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!