Author Archives: Ellen

Nativities

…the occasion of a person’s birth. A picture carving or model representing Jesus Christ’s birth.

Even though the Wise men from the East did not appear on the scene till months after the birth of Jesus they are depicted in many traditional Nativity scenes. I like to try to put them far off as if they are still traveling.

“My Christ he is the Lord of lords,

He is the King of kings

He is the Sun of righteousness

With healing in his wings.

My Christ, he is the heaven of heaven

My Christ what shall I call?

My Christ is first, my Christ is last,

My Christ is All in All.”

I had to wait till dark to get a good shot of the nativity set we like to put above our front door.

When JJ was here last Monday afternoon, he set this Little People Nativity on the window ledge.

‘Welcome to our wondering sight,

Eternity within a span!

Summer in winter! Day in night!

Heaven in earth! And God in man!

Great little One, whose glorious birth

Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth.’

Quotes taken from Christ’s Glorious Achievements, What Jesus Has Done for You. by C. H. Spurgeon

Here are the last few sentences from this book:

“I hope that among those who have read these pages there will be many whom the Lord Jesus has specially redeemed with his most precious blood, and I trust he will appear at once to them, and say, ‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.’ By grace omnipotent may you be  made to yield to the Lord with the cheerful consent of your conquered wills, and accept that glorious grace which will bring you to praise the seeking and saving Saviour in heaven.”

May the miracle of Christmas and the redemptive, saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross lead you to repentance with belief and new life in Him. He alone gives us grace and peace.

See Amid the Winter’s Snow ~ Hymn

See Amid the Winter’s Snow

See amid the win­ter’s snow,
Born for us on earth be­low,
See, the gen­tle Lamb ap­pears,
Promised from eter­nal years.

Refrain

Hail thou ev­er bless­èd morn!
Hail re­demp­tion’s hap­py dawn!
Sing through all Je­ru­sa­lem:
Christ is born in Beth­le­hem!

Lo, with­in a man­ger lies
He who built the star­ry skies;
He who, throned in height sub­lime,
Sits amid the cher­ub­im!

Refrain

Say, you ho­ly shep­herds, say,
Tell your joy­ful news to­day;
Wherefore have you left your sheep
On the lone­ly mount­ain steep?

Refrain

As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a won­drous light;
Angels sing­ing Peace on earth
Told us of the Sav­ior’s birth.

Refrain

Sacred In­fant, all di­vine,
What a ten­der love was Thine;
Thus to come from high­est bliss
Down to such a world as this.

Refrain

Teach, O teach us, ho­ly Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to re­sem­ble Thee,
In Thy sweet hu­mil­ity!

Refrain

Words: Edward Caswall, 1851.

A Few Favorite Things

Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

’Tis the season to be jolly Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la

Here are a few Christmas treasures scattered here and there around our home.

 

On Monday, I’ll share our nativities.

Hopefully I’ll get some baking done next week. These are on my list.

imgp1231_zpsbvbpjag4

These “melt in your mouth”. There is no other way to express it.

Russian Tea Cookies

1 C. butter
1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2-1/2 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup nuts, finely chopped

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla, flour, salt and nuts. Mix well. Form into small balls and flatten a bit. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 F  10-14 minutes. While still warm roll in powdered sugar. After cool, roll again in powdered sugar. Yields 3-4 dozen.

What is on your list for Christmas baking, if anything?

Truth for Today #174

Friday December 19th

On Fridays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s continue to dig deep into God’s truth.

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you! 

Announcement: I will be pausing my Friday Truth for Today Posts until the New Year, resuming on January 9th.

Hebrews 3:1-6:

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses–as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Hebrews 3:12-15:

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

From Dianna:

“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,”

Luke 1:76-78 KJV

From Vera:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Barbara:

Luke 1:45

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.

Everyday Images ~December Prompts

December Prompts – Everyday Images #77
I’ll be linking up with Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee.
(at home, collection, love, white, traditional, pine)
~~~~~
at home (monthly)
collection
love
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
white
traditional
Christmas cards are a tradition that I enjoy and cherish. Hope it doesn’t completely die out!
pine
Pine bough garland around our front door of our former home.
Currently at our home we are surrounded by evergreens but they are more of the fir variety and not pine.
~~~~~
Hope all is well in your corner of the world as you anticipate Christmas and all that it means to humanity.
We’ve had this little tin for years and the scenes go well with the Bible verses from Luke.
~
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(Luke 2:8–14, ESV)
This last scene comes later in the Christmas events before Joseph, Mary and Jesus flee to Egypt to escape King Herod’s evil plans. The Wise men and Joseph are warned by God about Herod.
My little tin also has a scene with a Little Drummer Boy which comes from a popular Christmas song but isn’t in the Bible.

Checking the List, Hodgepodge

It’s time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge thanks to Joyce From This Side of the Pond! 

WE are having a high wind/rain event here in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) and our power has been knocked out a couple of times already. It will be an iffy day for visiting blogs. Our region is really being hammered!! 

1. What’s one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

I want to make a favorite from our dear mom for our Christmas gathering, Roolyet. You can see the recipe here.

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day…are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee? 

We enjoy Real Maple Syrup on our Swedish Pancakes, regular pancakes, waffles, etc. I like maple bars, the donut variety.

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a ‘man of the year’ but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 
This year they’ve named The AI Architects as their ‘person of the year’. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 
~
I think Time Magazine is sticking it’s head in the political sand or suffering from TDS syndrome in refusing to name President Donald Trump as the man of the year! Donald Trump definitely is on the minds of those who love what he’s doing and those who hate him and can’t get him out of their minds. Being on the minds of so many, he is a logical choice. Love him or hate him he is making an impact!

4. What’s a city, state, or country you’ve visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why. 

South Chicago. We made the mistake of taking a driving route from Wheaton college to the Chicago Museum of Art through south Chicago and it did not feel safe. The tension on the streets was palpable. I would never drive through there again.

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you’re living down under). What’s one thing you love about this new season? 

We love Winter. All of our children were born in Winter. Christmas is in Winter.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Let the Stable Still Astonish
~
Let the stable still astonish:
Straw-dirt floor, dull eyes,
Dusty flanks of donkeys, oxen;
Crumbling, crooked walls;
No bed to carry that pain,
And then, the child,
Rag-wrapped, laid to cry
In a trough.
Who would have chosen this?
Who would have said: “Yes,
Let the God of all the heavens and earth
Be born here, in this place”?
Who but the same God
Who stands in the darker, fouler rooms
of our hearts and says, “Yes,
let the God of Heaven and Earth
be born here–
in this place.”
– Leslie Leyland Fields

Adorning

Our Christmas tree was finally adorned with ornaments old and new. We do not do ‘designer’ Christmas here. We do a more traditional look, using old and new touches, vintage and modern. As you can see, the presents under the tree are a mish mosh of bags and boxes and wrapping paper. Not much matching going on.

The angel topper has been with us for many years and I’m sorry to say I’m not sure who made it for us and the first year it became our topper.

The ornaments on the tree have no overall theme. Some are from travels to Great Britain.

Beatrix Potter’s characters are represented.

The first Christmas ornament we were gifted as a wedding gift and some early family ornaments represent these special times in our history.

Josh and Dan’s sport photo ornaments have gone to live at their homes.

I’m not sure which one of our 3 kids created this walnut half ornament in Sunday School years ago.

This one above has been around for many of our 51 years of Christmases. The one below is newer but has still been around for years!

Our ‘Grands’ have a representation on the tree, too.

This was our very first Christmas tree at our apartment in West Los Angeles. That is our niece Jenna. We had only been married for 20 days. The fern next to our tree was from our wedding. We had two ferns at the altar for our wedding flowers. After finding these old photos it dawned on me that in our first month of marriage we had both sides of our family over to our apartment for a meal/gathering, including Greg’s paternal grandmother and my maternal grandmother!

This was our Christmas tree in the first home we purchased in 1975 and our second Christmas as a married couple.

Has your tree been adorned?

December Snapshots

On Friday evening our church had a Gingerbread House construction competition. 32 families which amounted to 142 people showed up for dinner and the contest. Our church provided the graham crackers and royal frosting and families chose their own edible decorations.

Our Colville kids participated. Jamie was also part of the committee that organized the event and she was in charge of the food. The committee did an amazing job of planning and pulling off the very successful event!

I was impressed with their creation!

They even included a carport!

On Saturday we finally got some sunshine which was a welcomed sight because of all the rain and flooding in our state. Our community did not have any overflowing rivers or threats of flooding like the western side of our state and places in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and British Columbia.

Our son, Josh, made a stop at Snoqualmie Falls to see the incredible amount of water flowing. These falls are on the western side of the Cascade Mountain range in our state.

falls-w-vera-003

Here’s a photo of the same falls in January of 2017.

Snoqualmie 015

March of 2014 with the runoff from snow. Our daughter, Katie, and I made a special visit to the Falls.

The same falls frozen in 2009.

Back to the present…

Our ‘Grands’ embraced the sunshine on Saturday out of doors enjoying pineapple.

On Sunday in our service we enjoyed the Children’s Sunday School choir performing a special song for Christmas.

I zeroed in on our favorite one in the choir.

Some of you might notice that our Addy now has bangs!

The older set, aka Baba and Gramps, had a relaxing weekend and I’m astonished to report that all our Christmas gifts are wrapped and under the tree! Now I can concentrate on plans for meals and treats for Christmas and beyond while we are all together.

How was your weekend?

Once He Came in Blessing ~ Hymn

Once He Came in Blessing

Once He came in blessing,
All our ills redressing,
Came in likeness lowly,
Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us,
Hope and freedom gave us.

Still He comes within us,
Still His voice would win us
From the sins that hurt us;
Would to truth convert us
From our foolish errors,
Ere He comes in terrors.

Thus if Thou hast known Him,
Not ashamed to own Him,
Nor dost love Him coldly,
But will trust Him boldly,
He will now receive thee,
Heal thee, and forgive thee.

He who well endureth,
Bright reward secureth;
Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
From our sins release us;
Let us here confess Thee,
Till in Heav’n we bless Thee.

Words: Johann Roh, 1544.

Applesauce Cake Roll

My mom used to made this Applesauce Cake Roll years ago and I had tried it once in the past and decided to try it again. It makes a nice dessert that isn’t too sweet and is festive. I made a couple mistakes and will improve on my cake rolling the next time around. My company did not mind it’s imperfection!

Ingredients:
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar (icing sugar) for dusting

Filling:
12 oz. of cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Beat eggs till thick.
Gradually add sugar beating well.
Add 1/2 cup applesauce.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt & cloves.
Fold into egg mixture along with the walnuts.
Spread in greased and floured 15 x 10 x 1 jelly roll pan. I updated this step and used parchment paper that I lightly greased.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
Immediately loosen sides and invert onto a kitchen towel.
Pull parchment paper off and cover with powdered sugar.
Roll the cake in the towel and let it cool completely. It will be a nicer roll if you roll it on the short side.
Prepare the filling by beating the cream cheese, sugar and milk together till smooth.
When the cake has cooled unfold it and spread the filling evenly on the cake.
Roll the cake again carefully, discarding the towel.
Wrap the whole cake with foil (I sprayed the foil with cooking spray) and freeze. This will make it easy to cut when ready to serve.
When ready to serve, unwrap the cake, dust with powdered sugar (icing sugar) cut slices and serve with ice cream or whip cream.

I’ve got room for improvement but my beginner attempt was well received and devoured.