Glory to God in the Highest ~

Hello to you my dear and precious followers!

In the busyness of this season, the celebrations,

the shopping, the lights, the decorations, the parties

and all the glitter that comes with the season, I pray that you are

finding the time to reflect on the true joy, peace, hope

and love that the coming of the Christ child

makes possible for each and every one of us.

O to behold His glorious appearing!

~ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ~

O come, O come, Emmanuel 

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lowly exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

~ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ☆  ~♡ ~ ~

The hope of the world is a Savior.

On this Christmas Day find in your hearts time for Thanksgiving ~

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift."

{ 2 Corinthians 9:15 }

Christmas is a time for gifts...God's Christmas gift to you, is Eternal life.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord."

{ Romans 6:23 } 

  By faith...you can receive God's greatest gift...Eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

~ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ~

"And she {Mary} brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling cloths,

and laid him in a manger; because there was no room

for them in the inn."

{ Luke 2:7 }

Jesus came to earth as a helpless, tiny seed planted 

in the womb if a young Jewish virgin.

Forty weeks later, Jesus was born in a filthy stable in Bethlehem.

It's the Christmas miracle ~

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father)

full of grace and truth."

{ John 1:14 }

Have you room in your heart for Jesus?

The very definition of our Lord is this:

"God is love { 1 John 4:8 }

" He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

~ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ~

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved."

{ John 3: 16 -17 }

~ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ☆ ~ ♡ ~ ~

Merry Christmas!

For myself ~ I will be taking some time to reflect and enjoy Christmas.
This season is always my greatest time to reflect 
on the past year and quietly spend alone time with the Lord.
It's a special time for me.

I'll see you back here in the New Year.
Take care and God bless you richly.

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord"

Joy!

Debbie

Merry Christmas ~

☆ Jesus ☆

He came not to a throne, but to a manger.

He lived not as a king, but as a servant.

He chose not a kingdom, but a cross.

He gave not just a little,

but everything.

~ Holley Gerth

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
~ John 3:16-18


May the Lords great love bless you this Christmas!

Joy!
~ Debbie ~

🔔 Christmas Bell's are Ringing 🔔

 Ding Dong 🔔 Ding Dong 🔔 Christmas Bell's are ringing 

☆**♡♡**☆

"There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer

and a baby's low cry! And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,

for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

First stanza from the hymn
~ There's a song in the air ~

☆**♡♡**☆

One cannot help but sing with a joyful heart this Christmas season

when we are reminded of God's love as we prepare 

in celebration of His Son, our Savior and Lord.

I pray there is a song in your heart because you know of the Savior,
 our gracious King, our long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.

He is the Hope of all the earth and Joy of every longing heart.

☆**♡♡**☆

It was a silent night, a holy night, when all was calm and all was bright.

Picture this beauty...

In the manger of Bethlehem which cradles our gracious King,

lies a Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleeping in heavenly peace while

surrounded by Shepherds who traveled afar

and angels singing sweetly over the plains...
Glory to the newborn King!
God, give us ears to hear the song of angels from afar,
and let them speak to us of hope and faith and love.
Nestled in His cradle is our Savior and our King!

Behold Him, adore Him, worship Him, Christ the newborn King!

☆**♡♡**☆

"For we have seen His star in the East
and have come to worship Him."
~ Matthew 2:2 ~
All men can behold the Christmas star and come to a humble place
of His birth to gather on bended knee at the side of His manger bed.
God, in sending a Savior into the world,
opened salvation to all the world.
Jesus was born for all!
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord."
~ Luke 2:11 ~
Jesus came to offer the free gift of Gods love to all
to everyone ~ to you.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into he world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved."
~ John 3:16-17 ~

☆**♡♡**☆

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
~ Luke 2:14 ~
Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection took place so we can possess peace
amid the storms of life.
In our times of doubt, He reassures of His presence in our lives;
and in our times of distrust, He encourages us to lean on Him
and experience His power and strength.
When the troubles of life threaten our spiritual well-being,
He comes to still the storms and bring true and lasting peace.
This time of year it seems as if you run into people more often than not
who are struggling in some way or another.
Extend to them compassion and share the good news of the love of God.
Tell them of the babe born in a stable on that first Christmas long ago;
and the beauty and promise of that silent, holy night.

God's blessings to you!
~ Debbie ~
♡

O Come Let Us Adore (Worship) Him ~

The joyful sounds of Christmas carols being sung at every turn

is sure to bring gladness and joy into our hearts

as we prepare with anticipation the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For myself, this Christmas season has been one where I have yearned 

with-in my own heart to worship the King,
to bow down on bended knee in the presence of His Holiness.

It seems as if daily I find myself humming or singing,

"O come let us adore Him."
~

I was reading in my Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary

that public worship consisted of ~ preaching ~ reading of Scripture ~

prayer ~ singing ~ baptism ~ the Lord's Supper and alms giving.

"Worship ~ Bow down, when given to God, worship involves an acknowledgement 

of Divine perfections. It may express itself in the form of

direct address, as an adoration or thanksgiving, or in service to God;

and may be private or public.

Worship presupposes that God is, that He can be known by man,

and that His perfections set Him far above man."

I visited a small town near where I live and they were having a sale at their Library;

so of course I wandered towards the area where the old books were located

and came across an old dictionary that was printed in 1931.

I love dictionaries, especially the older ones.

This dictionary speaks well of worship ~

"Adoration, devotion, aspiration, heavenly-mindedness, spiritual-mindedness,

vow, homage, service, kneeling, genuflection, prostration,

prayer, praise, offering, divine service, honor, revere, idolize, admire."

These are just a few of the words used to describe worship in this dictionary.

******

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days

of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

Saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews?

for we have seen his star in the east, and are come

to worship him."  (Matthew 2:1-2)
~

 Christmas has come to mean many things: family, love, gift-giving,

service, celebration, joy, and so much more ~

all are certainly worthy expressions of a multifaceted event;

but as we look to the birth of Jesus, may we not forget

or overlook our worship of the One who is worthy to be praised.

A King worthy of worship has been born, and when Simeon,

the godly saint in Jerusalem who was looking for the Messiah,

first held the baby Jesus in his arms, he blesses (praised) God

in a beautiful prayer of praise. (Luke 2:28-32)

As we look at the first ones in Scripture and their response

when they saw the newborn King,

may we find ourselves like minded bowing down in worship and adoration

of our newborn King, our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.
Jesus seeks true worshipers ~
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:23-24) 

 Those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today.

******

"O come let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the Lord our maker."

Amen.

Dear friends ~ From my heart to yours,

 I wish for you a Christmas filled with the joy of the Lord!

My prayer is that your heart will be filled with the Psalms as you sing unto the Lord
and worship Him, with your whole heart.

Have a most Blessed and Christ centered Christmas ~

Be Joyful!

~ Debbie ~  

A Self-Giving Christmas ~

Hello to you, my dear and sweet friends!

Oh how the wonder of Christmas surrounds us

this beautiful time of the year.

Here is love, not that we loved God

but that He loves us. (1 John 4:19)

God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son

to cancel out the penalty of sin to allow for 

eternal reconciliation with God.

(John 3:16 ~Romans 6:23 & 8:32) 

That gift was followed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)

and grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8).

God gave of Himself at the first Christmas.

******

I was listening to the Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy"

and pondered on the words that were penetrating on my heart.

I couldn't help but think of that poor boy

who had no gift to bring that was fit for the King.

He had only one possession , his tiny drum.

Picture this scene ~

The little boy asks the baby, "shall I play for You on my drum?" 

Mary, the mother of Jesus nods yes, and so he plays his best for Him.

As you read the lyrics of this Christmas song

of a poor boy who gave of who he was ~ a simple child

who gave his heart and hands and talents

to please and worship Jesus.

******

Come they told me,

a newborn King to see

Our Finest gifts we bring,

to  lay before the King

So to honor Him, when we come.

Little Baby, I am a poor boy too

I have no gift to bring,

that's fit to give our King

Shall I play for You, on my drum?

Mary nodded,

the ox and lamb kept time

I played my drum for Him,

I played my best for Him

Then He smiled at me,

me and my drum.

I left the pa rum pum pum pums out
as I'm sure you are singing the tune in your heart.

 

There is no better time than Christmas than to give of ourselves.  

We can give God our Hearts ~

(Mark 10:13-14)

Let us come as little children giving Him His rightful place

 on His lordship and His love.

We can express our love through prayer, worship and fellowship.

We can give God our Hands ~

We can serve God through serving others.

(Galatians5:13 & 6:2)

We can give God our Talents ~

Our talents and abilities can be used for the glory of God.

(Corinthians 10:31 & Colossians 3:23)

We can give God our Love ~

When we love others we proclaim that we love Jesus.

(John 13:35)

When we show forgiveness of others it is like a gift to Jesus

in response to His forgiving us.

(Ephesians 4:32)

God wants ALL of us more than He wants anything else. 

 

******

Dear friends, I would like to share with you a beautiful
part of Scripture that I have to say struck my heart
like it has never done before.
This time of year we hear and read of the birth of our Savior;
we come before Him, bow down and worship Him
and adore Him.
But as I was reading the book of Luke where we see the 
Christmas story clearly it was there in chapter 2 verses 36 through 38
that took hold of my heart strings.
*
Anna, a widowed prophetess who, in her old age
spent all her waking hours in the Temple worshiping
and waiting for the Messiah to appear.
When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus, their first born
to God in the Temple, Anna recognized Him immediately.
She knew God's promises had been fulfilled; the King
of Israel had appeared. 
God had kept His promises to His people.
Anna devoted herself to "serving God by worship"
through fastings and prayers. 
I love that! 
What an honor to her God!
But Anna did much more, she also spread the Good News
among others who were looking for the redemption in Jerusalem.
What a testimony of great love for her Messiah, her King of Kings.
I want to be found worshiping with fastings and prayers for my King of Kings,
so as to be ready ALWAYS to share the Gospel with those who are searching for Truth.

I am praying for the abundant grace and blessing
of the Lord in your life during this season of giving and loving Jesus.
Have a most blessed holiday season, dear friends.

Joy to you!
~ Debbie ~  
 

In Your Heart, Ponder

Hello my precious friends!

I would like to extend Christmas blessings

to those of you that have followed along so faithfully

 from the beginning of my blog,

and to those of you who are new friends welcome!

 Thank you for your sweet visits and becoming
a graceful follower.
We have a beautiful community in our world of blogging,
and each one of you have become dear
and precious to my heart.
Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring you
closer to our Saviors heart as He draws us
unto Himself  for that sweet, sweet fellowship
in our relationship with Him.

Over the past few weeks I have found myself
thinking on Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Jesus, the Savior of the world...
My Precious Lord and Savior.
You can read about the birth of Jesus in (Luke 2:1-21)
but it is verse 19 that causes me to think on Mary.
"But Mary kept (treasured) all these things
and pondered them in her heart."
As a mother myself, I can't help but think of what it was like for Mary...
So young and yet a willing servant, obediently saying yes to God.
Becoming impregnated and yet not married,
can't you just hear the tongues wagging
among the village people?
How she must have felt
 knowing she was carrying the God Child within her womb.

Having to travel on the back of a donkey
during the last stages of her pregnancy,
I can't imagine the discomfort she endured.
Giving birth in a stable because there was no room in the Inn.
Being surrounded by the shepherds, wise men and angels.
Glory in the Highest!
No wonder Mary "pondered" all these things.

After Jesus was born, Mary finally had time to ponder on
all the events that resulted in her being a mother.
To ponder means "to reflect on, to consider carefully."
Mary took time to be quiet and think deeply
about what God had been doing in her life
and her body over the last nine months,
and maybe even since she was old enough to know God.
Certainly Mary thought about the wonder of it all.

With the New Year approaching quickly
and the old coming to a close
I have found myself pondering on my own life and
the experiences that have shaped my character and life.
How God brought me to Himself,
and the people God used to bless, teach and guide me
throughout the days of my life.
I have pondered on how God prepared me for
the trials I have faced
and how He has used those trials to bless me.
And I look within my own heart and ask myself the question;
'Am I fulfilling God's purpose in my life?'

I've pondered what it means to be a child of the King.
How thankful I am that I accepted the "Gift" of salvation
many years ago, and have purposed in my heart 
to live my life pleasing to the Lord,
though I have failed many times.
Praise God for His forgiveness, grace and mercy.
I have pondered on what God might want to change in my character.
Am I willing to allow Him to transform me
into the likeness of Himself to a greater degree,
 though it means skimming off the dross
so I may come forth as gold.
I've pondered my relationship with Him,
is it all that He desires for it to be?
I've pondered on my "spiritual bucket list."
What would I like to do in my remaining years for God's kingdom
and for His glory in the days ahead, should the Lord tarry?
Maybe God has a new door opening where I may serve him,
someone that I might pour my life into spiritually,
or come along side to help in time of need.
Oh there are so many needs out there.
Much to ponder on, that is for sure.


***~~~***

  My prayer is that we would all enter into the presence of the Lord
and not allow the noise and business
of this time of year (or all year for that matter) to drown out the Savior.
As we hear the glad tidings of the Christmas message,
may we each hold our hands out to receive
the Christ Child and ALL that He brings.
May the costly gift of Jesus fill all the longings
and desires of our hearts as we ponder on the years past
and look with eagerness to all that God has for our future days.


***~~~***

Heavenly Father, 
may we all look with anticipation, enthusiasm and hope
for the days ahead, that we might obediently say yes to
all that You desire of us, for Your kingdom and Your glory.
We love you Lord, and we lift our hearts to You
with all praise and glory, forever and ever.
Amen.

To God be all Glory!
~ Debbie ~ 

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 ~


 

 

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

Christmas Memories ~ Grandma Maxie ~

Hello sweet friends & Merry Christmas to you!
~~~***~~~
Who can estimate the power and influence
of the home recalled in memory?
The Spirit of God can
"stir up our minds by way of remembering."
They are precious nuggets to be stored away
and guarded within our hearts.
Oh the joys of taking a trip
down memory lane
and looking back over the years
into those childhood memories.
~~~***~~~
This is my grandmother Maxie.
She was my fathers mother.

Grandma went home to be with the Lord
just this fall at the young age of 97.
My Irish grandma was full of life, laughter and spirit!
She graced our lives and homes
 with a heritage of memories.
In memory I am a child all over again
with my grandmother Maxie and other loved ones.
The best way to describe my precious grandma...
She was young at heart ~ always.
She would unselfishly stop what she was doing
should I ask her to play dolls~
climb a mountain ~ play dress up ~ go swimming ~
ride her bike with me ~ do cart wheels ~
design & sew for me a pretty dress on her sewing machine ~
Lay on the grass and look for four leaf clovers,
(one of her favorite things to do by the way)
dance with me as grandpa played
polka music on his accordion ~
or just stop everything
and bake up some cookies together.
~~~***~~~
I was the first grand-daughter on both sides of the family
and was blessed to inherit
 grandma Maxie's name as my middle name.
God has graced me with many of her beautiful qualities
for which I am thankful for.
Along with inheriting her name,
I was given her hope chest
that was her grandmothers made of ceder wood.
With love and care grandma loaded my chest with
many of her used kitchen items.
These fiesta dishes that she had and used
in the beginning years of her marriage
were placed in that chest
and saved until I would marry.
My husband and I used those dishes
for years into our marriage,
and after nearly 36 years together
those dishes are now show-cased on our hutch
in loving memory of my dear grandma Maxie.
~~~***~~~
Grandma Maxie was a good cook
though she was not always in the kitchen
as I remember my Granny to be.
Grandma Maxie was a sincere lady
who set before us her values of working hard
along side of my grandfather
in his self owned business.
As grandpa aged with health problems,
grandma was a beautiful example
of showing love with a servants heart.
 ~~~***~~~
During the Christmas season
I find great joy in spending hours in my kitchen.
Oh... the smells and aromas,
the warmth of having the oven on,
the sounds of Christmas music playing in the background,
and the love that is poured into all that is baked,
then tied with a bow
in the form of a "goodie" package
and graciously given to loved ones whom
God has placed on my heart,
brings delight to my soul.

One of my favorite cookies 
that grandma made over the Christmas holidays
was her soft sugar cookies.
These sugar cookies are not like most
very sweet sugar cookies,
they are soft and cake like
with just a little crisp to them.
And just so you know,
one batch of these delicious tasting cookies
goes a long way, so spread the love with them!
~~~***~~~
Let us grace our homes with the delightful sounds
of Christmas music, and bake a batch of cookies.
Once baked ~ pour yourself a cup of coffee (grandma's favorite)
or a drink of your choice,
and enjoy relaxing beside the Christmas tree.

Soft Sugar Cookies
4 eggs & 1 egg yolk
4 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1 Teaspoon vanilla
Cream these 4 ingredients together until light & creamy.
4 1/2 cups sifted flour (sift at least 3 times)
3/4 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon baking soda
2 Teaspoons baking powder
Cut 1 cup of shortening in the flour mixture.
I use my hand held pastry blender and mix
until I have pea size pieces of the shortening.
Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture slowly.
Grandma always said to HAND stir
the flour mixture into the creamed part as
whipping makes for a hard cookie.
This dough can be chilled if necessary.  
 

I use my pastry cloth to roll these delicate cookies on 
and gently roll with my rolling pin.
Before baking I like to sprinkle with sugar
or colored sprinkles,
 but you may also add your favorite icing on top after cooling.
Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes.
Makes 68 or more cookies.
Enjoy!
~~~***~~~
"For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
The Mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."

( Isaiah 9:6 )

  Look at the names that reveal the character of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!

~~~***~~~

Our Precious Heavenly Father.

We love You, because You first loved us.

We praise Your Name

for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ,

whom we can have everlasting,

eternal life through.

Amen

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

~ Debbie ~

Christmas Memories

The Good Old Days

Christmas in the kitchen

was mothers favorite room

where she would do her cooking

from morning, way till noon!

She was so very happy

with all the things she'd cook,

cookies, pies and puddings

all from grandma's book.

Some of it for stockings,

and some for Christmas day,

most of it for neighbors

that she would give away.

~Gertrude Rudberg~

******

Memories of looking back

at days gone by...

each of us has them tucked away

 in our hearts, don't we?

I was blessed with the love of a

 grandmother and a great-grandmother.

On my fathers side of the family

I had many precious years with my grandmother Maxie,

who was 97 when she passed away

just this fall.

Grandma Maxie was full of spirit and life!
 ******

 On my mothers side of the family

I have sweet and precious memories

of my great-grandmother Helen McKenzie.
 Granny is how I know and remember her.

She was beautiful and such a lady.

I pray that the Lord would mold me
with character traits of both of these women
as well as the beauty of my own dear mother.

Granny was my mother's mother.

My mother's mother passed away

when I was very young with breast cancer.

My mothers side of the family was Italian,

and I am thankful for the women in my life
who taught me how to be a lady.
Who were ladies themselves
and graced their homes
with love, laughter, joy and tender mercies.

 

For the next couple of weeks,

I would love to share with you some

of my days gone by

with the memories of those women in my life

who made an impact on my heart,

and share with you

some of their recipes

that were baked around the holidays.

I was blessed to have inherited

cookbooks from both sides of the family

that were delicately put together

with their loving hands.

What a treasure I now have in my possession.

******

This year I plan on making Pizzelles.

These delicate snowflake like cookies

were a favorite of mine growing up.

My Granny would spend hours

sitting on her stool in what we would now call,
her "retro" kitchen

making these delicious cookies.

These cookies take time to make,

and I know there was love poured

into the batter of these delightful Italian cookies.
The name pizzelle comes from the
Italian word pizze for round and flat.
In some parts of Italy,
the irons would be made with family crests on them
 which would be passed down to each generation.

****** 

Recipe for Pizzelles

12 eggs

2 cups of sugar

1 dash of salt

2 Tablespoons vanilla

2 Tablespoons lemon

3 1/2 cups flour (sifted 3 times )

2 cups butter (4 sticks) melted
1 teaspoon anise seed (I do not add this)

******

Cream your eggs & sugar together.

 Add the butter, vanilla and lemon until creamy.

Fold in the sifted flour and pinch of salt.

You will need a pizzelle iron to cook

these delicious waffle cookies on.
Trim the lace off the edges of the cookies,
this is best done while the cookie is warm to the touch.
Keep on a cooling rack until cooled and crisp.

The time and love you pour

into these cookies will be enjoyed

by all who are blessed enough

to receive them.

******

When gift giving, these cookies look beautiful

 stacked and wrapped

with clear wrap, then tied with a 

beautiful Christmas bow.

Enjoy! And share the goodness with others.

May we as ladies grace our homes with the
Christ of Christmas,  showing our love,
as God manifested His love 
in giving His great Gift to the world.
Let us willingly give of ourselves
to our family's, loved ones, neighbors and those in need.
With Christ in our hearts,
Christmas will have a softening,
sweetening influence that will tug
at our heartstrings of love
and cause us to share with others Jesus Christ,
our Christmas gift.
" Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."
( 2 Corinthians 9:15 )
******

Precious Heavenly Father.
Only by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior,
will You be the center of our lives.
One must come to Bethlehem's manger
and walk with Christ to the cross
in confession of sin
and acceptance of Your grace
to have exceeding joy.
Woo us to Thyself,
I pray in Christ Name.
Amen. 

~ Joy in Jesus ~
Debbie