Speaking from the Heart

It's Friday Show and Tell with Canada Girl. Would you like to participate or just visit other Friday Show and Tell Blogges? Click on the above link

Assignment: Write out some goals that you would like to accomplish. These goals should include your personal goals, but also goals as a family.

While setting goals, try to write out small attainable rewards for each goal accomplished!

1 Corinthians 13: Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny 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:
I'm just another cook.

If I work at a 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 spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return;
but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

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.

--Author Unknown

• Ouch, This poem hits home. As a homeschool teacher, mom, and wife, I tend to forget to have some quality time with my kids . I'm a one-track mind. I tend to focus on completing "to do" list, and spending time with my kids as second priority. I would convince myself that there will be some quality time later. The problem is there is never a "later". Something always come up or I'm too tired. My goal for 2008 is to spend more quality time, rather than quantity time with my kids. Time is quickly flying by.

This goal will have an immediate reward, as well as in the long run. I want my children to know that I love them through my actions, and not just words.

• Less time on blogging, and more time with God. The reward for this goal is unmeasurable, because I will have peace.
• Be a better aunt to my niece, rather than being critical. Restoring love and respect will be a big reward for me.

It's Friday Show and Tell with Canada Girl. Would you like to participate or just visit other Friday Show and Tell Blogges? Click on the above link .

I can't believe we're half way through our winter vacation. It seems like we're constantly going somewhere. We began our Christmas break (December 1) at Busch Gardens.

Two weeks later, we returned to the park for more fun with our friends.

Between our trips to Busch Gardens, Fun Christmas activities kept us busy .

Beatrix Potter volunteered Mark to do sound affects.

Katherine gets some acting pointers from Mrs. Dickens, who narrated Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins.

The festivities end with caroling in the courtyard.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

What are you thankful on this Thursday? Lynn and other Thankful Thursday Bloggers would love to hear from you. Just click on the above icon.

• I am so thankful for my strong marriage. While many of my friends are going through tough times, mine is firmly grounded.
• I am thankful that my dear husband's love language is service. For our summer vacation, he worked on my mom's house. He is currently spending his Christmas vacation tiling the guest bathroom, before my side of the family comes visit for the holidays.
• I am thankful that Jesus is present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It's Wordless Wednesday, hosted by Tiany. If you would like to participate, please click on the above picture.

If you would like to participate in Tackle It Tuesday or to see other participants, Click on the icon.

I've been homeschooling my son for 7 years and my daughter for 5 years. As you homeschool moms know, we have to keep our kids' schoolwork for accountability.

Bible Study- When Godly People do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore.

Must Do:

• Monday: Busch Gardens


• Tuesday: Christmas cookie exchange & Christmas performance at a nursing home
  
• Wednesday: Clean house, grocery shopping, get ready for company


• Thursday: shopping with grandma, start planning Christmas dinner


• Friday: skating, pick up uncle from airport

Train Them Right- We must be alert of what we do , because little eyes are watching us. Our children are more likely to imitate our bad habits faster than our good ones.

I am retraining my kids to have only one serving per meal. Not until I had to change my eating habit, did I realized that I was unconsciously training my kids that it was a mandatory to have a second serving.

If you would like to participate in Menu Plan Monday or to seee other Monday Meanderings participants, Click on the icon.

Monday: Chili (excellent for dinner in a winter day in Florida)

Tuesday: Broiled salmon, salad & pasta

Wednesday: Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad

Thursday: Hot chicken wings, beans, cole slaw, potato salad

Friday: Bourbon chicken & fried rice

Sour Cream Drops

Ingredients

1/4 cup Shortening
3/4 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 cup Sour cream
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup All purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking soda
1/4 teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Instructions
In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, sour cream and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to the creamed mixture. Chill for at least 1 hour. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 425 degrees for 7 ot 8 minutes or until lightlybrowned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Burnt Sugar Frosting:
2 tablespoon butter (no substitute)
1/2 cup confectioners Sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 teaspoons hot water

For frosting, melt butter in a small saucepan until golden brown; stir in the sugar, vanilla and enough water to achieve spreading consistency. Frost cooled cookies.

If you would like to participate in Friday Show and Tell or just want to browse, Click on the link above.

These hands belonged to my dear husband. He made it for his mother, when he was in the second grade. My dear mother-in-law gave this to me, when we celebrated our first Christmas with our firt born in 1995.

These hands belong to my son. He and his Pre-K4 teacher made it for us in December 2007.

These hands belong to my daughter. She and I made this when she was 5 in 2002.

If I had my way, my kids wouldn't have believed in the tooth fairie, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny. I wanted them to focus on the birth of Christ and His resurrection. However, a family member persuaded me that it was best for the kids to believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny. If they didn't believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny, the kids would have teased them in school.

I regretted the decision, because I was being a hypocrite. It's not all right for them to lie, but it's fine for me to stretch the truth. I can't imagine the hurt my daughter felt, when she found out that there was no such thing as the tooth fairie, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny.

I don't know what overcame me last Thursday. When I woke up that morning, I wanted to clean my refrigerator. That was a rare moment, because cleaning and decluttering are not in my vocabulary.

My husband doesn't recognize me, but he loves the change. The new me reminds him of his grandmother, who made out a daily "to do" list. She didn't believe in cluttering. When my dear husband was a young boy, one of his old toys mysteriously disappeared, everytime he received a new toy.

Back to business, tackling the hall closet.

before

After

Bible Study- When Godly People do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore.

Must Do:

• Finish week one of When Godly People do Ungodly Things before Wednesday night Bible Study Class.
• Clean classroom
• Practice Communicators for Christ Christmas play
• Steam-vac carpet
• Dust and vaccuum living room
• Filter VHS videos

Train Them Right- Carry out an instruction, as directed. Don't alter it because it is incovenient.

Monday: Parmesan chicken, green beans, salad

Tuesday: Salmon, Asian Salad

Wednesday: Chicken Caccitorie

Thursday: Bourbon Chicken, fried rice

Friday: Left-over

Ingredient :

• 3 cups sweet potato -- cooked and mashed
• 2 each eggs -- beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup brown sugar 1
• 1 can chopped nuts .

• Mix potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and butter together and pour into a greased 9x13 inch casserole.


• Cream butter, brown sugar, flour, and nuts. Sprinkle on top of sweet potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

** This recipe can be pasted into BigOven without retyping. **** Easy recipe software. Try it free at: http://www.bigoven.com/ **