Christmas Baking

I have had so much fun baking today. I think it's all the wonderful shows I've discovered this year on the Food Network. I love challenging recipes, but I find that when Christmas rolls around I return to the old favorites. Last year I bought a little book, "Christmas with Paula Deen", and found it was full of so many recipes I ate growing up. I made the Date Nut Bars and then decided to try a new recipe...this one is going on the "required to make every year" list. They are wonderful! Here's the recipe...
Almond Danish Swirls

two 3-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup slivered almonds
two 8-ounce cans refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg white

glaze

2/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
4 tsp milk
1. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, almond extract, and sugar until fluffy. Fold half of the almonds into the mixture.
2.Separate 1 can of dough into four rectangles. Firmly press the perforations to seal. Press or roll each piece of dough to form a 7 by 4-inch rectangle, and spread each with about 2 Tbl. of the cream cheese filling to within 1/4 inch of the edges. Starting at the short end, roll each rectangle tightly into a cylinder. Repeat with the other can of dough and remaining filling. Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees while the rolls are chilling. Remove from the refrigerator and cut each roll into 4 slices. Place 1/2 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
4. In a small bowl, combine the egg white with 1 tsp. water. Brush over the swirls. Sprinkle with the remaining almonds.
5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until light brown.
6. While the swirls are baking, combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Cool the swirls for 3 minutes on wire racks placed over a sheet of waxed paper. Drizzle the icing over the warm swirls. Eat four of them and then if on Weight Watchers, stop and calculate the points. When calculations are complete reevaluate if you intend on weighing in this week... Yum is all I can say.

Bible Class

About 13 weeks ago I determined to make some needed changes in my life, only this time I did something different. I poured out my heart to God. I had grown apathetic. I was worn out emotionally, physically and spiritually. I sought God and He heard my cry. There are many posts that could come from this moment, but tonight I am mindful of one specific blessing. That is my Bible class for 3rd through 5th graders. The morning after my prayer I went to the bookstore and found a wonderful curriculum called FBI (Faithful Bible Investigators) produced by 21st Century Christian. I asked my soon- to- become very dear friend, Jolene, to teach with me, and we went to work. It has been amazing. I don't believe I have ever had as much fun teaching a class before. She is right there with me every step of the way, encouraging. Our students listen.We are learning. They are learning. Our class continues to grow. We get it right more times than not. God is so faithful to give us the desires of our heart when we ask Him. Last week we spent the afternoon making cookies and the children then shared them with the members. We just finished the first quarter and are now starting the next 13 week session. I'm really looking forward to it. For all of you fellow Bible class teachers out there, you know that is a feeling to cherish.

New Blog

I have created a new blog, and can't figure out how to transfer my old one:( My new blog is www.applesforjam.blogspot.com.It will still be a simple blog, written to share a bit of our family life with friends and family who are spread over many miles.

Hot Chocolate

Today was a busy day and my to-do list was long. We managed to take five sacks of outgrown clothes (just since August!) to Goodwill, do our grocery shopping, and walk on the treadmill- but school didn't get finished until 9:30pm. That doesn't say much about my priorities today:( On Friday we will be half finished with our school year, and I believe we are all three ready for a Christmas break. Terry had a study session until 10pm so the boys stayed up late and we greeted him with cookies and hot chocolate. It's amazing how a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows can rescue a day. After we untied the candy on our Christmas countdown, the boys went to bed with smiles on their faces. It definitely beat the moanings and groanings heard earlier in the evening. I can't imagine why they were not wanting to discuss why the colonists were upset about taxation without representation.I made a mistake. I knew it was too much for one day. But at least I knew how to end the day well.

Bittersweet Family Moments

There are some things that you never receive advice about, and one of those things is advice on how to heal your child's broken heart when an older sibling moves away. J and C married and moved a little over an hour away almost four years ago. But today it was almost as if this was the first time. Big sister is heading out on a grand adventure to her new life in Texas. And her little brothers want to go with her. They really do. Over the past six months each of their four older siblings has moved. We have gone from everyone within an hours drive, to K and family in Birmingham, B and family also in Birmingham, J in Nashville, and now C in Texas. It's alot of changes for these two little guys. Tonight before bed, C asked me if I would tuck him in "snug as a bug in a rug" like his sister did. When I reassured him that I was the one who taught her how to do it, he replied, "You miss her, too." I do, terribly. She makes me laugh. She helps me create beautiful things. She is my daughter, and I will miss her.

A beautiful day on the lake, celebrating Terry's second chance at life.

Giving the World to My Family

It has been many months since I wrote on my blog, and after much thought I determined why that was. I am ready to head in a new direction. I want to write about what matters to me. About swapping recipes, making aprons and doll dresses, hanging clothes on the line, and cheering on those I love. There is so much I want to learn--how to listen better, how to encourage, how to let go, and how to challenge myself. I want to feed my family better. I want to show my family that some foods are better than others. I want to take time to learn new sewing skills. I want to find new ways to add healthy activities to my life. So here goes. As one of my favorite homemakers,Tessa Kiros says, "May I just get to the end of the road and say, I have done this important thing in my life and I have done it well."