As I told you yesterday we had a really nice Christmas weekend. For those of you that have been here a while you know that life here is not perfect. We've experienced rebellion and our son leaving home on not-so-good terms at 18. I don't want to share the details of this publicly because it is als
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I guess you could say that our Christmas this year came in like a lamb and went out like a lion! Most of our family lives over a thousand miles away so we do not have heavy family demands for get-togethers. We do have some very dear friends that we always go out to dinner with and we always hav
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I think most of us truly desire to have one big happy family, all gathered around the table, holding hands to say the blessing and then to fill our hearts with laughter and our bellies with good food. I think most of us have our own version of the Walton family dinner table in our minds...especi
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Tonight it is coooold in Alabama. My 87 year old grandmother from upstate New York is here visiting until January. She is so gentle and meek, I wish I could be like her! Tonight we have Bing Crosby's Christmas album playing, the aroma of popcorn popping all around me and listening to Jeff, the gi
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Building your family economy is not just about making money, but also about saving money and being a good steward of what you already have. When we are trying to make our money stretch it can feel like we are limited when it comes to gift giving, but I have good news for you, you can be a generou
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We live away from most of our family, so when we actually get together it is a big deal! My brother and his family came from Miami to visit for a few days, we haven't seen them in about 3 years. Our girls are about the same age as his boys. My mother and Josh (son) were also here. Christmas Eve
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The girls were up and gone early to Wal Mart for a few last minute things and visit an old neighbor. Jeff was HAPPY to help me finish up a few things, here he is dipping the last of the peanut butter balls...hoping he'll get to help me finish up the rum balls. :) My brother and his family a
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The purpose of hospitality is to make your guest feel welcome. They will notice a warm smile and a cheerful attitude a lot more than they will notice how the food tasted or if the house is spotless. True hospitality is from the heart, because the greatest gift you can give anyone is
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We spent a couple hours baking cookies and listening to a couple different holiday stations on Pandora.com, the Nora Jones station is really good, and the Louis Armstrong holiday station is a bit more upbeat. Olivia made the SUPER EASY cake mix cookies. Strawberry cake mix 2 eggs 1/2 oil 1/2
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With the holiday season comes gatherings, whether it be office parties, church celebrations or family get togethers. If you are like most people, you will have to come together with someone (or several someones) that you have a strained relationship with. You will have to sit in the same room and m
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Thanks again to my sweet friend Lori for sharing this GREAT site. 20 Gifts for Kids You Still Have Time to Make!
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It's the Saturday before Christmas...I stayed up waaaaaay too late working on a special project. :) Now I'm up early because the project is still on my mind. :) So I am enjoying some caramel coffee this morning and I'm going to make *Jeff* some biscuits and gravy! It's 6:30 and he is already out
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I'm not sure if it because I am getting older, or if it is because I am getting wiser? I prefer to think of it as the latter. :) This year I really have no desire to go out Christmas shopping, I really don't even want to shop. Sad it has taken me 24 years of married life to get to this point, I hope
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I made these a few years ago when I was hosting our church's Christmas party for the children. Use 2 large marshmallows and push them down on a large pretzel. Using an orange fruit roll up cut some long triangles to make a nose, these will stick on easily. Then use another color fruit ro
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My girls have made this several times in years past, it's always a hit at the kid's parties! Snowman Cheese Ball 2 packages of cream cheese 1/2 pound of Cheddar cheese 1 T horseradish sauce 3-4 green onions Chill in refrigerator a couple of hours. Spread plain cream cheese on him if you
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Candy canes were first made about 350 years ago, they were straight and all white. The red and white candy canes were made about 110 years ago. Over 2 billion candy canes are sold each year, most of which are sold during the month before Christmas. Candy canes with a peppermint flavor are great to
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And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? [Christmas] came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something
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[gallery] These are similar to the ones I shared earlier this week. One of my friends shared these pictures on Facebook. Aren't they adorable? I love the bright colors!!! I made some of these a few years ago using the metallic gold and silver pipe cleaners. This dear woman lost her husband and 9 y
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Good way to use up scraps. I LOVE THIS!!! Felt Garland Denim Trees
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Candy Ribbon Ornament Beaded Snowflake Beaded Wreath An Easy Ornament to make! More Beaded Ornaments Here
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Most of these could also be made using pipe cleaners for little hands. Curly Wire Christmas Balls Wire Heart Ornament Beaded Letters These are my favorites!!! A Wire Rudolf Tree Ornament Wire Star And I can't remember where I found this one!
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We are in full swing here with Christmas parties going on. Last Friday night the adults in our church celebrated the Incarnation with an elegant 7 course meal. Several of us ladies brought our tableware from home; different ones took part in decorating and providing special music. Even though we
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When my kids were younger we'd usually take the month of December off from most of our book work. Between parties and holiday commitments it was just easier to set the books aside and still be learning in a more creative way. Whether it is simple crafts, holiday baking, special meals or gift givi
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Our family's choice:
“It’s absurd and anti-life to be part of a system that compels you to sit in confinement with people of exactly the same age and social class.
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