Immanuel

God came down as a child, so vulnerable.

Its hard to fathom, this story so memorable.

We can come to understand His love for man.

King of heaven, God with us, that was the plan.

He cried, He bled, heartaches, frustrations.

Just like you, He experienced life's abrasions.

What more can we ask, when He died for our penance.

Through Christ: Peace, joy, eternal life in His presence!

-M.M.G.

Gingerbread Coffee

Coming in from the cold, I love to have something to warm me up. For the kids it is hot chocolate of course. Homemade is the best! (Mix 1 tb. of cold milk in a mug with 1 tb. of cocoa, and 2 tb. sugar until smooth. Stir in 1 cup hot milk. Easy:) For me... coffee.
I love coffee. Also I love the flavours that each season brings. For the Christmas/winter it's peppermint, chocolate, and gingerbread.
And again trying to not frequent the coffee shops to often, I came up with a gingerbread creamer, concoction.

Its very simple, here it is:
In a small microwavable bowl, mix: 2 tb. cream with 1 tb. sugar, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, and a pinch nutmeg. Stir well. Nuke (microwave) for 30 seconds. Then whisk in 3/4 cup of cream. Use a funnel to pour into a small bottle with a good seal. Give it a good shake before each use. Enjoy the warm cozy feeling.

Presents!...

 I want to write about Christmas cookies and decorations, that seems like the big thing on my mind lately. I actually don't want to deal with even thinking about buying presents and the stress that comes with being able to afford them ( even the small amount we will buy ) I really desire to write about the Savior coming to the earth as a baby to pay the price for all humanities sins. But I so easily get caught up in all that happens around me with this time of year. As a child I had a big problem with getting expectations way too high. I see that in a child of mine now. To be honest I don't think it has changed too much. The realisation of what often really happens with what I hope for has taught me too see how my hopes don't always become a reality. There is this ingrained feeling in me though, that makes me not want to miss out on all the world portrays of what really brings happiness. Its so easy to be side tracked (for me anyways). The part of me that has leaned so much, thanks to my gracious Lord makes me want to have the feelings of being truly faithful to my beliefs. But the selfish, sometimes ignorant part thinks all the world has to offer is so much more fulfilling.
I, with all honesty hate the commercialism of Christmas. I believe if it weren't for all that hoopla (yes I said hoopla) going on around us, it would make it easier to stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Lets face it, Satan's job is a lot much easier these days. Most of the world is happy with doing his job.
 So I started thinking about the first Christmas more deeply. The song of the drummer boy came to mind (I know this is not a historical fact) and how all he had was a song to play for the Christ child. The kings came to bring one gift each. All that they had? I don't know. But they gave what they knew as being very precious. What did the shepherds offer? Their presence.
 What can we do, that means more then anything we could give? How about accepting a gift. Presence from the Father. His Son. He is even wrapped...in swaddling cloths.
 God wants us to un-wrap and share this gift. The gift of our time, or presence in others lives in love through Him.
Well with age I have been slowly slowly been enlightened with these truths through the Lords gentle guidance. Of course its usually, like most learning experiences...two steps forward, one step back. But I trust in the Lord that true faith in Him, will bring me closer to Him. And that is the ultimate blessing. Being able to be in Gods presence!

 

 

 

Please don't get me wrong though. I don't believe giving material gifts to show love is wrong. Or that decorating and baking in celebration is a sign of disrespect to the Lord. Its when that is our main focus, to the point of that being all that is reflected in your Christmas.

It all comes down to what your priorities are, what you consider most desirable.

My prayer for this Christmas: to put off my old self, which belongs to my former manner of life and is corrupted through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of my mind and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22)...through receiving Christ's gift.



Easy Advent Calendar

 Advent started this past Sunday. My family looks forward to this tradition every year. There are the candles. Five in a circle. The scriptures read. Different ones to focus on the Lord Jesus. Singing Christmas carols. Lifting our spirits and our voices in praise to God. A prayer to close. Sometimes something extra, like a craft or treat is fun to do. I wanted to add the advent calendar this year. Something fun for my kids to look forward too. I see the Santa themed chocolate calendar every year, but I just don't like that idea. I've seen so many neat ideas on line. But I really wanted to come up with something that would be thrifty and use what I had on hand. This idea is also very easy.
 I used a frame that had matting. I took the back off and cut to size, a nice piece of card stock and a piece of corrugated cardboard. Put frame back together with card stock on top of cardboard. Get out some more card stock and cut smaller sized rectangles to fit the middle of the frame. Twenty five of them. Punch a hole in the centre top of each. I hand wrote the numbers for each day counting up to the twenty fifth. I found printable activity ideas on line, for something fun each day. And glued them on the back of each card. I used an antique nail to hang the cards in the centre of the frame.

I know its late to start advent just now. But better late then never!

To Inspire Cozy Feelings on a Chilly Day...Vermicellisoep met balletjes

 "While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best."
- Tom Allen

 

- 25 c. temperatures, and/or 40 km winds and/or 4 ft. high snow drifts. (All of which we have experienced this past month) This definitely makes me want to get back in the house and thaw out stay cozy.

Now for inspiring coziness: Vermicellisoep met balletjes (Vermicelli soup with ground meat balls) a yummy traditional Dutch soup.
I like a big pot (mmm... left overs!)
-10 cups of beef soup stock
-1/2 teaspoon of ground mace
-1 cup broken vermicelli or you can use spaghetti noodles
-1 cup ground beef
-1/2 teaspoon each: salt, pepper
-1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-1 bread kupje (the crusty end of the bread)
-1 egg
-a bit of flour
-2 thinly sliced carrots
-2 stalks chopped celery
Prepare your little meat balls by mixing the meat with the salt, pepper, nutmeg, the kupje crumbled, and the egg. Smoosh it together and make tiny balls a bit bigger than a marble. Roll 'em in a bit of flour.
Get your beef stock boiling, add the mace. Reduce to a light bubbling. Add noodles, then  the meat balls. Dump in the veggies. Taste test. Maybe more salt or pepper or maybe even mace.
This soup has a great unique taste.

Now I'm ready to go out again and shovel a path as I walk the kids to school!
::I am constantly filled with thankfulness to the Lord for the things most of us, feel are necessary but are really blessed privileges. Snow shovels, mittens, boots and scarves, warm home, and warm food. Thank you Father::