Tradition of the heart...

Every Christmas Nanny (my mother-in-law) would give the grandchildren a box of lifesavers. This year my sister gave us all a box of lifesavers in her memory!

Thank you Stephanie for the happy memories this brought us.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.

Give to our Father glory in the Highest;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning,

O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Nanny's gift continues to give...

Every Christmas my sweet mother-in-law would give each member of the family a box of candy made by Esther Price. This candy is made in our home town Dayton, Ohio Esther Price Candies :: Esther Price Story. For the past two years, since Nanny (the grandchildren's name for my mother-in -law) passed away, our nephew Doug & his wife Nancy have passed along this traditional gift to us. Thanks Doug and Nancy for blessing us once again with memories and delicous candy!

Marjo's Famous, Loved By All Macaroni & Cheese

My friend Marjo is a wonderful cook. I am always happy when she gives me recipes and know they will taste good. This is a favorite of mine. I served it tonight with ham and green beans. We loved it!

12-16 oz. box elbow macaroni noodles

1/2 lb. Velvetta (I use 1 lb.)

1 cup milk

1 stick butter

1 1/2 cups grated cheese (I use 2 cups)

1/4-1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350*.

Cook noodles according to package directions or 5 minutes as Marjo & I do.

Do not add salt to the water. Drain. No need to rinse.

Pour noodles back into pot.

While noodles are cooking, melt together Velveeta, milk and butter in the microwave.

Pour over cooked noodles, mix till combined.

Pour into 9 x 13-inch casserold.

Cover with shredded cheese.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

O Christmas Tree...

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:
the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."

Pass it on...

A few days before Thanksgiving we needed painters tape so Jim asked if I would pick up some. I went to the store and realized as I started toward the line I had forgotten my billfold. I went to the car and got all the change I could find, hoping it would be enough. When it was my turn I discovered I needed one more dollar. As I started to walk away, realizing I would need to go home and get more money, the lady behind me laid a dollar bill down and said, "Now do you have enough?" That act of kindness touched me in a deep way! I remember thinking that I hoped that one day I could do something nice like that for someone. Well, yesterday I was at a store where I had a coupon for $10 off if I spent $30 or more. I was not going to use it and as I was standing in line heard the cashier beside me ask the lady she was waiting on if she had any coupons. The lady said that all her coupons were out date so she didn't have any. I did!! I reached in my purse and handed her my coupon! I loved the surprised look on her face as she thanked me! Scripture says, "it is more blessed to give than to receive" I know I felt so happy to give to her. Watch and listen...there might be someone you can pass along an act of kindness to!

Backyard...

Our backyard on this cold (29 degrees) December morning!

Fun weekend...

We are so proud of our niece Andrea. She had a solo in the Messiah in Greenville, IL where she attends college. Jim and I were privileged to be able to attend yesterday. She did not know we were coming and how I wish I had a picture of the surprised look on her face when she saw us! We had a wonderful week end with family. Andrea's solo was beautiful and we are so proud of her! Thanks Dana and Charles for inviting us.

Just had to share the view from our hotel room. :)

sister & brother!

Sweet, sweet ladies...

This morning our Bible study met at my house for brunch. Each lady brought a dish or a drink. We had some wonderful food and great fellowship with each other! After we ate Marjo and I were given a gift for our leadership to the ladies. We felt so loved and blessed. We love each lady that is a part of our study. Thank you friends!

My beautiful gift...set of pillow cases made by my dear friend, Louise!

Christmas!

Joy To The World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love

The words and lyrics of 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

A time for traditions...

This recipe has been in our family for years. My mom made it at holidays. I have no idea where it came from. I have carried on the tradition of making it each year. I love old recipes and the way they are written sometimes makes me laugh. I hope you will enjoy this one and make it one of your traditional dishes.

Cranberry Mold

1 C. ground cranberries
1 C. ground unpared apples
1 C. sugar
1 pkg. gelatine (I use strawberry jello)
1 C. hot water
1 can crushed pineapple
1/2 C. seeded Tokay grape halves (I use purple seedless grapes)
1/4 C. broken nut meats (I use pecans)

Combine cranberries, apples and sugar. Dissolve gelatine in hot water; add pineapple (with juice). Chill until partially set. Add cranberry-apple mixture, grapes and nut meats. Pour into mold (I most often put in a pretty glass bowl that belonged to my mom). Chill overnight or until set.

Welcome back to your Texas home!

Tonight the family, minus Stacy and Travis who are on a trip, and our friend, Diane, went to the airport to welcome Stephanie home from Honduras! We are so excited to have her back with us until mid-January!

Give Thanks...

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Thanksgiving is this week and we should all take time to pause and thank God for the many blessings He has given us. We did this today at church! We should do it every day! Take time right now and think of all He has done for you and thank Him! Then ask the Lord which friend and or family member you should write a note or give a call and thank them for what they mean in your life! You will be blessed and so will they!

A bowl of soup for a chilly day...

I found this soup in Taste of Home Heartwarming Soups cookbook. It is very easy and tastes good! I use a little more ground beef and serve it with cornbread.



1 package (12 ounces) mixed dried
beans
8 cups water
1/2 pound ground beef, cooked and
drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes,
undrained
1 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
Pepper to taste

Place beans in a large saucepan or Dutch oven;
add enough water to cover by 2 in.
Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain and discard liquid. Add water to the
beans; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for
30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; bring
to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for
1 -1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender.
Discard bay leaves.

Yield: 10 servings

Scooters and haircuts

Hannah was riding a scooter, fell and broke two fingers!

She had to have a cast.

She also got a pretty new hair cut!