Spiritual Sundays

Hello everyone! It's time for Spiritual Sundays again and I'm so thankful to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting. Please take some time to visit with these lovely ladies and all their SS participants. You will be glad you did!

You may click on the link http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ or the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar.

If you would indulge me, I would like to share another devotional from 'Our Daily Bread' today.

PRECIOUS FRUIT

How much would you be willing to pay for a piece of fruit? In Japan, someone paid more than $6,000 for one Dansuke watermelon. Grown only on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, this beautiful dark-green sphere looks like a bowling ball. The nearly 18-pound watermelon was one of only a few thousand available that year. The fruit's rarity brought an astronomical price on the market.

Christians have fruit that is far more precious than the Dansuke watermelon. It's called the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" {Gal. 5:22-23}. Each fruit is a different aspect of Christlikeness. In the Gospels, we see how Christ exemplifies these virtues. Now He wants to produce them in our hearts - in what we we say, how we think, and how we respond to life. { John 15:1-4}.

A rare and delicious fruit may bring a premium price in the marketplace, but Christlike character is of far greater worth. As we confess all known sin and yield to God's indwelling Spirit, our lives will be transformed to the likeness of Christ. {1John 1:9; Eph. 5:18}

This spiritual fruit will fill our lives with joy, bless those around us, and last into eternity.

- Dennis Fisher

FRUITFULNESS FOR CHRIST DEPENDS ON FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Pink Saturday is here and I have my little Christmas tree to share with you today. I had gotten some little china teacups and was going to put them on the tree but alas! they were much too heavy and they dragged the branches down. So, I had to hang them on my big tree!!

So, I got me some little pink balls for the tree and it looks just fine. What do you think?

The tree sits on a little cabinet in the dining room so I have displayed some teacups and teapots underneath it. When I finish decorating the big tree, I'll show you the teacups!

I also want to share a Giveaway I won a few weeks ago. Leslie at Contented in West Lafayette http://contentedinwestlafayette.blogspot.com/ was having a giveaway and I won! It is a nursing apron which Leslie herself made. She also sells them in her Etsy shop.

Now I want you to know that I have long since finished my nursing days, however I do have a sweet little daughter-in-law who hopes to bless me with another grandbaby next year. So, I will give the apron to her when the time comes.

The apron has two pockets; for pacifiers, etc. It has boning at the neck so you can see your baby nursing, and it's a lot lighter than a blanket.

Since it's pink, it made it into my Pink Saturday post. Thank you Leslie!

Now please make your way over to see Beverly and all her pinkies by clicking on the link http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ or the Pink Saturday button on my sidebar. Hope you all have a pinkalicious day!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Show and Tell Friday

Happy Friday everyone~ I am joining Cindy at My Romantic Home today for "Show and Tell Friday." I love Cindy's blog http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ and hers was the first blog I discovered. It is still one of my favourites!

For my post today I would like to share the farm I made for my father. I'm sorry to those of you who have seen this in my last post.

My Daddy always loved farms, especially red barns, so I made this ceramic farm for him. I had made the barn and silo first and gave it to him for Christmas one year. Then I made the farm house for Father's Day and finally the old mill for his birthday.

When he passed away, my mother gave it back to me and I have incorporated it into my Christmas village which I have all along the ledge in the Family room.

Whenever I set the farm out for Christmas, I always think of him. I really do miss him, especially this time of year. He always made Christmas magical in our home when I was growing up and I have such wonderful memories.

Please take some time to visit Cindy today and check out her wonderful Friday post and all her participants. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will come again soon.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

It's REDnesday!

Today is Wednesday and that means it's REDnesday over at Sue's "It's A Very Cherry World." If you love the colour red and you would like to participate, then please go see Sue at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

Christmas is a-comin' and I'm starting to decorate for the holidays. I am putting my Christmas village out all along the ledge in the family room. One of my favourite pieces is the ceramic farm I made for my father. He always loved farms, particularly red barns! I guess that's why I love 'em too. When Daddy passed away, my mother gave the farm back to me so I have incorporated it into the village.

I made the farm house with its red trimmed windows, the barn and silo, and the mill. I also made the trees. I cannot help but think about my father whenever I bring them out every year. Actually Christmas makes me miss him alot because he was the one who made Christmas so magical in the home when I was growing up.

The red barn with its silo. The silo got a little nick in it during one of the moves. I will have to touch that up.

The farm house has a porch and curtains in the red- trimmed windows.

The old mill.

Another view of the farm.

A close up of the red barn.

Thanks for visiting me today. Please go see Sue and all her red offerings by clicking on the link or the REDnesday button on my sidebar. Have a beautiful day everyone!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Urgent Prayer Request

Good morning everyone~ Yesterday I received news from my cousin Cynthia. Her husband Jim, who is suffering with brain cancer, has been having terrible headaches, and they found out yesterday that one of the tumors has grown and now there is a third one. They will treat him with more chemo, pills, and will try to keep him as comfortable as possible. They are hoping that they can keep him around for Christmas!

My heart just breaks for them both. I have never actually met Jim but I have known my cousin Cynthia my whole life. She is the daughter of my Christian aunt to whom I am very close.

If I have learned anything in this life, it is to savour every moment we have with our loved ones. Life is too short!

I would really appreciate your prayers for Jim and Cynthia at this time. Unless the Lord intervenes and brings a healing to Jim's body, Cynthia may not her hubby for very much longer.

Thank you all and the Lord bless you.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Help! I Need A New Angel!

Hello everyone~ Well, I started to put the lights on the Christmas tree this morning. Yes, I know, I'm very early but it takes me such a long time to decorate my home and my son is coming home for the Holidays earlier this year, so I need to get the decorating done. Since Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October, we are free to start thinking about Christmas a little earlier!
So, I had the Christmas music on and got all the lights on the tree then to my dismay, the tree topper angel I have had since 1989 wasn't working. Twenty years, I've had her. She was so pretty sitting up there on top of the tree and now she'll only do in a center piece or something. Very disappointing! So now I'm on the hunt for a replacement. Have you noticed how big they're making the angel tree toppers now? I hope I can find one that is just right!Not too big, not too small, but just right. I feel like Goldilocks trying out the porridge and the furniture!

Have a beautiful day and wish me success in finding a new angel, won't you?

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Spiritual Sundays

Hello everyone and welcome to my Spiritual Sunday post. Thank you Charlotte and Ginger who every week faithfully bring us this inspirational time together. Please click on the link http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/ or the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar to visit all the fine folks who participate.

The other day I ran across this wonderful devotional and thought I would share it with you.

THE HEAT OF OUR DESIRE

Did that get your attention? I thought so!

Pastor A. W. Tozer {1897-1963} read the great Christian theologians until he could write about them with ease. He challenges us: "Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they had found Him the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking."

The writer of Psalm 42 had the kind of longing for the Lord that Tozer spoke about. Feeling separated from God, the psalmist used the simile of a deer panting with thirst to express his deep yearning for a taste of the presence of God.

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."{verse 1-2} The heat of his desire for the Lord was so great and his sorrow so intense, he did more weeping than eating. {verse 3} But the psalmist's longing was satisfied when he placed his hope in God and praised Him for His presence and help.

O that we would have a longing and thirsting for Him that is so intense that others would feel the heat of our desire for Him! ~ Marvin Williams

Thank you for joining me today and God bless you.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Pink Saturday

Good morning and welcome to Rose Chintz Cottage. It's another Saturday and that means it's Pink Saturday! Thank you to our hostess Beverly for bringing us all these pinks our way.

The other day I ran across something I haven't used in ages. Do you remember these? You put your favourite potpourri in it, add a little water, and plug it in. Then it wafts the scent through the little openings in the cover and into the room.

This potpourri pot still works even though it has been packed away for several years. As you can see it has a delicate pink rose on it.

I also have this little white ceramic church which I found at a Christmas Craft Fair several years ago.

Very cute with its pink satin ribbon bow and roses. It is also trimmed with lace and pearls. Right now it is sitting beneath my little china tree which I hope to share with you next week.

Thanks for stopping by! Please take a look around at Beverly's http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ and see all her pinkies lined up for today. There are a lot of us! You can click on the link or the Pink Saturday button on my sidebar. Have a beautiful pink weekend everyone.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Recipe Swap Party

Good morning everyone~ Today I am joining Karrie at "Stay At Home Mommy" http://stayathomemommyaz.blogspot.com/ for her Recipe Swap Party. If you have a favourite recipe for Christmas and would like to share it with all of us in Blogland, why not join in?
First up is a simple recipe for Mincemeat Tarts.

MINCEMEAT TARTS

This recipe is so quick to make and oh so yummy!

I use frozen Tenderflake mini tarts and fill them with Mapleleaf Mincemeat.

Take out desired number of tart shells and thaw at room temperature for about ten minutes. Fill with mincemeat of your choice and bake at 425 for about 15 minutes.

Next is my Pumpkin Pie recipe.

SANDI'S PUMPKIN PIE
Crust-

5 cups flour

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp Bk powder

1 pound shortening

1 beaten egg

2 TBSP vinegar

1/2 cup water

Mix slightly and roll into about 7 to 9 balls. I freeze the balls until I need to use them.

Pumpkin Pie Filling-

I use a can of the best pumpkin you can find. I used to always depend on either Libby's or York but I can't get those any more so I rely on a Co-op brand which is excellent too.

Slightly beat 2 eggs and add to 1- 1/2 cups of pumpkin in a large bowl

3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1- 1/2 cups light cream or canned Carnation evaporated milk

Mix altogether and pour into unbaked 9" pie shell. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool and serve wirh a dollop of real whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon on the whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE BALLS

1 can Eagle Brand Milk

2 - 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs

2 squares unsweetened chocolate

vanilla to taste

Melt chocolate and milk together in top of double boiler until thick. Remove from heat and add crumbs and vanilla. Cool. Roll into balls then roll the balls into white granulated sugar or crushed nuts. These are very delectable little nuggets that look pretty in mini paper cups and served on a Christmas plate. My family just loves them as does my company.

Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful day!

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

It's Stew Weather and Disney's "A Christmas Carol"

Hello friends~ It's that time of year again, stew weather! When the weather turns cool and you need something hot and nutritious, I like a good stew, chock full of hearty veggies and tomato soup, with dumplings floating on top. I use potatoes, turnip, carrots, parsnips, and stewing beef. I add a can of tomato soup to give it colour and flavour, and then about twenty minutes before serving, I add the home made dumplings. Mmmm, good on a cold day! How do you make your stew?

Tuesday evening Hubby and I went to the movies! This is something we rarely do, go to movies, I mean. But I wanted to see this movie and so off we went.

We were each handed a pair of 3D glasses once turning in our tickets.
It was quite an adventure! At first I felt like I was flying but after a few minutes, I got used to it.

We felt it was well done but then it is a Disney production, so we were not disappointed. I wouldn't advise taking young children to it however.

A story which causes one to take stock and realise how blessed one is, gets a thumbs up from me!

"A Christmas Carol" written by Charles Dickens in 1843, is the classic tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who has a change of heart after some ghostly encounters throughout the night on Christmas Eve. We had always liked the Alistair Sims version best but I think I like this new movie even better.

We have so much to be thankful for and this movie points that out in Disney style. Jim Carrey does an exceptional job as Ebenezer Scrooge and several other characters.

If you like "A Christmas Carol," and you like Disney, then go see this movie!

Have a beautiful day everyone.

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi