Celebrating the 'Reason for the Season' - Advent Scripture Chain

I found this terrific free printable for an 'Advent Scripture Chain' over at the Flanders Family Home Life blog.

I printed off several sets to give away and, of course, one for myself. I thought you might enjoy printing one off, too! 

There are two printing choices to choose from...to print on one- or two-colors of paper or to print on three-colors. I chose to print on three colors...red, yellow, and green. I think blue and white would be pretty, too!

After printing, I pinned the cover sheet to the curtains next to the Christmas tree in the kitchen. That way it is handy, but up high enough that little hands can't reach the paper strips.

I coiled the end of the chain up on top of and around the top two levels of my three-tiered tea tray where I display my vintage cookie cutters. They won't be concealed for long, as the Christmas season will pass all too quickly. 

I hope you enjoy this pretty printable that helps us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

(#82 in today's lineup over at Grammy's Grid's 'Unlimited Link Party #140' and featured at 'Grammy's Grid's 'Unlimited Link Party #141')

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Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 27, 2023

It's the last Monday of November and, despite the fact that I just spent an absolutely lovely Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends, I find that holiday depression is seeking hard to gain a foothold. It started as soon as the last of the company left yesterday afternoon.

The whole world is in a flux it seems and things can look pretty bleak sometimes in the natural. To combat it, I must puposefully remember the 'Reason for the Season' and keep my heart and mind centered on Jesus and His coming throughout the month of December.  

Despite loss and trials and all the other not-so-pleasant stuff that comes with life, I have so much to be thankful for and I know it. God is so incredibly good to me and I am blessed beyond measure! I praise the Lord and thank Him for everything!

Let's get on with to today's post...shall we?

This week's master 'to-do' list...

- clean house

- do laundry

- clean the fridge

- figure December budget and bills

- winterize last two windows on the inside

- get outside Christmas lights up

- figure out what I'm doing for Family Christmas (it's coming up in less than two weeks!)

- Wish granddaughter, Alysia, a Happy Birthday 

- Change the calendar pages

- work

This week's menu plan...

- Monday - Homemade pizza

- Tuesday - Turkey burger, cheesy rice, and brussel sprouts

- Wednesday - Broiled salmon, canned potatoes, beets, and biscuits

- Thursday - Stuffed pepper casserole

- Friday - Chili dog with chips

- Saturday - Vegetable soup with crackers

- Sunday - Leftovers

That's it for today! I hope your Monday is going well and that you have a great week ahead!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 20, 2023

Let The Christmas Season Officially Begin!

It's Friday night and I just got finished decorating for Christmas (indoors that is...I still have to put the outside lights up).

This year, I decided to do the tree in the kitchen in blue and silver.

The tree in my bedroom is the usual pink and white Victorian.

Additionally, I put a couple of tiny trees up in the livingroom and colored lights around the perimeter of the sunroom. 

I'm keeping things a bit simpler by not putting up the big tree in the Van Gogh room again this year, nor my mother's vintage tree that sometimes goes up in the livingroom. 

When does the Christmas season officially begin for you? When do you put up your Christmas decorations?

Have a lovely weekend!

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Recipe: Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Casserole

Thanksgiving Eve

It's Thanksgiving Eve and I've been working in the kitchen since getting out of bed this morning and, I must say, I've enjoyed every single moment of it!

Since I'm notorious for losing stray hairs here, there, and yonder, first thing I did (and in true lunch-lady fashion!) I pinned my hair up and put on a hair net. That is something I've never done before when working in my own kitchen, but I'm glad I did! I didn't have to worry about it after that. The whole time, though, I kept thinking, "What if someone shows up unexpectedly?" I looked liked a peeled and netted onion!!! Ha-ha! BUT...no one did, and now it's off, so all is well! 😆 

At this point, I've baked two loaves of French bread, made two pumpkin rolls, have two pies baked, two pies in the oven, and three pies waiting to be baked. The 'Heavenly Corn' is put together in the crockpot and is waiting in the fridge to be set out and turned on low first thing in the morning. The turkey is out of the fridge and sitting in a sink of cold water to finish thawing before being popped in the oven just before going to bed tonight. 

Now it's time to grab a bite of lunch, then sit back and rest while waiting for company to arrive from Kansas City. 

What about you? How are you spending your Thanksgiving? Are you cooking? Or are traveling? What are most thankful for today?

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 20, 2023

It's the Monday before Thanksgiving and plans for the holidays have changed a half-dozen times at least. In the end, though, it has been decided that, instead of the usual me-going-to-Kansas-City-around-Thanksgiving, Amanda and her family will come down here, instead, and I will go up and spend a few days with them during the Christmas season (which is something that I've never done). We will all be gathering at Patrick and Amber's house to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

What about you and your family? Will you be hosting a get-together at your home? Or will you be spending Thanksgiving Day with family and friends elsewhere? Wherever, and with whoever, you spend it, I'm wishing you and yours the best and most blessed Thanksgiving ever! 

The truth is, there's a lot of darkness out there right now and times are tough, but, no matter who we are...or where we are...we have so much to be thankful for! The very breath in our lungs testifies to the goodness of God! His mercy endureth forever!

Since it's a busy week with much work to do ahead, I'm going to just going to delve right on into today's post. Shall we get started?

This week's master 'to do' list...

- clean house
- do laundry
- prepare beds and bedding for overnight company
- grocery shop
- bake bread
- make my contributions to Thankgiving dinner (bake a turkey, make heavenly corn, pumpkin pies, and a couple of pumpkin rolls)

- celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends

- start thinking about my Christmas 2023 Bucket List
- work

- decorate for Christmas

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Fish sandwich and oven fries
Tuesday - Guatemalan Red Beans and Rice
Wednesday - Tortellini with Creamy Tomato Sauce and garlic bread
Thursday - Thanksgiving dinner with the fam
Friday - Leftovers from yesterday
Saturday - Turkey Italian sausage with fried cabbage and baked potato
Sunday - Leftovers

That's all for today. I hope your Monday is going well and that you and your family have an absolutely beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving week!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

(#40 in Grammy's Grid's 'Unlimited Link Party #139 today)

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Recipe: Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Casserole

A friend is looking for a broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole recipe to make for Thanksgiving. I told her I'd share mine when I got home from work. Since I was going to type it up anyway, I thought I'd go ahead and share it here in case anyone else would like to have it, too! 

Stock Photo

BROCCOLI, CHEESE, AND RICE CASSEROLE

2 packages frozen broccoli florets

1 cup uncooked Minute Rice

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 onion, chopped

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup milk

Cook broccoli as directed; drain. Saute' onion in butter. Mix all ingredients together and spread in casserole dish that has been sprayed with pan spray. Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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An Improptu Trip To Branson

As part of an upcoming wedding celebration the kids were invited to meet friends from Arkansas for supper in Branson last night. Details weren't ironed out until yesterday morning and I was invited to ride along and hang out if I wanted to. 

Of course I wanted to! I love Branson and hadn't visited since John and I made our last trip together in 2018, but I had a couple of things that needed to be rescheduled in order to go. Well, I swung into full gear, got things rearranged in a hurry, and off I went!

While in Branson we stopped at the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area and walked the Dewey Bald Trail. The kids climbed the 40-foot viewing tower that is located at the top.

We drove the 76 Strip...

...caught the sunset over Table Rock...

...enjoyed supper at Cracker Barrel with a whole host of lovely young people (who chose to 'dress up' just for fun!)...

...and, afterwards, before leaving town, decided to drive Shepherd of the Hill's 'Trail of Lights'. It was all so lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

We did all that and still managed to get home at a reasonable hour. What a totally fun and unexpected mid-week trip! 

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - November 13, 2023

I took a few moments this morning to stand on the back porch and watch leaves falling like rain in the backyard. It was so beautiful!

How was your weekend? Mine here was jam-packed...but great! 

I worked on Friday; early Saturday morning, I rode up home with Patrick and Amber, and their family, where Patrick had a chess tournament that day and Amanda and Aaron were having a double-birthday party for their girls that same evening. 

The chess tournament that Patrick was playing in was in a hotel next to Bass Pro in Independence. The area was absolutely lovely! There was a little lake and a walking trail right behind (and between) the two businesses that connected them.

Audrey and I took the two younger girls with us and walked part of the lake trail and visited Bass Pro...which was gorgeous! (I have visited the Bass Pro in Springfield many times, but none of these businesses were there when we lived in the area, so all of this area was new to me.)

Later in the day, Buddy and Christy and their family met us at Bass Pro. 

We left from there to head to North Kansas City to the birthday party where we met even more family.

We had a long day and a late night, but it was worth every moment of it! What a great day!

Now, here we are! It's Monday and the day is getting away from me...again! Let's get started...shall we?
 

This week's master 'to-do' list...

- Clean house

- Do laundry

- Remove, soak, and unclog my shower head

- Straighten the Van Gogh room up and make it company ready

- Present a program on wild turkeys at the local library

- Figure mid-month budget and go to the bank

- Solidify Thanksgiving plans

- Work

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Turkey Italian sausage with fried cabbage (freezer), baked potato, and oven-roasted baby carrots

Tuesday - Chili dog and oven fries

Wednesday - Lentil rice casserole with baby carrots and dip (change of plans - Chicken Chowder and Good Earth Rolls)

Thursday - Oven-roasted chicken, baked potato, and corn-on-the-cob

Friday - Turkey burger and chips

Saturday - Fish sandwich and oven fries

Sunday - Leftovers

Well, that's it for today! I hope you're having a nice Monday and that your week is off to a great start! 

Until next time,

~Rebecca

(#49 in this week's lineup over at Grammy's Grid's 'Unlimited Link Party #138')

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