My Christmas to do list- 1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Version

My dear, sweet friend Lisa sent this to me, and I had to post it!
Merry Christmas!

1 Corinthians 13, Christmas Version:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinatedChristmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.

Author
Sharon Jaynes

Great Christmas Gift Idea for Boys!

I got this book for my son several years ago-Boyhood and Beyond, and it has just been the best tool for training I have ever used next to the Bible. Lots of wisdom in this one! As a matter of fact, the subtitle is:

Practical Wisdom for Becoming a Man. It is recommended for ages 9-13, but that is flexible.

My son and I did it together, then he did some of it with his dad. And now, at age 14, he is using it on his own.

There is a second volume out by the same author, Mr. Bob Schultz which is also excellent-his copy is now getting dog-eared! Created for Work: Practical Insights for Young Men. This is more a 12 and up age range...

My son loves this book, and I see him with it almost daily.

I just thought I would pass these ideas along, as we are always looking for good godly character training resources. We also always try to use Christmas and birthdays as an opportunity to either purchase good, godly books, or tools etc... to help our children to learn and grow in the Lord. I hope this helps someone find what they were looking for!

Blessings!

You can even get these from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on my link. :0)

30 Days and Counting!

I am amazed that there are only 30 days until Christmas! It has been so warm here that the time has flown by, and I have been lulled into the "Indian Summer" mode, never realizing that Winter is around the corner, and Christmas with it!

We put out our darling Nativity Scenes-which I love-yesterday, and I will take some pictures and post them soon. They are really wonderful!

I pray that I will remember what Christmas is really about.... and not let the meaning get lost in all of the hustle bustle....

I love Christmas! :0)

I Am Thankful For.....

I AM THANKFUL FOR

I am thankful for the wife who says, "Hot dogs for supper"
Because she is home with me, not someone else.

I am thankful for the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato,
Because he is home with me and not out at the bars.

I am thankful for the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes,
Because she is at home and not out on the streets.

I am thankful for the taxes I pay,
Because it means I am employed.

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party,
Because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

I am thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug,
Because it means I have enough to eat.

I am thankful for my shadow that watches me work,
Because it means I am out in the sunshine.

I am thankful for a lawn to mow, windows to clean and gutters to fix,
Because it means I have a home.

I am thankful for the complaining I hear about the government,
Because it means we have freedom of speech.

I am thankful for the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,
Because it means I am able to walk and I have been blessed with transportation.

I am thankful for my huge heating bill,
Because it means I am warm.

I am thankful for the pile of laundry and ironing,
Because it means I have clothes to wear.

I am thankful for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,
Because it means I have been able to work.

I am thankful for the alarm that rings early in the morning hours,
Because it means I am alive.

Reminding you to reflect on what you are blessed with, not what is missing.

A friend sent this to me...thanks Vicki!

Smiling with joy

I hope that today finds you looking back at your Thanksgiving and being full of joy! I know I am!
It was a wonderful day surrounded by loved ones, eating, laughing, sharing, and giving thanks to our wonderful GOD! I had such a wonderful day---I'm still smiling!
Hope you did too!

The TURKEY isn't the Only One ROASTING!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!
The long awaited day has arrived....I have 2 turkeys to cook, and it is predicted to be between 65-70 degrees here today! Can you believe it!?
Tomorrow is supposed to be cold....but we're roastin' right along with the turkey here today!


Enjoy your day--and offer up thanks to the ONE from whom all gifts come from...

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The Right Words

Hi Friends,
I know that sometimes you may log onto my blog and find that what I posted was boring...not to your taste...flat...or just a plain ol' let down!
But here are some Words from God, and His Word will never let you down. His Words are alive, and always right, true and never boring! Here are some wonderful words about giving thanks to God.
These are per the Holy Bible:

Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:1-3
1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Psalm 100:4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

2 Corinthians 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Come, ye thankful people....

I am amazed that it is the week of Thanksgiving already! It was very warm here in the NE until last week, and now it seems as though Thanksgiving has sneaked up on us....

But, after the sermon we heard at church today, I've really been checking my attitude of Thanksgiving--what am I thankful for? And to whom am I thankful?



The last few weeks my children have been practicing this duet on the piano to play for Thanksgiving. I've listed the words below, and hope they bless you as I have been blessed hearing it played so frequently in my home. It's been a good reminder for me. :0) I want to be thankful to GOD for everything, everyday...



I am thankful for what God has done in the past, for what He is doing in the present, and as that last stanza states...what He will be doing in the future-Even so, Lord quickly come!


Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;

Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.


All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;

Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.


For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;

From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,

Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;

But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.


Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,

There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;

Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.



Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

FULL of THANKS

May your heart be full and running over with thankfulness!

ROAD TRIP!

Our family had the great blessing of spending the day together in Lancaster, PA (Amish country) yesterday. My husband had off for Veteran's Day, and this was his choice on how to spend his day off. (No arguments from me--I love it there!)

Our first stop was to eat of course. :0) We went to the "counter area" of the Shady Maple Restaurant. The picture of my children was taken there after we ate. This place has a huge and wonderful restaurant upstairs smorgasboard, but the counter area downstairs is priced more our style, and it is a smaller portion of the same delicious food! They also have a large gift shop that you can peruse afterwards.

Then, in the same parking lot is a little Mennonite run store called Good's. It is almost like the old drygoods stores used to be. It has everything from material and sewing notions, to toys, to hardware items, and home decorating accents! My guys love the Carhart merchandise!

Of course our next step was to eat again! LOL We found a wonderful Mennonite farm some time ago, and it is a true favorite with us! They have grassfed Jersey cows, and don't use hormones or antibiotics. They use their cream to make ice cream (which is the very best!), and they also have butter, cheese, and milk. Another neat thing about Lapp Valley Farm, is that they have a petting zoo type thing. They have various domestic pets; cats, dogs, peacocks, calves etc... for kids to pet.

I snapped a couple of shots of the peacocks.

My daughter Briana in front of Lapp Valley's ice cream store. Can you believe they even have a drive through--you can get your ice cream or milk w/o leaving your car! Brilliant!

My son's favorite part of the day-eating his ice cream!

My daughter's too! LOL

After leaving there, we were driving through some of the shopping areas, and I saw these wonderful quilts, thought I'd snap a picture or two of them to share here. They were lovely!

Our final stop was at a dairy farm to get some milk. Isn't it gorgeous!?

It was one of those days that will be a wonderful memory! We laughed and fellowshipped and just totally enjoyed ourselves! A real gift!

Late, late garden harvest!

No wonder I am having trouble reconciling myself to the fact that it is November! It has been so warm here, that our garden is still going strong!

I got up this morning though, and it was 32 degrees, I thought maybe we lost some stuff, but NO! I brought this in this morning!
In the top picture to the right is celery, parsley, and some flowers. The middle bowl has my son Brad's peppers (purple bells, jalepenos, and sweet bananas) More are in front of the bowl-then to the left of those is celery. In the big bowl on the left is kale, swiss chard, mesculin, and romaine and can you believe it-a few asparagus, and then in the bottom are raspberries, also shown below.

We also picked these yummy stayman apples.

Such an unexpected blessing! I will try and get out there to take pictures of the actual garden remains today. :0)

Place your Vision Forum Order through my blog!

Hi, if you are planning on placing a Vision Forum order, could you please place it by clicking on the link entitled Vision Forum Affiliate on the top right of my blog? Or, you can click below:
https://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=140
When you click on the link, it will take you to Vision Forum just like normal, and everything is the same as placing your regular order. It just give me credit. :0)

I have signed up as an affiliate, and it will really help me if you place your order through here...

Thanks so very much!
Sharri
P.S. I have updated this and made it EASIER for you to do!
Just CLICK on the Vision Forum Affiliate box on the top right of my blog--that's it!

Another Vision Forum GIVEAWAY!

Actually, there are two going on currently!
One you need a blog for, and one you don't! Go to Kim's wonderful blog at Life in a shoe to check it out! Both contests are for Vision Forum!
For one of them, just make a $250 wishlist from the new catalog (available online if you don't have one!). Then, enter the info on your blog, and post it on Kim's comments on her drawing page.

The other one, you just email her comments page on the item you like the best out of the catalog--no blog required. The winner gets freebies--go to her site to check both contests out! :0)

Here is my wishlist:
Strength and Dignity for Daughters $10.
Family Renewal Library (8 discs) 60.
Passionate Housewives 16.
The Centrality of the Home in Evang and Discipl. 10.
A Church in the House 12.
Holiness for Boys 8.
Raising Maidens of Virtue 20.
Biblical Eldership 16.
Give me your Heart, My Son 30.
The Master's Plan for Fathers 35.
Manliness 10.
Victory for Daughters 16.

I got a TREAT!

My lovely 17 y.o. daughter, Briana, loves to make different desserts...soooo, on Oct. 31st when we celebrate a special Family Night, she made these lovely and delicious gourmet carmel apples for us!

We took the directions from our favorite online magazine

Seasonal Delights !

I think the carmel apple, rolled in snicker's bar chunks and drizzled with chocolate was my favorite. But she also rolled some in sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, and pretzels, as well as 3 musketeers!

She also served them with melted chocolate and melted carmel for dipping!

YUM! I am blessed!