the Elf is bringin' "it" this year

As a new fan of Pinterest I have had such fun with searching for creative ideas to share.  The Elf is a big deal on the farm.  With 2 declared non-Santa believers this year the husband and I are clinging to the Elf and any mystery he might behold.  Apparently the top shelf of our tall closet was not the best hiding spot for him, he was discovered in his mid-summer slumber by 2 very precarious children.  But it's on.  The little dude is going to bring it this year, the mischief and the giggles.  Do y'all have an Elf?

Source: raeoflight-photography.com via Polly on Pinterest

Source: raeoflight-photography.com via Polly on Pinterest

Source: raeoflight-photography.com via Polly on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Polly on Pinterest

Source: raeoflight-photography.com via Polly on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Polly on Pinterest

Tornadoes and Terrorists

With the tornadoes in our region last week and the death of an evil terrorist my mind has been in a quandary over how to deal with the chaos.  We escaped damage although our neighbors and friends have to replace roofs and windows.  It was a scary night but the kids enjoyed our family camp-out under the stairs.  Tragically our college hometown suffered devastating loss.  The pictures don't begin to reveal the horror experienced by so many in Tuscaloosa as well as to other towns throughout the Deep South.  The disaster level has been assigned the same level as that of Hurricane Katrina.  http://cw.ua.edu/2011/05/01/alabama-tornadoes-receive-same-disaster-ranking-as-katrina-911/  

It was eerie to see bald pieces of land where some of our old stomping grounds once stood.  We've heard so many stories of extreme loss but also of extreme faith unfold.  My in-laws are still without power after almost a week but instead of complaining they are embracing the board games and "pioneering" lifestyle, they come from good stock, a blessing to call them family.

Furthermore,  we have had several people ask how they can help the tornado victims, this is the best way we know of: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/04/29/how-to-pray-and-give-for-disaster-relief-in-the-south/ 

As far as Bin Laden's death I admit to initial elation at the news.  Go get 'em Navy Seals!  But that soon turned into a feeling of shame for all the rejoicing.  My husband shared my feeling of "sickness over the whole situation" and led me to a blog post that summed it up pretty well for me:

Some Thoughts on the Death of Bin-Laden

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." 

--Martin Luther King, Jr

Blessings,

Amos Lee

If you haven't heard him you must go now and do so.  His music is a blend of jazz, folk, country.  It is a pure, warm, delight.  I'd discovered his crooning only recently and was thrilled when Jeff surprised me on my birthday with tickets to see him.  The concert exceeded our expectations.  This man has serious talent.  He has played along side a uniquely diverse group including Norah Jones, Willie Nelson, John Prine, James Taylor, Merle Haggard, Dave Matthews... 

Here are a few of my favorites:

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."  ~Berthold Auerbach

Easter Delight

He has Risen!  He has risen indeed!  Amen!  Hoping y'all all had a fabulous Easter celebration!  We enjoyed a beautiful weekend, our 3rd Annual church Egg Hunt, late night baseball in the fields, and a beautiful Easter church celebration.  The joy of Easter filled our hearts, the reminder all around of us of how He died so that we may live.  Now we attempt to go forth and live fully in deepest gratitude for His love and grace.

Our children's minister is amazing!

Blessings,

Valentine treats for your Peeps

Check out this great treat from Family Fun magazine...

Makes: 6 pops

Ingredients

• 12 mini candy canes
• 6 (6-inch) paper lollipop sticks
• ½ cup white chocolate chips

• 1½ teaspoons vegetable oil
• Red, white, and pink nonpareils or sugar sprinkles

 Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 235°. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange the candy canes as hearts and bake them for 10 minutes.
   
2. Slide the hearts, still on the parchment paper, onto a work surface. Quickly pinch each heart onto a lollipop stick as shown below (an adult's job).
   
3. In the microwave, melt together the chocolate chips and the oil in 10-second intervals, stirring between heatings.
   
4. Spoon the chocolate mixture into the center of each heart, then top with nonpareils or sugar sprinkles. Cool the pops before serving or wrapping them.
   
   
   
   Also, I read about this fabulous idea for Valentine's morning: make a trail of Hershey's kisses leading from your kids' bedroom doors to a small gift somewhere else in the house.  Right now Hershey's sells a tri-colored mix of Valentine's kisses, one color per child.
   
   
   Another idea from Family Fun:
   "Puppy Love"
   
   
   

Ingredients

• hot-dog
• piece of uncooked linguini

• cheese

  Instructions

1. Cut the ends from a hot-dog at a diagonal and place the cut edges together as shown.
   
2. Spear the heart with a length of uncooked linguini.
   
3. Add pieces of cheese trimmed to resemble the ends of an arrow
   
   
   Sending joy and wishes for 
   chocolate bliss your way!
   
   
   
   
   
   

New music to share with you

Ok, so I am a huge fan of Christmas music.  

Some people can't wait to put up their trees

or bake their goodies, 

well I wait in anticipation each year to bust out 

the happy tunes of holly jolly.  

My peeps and I had such fun tonight on mixpod.com 

making a new playlist with some 

old standbys

and new hipster tunes to share with y'all 

and to enjoy in our warm kitchen 

for the next 25+ days.  So just go on over to the sidebar to your right and press play...

I know some blog purists shudder at the thought of even having 

music play on their blogs, they find it 

distracting and mundane.  

Bah Humbug to that!  

So go, crank it up and join us in dancing around the kitchen like fools

and singing along like rockstars.

Blessings,

Hallelujah!!!