Five on Friday

1.  This quote says exactly what's in my heart this year:

The way to see Christ in Christmas is to slow down — and see & be & do the small. 
 Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience

2.  Here's an excellent read, How to Lower Your Expectations, from in(Courage).   So good to read - and probably re-read! - as December goes on.

3.  I'm gradually accumulating Christmas gifts.  I'm so excited about the small purchases that I'm making and will share with loved ones.  I really must start wrapping some of them!

4.  Averie Cooks is a new blog that I found recently and I'm enjoying her daily posts.  I really will make these Cranberry Bliss Bars this month!

5.  Photo of the week:

Winter Sunset

Five on Friday

1.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922-2007); Writer

2.  Check out this video for a glimpse of Canada at its best!

3.  I got a Christmas present in the mail yesterday!  My niece, Jill, sent me a lovely picture book called "Great Joy" by Kate DiCamillo - thanks so much, J!  I will have fun sharing the gorgeous pictures and the message.

4.  I had a chance to spend a bit of time with a friend, making cards this week.  It was fun to create together, try some new techniques and revel in the colours, images and textures available.  Thanks, T!

5.  Photo of the week:

Colours of Winter

(rosehips beside a birch tree)

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4832 - #4902

- Christmas pyjamas washed and waiting for the grandchildren
- little piles of sewing finished
- sifting through my bins of fabric
- a bed with warm covers
- getting better after being sick

- wheat pack on my toes
- cold ginger ale
- fresh pumpkin granola
- working steadily in the kitchen
- cleaning day

- friends gathered
- Beads for Life
- ibuprofen
- dusted shelves
- visiting with my sister

- Christmas mugs and plates
- slow cooker full of chai tea
- pumpkin hummus
- washed floors
- Christmas shopping - in my home!

- sun rising golden onto a frosty day
- full day of subbing
- wedding rings
- baked barbecue chicken legs
- picking Bob up at the airport

- sleeping fast!
- winter morning sunrise
- Bible study group gathered in our home
- long visits
- afternoon nap with Blake and Maëlle

- lunch with my sister
- childhood stories shared around the supper table
- celebrating birthdays
- online sermons by Timothy Kellor
- beautiful table settings

- Sunday afternoon visits with 1 grandchild at a time
- making things together
- sharing lunch, just us 3
- guitar worship music
- little ones going out to skate in the dark

- late afternoon call to sub in home ec
- red cranberries hanging on the trees for the birds
- shelves full of jars with summer produce
- senior high foods students making perogies and pies
- laundry folded

- bags sewed for Christmas giving
- planning gift giving
- napping in the fort made of quilts
- walking to and from school with Meadow
- pizza from the local restaurant

- making Christmas cookies
- snuggling in front of the roaring fire
- baking shortbread men, 1 for each cousin
- snowshoeing around the yard with Blake
- taking photos

- watching them at gymnastics
- shortbread and chocolate peanut clusters for the freezer
- a day to sleep in
- big pot of soup
- croissant sandwiches

- amazing health care workers and doctors
- leftovers
- reading "The Hobbit"
- more fabric cutting
- celebrating Christ the King Sunday

- Christmas baskets coming together
- getting out the Advent candles
- marvelling that He chose to give His only son
- reading Mary's story, prep for next week's Sunday School lesson
- making a conscious choice to spend less, make more, share often and love fully

Five on Friday

1.  Quote of the week:

The duration of your life is of less importance to God than the donation of your life. Take what you’ve learned from God and pass it on to others  (Rick Warren)

2.  Naomi and I spent an afternoon doing some Christmas baking.  It was fun working together and tasting yummy Brownie Bites, Peanut Clusters and Shortbread.  Blake helped me roll, cut and decorate little shortbread people, all named for his cousins!

3. And that day Blake and I also went out snowshoeing for a bit, wandering through the yard, looking for tracks and mountains (a pile of dirt) and exploring! 

4.  Last night we went to the Winter Lights event at a neighbor's greenhouse and bought some poinsettias so I am all set to transform into Christmas decor around our house.  The Christmas mugs and plates came out last week and the mantle pieces will follow shortly.,  It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

5.  Photo of the week:

cuddled up in front of the fireplace,

reading books on a cold winter day :)

Five on Friday

1.

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit light a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it..”

Wilfred Peterson (1900-1995); Author

2.  A big winter storm this week has left us buried in fluffy snow and made the roads very icy and slippery.  After 2 days of driving in it, I'm safely cocooned at home today - drinking lovely homemade chai tea and sewing Christmas treats.  I am happy!

3.  I poked around online a bit today and ordered a few things for Christmas :)  

4.  A few weeks ago I went to an East Indian grocery store in the city to buy some whole spices for making a chai tea concentrate.  I nearly called my friend to come over and read the words on the bags - everything was in Punjabi!  Eventually I found the spice wall and by looking at the shapes of the whole spices, I was able to identify what I needed.  Heather gave me this chai tea recipe and this morning I actually made a batch.  It was wonderful!!  The fresh orange zest comes through beautifully and using half milk was still too strong so I did a 1/3 tea, 2/3 milk ratio.  I'm so happy to have my very own recipe for my favourite hot beverage!  Thanks so much, Lindsay Jewell!

5.  Photo of the week:

after 2.5 days of winter storming 

outside our patio just after 4 pm

(see the sun going down already?!)