Giving

After seeing the Red Kettle on a fellow bloggers site, I have decided to add one here. I also added it to my Facebook profile page. In this season of Christmas, it seems that everyone, including myself, gets so wrapped up in trying to get just the right gifts, spend a certain amount on each person, get something on that person's list(even when they have everything) that they will like, maybe we ought to find needs in our communities and give in other peoples names. Then at Christmas, give them a nice card and tell how you helped someone in need in their name. Everyone gets so wrapped up in making sure your house is decorated better than your neighbors. How about you take some cookies over and give them to your neighbor instead? Instead of trying to "outgive" other family members by seeing who spends more money on a gift, why not do something nice for that family member, make some meals for their freezer, offer to watch their kids, offer to help them in some other way. I think Christ would rather we give to those in true need, rather than give to those who have everything and will probably take the gift back and get the money or another item instead. We are supposed to be showing the love of Christ, not greediness. What is the legacy that we are leaving our kids? Will they learn to live happily with what they have been blessed with, or be the kind that think they need the latest video game to be "cool"? I have really been rethinking the whole idea of the gift giving this year. With the economy in the state that it is, we need to learn to be happy with what we have, not wanting more. I have found out since I have been unable to work, we really don't need a lot of things that we thought we needed. We are learning what wants vs needs are. I have been able to shop and feed our family of 4 on less each month than some people I know. What we spend on groceries in one month, they spend each week. It is a matter of convienence, and want not need. I have been trying to do a lot more with a lot less and have been able to get things done and we enjoy it more because it has caused us to learn to be more creative. Well, I am going to stop the rant for tonight. I am going to get some things done since I can't sleep. The headache has been bad today. The snow and storm system that we have moving in is going to be a tough one. I can already feel it. Going to keep up with all my meds and try and keep it at a minimum.

A day to purge!

Today, I think I am feeling a bit better. The headache isn't quite as bad. I want to get some thing done before I get too far behind, but I also want to feel good so that I will be able to go to church tomorrow. I love advent at our church!
Today is a day to purge! I am getting rid of anything and everything that I/we do not use. I am starting with our bedroom. I am getting rid of books, clothes, knick-knacks, and anything else that isn't being used. There is no need to keep things that we don't need. We are also going to get rid of our bedroom suite. It is just not practical to keep it. We don't have a huge bedroom and I would prefer to use the space for something besides furniture that just doesn't work for us. We have a large roll top headboard with shelves, a chest of drawers that has 3 drawers on the bottom, one on top, and 2 mirrored doors that open to 3 shelves, and a large 2 part dresser. It has a large mirror with shelves and hooks on each side with a roll top storage area on each side. The bottom of the dresser has 1 drawer middle top, 3 on each side and 2 mirrored doors that open middle bottom. We are hoping to get rid of this and just have a chest of drawers and our bed. I am going to make the headboard myself. I saw one that is just adorable and would be a cinch to make. I am hoping after Christmas to make it.
Dan took the boys into town this morning. Our youth pastor and his wife are renting a home and were needing help painting it today. Dan stopped last night to help, but due to the a meeting that kept getting pushed back, he was unable to help them. They are taking the month of December to move in. It is quite large compared to the small apt they were renting. Samuel has bowling this afternoon with the tweens. It is kind of a Christmas party for them. Dan is going to chaperone. I am sure they are going to have a great time. After bowling, it is back to paint some more. I am unsure what time they will be home. I am hoping to have our bedroom pretty well done (well at least my side) when they return. I am also working on laundry today. Not much is going to get dry outside, but we will see what we can get done. Every little bit helps. I hope to get most of it done today.
The recipe for today is Pumpkin Bread. It is my brother's favorite holiday treat.

Pumpkin Bread
1 large can of pumpkin(either easy pumpkin with the spices or packed without)
4 1/2 c sugar
5 1/4 c flour(white or wheat)
1 1/2 c oil
6 eggs
2 1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp each nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves
3 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 c water

Mix all ingredients in a LARGE bowl. Divide into 3 loaf pans sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Optional-add semi-sweet chocolate chips(divide one bag between the 3 loaves) or rasins. Our favorite is the chocolate chips. (I know choc chips and pumpkin sound weird together, but it really is quite good!)

Bake at 325* for 60 mins or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool pans on rack. Turn out loaves onto a towel or plate. Can be frozen after baking, just wrap in wax paper and then foil.

Off to get some things finished! Hopefully, I can get something completed today!

New to blogging like this.

I am going to try to use this blog site to try and "jot" down ideas, recipes, book reviews, and other things. I want to be able to save some ideas into one spot. I don't know if it will be of any help to anyone else, but I am basically doing this for me. I hope to encourage anyone that may stop by. If no one stops by that is ok too. I want to be able to jounal my thoughts and ideas. So, I am going to start with an easy recipe today. This recipe is from my friend Jeannie B. Hope you enjoy it.
Low fat, low calorie, 2 ingredient cake!

1 box of devil's food cake mix
1 15 oz (I think - small can) of pure pumpkin

Stir the 2 together until fairly smooth (very thick!). Put into a lightly greased square cake pan, smooth out the top & bake for 25-30 mins at 400 degrees. That's it!!! It's like a moist brownie -- so next time I'm adding a 3rd ingredient, chopped walnuts! It doesn't need any icing, but I tried butter icing & my cousin used Cool Whip topping.

I made this the other night, and the boys and I thought it was great. I think walnuts would be good in it too! I also would like to try Cool Whip on it also.

In the next few days, I hope to get some of our favorite holiday recipes put on here. Maybe it will be something someone will enjoy.