Christmas Celebrations

Our Christmas festivities this year started Christmas Eve. with Brad's family.  I know there are many families who spend Christmas day dashing from one family gathering to another.  I can't imagine that it wouldn't get stressful getting your kids in and out and moving from place to place.  What a long day.  But hey..if that's the way you roll...fine by me!  Thankfully Brad and I don't have to do that.  We "take turns" with our families.  This year Thanksgiving Day was spent with the Rollmans and Christmas Day with the Petersheims.  Makes for, in my opinion, a more relaxing holiday. 

Although, is there such a thing as a "relaxing" time with family!!!  I barely remember the days before the inlaws and the nieces and nephews and can't imagine how quiet those days must have been!  Now, there's noise everywhere and the kids all want you to play with them and check out their new stuff, games get started then there are always the intense discussions.  Oh but I wouldn't trade it though.  Each family has it's own dynamics and yes, things change and inlaws come along and kids get added, but that's what makes it fun and makes it family.

I learned something new this year.  Long ago my hubby told me he had taken piano lessons as a child and used to be able to play all kinds of stuff, but I had never really gotten the chance to hear him play.  Our party was at Jim & Stacy's place and they have a lovely piano.  Stac got out some music and persuaded Brad to play a duet with her.  Before we knew it he was playing all kinds of stuff.  AMAZING!  He played "The Drummer Boy" in all 4 parts and barely missed a note.  Pretty good I'd say after probably 20ish years of no more lessons.  Now I'm on the lookout for a piano to have here although I have no idea where we would put it.  I just like to think of how romantic it would be to have him serenade me every night!

This year, with Brad's family, instead of individually exchanging names we did it as couples.  It was fun to get gifts that we both wanted.  Keith and Heather had our name and got us 2 mountain pie makers.  Can't wait to use them when we go camping this spring!  Brad's parents gave me a griddle and a 2 year subscription to Taste of Home.  Brad got a tarp he wanted and another mountain pie maker!  Looks like we are set now.

Jeremiah loved the tool set we got for him.  Uncle Brad had just as much fun getting it all out of the packaging!

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On to the Petersheims on Christmas Day.  Mom made her traditional roasht, and all the fixings!  Roasht is like bread filling and turkey mixed together.  It's a traditional meal for Amish weddings.  Thankfully my parents were Amish at one time and so now we make sure that she never forgets how to make it!  It's a favorite with all of us.

Dad read the Christmas story before we opened gifts.

Brad got a nice water cooler that we have been wanting.

Mom gave each of us gals a beverage dispenser thing.  You can light a tea light under it to use for hot drinks.

Hunting was the theme for Christmas this year.  2 of the boys got this hunting set from Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa.  the deer actually ran and then you tried to shoot them with the bow.  What a hit!  It provided hours of fun for them upstairs (away from us : ) ) until one of the deer broke! 

My brother brought this thing along.  It plugs into the TV and you shoot at the deer that come along.  We all had our turn to play.  What fun!

This Christmas did seem different than other years.  Something came up between Brad and I the day before Christmas and then Christmas morning the prenancy test I took was negative.  I was soooo hoping God would give us the gift of a baby for Christmas.   I tried not to let it put a damper on my day, but it did.  All I wanted to do was go home and cry.  It was there in the back of my mind and I regret it now.  Regret that I took it and regret that I let it get to me.  But the truth is, it "gets to me" sometimes. 

A few days later and a few good cries later, everything was "ok" again.  Brad and I spent a few late nights talking stuff out and now, are more in love than ever.  Isn't it funny how marriage is?  Tough stuff comes along but you work it out and then it makes your marriage stronger than ever.  Good try devil!

Ok wasn't planning on that all coming out in this post but so goes....

Lazy Sundays and Old Barns!

It's Sunday and for the first time in a looooonng time, we stayed home for the WHOLE day!  Last night while laying in bed we decided to turn off our phones, and alarm clocks and sleep as late as we want too.  We BOTH got up around 10:00!  For my husband especially, that is so rare.  We felt a teeny tiny little bit guilty about not going to church!  I especially enjoy my Sunday School class and didn't really want to miss it, but we decided to just take a day today.  Normally, Sunday mornings are anything but relaxing because we leave early to set up the sound system at church and practice for worship.  We got out of our responsibilities at church for a few weeks so we decided to take advantage of our first Sunday off!  I guess it's ok as long as we don't make it a habit!

Part of the reason we were exhausted by today was this...

About a week ago, we found an old barn advertised on Craigslist for free.  We thought it would be a fun project and hopefully we could make some money by selling the wood and doors etc.  We're hoping to use the money to go on an anniversary trip in January or February!  I wouldn't say I'm totally regretting the decision to do this BUT.....oh my goodness, I am feeling muscles I never knew I had!  Brad and I were both so sore this morning and last night. 

Guess it's not something everyone would like to do, but Brad and I both love to get our hands dirty and the creative side of me sees all kinds of things I want him to do and make with all of this old wood!  Yesterday, when I finally sat to take a break, I asked Brad if he thinks we'll regret doing this.  It seemed like it was going to take forever and I'm the type to second guess myself pretty quickly.  I was thinking "Oh my...we're sore and achy and who knows if we will even make any money from this thing"!  Without missing a beat he said "I don't regret it at all....I'm having a blast"!  I have a feeling if I would ask him that today he would say the same thing, even though he wasn't feeling 16 anymore! : )

After reading the book "Wild at Heart" a few years ago...one thing that always stayed with me is "be part of your husbands adventure".  It makes him feel so loved when I'm right there by his side pounding nails out and "ripping down barns".  There were many other things I could've done yesterday, but I wouldn't have missed being there beside him.  Sore and achy as I am.."I don't regret it!  Not one bit!!!"

Kevin & Joy!!

A few weeks ago, the last of Brad's single siblings got married.  Kevin & Joy met online on a Christian dating site.  It's honestly amazing to me how God brings people together.  She is from waaayyyy over the "pond", Kenya, Africa, and he hails from the teeny little town of Ephrata.

My friends and I used to argue about the question "Does God have 1 perfect person in mind for you to marrry?"  Brad and I still discuss it.  He says there is not a doubt in his mind that I am the one and only for him.  I agree and know he is "the one" for me too. 

It makes any love story amazing.  Brad and I lived within miles of each other all of our lives even though it took a while to find each other!  Kevin & Joy know they were meant for each other and I think it's so neat that no matter how far apart geographically people are, God can still bring them together! 

Favorite Casserole

One of the things I was most scared about when I got married was the cooking.  The very idea of planning a meal every night was so intimidating to me and I was sure I would fail miserably at it!  I was much more of a "baker" growing up, and only when Mom went away would I attempt cooking.  My brothers and dad always seemed to be ok with and seemed to enjoy any cooking I did. Usually after the meal the conversation would go like this...

Me:  So what did you think

Guys:  It was good

Me: But did you like it

Guys:  It was good

Me: Should I make it again

Guys:  It was good

I am seriously laughing my head off as I type this!  It really didn't go like that but it kinda sorta did!  To them it was food and it was good.  That's all that mattered.  I could usually tell if they really liked it though.

Thennnnnnn I got married and thankfully, my husband is the world's most unpicky eater!  At least for hot cooked food that is.  Not so much a dessert man because he's not fond of fruit.  Any dessert with fruit in it is out of the question except apple pie.  He loves apple pie.  Do you have any idea how hard apple pie is to make?  I wouldn't know because I've never tried to make it, but the thought alone is intimidating!  Another very good thing about cooking for my husband is that after living on his own for 10 years and surviving on Burger King and Subway for supper and the occasional ring balogna and ice cream, he was thrilled to have a cook in the house.   I think he married me so I would cook for him!  Just kidding!  But he did hear my fears about cooking and pretty much shattered them....

I absolutely LOVE cooking for this man!  He loves anything I make and lets me know how much it means to him that I cook for him.  He loves when I try new things.  One day as he was leaving for work, I warned him that I don't know how supper is going to turn out because I'm gonna experiment and throw some things together.  He said "Go for it!  I can't wait to come home and see what you made".  I don't even remember what I made, but I do remember that it WAS good.  I really need to start writing my experiments down so I can make them again!  I love twisting recipes around and making them my own.  Bottom line...I pretty much love cooking.  Ok, I do get sick of coming up with meals all the time but the good thing is that Hubby loves leftovers too!  One meal lasts us 2 or 3 so basically I cook about 2 or 3 times a week!

I'm not really a casserole person but do love a few of them.  One of my friends brought this as a meal after one of my miscarriages and we both loved it.  I looked around in my cookbooks till I found a similar recipe and now I make it alot.  Not every week alot, but probably like every month!  I also make it for the old couple I take care of.  In fact I just made it today and that's what made me remember that I had wanted to blog about it.

I love when people post recipes with pictures.  I also love when people post simple recipes on blogs or facebook etc.  That's why I thought I would  put this on here.  It really is so simple and delicious...

6 Layer Casserole (taken from Weavertown Cookbook)

Start out by peeling a few potatoes.  I usually do about 5 potatoes and also whatever veggies I want.  I often use beans or peas instead of carrots.  For these pics I used carrots because that's what the recipe calls for!

While I'm peeling veggies, I also am frying the hamburger.  Don't ya just love being a woman and being able to multitask?!

The fun thing about this casserole is layering everything. Layer a bunch of potatoes, then the carrots and then some chopped onion. And another thing I LOVE is that you don't have to cook the veggies!

Then the hamburger, a sprinkle of pepper,

and then a layer of Velveeta cheese slices

After that use a can of cream of mushroom soup and put it over everything.  Then I also sprinkle some parsley on it.

Doesn't it look so pretty from the side?

Then cover it and pop it in the oven for 1 and 1/2 hours

Yummo....

Mine got a little burnt but we like it crispy!

Enjoy and keep it simple!

6 Layer Casserole

2Cups Potatoes

2Cups Carrots

1 medium onion, chopped

1 lb. ground beef, fried and drained

Velveeta Cheese slices

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

Layer ingredients in order given in a casserole dish.  Bake at 350* for 1 1/2 hours 

Weekend Getaway

I don't like when my husband works Saturdays.  I don't complain though because it's nice not having to stretch the paycheck as much.   Besides, he's making up for times this winter when work was slow.  He's usually home by 3 or so when he does work on Saturdays so it could be worse, but I still would rather have him home with me!

So a few weeks ago, on a Saturday, when my husband was at work, my doorbell rang and there was this sweet old man handing me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  I ripped open the note...

I was so thrilled!  I had always thought it was soooo romantic when a husband did this kind of thing for his wife and now my husband was doing it for me.  Totally out of the blue. 

This is my puzzled face.  Definitely not a mad face although looking at it now, I think I look a bit irritated.  But for real, I was puzzled and tickled!

We headed out and made some stops along the way.  One of them to MacDonald's to chill with a mocha frappe....mmmmm.  Then we had to fill our tire with air.  I sat in the car and sipped my frappe while hubby dear did his manly duty and made our chariot ready.

My hubby was determined to keep our destination a secret as long as possible and kept his mouth shut even in the face of true adversity!  As soon as we headed east, I assumed we were headed to Philadelphia or somewhere around there.  It doesn't get much more "east" than that unless you want to drive for a few hours and head northeast or southeast.  Ok..I'm getting off track...We did end up in Philly.  Brad reserved an executive suite at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. 

Brad said that it actually wasn't as great as the website made it seem, but we did have a lovely room!  The executive part meant that we had full access to a 24 hour snack bar on that floor.  We did help ourselves to some goodies and then got bagels and fruit there in the morning for breakfast.

It was such a lovely weekend of refreshment and just enjoying each other.  We watched movies and talked and laughed and dreamed and just enjoyed being together. 

I never dreamed married life could be this good.  It feels so good to have someone love me unconditionally and who challenges me to be my very best.  He shows me in sooo many ways that he loves me.  He empties the dishwasher every morning if it is full.  He tells me every day that I am the most beautiful woman in the world.  He listens when I pour out my heart and holds me when I cry.  He makes me talk when something is bothering me.  He tells me every day that he loves me! 

I am so glad the honeymoon stage doesn't have to end!

I love you babe! : )