Christmas traditions - #18

AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED
Advocate * Almighty * Almighty God * Alpha and Omega * Beloved * Beloved Son * Bread of Life * Bridegroom * Christ * Christ Jesus * Christ the Lord * Christ the Son * Cornerstone * Counselor * Creator * Deliverer * Emmanuel * Eternal Father * Eternal Head * Eternal Judge * Everlasting God * Father * Father of Heaven and Earth * Firstborn * Founder of Peace * Fountain of all righteousness * God * God of Abrahan, Isaac, and Jacob * God of Israel * God of Miracles * God of Nature * God of the Whole Earth * God's Anointed * The Good Shepherd * Great and True Shepherd * Great I Am * Great Creator * Great Spirit * Holy Child * Holy One * Holy One of Israel * Husband * Immanuel * Jehovah * Jesus * Judge * Keeper of the Gate * King * King of all the Earth * King of Heaven * King of Kings * Lamb of God * Life and Light of the World * Living Water * Lord * Lord, God Almightly * Lord God Omnipotent * Lord God of Hosts * Lord Jehovah * Lord Jesus Christ * Lord my God * Lord of Lords * Lord of the Vineyard * Lord Omnipotent * Lord our God * Maker * Man * Master * Mediator * Messiah * Mighty God * Mighty One of Israel * One * Only Begotten of the Father * Only Begotten Son * Prince of Peace * Physician * Prophet * Redeemer * Redeemer of Israel * Redeemer of the World * Rock * Savior * Savior of the World * Servant * Shepherd * SON * Son of God * Son of Righteousness * Son of the Most High God * Stone * Supreme Being * Supreme Creator * The Everlasing Father * True and Living God * True Vine * Wonderful
JESUS CHRIST

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Christmas traditions - #17

Our traditional baking day before Christmas was fun this year with Syd and Claire. We made the world famous sugar cookie recipe of my friend Patsy. Here is the recipe:
1 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1 t. lemon extract
3 1/2 c. flour
3 t. baking powder
Mix together and chill in the fridge for at least one hour. Roll out thick. Cut into shapes. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes. Do not overbake! This recipe makes thick, soft sugar cookies and we love them!


We also made Grandma Mayme's world famous molasses cookies. Here is the recipe for them:
(I usually double this recipe)
1 c. shortening
1/2 c. molasses
1 heaping cup of sugar
2 beaten eggs
1/4 c. water, scant
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 t. ginger
1/4 t. allspice
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. soda
4 1/2 cups flour
Cream shortening, molasses and add sugar, eggs and water. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Divide dough into two halves and roll into two round rolls. Wrap in wax paper and put in the refrigerator over night or at least for a few hours. Cup cookie from the roll, about 1/4 inch think. Take at 325 degrees for 8/10 minutes. Frost with powdered sugar, water and butter to make a thin frosting. ENJOY!!! My Grandma made these cookies all the time and we all loved them. I hope you do too!

Christmas traditions - #16

Christmas time brings special treats for all the five senses - hearing, seeing, touching, tasting & SMELLING. I love the unique smells that occur only at Christmas - baking cookies, breads and candy. Freshly cut Christmas trees. Smells from special meals prepared only this time of year. I like to add a little Christmas scent to go along with all the naturally occurring smells that we enjoy.

• Candles

• Plug in Wallflowers from Bath and Body and in cinnamon, nutmeg, peppermint or pine

• My own Christmas scent creation, simmering in a little crock pot in the kitchen.

Christmas traditons - #15

We love to play Christmas music on the piano! Over the years (everyone including Andy who is not pictured) has played piano Christmas music. Some have played more enthusiastically than others, but still. The picture of reluctant Claire is a classic! All of our kids have participated in Christmas piano recitals and played Christmas songs, ranging from very difficult (Jordan and Rick) to very simple (Yevon, Dave and Claire) and from fun stuff to more traditional Christmas hymns. There is something about playing Christmas music on the piano that I love...the simplicity of it all the the chance to make some beautiful Christmas melodies come from the piano. We even break into group singing on Christmas eve and we've enjoyed that tradition for many years. I love having a piano in our home and for the beautiful music that has come from it over many years. An added perk is that our son-in-law R and daughter-in-law Courtney both play as well. I can't wait for the Christmas eve program. There is apt to be some good music played on the piano. We got it for Christmas in 1989 (wow, almost 20 years ago), and it has added so much to our home environment, especially at Christmas time. I think I'll go play a Christmas song right now...

Christmas traditions - #14

CHRISTMAS BOOKS
I love to read Christmas books, especially children's Christmas books. I started collecting them a long time ago and I probably have more than 30 now. One of my good friends (Connie) gave me a book each Christmas for many years.
Our children loved to read them and so did I!
I keep the religious one's upstairs and the Santa and other ones in a basket downstairs. Here are some of my favorites:
When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem
The Christmas Creche
Jacob's Gift
Bright Christmas, An Angel Remembers
The Christmas Candle
The Gift of the Magi
The Christmas Pea Coat
A Night Without Darkness - A Nephite Christmas Story
Christmas Oranges
A Christmas Dress of Ellen
They Followed a Bright Star
The Forgotten Carols
Auntie Claus
Polar Express
The Three Trees
Christmas Day in the Morning
The Night Before Christmas
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Cup of Tea
The Little Match Girl
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
The Velveteen Rabbit
Baboushka
Santa's Favorite Story
The Snow Queen

I can't wait until my grand babes come so that we can read them together! SIX MORE DAYS!!!