MOPS Christmas Party - Pictures

I guess I didn't get as many pictures as I thought. Maybe I should have given the picture taking task to someone else that night.

We had a nice time of relaxing, fellowship and as always when we get together....WAY TOO MUCH FOOD! It was all so delicious but we didn't even make a dent. Those of you who would like to share your recipes please email them to me and I will post them on the blog.

Beth - Don't forget to send me your infamous blueberry pie recipe! :)



Lisa must have been telling an interesting story because she definitely had every one's attention!



Always adorable Melissa with Brooklyn, who was tired of the paparazzi taking her picture.



Tiffany is always willing to give a beautiful smile for a picture! Thanks Tiffany



Natascha looks like such a natural with a baby in her arms. Come on Natascha don't you want another one?

December MOPS Meeting - Photos

We had a wonderful Christmas MOPS meeting a couple weeks ago. Here are some of the pictures I captured.



















Have a Merry Christmas and see you all in the new year!

Christmas Trifle Recipe

This is the recipe for the yummy dessert that Anita Bell brought to the MOPS Christmas Party.

(Picture from Taste of Home website)

Christmas Trifle Recipe

Ingredients
•1-6 oz green maraschino cherries .
•1 (16 oz) carton frozen whipped cream, thawed .
•1-10 oz red maraschino cherries .
•3 medium bananas, firm & sliced .
•2 (3 1/2 oz) packages vanilla instant pudding mix .
•1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple .
•1-8 inch prepared angel food cake, cut into 1 inch cubes .
•3 1/2 c eggnog, chilled .
•1/4 c sliced walnuts

Directions
•Step #1 Drain pineapple, reserving juice.
•Step #2 Dip bananas in juice, drain & discard juice.
•Step #3 Set aside pineapple, bananas, three red cherries & three green cherries.
•Step #4 In a bowl, whisk the eggnog & pudding mixed for 2 mins or until slightly thickened.
•Step #5 Place half of the pudding in a 4 quart serving or trifle bowl, pineapple, layer with half of the bananas, cherries, cake cubes & whipped topping.
•Step #6 Repeat layers.
•Step #7 Garnish with walnuts & reserved cherries.
•Step #8 Serves 16-20.

MOPS Christmas Party!!!

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

Please join us on December 12th for a well deserved "Mom's Night Out Christmas Edition". We will have scrumptious desserts, delicious coffee, and some much needed, time of relaxing fellowship with great friends.

If you have time to make a sample of your favorite dessert, please bring some to the party (and copies of the recipe) to share with everyone. We know this time of year can be very busy so if don't find time to make something, please still join us!

Location: Boggs' House
When: Saturday, December 12, 6:30PM

Email me if you need more information or directions!

Advent Calendar

I've been searching the internet for ideas on making an Advent Calendar (or what we are calling a Jesus Birthday Countdown). I found one I really liked on a website called splitcoaststampers.com . A woman by the name of Beate Johns from the Dayton area posted her step by step instructions on how to put it together. I finished mine and thought it turned out really cute so I thought I would pass along the information. Although it looks like it would take a lot of time I actually got it finished pretty quickly.

These are the supplies I used:

- One 16" x 20" blank Canvas (another idea would be a cookie sheet with magnets)

- 24 metal tins (2" diameter Wilton® favor tins, available at Michaels in the wedding favor section) (I bought these with my 40% weekly coupon and they cost me $12)

- Patterned Christmas Paper

- Coordinating Cardstock

- Number Stamps (you could buy number stickers if you don't have stamps)

- Stamping Ink

- Strong and regular adhesive ("Terrific Tape" and double stick tape)

- Ribbon (optional)

- Paper cutter (my paper cutter never cuts straight so I just used a ruler)

- 24 piece of Velcro (about 1 inch long)

I followed most of her instructions found HERE but her measurements for the spacing of the squares didn't work out right for me. Just make sure you measure to see if everything will fit before you start attaching anything. Her calendar had a little more "bling" to it than mine.





I typed a list of 24 Bible Verses and cut them into strips and put one in each tin. Here are the verses we used:

Day 1 - Isaiah 7:14
Day 2 - Isaiah 9:6-7
Day 3 - John 1:1-3
Day 4 - John 1:14
Day 5 - Micah 5:2-3
Day 6 - Micah 5:4-5
Day 7 - Luke 1:26-28
Day 8 - Luke 1:29-31
Day 9 - Luke 1:32-33
Day 10 - Luke 1:35
Day 11 - Matthew 1:20-24
Day 12 - Luke 1:41-45
Day 13 - Luke 2:1-5
Day 14 - Luke 2:6-7
Day 15 - Luke 2:8-10
Day 16 - Luke 2:11-12
Day 17 - Luke 2:13-14
Day 18 - Luke 2:15-16
Day 19 - Luke 2:17
Day 20 - Matthew 2:1-2
Day 21 - Matthew 2:9-10
Day 22 - Matthew 2:11
Day 23 - Hebrews 1:6
Day 24 - 1 John 4:2



I grew up with a lot of traditions, especially at Christmas. Those traditions are a very special memory from my childhood. Now I want to create special memories for my children with family traditions. Through these traditions I want to teach them more about the most amazing gift you could ever receive......JESUS!

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!

Holiday Stress

Three Ways to Relieve Stress Before the Holidays Arrive
taken from Familylife.com
written by Susan Yates

Just the other day I was chatting with some friends, primarily mothers of young children. They were already feeling anxious about the holiday events now being scheduled. In addition, they were worried about different family members coming to visit.

Finally one commented, "I just want to get through it. I want it to be over!"

We can all identify with this in some way. It is indeed a sad commentary on our culture and on our lifestyles. What is meant to be a season of celebration has today become a season of stress.

What can we do to alleviate some of the stress and recapture a sense of the true spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas before they arrive?

Three things will help:

1. Lower your expectations. The media often creates a vision of the holidays as a time of warm family relationships, relatives sitting by the fire roasting chestnuts, children happily giving and receiving, and, of course snow falling everywhere. Families sick with Swine Flu, kids fighting over toys, a dad who isn't there, estranged relatives, a schedule way too full, an unexpected emergency, and the lack of funds are rarely pictured. It is so easy for us to become swept up in what we think it should look like as opposed to the reality. And we tend to think we're the only ones—surely no one else's life is like mine!

We need to define realistic expectations for this coming season. Brainstorm with your husband or close girlfriend. Ask yourself what you can do to obey the great commandments (love God, and love your neighbor) during this season. How can you lower your expectations on relationships and grant grace instead of succumbing to disappointment? How can you prepare your children to understand the real meaning of this season?

2. Simplify your lifestyle. I have found one of the leading causes of stress is that we try to cram too much into these days. We live in a culture that screams, "The more the better!" And yet often less is definitely better. Instead of watching your calendar fill up, go ahead now and block out personal time, couple times, and family times. Then when that really nice invitation comes along, have the courage to say, "I'm so sorry we have a conflict." It is far easier to set boundaries before the commitments start to pile up.

We can also simplify our own traditions. Do you really need to decorate your mailbox because all the other neighbors do? Do you have to give gifts to every family member? Because my husband, John, and I have large families, we've always drawn names for siblings and their spouses. So we each give one gift to one sibling or spouse. Our own five children and their spouses draw names between each other as well. It simplifies gift giving and saves money, too.

3. Determine what you can delete or postpone. You may have a tradition of a cookie bake with girlfriends. But do you really need to do it at this time? Why not postpone it until the end of January when life is not so packed? You'll relieve stress and enjoy it more. Or those couples you do a Christmas event with every year ... why not postpone this gathering until a date in the winter? Look at what you have done in the past and determine what to eliminate this year. Be courageous and eliminate one or two things you usually do and instead declare a family night at home alone. It helps to remember that every time you say "yes" to something, you should say "no" to something else.

This coming season is a time to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). We have to be ruthless with our schedules and grant extra grace in our relationships if we want to soak in the miracles of this season.

Late Fees

Just a quick post of some information my husband and I learned over the past week.

Did you know that as of October 1st, 2009, you'll have to pay another $20 if you are more than 7 days late renewing your plates or license. And if you have multiple cars, those late fees can add up quickly.

Here is an example:

The birth date your vehicles are registered under is November 1st.....you have until November 8th to renew your vehicle tags before they charge a $20 fee.

This late fee is also applicable for your driver's license renewal.