Christmas Cookies!

My sweet little girl got a cold yesterday. We have been couped up in the house praying she gets better so I can attend church Sunday and Monday with the family. Colds are no fun especially when my baby has one. She also happens to have a molar coming in so it is double trouble around here. Daddy and brother went to see The Hobbit so mommy spent three hours baking four kinds of yummy cookies for gifts to give the family. I was really excited God gave me some creative juices. I made some cute little tags to go along with them! This will be the first year my family will be coming over for Christmas. We also invited a couple friends from church who have no family in the States. We are looking forward to time with our families and mostly worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ! Merry CHRISTmas my friends!

Comfort at Christmastime

 I was very blessed by this blog Carolyn posted on her girltalk blog. I know so many people are hurting during this time of year. I myself am personally humbled by this article as I have spent the last couple weeks feeling a bit down about a few things. I am reminded just how blessed I am first in Christ and also because I do have my husband and kids by my side!

2012 at 8:56 pm   |   by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under Biblical Womanhood Suffering Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
We are very mindful that there are many people who experience grief and sadness during the Christmas season. My sister-in-law Sharon is one of them.
On July 8, 2003 Sharon lost Dave, her husband of 32 years, to a brain tumor. We all desperately miss Dave’s joy, his impeccable sense of humor, his servant’s heart, and his delicious cooking. However, the intense grief that Sharon and her five children have experienced these past two and a half years is a testimony to the love they had for Dave,  and his love for them.
And yet, through this unimaginable hardship, Sharon’s faith in God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness has remained strong. She has truly grieved with hope. While not a day goes by that she does not desperately miss “Her Bud” (as she and Dave would call each other) she displays a selfless strength in serving others that only comes from knowing Jesus Christ.
For this reason, we asked Sharon to share about both the pain, but more importantly the comfort she experiences at Christmastime. We pray her thoughts will provide hope to those of you who have lost a loved one. And for the rest of us, may we extend discerning care to those we know who are grieving this Christmas.

I believe there is only one answer to the question of how I experience God’s comfort at Christmastime, and that is for me to be on my knees basking in and staying grounded in the Word of God.  His words touch my heart and soul, as he is the ultimate comforter. And from him come all other forms of comfort, as well.
Of course, snags are everywhere this time of year. If you’ve ever driven through the mountains, you’ve probably seen signs that read,  “Beware of falling rocks.” For me as a widow, the holidays can be full of “falling rocks” in the form of that invitation or Christmas card addressed to only one name, traditions that are no longer an option,  having to pass by the men’s department no longer looking for that annual sweater or tie, or even getting a whiff of my husband’s favorite cologne in the crowds of shoppers.  Like a thorn on a rose pricks the finger, these reminders of a love lost prick my fragile, already bleeding heart. The challenge becomes surfacing from the pain of the past and wanting to live joyfully in the present with a hope for the future.
Although I have yet to get through the season without heartache and tears, and this will be my third Christmas without my husband, my Lord is faithful to supply the needed comfort.  I should add here that I must choose to be comforted, as the temptation can be to fall into the sin of self-pity. If you are a widow, you know you can feel the pain of loneliness even when you’re in a group—even a group of family and friends. Those who help me to surface from the pain are not afraid of my sudden tears that may spill over in an instant unexpectedly, as they realize that may be the only language I can speak at the moment. They respect my need to talk at length about my current grief, or my desire not to talk at all. They give me much-appreciated hugs and tell me they care.  They sometimes share remembrances of my husband that make me smile through the tears, knowing the memories may cause pain but are certainly treasured. Comfort has also come in the form of e-mails and phone calls and cards, all with words of love and encouragement.  This past Sunday, I was comforted by a word shared during worship from one of the pastors with an encouragement for widows and single parents.
I think it is important to note here that we should not assume someone is no longer grieving, or not grieving as much, because a number of years have passed.  I am among those who, before I became a widow,  mistakenly thought that the one-year anniversary marked the end of the grieving process, that somehow things became easier and got back to “normal.”  Where did that idea come from?  That’s not accurate.  I believe grieving is actually a gift, a good and necessary gift, a process, and a journey that, because of the depth of our love, may last until I see my Bud again. And, yes, the severity of my grieving is increased during the holidays.  But as I respond to the pain and embrace with gratefulness the comforts he sends, I learn endurance and perseverance; and I realize that everything is part of the process of sanctification.  And I am overwhelmed—not by my grief—but by his love for me.

Where was God last Friday?

 Another great blog from http://bc4women.blogspot.com. 

Monday, December 17, 2012

Where Was God Last Friday?

The internet is full of voices speaking about the horrific tragedy in Connecticut last week Friday, and today I will add mine to the choir.  I have seen every kind of comment and opinion on the reason the young man senselessly murdered the classrooms full of little children, and the numerous psychologists who have been trotted out to give their "expert" opinions on his mental state and state of mind prior to the shooting. 
Added to the chorus we have the pro-gun and anti-gun people, both who are convinced their position is the right one.  While there are crimes committed with guns, guns are not "the problem." On Saturday, The Resurgence.com  posted the following statistics on their website that support my claim: 

• Also on Friday, a knife-wielding man injured 22 children aged 6 to 11 and one adult at a primary school in central China.
• Studies suggest that up to 10 million children in the U.S. witness some form of domestic violence annually and approximately half of them are also victims of domestic violence.

What I will add to that discussion is this: The first homicide on earth took place by hand. Cain did not need anything more than his hands and a rock. Sticks and stones, belts and fists, drugs and alcohol all are used in the commission of crimes by children and against children every single day. If we are going to say an object is the problem, then our world will quickly become very small. 

• Almost half of all sexual abuse victims are children: 15 percent of sexual assault victims are under age twelve, and 29 percent are ages twelve to seventeen.
• Children are also the victims of sex trafficking at horrific rates: In the U.S., the average age of entry into prostitution is between 12 and 14 years old. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that over 300,000 American children are at risk for sexual exploitation, and that an estimated 199,000 incidents of sexual exploitation of minors occur every year within the United States.
• The global market of child trafficking is over $12 billion a year, with over 1.2 million child victims. Child trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world.
• From 600,000–800,000 people are bought and sold across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are female. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade.
• Today, as many as 300,000 children, some as young as eight years old, serve in armed government or rebel forces around the world.

And, as long as we are so incensed by the murder of innocent children, Americans had better wake up and realize that since as many as one out of three American women will have at least one abortion, there is wholesale slaughter taking place every single day not only in America, but all around the world.  Where are the calls to outlaw abortion? Where are the calls to outlaw pornography which drives so much of the sex crime against children? Where are the calls to outlaw the internet over which aspects of these crimes take place? (Do you see a little conflict here?) 
When will you realize that it not the object that commits a crime, but it is the wickedness in the heart of man that brings such actions (Jeremiah 17:9)? Like every other sinful act, what happened in Connecticut was the revelation of the wickedness contained within (Mark 7:21-23). Until the heart of man is changed by the God our world is so determined to declare does not exist, evil will continue to flourish on every level. 
When such unspeakable tragedies occur, society inevitably asks, "Where is God?" Those who don't believe in God say such actions prove God does not exist, or if He does, He is certainly impotent or uncaring to allow this to happen.  Other's who believe in God refuse to believe He knew of this before time began, and He certainly would not have ordained this to happen! They refuse to believe a loving God had any part in this, as though it was as much of a surprise to Him as it was to us on Friday. Friends, none of this was a surprise to God and while He does not condone sin He does allow it and more than that; He intends to use it.  He will use it for our good and His glory. 
As difficult as it is to believe and accept, God is using this tragedy to show us that He is giving us Americans exactly what we have asked for.  We asked God to leave us alone, to get out of our schools and courtrooms. We told Him we didn't need His 10 Commandments or Bible, we have rejected His morals and values and have been living according to our own lofty wisdom. I am thankful that despite our collective foolishness, God continues to restrain such evil from having its way on earth. 
Were God to remove His hand, what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary would be only a fraction of the carnage that would be unleashed in our schools and on our streets. Literally, no one would be safe.  Right now, the hardened heart of the country is temporarily softened. People have flocked to their churches and other houses of worship in droves seeking comfort. By His grace, perhaps more people will realize that the only hope for America is Jesus. Perhaps some semblance of humility will begin to take root and we will begin to see the need for God in our nation again. 
Where was God last Friday? On His throne weeping with those who weep, grieved at the sin of mankind. 
My heart breaks for those who have endured unspeakable loss. May God comfort you as only He can.

My favorite Santa Claus Story

Another great post my hubby sent me!

by Nathan Busenitz
There are a lot of Santa Claus stories floating around this time of year. Almost all of them are completely based in fantasy. Flying reindeer; a sleigh full of gifts; precarious chimney climbing; a fluffy red suit — all of that is total fiction.

But when my kids used to ask me, “Dad, is Santa Claus real?” I didn’t say “No.” In fact, I answered in the affirmative.

(Pause for dramatic effect.)



Like any good student of church history, I explained that Santa Claus was actually a fourth-century pastor named Nicholas of Myra who was later considered a saint by the medieval Roman Catholic Church. He was a favorite of Dutch sailors who called him, “Sinter Klaas” (or “Saint Nicholas”) which then came into English as “Santa Claus.”

Of course, I was careful to point out that the modern American version of Saint Nicholas bears absolutely no resemblance to the fourth-century pastor from Asia Minor. The real Nicholas did not live in the North Pole. He was not Scandinavian. He did not drive a team of magical caribou. He did not work with elves. Nor did he travel the world every Christmas Eve exchanging presents for milk and cookies.

No, he was a pastor. He worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ. And he would have been appalled at the way his legacy has been used to obscure the true meaning of Christmas.

But I digress…

My point in this blog post is to relate my favorite story about Nicholas of Myra — the real Santa Claus.

There are several historically-based legends about Nicholas — stories about his incredible generosity to the poor (which is where the connection between Santa Claus and gift-giving originates); and stories about how he secured the release of three innocent prisoners who had been condemned to death. But my favorite legend of them all involves the Council of Nicaea in the year AD 325.

That council, of course, centered on one primary doctrinal issue: the deity of Jesus Christ. A heretic named Arius, not unlike Jehovah’s Witnesses today, adamantly denied that the Son of God possessed full ontological equality with God the Father. So the Council of Nicaea convened to discuss the controversy, ultimately concluding that Arius was wrong and that his teachings should be condemned.

It is in that context that we pick up this fascinating story about Santa Claus. Author William J. Bennett explains the story well:

Tradition says that Nicholas was one of the bishops attending the great council [of Nicaea]. As he sat listening to Arius proclaim views that seemed to him blasphemous, his anger mounted. He must have asked himself: Did I suffer through all those years in prison to listen to this man betray our beliefs?

His anger got the best of him. He left his seat, walked up to Arius, faced him squarely, and slapped his face. The bishops were stunned.

Arius appealed to the emperor himself. “Should anyone who has the temerity to strike me in your presence go unpunished?” he demanded. . . .

[Consequently,] Nicholas found himself under lock and key in another wing of the palace.

But in the end, the bishop of Myra got the result he wanted. When the arguments were done, the council rebuked Arius for his beliefs. The bishops drew up a statement that came to be known as the Nicene Creed, which affirms faith in the Holy Trinity and declares that Jesus is “of one substance with the Father.”

Perhaps Constantine secretly enjoyed watching someone put Arius in his place. Perhaps some of the bishops admired Nicholas for standing up forcefully, if overzealously, for his beliefs. Nicholas must have had friends and supporters in high places, because when the Council of Nicaea concluded, he was set free and his clerical robes were restored.

(William J. Bennet, The True Saint Nicholas [New York: Simon & Schuster, 2009], 38-40.)

So there you have it: the man our society has dubbed “jolly old Saint Nick,” upon hearing Arius openly deny the deity of Christ, became so incensed by Arius’s blasphemy that he stood up, traversed the room, and slapped the heretic in the face — in the midst of an imperial council for all to see.

That is pretty dramatic!

It’s possible, of course, that this account is only legendary. But even if it is, it is by far my favorite Santa Claus story.

It reminds me of the fact that the real “Saint Nicholas” worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ. He was zealous for Christ’s honor and unwavering in his doctrinal convictions. He was even willing to confront error and heresy head on if necessary. (And not merely by putting coal in Arius’s stocking.)

In the midst of a holiday season in which our culture tries to obscure the real meaning of Christmas by pointing to Santa Claus, I like to remind people that — if the real Santa Claus were still alive — he would be pointing people to Christ.

Biblical Counseling for Women: Weeping Lasts For A Night

From Julie from the Biblical Counseling for Women blog

http://bc4women.blogspot.com/2012/12/weeping-lasts-for-night.html

Monday, December 10, 2012

Weeping Lasts For A Night

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (NASB) 


My heart is heavy...

If you will be involved in the lives of people you may encounter the same kinds of emotional sorrows I write about today. I am not a pastor, but to some degree I understand the emotional weight a pastor must carry for his flock, and the weight Paul spoke of in Corinthians when he spoke of his "deep concern" for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28).

At this most wonderful time of the year in the middle of all the celebrations and holiday hoopla I have a heavy weight of sorrow for people I know are suffering.

There are times a blanket of sorrow settles over me as I think of dear, dear friends who have cancer and face an uncertain future.  I think of families I know where the husband has not been able to find a job for a very long time and they literally have nothing outside of the generosity of others.  I think of my counselee's- some who are dealing with incredibly hard things...broken marriages, husbands who have abandoned them, wives who are waiting for the divorce papers to be served, families with prodigal children, and defiant teenagers who make each day a challenge. These people also face uncertainty in that they cannot control the actions of others. As much as they desire their husband or child to do what is right and honor God it is completely out of their hands. My heart aches for my single friends who long for a mate and children, who look longingly at couples strolling hand in hand through the mall and go home to their quiet apartment each night. They wait on God as they pray for a husband and they work diligently on being content where God has them, but even then sorrow and loneliness creeps in at this time of the year.

While I have not and hope to never experience the trials and travails Paul did in his ministry, nonetheless I have difficulties in my own little world of home and family. Just the normal things of life, thank God but still life has its trials.

Not only that, but there is the pressure of dealing with all the aspects of running an ever-growing ministry. Managing the people and the different branches that are growing of Reigning Grace and Biblical Counseling for Women.

My wonderful husband describes the weight of ministry as a cloud that covers me from time to time as he watches me wrestle with the demands ministry life places upon me. He listens to me as I cry for you and hurt with your hurts, and as I pray and intercede for your needs. I have a heart for you dear people... I carry you with me each day.

If you are called to be a people helper, this is a large part of the one another ministry you are preparing for.  This is part of what separates us from the professional counselors we know of.  Ours is not a 9-5 Monday-Friday "job."  We are servants of the Most High God who has deep compassion on His people, and we are charged to give them help, healing, and hope in this dark time of their lives.  We are here with teaching and instruction in righteousness, a gentle or strong rebuke in the face of sinful actions or attitudes, and we hold out the love of God in Christ and the sufficiency of the Word of God to address the problems the counselee brings to the table.

We are to represent Christ to each person we come in contact with, and for some who come for counsel and discipleship we might be the only touch of love they receive. We may be the only people who ever pray for them or care for them. This is a heavy burden. It is one I chose because He chose me.  I can no sooner walk away from it than stop breathing and live.

She's too much

I went to check on Abby during her nap and here is how she is sleeping!! I hope she does not wake up in pain. It looks very uncomfortable but so cute and silly!

Five Habits for Holiday Happiness

I am really enjoying the girltalk blog lately. This blog in particular really hit home. I have found myself going from a very content period to finding myself down about the holidays this year. Brian and I do not have a big family which is ok but around Christmas it is particularly hard for me. It seems all of our friends get together with their families and spend Christmas together by going to church and spending time with one another. The last couple years we have spent with our dear friends but there have been last minute changes so I found myself feeling really sad we would be alone this year and particularly not with them. Although my family has never celebrated Christmas I am very excited they will all be coming to our place for Christmas Day.
I am so grateful Brian always reminds me that Christmas is not about all the things we have planned or don't plan but that it is all about Jesus and we need to always have joy and contentment in that. I am so thankful for Brian and how he reminds me of truth. This article was so great to read and work through. It was convicting in so many ways!  Below is the link along with the post.

http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/five-habits-for-holiday-happiness

2012 at 10:24 am   |   by Nicole Whitacre

Are you finding it hard to be happy this Christmas?
Maybe you are lonely at a time when it appears everyone else has someone. Maybe you are dreading another tense and unpredictable family get together. Maybe physical suffering has drained your energy and enthusiasm for the season. Maybe, for a dozen different reasons, you are fretful and discontent.
So often we step into the holiday season on the wrong foot. We abandon the paths of comfort and joy so clearly marked out for us in God’s Word and pursue happiness in the holiday instead. We hope that cookies and carols will somehow numb the pain or distract us from everything we feel is wrong with our lives. Or we just grit our teeth, plaster on a grin, and pray its over soon.
But the way to peace and joy hasn’t changed because it’s Christmastime. Rather we have to be all the more intentional about seeking the Savior at a time when the distractions, and sometimes even the trials, are many.
So here are five habits for holiday happiness:

1. Contemplate the Incarnation

Consider the staggeringly glorious news that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).
If we spend five minutes a day for the next twenty-odd days pondering the wonder of God become man to save sinners, we will be happy this Christmas.
We will be happy because we will have hope.
J.I. Packer, in his chapter on the incarnation in Knowing God, explains:

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.”

Christmas isn’t a temporary band-aid on the pain of life; it is the announcement of the cure for ruined humanity. The Christmas message is hope to the hopeless. Hope for sinners under the curse of the law. Hope for the orphan, estranged from God. And it is a timely hope and certain hope.
This is “the most wonderful message” of Christmas. This is “good news of great joy”! (Luke 2:10)

God has sent His greatest treasure
Shown His love in greatest measure
Sending Christ to bleed and suffer
Purchasing our joy forever
(From Savior by Sovereign Grace Music)

If we are finding it hard to be happy this Christmas, the incarnation reminds us that our Savior has already purchased our everlasting joy.

2. Consistently Practice the Spiritual Disciplines

Christmastime is a busy time. There are parties to attend, gifts to purchase, wrap, and deliver, cards to send, and cookies to bake. And that’s on top of all the normal stuff we have to do! Something has to give, and sadly, our spiritual disciplines are often the first to go.
We rationalize: “Things will settle down after the holidays. I’ll get back to consistent quiet times in the New Year.” But as the days move closer to Christmas, our hearts become colder toward the things of the Lord. And we wonder why we are so unhappy at Christmastime?
But it doesn’t have to be this way. If we give first priority to God’s Word and prayer, we will find our joy renewed each morning. Joy that sticks in the midst of Christmas craziness. For as the Psalmist says:
“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart...they are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” Ps. 19:8,10 (emphasis mine).
So as things get busy, let’s keep the spiritual disciplines at the top of our Christmas to-do list. Only then can we experience true holiday cheer.

3. Serve Others

Christmas celebrations—intended to be joyful reminders of the incarnation—can quickly become exercises in selfishness. But selfishness is a one-way ticket to a Joylessville. That’s why the third habit for a happy Christmas is to serve others.
The tricky thing is, I often think I am serving others at the holidays. After all, I am buying presents and throwing parties for other people, right? But my lack of joy when things don’t go according to plan reveals that I’m actually just serving myself. I want everything to go my way, to bring me happiness.
I so quickly forget that the Christmas season is about the Son of Man who came: “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). True holiday happiness is found by rejoicing in his coming, and by his grace, emulating his example of servanthood and sacrifice. “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty became rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
J.I. Packer again:

“The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor—spending and being spent—to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others—-and not just their own friends—in whatever way there seems need.”

How can we make ourselves happy this Christmas? By making ourselves poor. By spending and being spent to enrich our fellow human beings. By seeking our own happiness in the happiness of others. If we are rich in serving this Christmas, we will also be rich in joy.

4. Commune While You Serve

Serving is essential for holding on to happiness this holiday season. But if we try to serve without relying on God’s strength, without meditating on His Word, without offering up prayers to Him, we’ll still be lacking joy.  We must commune while we serve if we want to be happy this Christmas.
Remember Martha in the Bible? How easily we morph into Martha at Christmastime! All service and no joy. But our Lord did not rebuke Martha for serving; He rebuked her for failing to choose the best thing (as her sister Mary had done): to sit at His feet and listen to Him (Luke 10:38-42).
This doesn’t mean we are to leave the Christmas shopping unfinished and forget about cooking the big meal. We are still called to serve; but, as Charles Spurgeon suggests, “We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune.
Martha experienced the consequences of not communing with the Savior. But we don’t have to be anxious this holiday season. By meditating on God’s Word throughout the day, joy can be ours, even amidst the chaos and the crowd.

5. Turn Gifts Into Adoration

Christmas is full of wonderful gifts, and not just those under the tree. We experience gifts of family and friends, food and fellowship, music and memories.
But we often fail to enjoy these gifts as we should because we fail to remember that “every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
C.S. Lewis tells us how to turn presents into praise:

“Pleasures are shafts of glory as it strikes our sensibility….I have tried…to make every pleasure into a channel of adoration. I don’t mean simply by giving thanks for it. One must of course give thanks, but I meant something different…Gratitude exclaims, very properly, ‘How good of God to give me this.’ Adoration says, ‘What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!’ One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun….If this is Hedonism, it is also a somewhat arduous discipline. But it is worth some labour” (as quoted in, When I Don’t Desire God, by John Piper).

May every gift we receive this Christmas, every pleasure we experience, cause our minds to run back up the sunbeam to the sun. May we contemplate the glories of the Savior who gave His only Son so that we might enjoy all things through Him.

Conclusion

Happiness isn’t playing hide and seek for the holidays. It isn’t hard to find. Regardless of our difficulty or dread of the Christmas season, we can experience true happiness as we cultivate godly habits. That’s because our happiness is not found in the holidays, but “out of reach” of the holidays, in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing.

Delicious and Easy Sugar Cookies

This is such a fun things to do with your kids! Collin had so much fun decorating these cookies and using cooking cutters! I have always wanted to make sugar cookies! I have been very intimidated by them and have heard how hard they can be to make. Thank you allrecipes.com for this awesome recipe!

I added a little extra vanilla and extra powdered sugar as most of the reviews mentioned. Other than that bake time is about 8 minutes and then I made my own icing with powdered sugar and a tiny bit of milk.

Original recipe makes 5 dozen 

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=best%20sugar%20cookies&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=%2f404.aspx

Thanksgiving weekend and life

I absolutely love Thanksgiving and always have and probably always will. Thanksgiving has always been the only traditional holiday we celebrated as a family American style. I love all of the food that goes along with Thanksgiving Day as well. It was so wonderful to have Brian off for five days. Any time Brian is off for an extra day or two Abby turns more and more into a daddy's girl. It is so precious. We got our tree up and which was also a lot of fun. Our friends gave us a beautiful artificial 7.5 foot lighted tree. I am so excited we do not have to deal with all that goes along with a real tree.

Collin just got his first report card! He did awesome. Straight A's and B's. We rewarded him with a couple toys and are very happy for him. He is the best big brother anyone could ask for. He is so loving with Abby and such a great helper. I am very thankful for this season and watching our children grow.

Abby is still our little ham. She is so silly and has such a funny personality. She started walking yesterday which brings me so much more joy. She is such a little cutie walking around. I love it! Abby brings all of us so much laughter. We thank God for her every day. She is also sleeping better these days which really blesses this momma!

Brian continues to be his crazy self working, biking on average of two days a week to work (it takes him 2 hours each way), he is preaching tomorrow which I am very excited about, teaching a mini class in the bible study he leads, and is finishing up his first semester of seminary. He manages his time so well and we have a lot of time to spend together as a family. I truly feel like the most blessed wife. Brian is always helping our family grow closer to Christ daily.

Life for me continues to be a blessing with a lot of growth, a lot of lessons learned and to be learned, ups and downs, lots of laughs, and truly just feeling so blessed to be able to be a full time wife and mother. I love taking care of our home and my family. It brings me so much joy! Well most days it does:) I am finding myself much more content these days spending my days with Abby and doing fun things with her. We really love being around each other!

My good friend Julia who is so gifted in many ways came down for Thanksgiving and we were able to squeeze in a family photo shoot! So here are a few of those and other!

My baby is walking

Yesterday we were at our friends house and Abby started walking!!! She did not just start with one or two steps, she is full on walking! She does keep her arms out in front of her like a zombie:) We absolutely have enjoyed every moment of today and watching Abby walk. It is so much fun and we think she is so precious! Congrats Abby on this new fun adventure.

How to Help the Hurting

2012 at 7:54 am   |   by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under Biblical Womanhood Feelings Prayer Suffering Do you ever feel like you don’t know what to say to someone who is suffering? Are you ever tempted to avoid the person who is going through a trial? Do you worry about saying or doing the wrong thing?
In her second breakout session at the Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference, Nancy Guthrie offered some practical advice for how to serve the hurting. This is one of the most helpful talks I have ever heard on this topic and I hope every woman will listen, take notes, and seek to grow in love toward those who are suffering. Nancy offers six ways to walk with people through loss:

1. Overcome the awkwardness to engage

“Sometimes we see people struggling and we want them to come so quickly to resolution, to figure everything out. The truth is, as we minister to other women, we do want them to come to resolution, we do want them to come to some peace, figuring things out. But sometimes I think we are in a much bigger hurry than God is Himself. What a gift it is to other women to be willing to sit—not forever, but at least for a while. To just go, “Wow, this is hard isn’t it?”“

2. Make room for tears and sadness

“Don’t think tears are the problem. Tears are a gift that God gives us to help wash away the deep pain that we feel and experience from living life in the brokenness of this world. There are some things worth crying about. There are some people worth crying about.”

3. Go deeper than deliverance in prayer

10 purposes in the Bible for which God wants to use suffering:

• To put gods glory on display John 9.3
• To make the life of Jesus evident 2 Cor. 4.10-11
• To live out genuine faith 1 Pet. 1.6-7
• To cause us to depend on him more fully. 2 Cor. 1.8-9
• To reveal hidden sin or keep us from sin 2 Cor. 12.7
• To experience that Christ is enough 2 Cor. 12.9
• To discipline us for holiness Heb. 12.10-11
• To equip us to comfort others 1 Cor. 1.3
• To make us spiritually mature James 1.2-5
• To make us fruitful John 15.2
• To shape us into Christs likeness Rom. 8.29
• To share in the suffering of Christ Phil. 3.10

4. Gently challenge sentimentalism and spiritualism with Scriptural truth

“If that is the fruit of the suffering in the people’s lives you minister to, that’s really good fruit: to know God as he is, not what we’ve tried to make him into.”

5. Anticipate the family pressure points.

“Grief puts a lot of pressure on a family.”

6. Help them turn the misery into ministry

“So often we think: when I get this figured out, when I feel better, I can turn toward ministering to other people. I want to say: The way we begin to feel better is to begin to minister to other people uniquely out of our loss.”
You can listen to Nancy’s message, “Learning to Walk with Each Other Through Loss” here.

Original post:
 http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/how-to-help-the-hurting

Absolutely the best banana bread ever!!!

I have made several banana bread recipes but this one far exceeds all of them. My wonderful old roommate Elizabeth has been making this for years!

Pre-heat oven to 350*

> Grease a bread pan (mine was a large glass one or you could do about two small foil ones or even) with butter or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

(I have a KitchenAid so I combined the large bowl items first then added bananas and milk, then dry ingredients, and the last and best ingredient the peanut butter chips)
> In a small bowl, combine 2c flour. 1/2tsp salt. 1/2tsp baking soda. 1tsp baking powder

>Any other dry ingredients: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, cranberries, chopped nuts

> In a medium bowl, mash together 4-5 ripe bananas with 3-4Tbsp of milk

> In a large bowl, place 3/4 stick of butter, 2/3c sugar, 2 eggs. Beat together. Add banana mixture and mix until smooth. Slowly pour in dry ingredients, blending together.

> Pour into the greased pan and place in oven for 45-55 min. Check with toothpick in the center of the loaf; it should come out clean.

Slice and enjoy!

Cranberry Apple Chutney

I haven't tried this yet but it looks and sounds fantastic! 

Excited to try this for Thanksgiving at my parents house. 

For the original recipe and photos go to:

 http://bakedbree.com/cranberry-apple-chutney?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BakedBree+%28Baked+Bree%29

Ingredients

• 2 cups cranberries
• 2 apples, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup honey (depending how sweet you like it)
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• zest from one orange and juice
• 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Instructions

1. Put all of the ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Cook over medium-low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes. The cranberries will pop and everything will get tender and the flavors will get to know each other.

Give Others the Gift of Being Slow to Speak

By Jon Bloom Nov 2, 2012 2:00 AM -

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)

Listen. Wait. Respond.

How many of our conflicts would dissolve or never even materialize if we:

Listened to really understand a person’s concern or complaint,
Waited... till our typically wrong initial impulse passed, till we’ve prayed, till we’ve asked clarifying questions,
And then responded with patience, graciousness, honesty, clarity, and, if possible, brevity?
Full disclosure: I’m writing mainly to myself here. But if you, like me, tend to be slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to impatience, come and exhort yourself with me.

Listen. A quickness to listen is a mark of humility, something I do when I consider someone else more significant than myself (Philippians 2:3). Listening to understand before I respond is a sign that I am not wise in my own eyes (Proverbs 12:15), not leaning on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:6). I really want to grow in this grace.

Father, whatever it takes make me humble so that I am quick to hear others.

Wait. Love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4). So waiting before I respond to a concern or complaint—being slow to speak—is often a way God calls me to love others, even if they don’t expect or want me to wait. Prudently restraining my lips (Proverbs 10:19) allows me to get past my initial impulse (which is frequently wrong), to ask God for wisdom and discernment, and to ask clarifying questions that often don’t come in the heat of the first moment. I need to grow in this grace too.

Father, whatever it takes teach me to love so that I am slow to speak in a moment of tension.

Respond. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24). When I speak, it is so important that my words “give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). Gracious words are sometimes tender and sometimes tough (Proverbs 27:6), but they are always measured, clear, honest, and if possible (a struggle for me) concise (Proverbs 10:19). They always aim for truthful restoration and agreement (2 Corinthians 13:11).

Father, whatever it takes help me respond to discord with gracious words.

Being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry is very hard. James goes so far as to say, “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). We know what he means.

But thank God that “what is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). God will provide us an escape from temptation if we want it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

So as we face conflicts today, if we listen, wait, and respond in the spirit of James 1:19, we will resist the devil (James 4:6) and may participate with Jesus in the destruction of the devil’s works (1 John 3:8) by what we don’t say.

Precious Flower!

                            
We had a great time with our friends on Halloween! It is so fun seeing our kids all together! 
                              

Pumpkin Patch 2012

Abby went in the big girl potty!

I wanted to start potty training at 12 months because it is a big thing on my side of the family. My grandma thinks babies should be potty trained between 4-6 months of age literally. So today which also happens to be the first day she learned to Stand on her own and take two steps she went pee pee in the potty!! I am so happy right now.

Happy Anniversary!

Brian and I have been so incredibly blessed by two years of marriage! I never imagined being married to my best friend and the man that draws me closer to the Lord daily! I am the most blessed woman alive! What a wonderful year we have had! God blessed us with our beautiful daughter Abby and Collin has been flourishing and doing so great! We are blessed parents! Brian surprised me with so many sweet gifts and then took me to Miguels in Coronado where we had our first date. Then we got some coffee and walked around and looked at some beautiful houses. It was wonderful. Abby did great at the Tousley's. She loves them so much! We missed her a lot and were excited to get back to have her in our arms:) I pretty much tear up anytime I am not with her! Thank you hunny for such a wonderful evening! I LOVE YOU!

Abby's Birthday Party

She was surrounded by 75 of her closest family and friends to ring in her first birthday in style. Thank you to all who made it and for blessing our beautiful little girl! What a wonderful overcast day it was! So thankful my aunt from Australia was able to join us! Thank you to Kate for taking pictures, Natalie for making yummy cupcakes and providing drinks and so much help, sweet Lizzy thank you for all of your sweet service and love, Dana for the amazing cake pops, Marla for the wonderful cake, and all of you that helped to set-up and clean-up! We are so blessed by all of you!
Side note: My little girl just had her 12 month shots and weighed in at 19lbs 1 ounce putting her in the 17th percentile for weight, she is 29in long which puts her in the 27th percentile, and her head is in the 75th. She did pretty good with her shots this time but it is still so sad! Abby went from being a big girl to petite! 

My favorite brother and I!

So cute!

Captured by Aunt Andi:)

Daddy and I!

Best look ever! She loved her Elephant!

She loved her baby!

1st Birthday

      Abby turned one today! I found myself feeling very emotional that my little baby is going to soon be a toddler. I love her so much and never want her to grow up! She is so fun and brings joy to all of us! I constantly feel so blessed God allowed us to get pregnant when we never knew if we would. Abby is a doll. She does new things almost every single day. She can say baby (bah bah), mommy, dadda, tree, bath, Lara (my aunt), baba (my grandma), dah (yes is Russian) and a few others I can't think of. She loves to make fishy lips and give kisses, she waves hi and bye to almost everyone, she is walking along everything and loves taking her baby on a walk in it's stroller, she LOVES her new tricycle from grandma and grandpa Kinley, she still nurses a lot, she loves greek yogurt, little snacks, sweet potatoes, and that's about it. She will eat other things when she wants too. She points at everything:) . She weighs about 19lbs and just got a new tooth today which makes the grand total 8! My favorite story so far comes this week. I was out last night for a couple hours. While Brian was giving Abby a bath she stood up and held onto the faucet, then looked at Brian and pointed her finger at him swinging it back and forth along with her head saying no no no (nah nah nah). He had no idea why she was telling him no but figured she probably should not be standing where she was. Brian did not know that Abby is not allowed to stand there after almost taking a bad spill a couple weeks ago. So she knew she should not be doing it but pulled a fast one on dad. If you heard the story in person it would make more sense and be more funny probably:) I am still laughing at that. Abby has such a sweet, fun, and spunky personality. I would not trade anything about her for anything. I adore her to pieces even when she is throwing a tantrum and being crazy. Praising God this last week she is sleeping better too! Happy Birthday to my precious little girl! I love you so much sweet baby! You are such a joy to us and we are beyond thankful for you!  

I love these two!

First pedicure!