Day 10: Make a List of Things You Are Thankful For

what are you thankful for? your job? your spouse? parents? jesus?

this christmas season i am thankful for a lot. with recent events happening in my life, i think about that one worship song, blessed be your name. part of the lyrics it says, "he gives and takes away." how true. but, when he gives after he takes, how much more are we thankful, huh?

so in the spirit of thankfulness, today is simple: make a top 10 list of things you are grateful for (because we all know we can make a list of 1,000 and more but for the sake of time, we will only do 10)

1. jesus christ: who humbly came as a baby to eventually die on the cross for our sins

2. joseph

3. my parents

4. my family: ryan, kerry, candace, ben, madeline, ethan, baby 2, paul and karen snare, ben snare

5. amazing friends

6. my house

7. my church

8. a new job

9. the word

10. coffee ;)

so, what is your top 10?

Day 9: Displaying Christmas Cards

how do you display your christmas cards every year? do you have a special way of putting them up for all to see? or do you just read and throw away?

this year, as seen in the picture, i bought a "merry christmas" sign, added the ribbon to it by gluing two approx. six feet strands to the back and then used clothes pins to attach the cards and ta da - you have a simple, easy, cheap way to display all those cards!

pretty simple. so how do you display your christmas cards? if you don't, there are many ways for you to show off all your family and friends beautiful faces. around the garland on your staircase, maybe on a piece of fabric, or maybe just taped to your wall. whatever you think of, do it today! :)

Day 8: Favorite Christmas Drink

what is your favorite christmas drink?

are you one of those eggnog drinkers? or how about the yummy peppermint white mocha from starbucks? or just simple regular christmas blend coffee buyer? no, you love a simple hot chocolate from your kuerig in the quiet of your own home? or maybe like my beautiful friend, a regular coffee with vanilla soy milk and a shot of peppermint ;)?(http://cassandraeldridge.blogspot.com/)

well, whatever your choice drink may be, go splurge and enjoy life's simple pleasures, even if they make your guilty list. go to your favorite place whether it be starbucks, caribou, or even your own home and enjoy christmas in a cup.

trust me it is a relaxing moment.

so, what did you get?

Day 7: Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe

what is your favorite christmas cookie recipe?

okay- mind isn't a traditional christmas cookie recipe but i usually make it around christmas time:

oatmeal scotchies.

cooking time: 10 to 12 minutes

servings: 40 cookies

preparation time: 15 to 20 minutes

1c. soft butter

2 eggs

1teas. water

3/4c. brown sugar

3/4c. granulated sugar

1 1/4c. flour

1teas. baking soda

1teas. baking powder

1teas. salt

3c. of quick cooking oats

1 pkg. butterscotch chips

1/2 teas. orange extract

beat butter, sugar, eggs, and water until creamy. combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. add to butter mixture. mix in oats, chips, and orange extract.

put on greased cookie sheets. bake at 375* for 10 to 12 minutes. makes four dozen cookies.

yum. yum. yum.

what is your favorite christmas cookie recipe? feel free to share.

Day 6: Christmas Ornament

christmas ornaments are special. most of them have a special meaning and i love that. when joseph and i got married, our parents gave us our ornaments that we both accumulated over the years. from our first ornament to joseph's 20+ horse ornaments to all my music ones.

joseph and i just started a fun tradition with ornaments this year - we both are giving one another a special ornament to open on christmas morning. something that represents us or that person over the year.

this year i bought our new ornament:

so, go out and buy or hey, even MAKE a new ornament (for you crafters out there) for your tree this year that represents 2010 for you. last year, it was our first christmas together so i got this cheesy one:
what type of ornament are you going to get? did you travel somewhere and want to represent that? maybe it is your first christmas together? or a new baby? or like us, you bought a house? what was the highlight of 2010 and put an ornament on the tree that represents that. it will be great to look back in a few years to see what 2010 meant to you.

so, what kind of ornament did you get or are you getting?

Day 5: 1st Sunday of Advent. Love.

this is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:9-11

reflect on this verse today. God humbly came to the earth as a baby to ultimately die for our sins. this is love.

Day Four: Christmas Decorations

okay, it is december 4th. i hope you put up your christmas decorations! if not, what the heck is taking you so long? you only have about 20 more days to enjoy the christmas festivities.

it is our first christmas in our new home, so this is my first time decorating an entire house.

just like everything "christmas" i love decorating for christmas. from the tree, to the lights, to just putting a lil' of my personal style in the way i decorate.

i just think it is fun to do something different to your home for about a month.

so what does your home look like for christmas? do you put up something special? do you have a certain style?

here are a few pictures of the snare home this christmas season:

snowflakes

ornaments

snowflakes @ night

bay window decorations.

our new stockings and small tree downstairs

oh, christmas tree. oh, christmas tree.