Christmas Memories ~ Two Lovely Ladies ~

Merry Christmas!

This month I have been sharing with you

some women in my life who have

inspired me in ways that have graced my 

home and my life, bringing glory to my God.

I have enjoyed sharing with you

a recipe that each women used

during the Christmas Holidays 

and the lasting memories

 that come with those tasty treats.

~~~***~~~

I am thankful for my very dear and precious

mother & mother-in-law,
two women whom I love dearly. 

~ My Dear Mother ~

My mother made our Christmases almost magical!

She has the gift of decorating

a home to where you are surrounded

with the warmth and love

in every crack and cranny of each room.

I can remember as a young child

enjoying EVERY single Christmas

with excitement , joy and delight!

Her gifts were bought and wrapped with love

then placed under the tree early

causing great anticipation of what could be inside.

For me... those gifts were gorgeous!

She could have just given me a beautifully

wrapped empty box,

and my heart would have been thrilled.

~~~***~~~

My mother's heritage is Italian,

and I have some amazing recipes

in a number of cook~books that have been 

handed down to me from her side of the family.

My mother didn't do a lot of baking

like her mother and my granny  did,

but mom loved making candy

during the Christmas Holidays,

and boy, could she make candy!

Two of her child hood favorites were

 ~ Divinity & Penuchi ~

 ~~~***~~~

Candy is not the easiest to make

and neither is it my favorite,

but divinity was the one candy I enjoyed 
that mother made over the holidays.
This particular candy is fluffy
 and a little bit chewy.
I always thought it was a beautiful candy
 with it being so white and pure.

Divinity

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup water

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (I use pecans, mom's favorite)

Boil sugar, water and syrup until it forms a hand ball in cold water. (about 10 min.)

Beat egg whites until firm

then add syrup slowly beating until stiff and not glossy. (about 15 min.)
Add the nuts (if desired) and 

drop by small spoon fulls onto waxed paper.

Here's a tip:
When beating the syrup into the egg whites
you want to be sure and whip until the mixture
is not glossy. Sounds strange I know.
The consistency  will be like a dry mud
when it is ready to spoon out.

 ENJOY!

~~~***~~~

~ My Dear Mother-in-law ~

My Dear mother-in-law Betty,
went home to be with the Lord,
in the year of 2013.
I was the blessed one to of had 
a gracious and loving 
mother-in-law who showed
by the example of her own life
what a Proverbs 31 women was to be like.
My husband would tell you
that his mother's favorite room in their home
was the kitchen, and I would agree with him.
~~~***~~~
My mother-in-law's heritage was English,
and she lived her life in Canada.
Betty loved to bake
and there was ALWAYS sweet desserts available.
It was through Betty that 
I learned how to make pastry.
Pastry is not an easy thing to make,
but she mesmerised me when I would sit
at the kitchen table and watch the work of her hands
as we visited with one another.
She was graceful when using her rolling pin
then lifting the pastry and placing
it in the pie or tart pans.
And then...
the gracefulness of her fingers as she would
gently scallop the edges to perfection.
She was beautiful to watch
as she worked and hummed a sweet tune in her kitchen.
~~~***~~~
Many times it is our actions that teach others.
Words are not always necessary, are they?
These two women portrayed loveliness
before me as I watched them use the gifts 
God graced them with.
We are the blessed ones
when we glean much from those 
older women God places in our lives.
~~~***~~~
This year I asked my husband 
what he would like of all the sweets his mother
made over the Christmas holiday's
when he was just a boy growing up,
and this was his choice.

Saucepan Kisses
I just love the names of these gems!
  2 cups brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup shredded coconut
Combine brown sugar, milk, butter
and melt in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil ~ stirring constantly.
Boil gently, stirring for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat & add vanilla and stir.
Pour remaining ingredients into the saucepan & stir.
Drop by spoon fulls onto wax paper.

Here's a tip:
Be sure and have all your ingredients ready
before you even start to boil the sugar mixture
because it all happens quickly!

Enjoy!
~~~***~~~ 

 God's Gift
On that dark night in Bethlehem,
"the angel brought forth
good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people." 
In that one small Child,
God sent the answer to man's every need.

~~~***~~~

He sent us an Advocate (1John 2:1)

He sent the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

He sent the Living Water (John 4:10)

He sent the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

He sent the Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)

He sent the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)

He sent the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

He sent the Light of the world (John 8:10)

He sent the Deliverer (Romans 11:26)

He sent the great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14)

He sent us Hope (1Timothy 1:1)

He sent Truth (John 14:6)

He sent us a Lamb (Revelation 13:8)

He sent a Lion (Revelation 5:5)

He sent a Savior (2Timothy 1:10)

~~~***~~~

It's no wonder the angels lifted their voices

and worshiped on that quiet hillside.

The Father had sent the world

an expression of His love.

Light had pierced the world's darkness.

The Child had arrived!

Who will reach out their hands

and receive God's Gift? 
~~~***~~~
Our Precious Heavenly Father.
Thank you for the love You
have shown to us in the midst of our brokenness.
I ask if there are any
who do not know You,
they would receive the gift of Your Son,
and allow You to dwell in their hearts,
and make You their own
this Christmas.
Amen.

~ Jesus, Name above all Names ~
Debbie