Ending the year with a full heart

*contented sigh*

Right now I feel a bit like Santa...you know the part in Night Before Christmas where it talks about his round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly??

Yeah..that sounds about right. 

But mine would be a bowl full of ice cream...
and ham.
and peanut butter M&M's.
and rolls.
and Christmas crack.
and cinnamon rolls.
and cookies.
and milk.
and Christmas candies.
and...well, we'll just stop right there.  

But this afternoon...my tummy is not the only thing that feels full.  

My heart does too...

Full of joy.  
Full of gratitude.

And at a time when I would typically be sentimental (with the end of the year, Christmas being over, etc.) I feel satisfied.  Like someone who leans back in his chair during a big family meal and just relishes the moment. 

Nothing fills the soul like time celebrating Jesus, time with our families, time with friends, and time with my Love.   

My Favorite [Christmas] Things - Food Edition

Today I'm sharing one of our newest favorite Christmas goodies - what I've affectionately named Christmas Crack. :)  Our recipe is modified from one Ryan found in the Illinois Electric Co-Op newsletter/magazine (called White Chocolate Party Mix).  

Hope you enjoy a healthy addiction (as we have!) to some Christmas Crack ;)  

Christmas Crack
7 Cups Honey Nut Chex cereal
1 bag holiday M&M's (we combined half a bag of plain and half a bag of peanut butter)
2/3 of a 15 oz bag of mini pretzels.  
1 - 16 oz jar of honey-roasted peanuts
1 - 20 oz package of almond bark (we used vanilla flavored) or 20 oz white chocolate chips 
3 Tbsp vegetable oil

Grab your Honey Nut Chex (I didn't know such a thing existed!) and measure out 7 cups.  Add the M&M's, pretzels, and peanuts in a bowl with the Chex.  

Microwave the almond bark with the oil in 1-minute increments until smooth.  Pour over the dry mixture and stir until coated...

Once coated, pour out onto a long strip of wax paper to let dry.  

Once dry, break into pieces and savor! :)

  

My favorite [Christmas] Things - Round 1

Maria had her favorite things in the Sound of Music - Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...lovely and simple pleasures. 

And on a much larger (and commercial) scale  - 
Every year Oprah releases her "Favorite Things" list.  This year her list has included soap sets, an elliptical, sweaters, jewelry, and Michael Kors studded high top shoes, among other things.  

This year, I thought I'd share a few of my "favorite things" related to Christmastime.  

Today, I want to share with you an Advent Bible reading list that I have found helps me reflect on Christ as well as the way God orchestrated His entrance into our world as a remedy for our sinful situation.    

This reading list is for 25 days...the days leading up to and including Christmas.  I stumbled upon the full list (which is for 4 whole weeks) a few years ago, but for the likes of me, I can't remember where.  So I want to be clear - this does not originate with me.  But I simply want to pass along a good thing. EnJOY!

1. Isaiah 40:1-11
2. Isaiah 52:7-10
3. Genesis 3:8-15
4. Genesis 15:1-6
5. Deuteronomy 18:15-19
6. Psalm 89:1-4
7. Isaiah 11:1-10
8. Zechariah 6:12-13
9. Micah 5:2-4
10. Malachi 3:1-6
11. John 1:1-8
12. John 1:9-18
13. Mark 1:1-3
14. Luke 1:5-13
15. Luke 1:14-17
16. Luke 1:18-25
17. Luke 1:39-45
18. Luke 1:46-56
19. Luke 1:57-66
20. Luke 1:67-80
21. Isaiah 7:10-14
22. Luke 1:26-35
23. Isaiah 9:2-7
24. Matthew 1:18-25
25. Luke 2:1-20

our little country Christmas tree

Ryan and I have made it a tradition the last couple years to get our Christmas tree from the wild and overgrown fields near his farm.  We love that the trees are free (!) and that they are fresh and rustic. 

The process is really a hunt.  We're looking for the diamond in the rough.  The beauty that has an unusually lovely shape and character given its rough surroundings and environment.  

So last Sunday Ryan and I piled into his big truck and took off for the field.  I immediately spotted what I thought was a good candidate.  But after some deliberation, we decided to keep going.  And on and on we rolled...through waist-high weeds and thorny brush, past countless cedar trees.  Our conversation went about like this -

"Hmm, what do you think about that one?"  "It's a little thin...let's keep going."

"See that one over there...the tall one...what do you think?"  "Hmm...I think we can find better."

"Now here's an option."  "It's not bad, but I'm not sold yet."  

And here's Ryan enthusiastically partaking in the hunt...

This went on for a good 15 minutes.  When we were about ready to go back to one that we'd passed a bit before, we stumbled upon "The One"...Somewhat petite, symmetrical, and green.  Looking closer, it even had a few blue berries.  That's the One!  

(It looks like she's got a crazy top, but that's just another tree behind her)

Here we are together. :)

AND...TIMBERS AWAY!

Did I mention that one benefit of a wild cedar is its open branch structure and light weight?  

But of course, this one was very, very heavy.  It just looks light because my man's so strong. :)  

yep. that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. 

So anyway, we brought her home, cleaned out a few of the dead branches and things that tend to compile when you're a tree in the middle of fallow field, and set her on the stand.  

After a few lights, some ribbon, and ornaments, she has lit up our home and hearts. 

Carpe Di-HEN

Many of us are familiar with the latin phrase "carpe diem" meaning "seize the day."  

'Round these here parts, we Carpe Di-hen...this is how the chicks "seize the day!"