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It seems almost impossible that I haven't blogged since Oct 24th, actually it seems longer.
Even harder to believe that Christmas is a week away.
Life has overtook anything I know of online.
It seems between work, work, more work, and everyday life there is no time.
A little gift of joy has entered our life, and is filling our weekends when we're not working.
So this Christmas instead of baking treats and making candy
I sit here taking a much needed rest not doing dirty dishes, or washing clothes but watching
my babies sleep.  In seconds of seeing them I am overwhelmed with love & joy.

They love napping together. 

I love seeing them snuggled.

We have been so blessed by having Chickie Monkey here with us on the weekends.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year with your family & friends.

As I stood at this kitchen sink this morning washing up the punch bowl I watched the snow fall as softly as I felt the tears running down my cheek.  I was thinking of a text I received from a dear friend this morning telling of how lonely her and her husband's Christmas had seemed with no children or grandkids in their home.  I felt the loneliness for her.  This year the house has felt so empty.  I thought maybe it was just being in the new house and not quite feeling like it's "our home" instead of living in someone else's house.  Yesterday my home was full of family and comfort food but there was no comfort.  I felt like the lyrics from "Pretty Papper"

"In the distance of the ringing of laughter, and in the midst of the laughter  he cries."

 
Last night after coming back from Christmas at Momma & Dad's I sat here snuggled on the couch with DH enjoying the lights of the Christmas tree finding myself wondering if we will ever hear the pitter patter of little feet in our house during Christmas.  Someone peeking under the tree to see what is theirs.  Asking when we are going to read the story about Baby Jesus.  When they won't be able to sleep for the excitement of the next morning.  Will there ever be that excitement and laughter in our home.  In the midst of this I realized I have never felt more alone during Christmas.  There was family, food and love, but and emptiness that is indescribable.
My precious cousin who also had multiple miscarriages and loss once told me, "Maria, just think your babies are complete perfection in Heaven with Jesus and will be waiting when you get there."  I don't know how many times that kind word has kept me.  Sometimes the human side of me is much more selfish and more days than not I want them here with me.  Especially today when I should hear them laughing and playing.  Begging to go out in the snow and play with Daddy & me while it's falling.  
Today I will enjoy the day with Dave and the beauty of the day.  I will be praying for all the other couples who are feeling the same grief as we are today and that their homes will be full of giggles and pitter patter soon.

Merry Christmas

I'm so glad to see you!!!

I thought you would never arrive Mr. Christmas.  I decorated my tree thinking you would show up.  That didn't work so I decorated outside.  I still didn't see you.  I attempted to wrap some presents the other night.  Still you were a no show.  Oh THANK YOU Christmas mood for finally showing up at my house!!  Even if you did start nudging me out of the bed at 5:30am this morning.  Did you forget it's a Saturday??  Now after we finish our wonderful "Christmastime" coffee from Starbucks we will be on our way.  I know you want to get crackin!!

I did make chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, no bakes, and a batch of peppermint bark Thursday night.
The chocolate fudge is oh so good!!!  Thanks to this little lady right  here who gave me the recipe.  Thank you Miss Kerry.  This year I have my normal list of things to make for Christmas, fudge, oreo truffles, sugar cookies, refrigerator cookies, m&m cookies, no bakes, potato candy, thin mint cookies, coconut balls, old fashion apple stack cake, red velvet cake just a few of the family favorites.  Then I realized I have NONE of my recipes because I lost them all in the flood.  Of course DH says, "Baby, you never use a recipe what is the big deal?"  He's right, I rarely use a recipe but I do try to write down how I do it.  With a Southerner cooking and baking are a little different.  There are no real recipes it's a "dash" of this, a "handful" of this, lol.  I know, I know.
So I'm winging it by "memory" which has really started to fail me here at the young age of 34.
Did I mention I'm going to try my hand at "Dishpan Cookies"? Yeah, I know, sounds ummmm.......interesting, yes?  Well Miss Christy got my curiosity up with this one.

We have had about a total of 8 inches of snow this week.  (I will have DH go out and get some pictures today to post)  I love the snow.  I know some people don't, but who wouldn't love a white Christmas?  I can't remember the last time we had a BIG white fluffy Christmas here in Eastern Kentucky.  I am looking forward to that.  We are suppose to be getting another big hit sometime next week.
Christmas Eve dinner is going to be here at the new house this year.  I am pretty excited about that other than I don't want to do the normal turkey and dressing, like we do at Thanksgiving.  We usually add a ham but still.      
DH is pushing for beef brisket.  I am still thinking a nice prime rib.  I still have a couple of days.
The only things I know for sure on the menu is, 7 layer salad, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls and all the candies, cookies and desserts listed above.

Ms Fitzgerald is serenading me this morning.  "Baby It's Cold Outside". My coffee cup is almost empty.  I need to get busy wrapping and baking.  What are your plans for Christmas?  Any suggestions on Christmas Eve dinner?

Merry Christmas from My house to Yours!!
May God truly Bless You this Season and Always.

I'll have to be honest, I go back and fourth between hating and loving the holiday seasons (Thanksgiving & Christmas). When being with family is more like this  It gets kind of iffy at times between the hussle and bussle.  Some days I wake up feeling like Brad and Kate off of 4 Christmases.  

(images provided from Google)

Who doesn't have family they wish they could pretend they didn't have at times?  How many times I felt like my family was like this part of the movie, and when I really want is to feel like this part all of the movie during the whole Christmas Season.

(picture provided from Google)

I want to fly off to some tropical local.  Then the next minute I can't get enough time in during the season.  I love the decorating, baking and cooking.  The opportunity to be with people you love and don't get to see very often.   
I have tried to jump feet first into the spirit.  I have already watched 4 Christmases,

The Christmas Card,

   and Fred Claus for inspiration. 

Ok, maybe 4 Christmases wasn't insprirational but it is quite funny. 

This weekend will be inventory at work, starting Thursday night.  They moved it from the day after Thanksgiving to the first weekend in Dec.  The following weekend is our Church Christmas party.  I haven't found anything to wear.  I have a gray jacket I want to wear but nothing to go with it yet. I'll find something I am sure.
I know, very boring post.  I am all out of fresh.

Mailman & Christmas Gifts

Never accept a scratch off ticket for Christmas!
Please turn the music box off below before listening to this.  It's hillarious!!!

Christmas Dinner #1

A couple years ago my BFF and I decided trying to buy Christmas presents for one another and our spouses became a lot of extra work during Christmas.  We'd rather just have the couple hours together
so now we meet and have "Christmas Dinner" together.  The only thing we buy now is dinner.
Time has gotten away, we usually try to do it early December so that we can do a little shopping too.
This year we decided to go somewhere less crowded and down home.
Check it out, it's just a 30 min drive from here......



If you want, I'll bring ya a piece of pie!!!

Christmas

Last night I went to Wally World to pick up candy stuff. I noticed quickly the sadness and aggrivation on many faces.  I was saddened for them.  Quickly my mind had taken me back to Christmas past in my mind.
My heart reached out to them understanding some of their grief during this season.
I've had Christmases of just my Momma & me and my Dad no where to be seen.
Christmases so full of fun where all us grandkids got together at Nan's to put up the tree, string popcorn and make  homemade cookies.
Christmases of excitement from a new Dad and a Christmas with a new baby brother.
Christmases as a confused teen about life and why my biological Dad was never there during Christmas (or any other time growing up).
I've had a Christmas where I was married just days before and we had nothing but love to live on.
I spent Christmases alone and lonely.  Wondering if I would ever truly be loved by another.
Christmases where the loss of a close loved one so dear, so fresh I wondered if my family would survive it.
Christmases of a new love, a new life and of a new home.
A Christmas of learning how to come back Home.
Empty Christmases with no baby to love and share it with in our home.
As my mind swirled with these memories my heart broke, smiled and cried at these thoughts.
My heart and my prayers opened to these people and I found myself walking around walmart praying for these people silently as they passed by.

Lord, please be with them whatever their circumstance or needs.  You knew them all before I even asked and I believe on you to help them through this Christmas.  Bless them this Christmas and let me or your other children in some way remind them of you and the hope and love you give.

This morning I woke to a winter wonderland.  It's so beautiful and fresh.
I started the preparing of our Christmas Breakfast Brunch with just my folks and brothers.
I feel blessed and happy this morning for this Christmas to be here.
More than not we get so wrapped up in buying/giving/receiving gifts, fixing candy, preparing food, company, decorating, etc that we have lost the whole meaning of Christmas.  While it is a great celebration we so often get lost and forget the true reason of Christmas.  As much as I love my family and being with them, that is not the true meaning or rememberance of it.  Christ is all of it.  To remember Him, to praise Him, to reverance Him, to be thankful to Him. 

These are my thoughts for this beautiful Saturday morning.  I guess this blanket covering the ground of pure white snow reminds me of how He covers us in many aspects.

Thank You Lord for that miraculous day You came upon this earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and laid in a manager so meek and humble unlike the true King that you are.

God Bless You All,

Thankful Thursday

I'm still trying to get over this garb that I have.  I received notice it has decided to become a perminent resident in my chest.  I received the address change today from my head to my chest.  YAY!!
Tomorrow is Christmas parties at work for our departments.  Fortunately our boss is taking us to Cheddars for an extended lunch.  Dave and them are having a snack day.  Luckily he is only required to bring rolls.  The girls had mercy on me.

Today I am Thankful for so much.  I do not even know where to begin. 
I'm thankful it's going to snow this weekend on into next week.  I am hoping for a White Christmas.
I'm so glad all my family will be here for Christmas
I'm thankful for a warm house and some hot soup for my tummy.
I'm thankful I AM going to be well by the weekend so I will not be sick while off!!!

But most of all I am Thankful for a Savior who was willing to come one night, and be humble enough to lay in a manager unlike the King He was.  That He grew up to give His life for me.

What are you Thankful for this Christmas Season?

Tuesday's Tasty Treat (Homemade Thin Mints)

Today's Tasty Treat I'm leaving with you is a homemade version of a girl scout thin mint cookie, yum!!
It's one of my favorite Christmas Treats to fix.

What You'll Need:
1 pkg of almond bark chocolate flavor or chocolate chips, melted
(I personally like the almond bark because it's supper easy to melt)
1 bottle of peppermint oil
2 sleeves of Ritz Crackers
Wax paper, spoon, & fork

Melt chocolate, then adding 1 to 2 drops of peppermint oil.  I do it to my personal taste.
Usually 2 drops is enough for a batch.  Mix well. 
Then I roll the ritz cracker slowly not to break them in the chocolate.
Lifting the cracker out of the chocolate with the fork so that the chocolate can drip off a little.
Placing the cracker on the wax paper to cool and set up.

Makes approximately 2 sleeves of crackers.
Believe it or not these are REALLY good, and reallly simple to make.

Just an update, I went to the doctor yesterday.  She says I will live, lol.  I have a horrible sinus infection trying to move into my lungs, so I'm suppose to take it easy rest, rest, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take my meds she says.  My post will probably be short and sweet this week.
Hope you all are having fun getting prepared for Christmas.  In the midst of it all, please don't forget the
Reason For the Season, Jesus.



picture from Saturday Night's work Christmas Party