Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

Sunshine, super-cold, sledding, skiing, snowmen, sugar, sipping Monday! The house is quiet and all tidied up from the fun we have been having together. The 12 year old is out playing, the Lover is out looking for peace and a quiet and maybe a good hair cut and the daughters are enjoying lunch out with a friend. Spending time on the phone with my far-away friend this morning, sipping Gingerbread coffee and talking about yummy recipes has put me into a delicious mood. We will have missionaries over for dinner tonight to share Ham and Scalloped Potatoes with maple glazed Winter Vegetables. Would you like me to start sharing recipes on this site? Let me know! Gratitude overflows- Canadian back bacon to celebrate the holidays The 3 Wise men's journey and our response Watching and waiting Snowplay Gingerbread syrup for morning coffee Long distance phone plans The mountain view, so spectacular and inspiring German choral music, sent with love Stollen to share Daughters around...

Traditions. What to keep, what to continue, what to delete. Tonight, over a wonderful dinner with a friend, we discussed family. Family near and far. Christmas this year will be quiet around here without our older children- yet, we have watched with excitement as our grandson listens and answers questions while we walk through the weeks of advent with the wreath and a story. This story- One Wintry Night, by Ruth Bell Graham_ has been read numerous times in our home as our kids have grown up. The illustrations are exquisite and the story is similar to following the Jesse Tree tradition. The 12 year old asks for more to be read every day- and I love that he is not too old, nor the 2 year old too young to enjoy the magic of an excellent story! We also had goodies tonight. Today I made Dilly Party Mix, dark chocolate with candy cane, white chocolate with cranberries and 2 trays of peanut brittle. Tomorrow, probably homemade Irish Cream! We enjoyed cookies sent to us from Comox on our tray...

Friday, not quite halfway through December- and I am already feeling quite exhausted! Trying to keep it simple seems to be tougher to do with more people. I remember when the kids were homeschooling, trying to keep it simple was easier because we were all on the same page. Now I find myself trying to be sensitive to everyone's wishes while keeping my own balance and somehow, not quite accomplishing anything too terribly well! But I do look forward to: music! family! time relaxing together! home without plans! creating more memories a two year old's birthday! Anyone want to share memories, traditions, baked goods recipes,things of that sort? In that attitude of gratitude, I want to share with you that this year, we have made a concerted effort to follow more of the advent tradition. Our 12 year old is enjoying the story time and candles along with the treats. The two year old is taking pleasure in the candles! This second week, the candle is PEACE. At our church each wee...