The Blessing Box

I love linking up with Natalie for
The Blessing Box....

It is truly hard to count all of the blessings that I have received over the years.  I was born into a large loving family.  I was taught right from wrong and to always do my best.  I learned to treat others as I wanted to be treated, and that if I couldn't say something nice, I shouldn't say anything at all....

Chuck and I are trying to bring up our children with those same morals and values....but it's a tough, uphill battle.  Teens are exposed to so many negative influences in their lives.  Classmates, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches, and acquaintances have such an impact on their day to day lives.  Peer pressure (or the devil) can force them to make bad choices, and sometimes those poor choices can affect the rest of their lives. 

I've said this before, but it bears repeating....I believe that everything happens for a reason.  The experiences and happenings of today, along with your upbringing, make you who you'll be tomorrow.  One has to fail, face disappointments, and go through trials and tribulations that test one's strength in order to become wiser and stronger.

I pray every day that our children will grow and become all that they can be.  It is our  hope that when they are adults, they will feel blessed to have grown up in our family.   I hope that they will realize that our earnest intention as parents was to nurture them, encourage them, and teach them what they need to know to become independent and productive. 

A Teenager's Prayer

Author: J. Morse

Each day brings new beginnings
Decisions I must make
I am the only one to choose
The road that I will take

I can choose to take the road of life
That leads to great success
Or travel down the darkened road
That leads to great distress

Please open up my eyes, dear Lord
That I might clearly see
Help me stand for what is right
Bring out the best in me

Help, Lord, to just say "no"
When temptation comes my way
That I might keep my body clean
And fit for life each day

When my teenage years are over
I know that I will see
That life is lived its very best
With you walking next to me.

12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge Day 14

Day 14

 Oprah's Favorite Things:  What items would you want if you were in the audience?
(I'm linking up with Aly and Molly over at Analyze This for the

12 Days of Christmas blog challenge..)

I'm not normally an Oprah watcher, so I just had to spend a little time researching her favorite things for 2010.  Not to be greedy, I've only picked out a "few" things that I'd want if I were lucky enough to be in the audience on the day of the Christmas giveaway!!

iPad by Apple



LeCreuset Cookware



Volkswagen 2012 Beetle



Baker's Edge Baking Pan



Netflix 5-year Membership

Sony BRAVIA LX900 HDTV with 3D TV

I can dream, can't I??

12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge Day 12

Day 12

 Show Us Your Decorations

(I'm linking up with Aly and Molly over at Analyze This for the

12 Days of Christmas blog challenge..)

 These decorations are from last Christmas....I haven't gotten around to doing anything yet this year.  I'm slack..not yet feeling the Christmas spirit....

The center Santa was a gift to Chuck from a lady in our Sunday school class...

he is really fabulous!

I made the quilted Christmas tree wall hanging two years ago....

I'll probably hang it again this year too.

 Various pictures of our Santa collection on the mantle...

This is the largest tree in the den.  It is decorated with our collection of Hallmark ornaments. 

 Last year was the first year I decorated a tree with only firefighter ornaments....

Chuck and Charles really loved this little tree.

The two pics above are of my Wizard of Oz tree....

Within the next week or so, I hope to start getting ready for Christmas 2010...

when that happens, I'll post more current pictures.

Merry Christmas!

<3

Jo

Miscellany Monday

I am linking up again this week with Carissa at lowercase letters

for this week's edition of

Miscellany Monday.

It is so cold here!  When I went out to go to school this morning, the temp was 20 degrees.  The high for today is forcasted to be in the mid-40's, and stay in that vicinity all week....BRRRR!

I had my TAP observation this morning in 2nd grade ELA.  We got into our groups and I introduced idioms....what a major disaster!  Oh well, it's over and I'm relieved....wish I could --

Cannot wait for the TAP pay-out on Dec. 16th....pay-out from the 2009-10 school year!  Nothing like delayed reward and gratification, huh?

We've still done no decorating for Christmas.  I really don't know when I'll get in the mood enough to do it either... :( ...hopefully soon...

Josh, self-proclaimed #1 "son", was at our house all weekend.  I'm so happy that he is hanging out with us again.  He is so fun and animated...I just love him!

Did I mention it is COLD??

I had a missed call on the answering machine yesterday saying that the Force was interested in Lawren and MJ.  I'm so excited, but have yet to mention it to them as we were at try-outs for another team, the Dixie Diamondbacks, when the call came in.  I feel like the coach of the Diamondbacks will want them too, so I'll have to do a little research on the two teams before getting their preference and opinion.  I'm very proud of them...they are both so athletic and work super hard in every sport they play! 

I hope all of you have had a marvelous Monday....

<3

Jo

Meet Me on Monday

Questions:


1.  What is your favorite kind of cheese?  I love sharp cheddar best of all!

2.  What size is your bed?  We have a king-size bed...and we really needed it when the kids were little....sometimes there were five of us in there at one time!

3.  What is your most overused phrase?  "Umm..whatever.."

4.  Green or purple grapes?  Green please...

5.  Shower, morning or night?  Shower in the morning, for sure....sometimes at night too though...

12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge Day 13

Day 13

 Favorite Cookie Recipe

(I'm linking up with Aly and Molly over at Analyze This for the

12 Days of Christmas blog challenge..)

Of course, I could not choose just one recipe, so here are my two favorite cookie recipes.

Gingersnaps
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups self-rising flour
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 1/2 t. ginger

Cream sugar and shortening together until light and fluffy.  Add molasses and beaten egg.  Beat thoroughly.  Sift flour and spices together and add to creamed mixture.  Blend together carefully so that all ingredients are well mixed.
Roll small portions of dough between palms of hands into small balls, about the size of a small walnut.  Roll balls in granulated sugar.  Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees, bake 12 to 15 minutes.  The cookies flatten out as they bake.  When they are baked, remove at once from cookie sheet and cool on wire cake rack.  Makes about 5 dozen.

Praline Grahams
1 pkg. graham crackers (1/3 of a box)
3/4 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. chopped pecans

Break crackers and put on a foiled-lined pan with edges touching.
Melt butter in saucepan; stir in sugar and pecans.  Bring to a boil, cook for 3 minutes, stirring often.  Spread mixture over crackers.  Bake at 300 degrees for 12 minutes.  Remove from pan and let cool on a wire rack or waxed paper.  Makes 3 1/2 dozen.

Hope you will try and enjoy these cookie recipes!!

Saturday 9: Hard Habit to Break

Saturday 9: Hard Habit to Break
1. Do you have any habits or rituals at this time of year?  We always make a trip to the Hallmark store to purchase ornaments.  We decorate several Christmas trees, and go to the Christmas eve service at our church...


2. Polar bears seem to do well in the snow... How about you? Is snow just another thing you deal with when it shows up, or is it shutdown time?   Here in the sunny South, when it snows, it's a big event!  If the weatherman even mentions snow, there is a mad dash to the local grocery store to buy milk and bread!  I'm serious...there won't be a loaf or a carton in the building....and why southerners need milk and bread to survive an inch of snow that will be melted away by noon is beyond me.... :)

 3. Tell about a toy you remember from your childhood.   My favorite toys were my Barbie dolls....the girls in the neighborhood and I would get together with our Barbies and play for hours!!!  Such good memories...


4. If you could make one thing in the world absolutely free for everyone, what would it be?  Food....


5. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they?  Two of my brothers live about 15 miles away in the next small town.  My brother John lives about two hours away in Chester, and my sister lives in Berkeley, CA....we're making plans to get together for the first time since 1992 later int the month....I'm so excited!!


6. My mom ordered a turkey dinner from a local market. It was o.k., but not very good. How was your turkey (or last holiday meal) this year?  Super!  I cooked the turnkey, dressing, and gravy, and the other Creeches made everything else.  We'll do it again on Christmas night, and I can hardly wait!


7. In a one horse open sleigh: Have you ever been on a sleigh ride or a carriage ride? Do you even like horses? Or would you just rather travel by your own two feet?  When Chuck and I were on our honeymoon, we took a carriage ride in Charleston. 


8. What is your favorite Christmas song? ...and sung or played by whom? You know, the one you tend to listen for on the radio or hit 'repeat' on the player...  My favorite Christmas songs are Please Come Home for Christmas by The Eagles, and Christmas in Dixie by Alabama.


9. What is your least favorite Christmas song? ...and sung or played by whom? You know, the one you tend to skip on the player..  The Little Drummer Boy by everyone who sings it...