JOY

I couldn't post these creations until AFTER I had given them out as Christmas gifts this year. These came out really well and I am thinking of making some for other holidays...Maybe LOVE for Valentines? If you want one of these JOYous creations, email me!

Colors may vary and can be made to order.

Price: $20.00

Merry Christmas!

"Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely; Love divine,

Love was born at Christmas,

Stars and angels gave the sign."

-Christina Rossetti

We send you OUR love during this joyful and holy season!

Merry Christmas blog family!

Christmas Goodies Go Green

This Christmas I went "green" and gave out Christmas cookies to my neighbors and friends in my old egg cartons that I had been saving for the last few months. This egg carton idea is sort of Martha Stewartish and turned out to be pretty chic looking, AND it really saved me money as I usually give out cookies in tins that I have to buy. I wanted to share this handy way to share your Christmas handiwork with all my blog readers because it was such a success!

I really love making Christmas cookies, and this year Matt and I spend a Saturday making dozens and dozens of cookies. We both felt so great as we bundled up our goodies and delivered them to all the people we love. Going "green" is so trendy now (thank goodness) but I have been green long before it was cool. I was the 3rd grader who started a "Save the Farmland" club in elementary school and talked all the teachers in my school into letting me give presentations to their classes. Yes...I am THAT girl.

Thankful Girl

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it

is like wrapping a present and not giving it"

-William Arthur Ward

This Thanksgiving I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by Matt's wonderful family and I was reminded how truly lucky I am. God really does fulfill all my needs and He purposefully puts people into my life. I wanted this year to really express my thanks for the people who have meant so much to me, so I spent the weekend before Thanksgiving making Matt's Grandma O's Gingersnap Cookie recipe and sending it out to the people who words just aren't enough for. This fantastic cookie tastes like the holidays to me and so I am posting the recipe for anyone who wants it as a THANK YOU to my blog readers.

Grandma O's Gingersnaps

2 cups flour

1 Tbsp ginger

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup shortening (don't use butter)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

• Cream molasses, shortening, and sugar together.
• Add egg and dry ingredients. Mix and roll into small balls.
• Roll in sugar. Bake 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes.