‘Twas the week before Christmas…

And all through the house was the aroma of Christmas baking for the annual party…with of course the requisite contest, this year Gingerbread Tree decorating.  How did we do?

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You can try your hand at it with this easy recipe.  Just chill the dough and roll out on a greased cookie sheet with plastic on top… and it’s easy as gingerbread trees!P1090109

Need ‘concrete’ icing? Just whip 3 egg whites, 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar, and 3 3/4 cups icing sugar for 7 min. or so until very stiff.  Keep covered with damp cloth or plastic wrap until ready to use.  Best used fresh.  Makes 2 cups—enough to ‘glue’ on LOTS of candy, permanently!

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Well after all that, a relapse was in order, so now we’re laying a little low,  waiting out colds while planning for the kiddn’s to come home with their kiddn’s…

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We were married the week before Christmas Eve.  So every year, interjected into the flurry of Christmas anticipation comes this celebration of all our years together.  This year we’ve reached 29 and it merited me a lavish bunch of roses…

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And to make the occasion extra special we had snow!P1090161

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As Rachel and I tromped out to take pictures this morning, we missed the best one as a pair of mallards flew up from our little winter pond, bright against the morning sky…  The only sign they left of their stay was their webprints…

P1090153I can only say I’m glad I’m not a duck, and can come in out of the winter cold and sit by the fire a while… Wish you could join me.

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Wishing you a sweet and bright holiday time with your family and friends.

–LS

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At the Outset

We couldn’t have dreamed it up, this life we’ve had together…

We’ve just unearthed some slides and reconfigured them for the digital era… In light of our upcoming 29th anniversary I was looking back at our beginnings.  Since this blog seems to be about traipses,treks and trails and the flora and fauna along the way, perhaps these shots have a place here… It’s been quite a trip!

Jim 89Beginning with this good looking guy who found his girl at Bible College… (where else!).  It wasn’t exactly love at first sight…but almost!

In love 2 84In love 83This is as close as it got to holding hands in those days…

But with the wonder of a wedding all that changed and we whisked off on a cross-country honeymoon in our own Frigid-aire coupe!—a VW truck, in the dead of winter—the week before Christmas to be exact!

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And somehow the changes just never stopped…

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And soon we were three…

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Just kids with a precious bundle of life entrusted to our care….

Micah bunting

MGS 85Micah

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Trundling off down the road of life together…

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The rest is history.

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But that’s old news—the last time we were all together for Christmas.

And here it’s coming ‘round again, and there will be booster seats and babies to the count of 3!

1…2…gotta run! many things to get ready!

–LS

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
Sing the glory of His name;
Give to Him glorious praise!

Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!’

Come and see what God has done;
He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.” Ps.66:1-5