Cookies, Children and Colons?

A busy day trying to "get a jump start" on the week.

I caught up on laundry, prepped for Bible studies, got announcements and bulletin inputs in,  did a bit of admin stuff for the studies I'm facilitating, answered emails, posted things for various ministry pages....and BAKED COOKIES! Why would I choose to bake cookies on a day dedicated to getting a good start to the week?

 

Because this happens at our house tomorrow

 

These two were a lot of help....of course....well.....

I thought we could buy the "new" cookie dough that comes in flat sheets...all you have to do is cut them out....but Stacia said, "But making cookies with you is so much fun."

All-righty!

Then I thought we could just do some nice round ones...but again...you know....Christmas Cookies are the thing...and we did make some fun memories.  We ended up making 2 pounds of butter worth of cookies. LOL  I think the last 4 doz were drop cookies.



We did take time to play today too. I didn't, after all, totally lose my grandma card. We played with these sweet little ones and their mom.

 

 

Stacia and I ran to the store for more butter. Arielle and Nolan had Japanese lessons. I got to spend a bit of time chatting with their teacher and a mutual friend at the end of the lesson.

 

We made more cookies.

 

I found out we are going to Izaak's graduation a day earlier than expected due to the in-coming storm.

 

The clinic called. "Maam you came up as one who has not had a colonoscopy. Are you interested in pursuing that."

 

Shoot - NO!!!! 

 

I was hoping to fly under the radar a bit longer...but when you hit the big 5.0 in the military it's NASTY. I suspect I will have to do this and it really did not make my day.

 

Arielle requested Yumm Bowls for dinner. I complied; I did add Chicken Fajita meat for the meat eaters in the group.

 

We were a total hymn fail during our Advent circle. We don't know "Take My Life, O Lord, Renew".....so we sang Silent Night again. We'll know Silent Night really well by the end of this season. ::snort::

 



That's a wrap. The buzzer went off and the uniform is done....I'm going to BED...at 8:20 p.m. Yes, I am.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Those Traveling Wise Men

I keep thinking wisemen should be one word and spell check keeps squawking.

The Traveling Wise Men are a hit and I can tell they have already become a new family tradition.   Stacia LOVES hunting for them. The older ones have found them on a couple of days and leave them for her to find too.

I've enjoyed the quiet moment to hide them each evening and the focus of a new thing to worship Jesus about each morning.

Dec 1 -  Day 1 -  we adore Jesus as He ALWAYS keeps His promises.

Day 2 - We adore Jesus because He loves us

Day 3 - We adore Jesus because He loved us first and ALWAYS.

No Stacia - they don't reach the stable until 6 January!!!

Day 4 - We adore Jesus because He always has a plan.  

Day 5 - We adore Jesus as He paid to cleanse us from sin.

Day 6 - We adore Jesus because He lights our darkness.

Day 7 - We adore Jesus because He is!

I noted day 5 and 6 reasons to worship tied in with the hiding place....day 7 was on a shelf in the bathroom.....I wondered what the reason to worship would be and if it would tie in with the toilet. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The Redwood and Lights

One slight drawback to moving facilities for chapel is we have no cleaning service - at all - at Far West. Michael and I spent the Sunday School hour sweeping the gym/sanctuary, dusting and vacuuming.  I think I need to add some weekly cleaning to our Wed/on base routine to avoid this in the future.

Arielle woke up sick and missed Chapel. I had fun in the nursery. Michael preached.

Stacia had Christmas Program practice after the service.  It's odd to only have one in the program. We enjoyed waiting around and visiting. Just remembered Arielle is the narrator and Stacia has talked Zander into being a Wiseman.

Nolan chose LUMBERJACKS for lunch. This time - he and Zander split The Redwood burger and  decided this is the way to handle it. Certainly is easier on the wallet.  They make a wonderful Veggie burger here too - about 1/4 the size of this burger.

not a great shot - but too good to pass up

We spent a bit of time re-routing the lights as Michael wanted them off one line and coming in at certain spots. We like it.

I woke up this a.m. to no lights in the front of the house (living room). It seems we blew a circuit. We had planned to put more candle lights out to outline the yard - but appears we may be done with lights.

We still have a projector and a "wireless lights and music" thing we won't put up.  I guess we'll give them away as this is our last year for all these decorations. It's been fun, but I can't see them coming with us to Japan and I can't see storing them for 15 years either. LOL

These decorations are all left overs from when we lived on "Christmas Lane" in San Angelo.  We haven't used them for the past five years - but it was great fun to get them out again. We have many more lights - but called it done. Thanks to Arielle and Nolan for motivating us.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Christmas Lights

I was so sure I wanted to sleep in today - but Stacia was ready for breakfast. In the end I am happy we made the time to connect. We tried a new place today - Kim's Country Kitchen in Lincoln.

Anyone who knows me would guess I'd love the décor and atmosphere. The wait was a pleasant 7 minutes.....

 

Stacia was impressed they have the same glasses as we do at home.

 

To be honest, I think the service and food is better at Awful Annie's....but we did like the local feel at Kim's.....and the biscuits were AMAZING....They were happy to make something special up for a vegan....and that made me happy. They were friendly - just busy. We'll try it again at a different time.



Back at home Michael was busy with sermon prep. The kids decided to set up lights. I did help a "bit," but Arielle and Nolan were the troopers on this project. I did some ministry organizing I needed to do and updated the blog.

Stacia and Zander did the little candles.....they used 1/3 of the candles but they're done

And then we plugged them all in and nothing happened! Turns out all our planning so there would be ONE CORD and one plug in - um....well Michael came out of his cave to tell us that it was too much something-or-other on one line.....

Nolan went up on the ladder to rearrange things.....

 

Then Michael joined the fun



We didn't finish. It got dark. Arielle had to babysit. Stacia and I drove around neighborhoods between here and there. But we've got more lights up than 90% of our neighborhood. CA just doesn't do Christmas like MT, AK, or TX did.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sweet Potato Casserole (Vegan/Daniel Fast Friendly)

Another Thanksgiving recipe from Happy Herbivore  Holidays and Gatherings. The carrots add sweetness.

Ingredients:
5 - 6 carrots chopped
4 sweet potatoes, cooked and skinned
cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to taste
2 T cornstarch

For Toppings - I just mixed some Rapadura and pecans and sprinkled on top.
Rapadura (brown sugar)
pecans
cornflakes

Directions:
Fill a pot with 2 - 3 inches water. Bring to a boil and add carrots.

Cook until carrots are tender, about 5-8 min. Drain, but reserve liquid

Whip cooked sweet potato and carrot together, adding carrot cooking water as necessary - aim for creamy whipped-potatoes consistency.)

Add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice as desired.

Preheat oven to 350* F.

When potato-carrot mixture is cool, stir in cornstarch.

Transfer to shallow casserole dish.

Top however you like.

Bake for 30 min until until totally warm and toppings are toasted.

*Leave off the sugar topping to make this Daniel Fast Friendly.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"Thanksgiving Gravy" (Vegan, Daniel Fast Friendly)

This is yummy.  Arielle and I had some over a fluffy biscuit today when I had a hankering for biscuits and gravy. This recipe is from Happy Herbivore Holidays & Gatherings.

Ingredients:
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1/4 C whole wheat flour
1 C nondairy milk
1 small onion, diced
8 oz white mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 T low sodium soy sauce
1 tsp rubbed sage (not powdered)

Directions:
Whisk  nutritional yeast and flour with nondairy milk and set aside.

Line a frying pan with a thin layer of water and cook onion and mushrooms over high heat until the mushrooms start to soften and turn brown and most of the water has evaporated.

Add milk mixture, soy sauce and sage to the pan, stirring to combine.  (can stop here and continue right before meal)

Bring to a boil and continue to cook until thick. 

Add salt and pepper to taste.

a bit thicker as it's set a while. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Skillet Green Bean Casserole (Vegan, Daniel Fast friendly)

Krista wanted Green Bean Casserole at Thanksgiving. Nolan and I loved the left overs.  Recipe  from Happy Herbivore Holidays and Gatherings.




Via Google photos

Ingredients:
1 C vegetable broth, divided
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 lb green beans, trimmed
1 T poultry seasoning
1 T Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp rubbed sage (not powdered)
dash nutmeg
1/2 C nondairy milk
2 T nutritional yeast
1 T cornstarch
toasted bread crumbs (optional)
fried onions (optional)

Directions:
Line a large skillet with a thin layer of broth and sauté the onion and garlic over high  heat until onion is translucent, about a min.

Reduce heat to med and add the remaining broth, mushrooms, green beans, poultry seasoning, mustard,thyme, sage and a dash of nutmeg.

Stir to coat the mushrooms with seasonings.

Cook until mushrooms are soft and green beans are cooked but still crisp, about 7 min.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk nondairy milk with nutritional yeast and cornstarch.

Once green beans and mushrooms are cooked, pour in the nondairy milk mixture.

Once it thickens slightly, turn off heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with dried onions, bread crumbs whatever.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...