Blessed indeed!
We enjoyed our advent season of reading and singing.
We did a LOT of baking!
See more gingerbread pictures here.
I had a couple of big orders that kept me up late at night.
These were for a Christmas party for a railroad company.
We went to the Christmas parade and froze our tails off!
Josh and Charlie joined us, it was fun to watch Charlie enjoy his first Christmas parade!
The key is to place your cutouts in the freezer for 10 minutes before you bake them, they will hold their shape.
We dipped our sides in melted almond bark.
Let the sides dry and harden for a few hours, then added the roofs.
House, Cabin and Barn
25 years ago I learned how to decorate cakes , it was the best money and time I have ever spent. Not only has my ability to decorate cakes enabled me to make some money from home, but it naturally grew into a catering business. And what has been even more rewarding are the countless classes where I’ve taught others how bake and decorate.
When our now 24 year old daughter was 10, all she wanted for Christmas was a Crock-Pot. Ever since she was little she loved being in the kitchen and at 10 she felt like she was ready to take over more the family meals… and she thought a Crock-Pot was going to be the key to her success.
A couple of people made comments about how foolish it was for a “child” to get something like a Crock-Pot for Christmas and how we should give her “age-appropriate” gifts, that we should let her enjoy her childhood.
I think all of us can agree that gift giving, especially during the Christmas season is way overrated. Don’t we all long for a simpler way of giving that is meaningful and lasting? Don’t we all hate buying gifts that just end up in the bottom of the over-flowing toy box or in the thrift store bag within in a year or two? Most of us want to be generous givers, but still be wise in our choices.
Our kids are learning to play chess with this set. I love it because it shows you which way each piece can move. (aff link)
It’s a LOT better than watching TV on these long winter nights and Mom and Dad don’t have to sit there to referee each.and.every.move!
Chess improves a child’s:
learning skills
analytical skills
It improves a family’s:
communication
Advent is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting. The word Advent is derived from the Medieval Latin, adventus from the Latin word meaning arrival.
We observe Advent because it is a time to reflect on Jesus’ first coming and to look toward his second coming. This is also a time of preparation.
We had a very peaceful and low-key Thanksgiving Day, mainly because we celebrated last week and the week before! Josh and Emma were out of town, and my other Josh and family were with my daughter-in-law’s family, so it was just the 6 of us.
Everyone did their part making something. Peach was proud of her fruit salad.
Aaron made his first apple pie.
I love a beautiful table. It says to your guest, “I have been preparing for YOU, YOU are important, YOU are wanted.”
I think about how Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, we will also sit and dine at His feast. Can you imagine???
I love Pinterest and magazines that show decorating ideas, but especially tablescape ideas. As much as I love them, I know most of them are unrealistic for ordinary people like me. A limited budget, limited time and limited space in our little house really restricts what I can do with my table.
Today I am posting over at Raising Homemakers.
Take a moment and imagine the Lord has sent you as a missionary to a country where the Gospel has not been preached, or even more likely, where it has been preached but the hearts are hard. What would you do first to establish your mission base?
Most likely you would continue reading…
1 - 8″ round
1 - 9×13
1 - 8″ square
Cut to shape.
Carve arm, then lay it on top of the other one so they are the same size and shape.
‘Glue’ together with buttercream.
Dirty ice with buttercream. Ice head with a bright yellow and then hot knife it to make it smooth. Add hair with a decorating spatula.
