Kisses from Katie

A long time ago, another blogger introduced me to this young lady.  Her stories and life blew me away.  She leaves all she knew behind at a ripe age of 18!  Then, as life is, through this chose and that chose... she ends up in Uganda, adopting 14 girls, opens her heart and door (literally) to the sick and poor EVERYDAY!  Sacrificing each day for a people she never knew, she follows Jesus and finds him in the faces of each person she sees.

How can such a young girl be so trusting of God's will?  I ask myself that whenever I read a post of  hers.  Her blog, Kisses from Katie, humbles me often.  Oh, I dare not compare my day in any way.  But, I am thankful that God has created Katie and those like her.

"Through Katie’s life, we’re reminded how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him. We simply need to be willing to be used."

~ Rich Stearns, President of World Vision US

She wanted to be Blessed Mother Teresea of Calcutta... need I say more

Kisses from Katie

I can't wait to start reading this.

From our family to yours,

May God bless each of you,

May His grace be stowed upon you,

May we treasure His gifts, always!

Only God Knows...

In the times of great saddness for many families.  This song hit home for me.  Only God knows the whys in our lives.  In the lowest points of my own life, He provides what is needed.  In trusting Him, I can find comfort. 

My heart grieves for these families.

My prayers are with them and for them.

Lord Jesus, lover of our souls, you gave us your life so that everyone might be saved and have eternal life. Hear our prayers, look with favor and love on your people who grieve and others who pray for their passed family members. Only You are holy, just, mighty and perfect in all your ways; yet you look on us with compassion and mercy. By sacrificing yourself for us, you have given us access to You. Please give all those sould your light, joy and peace in heaven where you live and reign for ever and ever.

Amen

{p,h,f,r}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{PRETTY}

My girls

My guy!

{HAPPY}

So, happy for this table my mother-in-law painted and fixed up for us!

So, happy I have such an awesome MIL!

{FUNNY}

Silly dog! 

He does bring tons of fun to our family. 

{REAL}

Unfinished projects

(there are many)

Finished fun projects

The signs of tradition everywhere

all REAL
(including the uncompleted chore I can see in the background :-))

St. Nicholas:: 2012

In pictures

and a few words

 ~ Links & Resources ~

Main resource

St. Nicholas Center

The books

A Gift from St. Nicholas

The baker's dozen

The Shepherd's Christmas

The First Christmas Tree

The cookies

Speculatius (go here)

(German Spice Cookies)

*The only adaption to this recipe was the use unsalted butter, instead of the shortening*

The cards

Each child recieved a little note from Papi and I;

written in the back of indivdualized images of St. Nicholas

God of joy and cheer,

We thank you for your servant,

the good bishop Nicholas.

In loving the poor,

he showed us your kindness;

in caring for your children,

he revealed your love.

Make us thoughtful

without need of reward so that we, too,

may be good followers of Jesus.

Amen

Martha Showed Me...

I was skimming through a December 2008 issue of Martha Stewart's Living magazine the other night; and I saw something...
Something that I could actually do.
Something that used items I already had in the house.
Something that wouldn't cost me a single cent.

In the old house we use to hang our Christmas cards around the piano; or on the inside of the front door.  Our cards looked scattered though.  Not like the gallery displays I would see in the Better Homes magazines. 

But with a few supplies... 
I made a super cute, and easy display.

What you need:

1.  Get all the scraps of that Christmas paper around the house

2.  Clothes pins

3.  Glue stick

4.  Ribbon

5.  Scissors

The pictures are pretty self explanatory. 

Using the scraps of paper, measure out the approximate size of your clothes pin

Cut the paper to size

Using a glue stick, spread it on the side the paper with be glued too

and

just in minutes you have...

A pretty display for all those Christmas cards coming your way...

Evidently mine are slow to arrive...

Thank you

Martha Stewart!

Jesse Tree:: 2012

Paper cuts outs, home made creations, or treasured bought ones?  Jesse Trees are, and it's ornaments, popping more and more each year. 
Can there be an Whoop Hooo for that!!

We started a Jesse Tree a few years back.  I didn't have any fancy ornaments, nor any idea about a tree.  But I had bought a nice paper set from a local Catholic store (sadly no longer in business) and used a mini Christmas tree.  Then a couple of years ago I made some felt ornaments for my sister-in-law and her family, those were cute!  I had wanted to make our own set, but just never got around to it. 

This year came the offer from Jessica @ Housewifespice  (look here). 

Now, along with our Advent readings (look here);
we have a new set of Jesse Tree ornaments.
For our new home! 

Our box arrived just today (yesterday now)!

See the Noah's Ark at the top, that's my contribution to the set.

There are several places to go to for ornaments, readings, and to get the history of Jesse Tree.  Jessica @ Shower of Roses (look here) has a great list of resources. 

We keep it fairly simple; some years we've hosted a Jesse Tea (look here).  While other seasons we've kept to the traditions of my childhood; like posadas. 

So we've had hectic seasons, sickly seasons, peaceful seasons... etc.

Hey, we're normal right?

First Sunday Advent, for us, was just about perfect.

  Grandparents came over and Grandpa blessed our wreath.  Then we feasted on Pozole.

Ending with a chapter of a new book

Destination: Bethlehem

A Family Advent Adventure

Then a short movie for the kids.

Last night we began our Jesse Tree readings.

And this morning our little tree had the prettiest sunlight on it.

Though, they should have been outside already doing chores.  I couldn't get mad at them for cuddling up so cute to hear Lucy read from our books.

Advent has begun,

and we are so grateful for it!

I'm linking this up over @ Jessica's blog

Shower of Roses

Please pay a visit to the other moms... there are some adorable traditions being celebrated right now!