" HOME...WHERE ALL MY WISHES COME TRUE "

I have had this sign hanging in my home for years now, because I am so blessed and I am so grateful for all my blessings; my husband and my family, my faith and belief in Jesus Christ are my greatest blessings (and so many others, I can't mention them all here)...it truly is a "Wonderful Life".

Our home is such a place of peace and refuge from the world...we enjoy living here so much!

We come around the bend and the most beautiful little town lies snuggled up against the red-rock hills. We love it here so much, small town living where everyone takes care of each other...lately there has been sorrow, with several deaths, 3 of them sudden, but people all pull together and take care of each others grieving hearts.

~I love the red rock hills here, every sunset brings beauty~

I asked Santa for a doll this year...and it looks like I got one! Isn't she cute...a real" living doll! "

Oh, that little things could bring us so much JOY...This little boy was in Heaven...it made my Christmas, just to watch his joy!

~Our 4 month old little Ella...so happy about her new dolly~

Could you look this cute with a bow on your head? I don't think so!

My sweetheart gave me a bit of bling...I was so thrilled, but what came with it was priceless...the; "I'd marry you all over again"... and..."Looking forward to Eternity with you"...was the JOY of my heart...Love this man!

" A successful marriage requires falling in love many times...Always with the same person."
And we have, and still do...Love that man of mine!

Jack and Sammie...all tucked in their little bed together...we're all snug and warm too...hope you are too. It's been a wonderful Christmas...looking forward to the New Year!

I hope Christmas was wonderful at your house too...we haven't got any snow to talk about yet but the weather was so beautiful all day, Ron and I enjoyed going for a drive, saw lots of elk and deer.. and being with our kids and grand kids was one of the best parts of the day.

I have been blogging for one year now, I have so much still to learn. I enjoy all of you, my dear friends, sisters really. Sending "all my love" to each and every one of you...thank you so much for your friendship...such kind words...sharing your life with me...it means more than I can even begin to say!
~ I look forward to getting to know all of you even better in 2010~

BOOKS, GOODIES and A STORY...for you!

I have a bunch of Christmas books...these are some of our favorites, The Christmas Dress for Ellen is a true story and written about my 2nd cousin's family. I love to have them sitting out in a big Christmas basket for all to read.
I love it when a grand child brings me a book and says; "Grandma, will you read this to me?" These have been read over and over to our children through the years.

I have been busy this week making candy and goodies for our family to eat at Christmas time..."O Henry Bars..."Bliss Bars"(thank you Kasey at Lola B's)..."White Chocolate Crunch"..."Cashew Caramels"...and "English Toffee"

Here is the recipe for the Caramels...it is the easiest and the best recipe I have ever used...I hope you'll enjoy it!

MICROWAVE CARAMELS

Butter a 9x9" pan, set aside
In a large microwave-safe bowl combine;
1 Cup Butter
2 1/2 Cups Packed Brown Sugar
1 Cup Light-colored Corn Syrup
1 (14oz.) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
Cover loosely with waxed paper. Microwave on 100% power for 4 minutes...or until Butter starts to melt. Whisk to combine mixture. Microwave again 4 min. more. Whisk well. Microwave an additional 4 min. Whisk gently.
Add...1 TSP. Vanilla...add 1 Cup of broken Cashews...mix together. Pour Caramel Mixture into the prepared pan.
Chill for 1 hour or til just firm. Use buttered knife to cut into 1" squares. Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper...store at room temp. for 2 weeks. (Makes 81 pieces)

Another favorite at our house....English Toffee

It was just a few days until Christmas in San Francisco, and the shopping downtown was starting to get to us. Crowds of people were waiting impatiently for slow moving buses and streetcars on those little cement islands in the middle of the street. Most of us were loaded down packages and it looked like many of us were beginning to wonder if all those countless friends and relatives actually deserved so many gifts in the first place. This was not the Christmas spirit I'd been raised with! I found myself shoved up the steps of a jammed streetcar, the idea of standing packed in like sardines the whole way home was almost more than I could take. I stood in an exhausted daze, as people gradually got off, it took me while to notice that there was room to breathe again. Then I saw something out of the corner of my eye.
A small boy...he couldn't have been more than 5 or 6...tugged on a woman's sleeve and asked, "would you like a seat?" He quietly lead her to the nearest free seat he could find, and then he set out to find another tired person. As soon as each rare new seat became available, he would quickly move through the crowd in search of another burdened woman who desperately needed to rest her feet. When I felt his tug on my sleeve, I was absolutely dazzled by the beauty in this little boys eyes. He took my hand, saying; "Come with me," and I think I'll remember that smile as long as I live. As I happily placed my heavy load of packages on the floor, the little Emissary of Love immediately turned to help his next subject.
The people on the streetcar, as usual, had been studiously avoiding each other's eyes, but now they began to exchange shy glances and smiles. A businessman offered a section of a newspaper to the stranger next to him...three people stooped to return a gift that had tumbled to the floor...and now people were speaking to one another. The little boy had tangibly changed something...we all relaxed into a subtle feeling of warmth and actually enjoyed the trip through the final stops along the route.
I didn't notice when the child got off, I looked up at one point and he was gone. When I reached my stop I practically floated off that streetcar, wishing the driver a Happy Holiday, noticing the sparkling Christmas lights on my street in a fresh, new way, or maybe I was seeing them in an old way, with the same wonder I felt when I was 5 or 6. I thought. "So that's what they mean by...AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM."
~~~~~

May I add these words....I think it says it the way I want to say it...

Christmas is a glorious time, simple in origin and deep in meaning.It is rich in memories, charitable in spirit, and beautiful in tradition and custom. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn.
At this season of the year, we remember that our Heavenly Father gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. We also remember that His precious Son gave us His life, the Atonement, and the victory over the grave.
Therefore, let us give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. During His mortal ministry, He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will fill our hearts.
Thomas S Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Sending all of you all of my love....Have a warm and wonderful Christmas"

This will most likely be my last post til after Christmas...wishing all of my dear friends a a very Merry Christmas!

NEW WORDS TO A SONG YOU LOVE...

It's about that time...time for Santa to wake up and put his long Johns on and get the sleigh loaded up and be on his way!
I love this picture, it looks like pure comfort and joy to me...a big comfy chair, a warm fire, Christmas lights, warm toes and warm friends...whats not to like?!
Wishing all the same to all my sweet friends in blog land!

This is what I want for Christmas...SNOW

We are still waiting for snow...I would love to get enough to make one of these!

It looked like a blizzard the other day, but then the sun comes out and it's all gone. I so want snow for Christmas!

Busy this week making Christmas goodies for us...I'll have to give lots away or I'll look like Mrs. Santa Clause for sure!
What is your favorite goodie to make for Christmas?

These are new words to a song that I know you know, and love....hope you enjoy them.

You'll sing them to the tune of..... "How Great Thou Art"


~" WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN"~

When Christ was born within the low-ly manger, a star did shine to mark His place of birth.
The Shepherds saw and stood in awesome wonder, and Angels sang "Good Will and Peace on Earth."

(Chorus:)
On Christ-mas Day, the Savior, He was born, how blessed we are, how blessed we are.
To give out thanks to Him this blessed morn, and we proclaim "How Great Thou Art!"

The wise men came, led by a star so bri-ght, to give their gifts to God's own chosen son.
They traveled far to see the wondrous sight and honor Him, The Holy one. (chorus)

Two thous-and years have come and gone since then and still we praise His birth with joyful hearts.
Now is the time when all hearts of men, show forth their love by gifts and by their thoughts.
(chorus)
By Dorthy McCreary)

Enjoy these last few days before Christmas arrives...may they be warm and bright!

FOOD...for the soul and the body!

CAN WE SEE...THE CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS?

Not being able to see the sacred either with your eyes or with the heart has been fault of the human condition since the beginning. Sometimes the most precious and sacred things are right in front of us, in plain sight, but we cannot or will not see them.
This may be especially true during the season of Christmas. All of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting, but if it's all we see, then we're missing something thats in plain sight.
Sometimes, despite our best intentions, commitments, and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts, that which is essential and most sacred.

Even many who lived during the time of the Savior's mortal ministry could not see Him, though He walked among them in plain sight. Jesus was born in a stable surrounded by lowly animals. He did not go though the pattern of worldly education. The sophisticated and the proud, those who placed their trust in worldly learning, could not see Him.
Jesus was not wealthy, nor did He hild a political office. The wealthy and the influential, those who were caught up in their busy affairs of commerce and government, could not see Him.
The Scribes and Pharisees were so steeped in their own traditions and so blinded by their own narrow interpretation of scriptures that they could not see Jesus, the humble man who walked among them. The self-righteous and unteachable, those whose hearts were closed to the Spirit, could not see Him.
So who saw Him? Humble fishermen and laborers saw Him. The ailing, the distraught saw Him, and recognized Him as the Salvation of Israel. But there were those among the rich and powerful who were teachable and therefore could see the Christ.
When we read about people who could not see the Savior for who He was, we marvel at their blindness. But, do WE also let distractions obstruct our view of the Savior~during this Christmas season and throughout the year?
Some are external distractions...the gifts we worry about, the decorations, or the clamorous advertising...but often it is what in inside us that blinds us fron seeing the Christ. Some may feel a certain level of intellectual aloofness that distances them fron Christ...Some are caught up in the details of running their lives that they don't make time for much else...Some, like the Pharisees, seek for the Christ, but their hearts are set upon their own theories, spiritual hobbies and opinions that fail to recognize Him...
This is a season of rehoicing. A season of celebration. A wonderful time when we acknowledge that our Almighty God sent His Only begotten Son...Jesus Christ, to redeem the world...to redeem each of us.
(from a talk by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
~~~~~~~~


Several have asked for this cake recipe from my last post, so here it is...I hope it will be a fun gift from you to your neighbors too. I have 6 Bundt pans so I can really get them going...I usually make atleast 20 of these and they go pretty fast.

" CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT CAKE"

1 Chocolate Cake Mix
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Oil
1 Cup Water
1 tsp. Peppermint extract
1 Small package instant Chocolate Pudding
Mix all this for 4 minutes. Pour into a Pam
sprayed Bundt pan.
Bake at 350'~45 minutes
Cool 15 min. in pan...set plate over cake
and let it fall out and onto the plate.

While slightly warm...frost with;

1 Cup Powdered Sugar
2 T. soft butter
1 T. Lemon juice
(you can use the peppermint extract instead
but it's a little too much to me...I like the lemon.)
Decorate with crushed candy canes
or sprinkles

(If you want to spend even less..buy the 98 cent cake mixes
and just prepare and bake them as it says on the box... adding
the 1 tsp. of peppermint extract)
Along with the clear wrap and a ribbon and a cheap plate...
it makes a lovely gift for not a lot of money!
~~~~~~~~~

Christmas is nearly here...I hope your life is at the point where it feels "uncluttered"...and that now you can sit back and take it all in with a joyous heart. Remember to "look for the Savior" with all of your heart...then you will have really found Christmas...Love and hugs to all of you!

BABIES..CAKES AND QUILTS...

I've been busy making a baby quilt for this little darling grand daughter of ours...
her name is Ella Mae..she is named after my Mother. She is the sweetest, most beautiful little girl!

I have also been busy baking...I love to bake these Chocolate peppermint Christmas cakes for my neighbor gifts...they smell so good when you open up the package and they make a nice gift..easy too!

~I make at least 20 of these every year for Christmas gifts for all my neighbors~

This is the baby quilt I have been making for our little grand daughter Ella, she is 4 months old now. I had made her another quilt too all pink and furry soft..this one took a little more time to make. This quilt has lions and giraffe's and pink elephants and flowers all over it. It looks kind of retro, it's really cute! I love doing quilts for the grands..a little keepsake for them in the future too with a tag in the bottom corner that says it was made for them by grandma!

~The inside of this quilt has polka dots that coordinates with the other side~

~Michael and Lindsey~

This video below is how our daughter Lindsey and her husband Michael told us that they were going to have a baby, they said they wanted to get a picture before dinner..they set the camera's on timer..we all smiled..click..then again..then Michael said he wanted to get one more photo so he set his camera up again..we smiled....no click....waited and waited...finally he said.."everyone say; " 1-2-3- Lindseys pregnant!"
I was the last to "get it"... but I was SO happy...it really made my Thanksgiving day! Lindsey is due in July and this will be our 20th grandchild...can one have too many grands...I don't think so...they are the greatest joy in life for sure!
Well, Christmas is at out door steps...hope you are all ready and are now sitting around with a cup of hot chocolate, enjoying the fire and the music and each other! xxx's :D

BLIZZARDS AND STORIES...to warm the heart~

HO-HO-HO is right...this is what we woke up to this morning...a blizzard of wind and snow, I love it...a good day to stay in I think..good thing I have Christmas baking to do!

Next, two sweet short stories...hope you'll like them!

Why Do I Need To Be Here?

A week before Christmas in 2007 two of my children were sick with strep throat and ear infections. When we arrived at the prescription counter, my little boy Jacob tugged at my leg and complained about his ear, and my little girl, Beth wiggled out of my arms. I thought she would stay by me, but as soon as she was free, she ran straight to an elderly man sitting on a bench near the line.
The man was looking at the floor, his face resting in his hands. I called after Beth, not wanting to leave the line, but she approached the man anyway and bent down to look up at his face as she grinned and giggled.
I called her to come but she refused to listen and started pushing on the man's forehead in order to get him to raise his head. As I grew agitated, Beth took off her untied shoes and shoved them into the man's lap. He sat up and smiled. "Beth!" I called. "It's all right the man said in a tired voice. "I'll tie her shoes for her."
I grew a little nervous as he began putting Beth's shoes on her. When he finished, he wrapped jis arms around her and kissed her on the head. He slowly let her go, so I quickly left the line to rescue my daughter from this stranger.
As I approached, I noticed that he had tears in his eyes. Concerned, I sat down next to him. "I have to tell you something," he said, staring straight ahead. "Not more than a month ago my wife died, and about an hour ago I found out that I have terminal cancer. I came here to get medicine, and I have been contemplating my life and thinking that I might move along the inevitable. I didn't think I could bear going through Christmas and the pains of cancer without my sweet wife."
He said he had been praying, asking God, "If I need to be here for something, You better speak now, or I'm going home to end things." Before he had even said "amen," Beth began pestering him and calling him "Grandpa." "Now I know why I need to be here longer," he said. "I need to be here for my grandkids. They need me."
I threw my arms around him and could not help but weep. I then got our medicine. Beth, who had moments earlier, kissed the man on the cheek and bounded away with Jacob and me, waving and saying, "Bye-bye, Grandpa."
I didn't ask his name, but I will never forget that even a young child who pesters an old man can be an answer to prayer.
(The Ensign Magazine)

I love this story because children are so good and they truly can affect the world with their goodness...if we let them..."we must become, even as a child"...to be pure and clean and good before our Heavenly Father.

" Are You God's Wife? "

A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.
A lady approached the boy and said. "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?" "I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes, " was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked it he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and removing her gloves, she knelt down and washed his feet and dried them with the towel.
By this time the clerk has returned with the socks. Placing a pair on the boys's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?" As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking into her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?"

~It really, truly is... " A Wonderful Life "...hope you are feeling it too~

I hope you enjoyed these stories as I did...I love Christmas and ALL that it brings, the stories, the blizzards...thats when I love to stay in and bake. Christmas is a coming...YEA!

WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS....at our house~

I LOVE this book...I set it out every Christmas..it is filled with beautiful pictures, poetry and it has space to write down family traditions and favorite recipes and all that is dear to us at Christmas time. I read it every year...remembering the treasured years when our children were little kids.

I painted the ceramic Santa some 35 years ago...the grand kids love it filled with candy canes every year

~Our home and our hearts are filled with JOY at this time of the year~

Santa's on his way...I found this image in a Victoria magazine years ago..made a bunch of these to hang on the tree~

The tree is up and decorated..the days of waiting for Christmas are filled with Christmas music...the shopping is done..the baking is almost done and I even threw in making a baby quilt!

Waiting and ( keeping watch over his favorite toy)..for Christmas

Standing watch...waiting for Christmas

Me...dressed so warm, it was a wonder I didn't melt..(thanks Mom) .... sitting on Santa's lap and my family at Christmas..I'm sitting next to mama on the couch feeding my new doll...even back then Motherhood was deep in my heart!

He... IS... the reason for the season...don't forget

We're enjoying the warmth of the fire at night..watching Christmas movies

~Our stockings are hung and we're waiting for the snow~

This Nativity set (more not shown) I have had for a good 30 years..the stable has a music box and plays Silent Night...it is very loved at our house

I love snowmen...I think these two love each other because every Christmas they insist on sitting close to each other!

HO HO HO....Love the joy that Santa's bring into the home too

~I love angels year round but especially at Christmas time~

~This reminds me of Christmas's when I was little~

I heard a noise the other day over by the Christmas tree...I looked there a couple of times...then I looked up....there was my cat Pralean up in the very top of my Christmas tree!!! She must have been feeling the Christmas Spirit too~

" Christmas Everywhere "

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine,
Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright.

Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,
Christmas where old men are patient and gray,
Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight,
Broods o'ver brave men in the thick of the fight;
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!

For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all;
No palace too great, no cottage too small.
(Phillips Brooks)

"A couple of the grand children and Santa"

I'm just like a kid at Christmas time...oh, wait, it is Christmas time and I am a kid at heart... I hope you are too.

I remember, as a child, sitting in a chair coloring, listening to the Christmas music and looking at the lighted tree, listening to my Mom out in the kitchen, making goodies and singing along with the radio, and feeling SO full of joy at the coming of Christmas, I thought I would explode with happiness!

I hope all of you are feeling that same way..if you are not..drop everything..simplify..and
"Go Enjoy " this beautiful season right now!
It will be over before you can blink...enjoy it now!