Christmas and Camp

December 25
Christmas was a whirlwind of family activities. We had such a great day. We did make a trip to the airport to pick up sister and J. They flew in from his parents house in South Carolina. While waiting for them, we watched the other families find and greet their loved ones. It was a great reminder of just how blessed we are.

December 27
Winter Camp
We left our church parking lot at 6:30a.m. and headed to Wolf Ridge, North Carolina. We had such a great trip. Most of our crew had never done any sort of skiing or snow boarding before. We definitely had a lot of laughs... at others expense. The best part was that we all busted and embarrassed ourselves that it didn't matter. My best bust was not coming down a huge slope, but simply trying to get on the conveyor belt to get to the top of the bunny hill. I really could have just walked up it and in hindsight I should have. I was definitely humbled.

This was a wonderful trip. To get away in the gorgeous mountains, to look around and see everything covered in snow, snow ball fights, sweet busts, victoriously making it down the mountain, wonderful worship times, great challenges from the word, late night talks in family groups, hours of togetherness in the rented vans, countless funny stories, dealing with high school drama....it was all well worth the little sleep, countless planning hours, and all the hard work that was put into this.

D and I were talking and decided we have the best job in the world....well, he does, I just get to tag along.We get to go to all kinds of fun places and hang out with some pretty awesome teenagers. Hearing their positive feedback and their desire to want to grow in their relationship with the Lord is so worth it all.

We are so grateful for the opportunities that God has given us in youth ministry!
To God alone be the glory!

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve

I'm now on day #2 of Christmas break and am enjoying every minute of it. I have been able to sleep late... and by that I mean I haven't been setting my alarm. Don't worry I was wide awake at 7:50 yesterday. I guess I should be appreciative. I'm normally up around 6:00.

I remember the days where I could easily sleep until lunch. Those days are long gone. Getting up early has proven to be not so bad after all. Yesterday I had my coffee, breakfast, quiet time, watched 2 DVR-ed shows, cleaned out 2 closets, vacuumed the upstairs, ran on the treadmill, showered and dressed all before lunch. Don't worry though. I did relax. I had El Nopal with one of my long, lost Texans, then pedicures, then a nap.

"Pick your color." Is such a hard thing for me. I can never decide. However yesterday it was a no brainer. I'm tired of using the same colors over and over so I branched out. Sorry, mom. I know you probably hate it, but its winter and no one will really see my feet. I'm loving it though.

Here are a few pictures of the closet cleaning process. For those of you who know us.... you know our home is normally very neat....remember I live with an adorable Mr. Clean. Well, I opened the door to this closet and realized we had a "Monica closet." (Gasp here....)

This is all the junk now out of the closet as I attempt to reorganize.







Done. Gift bags and boxes on top. Random decor on shelves. Tissue paper and little boxes in baskets on the floor. The container under the baskets is filled with random gifts that are ready to be wrapped and given away.

Today's agenda is to begin packing for our ski trip. How do you pack for a ski trip in a normal suitcase?! Everything you need for snow is huge and puffy! Maybe I'll think it over while I go to the movies with a friend and then shopping. Yep, I think that'll help. Christmas break.... I heart you.

2 for 2 Try it Tuesday

Here are 2 of my favorite recipes. I chose these recipes because I just so happen to make this breakfast casserole this morning for a co-workers birthday and then I'm making this cake tonight for a family Christmas gathering. Several of you have asked about these recipes and since they were fresh on my mind I thought I would share. These are 2 very delicious, but very easy recipes that your friends and family are sure to love.

Sorority Breakfast Casserole
(My all time favorite breakfast casserole!)

1 loaf of sliced Italian bread
1/2 stick of butter
1 lb. of sausage
3/4 cup of sharp cheddar
3/4 cup of mild cheddar
6 eggs
2 cups of half and half
1 tsp of dry mustard
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of pepper

*Butter both sides of Italian bread. Lay in a a greased 9x13 pan.
*Brown sausage. Sprinkle over Italian bread.
*Mix remaining ingredients. Pour over sausage.
*Refrigerate overnight.
*Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.





Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

1- box of yellow cake mix
1- 4 oz. box of instant choc. pudding mix
3/4 cup of oil
3/4 cup of water
4 eggs
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup of semi-sweet choc. chips

*Mix together all ingredients.
*Pour into a greased bundt pan.
*Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

With heartfelt words I say...

This new background is dedicated to my haters. Those would be my very vocal sisters who think that pink, lime green, teal, and purple are not cute colors for Christmas. True they are not traditional, but boy do I love them. All I have to say to you is, Kiss It!

Saturday

Saturday was an exciting day for the Jerkins. First, D performed his first wedding. He did an amazing job. I knew he would though. He is truly a natural. I love to see people in their element... using their specific God given talents. Preaching, teaching, hitching... yea... its his element for sure.

Then that night we had our annual Burbee/Jerkins Christmas party. My dad fixed his famous french toast. It is amazing! 45 slices of french toast, 4 lbs. of bacon, and 2 bottles of syrup later we were all stuffed! His french toast is seriously my favorite food of all time.

The boys watched football and us girls played some games. We did a gift swap. Every lady was to bring a Christmas decoration of some kind that was $10 or less. This was genius because we all ended up with a new cute decoration for our home. Then we played a game I had bought awhile back. Its called, "What's Yours Like?" I know it sounds shady, but its really not. One person is the "guesser" and everyone else looks at one card. The card for example may say, "Spouse." Everyone then goes around and honestly describes "theirs." I said, "Mine is athletic." Jules said her was, "funny." So we go around the group and everyone describes theirs without giving too much away. The object is for the guesser to guess what the "thing" is with the least amount of clues. So once, the guesser guesses, they mark how many guesses it took and then it is the next person's turn to be the guesser. I highly recommend it!

It's been a fun, crazy Christmas season for us. This past Saturday was a great way to start our Christmas week.... a good wedding, good food, and great family time!

Christmas Happies

My friend, Melissa, was talking the other day about what she does for her neighbors for Christmas. I truly believe we have a great ministry opportunity with our neighbors. I try and get them a little "happy" every season. I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for them for this Christmas. My friend Rhonda began telling me about this idea she saw on this site. Though its cheesy...wait I'm a jr. kindergarten teacher...cheese is my middle name.... so once I saw this idea I was so on board.

So these were the "happies" my neighbors received... Sprite and Oreo Truffles.



Then our youth and recreation committee members got dipped twizzlers rolled in sprinkles. (I forgot to take a picture of those, but they were suuuuper cute and easy!)
I didn't attach the note, but I did tell them, "Twizz the season to be jolly."

This is the idea except I used white almond bark and lots of colored sprinkles. I bundled them in groups of 5 and put them in cute little clear bags. I convinced Mom to tie cute little tulle bows as the finishing touch.



When I told D about all of this, he just laughed. Then he realized I was serious. He just smiled and shook his head at his very kindergarten-y kindergarten teacher wife.

Regardless of the cheese, my happies turned out adorable and the recipients loved them. I think its important to do a little something for the people that mean a lot to you... or people like your neighbors whom you may not even know. You don't have to spend a lot of money to show them that you care. Its a great way to show God's love in a practical way. Although you may choose to do something less cheesy... I like to think that anything is better than nothing.

Youth Ministry

There is no doubt in my mind that I married a preacher. However, right now he is a preaching youth minister. And we. love. it. Michelle just posted these pictured from a tailgate party we had a couple of months ago and it reminded me how blessed we are to be apart of such a great ministry. We love these kids. We love hanging out with them, teaching them, laughing with them.... and at them sometimes... youth ministry is just plain fun.

Here are those crazy eyes I was talking about...despite that... here's my T. I heart her.

No idea....

Much better... love these girls!

Candy Makin'

For as long as I can remember my grandmother has made delicious candy around Christmas time. Peanut brittle, peanut butter balls, white trash, fudge, peanut butter fudge.... I could go on and on. The last several years we have taken some time out of the craziness of the season to go and spend a few hours helping her.... and by helping I mean we end up eating our weight in the the already made candy she has out.

Thankfully over the years we have learned a thing or two from our very domestic Granny. D is very appreciative. I have really come to love and enjoy cooking and baking. I know it all began with her. I by no means have perfected the art, but I do love making a mess in the kitchen.

Last night was our candy makin' night. And boy did we. There were a couple of batches of peanut brittle, choc. covered peanut brittle, peanut butter fudge, peanut butter balls, and oreo truffles. This is always a fun time to spend with the ladies I love so much. My sister always provides enough entertainment to keep us laughing. Most of which comes at my expense.... Not to mention she almost scalded my hand off. I guess I'll forgive her.

Try it Tuesday

If you're looking for an easy breakfast to fix Christmas morning that will make your whole house smell like Christmas then look no further!

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Danish

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup of chopped pecans
  

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Press one can of the crescent rolls into the bottom of the prepared pan.

In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread over the crescent layer.

Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and lay them on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not press down.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, cinnamon, melted margarine, and pecans. Pour over the entire pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is crisp and golden.


I have never been a cream cheese danish fan....until now. This is fantastic. I made this Saturday and was not disappointed!

One Year Bible

At the beginning of the year I told you that we were challenging our youth (and ourselves) with the One Year Bible. Now I will admit there have been days that I have missed, but overall I am so glad I accepted this challenge...not only for this year, but after seeing how do-able this is, I plan to do it every year now. This is an easy way to stay in the word. Everything is laid out for you. If you're looking for a good one, I do recommend this one. Its an easy read. Some prefer the chronological bible. I may do that one time, but if you're just trying to get your feet wet this is the one to do. It gives you old testament, new testament, psalms, and proverbs every day. Its also the New Living Translation. I have seriously loved it!

We have come to Revelation now. A book that I'll be honest enough to say I've never desired to jump right into. Today's reading, though I've read it before, literally sent chills up my arms.

Revelation 4:8-11

"Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty -- the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come."

9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created."

Christmas Favorites

Ashley gave me a great idea. She began posting about her favorite Christmas things. Christmas is my favorite time of year so I have a ton of favorites!

10. Our tree. I love it. We bought it with Macy's credit our first Christmas. I love the decorations even though D claims that the lime green, hot pink, purple, and teal ornaments are not Christmas-y. I respond, "Who cares they're so cute!" We seriously have this same conversation every year. And now thanks to Michelle I will have 2 of these ornaments. D's exact words when I put this on the tree, "That seriously makes me throw up a little."

9. Our fireplace. Though its not really a Christmas thing, I think it should still fall under this category. I love coming home and turning everything on including the fireplace. I feel like it completes the Christmas ambiance.

8. Christmas on the River. Thank you 104.5 for being our official Christmas station. Even though D has a love/hate relationship with you, I will always listen to your non-stop Christmas music. You really are in the background for all my Christmas baking and shopping.

7. Shopping. I loooooove Christmas shopping. I love searching for the right gifts for the people I love. And thankfully this year I got a great jump start.


6. Peppermint Mocha. Starbucks you really did create for me Christmas in a cup.

5. My table centerpiece. Its simply a gorgeous, unique glass bowl that we got for a wedding gift filled with dull, shiny, and glittery ornaments of every color (yes lime green, pink, teal, and purple are in there too!)

4. Christmas card holder. Julsie gave me the idea. String a strand of white lights around a door frame. We chose our back door because its in a central location. Then we take clothe pins and use them to clip our Christmas cards to the strands of lights. I guess you could use any time of clip, but those were cheap so that's what we chose.

3. Christmas lights. I love looking at Christmas lights. We grew up having pajama rides during Christmas time. Pajamas, blankets, hot chocolate, warm van, Christmas music on the radio and Christmas lights. Such a fun tradition. We still do it just not in pajamas. In fact we crammed all four of us (Kacie, Jeremy, D and I) into the backseat of mom's explorer one year. Good times.

2. Family. I love my family. Both sides...a ton. I will admit with busy schedules I wish we could see everyone more often, but Christmas time especially makes me love them more. Shopping for them, baking for them, and of course our annual Burbee/Jerkins Christmas Party is quickly upon us.

1. I have 3 "things" that are ranking as my number 1 favorite purchase of this season.

1a. Target Dollar Spot wrapping paper. I love the size and the price. I will never buy normal paper ever again!

1b. Tulle. I bought this rather than ribbon and it definitely makes my packages pop. Its easy to tie and has now become one of my must haves for preparing for Christmas. I coordinated my lime green tulle with my red paper. The tulle really does pop.

1c. My Scentsy warmer. Though I can use it all year round, I currently have the scent Christmas Cottage melting away. My house seriously smells like a sweet, cinnamon-y Christmas. Even my Scrooge said it was his favorite thing I've bought.