grandma's Christmas Cookie Recipe Contest - Peanutbutter Mice by Nikki!

Eleven years ago I had a Christmas cookie recipe contest - today I want to share with you again a recipe sent in by a reader - Peanut-butter Mice by Nikki Lancaster! Nikki says this is her children's favorite cookie! Thank you Nikki for sharing the recipe with us!

Praying Deeper Through the Scriptures - Try a Month for Free!

One of the most powerful things we are able to do for the ones we love is to pray for them. Some of us are seasoned prayer warriors, but some of us struggle with praying - what do we pray? How do we pray? Whether you - or someone on your gift list - is a seasoned prayer warrior or someone who struggles with prayer,  Praying Deeper Through the Scriptures is a book which will be used every day to guide whoever uses it through praying Scriptures for their own walk with God and for the walks of those they love.

Today I am happy to share with you one month of Praying Deeper Through the Scriptures to help you see what it is like -  

grandma's Christmas Cookie Recipe Contest - Ritz Peanut Butter Snowflake Cookies by Lori

Eleven years ago I held a Christmas Cookie Recipe Contest and today am happy to share with you some of the recipes submitted by readers - today . . . Ritz Peanut Butter Snowflake Cookies - sent to me by Lori Layne! Lori said, "This is one of my favorite recipes.  It is so simple I don't even need it written down to remember it." This recipe looks like it is very simple to make - and tasty! This should be a simple treat you could involve your grandchildren in making, too! Thank you Lori for sharing it with us! 

Christmas Carol for Today - Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys

Just for fun I have to include Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys in my Christmas carols for this year - you will find it at this link.

These are the lyrics if you want to sing along - 

My Christmas Carol for Today - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Acappella

Acappella has long been one of my favorite groups, so listening to them sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas had to be part of my Christmas Carols, you will find it at this link. Enjoy!

Just For Fun - More Christmas Fun Facts!

Christmas is just a couple weeks away, so I thought it would be fun to look up and share some more Christmas "fun facts" which you could share with your family and friends as you celebrate Christmas! Did you know . . . 

Cacao, Peanut Butter, & Chocolate Chip Brownies - Enjoy!

Yesterday was National Brownie Day, but my grandsons were not at my house yesterday. They will be here in a few hours, so today I am baking brownies to put in bags under our Christmas tree for their treat this weekend. Each weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas I put a small treat in gift bags under my  tree so when my grandsons, and grown children visit, they are able to enjoy a special treat. This weekend it will be brownies.

grandma's chuckles - "He Cheats Because He is Three"

I love remembering the things my grandsons said and did when they were younger - today I'm remembering a time nine years ago when they were at my house and they wanted me to make a hide-out in the living room for them, so I grabbed some chairs and blankets and made it. They were sitting in their hide-out with my oldest grandson who was six at the time listing all the "rules" for the game he wanted to play, but my youngest grandson who was then three was just busy playing. All of a sudden, my oldest grandson hit his brother on the head and said, "He is cheating! He is cheating! He isn't following the rules!"

My Christmas Carols for You - TobyMac & Tasha Layton - Christmas Hits Different

Christmas tends to be a time of joy with family and friends, but for some of us, Christmas is a sad time, difficult time, challenging time - if you struggle and if Christmas is different for you this year, this song is for you. You will find TobyMac's and Tasha Layton's song, Christmas Hits Different at this link. If your Christmas is "hitting" "different" this year, please consider this song a big hug.

My Top Five Reasons I Love to Spend Time with My Grandsons

I love to spend time with my grandsons. Without a doubt, even though these three, sweet boys have more energy on a slow day than I even think of having, I love to spend time with them! This photo was taken eight years ago in those days of "more energy" when they were seven, four, and two; I loved spending time with them - and continue to love doing this today. Even though there are other things I could do; I LOVE to spend time with them.

So, today I thought I'd share with you my Top Five Reasons I Love to Spend Time with My Grandsons . . . 

Today is National Brownie Day!

Brownies are such a wonderful treat and if any treat should ever deserve a day to be celebrated, Brownies should absolutely qualify! Happily today is National Brownie Day! Let's start our celebrating with some fun Brownie facts - did you know . . . 

My Christmas Carols - Wrap Me Up

I recently heard a new Christmas song by Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor called, Wrap Me Up and I knew I had to share it with you on my Christmas Carols for this year. You will be able to find it at this link.

I love the humor and the message in this song - if you would like to sing along, here are the lyrics . . . 

just for fun - Silly, But Real Laws in Alaska!

Get ready to laugh! As I looked up some silly, but real laws in Alaska, I had to stop for a moment because I was laughing! I truly do not understand why anyone would feel the need to actually make a law for many of these; but honestly, I'm glad they did because now we all can have a good laugh and share these silly laws with our grandchildren . . . to spread the laughing! After all, laughing is good for our health!

Did you know in Alaska . . . 

It is Tie Month - Let's Make Some Snakes

  

December is Tie month, so I thought it would be fun to share with
you some fun "tie facts" I found online. Did you know . . . 

The necktie originated from a silk scarf worn by Croatian soldiers - it became known as the cravat.

Marv Beloff invented the wooden bow tie in 1993. He has nine basic homemade styles and insists the only things you have to worry about when you wear them are, "termites and fire."