3 : 25 {date with hannah}

Today was the day I set aside to run Christmas errands. My husband was home, so I was on my own. By 3:30, I had been to seven stores and Target (that counts as more than one). I hope not to enter another store for a long, long time.

By mid-afternoon, I was home to snatch my girl away for a few hours. Hannah has been asking to go to a pottery painting place for months. We finally did... and loved it.

And in one week I will have a darling little Christmas plate.

2 : 25 {making granola}

A daily post this advent season sharing a simple moment from our day.


Yummy Granola

ingredients
2 cups old-fashioned oats (NOT quick oats)
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
1/4 cup real maple syrup
3 Tbsp coconut oil (here is why I chose coconut oil)
1 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup dried cranberries (or cherries)

directions
Preheat oven to 275. Grease a jelly roll pan (9x13 to 12x17 size) or line with parchment paper. Mix oats, wheat germ, salt, and nuts. Set aside. Bring syrup, oil, water, and vanilla to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Drizzle over oat mixture, and stir to combine. Pour mixture onto pan. Using your hands, squeeze mixture to form small clumps. Bake at 275 for 30 minutes. Then add cranberries and bake for 15 more minutes, until golden brown.

Cool completely in pan and then fill a jar for a delicious and healthy gift.

And then feed your child a ginger cookie to keep him out of the granola. : )

1 : 25 {decorating the tree}

Slowing to savor and be thankful, I will attempt this advent season to daily post a simple moment from our day.

Nana and Papa were in town for one night. Ornaments were pulled from boxes, each one with a story.

A Jesse Tree Devotional

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

Isaiah 11:1

For a few years, I searched for a good Jesse Tree devotional and was thrilled to find Ann Voskamp's last year. Our family loved the daily devotions and displaying a family tree of Jesus in our home. By Christmas day, we had a tree of symbols telling the story of God's great love and redemptive plan for us.

It's free. Here's the link: Free Jesse Tree Advent Devotional

Putting it together...
At the end of the devotional there are pages to print out so you can make the ornaments. I printed them on natural/cream card stock. After I cut out all the symbols, I took a few inches of grosgrain ribbon and looped it between the card stock symbol and a piece of stiff felt (from a craft store) that I cut to fit. I used a little Elmer's to glue it and then held it together with a clothespin while it dried. I am hoping these will last a long time... I know we will be enjoying the devotionals for many years!

As for the "tree," I just use the same branch that had coffee filter leaves on it a week ago. Perfect!

Thanksgiving Weekend : 1000 Gifts

So very thankful, my joy list continues...

0692
Thanksgiving hymns. "Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices!"

0693
Friends in town.

0694
Church families that invite us to their table.

0695
Warm hats.

0696
Muddy jeans.

0697
A cardinal in flight.

0698
Sun on bare trees.

0699
White birch.

0700
Deep inhale of the cold night air.

0701
A harp and violin played beautifully.

0702
Qwirkle by the fire.


0703
Pumpkin pie.

0704
College football rivalries.

0705
An exciting comeback! War Eagle!

0706
A Thanksgiving Eve date night... a beautiful city, delicious meal, and Henry VIII at the Folger.

0707
Neighborhood flashlight play in the early darkness.

0708
Online shopping.

0709
The ease of keeping in touch with faraway family.

0710
Traditions.


0711
A beautiful wreath, unexpectedly delivered to my door.

0712
The smell of fresh greens in the house.


0713
Winter fruit salad. Beautiful.

0714
A early birthday bike.

0715
After morning service baptism celebration.

0716
A house full of (church) family.

{This Moment}

Joining with SouleMama, sharing a moment from our week.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Golden November : 1000 Gifts

The leaves seem to be taking their time this year, giving us a mid-November warm and golden. Wondering at the beauty of it all, the list continues...

0673
A goal at his last game.

0674
End-of-season soccer parties.


0675
Being available.

0676
Leaf piles.

0677
These men and that wonderful, leaf-sucking truck.


0678
The smell of oak burning.


0679
Quiet afternoons.


0680
Celebrating my girl.

0681
Georgetown Cupcake.


0682
Tree swings.



0683
An end-of-long-life conversion!

0684
A memorial service to celebrate.

0685
Pumpkin waffles.

0686
Hot apple cider.

0687
Brighter mornings.

0688
Candlelit dinners.

0689
Seat warmers in the car.


0690
His patience with me.

0691
Grace greater than all my sin.