GOODBYE 2011. HELLO 2012

Today is the last day of the year.  We take time to ponder how we spend this past year.  Were we productive?  Could we have done better in managing our time?  I know that I can answer yes to these questions and many more that I can come up with. 

If you are like me, I know that you will have New Year's Resolutions.  I'm going to share a few of what I want to improve.

• Spend more time in God's Word.  I want to saturate myself in His Word.
• Be a Proverbs 31 woman for my family.
• Be a Titus 2 woman for the women that God puts in my life.
• Quilt, quilt, and quilt
• Become a Master Gardener.

These are just a few of my resolutions.  Yours are probably different than mine but I want to share a couple of links that might help you in starting 2012 right.

Organized Home:  www.organizedhome.com
Life Your Way:  http://printables.yourway.net/
Jill's Home Remedies:  http://www.jillshomeremedies.blogspot.com/2011/12/start-cleaning-schedule-for-2012.html
Deep Roots at Home:  http://www.deeprootsathome.com/

Have a blessed New Year.

TAKING GOOD CARE

During this time of the year, I know I get busy with all the Christmas activities.  So many times I forget to take care of myself because I've got a list of things that need to get done.  Needless to say, there have been times that I have gotten sick and my list is stopped. 

It has been proven that stress can cause changes in your immune system.  If it goes on too long you can lose your vitality and end up being sick.  It sneaks up on you - especially when you are too busy to notice.

So what are the solutions to this dilemma?

1. Learn to say NO!  I have a difficult time saying that word.  But the older I have gotten, the more I like that word.  I don't have to do everything.
2. Make yourself a cup of tea and just sit and listen to some classical music.
3. Exercise.  If the weather is good, take a walk.  I know that feeling the wind past my face and being outside helps me to relax and focus.
4. Bubble baths are awesome!  Take the phone off the hook and just relax.

No matter what you do to relieve the stress that you may be under, don't forget 

the reason to celebrate Christmas is to celebrate

the birth of Christ.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DURING "ME TIME"

Today I had the day off from work so I was able to make some delicious cookies.  I made the cookies so I could take them to "Me Time" with my girlfriends.  These cookies are called Chocolate Twinkles.  I will add the recipe at the end of my blog.

Once I got to the store, Dawn was showing us her Christmas presents.  She loves her socks!   She's lucky I didn't steal them because I loved them too.

Dawn showed us her crayon lights and garland.  We all loved it.  We told her she should have a tree with these decorations. 

One of the best gifts I got was seeing "my" Katie.  I love this girl very much.  She is not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside.

In one of my past blogs, I had written about Dawn's love of wool and how she and Ellen have infected me with "woolitis".  Well, here are some of the ornaments that Dawn has made.  I can't wait to get started on mine.  Gift ideas for next year's Christmas are running through my head.

So here's the recipe for the Chocolate Twinkle Cookies

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten

3 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Cream the shortening:  add sugar, beating well.  Add eggs and melted chocolate, beating well. Stir in the vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.  Add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.  Stir in chopped nuts.  Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.  Yield: 4 dozen.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

When I was in elementary school I learned the song 12 days of Christmas.  I never understood the meaning to the verses.  It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I was told about the Biblical meaning to the song.  I found this link that will give you the information of the tradition.  So enjoy:

http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html