Packing Away Christmas Memories

My favorite Christmas memories involve the people in my life and I cherish the things that remind me of our time together. The things themselves have no value, but the memories are priceless.  Through the years, I've saved and carefully packed away cards, ornaments and gifts from my loved ones, not knowing how special they would one day be to me. Every year, I display the old Christmas cards and enjoy the memories they stir. Although our grandmothers are no longer with us, we still enjoy their Christmas wishes and love seeing the messages in their handwriting. 

Within our family, we have a tradition of exchanging handmade cards. They are much more special than anything you could buy. 

One of my prized possessions is a paper Rudolph that has had a place on my refrigerator every Christmas since The Boy created it in the second grade. 

This year I get to add to my collection a note from my 6 year old grandson, Levi. He wrapped a gift for me that says, “I love you so I did this for Christmas”. Under all the paper and tape was a collection of feathers that he picked out especially for me. How precious is that!

As the year comes to a close and you pack the decorations away, be sure to save a few of those special items for the years to come. You'll be really glad you did. 

And, let’s continue to celebrate God’s gift to us every day through the coming year. 

Here’s a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

… the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Wishing you God’s best in the coming year,

Happy New Year!

Elaine

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Merry Christmas! It's Christmas Day!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9


Merry Christmas!


Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

The Perfect Last Minute Gift: Peanut Butter Fudge

I first received this gift several years ago from a sweet friend and it has been a part of my holiday baking ever since. It's the perfect last minute gift, because it's quick, easy, homemade and absolutley delicious! One taste and you'll be hooked. 

 It only has four ingredients and is simple to make. 

Anytime your making candy, it's always helpful to measure everything out before you begin and have everything ready that your going to need. In this case, you'll need an 8x8 dish that is buttered or lined with parchment paper.

Combine sugar and milk over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reaches the softball stage.

Once you reach the softball stage, turn off the heat and stir in the marshmallow creme and peanut butter until combined well.

Pour into the prepared dish. At this time, you can sprinkle with sea salt or add chopped peanuts if you like. The fudge will set up pretty quickly. 

Allow to cool and then slice into bite size pieces.

I've packaged mine in pretty little boxes with parchment and ribbon.

Now my reward for making this wonderful stuff... I get to scrap the pot!


Peanut Butter Fudge
2 Cups Sugar
2/3 Cup Milk
1 Cup Marshmallow Creme
1 Cup Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy...your choice)

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts...  Matthew 2:10-11

Happy Christmas Eve,
Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 1 Day till Christmas!

 

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manager! Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven," they sang, "and peace on earth for all those pleasing him." Luke 2:12-14

Wishing you God's best,

Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 2 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your pocket:
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born tonight in Bethlehem! Luke 2:8-11

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 3 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 4 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  1 John 5:5

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Christmas Home Tour 2014

It's almost Christmas! Here's a quick spin around our old farm house. I'm starting in the sun room where I've added a white spray painted limb with snowflakes to the ladder shelf.

My tree is also in the sun room this year.

This paper angel has been on top of our Christmas tree for 25 years or longer. When Levi (my grandson) was 3 years old, he asked me why I had a scarecrow on top of my tree. He informed me that I was supposed to have a star and when I told him that I didn't have a star, he made me one... a pe'fect star. We've laughed over that scarecrow! It was precious and so is my star!

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a manger, since the birth of Christ is why we celebrate.

In the dining room, I have a white painted grapevine wreath with a sprig of red berries, an old ice-cream churn filled with tree trimmings and vintage birds, and a ruler star hanging in one of the kitchen windows.

I have a little pink in my bathroom...

...and in my bedroom I have a few vintage touches... a Santa with a "Season's Greetings", a bird's nest with a red ball and a garden urn filled with gold balls.

 

Our stocking are hung by chimney with care... and with old soda bottles... in hopes that Saint Nick soon will be here!

While visions of sugar plums dance in our heads!

 

May you experience the miracle of Christmas through God's gift to you... His Son.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

Wishing you God's best and a Merry Christmas,

Elaine

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Christmas Countdown - 5 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 6 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea... Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 7 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: 
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). Matthew 1:22-23

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Christmas Countdown - 8 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine 

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Christmas Countdown - 9 Days till Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 1:9

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine