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December 20, 2015

Sunday Mass: 4th Sunday Of Advent

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent

Today's Bible Readings:

  • First Reading: Micah 5:1-4
  • Responsorial Psalm: PS 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
  • Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Gospel: Luke 1:39-35















Video of today's Mass:


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December 17, 2015

Beginning To Look Like Christmas

Christmas presents are still arriving daily and will continue to arrive until Wednesday of next week. Yes I know that's already the 23rd of December, but we got a late start on the shopping. -- thank goodness there is still time to have things arrived before Christmas.

We have never been ones to go extremely overboard with Christmas presents, but this year we decided to keep our out of pocket to a minimal and fund Christmas with ALTERNATIVE methods. With Swagbuck, Ibotta, and the reward system (point system) that my husband's employer offers we have only spent to date $15 out of pocket and will most likely spend about $30 more out of pocket. Making the total out of pocket expense around $45 -- $50 at most

I can't disclosed what I have bought for the kids, mainly because they have social media accounts these days and might see it, but I can tell you what we got them has a retail value of $100 each. So that's $200 for the kids.

Then we bought for 7 nieces and nephews. Each of those gifts have a retail value of about $15.  So that's another $105 dollars. I won't disclose what we bought for the same reasons as the kids. Well not all of the nieces and nephews have social media, but the parents do.

Grandparents, 3 sets, gifts have about $15 dollar value each as well.  So that's another $45.

So add it up:

200 + 105 + 45 = $350.  And knowing that out of that $350 only $50 max is our total out of pocket is pretty cool!!

Now, that we are just over a week away from Christmas and Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent we decided it was time to decorate the house for Christmas. We took out the Christmas decorations. Not much -- several years ago we got a new living room set that limited our space for Christmas decorating. So we just put up a tinsel tree, stockings, small nativity set in the living room and a red table cloth on the table and Santa hats on the chairs in the kitchen.

I think next year we might go with a more traditional tree even if it's a small tree. I have been batting around some ideas in my head on how to make a Advent/Christmas tree.  -- One tree that serves for BOTH seasons. In years passed we have done a Jesse Tree -- so it will be a tie in to that. I dare not say more. I don't want my ideas swiped by other people.  -- Swiper No Swiping -- HAHA that was throw back to our Dora days!!!

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December 9, 2015

Baking Bread

Baking Bread....Yum, Yum 
Yesterday, on my Facebook page I mentioned how my daughter wanted to make bread, because she loves bread, but after looking over the recipe decided not to do it and ask that I help her.  I agreed I would help her this morning.

Lisa from Chickens, Bunnies and Homeschool saw my Facebook post and was kind enough to share here bread recipe with us.

We this morning followed her recipe and were happy with the results. Thanks Lisa for helping us out!

Check Lisa's recipe out! One Hour Bread Rolls 

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December 8, 2015

Ringworm

It happens, I think everyone at some point has to deal with ringworm.  We have a case of it here.  We suspect we picked it up from the dogs -- not sure where the dogs picked it up from -- but it happens.

We were using over the counter meds for it, and thought we had it all cleared up. Several week went by with no skin rash or signs of ringworm. However, we really didn't get rid of it. Noticed yesterday a spot had return in the same exact location. So we scheduled an appointment with the doctor.  Looked at it and said yep ringworm and because you attempted to cure it with over the counter meds and were not successful we will give you a script for it.

Now to check the dogs again for active ringworm spots and then decided if I should go to the vet and get meds for them too or just treat it with something over the counter like coconut oil.  I wouldn't just treat your dogs with coconut oil for this or anything else without reading many reliable sources on the matter.

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December 7, 2015

Hometown Christmas

This weekend was my town's Christmas Walk and Celebration. The downtown area had many holiday events.  We attended a few over the weekend.

Saturday morning as the pancake breakfast. We spent the morning serving pancakes, sausage, and busting tables.

After the breakfast we went home for a little nap. Then we went to the local Methodist Church for a Chili dinner followed by some window shopping at the different stores and watching the lighted Christmas Parade.

Sunday Morning we went to church followed by an afternoon at the local library listening to Christmas Music and eating chocolate and other sugary treats.

I, on a whim, decided to periscope the lighted Christmas parade. Below is the video of the event.



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