very old piece of music she finds in a strange antique shop in Rome. The first time Julia Ansdell picks up the Incendio Waltz,she knows it’s a strikingly unusual composition. But while playing the piece, Julia blacks out and awakens to find her young daughter implicated in acts of surprising violence. And when she travels to Venice to find the previous owner of the music, she uncovers a dark secret that involves dangerously powerful people—a family who would stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light. Julia doesn’t understand what is happening to her daughter, but she thinks she knows what’s causing it. She is terrified for Lily, and for herself, but what scares her more is that no one believes her. If she is going to help Lily, she will have to find the answers alone, embarking on a search that will take her half way around the world, to Venice. There, Julia uncovers a heart breaking, long buried tale of tragedy and devastation – a discovery that puts her in serious danger. Some people will do anything in their power to keep the truth silent... whatever the cost. 

We meet Julia in Italy, where she buys an old piece of sheet music titled Incendio by an L. Todesco, whom she’s never heard of.  When she play's the composition at home in the U.S., Lily her 3 year-old daughter appears to go crazy. Does the music possess an evil quality? Or does the problem lie within Julia herself, as her husband, Rob, thinks? 

Convinced that the hypnotic strains of Incendio are weaving a malevolent spell, Julia sets out to discover the man and the meaning behind the score. She flies to Italy to try to learn more about the music’s origin.  Where she uncovers a dark, decades-old secret involving a dangerously powerful family that will stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light.  In a parallel story, we meet the young violist Lorenzo Todesco in 1940's Italy. As the plotlines converge, people die, and Julia places herself and others in mortal danger. 

This stand-alone novel is masterfully written as are many of her other novels. Her imagination that allows her to conjure up depths of human behavior so dark and frightening are a must read for those who love mystery.

Readers who have been debating whether to read one of her novels, or those who are looking for a gripping historical tale, shouldn't worry about being burned. 

 Take Care

mhmm monday

I love finding new recipes for bread and when this one adds bacon and cheddar you know its going to be over the top good! 

Bacon Cheddar Beer Bread

{photo credit and recipe website}

Ingredients: 

3 cups self rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 can or bottle of beer (12 ounces)
1 cup cooked bacon, chopped
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup melted butter

Directions:
Mix flour, sugar and beer together till well combined. Fold in bacon and cheese.
Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven. 
Bake for 45 minutes, pour your melted butter over top of your loaf and bake for another 10 minutes.
Remove from oven, let cool enough to remove from loaf pan and serve.
Enjoy!

Take Care

Christmas Poem

With Christmas just around the corner, it is easy to get so busy with the cooking, and the decorating and the shopping and the...    that we can forget why we’re doing all this in the first place. 

Sometimes, the very people we love get lost in the hustle and bustle of packed schedules, holiday parties, and Christmas musicals.

This Christmas, let’s keep our focus on Jesus!

1 Corinthians 13 ~ Christmas Style ©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family – I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family – it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.  Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust.  But giving the gift of love will endure.

What are some ways that you can make sure to love your family well this holiday season?

Take Care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for…

340. small group bible studies

341. cookie exchanges

342. christmas cards

343. christmas parties

344. winter coats

345. caramel macchiatos

346. pine scented candles

Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

tasty tuesday

This fabulous recipe makes enjoying the classically Canadian flavour of butter tarts easier than ever....

Butter tart Squares

{photo credit and recipe website}

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons confectioner's icing sugar, sifted

1/3 cup cold butter, cut in chunks

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan. Set aside.

To Prepare Crust:

Combine flour, icing sugar and butter in a food processor fitted with a metal blade and process until crumbly, about 20 seconds. Press into prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden.

To Prepare Topping:

Combine eggs, brown sugar, butter, vinegar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Beat just until blended. Stir in raisins. Pour over crust.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes longer or until set and browned. Cool completely in pan on rack, then cut into squares.

Enjoy

Take Care

Psalm 27:14

Because sometimes we just need a little reminder...

Take Care

happy holidays?!?

It’s that magical time of year again…

‘tis the holiday season… when the mad rush grabs us by the ankle and drags us through shops and long lines and parties with too much food and concerts and craft sales and cookie exchanges until we’re thrown into a tailspin and don’t know which way to turn.

We do it to ourselves, you know.

 We question whether the rat race is worth it, and whether or not it will ever end? Because there are still all the ongoing daily commitments, the cooking, the dishes, the laundry, the cleaning, I can’t imagine adding a job to the mix. And we fall into bed, exhausted, unsure how we’ll make it through another day.

And we end up weary, simply weary.

Weary as described in dictionary.com … “physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc.;fatigued; tired” .

It’s when we just don’t have the strength to do. One. More. Thing. Just the word can make one feel tired. And it's hard to find rest. We tend to run at a crazy man’s pace and accomplish lots each day.

Jesus reminds us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28 {New International Version {NIV}}

Sometimes, we accomplish more when we give our bodies, our spirits, and our minds a rest. Saying no to one more thing can be the most productive thing we do.

Take Care

Thankful Thursdays

…and so we continue counting the things we are thankful for…

333. four seasons

334. christmas trees

335. vanilla whipped vodka

336. front door wreaths

337. holiday movies

338. pillsbury biscuits

339. brie cheese Will you join me as we begin to be truly thankful for each day, and for each opportunity given to us, and who knows? we might just see how truly blessed we really are.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

Take Care

Winter is Coming

We’ve begun to see fall disappear and transition  to winter, slowly.  The leaves have fallen, the weather is much cooler, almost cold, in fact. And the sun? 

{taken last year at the farm}

well, we see less and less of it as each day passes. It’s no surprise really, after all, it is already December.

Kinda breaks my heart as I realize my favourite time of the year can no longer be savoured. 

When I think of winter, I think: cold, barren, lifeless.

It’s not a season I’m particularly fond of, for many reasons. 

However, I am reminded that:

“There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under the heavens.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1
{New International Version {NIV}}

Take Care

let the countdown begin

take care

mhmm monday

Especially in winter, there’s nothing better than dunking crusty bread into a big bowl of creamy pumpkin soup. This recipe is ridiculously easy, and if you have an immersion blender it's a one-pot-wonder.

Classic Pumpkin Soup

{photo credit and recipe website}

Ingredients
2lb/1 kg pumpkin (any), chopped into large chunks (remove skin and seeds)

2 medium onions, sliced

2 cloves of garlic

3 cups chicken or vegetable stock

1 cup milk 

Salt and pepper

Directions:
Combine all ingredients (except salt and pepper) in a saucepan and bring to boil, then reduce heat and let simmer until pumpkin is tender.
Remove from heat and use a stick blender to blend until smooth. If you don't have a stick blender, use a blender.
Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve with crusty bread.
Variations: For a richer finish, substitute the milk with cream, but add after blending and do not bring to boil.
Garnishes: Dollop of yogurt, sour cream or creme fraiche goes wonderfully.
Enjoy!

Take Care