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JDaniel4s Mom

growing & learning with him

Deirdre Smith writes/owns JDaniel4’s Mom. After twenty years as a elementary school and technology resource teacher in Northern Virginia, she became a stay at home mom in upstate South Carolina. Her blog features ways she and her 5 year old are exploring learning, crafting, creating healthy meals and living life to its fullest. Deirdre can also be found on twitter as @jdaniel4smom and on her blog's FB page. You can also check her out on Google+.

Bumpy Start to Christmas with a Great Ending

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It really looked like it was going to be rough Christmas. My dad called to say that he had driven down from Virginia, but was spending the night before Christmas in a hotel. He had been sick all day and was worried he would keep up us. I wondered on Christmas Day would he still be sick. (I said a prayer for his health.) My husband was a little late in going to pick up my mom for Christmas dinner because one of the toilets was plugged up. (I prayed the plumbing won’t back up again.)I called my mom to tell her we were a little behind in coming together and she told me she was exhausted due to not sleeping all night. (I prayed she would enjoy her time with us.)When she got here I let the kitchen towel my mom had used to cover her corn casserole get to close to a burner and it got burnt. Thankfully the exhaust fan was already on and no one smelled the smoke. I was able to put out the small flame by running it under water. (I prayed I won’t burn anything else.)

Christmas lunch was supposed to be at 11:30. It had to be moved to 12:00. By then everything was on the table and ready to go. My family was in good spirits. Everyone got seconds of the things they liked best. It was a great ending to an interesting morning.

Jesus Lives Devotional Guide Review and Giveaway

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In the next week you will be making resolutions for the next year. Some of you may resolve to spend more time with God and seek out a good devotional guide. I have been reading Jesus Lives by Sarah Young during the month on December. It is a wonderful little book of almost a half a year’s worth of thoughts based on scripture. Sarah Young has written very practical pieces that address everyday struggles for Christians. Each piece is written as if God is speaking directly to you about the ways He will guide you through those struggles. Along with a devotional piece there are three or four scriptures that further illustrate and support it. Each devotional piece has a theme and most of the themes are repeated throughout the book. You could go through this book in order or by theme if you desire.

I have read a number of devotional books. Some were sweet and tender thoughts about God. Some were written in very intellectual prose. Jesus Lives is tender in some places, but very really and challenging in others. I have been drawn back to reread some of the devotions over and over again. They have really made me think about my relationship with God and how I live my life. If you are looking to grow in your daily walk with God, this would be great book to use.

Here is a sample of one passage on trails: “…The best way to lay your problems down is: Bring them to Me. Unburden yourself by pouring your heart to Me, for I am your Refuge. As you release your woes to Me (even temporarily), your vision improves and you can see me more clearly. Linger with Me while My Light shines powerfully into your heart…”(taken from p. 12 of Jesus Lives)

I have really enjoyed spending time reading Jesus Lives this month and would love to pass on this special book to one of you.

How can I win it?
*Tell me how you plan to use the book if you win it. (1 entry)

For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

*Write about this giveaway with a link back to it on Facebook or another social network site. (1 entry)

*Follow my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you now follow or that you already do. (1 entry)

* Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: JesusLivesGiveaway@JDaniel4smom.(1 entry per day)

* Subscribe to my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Add me to your blogroll. Please leave a link to your site.(3 entries)

*Add my button to your blog. Please leave a link to your site.(3 entries)

*Favorite me in Technorati! (10 entries)

That is 8 ways to win. The winner will be chosen by using the random number generator at http://www.random.org/.

This giveaway begins December 27th and ends January 8th at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Christmas Quote and Message

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When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
~ Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian

Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend! This weekend I will be enjoying time with family and friends. I hope your will too.

Lessons Taken From Books- Christmas Day in the Morning

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Christmas Day in the Morning is a beautiful book by Pearl Buck with gorgeous illustrations by Mark Buehner. The story takes place on a dairy farm. A boy named Rob and his father have to get up early every morning to milk the cows. One morning he overhears his father tell his mother he wishes he could let Rob sleep in. This tells Rob how much his father loves him. The boy decides he want to do something special for his dad for Christmas. Rob decides that if he gets up early and milks the cows, his father will get time to rest. That is exactly what he does and in doing so he gives his dad the best gift of all his love.

What can you do to show the ones that you love how much your care between now and the New Year?

Snowman Slippers Giveaway

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I came across these cute snowman slippers for a baby 0-6 months old. I have a taken a number of pictures and none of them came out the way I wanted them too. Just know they are cuter than they look in this picture.

This giveaway begins December 23th and ends January 4th at 11:59 p.m.

What do you need to do to get them?

-Tell me who would get these slippers. (1 entry)

For extra entries do any or all of the following leaving a separate comment for each entry.

*Write about this giveaway with a link back to it on Facebook or another social network site. (1 entry)

*Follow my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you now follow or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Twitter about this giveaway with a link back, you must also be following me on Twitter. Copy and paste: SnowmanSlipperGiveaway@JDaniel4smom.(1 entry per day)

*Subscribe to my blog. Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed or that you already do. (1 entry)

*Add me to your blogroll. Please leave a link to your site.(3 entries)

*Add my button to your blog. Please leave a link to your site.(3 entries)

*Favorite me in Technorati! (7 entries)

That is 8 ways to win. The winner will be chosen by using the random number generator at http://www.random.org/.

Snickerdoodle Chex® Mix for the Neighbors

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This year I decided to make Snickerdoodle Chex® Mix to pass out to the neighbors for Christmas. It turned out really well. I hope they all enjoy it.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

•1/4 cup sugar

•1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

•2 cups Cinnamon Chex® cereal

•2 cups Chocolate Chex® cereal (I couldn’t find the Chocolate Chex®. I used Coco Puff instead.)

•4 cups popped popcorn

•1/4 cup butter or margarine

Directions

1.In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals and popcorn.

2.In 1-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

3.Microwave uncovered on High 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture evenly over cereal mixture; stir. Sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer.

4.Spread on waxed paper or paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Stocking Swap- My Treasure Trove of Gifts

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I participated in the MommyMandy & Rockin’ Mama’s Stocking Swap 2009. My Secret Stocking box arrived on Friday filled with a treasure trove of Christmas related items from One Frustrated Mama . She sent cookie cutters that I can use of Muffin Tin Muffin ( JDaniel took out each cookie cutter and wanted to know what each one was. We spent twenty minutes looking at the cookie cutters). There was also a snowman hand towel (It is now hanging in my guest bathroom.), miniature tree ornaments (I don’t know how she knew we were going to use a miniature tree this year.), two wooden ornaments JDaniel can decorate, a holiday notepad and note cards, a stocking, a nutcracker ornament, hand lotion and a giant Hershey bar (My husband has his eyes on the chocolate bar.) She has an awesome site. Please stop by it and take a look. She could also use your prayers her husband has had health problems lately.

I sent treats to Kimberly Bacak of Oh My Baby. I had a lot of fun selecting treasures to send to her.

The Shepherds are on the Move

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One of the ladies in my mom’s group at church shared this wonderful activity that she did with her children when they were little. She would set up her nativity scene minus the shepherds. The shepherds would start their journey to the stable far away from the nativity scene somewhere else in the house. Each day the shepherds would appear in a new location in her home closer to the nativity scene. They would move closer and closer until they appeared in the nativity on Christmas Eve.

This activity could be started at any point leading up to Christmas. It won’t be to late start it this week. I am going to try it with JDaniel. It will be fun to search the house and look for the shepherds.

Muffin Tin Monday-Christmas

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I have really enjoyed reading the postings in December by other Muffin Tin Moms that involved decorating part of your meal. I decided to create a decorate your meal muffin tin for JDaniel. He wasn’t interested in creating though. He was really interested in eating what was in his tin!

The meal was made up of flat bread Christmas trees, cheese and carrot garland strips, ornaments of sausage circles, peas and peaches.

When he had inhaled the contents of his tin, he glanced to the top of the china cabinet, and pointed to the tin of his Aunt Kate’s cookies. “Cookie please,” he said. (He should have been full. I guess he is like all of us and has room for Christmas goodies.)

Here is what her cookies looked like.

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