Spreading a little Christmas Cheer

Hello everyone!

Happy Holidays!!

I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner now.  I hope you are enjoying some treasured times, holiday get togethers with friends and families to celebrate the birth of the Savior and celebrate the spirit of Christmas at this fun time of the year!  

This year has been a very interesting year for me.  It was two years ago during the week between Christmas and New Years that I was called to serve as the Relief Society President.

(for my non- LDS friends . . . it's a leadership position over the women in our neighborhood to spiritually strengthen families, individuals and provide service, also looking after the temporal welfare of the families in the area).   I can look back and see the hand of the Lord each day in my life.  Somedays, I have been more receptive to the promptings and whisperings of the Spirit than others, but I truly can testify that I have felt Heavenly Father's influence each day in my life.  I'm so grateful!  I'm so grateful for YOUR influence and example in my life.  

 I do so love the Christmas season with all the goings on, it's such a feast for the senses!  We loved our evening with the Tabernacle Choir in the Conference center downtown this week!   Truly, as I listened to the songs of the season I'm certain we were all participants on the glorious evening so long ago as the Savior came into the world.  What a celebration it must have been and I'm so grateful we are able to relive the celebration of our Savior's birth each year!

I wish these last several months I would have had the opportunity to follow along with you all more closely and leave thoughtful, pensive comments on your amazing blog posts.  I wish I would have had the time to create some amazing blog posts myself!  But there is a time and season for everything . . . I'm anxiously awaiting those days . . .

But meanwhile . . .

just spreading a little Christmas cheer here

Enjoy!

Hope your Christmas is the Merriest!!
enjoy one of my most favorite Utah musicians ever!

(Steven Sharp Nelson - thepianoguys.com)

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A Christmas Gift

to the world . . .




So precious!



Amazingly filmed at Utah's New Jerusalem in Goshen.

One would never guess it wasn't filmed in the Holy Lands.  I was so impressed with how beautiful this film is, it just reached out and captivated the entire audience in the 21,000 seat Conference Center in Salt Lake City, as we were all held spell bound through it's entirety.

okay . . . watching it again . . .

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If you Give a Blogger a Minute . . .

(that's just about how much time I've had for blogging recently!)

This is the kind of blog update you get :)





It's what's on my fridge today -

and it makes me so very happy . . .


Other news of the day -

Kelsie is going to Ohio for Christmas!  She is excited to see her family members there.  Lucky girl! We bought the ticket in a miracle moment of finding a reasonable fare amongst the Christmas madness of the airlines.  Then it was gone . . . never to be seen again.  I LOVE small miracles . . .

Cleo, our yellow lab, age 11 years old - continues to decline . . . it makes me sad . . .   :(

Cory & Sara! 
(you can see them in the photo blog header sippin' cider through a straw . . .)
are expecting . . .

(drumroll please . . . . ta da ad da DA!)

a baby BOY!   HURRAY!  Expected to be coming this way in mid-April 2012.  You know what we'll be all in a dither about next year :)

And tonight -

It's off to the Madrigal Feast - truly the holidays are upon us.

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A Christmas Pledge - from a friend . . .

Just as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is beginning to come upon us full force . . .

I came upon this Christmas pledge, received from a friend during a Christmas past and another holiday season.  I hope as the season unfolds I can remember it each day and focus my thoughts and actions, and participate in those events that inspire us at this time upon the true meaning of the Christmas season.

A Christmas Pledge

Believing in the true spirit of Christmas, I commit to:

Remember Christ and rededicate
myself to spiritual growth,

Examine my holiday activities
in light of my deepest values,

Remember those who truly
need my gifts,

Express my love in more
direct ways than gifts,

Slow down and be a bearer of peace
and serenity with my family and friends.

It is a challenge to create a simple, soul-satisfying, value-centered Christmas in the midst of all the commercial pressure.  How can our families enjoy the true spirit of a Christ centered Christmas if we don't lead the way?   Something to think about . . .

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Good Gravy . . .

With Thanksgiving now right around the corner . . .

I've discovered that not everyone had a dad who taught them to make excellent gravy!  I LOVE gravy at Thanksgiving, Sunday dinners and just about any old time.

Did you know it is SO EASY to make??!!

Here's the way I do it -

How to make gravy

Ingredients

Meat juice drippings (beef, chicken, turkey, pork)

(optional - for best results drippings should include browned bits 

from the stock as well as turkey pieces)

Water - add water to drippings to equal 4 cups

Salt and pepper

3 heaping T of cornstarch

1/2 C. COLD water

(optional)  1T. chicken or beef bullion

In a large pan, pour measured drippings and water to equal 4 cups.  Heat to low simmer or low boil over medium heat.  Dissolve the cornstarch in the COLD water.  Slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the simmering drippings.

Turn heat down to medium low - continue to whisk for 10-15 minutes until gravy thickens.  Add salt and pepper to taste (1t salt, 1/2 t pepper approximately)

If gravy gets too thick, slowly whisk water back into the gravy mix.

Serve immediately

And . . . there you go!

Enjoy!

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It's that Holiday Season . . .

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .

With the holiday season beginning this week - there definitely is a festive
spirit beginning to spread an abundance of holiday cheer.

It's the hap-happiest season of all

with those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
when friends come to call

They'll be much mistletoeing
and hearts will be glowing
when loved ones are near
it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Just thought I'd spread a little holiday cheer . . .

Here's the recipe for my favorite seasonal dessert for a crowd!

Pumpkin Cobbler

Crust:

1 yellow cake mix

1 egg beaten

1/2 c. butter

Press firmly into 9x13 pan

Center:

3 c. pumpkin

3 eggs beaten

2 1/2 t pumpkin spice

2/3 c milk

1/2 c brown sugar packed

Mix and pour over crust

Topping:

1 yellow cake mix

1/2 c white sugar

3/4 c butter

1 c to 1 1/2 c chopped nuts

Crumble over the top

Bake 350 for 45-50 min

Top with whip cream or cool whip

For our complete Thanksgiving day menu
and many more LOVELY recipes
you'll find them here!

If that's not enough to being a little holiday smile to your face . . .

Give this a try - it's so adorable!

And finally . . .

 if you're ready to start on Christmas gifts and shopping and you're
looking for some easy holiday gifts to make . . .

check out all the Pinterest pins on my
Easy DIY Gifts for Giving
Super Easy Stuff
and
Lots of Festive DIY Projects
board!




Enjoy!

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