Christmas Memories ~ From One Generation to Another ~

"One generation shall praise thy works to another,

and shall declare thy mighty acts."

(Psalm 145:4)

Christmas Blessings ~ From our home to yours!

~ Our family ~
Why look at that! Our photo hog (Frosty) has made his appearance here on my blog too!

This past month I have had the joy

and pleasure of sharing

with you some of the sweet memories I have

that were made through the love of other women.

Titus 2 instructs the "older women

to teach the younger."

 I was blessed to have had women in my life

who showered their love and grace on me

in all areas of being a women.

These women, from my dear great granny

to my grandmothers, to my mother, 

as well as my mother-in-law,

 beautifully taught me how to be a women

who brings honor to her God.

~~~***~~~

The desire of my heart as a mother was 

to grace my daughters lives with all that

was poured into my own life.

As a very young child my granny

left an impression on my life,

such an impression,

that I grew up never forgetting her beautiful ways

and yet, I was only 10 when she passed away.

Granny's beauty was passed down

to her daughter ~ my mother ~ myself ~ my daughters,

and now my four precious grandsons.

My grandsons will not grow up to be

a "Proverbs 31 women"

but they can be taught how to look for one.

There are areas in the "home"

where even boys can be taught.

One of those areas is in the kitchen,

and both of my daughters are teaching

their young men to enjoy

the joys of cooking

without forgetting the clean up that goes along with it. :)

~~~***~~~

 God has richly blessed my husband and I

with two very beautiful daughters

to love on ~ to teach ~ and to train ~
into women of godly character. 
God's perfect will is that every girl
would give her heart and life completely
and unreservedly to Him
with the first gentle knocking 
at her hearts door.
As she chooses to walk close by His side
He will prepare her for the great tasks
that will lie ahead in the realm of womanhood.
My prayer has been that God would
mold and shape for Himself
vessels whose beauty would 
grow more lovely with each passing day of their lives
giving God the glory.

Now they are grown  women

with homes and family's of their own.

and so I have the joy of learning from them.
Though I am the "older" women,
I can still glean much from them, and I do.

It doesn't get any sweeter than that!

~~~***~~~

Speaking of "sweeter" 

Both of our girls are as true a Harris as one gets!

As I mentioned in my post of my mother-in-law

she had sweets tucked away in her kitchen

to die for!

There was never a shortage of delightful treats

in the Harris' home.

Both Dawn & Stephanie, have grown up to enjoy the kitchen

and have put it to good use. 

~ Our daughter Dawn ~

When my girls were young

we made candy cane cookies during the Christmas holidays.

Now my oldest daughter, Dawn, has continued

making these delightful cookies every Christmas

since she married.

They have become her "signature" cookies.

~~~***~~~

Candy Cane Cookies
These are like a short bread cookie

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (sifted 3 times)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon red food color

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy (candy canes)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, shortening

egg, almond extract & vanilla.

Stir in sifted flour & salt.

*You may have noticed that when using flour

in these recipes I have mentioned to sift

the flour 3 times, it is because my granny

taught the importance of sifting.*

Divide dough into halves.

Tint 1 half with the red food color.

For each candy cane, shape 1 teaspoon dough

from each part into 4-inch rope.

Roll back & forth on a lightly floured board.

*I use my pastry cloth*

Place the strips side by side, press together tightly & twist.

Place cookie on cookie sheet

*I like to use parchment paper*

curve the top of the cookie down to form handle of candy cane.

Bake at 375 Degrees about 9 min.

Mix crushed candy & sugar & immediately sprinkle over cookies.

Remove from cookie sheet & cool. 
*Dawn says the first batch is always eaten by her alone!*

Enjoy!

~~~***~~~ 

~ Our Daughter Stephanie ~

Stephanie doesn't necessarily  have a "signature" treat
that she makes over the Christmas holidays.
She loves to make desserts
and has some delightful, 
most delicious recipes that she has shared with us
over at her beautiful blog
The Enchanting Rose 
But over the last few years she has been
taking after her grandmother Deeann
and has enjoyed the sweeter side by
making fudge for her dear hubby.
Fudge was another candy that was
enjoyed by all and made with love by mom.
This fudge with it's creamy texture
 will simply melt in your mouth!
~~~***~~~
Simple Fudge
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 5-ounce can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter
2 cups tiny marshmallows
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces or chopped bittersweet chocolate
*Stephanie uses semisweet chocolate chips*
1/2 cup chopped nuts
*Stephanie does not use nuts*
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
*Stephanie believes vanilla from Mexico is the best* 

1. Line an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with foil
extending the foil over the edges of the pan.
Butter the foil: set pan aside.
2. Butter the side of a 2-quart heave saucepan.
In saucepan combine sugar, evaporated milk, & butter.
Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils
(about 10 Minutes).
Reduce heat to medium; continue cooking, stirring constantly,
for 6 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
Add marshmallows, chocolate pieces, nut (if using) & vanilla;
stir until marshmallows and chocolate melt
and the mixture is combined.
Beat by hand for 1 minute.
Spread fudge evenly in the prepared pan.
Score into squares while warm.
Cover & chill for 2 to 3 hours or until firm.
When fudge is firm, use foil to lift out of pan.
Cut fudge into squares. Store tightly in a covered container.
Keep in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!
~~~***~~~ 

"And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son."
(1 John 5:11)
***
God's greatest gift to us is Himself
in the person of Jesus Christ
who is God the Son.
That's what the Christmas gift is.
The expression of God's love
dwells in the Christ Child
And yet for many
His Gift remains unopened and unaccepted.
During the Christmas season
people love to celebrate Christ's birth.
They get all excited over the trinkets they receive.
There is joy, laughter the singing of carols 
and many expressions of love shown to others 
through the giving of gifts.
And yet ~ one gift remains unopened ~
the most important gift ~
the one that expresses an unspeakable love.
***
May we not be so caught up in the 
frivolities that the world has to offer.
But ~ may we like the shepherds and wise men
find ourselves on that quiet hillside 
in Bethlehem,
 looking down at the Christ Child
in wonder of it all ~ 
and open our hearts to receive the Gift
lying in the manger.
~~~***~~~
Thank you Father,
for what took place in Bethlehem,
the birth of Your Son.
Thank you for Christmas
when we can celebrate that Gift.
Make us, Lord, conscious of the purpose of that Gift,
and teach us to treasure Him.
Amen.

Come & worship Christ, the new born King!
~ Debbie ~