Sharing the holidays.....with you!

Family News!

Rachel and Brandon were able to fly home and spend Thanksgiving with their families.
But, the big news for Rachel and Brandon is that they are expecting a baby on May 12th!!!! It will be wonderful for all of us to meet the little one at the family reunion in June!
Nina and Dr. Hodges will be married on December 11th!!!! We wish you both every happiness. Those who cannot attend the wedding will be looking forward to meeting the good doctor in June!
From James and Joanna: Johnny is now playing basketball. This past Saturday, he scored 2 points, had 2 steals, and 3 rebounds! Way to go Dolphins!


Family Funnies!

Eddie told Jacob that when he was young, he had dark hair, he was slim and trim, and he was handsome! Jacob replied, " Maybe you had dark hair and were slim and trim but handsome...I don't think so!" Hmmm, I think I need to show Jacob pictures of my brother when he was younger! :)

Amanda and her family were just finishing up singing a hymn in sacrament meeting when Michael said loudly "That was a great song mommy!"

Joanna tells us that "Maddy was crying because she had finished her sucker and wanted another one. Johnny was saving his sucker for lunch at school the next day. But, when he saw baby sister was upset, his face lit up and ran to his room to get his sucker for Maddy." He is a very sweet big brother...he reminds me of James!

Joanna has also shared a story about Olivia. "Livi said that she wanted to be a tooth fairy when she grew up. James asked her how she is going to get her wings and she told him that all she had to do was wish on a star!"

Christina said: Corrinna was trying to take a picture of me, and I held up my hand in front of the camera to block myself. Corrinna took a picture anyway and said, "I took a picture of 'talk to the hand'!"

Thanksgiving Blessings

From Jan: "I am truly thankful and blessed! I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for Benny, children, and grandchildren. I am thankful for freedom. I am thankful that my needs are meet. And, most of all, I am thankful for a Savior that loves me beyond what I can understand. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
From Susan: "We are thankful that our family will be together this year. With Kerrie in Florida for so long, we were either in Florida without Todd and Jacob, or we did not have the opportunity to see Kerrie at all. Now, that Kerrie has moved to St Louis, we can all be together! Jacob and I will be getting ready for Thanksgiving by making cookies!"
Melinda: "We take turns hosting the Thanksgiving Dinner each year. This year it was at Christina and Nathan's home. Nathan cooked two turkeys (one in the oven and one smoked) and they were delicious! (I know because I tried both!) All of us brought side dishes and desserts, so it was a feast! However, the best part was sharing the day with three of my children (Amanda and her family is in Utah) and 8 of my grandchildren. Love and laughter is the food of the heart!"
Amanda: I am thankful that Jared's surgery went well and that it's OVER! We are also very thankful to have a warm place to live during all of these cold and yucky blizzards.

Thanksgiving Scriptures


From Jan: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16
From Melinda: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter unto his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and, his truth endureth to all generations." Psalm 100 (also known as the Thanksgiving Psalm)

Christmas Stocking!

Susan said that she would like to find MONEY in her stocking this year!
Melinda would like to find Amanda and her family in her stocking this year!
Amanda always hopes for a chocolate orange... and not a lump of coal :)
Joanna wants the movie "Eclipse" in her stocking!
Johnny and Livi want everything they see on tv in their stocking! :)
Christina would like a new job for Nathan in my stocking :) 

Christmas Scriptures

From Susan: "Lukes retelling of the birth of Christ is my favorite Christmas scripture. In the Catholic Church, it is read at Midnight Mass (called the Mass of the Angels). It is very special to me."


Christmas Traditions and Memories

From Rachel: "My favorite holiday memory is that my family would spend Christmas Eve at my grandparents in Mounds. It was so cold outside, but it would feel warm because of all of the family around! Driving home that night with my dad, mom, and sister was always so fun, listening to the beautiful Christmas music and knowing that Santa was coming the next day. Those are memories that will last forever."
From Susan: "Holiday memories are good...remembering three little ones waking up early and hurrying into the living room to see what Santa had left under the tree!"
From Melinda: "I love our Christmas Eve tradition of the family gathering here for Christmas Eve. We do something simple for dinner...tacos or KFC. Everyone brings goodies to share.
But, my favorite part is when everyone sets in the living room to hear Ron read the Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-14. He then reads the story of the Wise Men from Matthew 2:1-11. As Ron is reading the story in Matthew, we pass around a small wooden box of frankincense and myrrh and a red velvet bag of "gold" coins (foil wrapped chocolate).
Next, the entire family (including all of the grandchildren that can read) takes turns reading "T'was the Night Before Christmas". It is so fun to hear the children read!
We end by passing out the gifts, starting with the youngest to the oldest.
Amanda: I remember waiting at the top of the stairs for everyone to get ready so we could walk down in order, youngest to oldest. The anticipation was so fun!
Christina: Amanda stole my favorite, pretty much word for word! :) That was the absolute best moment every year!  Now, it's the same moment with my own kids, and the anticipation of THEIR excitement is the best :)

Mama Essie's Famous Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:
3 large bananas
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup of oil
1 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
Directions: Mash bananas. Add ingredients and stir well. Pour into bread bread pan sprayed with Pam. Bake at 325 degrees. Check at 45 minutes. Done when tooth pick comes out clean. (This is a big, thick, moist bread and can take over an hour to bake.)
This is the best banana bread that I have ever eaten!

Amanda's Hot Chocolate

3 cups instant nonfat dry milk powder
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
mini marshmallows
mini chocolate chips

Stir together the dry milk powder, sugar, cocoa and creamer in a large bowl. Add 1/3 cup mixture to 3/4 cup boiling water, add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Top with marshmallows and milk to adjust the chocolateyness to your liking.

Optional ingredients:
dash of cinnamon or vanilla are yummy too!

Joanna's Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Bars

One box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1 stick softened margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
12 ounces chocolate chips
Mix all ingredients, spread on greased 9X13 pan and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

PRAYER REQUEST:

Andy's mother has been in a recent accident. She is now recovering from a craniotomy and broken bones. This could be a long recovery. We are grateful that she is doing better but would appreciate prayers in her behalf. Thank you!