Can't wait for Christmas!

~C~

Hi everyone! Who is excited for Christmas???? I know I am!!

We have several Christmas traditions. I mean SEVERAL!! We go to our first Christmas celebration the very first weekend of December, then we have our annual "Cookie Baking Day" I love to bake! Then we have a pajama party type thing for several of my friends and their Mom's, Then we got to some of my family member's house for about a week and spend Christmas with them their.

But our Christmas Eve tradition has been going on since way, way before I was born! All of my family goes to my great-grandparents house on Christmas Eve and spend basically all day there!

In January we go to my grandmother and grandfather's house. Since we have so much going on in December  that is the only time we can do it.

SO who's excited for Christmas?!?!

Thanksgiving Traditions

~C~

Hi! Happy December! :) So sorry this is out a day late! I've been crazy busy!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I did! Thanksgiving around my house is usually pretty busy! On Thanksgiving we go to my grandparents house and EAT, go on a walk and play dominoes. Oh and clean up the kitchen! Haha! I love Thanksgiving! Not only for the food but for spending time together as family, friends and remembering all the things we have to be thankful for.We usually decorate our house for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving but we did it a little earlier this year.On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we go to my other grandparents house and eat again!  Next it's Christmas!! Then New Year's! I love pumpkin things so I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin chi, pumpkin bars, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies and so on. But I love Thanksgiving and can't wait until Christmas!
Even though this is a week after Thanksgiving we can always be Thankful! Sorry this is so short!

If you haven't already have a great time decorating for Christmas!!
~C~

November Monthly Post!

Sorry this is out a couple days late but with Thanksgiving we were really busy and weren't able to post on Wednesday.

Here is chapter three of our story! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3~

Taylor: ”This is going to be so fun, Vivian! It’s super special because we get to do it together!

Vivian: ”I know! I’ve not gone out with you on a Sister’s outing in a LONG time!”

Taylor: ”I know it feels like forever! The place we’re going will be doing our nails, hair and will be giving us massages! I can’t wait!”

Vivian: ”Wow!! I’m looking forward to the massage part!”

Taylor: ”I’m looking forward to getting my nails done!”

Vivian: ”Here we are….The Market Place! I remember when David and I had our first date here quite a few years ago!”

(During Lunch)

Taylor: ”Vivian, is that your phone ringing?”

Vivian: ”Yes! Thanks for letting me know!”

(On the phone with David)

Vivian:”Hey Sweetheart!”

David:”Hey Vivian!! How is your day out with Taylor going?”

Vivian: ”Its going great! We’re eating lunch at the Market Place! I remember when we had our first date here!”

David: ”Oh! That’s my favorite restaurant! Especially since that’s where we had our first date! Honey, I wanted to let you know that I wrecked on the way to meet Andrew and the kids…I’m fine though! I just broke my arm, the doctor said it wasn’t a bad break! I only have to wear the cast for 4 weeks.

Vivian: ”Oh David… Do you need me to come home and help you?”

David: ”No…I’m fine! You and Taylor enjoy your day! Don’t worry about me!”

Vivian: ”Okay! We will be praying for you! Call us if you need anything!”

David: ”Thanks Babe! Love you!”

Vivian: ”Love you too!”

David: ”Bye!!”

(Finishing Up Lunch)

Taylor: ”What did David say?”

Vivian: “He said that he had a minor wreck on the way to meet Andrew and the kids…he broke an arm but he is doing okay! The doctor said that the brake wasn't bad and that he only has to wear a cast for 4 weeks.”

Taylor:” Oh my! Do you need to go and take home?”

Vivian: “No, he said for me to have a fabulous with you! He will call us if he needs anything and besides Andrew is with him.”

Taylor: “Ok! Well, I’m done how about you?”

Vivian: “ Yep! Me too!”

(On the way to the salon)

Taylor: “So what color are you going to paint your nails? I am so excited about having this day with you!!”

Vivian: “Me too! I’m not sure maybe a coral or mint green…What about you?”

Taylor: I was thinking coral as well! Wouldn’t it be fun to have matching nails?”

Vivian: “Totally!”

Operation Christmas Child

Hey Everyone! Its ~O~ here! This week I wanted to blog about what Operation Christmas Child means to me!

So, every year in November, my church packs many shoeboxes full of toys, candy, notebooks, crayons and much more! It blesses my heart to know that children, who have never received their own "personal" things, finally receive things that meet their need....and wants!

I always try to find the BIGGEST boxes so I can cram as much stuff as possible in that shoebox! I tend to pack for older girls because i know that many people are drawn towards packing boxes for smaller children. (Please don't get me wrong....little kids enjoy and need shoeboxes too!:) I love going shopping at my local Dollar Store and finding just the right things that i think would impact a child's life!


Things that i pack are:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, coloring books, crayons, hair accessories(hairbrush, hair ties, combs), hard candies, mild soap, socks, gloves, stuffed animals and anything else that you think a needy child would enjoy!


One of the things on my bucket list is, delivering shoeboxes one day! That would bless my heart so much! Just to see the excitement on their faces would be worth more than anything!

I close with a few sweet messages from a few blessed children that have received a shoebox and a quick video! 

Timur: 

"When the local Christians came into the orphanage with the shoeboxes, I thought, What is that? I’d never received a gift. My birthday was a normal day. We didn’t celebrate Christmas. They started passing out shoeboxes and we were so excited! I started ripping open my box and then my eyes grew wide. The first thing I saw was toothpaste. I saw the word Crest and thought it said Christ so I thought, Oh! Christian toothpaste! I was so excited I ran around the orphanage saying, “Christian toothpaste! Christian toothpaste!”

Ted: 

"I was an orphan in the former Soviet Union when I received my shoebox. We had to share everything at the orphanage, including towels. When I got a washcloth in my box I actually thought it was my own personal towel!It was very special because I was the only one who could use it. It was my own personal thing—something that I didn’t have before—so it was one of my favorite gifts."

Nanor: 

"I will never forget the day that I received my shoebox. I still remember every gift in it. I’ve kept the box to this day. It was so lovely. The cardboard shoebox was beautifully and meticulously wrapped in green wrapping paper that had little children on it opening gifts by a Christmas tree. Then I opened it! The most exciting gifts were a Barbie doll and a stationery kit. I loved Barbies—and then I got a real one! She was so beautiful."

Video

Hope you enjoy! 

~O~

Handmade Gifts

~C~ 

Hi Everybody! I hope you are having a good day!

Today I am going to be talking about one of my biggest hobbies... Knitting! I love to knit! in the spring,summer,fall,winter whatever I love it!

With Christmas just around the corner I have a lot of knitting to do! I make blankets, scarves, boot cuffs, hats and I'm learning some new things to make as well! I might put up some patterns for some things later on but right now I am super busy so it will be a few weeks.

People LOVE handmade gifts! The person who gives it to them actually had to take the time to make it and had them in mind. Don't get me wrong we all love store bought gifts too but there is something about the sense of accomplishment that comes when you have made something to give.

For example: My great-grandmother loves blankets! I made her a blanket last year for Christmas... She LOVES that thing! She tells me it feels as if I'm giving her a big hug everyday.  Not only is it extremely special for me to see my great-grandmother to love and use something that I put so much time, thought and effort into but special to her to think that someone hand made it for her.

So this Christmas if you can't think of what to get somebody make them something. You might say "I don't have time" Grab a some paper and make them a nice card. It will mean a lot to them!


Until next time!
~C~

(I'll post a knitting pattern next time)

Happy November + Cupcake Recipe!

Happy November Everyone! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is almost here?!??! And then before we know it....Christmas! This week has been pretty crazy, juggling three instruments, school, and a day-to-day life gives a challenge sometimes!

I wanted to share this delicious recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes that I recently made!

I like to get all my ingredients out first! It makes it easier for me personally! Here are the ingredients you will use too make the cupcakes!

2 cups sugar

¾ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs, room temperature

1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 oz red food coloring (a whole .25 oz. bottle, or if you would like to make it RED... use two!)

½ cup hot water

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

           1. Preheat your oven to 325F

  2. You will want to mix your sugar and vegetable oil together until well blended!

             

   3. Beat in eggs until mixture if uniform color         

                      

4. Add in buttermilk, vanilla extract and food coloring

5. Mix in hot water and distilled vinegar

6. Add flour ( I add my flour little by little)

7. Mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and add to bowl

8. Add in coco powder

9. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners

(This recipe makes 24 cupcakes)

10. Bake to 18-20 minutes or until tops are spongey to the touch.

(I started with 15 minutes and then if it needed to bake more, I added 5 minutes)

11. Let them cool before adding icing

(I suggest putting them in the fridge)

Icing Recipe

1 (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature

4 tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature (do not melt)

2 cups powdered sugar

1. Cream together cream cheese and butter

2. Slowly add in powdered sugar and beat until creamy

3. Ice your cupcakes and savor the delicious flavor! Enjoy!

~O~

Millie Keith: Book 7-8

~C~


I am SO sorry this post is so late!! So let's get started!

 Millie's Reluctant Sacrifice: The Keiths were looking at Millie in Varying degrees of dismay. "It has been something of a surprise to me, Pappa,"Millie admitted "Though not completely so. I have felt for almost a year that I am called into the foreign mission field."  Stuart shook his head, "We have let Millie go twice now, once to Roselands and once to New Orleans and I think that is quite enough."Marcia put her hand on her husbands sholder. "We must let her go again Stuart," she said " I see the fingerprints of God all over this. We must let her go, and trust God." 


Millie's Fiery Trial: Millie felt foolish even saying it. "Wanunu came back. She was very angry and she called on the power of her FALSE god." "Pachamama?" said Angela. Millie nodded. "She said she would take what I loved most- My husband. She said she would take Charles's life." "Now Millie," Angela spoke softly but firmly."Wanunu is just a foolish old woman. You are clearly tired and confused." 
I may be tired, Millie thought as she walked to the suit of rooms the the Raels had provided, but I am not confused. She took off her boots and lay across her bed. The face of that wicked woman would not leave her mind. She opened her Bible to Ephesians 6:10-11 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take you stand against the devils' schemes." 


I hope you will look into this series of books! They are amazing! Have a great week!                                                                                                                 

October: Monthly Post

Wow! It's time for the October Monthly post already! Here is the second chapter to our story! Hope you enjoy!


 
Chapter 2~

Vivan's POV

Oh no…Nicole came down with the Flu last night! Thankfully, Mom is able to come and stay with her while Taylor and I go and hangout today! I am so excited to see Taylor! She should be here any minute to pick me up! David, Andrew and the kids (minus Nicole) are planning to go the Aquarium in Hot Springs, Arkansas! It will be a treat for the kids because their Grandma and Grandpa Clark live in Hot Springs! David is so creative when it comes to surprising the kiddos! Taylor just pulled up! The kids are so excited to see Aunt Taylor!

Taylor’s POV

I got up still having some morning sickness but really excited to spend the day with Viv!! I ate some breakfast and drove Andrew to work after our Bible study. Andrew’s job is so nice to let him off early today so he can go with David and the kids! I came home and got dressed and ready for the day. I face-timed with Natalie who is a missionary with her husband Trey and there nine children (soon to be 10 she is seven months along with there 5th daughter). Then I grabbed a snack for the road so I could try to keep the morning sickness at bay and headed to Vivian’s.

Michelle’s (aka Grandma Miller) POV

I am so excited that I get to spend the day with our sweet grand-daughter Nicole! With Anna expecting her eighth baby; a boy and Natalie expecting her tenth a; a little girl we are receiving blessings right and left! It is so fun to watch your daughter experience mother-hood for the first time!

Vivian: ”Look who’s here kids!! Its Grandma Miller and Aunt Taylor!”

Kids:” Yay!!!”

Taylor: ” Hey!! I’ve missed you! Come here Samuel! Let Aunt Taylor hold you! You have grown so much!”

Michelle: ”Hey Everybody! You all look so sweet today in your matching outfits! Are you looking forward to going to the Aquarium with Daddy and Uncle Andrew?”

Marie: ”I wish I could stay with you Grandma!”

Michelle: ”I’m sure you will have lots of fun with Daddy! Grandma has to take care of Nicole today!”

Marie: ”Okay! Can I go with Mommy and Aunt Taylor?”

Vivian: ”No sweetie! Daddy needs your help taking care of Samuel! Also, all the pretty fish will be there!”

 Marie: ”Okay mommy!”

Taylor: “ Are you ready to go? I brought an umbrella, it’s supposed to rain today!”

Vivan: ”Yes, I’m ready are you?”

Taylor: “Yes I am.”

Vivian: “Ok, y’all have fun with Daddy today! I love you!”

Taylor: (Holding Samuel who was crying) “Awww, Buddy we won’t be gone long.”

Vivian: ”Looks like somebody is going to have to take an early nap!”

 Michelle:” Here come to Grandma Samuel! Say ‘Bye Mommy and Aunt Taylor!’ What time will David be here to pick up the kids?”

Taylor:” Well, actually Andrew is picking them up around 11:15. Should be any minute! Come on Vivian, we better get going. Our reservations are for 1:00 and we’re having lunch before that!”

Michelle: ”Okay! You girls have fun and be safe!”

Vivian and Taylor: ”Thanks Mom! We will!”

Next week ~C~ will be blogging about Millie Kieth books 7 and 8! Have a great week!

Millie Keith, Books 5-6

~O~
Hope ya'lls day is going well! Its been raining like crazy!! The Lord always has a purpose for everything he sends our way though! To change the subject a little bit...It feels like the year has flown by in a snap! March feels like yesterday! WOW! Before we know it 2016 will be here!



Today, I will be blogging about Millie Keith books 5 & 6! 

"After turning down an offer of marriage and being banished from Roseland's for the crime of freeing slaves who did not belong to her, Millie Keith is finally making the stagecoach journey home.  Yet instead of finding solace on the journey, she finds grave danger, and three orphan children with a murky past, a big secret, and a strange connection to Millie's own Aunt Wealthy Stanhope.  Is it a divine appointment?






 "Millie Keith has finally settled in her mind that she will remain a spinster and adventuress forever, following in the footsteps of her Aunt Wealthy Stanhope.  She is quite sure she has made the right decision, until Charles Landreth appears in Pleasant Plains- just in time for the cruelest winter the frontier town has ever known.  Charles loved her once, when she wore silks and satins.  But can he love Millie Keith of the wild frontier?"

These books are books that you won't want to put down! I personally loved them and I hope you all will too! The faith of this young lady is incredible!

Sorry it's out a little late.

A Life of Faith: Millie Kieth

~C~

Hi!

Last week ~O~ introduced you to The Life of Faith series by Martha Finley. Did you look the books up? I hope you have! Today, I will be talking about book three and four of Millie Kieth!

Last week in book one, Millie was about to move to the great frontier with her mother, father and seven siblings! At only twelve years old! She leaving the only home she had ever known, her friends and her Aunt Wealthy Stanhope (who is a very BIG part of her life!). In book two she had moved and was trying to figure out what to do. Where she was to go to school, find new friends and stay in contact with old ones and help her mother take care of her seven younger siblings! Talk about a change! Let's find out what happens in books three and four!

Book three: "Millie's Remarkable Journey"

Now fifteen years old Millie Kieth prepared a Bible study teaching on the evils of slavery! (She's only fifteen!) She didn't know that God was about to give her an opportunity to investigate the truth firsthand. to help cure her president cough, she leaves her family and her home in Indiana to visit a wealthy plantation in the South owned by her Uncle Horace Dinsmore. Will Millie have courage to live out her faith amidst relatives she didn't know?








Book four: "Millie's Faithful Heart" 

                                                                                                                         

Still age fifteen Millie Kieth is still at her Uncle Horace Dinsmore's plantation in the South. Before she left her parents gave her three pieces of advise "Honor your parents, honor God and give you heart to Jesus". Millie thought these pieces of advise would be easy, but alone at Roselands Plantation she finds convictions tested in ways she couldn't have imagined. Will the high society life style change Millie?