Bloggy Giveaway Carnival #1: The Remembrance Necklace

This Giveaway is now officially closed. For more information on how to purchase these products, please go to GiBee Designs. Thanks for participating!

It's finally here! The Bloggy Giveaway Carnival hosted by Shannon over at her Bloggy Giveaways blog (also from Rocks in my Dryer). I will have 6 ... yes, six pieces of handcrafted jewelry to give away this week! I will post the first one here, and then by the end of the day, I'll have the other 5 posted on their own posts.

How can you win??? Leave a comment along with your email address, and your blog or website link where I can contact you. IMPORTANT: I MUST have a valid email address to contact you (if you fill out the blogger comment form properly, your email address will only be seen by me).

Updated to Add: You MAY enter for one, three, or all six drawings, but you may only enter your name once in each of the drawings. Let me know if that doesn't make sense. Also... I think Google changed things up on me! Now, when you comment, you need to leave your email address within the comment section, but in order to maintain spammers from getting your email, I would suggest that you use the following format (with your info, of course!):

kissesof[dot]sunshine[at]yahoo[dot]com

I promise I'll figure it out. Please check back by Monday, 2/4/08 to see if you've been drawn.

Also, I changed my comments so they pop up, I hope that makes it easier with six places to enter at one time! Have fun!

The jewelry will be sent out regular postal service, unless you live in Canada (in which case, I'm not sure how to do that, but it will probably still be with the USPS).

The drawings are open to both US and Canadian addresses! The Giveaway will be closed (comments section) by noon on Friday, February 1!

Now, without further to do... I present you with my first giveaway: The Remembrance Necklace.

The sterling silver pendant is approximately one inch, and is hand-wrapped. It contains a freshwater pearl flanked by two tiny clear Swarovski crystals. It is topped by a third small clear Swarovski crystal that represents the small life that was lost. The top crystal can be replaced with either a pink or blue crystal to specifically represent a boy or girl, or it can also be replaced with the color of the birthstone for the month of the baby’s intended due date or the child's birthday. The pendant will come strung on a delicate 18" sterling silver chain. It is the perfect choice for somebody who prefers a discreet reminder of their child to wear all of the time ... one that won’t generate questions that may be too painful to answer.

I designed this necklace so that it may help mothers who have experienced the loss of a child feel comforted and begin to heal from the loss. Losing a child is one of the most devastating events that can happen in a woman's life and the grief that follows the loss of a baby during pregnancy, during infancy, or a child of any age is painful, intense and very real. To help you on your healing journey, please know that this necklace was made for you with incredible love, respect, and care. Your grief is an important part of healing, and should never be minimized.

The pearl in this pendant represents the continuance of things - of life, loss and pure love. We grieve, we heal, and we come full circle. I specifically chose the pearl as the central focal point on this pendant, because it simply amazes me that something so tiny can enter an oyster, yet develop into a beautiful, lustrous pearl.

While we may only be able to hold our child in our hearts today, one day soon we will be able to hold their hand, and hug them close to us. It is my deepest prayer for you, that in the process of wearing this necklace, your heart will begin to mend, and you will find peace.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27

Thursday Thanks Tank

Pam at Without Fear hosts Thursday Thanks Tank, and trust me when I say -- there is no better way to improve one's outlook on life then to take a look at a list of what you're thankful for! Why don't you give it a try??

Here is a list of things that I am ever so thankful for...

1. My husband. Why? Because he grounds me -- daily. He leads our household to the very best of his abilities. He loves me regardless of my many shortcomings. He holds me when I need to be held. He is my very, VERY best friend in the whole wide world. He prays with me, and for me. He is a man of integrity, faith, and honor... and he has a wonderful sense of humor.

2. My son. He makes me laugh, cry, and sigh from the very bottom of my heart -- the kind of sigh that makes you feel like your heart might just come out with it! He loves to sing, dance, run, climb, jump, and he loves to hug and kiss mommy and daddy. Last night at church, he cried out... "Mommy!" and my sister in law pointed out to me that it was so sweet that now he's saying "Mommy" and not mama, or ma. It was a sweet reminder of all the times I cried, prayed, and begged God for a child that would call me mommy! Thanks for that special reminder, Sunshine!!

3. Scripture. It lifts my spirits, challenges me, and teaches me new things each time I read it!!! It renews me and refreshes me.

4. This week. I'm thankful it has flown by. I'm thankful Monday was a holiday, therefore shortening the week by one day!

5. An extra day off from work. I did absolutely nothing this weekend. Nothing at all. I didn't do laundry, didn't clean, didn't cook, and barely lifted my body off of my comfy chair, the couch, or my bed. I just relaxed, and was able to read an entire book in one day! Shock and awe, y'all! My husband carried the weight of everything so that I could just relax. He's the bestest!!!

6. Lessons learned. We're learning a lot of them: how to be fiscally frugal; how to budget tightly; how to make a dollar stretch; how to make a gourmet meal out of hot dogs. It's a challenge, and it can be stressful, but it's also rather fun!

7. Friends. Many of you have reached out and sent me recipes, links, notes, outlines, and all kinds of goodies on how to save money! Thank you so much!!!

8. My down blanket. I love to snuggle under it when it gets cold at night. It's cozy, comfy, and keeps me so warm that I don't want to get out of bed in the morning.

So, what are you thankful for???

Bloggy Giveaway...

Oh, yes... you read right! There's another Bloggy Giveaway on the horizon, and I'm so excited with my offerings, I can barely contain myself. I have a handful of fantastically jeweled creations to share with y'all again this coming Giveaway, including some beautiful Witness Bling, as well as a very, very special piece. It's a simple piece, really, but it has so much meaning behind it, and it's also the piece of jewelry that I'll give you a sneak-peak at... in description only -- no pictures just yet.

The "Remembrance Necklace"

Many people who have experienced miscarriages, or have lost a child, have emailed me to ask me if I have designed any "Remembrance Jewelry." I have really been praying and waiting to be inspired by the "perfect design," and in December, it finally hit me.

I had made a simple, yet lovely necklace for one of my dear sister-in-laws. It was designed as a "Mother's Necklace" with the birthstone of her daughter, but the more I looked at it, and the more I held it in my hand, the more I was confident that I had stumbled across the perfect piece to use as a "Remembrance Necklace."

I personally think it is so delicate, lovely, and simple. I think it is the perfect piece of jewelry for a mom who has lost a child (no matter the age), or for a mom who has suffered one or more miscarriages, and I can't wait to show you a picture of it... but you'll have to wait for the unveiling until January 28!

Obviously, this particular giveaway will be targeted to a special group of women, and I can't wait to pass this on to one of you so that each time you wear it, you will remember your dearly loved child that is now playing on the sweet green grass in heaven while he or she waits for you to hold their hand again.

On January 28, I will put up one post for each piece of jewelry I will be giving away. Your entry will be a comment that you leave on the respective posts when you click the "Post a Comment" link. You MUST include a good email address that will, and this is very important, accept emails from my email address. As you can probably tell, I've had a LOT of problems with this already. Rest assured ... when you use the proper comment form and put your email address in the comments form, it will not be shown to anyone but me.

The Giveaway will be open until Saturday, February 2, 2008. At some point during February 2, I will close the comments to the Giveaways, and will use a Random Number Generator to draw the winners for each contest, and will make the announcement sometime by Noon on Monday, February 4.

Both US and Canadian entries will be accepted.

Got any questions? you can email me, or go HERE. Want to participate? Go HERE.

Would YOU eat from Ravens?

As I mentioned yesterday, this past Wednesday, our Pastorman taught from 1 Kings 17 -- the early ministry of Elijah. In the very first paragraph, he boldly stands in front of Ahab and declares that in the next years, there will be a terrible drought -- as in, NOT ONE DROP OF RAIN. Then, God tells Elijah to get outta dodge, and get out fast! He instructs Elijah to go to the other side of the Jordan where he can ... "drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."

Ummmm ... Yeah. Okay. The ravens. And... that food ... it's gonna be sanitary and clean and nicely packaged in plastic shrink wrap, right?

Wrong. Pastorman pointed out that it was probably picked off of a dead carcass -- nice. And not only did he point that out, but he then proceeded to ask me if I would have been willing to eat that food.

Of course, my answer was something like this: "uh, well, um, uhhhh ... I'm not so sure, but I, uhhh (think, woman... think! give a spiritual answer) yeah, I uhhhhh... would hope I would have the faith to eat the food the ... uh... ravens provided me with."

In other words ... no. Absolutely not.

Did you know that birds swallow the food as they forage and then regurgitate it for their young? Mmmmmm. Tasty.

So, today, when I went to eat my reheated leftovers, I lifted the lid and much to my surprise, I saw fibrey things... things of fibrous substance... specifically... hair. Hair wrapped around my spaghetti. Many hairs. WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME?!?!

So Pastorman, the answer is a resounding No. If I can't even bring myself to pick around the fibers in my spaghetti, than I humanly and freely admit that I do not have the faith nor the strength that Elijah had to eat the food the ravens would have brought me. No, no, no. I can handle a little bit of mud in my water. Maybe even a little bit of Cholera, Typhoid, or ... worms... eeewwwww. But the food thing stuck right in my throat. Clearly, I have been modernized.

But Elijah trusted that God would thoroughly provide for his needs. He didn't respond with, "Okay God, I believe that you will provide for me. I'll run for the hills in a few days after I stock up on barley, wheat and oil." Instead, he immediately ran to the location God sent him, with the expectation that God would provide ... and he did. And in the process, Elijah's faith was strengthened as he was being prepared for his ministry.

And that's the biggest thing I took away from this lesson... God wants us to rely on him and experience his faithfulness in our lives.

But I'm still not sure I could eat meat provided to me by a raven...

Thursday Thanks Tank

Pam at Without Fear hosts Thursday Thanks Tank, and trust me when I say -- there is no better way to improve one's outlook on life then to take a look at a list of what you're thankful for!

This has been a long week. Very long. Very exhausting. Very active child. Very old momma. Shewww--wiiiie ... is it over yet? I really need to focus on what I'm thankful for, because I am feeling blah... so I'm choosing share why I'm thankful for Wednesday evenings.

I love Wednesday nights for many reasons. One being that I'm usually wiped out, and don't feel like cooking meals or washing dishes. My husband, who wakes up at the un-lovely hour of 4:15 in the morning is also wiped out for sure, and it's so nice to just get in the car, and show up to church for Dinner for a Dollar and Bible Study. It's cooked for us, and cleaned up for us. And to top it off, nursery is provided for all the children so the parents can attend Bible Study, which in itself is a major undertaking because the ages range so broadly, and many a night is chaotic and loud, and messy. I know the nursery workers are exhausted by the end of the evening, and the room looks like a bomb went off in it!!

Believe me when I say ... It is a true, TRUE ministry for our small family, and it is appreciated beyond words. Especially on nights like last night when we're all fanny-dragging-brain-dead-mush-can't-lift-another-finger-dead-tired.

Another reason I love Wednesday nights, is because we get to spend time breaking bread and socializing with people. It's a beautiful time of fellowship with people of all ages and walks of life. It truly is wonderful start to an evening of "Acts 2:42-47" in action.

The biggest reason I love Wednesday nights, is because our Pastorman is teaching through the Bible. I love that he gets up there, opens the Bible, and teaches straight out of it. Yes, of course he prepares, but it's not a video series, it's not a book we're following ... it's the Bible. God's Word. Plain and simple. LOVE IT. It refreshes even the most exhausted and gets you ready for Thursday through Saturday night. Last night we studied about the early ministry of Elijah in 1 Kings 17, and I left feeling so motivated to trust in God to provide for me and take care of me. Even when my cupboards are bare, the checkbook is drained, and the list of financial responsibilities is long, he is a good God and provides for us! He loves us so much!

So there you have it. I'm thankful for Wednesday nights.

What are you thankful for this week?

Which one of US acted like THAT?

That's all I really want to know. Because ... you know the saying ... "what goes around, comes around", right? How about this one "how you treated your parents will be how your child treats you" or "how you acted as a child will be how your child acts."

Well, I can confirm without one seconds hesitation that I was a perfect child in every way; not easily excited, angered, or frustrated; able to entertain my self for hours on end with a good book; never flung myself from any piece of furniture; NEVER climbed any walls... A social butterfly, YES... but not a misfit. Oh, yeah ... there was one incident where I threw a butter knife at my sister and it stuck into the drywall. Ummmm, and the other incident where I threw a hand-held mirror at her and it broke in half. But those are minor, very unimportant and incidental things that happened in my vast lifetime, and I'm sure there weren't any other examples like that which I participated in.

Since I was such a good child, I can only assume that all our behavioral issues with our child stem from my husband's own behavior during his childhood... because I know for a FACT that he was a tree climbing, lamp breaking, ball-throwing-in-the-house; throw-brother-off-the-dirt-bike kind of boy. Yeah. It's all his fault.

Siiiiighhhhh! It's a long, yet short story. You see... last night, we had dinner at church at our regular dinner for a dollar Wednesdays. But we had a piece of meat in the refrigerator that had to be cooked before it went bad. So before we went to church, we grilled the meat for dinner tonight. Sorry if your confused, but it makes perfect sense to me.

Anyway, my husband is a total safety nut, and he very clearly warned our son not to touch the grill because it was very, very hot. Evidently... this is what my son heard: "Touch very, very hot grill... must touch now! Because it will be so cool! Touch! Touch! Hot! Touch!" And the moment my husband turned to get a set of tongs (or something like that)... Hunter touched the very, very hot grill because it was COOL TO DO SO. Even after being warned NOT TO.

Our ears received a lovely rendition of: "WAAAAAAAAAAA! Momadada! WAAAAAAAAAAA! Bunbun, HOT, WAAAAAAAAAA! Momadada! Bunnybunbun... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

And when I asked him if he touched the grill, he nodded his head yes. And when I asked him if Daddy said not to touch the grill because it was hot, he nodded his head yes. No worries, though. Once I gave him the boo boo bunnybunbun, all was well again, because now he had something COLD and FUN to throw around the kitchen! Cool!

You see... I don't think I ever have to worry about saying to Hunter, "if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" No. In fact, I'm more concerned that my child will be the very child jumping off of the bridge and inviting all his friends to join him, because it's COOL! And FUN! You know -- a natural born leader!

Lord ... help me now.

BELATED Birthday Wishes

I'm such a LOOSER friend! I didn't even know I missed Susanne's birthday! But, I did! It was December 30! That's what I get when I take a break!

So here's what we're gonna do. Rush on over to her blog RIGHT NOW and bombard her with all kinds of Birthday Lovin's! Even if you NEVER comment, or NEVER visit her blog, please go and wish her a sweet (although belated) week!

Thanks ya'll!

Susanne ... Happy birthday, my dear, sweet blogging friend! These flowers are a little taste-o-spring in the cold and frozen Canadian tundra!

A Pain in the ...

BUDGET!!!

Seriously, I just need to vent. Vent and complain. So if you're not in the mood for a shallow, whiny, complainy post, then be forewarned, and move along now.

Once AGAIN, our FIXED mortgage has been increased by $100 a month. How??? I knew you'd want to know... our city taxes have jumped sky high, that's how! Actually, the first and second times in 2007, our mortgage company failed to calculate our taxes properly. So they tacked it on to our monthly payment -- how nice of them, dontcha think?

Our home's property value increased $57,650 in a little less than 6 months, putting our CITY taxes at $4906/year! Since we moved into our home 4 years ago, our mortgage has gone up $400 (monthly). Insert choking sound here.

Anyway, we sat down this weekend to crunch numbers, and we both just about CHOKED. We are left with a nice, tidy amount of $200 a month for groceries. A MONTH! I'm sure that many of you are saying to yourselves, "Wow! That's a whole lot of money for groceries! Lucky you!" to which I reply -- "Yeah, but you don't live in the Washington Metropolitan Area only a stone's throw (literally) away from the county that was voted as the most expensive county to live in in all of America."

I know ... you're probably thinking, "so move." Well, it's not that easy. This is where our jobs are. This is where our family lives (most of them). This is where we were born and raised. It's what we know, and it's what we love. We can, of course, sell our home and move out of the city, making a even more of a nightmare of a commute for both of us, but we're not sure that's the wisest thing to do when we figure in not only gas prices, but also property values for re-sale purposes.

We need to cut back. But unfortunately, there really is no place to cut back. Sadly, we like to eat fairly healthy. We eat a lot of fresh veggies and fruit, fresh meat, and very little canned vegetables or frozen meals. This makes for an expensive shopping cart! We need low carb, inexpensive meal ideas. Some of you may roll over when I say this, but we don't use coupons. I know many people do, but I am firmly under the belief that by using coupons, we end up purchasing items we may not normally purchase, or you have to buy 2 items to get the coupon savings, where we would normally only purchase one item. Spending more in order to save makes no economic sense to me whatsoever. Yet, I'm finding myself wracking my brain trying to find ways to spend less, but still eat healthy meals.

Here's what I normally like to purchase:

COSTCO: one bag of frozen chicken breasts (for the same cost as the grocery store, I get twice the amount), a package of ground beef (I divide and individually wrap), and some other meat choice, along with my laundry detergent, paper goods (toilet paper, paper towels), and baby wipes. I don't buy expensive toilet paper, either. I get Kirkland brand.

GROCERY STORE: Fresh fruits and vegetables, spaghetti, rice, pasta sauce (what ever is on sale, for economic reasons), cleaning supplies and trash bags, napkins (I don't need that in bulk), personal hygiene products (shampoo, deodorant, soap). I also purchase frozen apple juice (cheaper) and cut it with more than 50% extra water (if not more).

Diapers are killing us at $26 for a case of diapers! What is up with THAT!?! It's not like I choose to place my child in diapers! Thankfully, he doesn't need formula any more.

Yesterday, I spent $199 in groceries at a discount grocery store. That will last us 2 weeks... maybe.

One thing I think we'll be doing in the very near future is taking advantage of rolling our phone, internet, and cable into an all-in-one package. The pastors at our church do that, and are very happy with it. Do any of you do it, and have you been happy with the quality?

So... any other ideas that you might have for cutting corners would be welcome in the comments section. How's that for a whiny-baby post?

As I was reading through some blogs yesterday, slowly catching up with everyone, I came across this wonderful Sunday Meandering that Barb at A Chelsea Morning posted. It is a devotion taken from "A Woman of Prayer - 365 Daily Devotions", and the scripture referenced is as follows:

The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children after them.

Proverbs 20:7 (NLT)

Wednesday evening, our church watched Facing the Giants. What an unbelievable movie. the coach that stared in the movie was such a man of integrity, and it was amazing how God blessed him. It brought to mind the devotional that Barb had posted.

The first line of the devotion said that "...integrity is a crucial building block in the foundation of a well-lived life." It went on to say that "Integrity is a precious thing - difficult to build, but easy to tear down..." and that "as believers in Christ, we must seek to live each day with discipline, honesty, and faith. When we do, at least two things happen: integrity becomes a habit, and God blesses us because of our obedience to Him.

Truth rings deeply in those words. It is simply amazing how God blesses us through our obedience to Him. It isn't always easy to be obedient to Him: it's not easy to carve time out of a busy day for your daily devotions, prayer, scripture study, worship; it's not easy to tithe our full 10%, trusting that God will provide for our needs (although I must confess that every now and then, he blesses you with a "want!"); it's not easy to live a life of integrity on a daily basis (knowing full well that the world's eyes are on you, watching your every move, waiting for you to fall so they can pounce on you); it's not easy to boldly proclaim your faith in an omnipotent God to a world of "doubting Thomases."

Let's face it ... being a Christian isn't easy. God never promised that once we gave our lives over to him that we would have an easy road to walk, full of roses and yellow brick roads that lead to riches untold. In fact, many Christians live financially "right on the line" -- money in, money out -- no extras, no frills. And yet, they are still blessed by God for their obedience. They still trust him. They still love him. They still give their very best to him. No matter what.

Ahhhh -- now, again, this is where the movie ties in. Not only was the lead character a man of integrity, but he used his integrity to make an impact, and change the lives of the students in the school where he coached. He found himself in a position where he was seriously questioning what God's will was in his life, but rather than surrender to his initial fears, he surrendered all to God -- ALL. He turned everything he had over to God -- everything, and in turn, left the results up to God. How many times have I "turned something over to the Lord" at the altar of prayer ... only to pick it back up and walk away with it? Seriously, now ... is that really turning everything over to God?

There were several scenes that really stuck out in my mind and blessed my heart tremendously... well, really the entire movie stuck out and blessed me tremendously, but four series of scenes spoke to me...

The first series of scenes was when the Coach suddenly realized that God wasn't really a part of the team's whole "equation," and that if the football team wanted to be blessed, they needed to change that, along with their attitude. He spent time in prayer, meditation, and in the word to come up with a new team motto. After his epiphany, he meets with his team, and tells them that their goal is not to win games; it's to honor God in everything they do ... giving God their very best, and the glory no matter what the outcome. If they give their very best, in turn, they can give God the glory ... whether they loose or win. His quote that struck a chord in me was: "I want God to bless this team so much people will talk about what He did. But it means we gotta give Him our best in every area. And if we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him. Either way we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes. So I'm askin' you... What are you living for? I resolve to give God everything I've got, then I'll leave the results up to Him. I want to know if you'll join me?"

In our language, that means, if we give God our very best, we can in turn give him the glory whether we get the prestigious promotion at work, or loose our job; whether we have 5 children, or are battling infertility; whether we are celebrating the birth of a child or mourning the loss of a loved one; whether we have a balance of $4,000 in the checking account, or zero (or in some cases, negative). I tell you, my friend ... when you are able to give everything to God, and walk in faith... without complaints, but giving God the glory ... that's the mark of integrity in your life.

The next series of scenes that spoke to me was when the coaches were talking in the office, and a camera panned out to the hallway, where an older gentleman (I think his name was Mr. Bridges) was walking down the hallway of lockers, resting his hand on each and every locker and praying for each and every student in the school. Powerful. Praying silently for someone without seeking glory, but waiting for God to change and move mightily in their lives... how I HOPE that someone is doing that for me, my son, my husband, you... I look forward to one day walking down the hallways of Hunter's school, silently praying for each teacher, student, and family.

The third series of scenes that I found spoke to me and was so powerful and was so moving (I know, I know ... you've already heard me say that) is when Mr. Bridges walked into the coach's office, looked him right in the eye and began to read scripture to him. He didn't blink, he didn't stutter or stammer, he didn't make excuses or talk in circles. He simply read from Revelation: "What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Revelation 3:7c-8. Then, Mr. Bridges said: "Coach Taylor, the Lord is not through with you yet. You still have an open door here, and until the Lord moves you, you’re to bloom right where you’re planted. I just felt led to come and tell you that today." And with that, he left. I was so impressed that the character was so in tune with and connected to God that he was willing to do something that he probably wasn't comfortable doing, but knew God was telling him to do. Again ... obedience. And in turn, God used his obedience to bless someone.

After that, the coach ran out in the hall after Mr. Bridges, where he told the coach a story about two farmers who desperately needed rain, and both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out and prepared his field to receive it. He then asked: Which do you think trusted God to send the rain?

Wow! How many people can say that not only have they prayed to God for something they desperately needed, but have proceeded to "prepare their field"? I guess a small part of me has this itty-bitty piece of fear that holds me back from having full faith that God will provide, but I guess that if we truly "let go, and let God," he will open the flood gates. It may not always be what we expect or want ... but it will be his will! NOTHING is impossible for God!

The final set of scenes that really touched me deeply ... and I really mean DEEPLY ... was when the coach and his wife (Brooke) found out that they were unable to have children without "help" -- something that many, MANY people face. The coach and Brooke both spent much time in prayer, and he repeatedly asked her if she will still love God if He doesn't give them what they so desperately want: a child. Towards the end of the movie, she tearfully surrenders her desires and tells God that she does still love Him, even though they can't have children. That very moment was one that I have lived in my own life. One thing the movie doesn't touch on (but has an underlying theme on), is the aching, heartbreaking feeling a woman has, and the burning desire she has for a child. Her own child. I know how that feels, as I have lived a lifetime feeling those very same emotions. It is so hard to surrender those feelings to God. It's even harder to say the words that God aches to hear us say: "Lord, I love you no matter what, and I lay everything in your hands. May your will be done, and I will give you the glory no matter what it is." But I speak with experience when I say that no matter how difficult it is to say and do that, it is equally freeing. It frees you to see God and your relationship with him in a new light; to see his plan in your life with open eyes; to feel his love and grace clothe your broken heart like a comforting balm; and to release the burden to him, leaving you free of the shackles that have kept you bound in misery for ages. For me, it felt like an eternity, but when I let go ... really let go ... it changed my life. Yes, reality is that I may never have had a child, but I would still have given him the glory, for he would have had other mighty plans for my life, and I would have accepted them gladly.

As you can see, there are many lessons to be gleaned from this mighty movie. If you haven't seen it yet, I encourage you to start the new year off with this movie. If you already saw it, I encourage you to see it again. I'm certain that while you may walk away with the same impressions I had, you will walk away with your own personal message. That's a promise.

This movie has truly challenged me. For 2008, my new resolve is... "Resolve to give God everything I've got, giving him my very best in everything I do, say, write, in my actions, behaviors and attitudes; live a life of integrity; prepare my fields for rain; love Him no matter what; bloom right where I'm planted; give God the glory through the good and the bad."

How about you?

It's Shameful, I Tell You!

But it's true, no matter how shameful it is. Gifts are my love language. I love to give them. Love to receive them. Love to make them. Love to eat them. Ummmm ... yes. Eat them. The homemade kind, that is!

And today, while running the risk of sounding totally selfish, self-centered, greedy, and stuck-up, I would like to share with you some of my favorite Christmas gifts I received this year. I have been quite blessed to have a generous, loving family that loves to give as much as I do... and this year, they really blessed my socks off! Seriously! I didn't think it was possible, but I was pretty much rendered speechless by the time 12:01 am, December 26, 2007 came around, and folks ... that's a hard thing to do!

So without further ado... here are a few of my favorite things... in no particular order of favoritism!

As you all know, I totally support homemade gifts of ALL kinds. Creativity is the spark of life, and in my humble opinion, nothing says "I LOVE YOU" more than a homemade gift. Especially when the funds are low. The fact that you took the time to make something with your very own hands, no matter how small, speaks volumes. This year, my oldest niece (she's in her 20's, and a new college grad) wanted to give us all gifts with her own money from her very first grown-up job. I was touched beyond measure that she took the time and set aside the budget to do so, but the icing on the cake was when she got all Martha-Stewart-like on us! Girlfriend spent an entire day baking, dipping, wrapping, and packing a beautiful collection of delicious home-made brownies, chocolate dipped pretzels (a favorite of my boys), peppermint bark (my fav), and decorated sugar cookies. She worked so hard that she didn't even want to smell the baked goods, let alone taste them, bless her heart! She wrapped them in tissue paper and lovingly packed them in the most adorable boxes I've seen! I won't be getting rid of them anytime soon! (Check out the creative use of a wine bottle gift box -- she stuffed them with chocolate dipped pretzel rods!) Thanks, M! You did good, girl! Love ya!

Moving on to the materialistic [ehem!] things that I lurv... my sister-in-law ordered me the Lisa Leonard necklace I wanted! It's not here yet, but I can't wait until it is!!! My husband got me a coveted copy of Giada De Laurentiis' Pasta Cookbook ... oh, the recipes are to.die.for... and EASY! I love, love, love it! My parents got me a clothing steamer thingie ... a new gadget to play with -- loads of fun there! My sister got me a gazillion Vera Bradley bags. I got so many things, I can't even remember everything I got (oh, yes ... I got some more Clinique Happy -- man-oh-man do I love that stuff!)

And last, but certainly not least, my in-laws gave us our very own, (drum roll please) lime-green, 2-speed Oreck vacuum cleaner that sucks the life out of any and all dirt on my carpet and bare floors! (that's what you guessed, isn't it?) It's beatificus ... it's stupendous ... it only weighs 9 pounds ... and best of all, it comes with an adorable two year old that loves to use it. Ummmm, no ... it didn't come with the two year old, but it might as well have!

Did I mention that I HEART my Oreck?

Who ever said that you shouldn't buy a woman a household product for Christmas? Who? Huh? Who? I defy you to show your face on my doorstep. If you do, just bring a supply of Oreck bags with you, m'kay?

Nothing...

That's what I got ... absolutely nothing... rolling around in my head. My brain is empty, and my stomach is empty, too -- after having suffered from a horrible, painful stomach virus ... not once, but TWICE in the last 15 days. TWICE! How insulting. The last bout was on New Years eve... not 15 minutes after I ate dinner I began to feel that familiar ol' rumbly in my tumbly. And it wasn't hunger either, dear pooh lovers.

Today I'm feeling a wee bit better, but still nauseous, and my intestines are killing me, if that's possible!

I can't think about writing (although, that's what I'm doing right now), or cleaning, or cooking, or being creative, or ANYTHING. The only think I can actually get excited about is the next bloggy giveaway that Shannon will host ... I think it will be in February. I've got some new jewelry designs (and other giveawayable things) rolling around in my head, and I can't wait until I feel well enough to put my hand to the beads again... which is surprising in itself, because I made, sold, and gave away a gazillion bracelets over the holiday, and I didn't think I'd be able to create anything new anytime soon! Surprise, surprise.

Maybe tomorrow, I'll feel more like sharing about some of my favorite Christmas gifts ... including a lime green item that could be considered as being quite shockingly ugly, but is really totally adorable, and totally sucks. How's that for a clue? Oh, and how about the stack of delightfully-delectable things my oldest niece created with her very own hands? I was so proud of her!

Anyway, I hope you all had a restful, reflective Christmas and New Year. May God continue to bless your stinky socks off with all kinds of neat things in your life, and may He continue to throw strong Christians your way to challenge you, love you, and encourage all kinds of green leafy growth in your spiritual walk!

Hugs and Kisses to you! (although, not too close, 'cause I don't want to share my cooties!)

Merry Christmas!

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Sunshine family wishes you a joyous season and a blessed new year, filled with love, peace and the comfort of everlasting life through the little babe that was born in Bethlehem so long ago! Rejoice, for he still lives in our hearts today!!

I will be taking the next few days to enjoy family, and quiet time with our Lord. I encourage you to do the same! Blessings to you all.

WFMW: Receipts in order and Picture Card storage

Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer is hosting a Christmas edition of Works for me Wednesday ... go check out all the tips flowing freely from us to you!

Here are two tips I find enormously helpful.

The first one is for my picture card storage for after Christmas. I take all the beautiful Christmas cards with pictures of your children and place them in a small album. Right now, I'm using a "brag book" sized album, which is plenty big enough. I keep it out all year long so I can look through it and see pictures of family and friends. If I get a letter with it, I fold it up and tuck it behind the picture. If I get a 5x7 picture, I'll cut it to fit into the album sleeve, and place the cut piece behind it so I know who it is. Easy peasy!

The second one is receipt organization. A year ago (or so), I purchased a set of Organizing Bags from Lara Gallagher at The Lazy Organizer. First of all, I love the ruggedness of these bags. They are a thick black canvas-like material on the back, and a thick clear plastic on the front with ZIPPERS to keep everything contained! Love it. Anyway, I keep one of the smaller ones in my purse, and all receipts go into the bag (including shipping receipts). I use the "small bag" which is 6x9", and it doesn't have a handle on it (and I like it like that, too!). Someone once asked me (when I did a purse meme one time) how long I expected to keep my purse in order. My answer? Always. If I keep all my receipts in this bag, then it keeps my purse clean for ... well ... purse things! Here are some pictures for you (sorry they are so hazy -- took them with the cell phone in my car this morning -- real live action going on here!):











Hope some of these tips are helpful to you! Have a great week!

Christmas Tour of Homes

If you're looking for a "normal post", then you can go HERE. If not, then welcome to my home! BooMama is hosting this year's Christmas Tour of Homes again! Can't wait to see all the cool things others are doing! These are some of the Christmas decorations we put out this year.

Outside lights are a big part of our decorating, but I love to keep it classic with all white/clear lights. Many of our neighbors actually look like they had the stomach flu when placing their lights on their yard, if you know what I mean ... random, no rhyme or reason, no pattern ... but since chaos tends to overwhelm me to the point of a shutdown, we tend to keep it simple around here.






















This year, our Christmas budget was cut dramatically. Instead of my normal "pyramid" of gifts (or stacks and stacks), most are just getting one thing... but along with budget cuts, came the need to cut other "frilly" stuff ... like a Christmas tree. The cost of trees is crazy-crazy now a days, but what's Christmas without a tree? Well, last Sunday morning, we opened our front door to go to church, and guess what was sitting on our front stoop? A Christmas tree. With a note wishing us a Merry Christmas. That was an awesome gift... it means so much more to me than the giver will ever know. This year, I put the old "cookie ornaments" back on the tree, as well as "real ornaments." It looked so cute. (It looks way better with the lights on) I love the angel on our tree. She's pretty, yet not too frilly and fancy!

Last year, I had a miniature poinsettia in my snowman bucket. This year, I placed an ivy wreath in it, and it looks so cute!











The last two years, I didn't dare put out my little Christmas village. This year, with much fear and trepidation, I put it out. Hunter loves to touch it. Mommy hates for Hunter to touch it. But, whatcha gonna do? He loves to see the lights on in the windows, and I love to see it sitting in my family room!

Our Jesse Tree goes on a small Christmas Tree. There are more ornaments on it now, but when I took the picture, we were just getting started on it. I have been enjoying it so much.





Finally, our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that no one will notice the dry-wall bucket of ashes to the left. Because, I certainly didn't when I was taking the picture!! LOL!

Well, that's all folks! Just a few small pictures of decorations at my home. Hope you are enjoying your week leading up to Christmas! Make sure you hop on over to BooMama's and enjoy the many other tours she has set up for you!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

NOT! Honestly, I don't think God heard my prayers while I was pregnant for a quiet, obedient little girl who likes to sit still and have tea parties, play with dolls, barbies, and read books for hours on end. No. He sure didn't. In his infinite wisdom, God saw fit to give us a little boy instead. An ACTIVE, near-hyper, non-stop boy who loves all things boy-ish, including construction, as well as destruction of ... stuff. MY stuff. OUR stuff. The HOUSE.

Saturday was such a precious, precious day. Hunter was spanked with the paddle no less than 10,468,392 times. Quite literally. It was so precious. And, in the spirit of Christmas, he broke two ornaments, pulled the ribbons off of the lower half of the Christmas tree, ate 2 of the cookie ornaments ... the ones I made last year (gross), spilled powdered sugar all over the kitchen floor, dumped an entire container of salt on the counter, tried to put wood into the fireplace ... in an all ready existing fire (crazy-nut-head!), tried to plug the lights on the tree into the wall, pulled two (or maybe three, we're not sure, but it really doesn't matter) candy canes off of the tree and broke into them, screamed "NO!" and "MINE!" no less than a gazillion times at me ... the list goes on... really, it does ... but I'm sure you're exhausted by now, so I'll let you rest.

Someone please talk me off the ledge.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

It was an exhausting kind of day, and I'm only praying that it's just the "terrible two's" syndrome, and that my child really isn't going to be this bad all his life. At one point, my husband turned to me, paddle in one hand, Hunter in the other hand, eyes wild, hair disheveled, voice frantic, and said to me: "new rule -- no more spankings for Hunter today." Okay, he really wasn't frantic, wild or disheveled, but we were both feeling pretty close to comatose by the time Hunter's bed time rolled around. The words "don't touch the tree" and "don't touch the fire" and "don't touch" and "don't" and "stop" and "no" all have an empty ring in our home (as Hunter flies from the couch to the floor in a drop-sit fashion). True story.

In fact, this day reminds me of friends of ours that live in Ohio. They had three boys, and one of them was a handful. One day, the father (who was in seminary at the time, so mom worked full time while he cared for the boys) came down to find his son had dumped syrup all over the kitchen table and floor, and I think there may have been a few other liquidy substances involved, but I can't remember the story real well. Maybe ketchup. Or mustard. Or both. I think there may have been either sugar, flour or salt involved, too. It's something you just can't wait to come down to see in your kitchen ... and to find out that your precious, angelic child was responsible for "decorating" for you is a joy you soon won't forget. He's even told stories about how he's had to stop the worship service (he's a pastor) and correct his children from the pulpit because they were hanging off the choir balcony (not really, but it was something equally disturbing) while he was preaching.

The saving grace? All of their mischievous sons turned out just fine ... they are now responsible young adults with great jobs. The youngest? Syrup boy? He went into the marines and now has a great job. So there is hope for Hunter, because he is SOOOOO much like syrup boy. And I'm certain all my friends that have grown children at this point are just sitting back and laughing their butts off at me. YES. I said butt. Not fanny. Not hiney. I can say whatever I want on my blog ... because it's MINE. Sue me.

Seriously though... just so you don't think we're completely abusive parents, we only spank for direct disobedience or defiance. The rest of the time, Hunter is placed in time out where he sits in one particular spot and does absolutely nothing until we tell him he can get up (which is usually about 1 minute per year of age). We're very good at explaining what he's done wrong, and he's very good at saying "sowwy," but I tell you ... he's developing a close relationship with the time-out spot! I look forward to the day that I can go to the sink with a dirty glass and turn back around to find my house is still in order. It's simply amazing what one two-year-old can manage to do in seconds with a permanent marker, a crayon, a glass of tea -- ack! How does he FIND these things?

I constantly find myself praying that my child will one day bounce off of couches, climb walls, color with permanent markers, and break things ... for Jesus. Dead serious. I pray that God will use all his wild energies for HIS glory one day. Who knows ... maybe Hunter is in training as we speak to be a youth pastor one day! Nothing would make me prouder.

Finally, the very friend I mentioned above sent me this link: Solid Rock. The first thing I have to say is: If he's now a Christian, then Praise God for Alice Cooper's salvation. I know that heaven was rejoicing and celebrating something FIERCE when satan was robbed of this child of God. The next thing I have to say ... I still get a creepy feeling when I look at pictures of him saved or not saved! Please note: I'm not judging him, nor am I saying he really is or isn't a Christian -- I don't personally know him, nor do I know his true heart. I'm just commenting on the creepy feeling I get when I look at his pictures.

Thursday Thanks Tank

This has been a long month ... and we're only on the 13th ... so I thought I'd share some things I'm thankful for ... as a sort of reality check for me, if you know what I mean. Head on over to visit Pam at Without Fear for more Thursday Thanks Tank.

1. My husband recently took over the finances, paying bills, balancing checkbooks, etc. At first, I resisted. Now, I'm thankful. I know how hard it is to do, and I'm thankful that I don't have to do it anymore. I find relief in knowing he's taking care of it all -- and he's doing a great job at it. Yes, it has been tight, tight, tight. No, I can't go out and get a Mocha Peppermint when I want. No, I can't just charge a Christmas gift to our family account. But at the same time -- Yes -- my husband is being fiscally responsible, and that blesses me more than words can say.

2. I'm thankful for what little extra money we have in our bank account. So many people have nothing... praise God for what we do have.

3. I'm thankful for obedience and blessings through continued and faithful tithing. We tithe our full tithe, and it is hard ... it really is -- especially when our realestate taxes have gone up AGAIN, causing our mortgage to go up ... AGAIN. This week, my husband wrote in the memo line: "God, help us get through the week." And you know what? He has. He provides for us on a continuous basis -- maybe not in a monetary fashion, but we know he is always there, making sure we're okay!

4. I am thankful for the challenge of Christmas shopping on a small budget. It has taught me to appreciate many, MANY things... especially the home-made kind.

5. I'm thankful for the loving kindness our savior bestows on me on a daily basis.

6. I'm thankful for children that will sing "Twinkle Twinkle" with passion in their hearts.

7. I'm thankful for our church's "Bring Your Gifts" service. We had a wonderful evening of fellowship, song, stories, poems, and scripture. It was wonderful to slow down and savor the moment.

8. I'm thankful for girlfriends. They bring cheer, joy, and happiness (yes, I MEANT to be redundant) to my life. I love them so much, and I especially love doing little things for them.

9. I'm thankful that my one of my bestest-girlfriends said to me "I really need to find religion" the other day. Because I was able to say to her, "let's talk!" I pray for her and her family every day, and I see God's hand moving in her life!

10. I am thankful for family.

11. I am thankful for my Kisses of Sunshine -- Hunter and my husband -- the loves of my life.

So there you have it. A small sample of the many things I'm thankful for.

What are you thankful for?

I Can't Believe I Really Said That!!

Today, I received an email from my dear friend Molly. She has started an on-line Bible-Study Forum, where we will be studying the book Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival.

To say that I was excited to join this forum is an understatement. Molly's statement on one of her posts really tugged at my heart. She said:

"To know that I love the Lord but that I've tended to put other things first as of late, well it’s more than a bit embarrassing.

I want my passion back!

I’m in need of a personal revival."

When I saw that, I thought to my self: "Yeah. I need that too. I have passion, but I have also started to put other things first." I had made up my mind ... I would join in on the study. I was so excited. I called our bookstore and ordered the book. A week or so later, they called me to tell me the book was in... and to this very moment ... that is where it remains. At the store.

In fact, last night, Molly sent out an email to see what we all thought about continuing the study in January when we all slow down with our personal lives ... and this is actually what I emailed her ... and frankly ... I'm horrified that I even typed these very words. I said to her:

"I would love it if we could begin in January. I am so overwhelmed right now... Sadly, I don't think I could give it 100%, and I really think it deserves 100%!! I know that's sad, and it's a bad excuse (the holidays) but it's all I can do right now. I still haven't even had a free moment to go pick the book up!"

Did I really say that? "I don't think I can give it 100%?" Have I put Christ on the back burner, because I'm "busy with all my holiday preparations?" You know the ones ... because you're probably wrapped up in them too, but for heaven's sake ... it IS HIS BIRTHDAY we are celebrating! You would think I would be able to sit down each night for a half hour to an hour to study this book!

So this admission that I made to Molly earlier today has been bothering me all day long. Yes, I do study the word and do my daily devotion... but in order to grow, and be all I can be for Christ, it involves in-depth study... more than just a 15 minute devotion. It involves pulling out resource books, asking questions, thinking things through, and more importantly, praying things through.

It seems that this blogger is in serious need of a priority adjustment!

Are you feeling that "holiday pinch?" Are you juggling your priorities, while managing to make quality time with our Savior? Or are you making quality time for our Savior and then juggling all the other things?

It's a Belated Birthday!!!

Yesterday was Jenn's Birthday (from A Good Cup of Coffee)!

Happy Belated Birthday, Jenn!

Make sure you stop by and wish her a happy day!

Yikes! Too Much TO DO!!

Is anyone else feeling like there is so much to do, yet so little time to do it in??? Yeah. I'm right there with you!!!

I still have to decide on a picture (that means, actually get a good one) for our Christmas cards, then actually purchase them, write our Christmas letter (my mind is drawing a blank!), mail them, deep-clean my house, catch up on laundry, do a little baking, and finish up our Christmas shopping and wrapping -- all while working full time. I know everyone else out there in blogland has the same thing on their plates, so trust me when I say... I KNOW HOW YOU ALL FEEL!!! Oh, and did I mention that I'm super busy at work, and haven't had a chance to read hardly any of my fav blogs??? I'm a wee bit depressed over that!

Last night, I spent 2 hours making my first no-sew blanket. It turned out so stinking cute!!! It was Curious George polar Fleece fabric on one side and red on the other. Once I got into the swing of things, it went smoothly... except ... I have 5 to 6 more blankets to do.

I also have about 12 bracelets/necklaces to put together. The creative part of my brain is seriously cramping!!! So are my fingers and back.

But all in all, I would say, I have less crafts to do than Barbara, who will be doing crafts from here until the last minute before Christmas Day... she'll be the one passed out under the tree with sequins, glitter, glue, and paint all over her. That woman has got some kind of energy! Love you Barbara!!! Wish I could have HALF your energy... and for the record, my husband said we're not allowed to play together. I think he thinks we'll spend too much money at the craft stores, and too much time gluing, sewing, and putting stuff together!

So, because my brain is pretty much MUSH, and because I really have nothing better to say, I'm leaving you all with this list of questions that my Pastorman's wife emailed me... if you want to play along, just let me know in the comments section.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

Okay, here's the blog-version of what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE! Just copy the questions and paste into your blog post. Change all the answers so they apply to you, then post it. Let me know if you do, and I'll come over and read your answers.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, but preferably wrapping paper (1 pattern per person)

2. Real tree or artificial? Real

3. When do you put up your tree? First weekend in Dec., but not this year

4. When do you take the tree down? Anytime from Jan. 2-15th!!

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it -- with nutmeg sprinkled on top -- YUM!

6. Favorite gift rec'd as a child? Drum set

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a children's version. I'm working on saving enough for an adult version.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My father and my sister's husband (if you're reading, sis ... he's getting a boat load of purchased as well as homemade chocolate things)

9. Easiest to buy for? My son

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't think I've ever had a "worst" Christmas gift at all.

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Both -- mail to friends and family, email to internet friends

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Anything on the Hallmark channel during Christmas time

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? A little before Thanksgiving, but the bulk of it is usually after Thanksgiving

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No. I don't have the nerve to! Actually, that's not true. We have a family tradition ... one year, I got my sister-in-law a nice set of Sapphire earring jackets for her pearls (or something like that). I stuck them in the toe of her stocking, then I bought these plastic gaudy gold earrings (that looked like the tops of a pineapple) from a street vendor. She hated them, but thought it was her real gift. So now, we just re-wrap that and pass it on from person to person. It's a fun recycling thing we do.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Beef -- it's what's for dinner (along with shitake mushroom bread pudding -- it's stuffing consistency, not dessert consistency)

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, always

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night sung by John Barry

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both -- we alternate each year

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? No -- not all -- only Dasher, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Rudolph (those are names, right?)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel on family tree, star on Jesse Tree

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both, depending on which family we're with

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Busy-ness (I'm a PRIME example) and commercialism

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Just homemade ornaments, cookie ornaments, pom-poms, and other kid-friendly stuff

24. What did you leave for Santa? When I was little, milk and cookies and a carrot for Rudolph, now, nothing ... we're not teaching Hunter about that

Your turn!!!

WFMW: Quick "Bare-Pantry-Leftover" Meals

This week, Shannon's Works for me Wednesday is THEMED! Yay ... love those ... because I don't have to scour my brain for ideas! Today, it's the WFMW: What Do I Fix? Edition. When you've had a hectic day, everyone is tired, hungry, and you don't feel well, but still have to fix dinner on whatever is in the pantry... here are a couple easy suggestions (one that I make, and one that my husband made just last night). Usually, we are using leftover veggies, or veggies that weren't fully used in another recipe (like half of an onion, or half of a red pepper, or an extra un-cooked steak).

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta

This is a take-off of the "hay and straw" pasta dish (which is another fast and easy dish to fix). I love this, because it's so fast and easy, and you can toss in whatever you want! I usually will add whatever I have in the fridge (mushrooms, onions, etc.), but if you don't like something on the list, just replace it with something you do like. The key is the spaghetti, cream, and the Parmesan cheese. As long as you keep those three things on the list, you can change everything else. It looks like a lot of steps, but once you read through it and familiarize yourself with the recipe and the instructions, you'll find that it goes a lot faster than you think. I usually have dinner (serve with a side salad and bread) on the table in 15 minutes.

Spaghetti (enough for your family)
2 frozen chicken breasts, sliced into strips
olive oil (for cooking chicken strips)
salt / pepper (to taste)
1/2 onion, sliced thinly (or chopped)
1 clove garlic, minced (use garlic powder if you don't have fresh garlic)
4 slices bacon
6 fresh mushrooms (optional), cleaned and sliced
2 tablespoons real butter
1/2 bag frozen peas and carrots
1 - 2 cups heavy cream (depending on how much spaghetti you make)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (or more, depending on how much spaghetti you make)

My mouth is watering already.

Begin by placing a large pot of water on to boil. Add a mound of salt to the water (about a quarter-sized mound is perfect). When the water comes to a rolling boil, cook spaghetti according to package directions. For a quick meal, angel-hair only takes like 6-8 minutes. For the thick spaghetti (which I adore), it will take 12 minutes.

In a medium-sized frying pan, cook bacon until crisp. Set aside on paper towel to drain, then crumble. To the bacon drippings, pour enough oil into the pan to coat the bottom and keep the chicken from sticking. Add the chicken to the hot pan, and season liberally with salt and pepper. Cook thoroughly, and remove from pan -- set aside. To the same pan, add the 2 tablespoons of butter, and toss in the onion, garlic, mushrooms, and frozen veggies. Cook over medium-high heat until the onions are soft, tender, and caramelized. Add the chicken and crumbled bacon. Cook until heated through. Everything should be done right around the same time the pasta finishes cooking.

Drain the cooked pasta and put back into the pot. Add the chicken mixture, the Parmesan cheese and the heavy cream slowly. Stir pasta well. Add enough cream that it coats the pasta and mixes well with the Parm cheese so it makes a thick sauce. Adding more whipping cream will make it creamier, adding more Parmesan cheese will thicken it. I usually do not go by measurements here, but rather, eyeball it. Season with salt and pepper to taste (it wont need much, but it will need it, because the cream is not salty).

Steak and Noodles

I had to work late last night, and I came home to a delicious meal that my husband "threw together" from stuff in the pantry. He didn't have exact measurements, so he kind of just eyeballed it, too. You can substitute the peppers and onions for the frozen stir fry vegetables.

Egg Noodles (or whatever pasta you have on hand)
1 steak, cut into strips
1 garlic clove, chopped or minced
red peppers cut into strips
green peppers cut into strips
onion cut into thin strips
leftover brown (beef) gravy (we had 1/2 jar in the fridge)
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix or Beef Onion soup mix
2 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce (I think that's how much he used)
Water

Begin by placing a large pot of water on to boil. Add a mound of salt to the water (about a quarter-sized mound is perfect). When the water comes to a rolling boil, cook pasta according to package directions.

In a large (family-sized) pan, add a little bit of oil, and the steak. Cook until done. Add the garlic and vegetables and continue to cook until tender. Add the gravy, the soup mix, and soy sauce. Add enough water to make a nice sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until ready to serve. Serve over pasta.

You can also add broccoli, carrots, or anything else that floats your boat!

A Little "Q & A" and Some Yummy Recipes

Today, I'm going to answer a gazillion questions that I've been asked, but haven't gotten around to. The topics are: Caesar Salad Dressing, Christmas Cookie Ornaments; and Cookie Recipes. If you've asked a burning question that I've missed, leave me a comment and I'll get to it right away! Sorry this post is long, so if you want to get right to the cookie recipes, go to the bottom.

Recently, I participated in Works for me Wednesday and posted about "Safe Eggs," and I included my recipe for homemade Caesar Salad Dressing. The following questions/comments were posted, and I thought I'd address each of them:

Stacey from Just Me and my Guys commented:

"I can't eat the Caesar salad because I can't seem to get past the fact that they have anchovies in them! Got any ideas for that??"

Why, yes Stacey ... I have a couple ideas. Try using anchovy paste. I promise it doesn't have a strong fish flavor at all, and it's not as salty and oily. They sell it in a tube, and I usually find it around the Italian imported foods. If you're worried about the strong fish flavor, then reduce the amount by half, and finger-taste-test it (dip your finger in it) after you process it to see how it tastes. If you're really, REALLY worried about it, then try the recipe without the anchovy paste, just be sure to add salt. Hope that helps.

Amanda (no blog address) commented:

Why not use whole anchovies if you're going for a true Caesar? They really don't taste "fishy," if that's your concern. But I applaud you for using anchovy paste! Bravo!

Thank you for the applause, but it's not necessary. Actually, I chose not to use the whole anchovy for several reasons: I find them to be very, VERY salty (stiff, in fact, from so much salt); I find them to be very greasy when packed in oil; I do find them to be very strong in flavor. I find that if I use anchovy paste, my 2 year old is more likely to eat it, my husband doesn't balk at the fishy taste, and I'm satisfied with the important "body of flavor" that anchovy paste really does add to the dressing. It's one of those "flavor layering" things, I guess.

And finally, "K" (no blog address) commented:

"If I use these eggs can I go back to eating raw cookie dough again?"

(she's referring to using pasteurized eggs)

Well, "K" ... I just don't see why not! If they are safe for a raw-egg dressing, then in my book, they are safe for cookie dough! Woot! Dig in, girl!

Last week, I participated in Momrn2's Christmas Traditions carnival (check it out -- there are a couple new participants that have been added). I posted several new and older traditions that my family enjoys. And guess what??? I got a few questions from that post, too.

Momrn2 from My Quiet Corner said:

"...I think you need to post instructions and recipes on how to make your cookie ornaments. If you already have I missed it somehow!

What a fantastic idea!"

Well, I purchased extra large, gargantuan, beautiful cookie cutters from coppergifts.com -- made a large-batch sugar cookie dough from a recipe they sent with my beautiful cookie cutters (recipe follows). I didn't change a thing, either. I just followed their recipe. I decorated the cookies using items coppergifts.com sells -- they have everything you need, and they also show samples of decorated cookies when you hover your mouse over the actual cookie cutter. I used things like the White Cookie Icing in a bottle (similar to an Elmer's glue bottle) by Wilton. It dried ROCK HARD (no offense, Wilton), and worked beautifully. I also used various sanding sugars, edible glitters, Luster Dust, and other decorating items from coppergifts.com -- I whole-heartedly recommend visiting their site!! (Actual cookie recipes courtesy of Copper Gifts at bottom of this post)

Carey from Sunny Days at the Beach commented:

"...got a question about your homemade ornaments...from dough...how long do they last? Do they last for years? Can you share the applesauce recipe?"

Well, actually -- I packed all the cookies I made last year (because, frankly ... it was a LOT of work that I didn't want to throw away) in gallon-sized zip lock bags. I pulled them out to peek at them over the weekend, and with the exception of a few beheaded gingerbread people and snowmen, they look beautiful! I'm considering spraying them with Krylon's Acrylic Crystal Clear sealer in Matte to seal in their beauty.

As for the homemade applesauce recipe, I think there was a misunderstanding. I meant to say homemade ornaments with an applesauce and cinnamon recipe. Or maybe I should have said, "homemade cinnamon and applesauce ornaments." Either way, you can find many recipes on line (I linked the one I'll be using above). As for a homemade Applesauce recipe, well -- I don't have one, but Sandy at 4 Reluctant Entertainers has an excellent recipe. I'm sure she'll share it with you!

Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie was also looking for large-batch cookie recipes, so as promised above, here are a few tried and true large batch recipes:

Big Batch Sugar Cookies
Use this basic dough to make any of your favorite shapes.

2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
6 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder (less if making thick cookies)
1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. Mix well. Chill in large pancake shapes wrapped in parchment or wax
paper for 1 to 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees before baking cookies. Cover baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat mats to prevent cookies from spreading. On surface dusted with powdered sugar, roll dough to approx. 1/8" thick. Use copper cookie cutters dipped in powdered sugar to cut dough into shapes. Bake on baking sheet at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until just beginning to turn brown around the edges. This recipe can
make up to 5 dozen - 4-6" cookies.

Big Batch Royal Icing Recipe
Royal icing is the best for decorated cookies because it sets up so nicely. Cookies can then be used in bouquets or placed in pretty gift bags. Some royal icing doesn't taste good, but by adding flavorings you can make it taste delicious!

3 pounds powdered sugar
4 heaping Tbsp meringue powder
water
3/4 tsp clear vanilla
3/4 tsp butter flavoring
1/2 tsp almond flavoring

Put 2 lbs of powdered sugar in your mixer bowl. Add the meringue powder. Thoroughly mix the two. Add approximately 1/2 c. warm water or just enough that the frosting is fairly thin. Add the flavorings in the amounts shown or adjust them to your own taste. Add the last pound of powdered sugar and enough water to make the frosting the consistency you want. Divide and color. This icing hardens quickly so keep your containers covered until you are ready to use. For "flow" consistency add warm water a little at a time.

Good "flow" consistency is about the thickness of chocolate syrup.

Outline cookie, flow on icing and allow icing to dry hard before you add the finishing touches.

Chocolate Cutouts
This recipe is great for detailed cookie cutters because the cookies retain the size of the cookie cutter even after baking.

1 & 3/4 cups butter (no substitutions)
2 large eggs
2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon water
4 & 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa

Cream together: 1-3/4 cups butter, 2 large eggs, 2 cups brown sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 teaspoon water.

Gradually: 4-1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup cocoa. Divide dough into 3 balls, wrap in wax paper and chill. When ready to bake cookies, let dough soften slightly, roll out on floured board to 1/4" thick and cut-out with floured copper cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased baking sheets and bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, and then remove. Cool completely and decorate.

Gingerbread Cookies
Copper Gifts made this recipe when they were on the TV show called, Unwrapped on the food network. They used their Large, Giant and HUGE copper cookie cutters.

1 & 1/2 cups dark molasses
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cold water
1/3 cup shortening
7 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix molasses, brown sugar, water and shortening. Stir in remaining ingredients. Form dough into 1 or 2 pancake shapes, wrap, and store in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Roll dough out to 1/4 inch and cut with cookie cutters. Decorate with candy, raisins and icing. Bake for 15-20 minutes (depending on how well done you like your gingerbread cookies).

If making the HUGE cookies (15") from coppergifts.com: roll dough according to size of cookie cutter. If you are making the HUGE size, use all the dough and roll almost 1/2 inch thick, they recommend rolling dough out between two sheets of Parchment paper. Lightly grease the cutting side of the cookie cutter, remove top piece of parchment paper and cut out HUGE cookie. Remove excess dough from the outer edges of big cookie, then carefully slide cookie and bottom sheet of parchment paper onto cookie sheet. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how well done you like your gingerbread cookies.

Have fun, and ENJOY!!!