How To Be Invited Back Over

December 17, 2015December 18, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

In a week you’ll be nearly all packed and ready to head to the family Christmas gathering, but will the family Christmas gathering be ready for you? What I mean is, does your family entering the doors make everyone hold their breath?

You might adore your “rambunctious children,” and make light of their rowdiness, but when they go tearing through Aunt Linda’s house, oblivious to her belongings, to other’s privacy or the work she spent getting the house just right for the gathering, your presence might not create the delightful day for her that it is to you.

The truth is, holiday gatherings can cause friction, and often it’s caused by guests that aren’t as gracious as they could be. As you prepare to head over to someone else’s home – whether they’re relatives or friends, could I encourage you to consider others as you head into their home? Here are a few tips about being a gracious guest that we ALL need to heed:

Arrive on time. Don’t get there after the meal has been served or everyone is seated. Be a little early – ten minutes is good.
Be prepared to help. See what needs to be done with the meal or clean up and lend a hand.
Be appreciative. Let your hosts know how thankful you are for them opening their home – even if it’s your mom and “she always hosts us for holidays!” When it’s your turn, you’ll know what a hero she really is!
Take a hostess gift. Suggestions are here on this post.
Talk to your children before you go. Give them restrictions about what rooms are off limits, as well as what kind of behavior is acceptable. We know you love your child, but be nice and train your child so others will love him too! =)
Don’t stay too long. Know when things are winding down (that’s before children are crabby and doors are slammed!) and make a gracious exit. Before leaving, have your children clean up any messes they made in their play areas. There’s nothing like finding your child’s room torn apart after guests are gone!
Send a thank you note to your hostess. Swift gratitude is the sweetest. I recently had to apologize for an overdue note! Shame on me!

A little thinking and planning ahead, along with instructing your children will make your family gathering a happy time for both you and your host. And they won’t think twice about inviting you back!

What suggestions do you have for being a gracious guest?

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Uncategorized

My Favorite Photos of The Week

December 16, 2015December 16, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

The explanation of each picture will go across each row, left to right.

Last weekend my girls and I got together to collaborate on our Christmas baking. We got quite a bit knocked out and had a lot of laughs and fun in the process! Here they’re adding the touches to the sugar cookies. Yum! Sprinkles and colored sugar to top it off!
This year for our Christmas gift, my husband thought of the idea of getting season passes to the Biltmore House. We’ve visited a few times, but haven’t gotten to see every season there. So, Monday on his day off, we went to see the Christmas decorations. It’s breathtaking and we had such a great day. I love the grounds as much as the house itself. This covered walkway takes you down to the conservatory.
This framed picture of the Biltmore Mansion is just up from the conservatory. The day turned from stormy to beautiful! We were so thankful to walk outside and enjoy the lovely weather!
Each room in the conservatory has different types of plants. I Ooo-ed and Ahhh-ed all the way through it!
For my Sunday dinner table I did a new napkin fold – the Candle. It was a pretty addition to the tablescape. My dad and I had worked on some new folds while I was visiting with him and my mom after Thanksgiving. He’s the King of Napkin folding! He has gone into linen departments in stores and folded napkins and left them on display! =)
Here’s my handsome date at the Biltmore! What a blessing to have a husband who plans times for us to spend together. I am excited about our future dates riding bikes on the paths at Biltmore, visiting the tulip and rose gardens, and just lollygagging through the grounds! If you plan to go, wear comfy shoes. Take a light purse (a cross-body bag is perfect). Have a bottle of water in the car for after your tour, as well as a light snack – you’ll get a good workout!
The picture of me and my girls was after our church’s Christmas cantata. Whitney came for the weekend. She was Alli’s page turner, or so they said. I think they sat over at the piano and entertained one another! It’s a sister thing!
This is another shot of the outside of Biltmore.
I think these were my favorite treats we made on our baking afternoon. These marshmallows were dipped in melted chocolate, then rolled in finely crushed peppermint. You drop them into hot chocolate for a yummy addition to your cocoa! Can’t wait to try it!

I’m so blessed! What a special week this has been, and it’s not even Christmas yet!

What was your favorite event of the past week?

Lovingly,

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Christmas

Open Eyes, Open Doors

December 15, 2015December 17, 2015 RefreshHer7 Comments

Isn’t it easy especially at Christmas to be focused on self? We can easily be consumed with all that we still need to do – buy, wrap, bake, write, attend, host and clean, that we become task oriented instead of people oriented. The whole reason for Christmas – that Christ came to give His life a ransom for the world, bespeaks the fact that we, too, are to focus on PEOPLE.

The line of people ahead of us at the grocery store are delays while we wait, instead of opportunities to give the Gospel. The cashier is the end of our wait, instead of a person who needs the Good News that we have to share.

Our focus can even be turned so much to the small circle around us that we don’t see the opportunities that are at our fingertips. Aside from the public strangers we meet, we may also know others who may be especially tender and open to the Gospel right now. Who are they?

Those that are hurting due to a loved ones’ death in the past year are even more desperate during the holidays.
Those that are sick, or waiting on a sick loved one at the hospital, are even more lonely or anxious.
Those that are financially hurting really feel the crunch now, when not only are they trying to make ends meet, but they’re also trying to come up with a little extra to purchase gifts for their families.
See the need – a meal, a monetary gift, a gift purchased and do it.

Do you know anyone in any of those three categories? I’m sure we all do. How about praying about what you could do to serve and minister to them this next week? What to do?

Send a card – not a generic Christmas card, but one that is especially suited to their need.
Call them or go to their home and have prayer with them.
Take a gift that would comfort them.
- Did they lose a loved one? Do you have a picture of that loved one you could enlarge and frame?
- Give an ornament that would be a keepsake of that person so they could hang it on their tree every year in memory of their loved one.
- If you know someone who’s lost a baby, an ornament for that little one is an earthly reminder that they exist.
Spend time visiting with them. Read Scripture to them.
Give them the Gospel – the Hope of the Christmas!

I’m asking the Lord to open my eyes, not to my “To-Do list,” but to the people around me so that I might use this wonderful season to minister to their needs – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Will you join me in praying for open eyes and open doors?

Lovingly,

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dessert

Make-Ahead Chocolate Souffle

December 14, 2015December 17, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

Last Friday was a big baking day with my girls. The day before we got together, I made up three kinds of Christmas cookie dough. A couple of the recipes called for egg yolks, so when I finished, I was left with five egg whites. With eggs the price they are, I had to put them to good use, so I flipped through my Cooking Light Cookbook and found a recipe for Double Chocolate Souffles that you could whip together, then freeze until needed! I knew I needed a dessert for Sunday’s dinner, so it was a blessing to have a dessert that was prepared ahead of time, then all I’d need to do is bake them on Sunday!

These would be a great dessert for a special Christmas dinner. With the ease of preparing them ahead of time, it will make having company a cinch!

Double Chocolate Souffles with Warm Fudge Sauce

SOUFFLE:

Cooking spray

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups fat-free milk

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg yolk

6 large egg whites

SAUCE:

1 tablespoon butter

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup fat-free milk

1/2 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Preparation

Position oven rack to the lowest setting, and remove middle rack. Preheat oven to 425°.

To prepare the soufflés, lightly coat 6 (8-ounce) soufflé dishes with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons sugar. Set aside.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons cocoa, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups milk, stirring constantly with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly with a whisk; remove from heat. Add 3 ounces chocolate; stir until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla and egg yolk.

Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl; beat at high speed with a mixer until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat). Gently fold one-fourth of egg whites into chocolate mixture; gently fold in remaining egg white mixture. Gently spoon mixture into prepared dishes. Sharply tap dishes 2 or 3 times on counter to level. Place dishes on a baking sheet; place baking sheet on the bottom rack of 425° oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 350° (do not remove soufflés from oven). Bake 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the side of soufflé comes out clean.

To prepare sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, and 1 tablespoon flour; stir well with a whisk. Gradually add 1/2 cup milk, stirring well with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove from heat; add 1/2 ounce chocolate, stirring until smooth. Serve warm with soufflés.

My souffles didn’t puff up as high as the picture in my cookbook, so I may have beaten the egg whites a little too long, but they still tasted wonderful, and that’s the whole point!

Don’t let the word souffle frighten you away – these are really not hard to make, The ease of freezing the batter and popping them in the oven makes them a great do-ahead dessert! They’re delicious!

Anyone else make souffle?

With love from my country kitchen,

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Uncategorized

A Christmas Confession

December 11, 2015December 27, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

baking dishes

First of all, this is not Denise posting. This is her husband, writing to the men today.

I have a confession to make—-I hate putting up the Christmas tree!! Just keepin’ it real, folks!! 🙂 Seriously, over the years, the rigors of getting the tree ready for this festive season has been an adventure to say the least.

In the first place, I think an artificial tree is sacrilegious. As a boy, we always had a real tree, and when our girls were home, we honored the purist tradition of having a live tree. In spite of my purist leanings, going after a tree, cutting it to fit in the tree stand and then getting it to stay upright always presented its own set of bah humbugs.

There was the time I forgot to keep it wrapped after purchasing it from the tree farm. Getting it through the door was a winner! Or the time it kept leaning toward the south, so along with the bailin’ twine I had nailed to the window, I decided the best thing to do was to make a taught string and anchor by nailing a sixteen penny nail through the carpet to the floor! That tree was not going anywhere!

How about the year that our lives were so busy we didn’t get a tree until a couple of days before Christmas. I went to K-Mart at night and bought a beautiful, live blue spruce that stood elegantly in our living room. After the season was completed, it found itself in the backyard brush pile to be burnt up come spring. When that day came, it had not died–it was still a beautiful blue spruce . . . because it had been spray painted. For all I know that tree was just a generic pine tree sprayed to be a blue spruce!

After purchasing and getting the tree upright, comes the fun part of adorning it with light, beads, and ornaments. Those lights we bought last year? Only half of them work. The beads have to be swooped a certain way around the tree, and all the ornaments must be placed on the branches, as many of them tell a story!

I share these thoughts with you, especially men, to remind you that although we may not really be fond of the process of preparing for Christmas, it means much to our families. Because of all the effort our wives go to, we need to set aside our feelings and pitch in at Christmastime.

Decorating the house is my wife’s expertise, but there are other things I can do to help relieve her so that the Christmas season is a blessing to all. I’m writing to encourage you guys to help out. How? Here are a few suggestions:

Get the tree
Put it up
Help with decorating the tree by making it a family time
Get the boxes down from the attic
Go to the store and purchase some of the gifts (your wife can instruct you) or pick up things she may need for her baking
Help wash dishes as she bakes the cookies (you like to eat them, don’t you?)
Help address and write cards, as well as thank you cards.

There are some confessions you probably could make about your dislike for parts of Christmas preparation, but just as Christ came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:6-8), let’s serve our family and our wife by laying aside our grumps and “bah humbugs,” and make Christmas what it really is—a time of great joy to all people!!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor C.