We’ve had a crazy week, besides getting ready for the Christmas holiday with the last minute shopping, wrapping and baking; on Wednesday afternoon we had a polar vortex hit, we went from a balmy 49 degrees to sub-zero temperatures in a few hours!
With a few inches of snow, it finally It feels a lot like Christmas! YAY!
I wish I could send everyone of you a Christmas card, but in lieu of that, here is our picture from our Christmas card this year! Be sure to pop all the way to the end for our crazy Christmas picture!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
What’s on our Table this Christmas
Besides our low calorie breakfast (wink-wink), we’ll be having some family friends over for Christmas dinner and games! Below are a few items I’m making, others will be bringing something to contribute as well!
Best Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
This Cranberry Cream Cheese dip is not only easy, is perfect for the holiday season. 4-ingredients to this cheesy, sweet-tart, salty and savory hot dip. Using homemade or leftover cranberry sauce, this cream cheese cranberry dip will be raved about at your next party.
Christmas Margarita Recipe (Hibiscus and Pomegranate)
A festive Christmas margarita recipe! Yes! This hibiscus pomegranate margarita recipe is a lovely twist on the classic margarita with a sweet and tangy combo using homemade syrup it is sure to become a favorite Christmas cocktail. Some might even call it the perfect mistletoe margarita!
The Best Festive Holiday Christmas Salad Recipe
For a beautiful Holiday Salad Recipe this year, add a healthy punch of bold flavors to your holiday menu. Simple greens, fruits, and veggies topped with goat cheese and crunchy nuts — it is a festive Christmas Salad topped with pomegranate arils and a pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette.
Pomegranate Salad Dressing Recipe
My favorite Pomegranate salad dressing recipe will take your simple salad recipe to the next level with the elevated flavor combination of a vinaigrette made with pomegranate juice, citrus, shallots, and creamy Dijon mustard. Easy, healthy and delicious!
Honeybaked Ham Recipe (Copycat)
Learn how to cook spiral Ham without drying it out, it is easier than you might think. My copycat Honeybaked Ham Recipe is a perfectly moist spiral ham. With a honey sugar crust and most of the work is done in your crock pot.
Potatoes au Gratin (Potatoes Dauphinoise)
Potatoes au Gratin are the best!! This classic French potato side dish is also known as potatoes Dauphinoise. Thinly sliced potatoes layered with a creamy herb and garlic infused sauce, studded with rich and nutty Gruyère cheese; baked to golden, creamy, bubbly perfection! Oh and they are naturally gluten-free!
Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Bacon
This homemade version of Classic Green Bean Casserole with Worcestershire is packed with creamy and savory flavors. Made with fresh green beans, a from scratch sauce, crisp bacon and topped with traditional French-fried onions. No canned soups in sight!
Mini Chocolate French Silk Pies
Smooth as silk, Mini Chocolate French Silk Pies are the bomb! Creamy, decadent chocolate French silk pie filling on a toffee graham cracker crust, with a dollop of vanilla bean whipped cream.
Christmas Games
Don’t forget the games! These are some great games! Most you can grab stuff at the last minute! Get Gramma up, make Uncle Tom guffaw, make it intergenerational!
Check out these fun, low supply games here!
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Our Christmas Traditions
Last night we went to a movie, a family Christmas tradition, anything to get our kids together. And I try and take a picture, some nice guy offered to take a picture!
This afternoon we’ll go to Christmas Eve service and then to a friends house who have hosted a Christmas Eve party since our boys were young, I’ll be bringing my ooey-gooey oh so delicious Roast Beef Sliders! Then, this mama in her kerchief and papa in his cap will snuggle in for a long winters nap. 🙂 Or at least until morning.
On Christmas morning, I love being the first one awake, I stuff the stockings, and enjoy some quiet time to meditate on the meaning of that first Christmas
Then I’ll make cinnamon rolls, put together these delicious egg and sausage sliders and make me and my husband an eggnog latte. Once our boys decide to wake up, we will open gifts and enjoy a nice breakfast together and read from the Christmas Story from the Bible.
Is Christmas Hard for You? | Weekly Inspiration
I know that Christmastime can also be a very hard time of year for many people, we know so many people who have lost someone in the last few years. Even now, we have some friends who are standing vigil with their sister and her husband and kids as she transitions from her earthly home to her heavenly home. Oh how my heart hurts for each one struggling this season. You are never alone!
This song is amazing, especially to those who have lost someone —The Piano Guys — The Sweetest Gift. I’m praying for you this Christmas!
Merry Christmas dear friends, thank you for opening my emails each week, for your support, for telling friends and family about the blog, it is indeed an honor and privilege to have this little corner of the internet and I give God all the glory.
One final song, this is one of my favorites, Here With Us by Joy Williams.
“There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them. It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle — the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.”
Excerpt from The Jesus Storybook Bible which I highly recommend, for young and old alike!
So grateful for you,
Our boys were good sports hanging with some impromptu family pictures, so this was our one crazy one! And at times, maybe more how we feel inside.
Jim
I have a similar story. My wife and I had gone together for two and since her father did not like me they moved her to Seattle to live with friends. After 3 weeks I found her and asked if she would go to dinner with me. Well, instead of dinner I drove her to Coeur d’ Alene arriving about 10am and went to the Court House and we got a marriage license. I called the Chamber of Commerce to find a small methodist church. We had to hurry over as he had a funeral at 12:30. The minister said he had to ask us a few questions first. So he asked how long had we know each other and when I said over two years he said that was good enough for him and we were married. We had 41 beautiful years together and have two sons and two grandchildren. She died 20 years ago so Christmas is not the same but it is not bad either as my family makes it great for me. I still miss her and am terribly lonely but I keep busy.
I make cinnamon rolls for Christmas Morning every year. I pour 1/2 cup of heavy cream over the rolls before I bake them and they are soft and delicious beyond belief. I think I will use your recipe tonight and place them in the fridge but I will still pour the heavy cream over them before going in the oven.
Merry Christmas
What a beautiful story Jim, praying you had an amazing Christmas!
I love your idea of pouring cream over them! I can only imagine how soft and delicious they are! I’ll have to try it!
Pray that even though different from the Christmas’s you once had, and the missing is still great – that your heart was not lonely yesterday! God bless you!
Donna
Merry CHRISTmas, Kathleen, to you and your family!???? Thanks for all of the emails, inspiration, recipes, and photos throughout the year! I’m so thankful for CHRIST who came to be my Savior! ❤️God loved us and sent His Son…. ????Have a lovely day!
Amen Donna!! I pray you have a lovely day as well! Merry CHRISTmas to you too!!
Aline
I love your blog and emails. Can’t wait to try some of your recipes.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you next year.
Love Aline
Thank you so much Aline! That means so much to me! Merry Christmas ???? to you and your beautiful family!
Diane Romano
I’d never heard the song before, it was so special. I shared to my fb page for my friends. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you Diane, so glad you shared it! Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Betty
Amen to your message of the true Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Linda
Merry Christmas to you and family ,love pics. Thank you for sending today, love to see happy faces have a great day! Linda
Thank you sweet Linda!! Merry Christmas!
Phyllis Ferrel
Merry Christmas and Blessings to you and your family. It is such a “gift” having you visit our home.
Phyllis Ferrel, North Liberty, Iowa Xmas ????
Thank YOU Phyllis! That blesses me so!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!