Refocus-January 2010!

The new year of 2010 will be here in just one more day! I love January...a time to refocus our lives. Here are my goals of refocusing in various areas of my life.

Refocus - On my husband: My husband's main goal for the year 2010 is to start and pastor a Baptist church in Nevada. It is a great and large goal! Almost too large for my small goal-oriented mind! :) However, this year, my refocusing goal for my husband to support and help him all the way in the journey of reaching this goal. This will entail many different aspects...prayer, walk with the Lord, visiting, verbal love and support, helping with the business set-up. It is a great challenge and I am focusing on this for him this year.

Refocus - On my children: To daily show them that I love them. It may be reading them a book, playing a game with them, hugging them, telling them a story...

Refocus - On my God: I have a small journal for the year 2010 that I want to write down my thoughts about God and the things He has done for me and yes, just how great He is! It is amazing the more thinkful you are...the more thankful you become.

Refocus - On myself: I want to focus on exercising for my health so that I am a better wife, mom and child of God.

Take time to refocus today!

Video: Sledding Mania!

Video: More sledding fun!

Video: Luke's First Sled Ride!

Video: Sister Sledding!

This is a video of my sister, Rhoda, and her son, Jordan...and me and Addie sledding.

Recipe: Amish Friendship Bread

My sister and I were talking about Amish Friendship Bread today so I thought I would share the recipe. This would be a fun project for kids out of school for Christmas break...bake and share with friends and neighbors for the holidays. Merry Baking!

Amish Friendship Bread Starter and Recipe

To start the bread:
“Day 1” mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.

(Do not refrigerate. If air gets in the bag, let it out. It will be normal for the batter to thicken, bubble and ferment.)

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 1 If you receive the bag – do nothing. (Or you make it from scratch)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 2 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 3 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 4 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 5 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 6 Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 7 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 8 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 9 Squeeze the bag.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ Day 10 Combine in a large non-metal bowl—the batter and add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk

Mix with a wooden spoon (or plastic one). Pour four, 1 cup starters into 4 large ziplock bags. Keep one for yourself and give three starters with instructions to friends.

Mix in with the remaining batter:
1 cup oil
½ t. salt
1 cup sugar
½ t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
1 ½ t. baking powder
3 large eggs
2 t. cinnamon
2 cups flour
½ cup milk
1 large box instant vanilla pudding

Pour into 2 large greased and sugared (cinnamon & sugar) loaf pans. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top if desired. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Split the recipe into four batches. Give away as many batches as you do not want, and use the rest for bread. Each batch would make 2 loaves.

Notes:

• If you are starting this recipe from scratch, on “Day 1” mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
  
  If you mix the sugar and flour together and then mix the milk in with the sugar/flour mixture it does not clump together as much.
  
  Nuts may be added.
  
  Less rich bread? Substitute ½ cup oil and ½ cup applesauce for 1 cup oil.
  
  The sugar in the last addition may also be reduced by about half.
  
  Pistachio pudding or any other kind may be substituted.

Ideas for Christmas Joys-Part 5

Ideas for Christmas Joy: Part 5
41. Attend your church's Christmas party/banquet or Christmas cantata.

42. Before going to bed Christmas Eve, read by candlelight about the birth of Jesus in Luke 2. Join hands and sing "Silent Night."

43. Personalize your Christmas cards with a hand-written note.

44. Spread peanut butter on pine cones, roll in bird seed and hang them on a tree near your kitchen window as a Christmas treat for the birds.

45. Tie jingle bells on your children's shoes.

46. When you think you have enough lights on your tree, add two more strands.

47. Don't wait until Christmas Eve to wrap gifts. Wrap them when you purchase them.

48. Give the youngest member of your family the honor of placing the star or angel on the top of the tree.

49. Go caroling.

50. Check for loose of burned-out bulbs before you put the strand of lights on the tree.

Ideas for Christmas Joys-Part 4

Ideas for Christmas Joy: Part 4

31. Choose a Christmas tree that's a little too big for the room. (That was us! :)

32. Tie a wreath with a big, red bow to the grill of your car. (I saw a school bus do that. :)

33. Have a special place to display Christmas cards from friends and family.

34. Organize a progressive holiday dinner for your family or church friends or ladies' group. Have appetizers at one home, the main course at another, and dessert at a third. (We did this for our church staff Christmas party one year.)

35. Try at least one new recipe and one new decorating idea.

36. Start working on a Christmas-themed jigsaw puzzle the first of December. Try to have it finished by Christmas Eve.

37. Take a shut-in a scrumptious Christmas dinner.

38. Rent a Santa Claus suit. Put it on and hand out candy canes at work or a school.

39. Hire teens from your church to help with your holiday entertaining. They can serve, clean up before and after the party and perform odd jobs such as childcare.

40. Take your family to a live performance of The Nutcracker Suite. (We have this in Reno.)

Ideas for Christmas Joys-Part 3

Ideas for Christmas Joy:
Part 3

21. Introduce a child to the wonders of snowflakes. Chill a dark sheet of construction paper and then examine each flake with a magnifying glass.

22. Bake Christmas cookies with Christmas music playing in the background.

23. Take a few minutes each month to jot down your family's news. Then write a Christmas letter to send with your Christmas cards and photos.

24. Take a basket of Christmas goodies to your local fire and police stations. My husband and brother-in-law are volunteer firemen and I know this would be welcome. :)

25. Wear a smile and a Santa hat when you walk through the mall.

26. Take lots of photos of Christmas events throughout December.

27. If your child gives you a handmade gift, convince him it is your favorite gift of all!

28. Reconfirm correct addresses for Christmas cards early in the season.

29. Be considerate of your in-law's special Christmas traditions.

30. Purchase a special Christmas sweater or pin and wear it often.

Ideas for Christmas Joys-Part 2

Ideas for Christmas Joy: Part 2
11. Find out what's on everyone's Christmas wish list when the family is together at Thanksgiving.

12. Make an effort to attend every Christmas party you're invited to, even if you can only stay a few minutes.

13. Place your children's stuffed animals under the Christmas tree as a welcoming committee for Santa.

14. Adopt a needy family for the holidays. Let members of your family buy a present for the person closest to their own age.

15. Fill your house with the holiday fragrance of cloves, orange peels, and cinnamon sticks simmering on the kitchen stove.

16. Don't despair if you are short of cash. Be creative. The Christmases when you had the least money were the ones that left you with the best memories. (I have a friend that is building their two daughters a dollhouse. Wow!)

17. Ask your mother to send you the Christmas stocking you used when you were a kid and a couple of old family Christmas photos.

18. Let go of a problem you can't solve. Enjoy the season!

19. Hang a favorite Christmas tree ornament from your car's rear-view mirror.

20. Sprinkle red and green confetti in your Christmas card envelopes.

Ideas for Christmas Joys-Part 1

Welcome to the holiday season! This is a wonderful time of the year...but things can become too stressful that we become Scrooges! For the next several posts, I decided to give 10 ideas a day to make Christmas a special holiday for you and your family.

I marvel at the power of holiday traditions and the comfort and continuity they bring to us each year. As you are reading this, you are reminiscing back to perhaps your childhood years and the traditions that you looked forward to each December. Old Christmas decorations, Christmas songs, the smell of pine and cinnamon, the taste of the first homemade Christmas cookies are just a few things that trigger our Christmas memories.

My childhood Christmas memories include having a sleepover with our cousins at Grandma's house Thanksgiving night. After the adults left from the Thanksgiving get-together, we decorated Grandma's Christmas tree and hung homemade styrofoam pictures and snowflakes on the windows. We listened to the same Christmas records (yes, records :) every year. We had ping pong tournaments and board game contests. We had homemade cinnamon rolls in the morning for breakfast.
And we never wanted to go home! :)

I cherish those memories. I am grown, married with a family of my own. I live over 2,000 miles away from my grandma. I do not get to spend any more holidays with her. I still remember them in my heart though.

Traditions are very important! Make family traditions. It will make your family bond stronger and give your children and grandchildren memories for years to come.

My husband and I started a new Christmas tradition this year! We cut down our own Christmas tree! It was a wonderful time together with our kids...we made memories for years to come.

Start a tradition today!

Ideas for Christmas Joys:

1. Be the first to wish everyone you meet a Merry Christmas.

2. Buy a pair of red flannel or Christmas pajamas that you wear only on Christmas Eve.

3. Take the family to see a small town Christmas parade.

4. Don't count calories from December 15th through January 2nd.

5. Never select a Christmas tree after dark.

6. Mend a broken relationship with a friend or relative during the holidays.

7. Take a basket or plate of goodies to a neighbor.

8. Be pleasant to sales personnel. They are often wearier than you are.

9. Don't schedule yourself too tightly during the holidays. Before making an appt., ask yourself if this can wait until after Christmas.

10. Take a holiday family photograph each year in the same spot, such as by a favorite tree in your yard. In years to come, you will have a wonderful record of the growth of your family, as well as the tree.