WoF: My Favorite Christmas Recipe

We are in day two of the Wives of Faith Christmas Carnival Blog. For more favorite Christmas recipes, visit the blog and read the comments. I really thought that these topics would be easier! I love cooking...but to pick a favorite recipe is impossible.

One of my favorite cookies to make is for my sister, Kendra. She lives almost 2,000 miles away in sunny Arizona, so I am looking forward to having a big batch of these prepared for when she makes it home for Christmas this year.

It's a simple recipe - no measurements or baking! Our family calls them "Wheat Thin Cookies". They sound strange, but true to using chocolate and peanut butter, you can't go wrong!

Ingredients:

• One box of Wheat thins (I use reduced fat...I know, what's the point when you are using PB and Chocolate? I'm not sure. I just feel better about it.)


• Peanut butter (I recommend creamy)


• Chocolate bark (white chocolate bark also works well)


• Sprinkles, coconut, non-perils, any other favorite decorations

1. Make mini wheat thin sandwiches with just a little dab of peanut butter between each.
2. Melt chocolate in microwave. Be careful not to burn! (Or, if you're a heath weirdo like me and you don't use a microwave, you can melt in a double boiler on the stove.)
3. Dip cracker sandwiches into chocolate and coat. Using a fork, gently remove from chocolate and place onto waxed paper.
4. Decorate using sprinkles, or simply drizzle the opposite color of chocolate onto the semi-cooled cookie.

Watch for a photo during the next couple of weeks. I haven't made mine yet and can't find an image online...it'll give you a good reason to stop back!

Enjoy!

WoF: My Favorite Christmas Song

I’m blogging again! Well, at least for the next 12 days as part of the Wives of Faith Blog Carnival.
Today’s topic: My Favorite Christmas Song


I thought that this would be an easy one to start out with…until, I started some research. I don’t have a favorite Christmas song.


This year, I’ve found new respect for The Little Drummer Boy. I was watching my 6-year old niece, Kayla and 18-month old nephew, Jake. We were on our way to church for a Bible study. We had the radio on and The Little Drummer Boy started playing. It’s not one of my favorites, but I decided to leave it on. Before I knew it, Jake was singing along! His version went something like this, “Pum Pum”….”Pum Pum”…so he may not have caught all the words, but he sang right along with the music!


Not to be outdone, on the way home, we were having a singing contest, a normal happening when we get a handful of us in the car. Big sister Kayla sang her first song, then she helped Jake sing a song. They were right in the middle of Old McDonald and big, fat snowflakes started to fall. Kayla gasped and then jumped right into her own song…”I’m Kayla and I’m going to sing a song about Snow”…


Snowflakes falling down
One snowflake falls down
Two snowflakes…
(I’ll spare you the rest, but impressive that this spontaneous song was written and produced by Kayla herself. )


My takeaway: Choosing an all time favorite Christmas song for me isn’t possible because each has its own meaning, often driven by what I’ve experienced while singing the song.


Pum pum…pum pum…

Working Girl

The past month has flown by! I have been working two jobs and have not had a whole lot of down time. The new "real" job is going really well. It's great to be back into a routine!

I still recognize that not everyone is as lucky as me, and that there are companies still laying off employees. I just heard of a friend at my first "real" job who was laid off due to the stagnant economy.

Being laid off isn't a good feeling. Although you were not fired, it's hard not to feel bad about it. I went through many emotions as I chugged along in unemployment. In the process of understanding what life was without a job, I think I found more of myself. I learned a great deal about who I am and that my job does not define me. Prior to the unemployment, it did define who I was and I hope to never go back there. A job is something that I do, but it does not make me who I am.

I imagine my blog may take a new turn. I am tossing a few ideas around in my mind - possibly a National Guard focus...or maybe digging into small changes we can make in our lives to make the world a little greener. We'll see what comes of it!

At long last...

I have been offered (and have accepted!) a job with the American Lung Association! It's great news and I start next week already. I must say, that there were a few times when I thought I wasn't ever going to find work again. But, thankfully, I have some great contacts (The Welch Group) who passed on the information to me and I am back in business!

Out of this I have also learned an important lesson. My top new goal, both personally and professionally, is to really dig deep and develop my networking skills. I have not always fully grasped networking opportunities - but I plan to brush up my skills and incorporate it into my life.

I'm going to start digging up some resources next...any advice is welcome!

Sharing The Man

I just got an email from a woman who is a part of the Pease Greeters. They welcomed the guys and sent them off with a fantastic farewell as they left the United States (read blog about them here).

The woman who emailed me today was emailing regarding some other stuff, but I was really moved by something she wrote about The Man:

"Thank you for sharing him with his Country."

Wow. Truthfully, I'm kind of selfish about The Man! But this wonderful woman (who is part of a wonderful organization!) really hit home.

I'm glad that there are people who recognize and act upon their support for our Soldiers. And who go above and beyond. It helps make it worth it to share The Man!

Landscaping project

When The Man was home we tore up the front yard and did quite a project...in three days!

I still have to get one more truckload of stone, paint our steps, and put in some plants - but here it is!

Before...big dirt pile, messy plant beds...what a disaster!

The Man consulting with the Pro...

What a mess!

Final product (almost!) - pretty planters, pretty stone, so neat and clean!

The Man after all the hard work!

News!

Just heard news that The Man is at Kyrgyzstan. What peace of mind it gives me to have heard his voice. Such relief!