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...

Protestant Parish - and other - CHRISTmas cards

There were a few skeptical glances (and I'm sure words which I didn't hear), when Michael suggested we create a Christmas card to display at the bases "Holiday Card" line up...... we have done this at several other bases and knew it could be done.  In recent years there had been no "religious" Christmas cards and many Holiday card.

This was truly a joint effort. I love the fact that so many played a part in pulling this together.

The PAC approved it.

Cynthia dogged down base approval. It seems at this locale only "squadrons" are allowed to display cards. She finally reached the right people to give approval for us to have a card as we ARE a Wing Agency - though not a squadron per se.

Michael began sharing designs. I contacted Erika, the artist behind our Christmas Card in Misawa. She sent a power point we could project for our wood workers and painters.

Cynthia and I picked up the needed supplies from C.E.

I delivered the wood to Ch. Tangen. He adapted the design a bit and cut it out for us.

Michael went shopping for colors of paint the base didn't supply, a backing and light supply.

When the Parish had our monthly fellowship and Christmas Decorating extravaganza (a very good idea too), Daniel and Zay gave the card a black coat. 

Michael gave it several shadowy blue coats.....next he and Nolan projected and traced the wording on to the card....

Cynthia and Cyndi painted the lettering  - a couple of times 

Michael and I made another trip for a different backing. He also discovered this base doesn't light up their cards. Every base we've been at has provided little spot lights and electricity  to light up the cards. He bought some solar lights.

We went in last Sunday night to put the back on the card......

.....and there you have it. 

Michael took the card over the C.E. and C.E. put it in place.....we have a Christmas card.....and the best thing is the Catholic Parish has a Christmas card and one other organization also went with Christmas this year. We've covered all our bases...secular, politically correct...and together, we all brought Christ to the Holiday Celebration. 

Last night was the Base Tree Lighting and I took photos of all the Christmas cards. Turns out the CHRISTmas cards are the only lit cards..... I'll get photos of the others another day.

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

How I Almost Lost my Grandma Card in CA

On every base we've been at there is one holiday tradition which is pretty much the same.....the base Christmas Tree Lighting!  Though in recent years it is often just the "Tree Lighting" or the "Holiday Tree Lighting" come to think of it. Anyway - there is always a big to do as the Wing Commander pushes the plunger and the season kicks off.

Here at Beale, the Quarterly Hearts Apart dinner was held first. This is a special time for the spouses and families of those who have loved ones deployed or on an extended temporary duty. They are served a nice meal, the Wing Commander visits with them, Santa visits the kids, there are door prizes from the BX and gifts for the kids. Then.......

They met the rest of the base community to light the tree.

Testing the mic

The Tree

Local Bell Choir

 

I love Ros.....

And THIS is how I almost lost my Grandma card.  Young military kids are often raised in chapels without a lot of "age diversity." It would seem I've become a surrogate grandma. I first noted this in Misawa.....and there's no denying it here.

Kelsey's a young mom at our chapel whose husband will be gone a year. Her girls were very shy of strangers - but NOW they run to me....and the kids....Arielle and Stacia below....

I was happy when Arielle and Melody ran to join me. I love cuddling with them.....it was very exciting when Col Lee began the count down and Mel got to go right up on the stand and help "push the plunger." I needed to capture the moment. 

Stacia was right next to us. I set Arielle down to take a photo....see Mel has the backpack and Arielle is the little cutie in the right corner looking up at her.  I snapped this photo....

 

...and one of the tree lighting up.

 Then I turned to pick Arielle up again and she was GONE.  The crowd was dispersing, I was calling for her...she wasn't turning up. My heart sunk. I imagined trying to help Kelsey and now I'd LOST HER BABY! I asked Chaplain C to announce we'd lost Arielle - blond, 2 yo, teal jacket with owls..... but he knows our family and must have only heard "Arielle." ::snort::

He announced, "Arielle will you please come to the microphone."

Then he realized we were looking for 2 yo Arielle. It's amazing how crowds jump to and help when they understand a 2 yo is missing...and where was she? She'd gone to Nolan and he was holding her....while I thought for sure I'd have to forfeit my grandma card. 

Random woman, Arielle, Melody and Stacia

 

Stacia, Zander, Nolan and Arielle

I couldn't help but think this is our last Base Tree Lighting - at least as Active Duty members.  We walked over and looked at the cards.


Mel, Cynthia, Daniel



Mel, Arielle, Zander, Nolan, Arielle, Stacia and Kelsey

 I took the kids inside for hot chocolate and dessert. Michael went to find a TV where we could watch the PAC 12 DUCK game......we ended up in the pub at the club.....had dinner, enjoyed  a front row seat, got tired of really loud music...but HEY - we could see the game. LOL AND WE WON.....gotta love redemption in all it's forms.

Stacia was happy to get through 4 chapters of Little House. 

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

Tis the Season

Tuesday

Tree full of memories

• Enjoyed MTOC. I spoke on "Keeping Christ Central" at Christmas. 
• This was followed by a MTOC board meeting - I'm the PWOC liaison on the board.
• School - done. We're focusing on Table school and Christmas School until Jan.
• Tuesday night we began a study of Daniel
• Discovered a friend is in for a rough patch - I ask your prayers for a pregnant friend diagnosed with breast cancer. She will have a double mastectomy next week.

Wednesday

• The first week in our Winter Session of studies at PWOC.....I've been all over the board in this session...I was going to teach Ephesians, then was going to attend Attributes of God, but now I'm going to lead Daniel both Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  My head is full of various "strings" from prepping for all three....now my focus will narrow. LOL
• Lunch with three lovely friends and four adorable Gherkins
• I spent time organizing the PWOC "closet" - room and doing odd behind the scene jobs (filling tumblers, hanging signs, updating the bulletin board....)
• Kids finished school while I worked.
• Took a friend and her new puppy to the vet
• Attended Family Bible study - Ephesians

Thursday

• Hosted a three young friends at our house as their house is being packed up.
• Table school done
• Attended Ladies Night Out at the Base Theater. PWOC rented out the theater and showed Moms Night Out. I needed to sit and laugh with ladies. I trust others enjoyed it as well.

Love this photo....

Today

• I've got to pull things together for our Christmas Tea and get ahead in Daniel, and think about next week's PWOC board meeting.
• I need to go shopping at some point for next week's Cookie Decorating party here at our home.
• School  is done and I may soak in the hot tub this afternoon. I fell on the concrete on Tuesday and am still sore.
• Tonight is the base's tree lighting.....yay.....a lazy day followed by a family Christmas outing.

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