The Christmas Orange

When I was growing up we always had an orange in the toe of our stocking and the reasoning was always because it fills the bottom so well and gives you something to eat as present open commences. As I became a parent I too would put an orange in the toe of at that time my one childs stocking with little or no meaning. Then in 1996 I received this story and has remained one of my most precious gifts and gives a wonderful meaning to my childhood tradition of an orange in the toe of my stocking.



The Christmas Orange

Jake lived in an orphanage with nine other young boys. In the wintertime it seemed that any extra money went for the coal to heat the old buildings. At Christmas, the building always seemed a little warmer and the food a little more plentiful, but more than this—Christmas meant an orange. It was the only time of the year such a rare treat was provided, and it was coveted by each boy like no other thing that they ever possessed.

Each boy would save his orange for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it, and contemplating the moment he would eat it. Some would even save it until New Year’s Day or later, much like many of us relish saving our Christmas trees and decorations until New Year’s just to remind us of the joy of Christmas.

This particular Christmas Day, Jake had broken the orphanage rules by starting a fight. The orphanage mother took Jake’s orange away as punishment for breaking the rules. Jake spent Christmas day empty and alone. Nighttime came and Jake could not sleep, silently he sobbed because this year he would not have his orange to savor with the other boys.

A soft hand placed on Jake’s shoulder startled him and an object was quickly shoved into his hands. The child then disappeared into the dark to leave Jake alone to discover a strange looking orange an orange made from segments of nine other oranges;nine highly prized oranges that had to be eaten that Christmas night instead of saved, admired, and cherished until a later date. What a special gift of unselfish love had been given.

This year, may the orange remind us all of the unselfish love taught to us by our Savior and may we share that love with one another.

Love,
The Keplers

Teenage Driver...can it be!!!

Today I drove with my teenager for the first time...I always thought I would be the over anxious, gasping at wrong turns, near collapse at the end of it all and I was so surprised with myself today....I was calm as could be even as we drove over a curb while he was trying to figure out how to turn the blinker off..my reply as we are coming off the curb was, "It is only curb, keep driving." I think I might be able to handle being chauffered around everyday!!!

A Quick Back Up

For Preschool we had a Mini Thanksgiving. All the children helped make part of the meal and their thankful placemats and turkey napkin rings. It was one busy morning but they absolutely loved it!!!!

Lynn Bowen Walker of Queen of the Castle writes, "I try to remind myself that the December 25th deadline for love and togetherness and goodwill toward men is not a deadline at all. There is no time limit on doing good deeds, on giving people notes or tokens of appreciation, on making an out-of-the-ordinary meal and taking time to enjoy it with my family. .......Only by slowing down and looking at where I want to end up - sitting at the feet of my Heavenly Father, appreciating the gift He's given me in Jesus Christ - will I have a truly successful season."

The exclamations in the house this morning:

"It's snowing FINALLY!"
"The snow is staying on the ground, that means I need to wear boots to school"
"Yeah I love its snowing!"
"Snow...Snow on the Ground YIPEE!"

Thanksgiving in a Pan Recipe

The time is approaching what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers. This is one of our favorites:
















Ingredients
• 1 package (6 ounces) stuffing mix
• 2-1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
• 2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed
• 1 jar (12 ounces) turkey gravy
• Pepper to taste
Directions
• Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions. Transfer to a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish. Top with turkey, beans, gravy and pepper. Cover and bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6 servings.

A Buggy Treat

To Make:
Take a Nutter Butter cookie cut in half
Spread one side with frosting
Lay 3 stick prestzels across
Break 1 pretzel stick in half and make a V at the top
Top with other half of cookie
Take M&M's and make eyes and dots aattaching with frosting

The results smiling faces!!!!

A NEW FAVORITE

One of my new favorite things is to replace one of my old favorite things which is cream cheese..I love it but it is not so good for you. My new option is only 35 calories a wedge and oh so flavorful....

LAUGHING COW GARLIC AND HERB WEDGES!!!

PIRATE COOKING CLASS

David or should I say Scallywag David took a Pirate Cooking Class this past weekend and here are some pictures of his creations:

Buried Treasure Cakes


Medallion Cookies


They also learned how to make Pirate Punch and how to throw a pizza dough in the air!

I wish I would have had time to stay a bit and take pictures of him with Chef Patrick and the other boys actually cooking themselves into a pirately frenzy but the happiness on his face when I arrived to pick him told me how much fun he had!!!

I have a friend that posts some of the best quotes. The best ones however are her own thoughts. Thanks Michele for consitant reminders of your goodness and our own.

I absolutely love her most recent post:


It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you it is what you think of yourself!! When you know your heart is true and you have the best of intention then you can have peace within yourself!! :) I believe in who I am and what I am becoming!! Each day brings growth and each obstacle brings enlightenment!

BROWN BAG MICROWAVE POPCORN

1/4 c. unpopped popcorn kernels
1 brown paper lunch bag
Tape

Seasonings like melted butter, kosher salt, seasoning salt, Creole or Cajun seasoning, bacon salt, or Garlic Bread Seasoning

Place unpopped popcorn in the brown paper lunch bag. Fold the bag over twice, tape it shut, and gently push the air out. Pop for 2 1/2-3 minutes or until there are 1-2 seconds between pops. Remove the bag from the microwave and shake gently before carefully opening the bag. Season as desired.

APPLE SLICES

To make these you cut an apple in slices from the top down and then cut out the core with mini cookie cutters. Then to keep them from browning I have them take a swim in a bowl of pineapple juice.


I make these all year with different shaped mini cookie cutters.

MONSTER VEGGIE TRAY

This was so fun to do with my teenager.

To make the veggie monsters you need to:

1. Deseed a green pepper and put a small mouth slit near the bottom

2. You peel a carrot and then make a long peel for the tongue

3. Slice a cucumber with the peel on

4. Cut some large broccoli florets

5. Cut 2 toothpicks in half

Now to assemble it you need to:

1. From the inside of the pepper poke the toothpicks through where the eyes should be and them add a cucumber slice to both and a grape tomato to both.

2. Add Broccoli to the top for the hair

3. Add peppers to a platter surround with vegetables.

4. Insert carrot tongue into slit and place over vegetables.

The kids really got a kick out of these 2 guys!!!!

Witches Fingers

Cut a cheese stick in half

Dice green peppers

Add peppers to ends of cheese sticks with a dab of cream cheese


So easy to make unless you are making over 75 of them!!!!

PUMPKIN "carving"