December 30

In December we dream of warm days where the wind blows through the windows, the sun shines bright, and we can walk about with only a jacket.
Today believe it or not is one of those days.

December 30, 2010

60°

Omaha, Nebraska

December 29

{Story Time}

December 28

But now,  Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you.
(Psalm 39:7)

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

(Deuteronomy 6:7)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness,
"The Lord is my portion", says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him." (Lamentations 3:22-24)

December 27

Why hello Mr. Junco.

Happy Birthday Caden.  2 years old!

December 26

{Play Time}

"Mama let me tell you the story."

"Then it rained."

December 25

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

December 24

**Sweetest Moments**

Rivertown Inn Apple Muffins

These are some amazing tasting and amazingly simple muffins.  If you're like me you keep a can of pie filling on hand for those just in case, last minute, easy, quick panic needs.   Well I was desperate the other day and had to open a can of apple pie filling but I only used a small portion of it.  I discovered this recipe when trying to use up the rest.  So good!

Rivertown Inn Apple Muffins

1 can apple pie filling   (I ran my knife through the can to chop apples a bit)
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. each cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Walnuts or raisins (opt.)     (I opted out of adding them)

Topping:

1/2 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. white sugar
1/4 c. butter (melted)
3 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. nuts   (I used oatmeal)

For Muffins:  Mix sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla.  Add pie filling, then dry ingredients.  Fill muffin tins 1/2 full.  Sprinkle topping over batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.


Enjoy!
Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!!!

December 23

{Daddy Time}

December 22

{Sneaky lil' fella}

This is the first squirrel we've ever seen in our yard.  He packed his lil' cheeks so full!

December 21

quiet glow

December 20

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

December 19

{Christmas Turkey}

December 18

{My Love}

December 17

{Comfort}

Birthday bear from Gpa and Gma Thomas.  It's his favorite!

December 16

{cut, cut, cut}

It's all he wants to do lately.  It's his idea of a craft, to find any kind of paper or cup, cut it into little pieces, and throw away.  Allowing this = pure bliss.

What do you think?

The Chinese Fertility Calendar says its a girl...no a boy...










This one says it's a girl:




This one says it's a boy:

Chinese Gender Chart / Chinese Pregnancy Calendar

	Month of Conception
Mother's Age	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45

What do you think it will be?  One day we lean towards girl, the next we lean towards boy!  Evan wants a girl and a boy.

December 15

{Big Flakes}

We came out of the stores to find big flakes falling from the sky.  Similar to the ones on our front windows.

"The Ballad of Mathew's Begats"

A good friend sang this in church on Sunday an it's caught our attention.  We've been singing it around the house all week!  Who is in Jesus' lineage?  Have you ever even thought about this?  How important it is to know where we come from.  Our history has great stories! Enjoy.
Andrew Peterson sings: "The Ballad of Mathew's Begats".

December 14

"to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something"

December 13

Our Dinner Pallet

(Pork, broccoli, baked butternut squash fries, ketchup, bbq sauce)

December 12

Just one of our neighbors.

December 11

Baby it's cold outside.

Good coffee always helps warm you from the blizzard outside!

December 10

Great Grandpa Ned watching a movie with Evan!

December 9

Caught in the act:
(6:30am)

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I hungry Mama."

Caught again:

(6:40am)

"Evan be patient, we will eat breakfast very soon!"

"I want scones, they my favorite."

When Sifting Comes---Embrace it.

David Wilkerson Today 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010 

WHEN SIFTING COMES  

 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon; behold, Satan hath desired to have you,

that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). 

 You must understand that Satan seeks to sift only those who threaten his work.

He goes after the tree with the most potential to bear fruit. But why did the

devil desire to sift Peter? Why was he so anxious to test him? Well, for three

years Peter had been casting out devils and healing the sick. Satan had heard

Jesus promise the disciples another baptism, one of Holy Ghost power and

fire—and he trembled! Now, the devil heard God’s ultimate plan for Peter.

He realized that the past three years would be nothing compared to the greater

works Peter and the other disciples would perform. Having already pulled down

Judas, he would have to look for a measure of corruption in Peter to build on,

to make Peter’s faith fail.

 Perhaps, like Peter, you are in the sieve right now, being shaken and sifted.

But, you ask, why me? And why now? First of all, you ought to rejoice that you

have such a reputation in hell! Satan never would have asked God’s permission

to sift you unless you had crossed the line of obedience. Why else would he

spend his efforts harassing and troubling you, scaring you and shaking all that

you have? He is sifting you because you play an important part in God’s church

in these last days. God is doing a new thing once again in this last generation,

and you have been set apart by him to be a powerful witness to many. He has set

you free, and is preparing you for his eternal purposes. And the greater your

gifts, the greater your potential, the greater your surrender to the will of

God—the more severe your sifting will be. 

 When someone is going through the fire of sifting, what should those around him

do? What did Jesus do about Peter’s imminent fall? He said to him, “I have

prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). 

 I look at this wonderful example of Christ’s love and realize I know almost

nothing about how to love those who fall. Surely Jesus is that “friend who

sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). He saw both the good and the

bad in Peter and concluded, “This man is worth saving. Satan desires him, but

I desire him all the more.” Peter truly loved the Lord, and Jesus told him,

“I have prayed for you.” Jesus had seen this coming for a long time. He had

probably spent many hours before his Father talking about Peter—how he loved

him, how needed Peter was in God’s kingdom, how he valued him as a friend. 

 Lord, give all of us that kind of love! When we see brothers and sisters

compromising or heading for trouble or disaster, let us love them enough to

warn them as firmly as Jesus warned Peter. Then we’ll be able to say, “I am

praying for you.” 

 Today we have yet another “It is written” with which we can do battle

against Satan. It is this: “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not

fail.” You can tell the devil, “You may have gotten permission to sift me,

to try to tear down my faith. But you need to know this: My Jesus is praying

for me!”

  

 Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/10850

December 8

Rough start to this morning!

December 7

Daily musings at the breakfast table. Cherished moments I will treasure away.

 My breakfast date.

December 6

Where have they been all my life?

Chocolate Chip drop Scones

I found this super quick recipe online today which totally satisfied my sweet craving!  They are so simple and ready before you know it.  Where have they been all my life?

Chocolate Chip drop Scones
2 cups Bisquick mix
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup whipping (heavy) cream  **I used skim milk
4 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
   Additional whipping cream
   Additional sugar

1. Heat oven to 400°F.  Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.  Stir Bisquick mix, chocolate chips, 1/3 cup whipping cream, 4 tablespoons sugar, the egg and vanilla in medium bowl until soft dough forms.

2.  Drop dough into mounds on cookie sheet.  Pat to slightly flatten.   Brush with additional whipping cream; sprinkle with additional sugar.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

December 5

Lil' helper rockin new shoes.

rambles of restlessness

For the past week for sure, I wake up around 4am.  I am incredibly uncomfortable, usually my back is tight and aches.  My nose feels stuffy so I tend to breathe through my mouth which I hate.  I roll back and forth in bed and then wake my husband.  Last night he woke and said he would go sleep on the couch so I could have the entire bed.  It helped a little.  This is getting really old.  This is pregnancy.  I know it's good training for when our sweet bundle is actually here.  Hopefully Evan doesn't wake when baby does.  I would love a massage right now. I have a catch under my right shoulder blade that I can't reach with my arm. I wake up thirsty.  Instead of getting a glass I got a coffee cup so I wouldn't dirty 2 dishes this morning.  Water tastes good out of a coffee cup and now I'm prepared for when the coffee is actually made.  We have church this AM. Then Gretna church this PM. Evan will be in his new Sunday school class for the second time today.  I hope he behaves for his teachers.  They will be practicing for the Christmas program.  Will he actually desire to learn his song?  It seems the heater in my house is continually kicking on...must be pretty cold outside.  The glow from my computer screen lights almost the entire room.  I love our church pew.  We got it from our church in Boston when they switched to chairs.  Someday I'll finish recovering the cushions.  Sigh.  I am still tired.  My achy body feels better if I am up.  Maybe I'll try to lay on the couch  I never have a problem falling asleep before bedtime there.  Lord relax my body so I may rest better.

December 4

Lunch at Costco calls for Bear Hugs for Daddy!

December 3

The warm tree glow in the waking hours. He was still groggy and entranced by Curious George. Scent of rhubarb muffins and fresh brewed coffee linger in the air.

December 2

"Mama I want to take a picture of you."

A nice belly shot by my 3yr old.  I'm 30 wks preggers.

December 1

We were planning to meet up to visit a friend who is moving soon.  She works at a coffee shop in downtown Lincoln.  But as I approached the L town lights my sis called and said Saidi is sick and went home.  Rats. Now what was our plan?

We're both pregnant.  It was about snack time.  My sis calls back, "How does a donut sound?"  Never do I pass up a donut.  So we met for donuts and coffee at our beloved Mill.  The boys ate and played with cars and tractors and we Mama's got our fill of sweet goodness and conversation.