Family & Friends
Handmade Christmas Projects – Coasters
I really like giving Christmas gifts that are handmade. I also enjoy giving practical gifts. There are two very sweet moms who have watched my three youngest children this year so that I could volunteer in the GFA office two days a week, and we wanted to do something special for them. This project was the perfect practical, handmade gift that the kids could have a hand in making, and I think they turned out really nice!
For this project, we followed the Coaster Tutorial at Two Hippos Blog. We bought 12 four-inch ceramic tiles, glue, varnish and scrapbook paper. I precut the paper into four inch squares, and we layed them all out.
Samantha and Allen glued the paper squares on to the tiles. Then they added a second coat of glue to the top of the paper.
Once the papers were dry, I painted them with another coat of glue.
When that was dry, we added three coats of varnish to seal the coasters. We allowed them to dry and added some felt “feet” to the bottoms, and they’re all ready for giving!
Christmas Traditions – Peanut Butter Fudge
Ray’s mom gave me this recipe the first Christmas that Ray and I spent together. It’s one of their family’s Christmas favorites. They love to offer an unsuspecting guest a drink of soda to go with the fudge and watch the reaction to the “explosion” that results from the combination.
The Recipe
Ingredients
1 stick of butter
1 small can of evaporated milk
2 1/2 cups of sugar
1 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp of vanilla
1 7-ounce jar of marshmallow cream
A few willing assistants
Grease a 9X12 dish
Put butter and evaporated milk in pan. Do a little math while measuring the sugar into the pan: how many 1/2 cups make 2 1/2 cups total?
Heat and stir to boiling. Allow to boil for five minutes stirring often.
Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until smooth.
Add vanilla and marshmallow cream. Stir until smooth.
Pour into 9X12 pan.
Let cool.
Lick the spoons.
Cut into squares and store in a covered container, dividing the layers with waxed paper.
Christmas Traditions – Decorating the Tree
We traditionally put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. Ray usually gets it out and puts it together with the kids while I’m out doing Black Friday shopping, and we decorate it together in the evening after dinner. After having real trees for many years, Ray convinced me to pick up an artificial one after Christmas a few years ago, and though I do miss picking out the tree and the nice smell, the convenience of our artificial has definitely won me over.
This year, Morgan got up and went out shopping early with me after spending the night with a friend. I think she slept two hours . . . she was tired by tree decorating time, but still beautiful, of course. I love this picture of her and Samantha. The look so much alike and so much different at the same time.
Jamie was really excited about the tree and wanted to “help”, of course.
The kids might think it’s corny, but they always make sure that Ray and I hang the first ornament on the tree. We bought this one our first Christmas together.
After the first ornament, we let the the kids decorate the tree. (Shhh . . . I do go back after everyone leaves to make sure the ornaments are all spread out evenly.)
Samantha was calling it a “Kiss-Mas” tree, so Jamie kept trying to kiss the tree. Morgan convinced him to give her a kiss instead.
Our ornaments are almost all handmade by the kids. There are a few thrown in that are special ones to us, like the “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments. There are several really special ones that Ray’s mom saved for him that he made when he was a kid.
All done!
Did I mention that we live in Texas?
Morgan and I got up early, but not crazy early, to do some Black Friday shopping. We met up with our friends, Crystal and Chris, and had a wonderful time. We had to laugh, though, as we exited the parking lot of the shopping center and looked off to the left to see these two guys riding away on horseback. Only in Texas . . .
Thanksgiving 2008
We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year! Our dear friends and fellow GFA staff members, Janet and Garry, came all the way over from next door to spend the afternoon and evening with us.
We had tons of yummy food! Janet made the beautiful “living candle” centerpieces for us.
After dinner, Garry, Ray, Morgan and Sean watched the Cowboys play football while Allen and Samantha taught Auntie Janet how to play “I Spy” on the computer.
Sometimes It’s the Simpliest Things
Ray’s mom picked up this swing for a few cents at a yard sale and sent it home with us. It’s really just a round piece of wood on a rope, but the kids played on it until it was too dark to play anymore.
Jamie “helped” hang the swing from the walnut tree.
Morgan dropped by and went for swing, too!
Support Trip – HOME!
We’re home!
We left Ray’s Mom’s house on Thursday morning–a day early because more snow was coming!
We did have a chance to drop in and visit with Ray’s 91-year-old Great Aunt on Wednesday, though. It was such a blessing to spend time with her!
Jamie thought her walker was the coolest “cycle” he’d ever seen.
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement on our trip. God was with us every step of the way. We really enjoyed being able to share with you, too!
Support Trip – Wrapping Things Up
We had a bit more snow today,
and, sadly, had to cancel our lunch meeting with our supporters in eastern Tennessee. We’re wrapping things up here now and planning to head toward home on Thursday morning. Please pray for safe travel!
I’ll leave you with some more pictures of fun in the snow.
Support Trip – First Christian Church and SNOW!
Things are going well here! We were blessed to have dinner and fellowship time last night with the Smith family here in Bluefield,
and we came home to snow!
We shared at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ this morning.
And, we played in the snow this afternoon.
Support Trip – Wrapping Up Week 1
We had a lovely dinner with the Adult Sunday School class from Bannertown Baptist in Mt. Airy last night. Ray updated them on our work at GFA and offered a question and answer time, as well.
Thanks for praying! We’re back in Bluefield tonight and will update again tomorrow.
