12/10/08 Have a Blessed Christmas!
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
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IN THIS ISSUE: CORRECTION TWO RECIPES TO GET YOU THROUGH THESE BUSY DAYS
GROUND BEEF SOUP Make a big batch of this soup for those busy December days! Cooked chicken or turkey would work in this soup as well.
Combine:
1 lb. cooked and drained ground beef 1 tsp. sweet basil, dried
2 cups. celery 2 tsp. oregano, dried
2 cups carrots Sea salt, pepper and additional spices to taste
2 chopped onions 2 tsp. dried mustard
4 cups potatoes, diced 10 cups water 2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce Cook vegetables, etc. until tender. Add 4 cups frozen corn and 3 cups frozen peas. Cook until corn and peas are heated.
EASY TACO SKILLET MEAL 1 lb. ground beef 3/4 cup water Brown beef in a large skillet with lid. Add tomato juice, water, seasonings, and rice. Simmer 45 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring several times. Top with shredded cheese. Serve with shredded lettuce, onions, sour cream, and salsa. I found it works better for me to brown my meat and meanwhile, in another kettle, cook the rice a little while and then turn it off and let it steam soft. Drain water from rice and add to meat then add tomato juice, less water (because rice is already cooked), and seasonings. I stir in a bunch of cheese. We eat it on tortilla chips, with sour cream, lettuce, tomato, etc. We aren't exactly rice eaters but this we really like!
THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Julie Druck in Pennsylvania says, "Our family had a great time doing this fun activity for our neighbors last Christmas. Though we adapted it a bit, the original idea was shared by a reader of Virginia Knowles Hope Chest newsletter (hopechest-subscribe@ welovegod.org)." To subscribe to Julie's newsletter, A Heart for Home, send a blank e-mail to: [email protected]. To view Julie's blog, visit: http://www.lifeinskunkhollow.blogspot.com
Starting on December 13, you secretly deliver each days message with the following gift to the recipient. (We usually put the things in a bag and hang it on their doorknob.)
First Day: On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree
It seems that the partridge has flown away and we really hated to cut down the tree, so here are some pears. (canned pears)
Second Day: On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two turtle doves...We werent sure what turtle doves were so we hope this Dove will do. (a large Dove chocolate bar)
Third Day: On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three French hens
We couldnt catch the French hens, but we caught a box of chicken noodle soup and some French bread. Close enough?! (a box or can of chicken noodle soup and a loaf of French bread fresh or Pillsbury refrigerated loaf to bake)
Fourth Day: On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four calling birds
The calling birds got stuck in a snowstorm, so were sending message pads for your phone calls instead! (pack of message pads)
Fifth Day: On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, five gold rings! Yeah, but have you seen the price of gold lately? We hope youll enjoy these golden rings instead. (can of pineapple rings)
Sixth Day: On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six geese a-laying
We didnt think you wanted a houseful of geese, so how about some eggs that were a-laid? (box of eggs)
Seventh Day: On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven swans a-swimming
Its really too cold for swimming, so how about a nice hot bubble bath? (bottle of bubble bath)
Eighth Day: On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight maids a-milking
Since we couldnt fit eight cows on your doorstep, heres some ice cream with their compliments! (a half-gallon of ice cream obviously youll want to make sure the recipients are home and ring the doorbell or something so they can bring this in right away!)
Ninth Day: On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine ladies dancing
The ladies have a show at Rockefeller Center, but heres some Christmas music you can dance to if you like. (CD or tape of Christmas music check the dollar store!)
Tenth Day: On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten lords a-leaping
Unfortunately, all the lords pulled a muscle and cant leap for you, so they kindly sent you their canes in case you decide to try it. (candy canes)
Eleventh Day: On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping
Serve this cocoa piping hot. (box of cocoa mix)
Twelfth Day: On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming
We didnt think you wanted twelve drums or drummers so we drummed up a treat for you. Merry Christmas! (a baked good)
Note from Lois: You could also pack a basket for someone with all these goodies and the reading and deliver all together. ONLY A MOM WOULD KNOW! One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 2½ years old and had just recovered from an accident. Someone had given me a little "tea set" as a get-well gift, and it was one of my favorite toys. |
Children tire of toys after a while, but they seem to never tire of spending time with you, especially while creating fun and interesting things together. Make lots of special memories with them while they are out of school during Christmas vacation. Here are plenty of activities from which to choose.
http://crafts.kaboose.com/toothpick-snowflake-ornament.html
Age Group: 5 & up | Difficulty Level: Average
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Arts & Crafts for KidsCrafts, Coloring Pages, Printables Discover Your FamilyFun Today! http://www.FamilyFun.com/Arts-and-Crafts
UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
Readers' Tips from Bright Kids - http://brightkids.wordpress.com/
Copyright 2008 Deborah Taylor-Hough - Used by permission
Christmas Gift Idea ~ We give our kids 3 presents for Christmas just as the wisemen gave Jesus. Frankincense was burned before worship, so the gift is something that pertains to how the kids spend their time with God (a new worship CD, Bible, Focus on the Family magazine). Myrhh was an anointing oil so the gift is something to anoint their bodies (fancy soaps, sparkly lotion, bathrobe). Their gold gift is the gift they've really been wanting (special toy, CD player). You can take this even further and wrap the presents in special papers. The kids have enjoyed it, it sure helps mom's budget, and it passes the true story of Christmas in a hands-on way. ~ Emily, Minnesota
Shopping Spree ~ When my boys were younger and making a huge holiday list I would cut out pictures from the sales ads of items they said they wanted. Then I'd glue the picture on a piece of paper and write the average sales price on the item. Once I had a picture or drawing, with price, for all the items they had said they wanted on their Christmas list I would spread all the papers on the floor. Next, I would give them play money equal to the total amount I thought would be spent on them by ourselves, grandparents, and aunts & uncles. Last, they were invited to "shop" until the money was gone. This pretend shopping spree allowed me to see what they wanted the most and create a realistic gift list to share with family. Most of all though, it helped them to realize that one can't have all that one wants. They learned to not be quite so materialistic and have more realistic expectations of Christmas. ~ Sherrie
GIFT WRAPPING IDEAS FOR NOW AND ALL YEAR LONG
Plastic Cassette Tape Cases ~ Here is a quick gift-wrapping idea: Use plastic cassette tape cases for a perfect sized box for a gift card, then gift wrap. It worked great for me. ~ Lisa Weddle in Virginia
(Note from Lois: I have a whole bag full of these hard plastic cases, and wondered what they might be transformed into! Does anyone have more ideas on how to recycle these into crafts, ornaments or anything?)
Brown Paper Grocery Bags ~ Cut a grocery bag apart and use the plain inside as your gift wrap. Tie with twine and attach some greenery, a pinecone, or holly sprigs to the package.
Write down possible gift ideas for family and friends while they are fresh in your mind. Check out the sales after Christmas for nativity scenes, ornaments, wrapping paper and decorations - if you need any. If you have the tradition of giving each family member a Christmas ornament as we do, this is a good time to look for next year. I found some plaster of paris ornaments that were slashed less than half price that I hope to paint soon to have ready early for next Christmas. It will be fun painting each one as I think of and pray for each family member. Our children all want me to make them Christmas stockings, so that is another project I hope to get started on early for next year. They've each given me a picture or description of what they'd like for their family's stockings, so that will be lots of fun.
Step Nine: Depend on God's power to build your marriage
Why aren't more marriages successful? The problem is that believers who enter into marriage don't use all of the resources and tools God makes available to build oneness in their homes. As Psalm 127:1 tells us, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."
There are two key ingredients for living a dynamic Christian life, whether you're single or married. These ingredients have even more significance when you apply them to the oneness you are trying to achieve as a married couple. I'll put them in the form of questions:
- Are you and your spouse part of the family of God?
- Are both of you allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and empower your lives?
Read carefully, because what I'm about to say is the most important statement I make here: Unless you answer yes to both of these questions, you will lack the power to build your marriage with the oneness God intends.
God's ideal plan is that both partners in a marriage know Him personally, that they are first part of his family before they try to build a family of their own.
Many people call themselves Christians but have never truly known God. If you believe you fall into that category, you might start by accessing the FamilyLife web page on "The Secret to Having a Great Marriage and Family." Many of you may know Christ, but the troubles you've experienced in your marriage have led you to realize that you are not experiencing Him to the fullest. An important question for you is: If Jesus Christ walked out of your life right now, how would your life be different tomorrow, or next week? If you realize that your actions, thoughts, and words would be no different, you need to come to grips with the fact that Christ is not Lord of your life.
What each of us needs in our own marriage is something to defeat our selfishness. On more than one occasion I can recall wanting to be angry at Barbara and yet at the same time facing the realization that my life is a temple of God, that the Holy Spirit lives in me with the same power that raised Christ from the dead. The Spirit helps me control my temper, impatience, and my desire to say things I would later regret.
I still fail, but I have found that as I inwardly yield my will to God, the fruit of the Spirit grows within me. Isn't it interesting that the deeds of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21immorality, impurity, strife, jealousy, drunkenness, etc.produce isolation in marriage? But as we submit to Holy Spirit's control of our lives, the fruit of the Spiritlove, joy, peace, patience, etc.move us toward oneness.
The dreaded "D" word
There is so much more to learn about how to defeat isolation in marriage, but let me leave you with this exhortation: Don't use the "D" word! Don't even think of divorce. Too many marriages begin to unravel when one of the spouses mentally entertains the possibility of divorce.
Marital commitment demands perseverance. For your sake, for the sake of your children, and for the sake of our culture, you need to remain committed to the covenant you made before God. You need to maintain the perseverance of couples like J.L. and Hilda Simpson, godly Christians who wrote me a profound note:
"I was 15 and J.L. was 17 when we married. We are now 61 and 63. We could have divorced dozens of times but because we love each other deeply, and because God hates divorce, we didn't want to bring the curse of divorce into our family, so we didn't."
Barbara and I have been married since 1972, and we have had our share of illness, tragedy, and disagreementsbut we have never mentioned the word "divorce." That word has never passed through either of our lips. May I challenge you to do the same?
Fireproof your marriage this fall with these great tips to help improve your communication and resolve conflict.
Related articles
"Marriage: The Idol" by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock
"Reclaiming the Sanctity of Marriage" by Dennis Rainey
"Living Life With the Right Set of Blueprints" by Dennis Rainey
"The Foundation of a "Oneness Marriage" by Dennis Rainey
Related resources
Staying Close by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
HomeBuilders: Improving Communication in Your Marriage by Gary and Barbara Rosberg
Two Hearts Praying As One by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Rocking the Roles by Robert Lewis and William Hendricks
GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS, PAW PAWS AND GRAMMIES, POPS AND NANAS, and the list goes on!
Thanks to Becky Noell in Georgia for sending this! Since Christmas is a special time when many grandparents get to spend time with their treasured grandchildren, I thought you would especially enjoy these quotes this month.
What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars' worth of pleasure. ~Gene Perret
Grandmothers are just "antique" little girls. ~ Author Unknown
Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~ Welsh Proverb
A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television. ~ Author Unknown
Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric. ~Pam Brown
Grandchildren don't stay young forever, which is good because Granddaddies have only so many horsey rides in them. ~Gene Perret
Grandmother always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete ~ Marcy DeMaree
Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies. ~ Author unknown
Grandmothers hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever. ~ Author Unknown
If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I'd have had them first. ~ Lois Wyse
My grandkids believe I'm the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it, too. ~ Gene Perret
If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no other fun for old people like it! ~ Hannah Whithall Smith
It's such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother - that's why the world calls her grandmother. ~ Author Unknown
Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old. ~ Mary H. Waldrip
You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother. ~ Proverb
An our with your grandchildren can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly. ~ Gene Perret
The best baby-sitters, of course, are the baby's grandparents. You feel completely comfortable entrusting your baby to them for long periods, which is why most grandparents flee to Florida . ~ Dave Barry
I wish I had the energy that my grandchildren have - if only for self-defense. ~ Gene Perret
Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love. ~ Author Unknown
Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~ Alex Haley
Grandmother - a wonderful mother with lots of practice. ~ Author UnknownA grandparent is old on the outside but young on the inside. ~ Author Unknown
One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather. ~ Joy Hargrove
It's amazing how grandparents seem so young once you become one. ~ Author Unknown
If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma. ~ Teresa Bloomingdale
Grandparents are similar to a piece of string - handy to have
Around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren. ~ Author Unknown
Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother. ~ G. Norman Collie
Parents Torn over Surplus Embryos
Read the entire article at http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000008812.cfm
"There are families ready and willing to accept these embryos, have them implanted and give birth to those adopted children." For more information visit the Nightlight Christian Adoptions Web site.
There are many embryos that have been adopted already. They are known as "Snowflake Babies." They are perfectly healthy babies, now living in a loving family. Sadly, the next administration is a very real threat to the lives of these potential "Snowflake Babies." Could the Lord have a "Snowflake Baby" be part of your family in the future?
A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM
By Chris Smith - (Skipatrol) - Royal Marine Ret
Thanks to Rose Shaw in Australia for sending this poem!
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the garden to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Grandfather died in France ' on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gran always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Burma
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... a Union flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a trench with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbour no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!
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I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (dear ladies). - Phil. 1:3
Please remember to pray for each dear Heart to Heart lady and her family as you receive your newsletter.
So many ladies are going through very tough times and need our prayers!
Some have lost loved ones this year and others have lost jobs, homes or their good health.
Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!
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