Chapter 11, Page 30, Book 10

Harmony provides us with the inner peace we need to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us each day, and beauty opens us to joy

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Life is difficult and for many of us, the experience of living has brought pain or illness, loss or loneliness, fear, defeat, worry, doubt, anxiety, hardship of one kind or another. But for people of faith, there is a knowledge, a feeling, an assurance that even in the midst of that pain or doubt or suffering, God is good....

Bits and pieces from one of my morning devotions

Because of my faith I do celebrate each day and try to live it to the fullest. People of faith are not unrealistic. We know that the world can be a dark place. But we also know that the darkness is not all. There is a reason to hope, because there is a light always shining.

Today is TERRIFIC 2's Tuesday and I've got 2 Tips for you again today.

The Christmas season may have already officially begun, but who had time to think about what that really means with Thanksgiving leftovers to finish off and shopping to accomplish. Maybe the ideas I have for you today might just help to give you that extra time.

# 1 A recipe for leftover Turkey

Mexican Turkey Scramble

Heat 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 thinly sliced scallions and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 cup finely diced skinless white turkey meat and 3 tablespoons fresh spicy salsa; cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Add 3 beaten eggs and, stirring constantly, cook until eggs are set. Top each serving with 2 avocado slices and serve with extra salsa, if desired.

#2 Here's a gift that's easy to put together and is bound to be appreciated. I know I'd love to receive it!

Happy Holidays Christmas Survival Kit

Bauble- to make your Christmas sparkle!

Party Popper - to start the season with a BANG!

Starburst Candy - for a burst of energy during the Christmas season.

A funny Christmas poem printed out - to make you laugh, for 'tis the season to be jolly!

Christmas Cracker - hope you have a cracking Christmas!

Cookie Dough - because everyone's short on dough this time of year!

That's my 2 for Tuesday this week! I hope your Tuesday is a TERRIFIC one!

'On Ya'-ma

P.S. Here is a little Christmas joke I'm sharing...

On Christmas morning a woman told her husband, I just dreamed that you gave me a beautiful diamond necklace.

What do you think it means?

You’ll know tonight, he said.

That evening just before opening presents, the husband came home with a small package and gave it to his wife.

Delighted, she opened it only to find a book entitled

The Meaning of Dreams.

Chapter 11, Page 29, Book 10

It's Merry Monday!

Last week when I was out shopping I checked out Aldi's to see what they had new and found several surprises. I love going to that store as they always have something special for the season or holiday that is close by.

Chocolate truffles and gingerbread and a fruit bread. These are holiday treats for sure. I even found some Cranberry Chutney

I've got to say they are all very good. I think I'm ready for the holidays now with all these goodies around my house. Most of the time it's just me here at my house so I'm thinking they'll last a while, but then again, maybe not. They might just have something new next week when I go.

Today I'm at DS#6's house baby sitting. I go back home this evening !

Have a MERRY Monday everyone. I know I will!

'On Ya'- ma

Chapter 11, Page 28, Book 10

The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful. We ring the bells when princes are born, or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away. Nations have their red-letter days, their carnivals and festivals, but once in the year and only once, the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life.

Author Unknown

Today is the first Sunday in Advent and we light the first purple candle on our Advent wreath which represents HOPE. Many people use an Advent wreath to focus their attention. This wreath is a circle of greenery containing four purple candles with a white Christ candle in its center.

I could always use a little more hope in my life so I'm grateful for this Season of Advent.

This year we have four full weeks of Advent which for children might seem way too long. For those older and interested, a longer Advent allows us a bit more time to consider just how deeply each of us needs to be visited, embraced and rearranged. It is a four-week journey inward so as to live more towards the outward.

I had such a wonderful day yesterday with my family and am looking forward to another gathering in just 4 short weeks too. I had a big surprise yesterday as DS#4 and his family also came in. I haven't seen them in a long while and just couldn't believe how much their boys had grown.

The picture below shows all of us together yesterday afternoon.

I'll be off to church this morning and as always you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

Have a wonderful Sunday and I hope your day is filled with lots of that good R&R!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 11, Page 27, Book 10

SUPER SATURDAY/ Our Thanksgiving Feast Day

This is DS# 5 and our Mr. Wonderful with Frosty the Snowman

And here is our little Lucky guy with Santa.

There were plenty of photo opportunities yesterday. When you have babies around there is just nothing like Christmas time to celebrate.

Here are my shopping companions as we toured the craft show yesterday. After that we went to lunch and visited a Candle Factory. We were blessed with a sunny day but it was very cold near freezing and windy too.

DD is holding our Lucky guy as he investigates some jingle bells and DDIL #5 is standing on the other side of him.

Today we'll all be going over to DS#3's house to celebrate Thanksgiving...

There'll be more pictures coming.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 11, Page 26, Book 10

FANTASTIC Friday / Shopping and the Christmas Spirit

I hear so much bah humbugging going on this time of year. Lots of people grumble about all the crowds and the stores and presents to get. As for me, when I think about Christmas shopping I get into the Spirit of Christmas.

When the Christ child came into the world, the angels were singing joyfully and the shepherds and the Wise men came to celebrate. They brought gifts too. So why should everyone be so dismal about Christmas?

To my way of thinking, Christmas is all about giving and sharing. I love to give to people close to me and I love giving to those that are less fortunate than me too. This is a time for helping others. I love Christmas shopping. The time spent finding a special gift for each person on my list, makes me think a little more about that person and what might be special to them.

Truly its not about the presents it's about God presence's in my families lives. But what JOY I have in finding just the right gift for each of them. This year most of my gifts will be homemade, but there will be a few other small items under the tree for them too.

Christmas is traditionally a time to get together with family. That's something we don't do much these days so we try to celebrate the holidays by being together as often as possible. I'm not going to the mall today but I am doing some shopping with some people I love.

It's a tradition in our family and we've gone for many years. As you know many of my children do not live close by but this year I do have my DD and DS#5, and #6 to go along with me. Our little Lucky Guy and Mr. Wonderful will be coming along too. We'll be having a FANTASTIC day...Singing Jingle All the Way!

I hope your Friday is a Fantastic one too!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 11, Page 25, Book 10

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.

Edward Sandford Martin

I am really so thankful for every thing in my life. The good, the bad and the ugly too. It's easy to be thankful for the good things, but we must remember the bad and the ugly comes in to our lives for a reason too. So for those things I try to be thankful for the lessons I've been able to learn from them.

In January of this year I was thankful for another new year to make the most of and to enjoy and for the online devotionals I read every day. They give me a great start to the day

In February I was thankful for beautiful but cold and snowy days. For the smell of wood smoke in the air when I stepped outside reminding me of a nice warm fire place. I was thankful to be who I am and do the best that I can in whatever I do. And for a warm house and a pot full of hot coffee. I was and still am thankful that I've many blessings to count. And the best blessing came at the end of February with the birth of my 13th grand child.

I was thankful that I live a life of many varied interests and will never be bored with so many things to do that I like.

In March I celebrated another birthday and I was so thankful for all the good wishes and for the fact that it was a little warmer, the snow was melting and I could finally take my wool socks off and wear cotton ones

A replacement was found for me at work and I could look forward to training some one to take my place when I retired in April

In April I was very thankful I could finally retire from many years of work. I went to care for my grandson for a month and loved every moment of it. We also opened up our campers for the season and I was so delighted to see the flowers blooming. Daffodils and tulips were just beautiful this year.

I was so very thankful for Spring. I was a very Thankful mom when I listened to my son praying before dinner one night.

In May we had birthday and family celebrations that were just wonderful. We celebrated Memorial Day weekend at the camper and had beautiful weather

In June the roses were in bloom and the weather was wet but warm and I spent many days at the camper

July brought much warmer weather and lots of days spent camping. At home I enjoyed many pleasant evening sitting on the patio watching the birds at the feeders. Just enjoying the coolness of the evening.

In August we welcomed another new babe to the family. How exciting it was to finally have one that lives close to home.

September brought more lovely days and Apples and cinnamon and camp fires on cool nighs.

October was exciting with the arrival of my wild haired pumpkin man. It took awhile for the mums to bloom but when they did it looked like a full head of hair on that pumpkin face. We celebrated fall and Octoberfest with lots of good food too.

I was very thankful too for the opportunity to care for my Youngest grand child, Mr. Wonderful

And in November DDIL#1 celebrated her 40th birthday and I was very thankful indeed that she invited me to join in her birthday celebration which included a marvelous trip and that brings us to the present .

As this year draws to a close there will be many more things to be thankful for and I'll be sharing them each Thursday.

I really did a very brief summary of my blessings for this year. There were so many other things not mentioned here that I am thankful for. Truly I am thankful for everything.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it ...

is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

William Arthur Ward

I hope your Thursday is one in which you can be Thankful too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 11, Page 24, Book 10

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keep everything in perspective. Little things mean a lot.

We often place emphasis on the spectacular events in our lives. There are indeed many wonderful things in our lives that powerfully influence us. But there are as many or more times when a brief moment or event touches us just as deeply.

We spend our lives gathering experiences, but the great lesson of life is to feel loved and cherished. The way we can have that is to make others feel just that way -- loved and cherished.

Today will be one of those days where a lot of little things are going to get done at my house. I'm not so sure if any of them are going to amount to anything great. Yet they have to be done too.

Experience has taught me that little things can develop into mountains and so the dishes, the laundry, the dusting, and many more tiny little things will be done.

I hope your day is a WONDERFUL one!

Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterwards

Author Unknown

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 11, Page 23, Book 10

TERRIFIC 2'S TUESDAY!

We all have holiday traditions that have been a part of our family life for years, but sometimes we want to choose some new traditions. Here are a few ideas that may just get you inspired. Add one or two new ones a year, and you'll find yourself looking forward to them as December rolls around

Use a beautiful blank book to record your holiday traditions. Make a note of the year at the top of the page... then write down where you lived , what the tree looked like, traditions you observed, and who was there. Ask guests and visitors to write a few lines as well. Record special gifts given or received. Take photos of the tree, your family, and guests, and add these to the book.

I have a book that we started a few years ago in which we write down what we are Thankful for at Thanksgiving. It's fun to look back at what was written in previous years.

Family recipes are often cherished harbingers of the holidays. Have a traditional holiday dinner menu every year. And make breakfast special as well. Serve a traditional beverage such as spiced cider, cocoa, mimosas, for special evenings or mornings. Choose things you enjoy making and love to eat.

One year I put together a Family Cookbook with everyone's favorite recipes and gave each of my children a copy for Christmas. I had a lot of fun putting it together but have also found that I made a few errors typing it up too.

My oldest son called me the other day to inquire about my recipe for Frothy Slosh. The punch we make every holiday. I had included a bottle of Chili sauce in the recipe and that was definitely a big mistake. What a laugh we got out of that one. Who knows how that happened. The recipe should have read. 1/2 bottle (32oz.) cranapple juice, 1/2 litter bottle ginger ale and about 8 or so scoops of orange sherbet . You just stir this around to get a very frothy looking and delicious punch.

Although he has had this cook book several years now, I guess it was the first time they had looked up that recipe.

t doesn't matter so much which traditions you choose to observe as long as they are meaningful to you and your family. Incorporate things you love to do and they'll be a joy and not just another holiday chore

That's my 2 things for a Terrific Tuesday!

I hope your Tuesday is a TERRIFIC one too.

'On Ya'-ma

Chapter 11, Page 22, Book 10

IT'S MERRY MONDAY!

In a few days we will be celebrating a day set aside to give thanks to God for all His blessings. You are probably already making plans and preparations for this special day. As you prepare, begin to think about all the wonderful things God has given you this year

I list my things I'm thankful for every Thursday but this Thursday will be a special one so I'll try to put together my list for the year. Be prepared! It may be a long one.

Today I'm going to try and get one of my crafty projects finished up and begin a new one. After Christmas is over, I'll post pictures of all that I've done. Hopefully there will be lots to show you.

So far I have managed to finish 4 of the Friendship Shawls that I'm making for family and friends this year. I even made myself one. Oh my they are soft and cuddly.

The Red one is for DDIL#1. Her birthday is over but I didn't have it quite finished when we took our trip so I'll be giving it to her next weekend. She choose the color as it is her favorite. In the pattern book I'm using, it says that Red stands for Energy, strength, power, determination, love, and courage. All these things are so true of my DIL.

The green one is for a friend for Christmas. Green stands for healing, harmony safety, hope, protection, and peace.

I think these colors just happens to say a lot about each of them and fits their personality very well.

The next two shawls that I'll be doing will be January birthday gifts and the favorite colors of these two also seems to match their personalities.

I'll be making a purple one for our Princess. Purple stands for Wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity and mystery.

And I'll be making a yellow one for a friend. Yellow stands for Cheerfulness, energy, joy and confidence.

To me these shawls say 'here is a HUG for you to keep'. They are soft, warm and very cuddly. The pattern that I'm using is a very simple one and easy to do too.

Paints and brushes will be my tools for today's project...the knitting needles and yarn are the tools my evening projects.

Have a Merry Monday everyone!

'On Ya'-ma