I have one more quick post this morning that I wanted to share...a recipe that would make a wonderful breakfast during the Christmas break.  I made this yesterday morning and we all LOVED it!  It kind of has an apple fritter taste to it.   It is so easy to make too.  Everyone have a wonderful Christmas....and enjoy the recipe!

Apple Oven Pancake

½ cup butter
5-6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
brown sugar

2 cups milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
4 eggs

Turn oven to 400 degrees.  Put ½ cup butter in a 9x13-inch baking dish and place in heating oven until butter melts.

While butter melts, peel and slice 5-6 apples.

Once butter is melted, remove dish from oven and spread apple slices on bottom of dish.  Sprinkle with some brown sugar.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the milk, flour, sugar and eggs with a whisk.  Pour mixture over apples in dish.

The oven should be preheated now.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until pancake mixture is set.


Serve "as is"...no syrup needed!

Read More...

Every December we sit down as a family and choose ministries to give to....a way of giving back to the Lord out of the blessings He has given us...being obedient to His command to give to the "least of these".

Well, this year I decided to give ALL proceeds from the sale of Ann Voskamp's book, The Glorious Coming to Samaritan's Purse.  Last night we sat down as a family and chose a long list of projects and I thought I would share with you how YOU have given to the "least of these" through your purchase of this book.

Here are your gifts to the "least of these":

Provide 3 weeks of hot meals for children


Help a child learn to read and write


Introduce Girls and Boys to God's Word through Bible camps and Sunday schools


Provide 30 seedlings for fruit trees for a family


Help stock a fish pond


Help provide livestock for farmers


Provide dairy animals so a family can have fresh milk to drink


Provide honey bees - enough to start a small family business


Help a farm family grow bountiful crops by providing seeds, fertilizer, tools, training, etc.


Provide a week's worth of milk for 10 children


Feed two babies or nursing mothers for a week


Provide four dozen baby chicks to give them eggs to eat and sell


Provide four sports balls (like soccer balls) for children


Provide food for two families for a month


Provide life-saving medical equipment for medical missionaries


Provide vocational training


Provide food parcels to remote villages in Alaska


Provide two water filters so that two families can have clean water to drink


Provide tools for evangelism - audio Bible players, Gospel films, etc.


Provide Bibles and Christian Literature


Provide 200 children with Gospel storybooks


Provide Bible lessons for ten children


Provide New Testament Bibles for ten children


Provide "Jesus Loves Me" lambs for ten children


Provide Christmas treats for children - candy and small toys


Provide postage for 60 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes

Help rescue a child from bondage and abuse

Provide clothing and shoes for children

May each of you have a blessed Christmas!

Read More...

I have been able to download some wonderful (free) craft ebooks this year, thanks to some of the blogs and newsletters lists I am on that have posted the links!  I thought I'd share these with you too so you can enjoy making some more memories with your kids!  I am always looking for ideas for little crafts that my kids can make family for Christmas.  I will be pulling these ebooks out next year when we are looking for ideas.  Enjoy....

• Angel Crafts eBook - http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts/Angel-Crafts-eBook#

• Homemade Christmas Gift Guide - http://www.favecrafts.com/Quick-and-Easy-Gifts/Homemade-Christmas-Gift-Guide-eBook

• Quick & Easy Christmas Crafts - http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts/A-Quick-and-Easy-Christmas-Crafts-eBook

• Quick & Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids - http://www.favecrafts.com/Kids-Holiday-Crafts/Santas-Guide-to-Easy-Christmas-Crafts-for-Kids-eBook

Here are some other free ebooks you might enjoy...

• Sewing Crafts for Bloggers - http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing/25-Sewing-Crafts-from-Bloggers-eBook

• Quick & Easy Knitting Patterns - http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/24-Quick-and-Easy-Knitting-Patterns-eBook

• Knitting & Crochet Patterns from Red Heart - http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/Red-Heart-Yarn-eBook

• Sewing for Beginners - http://www.favecrafts.com/Sewing/Sewing-for-Beginners-eBook

• 25 Easy to Make Homemade Jewelry Ebook - http://www.favecrafts.com/Jewelry-Making/25-Easy-to-Make-Homemade-Jewelry-eBook

REMINDERS...

My kids are so excited....snow is forecast for this week...yeah!  We were hoping for a white Christmas and it looks like we may get one here. 

I just wanted to remind you that at the end of this year, I will be taking down The Glorious Coming (softcover) book from my website.  The author, Ann Voskamp, has asked that I pull the book so that she can consider a total re-write of the devotionals.  If you would like to have a copy of this softcover book, you will need to purchase a copy before the end of the year.  [Note:  100% of all proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to Samaritan's Purse to help the "least of these".]

At the end of the year, I will also be taking down The 12-Week Holiday Planner for the Christian Family ebook for a total makeover!  I am excited about this and look forward to making this planner even better and more usable for you.  I have had several great ideas emailed to me in the past year and just did not have the time this year to work on a revision.  But...this is the year for a total revision...Watch for a brand new edition of this planner next summer!  If you want a copy of this ebook now, you will need to purchase it before the end of the year.

I will be taking a blogging break now until after the holidays.  May each of you have a wonderful Christmas!

Love, Sheri

Read More...

Our children's pastor came up with this fun project that he found in a book....so I rounded up the supplies and we made them together as a family one night last week.  I thought I'd share the idea with you.

The stable is made from graham crackers glued together with frosting (you can use white frosting-we used up some frosting left over from frosting sugar cookies, so we had red and green).

Joseph and Mary are Keebler cookies.

The animals are animal crackers.

Holiday marshmellows are used for the star on the top of the stable and the trees around the stable.

The manger is made from 4 pretzels glued together with frosting - two on the ends and two tipped diagonally in between.


The hay is rice noodles.

The kids had so much fun putting these together...then eating on them of course when we were all done.  Enjoy!

Read More...

Having several small children (and a couple older) has really made me face some things in my life.  There are a multitude of parenting books out there...many are very very good too...but I was finding that as I tried to "implement" whatever technique was in the latest parenting book I was reading with my kids, I still didn't see the fruit that I wanted to see.  Oh, I might have seen some good fruit at first, but then we would fall back into bad habits, etc.

I think I am finally seeing something that the Lord has been trying to show me all along.  While these parenting books are very good, they do not replace what I, as a parent, need to "be" in front of my kids.  The student is only as good as his master.  The Lord is showing me that I need to not worry about being a perfect parent, and focus on becoming a better follower of Christ.  As I learn and grow and become more like Him, my children will follow as they seek after the same things.  I am learning that in all my striving, I have been striving after the wind.  I was trying to hold before my children an ideal that I myself was not living up to.

For example....

• I hear my children yelling at each other...then remember how I have raised my voice in frustration with them.

• I wish for my children to have a daily time in the Word...then I look at myself and see my lack of discipline in this area at times.

• I desire for my children to have a servant heart...then I see how very selfish I have been at times.

• I get frustrated when my children don't obey me...then I ask myself if I am obeying what the Lord is showing me.

• I want my children to be more disciplined in certain areas...then I see that I lack discipline in some of the very same areas.

• I try to teach my children patience...then I think of the times I have snapped at them in impatience.

I think you get the picture.  I am not trying to say that there is not a place for aggressive and intentional parenting.  But I think that I have been striving after the wrong thing.  I have been after a "formula", an "answer" to all parenting problems, a "fix-all"...when what I really need to be striving after is becoming more like Him...a more faithful disciple...a more loving follower of Christ.

I look forward to the days ahead...because I know that He has all the answers!  I am ever so anxious to follow hard after Him...to allow Him to grow me and change me into the woman He wants me to be...and in the process becoming the mother and wife that He wants me to be.  As I reflect on this past year and look toward the new year, the Lord is making it clear to me where my focus should be...it should be on Him...on obeying Him...on spending time with Him...on becoming more like Him.

Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness...for your love...for your patience...for Your continued working in this imperfect vessel.  I look forward to the new year and all You have in store for us.

Read More...

A couple years ago I put together a fun little ebook on my Christmas memories.  I have offered it in the past, and wanted to offer it again.  It is just a compilation of some of my favorite Christmas memories, traditions, and yummy recipes. I hope you enjoy it!

Click here to download My Christmas Memories ebook!

Read More...

I can't wait to print and do some of these activities with the kids.  In fact, I may choose a "game" day soon and we will use some of these things to play.  Right now you can buy this wonderful activity ebook for only $1.99!  Click here to grab your copy today at Currclick!

Read More...

A few years ago someone recommended this book to me and I thought I'd share it with you.  This week I downloaded a wonderful audio workshop by Hal and Melanie Young and it made me really stop and reflect on traditions.  (You can download this audio here for free for a limited time---so go download it now if you would like to listen to it.  It is excellent!)

Anyway, after listening to this workshop, I was reminded of this book by Noel Piper.  (I think I will be digging into this one right after I finish reviewing Hal and Melanie Young's book, Raising Real Men!)  Click here to go to the Desiring God website where you can purchase a softcover version of this book or download PDF files of the book for free.

Read More...

I thought I'd share what we have been reading during the month of December.  While we are taking a lighter approach to our schoolwork during the month of December, our read-aloud time continues...we enjoy it TOO much!  Here is what we have been reading:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We finished reading Grandpa's Box about a week ago.  I can't recommend this one enough!  The kids loved it and it will definitely be one we will pull out a reread over and over!  While most would not consider this a "Christmas" story, I do.  The story of redemption...of Christ's coming...of the war being waged...of the battle that has already been won...yes, this is what Christmas is all about!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We finished One Wintry Night yesterday and we loved it (Thanks Anjie for recommending this one to me!).  It was interesting that it was similar to Grandpa's Box in that it told the Christmas story, beginning with Creation, on up through the Resurrection.  It was a great follow-up after reading Grandpa's Box.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yesterday we started reading The Best of Christmas in My Heart, Vol. 2.  This series was recommended to me and so this year I decided to buy a volume and read it to the kids during December.  The first story was a tear-jerker...but full of meaning and awe of the Christ child...excellent!  I highly recommend this series of books.  Here are some others you can consider:  The Best of Christmas in My Heart, The Candle in the Forest: And Other Christmas Stories Children Love and many others found here.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Last year we read Jotham's Journey and loved it.  We were planning on reading the next book, Bartholomew's Passage, this year, but it was too much for my 6-year-old.  So, I set it aside for this year and will consider it next year.  These books are excellent, but are very suspenseful and graphic at times (yet very realistic as to what was going on during that time).  I highly recommend these books, but if you have a child who is sensitive to scary things, you may want to preview it before reading.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What about you?  What books are you reading to your children during this holiday season?  I pray each of you are enjoying making memories, snuggling up close to your children, and enjoying good books!  Time goes by WAY too fast...enjoy these moments!

Read More...

I just love it when I come across more wonderful ways to keep Christ the focus of Christmas.  This neat set of ornaments called - Adorenaments - are from Family Life and include 12 ornaments and devotional readings on the names of Christ.  These are hard to find online...they are not sold at the Family Life website any longer.  I did find them here, though, for a great deal...only $11.99 plus shipping.  I ordered a set to use next year, as I don't think they will arrive in time to use this year.

Click here to go find out more about these Adorenaments and order yours today!

UPDATE:  After I ordered these, I received a refund saying they were out of stock.  Now this link shows the Adorenaments for $29.99.  I haven't tried to purchase them again at this price, so I don't know if they are really out of stock, or if my previous link was an "old" sale page or something.  Anyway...they still look like wonderful ornaments to use on your tree!

Read More...