The Greatest Gift

Art Card #51: Made Me Think Of You!
When I hang the stockings for Santa I think of my Aunt M. She is an amazing woman. Anyone would be jumping for the chance to have her as an Aunt. She knit my family matching stockings. My Great Grandmother knit mine when I was a baby. I grew up hanging my hand knit, red and white stocking, with the green tree in the middle, on the fourth hook. It hung next to my brothers and sisters stockings every year. It was tradition to have matching stockings. After my Great Grandmother pasted away my Aunt took on the task of knitting matching ones for her own children. I learned about her incredible talent and yearned for my own children to have a special stocking. So I begged my Aunt M. to knit my family some. She knit three for my family. I hope she knows how much I appreciate her hard work. I love the way they look hanging on the hooks. Every year I think of Aunt M. and I smile.


Art Card #50: The Greatest Gift
This year my sister is making me a gift. It is a collection of memories about my mother. I can't wait to open it. It is going to be the greatest gift. This card reminds me of the sunsets that my mother enjoyed. It also reminds me of the balloons at her funeral (click colored words to read more).

Grumpy Santa

We found a great read at the library this past week. It is titled Are You Grumpy, Santa? I love the moral at the end. So, so inspiring. It is written by Gregg & Evan Spiridellis.

We enjoy, Beware Of The Storybook Wolves, by Lauren Child. She is the inspiration behind Charlie and Lola. It is a series of DVDs from the BBC and can be seen on Disney Playhouse, though we didn't see them there, because we don't have cable. I stumbled onto them at our library.

So go check them out! You will thank me!

Beatitudes for Parents

Blessed are the parents who make their peace with spilled milk and with mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood.

Blessed is the parent who engages not in the comparison of his child with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his own growth.

Blessed are the fathers and mothers who have learned laughter, for it is the music of the child's world.

Blessed and wise are those parents who understand the goodness of time, for they make it not a sword that kills growth but a shield to protect.

Blessed and mature are they who without anger can say no, for comforting to the child is the security of firm decisions.

Blessed is the gift of consistency, for it is heart's ease in childhood.

Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged personalities.

Blessed are the teachable, for knowledge brings understanding and understanding brings love.

Blessed are the men and women who, in the midst of the compromising mundane, give love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their children and - in an ever-widening circle - to the world.

Written by Marion E. Kinneman

I had the privileged of knowing Mrs. Kinneman's daughter, Connie Roudebush. She was the kindest, sweetest person I met in Indianapolis. She told me about nature hikes, daffodil fields, and the symphony orchestra. She invited me into her home where she let my youngest play with her antique toys. She always greeted me with a hug. She encouraged me in my role as a mother. She gave me advice and friendship. She passed away in April. I was thrown into a pool of grief at her passing. I was heartbroken when I heard the news. I felt I had so much to learn from her still.

Her memorial service was beautiful and filled with inspiring music. It was music that she loved, "Water Music" by George Frideric Handel, "Arioso" by Johan Sebastian Bach, and "Sanctus" by Franz Schubert. Her granddaughter gave an incredible remembrance speech about her love of the outdoors, her family, and her community. She had an outgoing personality and made everyone feel like they were her best friend. This post is to honor her.

This quote is from the back of the memorial service program. "Like a stone dropped into a pool, the ripples of a loved one's life spread on and on to touch the lives of others. Your loved one is yours still to love and cherish and hold in your heart. For neither time, nor distance, nor death itself can diminish a love that endures forever."

A bite anyone?

If you have seen the Christmas Shrek movie then you will know how scared the gingerbread man is when he sees Santa Clause.

Gingerbread Men Cookies

3 cups flour

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly pakced brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Refrigerate: 4 hours

Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
Makes 2 dozen

Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on lowspeed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 8 to 10 minutes until the edges of the cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks, cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies as desired.

Have you written a letter?

I have a little tin of coal in my sock drawer that I got from Santa one year. I tell my girls that Santa gave it to me when I was not being good. They love to open the can and unwrap the dark lumps and look at them. They certainly don't want to find any in their stockings on Christmas morning.

Gingerbread

Our version of a gingerbread house! Gram crackers covered in delectable deliciousness. Come on over and grab a gumdrop, my lips are sealed, I won't tell a soul, besides isn't that what gingerbread houses are for?

Snow!

It snowed at our house and I have a picture to prove it.



This drawing was inspired by an accumulations of a couple inches of snow that fell on Tuesday night. The girls woke to find their world covered in a blanket of whispy snow. They both dressed in hats, boots, gloves, and coats to make snow angles! They were such cute angles too!

Accessorize

Feeling down and drab? Then just accessorize! Our house did. She got a sparkling new light fixture. It is a dusk to dawn light with motion sensor! Wow! Doesn't she look fabulous? To see the before fixture look here.

Happy Place

Art Card #46: Rejuvenation

What do you do? How do you do it, etc?

I get a haircut and it rejuvenates me. I usually get 3-5 inches cut off at a time so I can see a difference. Sitting in the salon, being pampered, without any kids is so nice.

(Supplies: acrylic paint, scrapbook walls paper, bohemia rub on, machine stitching)

Art Card #47: Your Happy Place

Do you have a special spot? Your place where you can go and be happy!

I love the mountains. I can always be happy hiking down a trail to a lake. I really enjoy mountain biking with DH. (Not in the snow though!) It has been such a long time since we have gone mountain biking. I loved the Fisher Creek loop we rode in Idaho. Long grueling push to the top and then a sweet downhill! Whheeeee!

(Supplies: magazine clipping from REI, acrylic paint, miss elizabeth sticker, bohemia rub on, machine stitching)