~I Am Finished!~

I am finally finished with the goodie baking for this season! PTL!!! I am exhausted, my back hurts and my feet....oh, my poor feet! LOL

I made cream cheese balls that has dried beef, cream cheese, green onions and a couple more things in them. Brandon (oldest son) and I love them but Roger and Tyler...not so much! Just more for us, huh? Normally, it makes 2 good sized balls but this year I made 8 small ones to put in the goodies for Roger's work. I know that everyone won't like everything but they will certainly have a wide selection to chose from.

Next, I baked mini pecan pies.

Then 5 mini loaves of Banana Nut Bread.



Their goodies include...chocolate chip cookies, Frosted Pecans, milk chocolate and white chocolate holiday treats, Cream Cheese Balls with Ritz crackers, Banana Nut Bread, Mini Pecan pie, Dipped pretzel rods and Butter Pecan bundt cake.



This is the boss's platter with his goodies and these are the others in his office. They are include the same things.



So...I'm tired and going to bed now.

Wishing you and your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

~Let The Countdown Baking Begin~

I haven't done much baking so far this Christmas season because...well, I've busy and hardly at home but since it is now the week of Christmas...guess, I'd better get busy, huh?

I have to do lots of little baking for my husband's work and so I started today since he has to have it on Wednesday.

Today, I made pretzel rods dipped in almond bark with Christmas sprinkles, a delicious butter pecan bundt cake with yummy icing, milk chocolate and white chocolate holiday treats and Roger baked 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies (Sunday night).

Tomorrow (Tuesday), I have to bake my mini pecan pies, brownies, cream cheese balls, party mix and frosted pecans.

Here are a few pictures of today's events. Oh, my goodness...this is the best cake ever...so moist and absolutely delicious.





Next...my decorated holiday dipped pretzel rods...wonderful combination of sweet and salty...yummy!







And lastly, my mini holiday treats. Simple...melt, squeeze, tap, let sit up and wa la!







This real baking gets underway tomorrow but for tonight...I'm tired and going to bed now.

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

What Story Does Your CHRISTmas Tree Tell?

I was looking at our CHRISTmas tree today and as I gazed at it...the memories began to flood my mind. A smile crept across my lips, my eyes began to twinkle as I remembered each ornament that was carefully hung on our tree. I remember each ornament that I have bought for my children, each handmade ornament our children have made, the different ornaments we bought on vacations, my crosses, stars, angels and my homemade ones. One of my favorite homemade ornaments has to be the two from Destin and Orange Beach. I brought sand and shells home from both trips...not knowing what I was going to do with them. Two years ago, I had this idea, bought the clear balls and the rest is history. They each have the beach and date written on the bottom. Our tree says....MEMORIES, MEMORIES, MEMORIES...to each one of us.

Our CHRISTmas tree tells the story of our lives...what story does your tree tell?

I'm still smiling as I write this and look at the pictures again.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Welcome To Our Home For CHRISTmas!

I have finally finished all the house decorations, tree decorating and the outside lights are all up and burning brightly. If you can't tell...I love this time of year. Now I am ready to start baking and wrapping presents.

As I have been promising for a week now....pictures of our home decorated for CHRISTmas. Let me warn some of you ahead of time...I am and have been for 28+ years...a Santa collector. They are displayed all over my house during CHRISTmas.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus, teach it to our children and instill in them the true meaning of CHRISTmas because without the birth of Jesus...what would there be to celebrate...not Santa, but Jesus Christ, who was born in a manager and died for our sins on an old rugged cross.

However, we also did the Santa Claus "thing" with our children, just like our parents did with us. Hopefully, you won't think any less of me...but this is the "real" me and that is what my blog is all about...being completely transparent.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and welcome to our home for CHRISTMAS! Come on in and make yourself at home.

This is my favorite tree except for our big tree. It has blown glass nativity scenes, angels and over 50 crosses on it. This nativity scene is also my favorite.

I didn't realize until this morning that these pictures got their heads cut off. It was after 1 AM when I finished and I didn't notice. The police Santa is for my hubby, who is a part-time police officer.

Few More Decorating Memories of Mine!

I was replying to someone's comment that was left on my site and it brought back quite a few memories of Christmas past.

I have always decorated my house on the outside, regardless of whether it was my first marriage or this one. I love Christmas lights and I love to drive around to see other people's houses all decorated too. It is almost like a contagious things around here...one starts...then another...then another and finally, most of the neighborhood is lit up.

I started out small in our first home...lights in the bushes around our house, wreath on the doors...then it started to grow. I put yard decorations out, spotlight on the front door and lights on the house. Our second home...I bought 10 wreaths and made 10 big red bows for each one. I still use those wreaths today...only 6 windows now.

I have decorated outside every year but one in our nearly 18 years of marriage. That year...14 years ago...my wonderful hubby did it for me because I was pregnant and sick as a dog! I am quite sure that he didn't want to but he knew how important it was to me and he did it anyway.

I stopped traffic more than once because "men" thought I needed some help. You see...we had this very, very tall gable on our old house....the peak was so tall that I still couldn't reach it with an extension ladder.

Now....I hate extension ladders. I am a daredevil and love a frightful thrill but I can't stand extension ladders or Ferris wheels! The scare me to death.

I would stand on the tip top of the extension ladder...praying continually...stretching as far as my short arms would reach. Then I would climb down that ladder and get on the step ladder. From there...I would climb on the roof...walk up the steep incline of the gable, sit on the peak's ridge and hang the lights over the edge. That's what stopped the traffic!

Crazy? Yes, but I love Christmas lights!

Our other house we had...I could climb out on and walk along the roof from the up stairs attic window and put wreaths on the second story windows. I would have to take the screen off my son's bedroom window, raise it and it on the edge with nothing below except the flowerbed and sidewalk to put that wreath out.. I was so thankful that that house only had "dog houses" on the roof and a straight line of gutters all the way around. Wheeee...not gables to hang lights on! That was the year that I went to the icicle lights. They are beautiful at night....ohhhhhh, I love them.

The home we have now...is a straight shot also...but, many, many trips up and down a ladder to complete. It is so worth it!

Ok...so, I'm addicted! Exhausted but addicted. I still have probably 2 nights of work left but I promise the pictures will come!

Have a wonderful day!!!

When The Circumstances and Elements Don't Cooperate

This has not started out as the typical Jennifer Christmas holiday decorating time. I have (in the past) had it down to an art...

• get the tubs down from the attic (all labels according to the rooms and/or contents)
• bring them in one at a time
• unpack the contents
• pack away everyday items that are being replaced with Christmas decorations
• take the empty tubs or re-filled tubs back to the garage
• neaty stack to be taken back to the attic until the day after New Years

Now...that is just the inside decorations...this is the outside ones. These containers are also brought down when the indoor items are and placed in a different area of the garage to keep everything separate.

• I begin with the icicle lights that hang around 3 sides of our home (don't do the back...even though, we are on a corner and you can see it...too tired and too many lights)
• I have to run 2 extension cords up by the gutter down spout so you can't see it
• attach it to the downspout with wire ties
• each year when I take the lights down...I have them on "spool"s labeled...right or left...now what that means is...I don't take the gutter clips off the lights and because I have to run them off of 2 different extension cords....one set goes to the left around the house and the other goes to the right around the other side of the house...otherwise, they blow fuses :-(
• get the ladder out and get busy
• usually, I have to trim the crape myrtles back to get the lights hung...but this is all part of it
• set up my reindeer, trees and Christmas presents in the yard
• hang Santa off the gutter by the porch
• hang the ladder with Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and an Elf climbing it from another gutter
• set up my countdown to Christmas "clock"
• get it all hooked up to extension cords and on timers (everything is on timers...hate to turn on and off)

This is normally a 2 to 2 1/2 day project...from beginning to end. There have been many years when I have been up on the ladder in the freezing cold until well after dark. Last year, it was unseasonably warm and it was so nice to get it all finished with out turning into an icicle myself.

Well...this year...it has not been a easy task. Roger and Tyler got everything down from the attic on Thanksgiving evening so that I could begin on Friday.

Friday was a beautiful day and I debated over and over whether to do the inside or the outside first. Well, I had been Christmas shopping on Wednesday, found a ton of great sales on all Christmas decorations...plus, I was so excited to get the inside finished...I started there first.

Friday went very smoothly and things were taking shape as the day went along. But, by 11:30 PM...I was dead on my feet. Everything on my body and in my body hurt by that time....and...I wasn't finished yet. My plans were to get up early Saturday morning to complete the inside before heading outside.

Saturday morning arrives and I get up, shower and get ready because I had to meet the lady who makes curtains for me to give her my material to make 3 panels for my living room. (I will post some pictures later when I get them back and hung...before Christmas...she promised.) I met with her and then ran to the bank...somewhere along the way...I got another wild hair to run to M****** to get more of those fabulous decoration sales.

I have been so excited about Christmas this year and I have always loved to decorate but this year...I've gone beyond anything that I've ever done. I have even decorated my bathroom and bought garland to go around my tub! Ok...I know you all think that I am totally off my rocker now, but I love to have Christmas in every room of the house...including the bathrooms. When everything is completed...I will post pictures. Shhhh...don't tell anyone but my house is mostly decorated, well, 99% with Santa Clauses (I've collected them for 28 years)...not very spiritual, I guess but I know the reason for the season and we teach our children it as well.

I didn't get home until after 7 PM last night and decided to start on the lights outside while it was dark. It makes it easier to see what I'm doing when the icicle lights are on and it is dark outside. Yes, my husband thinks that I am nuts too. Well, no sooner than I got the extension cords put up and ready to go...got 1/2 of the string hung and it started raining. I stayed out there as long as I could and finally called it a night. I left the other half of the lights hanging in a bush till I returned today to finish them.

Fast forward to today...we get home from church, change clothes and I head outside to get the lights hung. Roger doesn't get into doing all the decorations but he loves what I do when it is all finished. I love doing it and I would rather do it myself than it be crooked, sagging or look terrible...I'm very anal when it comes to things being straight! So, he stayed inside to cook lunch for our family and I gladly went outside.

I got up on the ladder to complete what I started last night and realized that I wanted to wash down the porch, siding and columns before I hung the lights. We bought one of those "fancy gutter washer outers" a couple of weeks ago to clean them out when I hung the lights. I forgot until today that I was planning on doing it.

Yesterday it was in the upper 50's and today...it is in the lower 40's with winds 20 mph...making it feel like it is 36 degrees. What was I thinking about "playing" in the water! I got the porch and siding washed down and it looks great...then I headed for the gutters with my new gadget.

I didn't realize that it also telescopes so when I turned the water on...full force...I had the hooked part already inside the gutter...I'm standing on the ladder...it (gadget) shoots up...telescoping itself....spraying me right smack dab in the face. Well, now I am drenched! I look like a wet dog in a coat and gloves. What a sight to see! I didn't let it deter me, I kept washing and digging the leaves out with my hands. Needless to say, they were froze and I was soaking wet...my hair, jacket, pants and tennis shoes.

Thank goodness, lunch was ready. I came inside, threw my clothes in the dryer and had a wonderful dinner.

Back outside, up on the ladder and now 1/3 of the 2nd string doesn't work. I've learned from many years of experience that usually means a missing or broken bulb...but there wasn't one. Sometimes, if too many bulbs are blown...then they won't work. No such luck either. Down the ladder, come inside to get my "bulb tester gadget" but I couldn't find it anywhere. I stopped and told my hubby that I was running to the store to buy another one rather than spend an hour looking for it and still not find it....I had work to do. He fully agreed!

Back home with new bulb tester gadget and up on the ladder again. Finally, I got them to work and I still have no clue what was wrong with them. I had to stop and cut the crape myrtle to round the corner of the house...back down the ladder, in the garage, get clippers, back around the house, up the ladder and cut the limb. Wheeeee....I'm getting my exercise today.

Then guess what???? It starts raining again! I was determined to finish that 1/2 the house or die trying. My hubby had to go to the police department to work and when I said that I was doing to finish or die trying...he said...well, you got all the elements in line to do that...please, no injuries today. But the time, I finished that 1/2 the house....I was soaking wet again and freezing. I couldn't feel my fingers, toes or legs at that point.

What you don't realize is that the old me...2 years ago...would have been throwing a "stinking" fit because everything was going wrong today. I would have been throwing things, stomping and saying things that wouldn't be very nice (not real bad, but not happy words) and the pity party would have been on....for the rest of the day.

Today, when I was fighting to get those lights to work...I stopped and prayed...Lord, please help me to figure out what is wrong with these lights and get them to work. I don't want to let this put me in a bad mood, stress me out or cause me to lose the holiday spirit that is flowing so strongly through me. There were several times that I had to pray a similar prayer to keep from losing it but I didn't lose it...not one single time. Now, that is a major victory! Whooo Hoooo!

Since it is raining outside, I just pray that I can finish the inside or at least, 80% before I have to go back to work tomorrow. Even if I don't get all the things accomplished that I want to today...I still have an amazing victory over my mouth, emotions and reactions to things not cooperating with me today.

Psalm 37:8
Don't give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble. (GN)

Ephesians 4:26
If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day.(GN)

Isaiah 41:10
Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. (Message)

Proverbs 15:13
A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~O Holy Night

SCROLL DOWN AND PAUSE MY MUSIC FIRST...PLEASE!

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs...it tells the beautiful story of Jesus birth and oh, what a story.

As a child, I thought these songs were for "old folks"...well, I guess, I was right because now as an "old folk"...I love this song and so many more like these.

If it weren't for that wonderful night over 2000 years ago...I would not be able to come to my Savior~Jesus Christ and repent of my sins, ask Him to come into my heart and immediately become royalty.

No other man or god can do that for me...He is the way, the truth and the life. Oh, how I love my Lord and Savior!

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJ)

Matthew 1:20,21
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (KJ)

Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (KJ)

O Holy Night by Celion Dion...I love her angelic voice in this song along with pictures that represent the birth of Jesus Christ.

Decorating Time

Good Morning!

Now that an enjoyable Thanksgiving is over...it is time to get busy decorating my home for Christmas...my favorite time of the year.

I can't bring myself to decorate before Thanksgiving because I remember my mom always saying "Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday...lost between Halloween and Christmas". I feel like I am taking away from the "special atmosphere" of giving thanks during Thanksgiving, if I get into the "commercial" decorating with Santas along with my nativity scenes, both inside and out of my home before the day after Thanksgiving.

So...today starts my big day of decorating my home. Believe me...it gets emotional because it is a big ordeal, time consuming and exhausting...but, I keep doing it every year. I love the look of our home when it is all decorated and smelling like Christmas. Plus, I want to enjoy everyday that I can, for as long as I can because either Christmas night or the next day...it is all coming down, getting packed back in it's boxes and stored away in the attic again for another year.

My hubby thinks that I am crazy for putting myself through this every year but, it is something that I "have" to do. It wouldn't be Christmas around here if it were any other way.

Each year...I add more and more to the decorations that I already have. Tyler and I went shopping for him some clothes for Christmas...I let him pick out most of them, wrap them and he acts so surprised on Christmas morning :-0 But, for some reason...I spent about 4-5 hours shopping in Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx and Garden Ridge...for Christmas decorations. I had no intentions of doing this but every store already had all their decorations 50% off ticketed price. How could I pass that up???

Ayway...I'm off to get busy decorating and turning my home into a Christmas wonderland (well, the best that I can do anyway)!

I might post some pictures when I can completely finished if they look good.

See you all in a couple of days :-)

~Sometimes CHRISTmas Makes Me Cry~

I saw this video for the first time over at Samantha's blog...Mama's aMusings and I was so "blown away" that I had to share it here on my blog. This is by Mandisa and Matthew West.

I love CHRISTmas time of the year with all the laughter, decorations, holiday cheer, reflecting on CHRISTmas past, the true meaning of CHRISTmas and wonderful childhood memories.

My daddy died 19 years ago this past August 4th and CHRISTmas was his favorite time of the year. He loved to surprise my mom with wonderful gifts and he did the same thing for his children. He played Santa, shook jingle bells outside our bedroom window so we would hurry up go to sleep and made reindeer tracks in the snow once when we were lucky enough to have a white Christmas. Oh, I have such wonderful CHRISTmas memories with my family!

Every year at the beginning of the CHRISTmas holiday season, when I start playing the CHRISTmas music, burning the scented candles, the house is all decorated and I begin to wrap the presents...I have a hard, long, sobbing cry because I miss my daddy so much. I miss him as much now as I did 19 years ago. This has become a "tradition" for me but it is therapeutic.


I'm dedicating this song to my daddy...Billy Wood. I know you are in the arms of Jesus right now, healed and very happy but...Daddy, I miss you so much and can't wait to see you again. I love you, Daddy!

I am blessed to still have my wonderful, loving and beautiful mother...inside and out...alive and living close by. Mom...you mean the world to me and I love you more than words can ever express. You are truly the picture of a godly mother. Thank you for loving me and my family (in spite of our faults), raising me in a strong Christian home and always being there for us. I love you, Mom. (yes, she reads my blog:)

Enjoy! Be sure to scroll down and pause my music first. If you have YouTube blocked on your computer (some have told me they do)...you might find it on GodTube (I haven't looked).