'Tis the Season!!

Okay, I know some will think I'm pushing it...

And I am.

Because I love Thanksgiving.

I love it. I love the baking with kids, the fun, the gatherings... and the church services. Thanksgiving. Advent.

Does anyone else remember Vespers? We used to have Vespers (evening prayer) at our church when the kids were young. A sweet nun, Sister Diane Dennie would lead or plan them and they were beautiful, similar to what you hear on "Call the Midwife".

Psalm 91 by the sisters of Nonnatus House

I love old prayers. I love old services. Incense.

And hymns! I LOVE CHRISTMAS HYMNS!!!

The joy of waiting, the anticipation, the holiness, the awe...

Child of the Poor/What Child is This (oh, be still my heart... every poor child in the world, take heart!) Notre Dame Folk Group

Night of Silence St. Olaf Choir, Minnesota 

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day  (Casting Crowns Version)

Breath of Heaven  Amy GrantJoseph's Song  Michael Card

And so many more....

The prayerfulness of this whole season grabs me. From All Saints Day (today), All Souls Day (tomorrow) and that old-fashioned idea of learning from the past to prepare for the future and appreciating those who've given their lives for our chance to live our faith.

It all makes me want to be a better person. A better version of my daily self.

So that's where I'm at today! Looking forward eagerly... and patiently.

And yes, I'll decorate because I love it.

I'll get out great grandma's reindeer and Santa...

The aged Nativity that needs replacing (I will strategically place them!!!!)

And all is well because there are other things... human things... people things... that weigh heavy on us at times. Through the twinkle and laughter and joy and singing...

Life still brings lessons. Some harsh. Some just sad.

But we'll embrace those who mourn.

We'll feed the hungry.

Watch some movies...

Share our bounty joyfully.

And remember that the season of anticipation is even greater than the celebration. Because without the anticipation...

Every celebration falls short.  Our celebrations will be full and bounteous not because of what we have on the table then... or under a tree...

But by what's in our hearts now.

Good hearts and true. Hearts that love the divine Savior of the world... a child born to the poor.

And we have two winners from two weeks ago!!!

Instead of one book, I'm going to send out three! Winnie Thomas, Linda Orr and Connie Porter Saunders, I need your snail mail addresses. My goal is to catch up on mailings this week.... So I'm hoping to get these right out to you!

Copies of "The Lawman's Holiday Wish" and Gail Martin's "The Christmas Kite" will be coming your way for Christmas reading.  What a perfect way to start the holiday season... with a gift from me to you!

Multi-published inspirational author Ruth Logan Herne is a confessed lover of Christmas and Easter and loves singing her way to any celebration of the love of God... often off-tune and out-of-beat, but with a sincere heart. And she figures that counts for something. :) Find her at http://ruthloganherne.com or on facebook as (gasp!) herself... or on twitter @RuthLoganHerne. She loves to chat with readers... writers... and odd strangers on the street. No One Is Safe in Ruthy's world! 

Chocolate Peanut Bliss... And It Couldn't be Easier

Merry Christmas, everyone! Yes, now that Thanksgiving is behind us, the Christmas season is officially here. I spent the weekend putting up decorations. Yes, I tend to go a little overboard, which explains why it took so long. But put on a Christmas movie or some holiday tunes and it doesn't seem like work at all.

Now that the decorations are up, though, it's time to start on all that holiday baking. This is a recipe I shared as a guest blogger many years ago here at the cafe. This recipe is so easy, so delicious and, best of all, freezes well. It's the perfect thing to have on hand for last-minute guests, parties or gift-giving. 

So let's get to it.

For these Peanut Clusters, you will need:

1 package chocolate almond bark

1 package white almond bark

12 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips

1 - 4 oz. bar Baker’s German’s sweet chocolate

34.5 oz. dry roasted peanuts

First, chop up your almond barks. Just get a big ol' knife, a cutting board, maybe put on some Christmas music and you're ready to go. 

Then put the chopped almond barks, chocolate, and chocolate chips into a Crock Pot. 

Set the heat on high or low and stir occasionally until melted. Or, if you prefer to get it all done at once, melt the chocolates in the microwave, stirring every minute until melted. I usually just use the Crock Pot, though, since it really doesn't take that long. Once everything is melted and smooth...

Stir in your peanuts.

**Note: You MUST use dry roasted peanuts for this recipe. Anything else will mess with the consistency and the chocolate won't set. And there's nothing worse than having to throw out an entire batch of candy.

Once everything is mixed, drop by spoonfuls, as big or small as you like, onto parchment or waxed paper. They release easier from the parchment paper, but should you run out as I did, waxed paper will suffice.

Remember how I said this was an easy recipe? Well, now all you have to do is allow them to harden and ENJOY.

That's all there is to it.

Yes, this recipe makes a lot. But as I said, they freeze wonderfully. Meaning they can last the entire Christmas season. Perfect to pull out and serve on a pretty plate whenever company arrives. They’ll think you slaved all day. And the combination of sweet and salty will curb everyone’s craving.

So is it Christmas at your house yet or are you pacing yourself? Have you started your holiday baking? What's on your list of Christmas must-haves?

Extending The Season For True Lovers of Christmas!!!

Oh, merriest of happy Christmases past and present to the lot o' youse!

Now some of youse are reading that title, cringing and RUNNING back to Seekerville, hands over ears, eyes down, muttering words to Straight No Chaser's "Christmas Can Can" as you go....

Enough is enough, you say! And I respect that, I truly do.

Finn is already "Scootching" along... No, Finn!!!! STOP!!!

But....

For those among us who revel in all things Christmas, I bring to you some fun ways to think about extending the season. Why, you ask?

Well, the Biblical telling of Jesus' birth isn't a one-day event, right? We've got a space of time from the Angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary to the twelfth night in early January. On a mother's and grandmother's practical note, this isn't just a reason to party on! That extra time gives us ways to get it all in, enjoy family, food and friends now that the days of Advent waiting are behind us!!!

Bake a Memory Day 2013, note the CLUTTER behind the scene. :) Kids don't care about clutter...
They just like to have fun with grownups!!!

1. Spreading parties out: Well, this is huge and  a no brainer if you've got lots of families involved. We have my family, Dave's family and our family together.... So that's three separate gigs right there. Oh. Wait. I have four married children.... AND THOSE ADORABLE IN-LAWS CAME WITH... WAIT FOR IT:  FAMILY!!!!   So now you add four (4) other families to the holiday mix, each one coming with their own set of customs, traditions and sometimes... er....gulp!!!  rules!!!!!!!

We do my family party mid-December. We realized a long time ago that weekends in December vanish into thin air, similar to weekends in June, so we plan accordingly now.... And that helps. We set a date because there is no date that is perfect for everyone, and we run with it. And it's fun!

Christmas Eve:  Dave's family

Christmas Day:  Our immediate family in town, the ones that don't get a better offer from in-laws!!!!  :)

Weekend between Christmas and New Year's:  Our family Christmas celebration with all the grandkids and as many of the first generation as possible.

2. Keeping Christ in Christmas:

Ach, a tricky one these days, but doable!!!!  We use our Holy Land Advent book and read a story each day while re-hashing the previous stories of Mary and Joseph's travels to Bethlehem....

This year we began a tradition of Mary and Joseph "walking" around the room, moving a little closer to the stable scene each day.... So the kids can "see" the journey unfold before them. And if they're good while we do our Advent stories, a bowl of chocolate candies in bright foil wrappers is their reward!

Hay or yarn in the manger: This is a sweet custom someone shared with me when my own kids were little. I used it in "The Lawman's Holiday Wish" and we use it with our little ones here every year. The manger was cold... clear.... stark..... a hay box isn't exactly the most comfy-cozy of places, so for every good deed a child does during Advent, they get to lay a piece of yarn in the manger. That way, when Jesus is born, his resting spot will be warmed by good deeds!

The waiting creche....

And now, the creche with baby Jesus, and the bits of yarn earned by our good deeds:

Services at church:  It's so easy to skip church now and again, especially with kids in basketball tournaments, cheerleading tournaments, holiday plays, concerts, fundraisers, etc. but going to church regularly during Advent stirs the anticipation of longing for Christ's birth. Such a simple way to show family the devotion and commitment to the reason for the season!

3. Baking: GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO SKIP THIS IF NEEDED

Life/time are precious commodities and if you find yourself stressed over the lack of cookies, sit down and read Max Lucado's "The Crippled Lamb" and you will then be able to shrug off cookies, watch a holiday classic, and support your local economy by buying a dessert at the bakery. I love baking and I love baking with kids, but full-time-working parents today need to cut themselves some slack: It's not about the cookie, it's about that first gift of Christmas: a child.  :)  I'm so glad there weren't Pinterest and Facebook perfect mothers back when my kids were little, because I'd have fallen WAY SHORT!!!! There's a reason they make red and green-filled Oreos!!!

We do schedule an annual "Bake a Memory Day" here at Grammy's house each December. We gather the grandkids, make a fun mess of the kitchen and do whatever we can to make a fun baking day filled with cheer... and memories. Nothing is more precious than that memory of baking with someone, standing on that stool, stirring in the flour or the nuts or the chocolate chips....

Making time to do good deeds privately or in the public view. I make sure to schedule bell ringing for the Salvation Army because they're on the streets, helping the homeless, the tired, the wretched every single day while I whine if I run out of coffee.... I'm such a stinkin' baby.

Okay, that's a good beginning of how to stretch the season without killing your wallet!  If you have family customs or ideas that make the season less chaotic, share them! I love stealing... I mean incorporating ideas!!!!  (BIG GRIN HERE!!!!)

And here's a little bit of fun nonsense that the littlest children L-O-V-E!!!!

Wishing you/us all an ongoing Christmas season filled with love and laughter... and may your visits to the cemeteries of life be filled with joyous memories of forgiveness and grace while taking hold of the life God gives us!

God is good, all the time: And all the time, God is good!