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Friday, December 30, 2011

Menu Plan Sunday January 1 - Saturday January 7, 2011


Sunday - Bacon Cheese Pie, Pineapple, Smoothies
Monday - Friday - Cereal, Smoothies, Milk
Saturday Brunch - Pancakes, Fried Eggs, Bacon, Hash Browns, Fresh Fruit


Lunches
Sunday - Pork Roast, Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes, Biscuits, Apple Pie
Monday - Hot Dogs, Buns, French Fries, Fruit Cocktail (Austin)*
Tuesday - Pizza Rolls, Salad, Applesauce (Amanda)*
Wednesday - Tomato Soup, Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit Cocktail
Thursday - Tuna Sandwiches, Cheese Slices, Celery Sticks and Dip, Fruit
Friday - Vegetable Soup, Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit Cocktail
 
Dinners
Sunday - Twice Baked Potatoes, Salad, Bread
Monday - Chicken Patties, Macaroni & Cheese, Peas, Applesauce (Amanda)*
Tuesday - Austin's Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad (Austin)*
Wednesday - Dinner at Church
Thursday - Noodles, Cabbage & Beans, Meatballs, Applesauce
Friday - Pizza, Salad, Blueberry Dessert
Saturday - Broccoli Chicken Casserole, Applesauce, Biscuits

Snacks
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bananas
Popcorn
Graham Crackers
Cereal Bars

* Austin and Amanda each plan and prepare two meals each week.

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Conspiracy of Love




And the angel said unto them, Fear not; For, behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10, 11

For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16


Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Friday, December 16, 2011

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Christmas In Our Hearts


He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~ Roy L. Smith

Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. ~ Janice Maeditere

This year let's be sure we really have Christmas in our hearts. To have Christmas in our hearts we must have Christ in our hearts, for He truly is the reason for the season. In the midst of all the wrapping and decorating and caroling and baking and partying lets be sure that we are taking time each day to look to the one who longs to live in our hearts and fill us with the true meaning of Christmas - the love of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Credit: Kittisak

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Morning Musing Over Coffee - His Unspeakable Gift






Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthains 9:15

There are so many ways to try to describe this unspeakable gift that it's hard to know where to start. A baby in a manger, Son of God, Saviour of the world, Prince of Peace - these are just a few descriptions we are familiar with and quickly come to mind. And they are very apt descriptions.

But what does this gift mean to me personally? How would I describe this gift? When I try to put it in my own words I do find it hard to describe. How do I describe Someone who loves me unconditionally, who is always ready to hear me when I need to talk, and who has promised He will never walk away from me? How do I describe Someone who loved me so much He died for me to take the punishment that was rightly mine?

Words fail me and I have to say "Thank You Jesus for a truly unspeakable, indescribable gift of love."

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hand and gift image credit: Master isolated images

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Christmas in Bethlehem


And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love. ~ Lucinda Franks

". . . the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love." What an awesome privilege those wise men and shepherds had, to see that sweet baby, to pay homage, to kneel and worship and present gifts. I'm sure that just for a little time seemed to stand still and all else faded around them as if of no importance.

And today, we too, have that same privilege and yet one even greater. For not only do we come into the presence of this glorious Son of God, but He goes with us. And even after those time stopping, reality fading moments of worship, He is with us still. He is with us in the day to day, mundaneness, the moments of joy and the moments of sorrow, in a way that He could not be for those shepherds and wise men so long ago.

What a blessing, what a gift we are given, this Christmas and all through the year.

And yet, this gift is not just for us to hold tightly to ourselves, but to share. For in receiving this gift, we also accept the responsibility and are given the desire to share this awesome gift of love, of salvation, of peace and joy. We are to share this gift with our families, our neighbors, our friends, and even those who are against us.

For it is by sharing that we say thank you to the Giver of the gift.


Credit: dan



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Decorating Paper Christmas Trees

The last couple days the kids have been having fun with paper Christmas trees. I drew and cut out some from green construction paper and others I just drew on plain white paper. These along with do-a-dot paints, scissors, scrap paper and glue provided lots of creative fun.








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The Greatest Gift

Credit: dan

This Christmas season, as we celebrate with songs and gifts and parties let us not forget the true meaning and reason for the season. We have been given the greatest gift ever given to mankind and all we have to do is say yes to it.

 1. 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

2. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

3. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Acts 2:21

4. That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,  and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:9

5. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8

6. But I have trusted in Thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. Psalm 13:5

7. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9

8. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

9. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

10. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Connected to the Source of Life



I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. John 15: 5,8

Have you ever seen a branch on the ground,  detached from the grape vine, growing and flourishing and producing bunches of juicy purple grapes?

Of course not. The idea is ludicrous.

And yet all too often we try to live our lives detached from the vine and yet expecting fruitful lives. It's just not going to happen and we're going to stress ourselves to the breaking point trying to do it on our own.

But the branch that is attached to the vine, drawing water and nutrients and support, that branch we expect to produce that luscious fruit. And because of vine and the branches connection to it, it is a totally natural process for the fruit to grow.

In the same way,  if we are firmly connected to our Divine life source, we do not have to stress and struggle to produce fruit. It is a natural result of the connection with the Source of Life.

Credit: nuttakit


Monday, December 12, 2011

A God of Order - And of Love

Finding Heaven

Some days, when I feel like I'm going under and I'm wondering if I'm going to sink to the bottom or come back up for another try I grab hold of a thought or a phrase and hang on like it's a lifeline.

Last Monday was one of those days. It started the night before when I looked around and felt like everything around me was out of order. Mentally I felt stretched and scattered. And my physical surroundings mirrored that mind set. I had no idea how I was going to get through the next day, much less the week.

And then one thought came mind - God is a God of order. I wasn't sure how that helped me at first. There were still too many things to think about, remember, and do. And yet it stayed with me - God is a God of order. I began to understand. I don't have to make everything work - I am a child of God and God will bring the order that needs to be if I will let Him. So I slowly began to let go, to relax in the knowledge of Who is really in control. And things began to sort themselves out and become more orderly. I was able to let someone else take over one responsibility so I could get some much needed rest. I let go of one activity for the week that I had put on my calender but wasn't really important. By taking one day, one hour, sometimes one minute at a time and refusing to worry about what I was not in control of I suddenly looked around and realized that order was indeed restored. Things were not perfect but there was order to chaos that had been lacking before.

God is a God of order but even more than that, God is a God of love. And this week He showed that love to me by bringing order out of chaos.