I'm sitting here drinking my morning coffee. It's another cold day. I think I look pretty silly. I'm in my Christmas pajama pants, a sweatshirt, and a scarf! LOL! I put the scarf on when I took the kids to school and it's just so warm, I didn't take it off:) I love scarves.

Anyway...back to my coffee....I love coffee. I love it iced, hot, or warm. I also will drink it black...preferably if I have something sweet to eat it with. I also love having creamer in it. My hubbys' favorite creamer is vanilla. I will try any creamer. Right now I have vanilla spiced rum. However, this morning I wanted some vanilla and there was only a tiny splash left...I wanted more. So I got some milk and vanilla extract and poured it in a cup and mixed it together. It turned out pretty good.

Then, while I was holding my little jar of vanilla I remembered I found a recipe for homemade vanilla extract on one of the other blogs I read. I thought it was a great idea and I think I'm going to try it out. Vanilla extract is pretty spendy....especially if you get the natural kind.

So here it is...from http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/:

6 Vanilla Beans

6 (4 oz jars)

24 oz. vodka

"I purchased the vanilla beans and recycled glass cork top bottles from Mountain Rose Herbs. The vanilla beans are sold by the 1 oz (which is 6-9 beans) for $9.00, making it about $1-1.50 per bean. The jars were $1.60 each. I purchased the vodka at my local liquor store for $10 for 750 ml (which I figured out is about 26 oz). So you are looking at less than $5 per 4 oz jar, compared to easily double that amount at your local health food store. And with reusable glass jars, you can save even more with future batches (if you are making it for yourself, that is). The beans smelled fabulous! I cut them down the center with scissors and then into 2 inch pieces and put them in the jars. I then filled each jar with vodka and put the top on! That’s it! You must steep them for 8 weeks. Once you have used half the jar, you can refill the jar to the top with more vodka to stretch it even more! Make sure to make a note of this when you send it for gifts. You can also save room to sweeten with a 3/4 tsp of rum per bottle after it has steeped."

Hope you enjoy this recipe. I'll try to start working on it soon and let you know how it turns out. I bet you'll like the blog "passionate homemaking" as well. She has lots of interesting things on there.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4

Rudolph is coming on t.v. tonight...I remember when I was a kid and couldn't wait till the annual Christmas movies would be aired on t.v. This is one of my favorite childhood Christmas movies. There are soooo many others, I can't name them all. My hubby and I did count the amount of Christmas movies the other night....we have 26!! We still don't have all the ones I want. I find them at local consignment shops and good will. I love some bargains:)

It really feels like winter outside! I love it...mostly when I'm able to stay inside:) This morning is the 2nd day I've gotten up early with my hubby...I say early, it was 6:30 to make coffee and homemade biscuits. I usually don't get up till 7:40 and the kiddos have to be at school by 8...LOL! We're always rushing in the mornings. I'm a big procrastinator......at least when it comes to getting out of bed!

I've been doing some reading in Phillipians the last few days. I know what an amazing God we have...but I'm still amazed when I'm reading His word and realize He wanted me to read those particular verses at that particular time....I love that feeling!!

Paul talks about how he's torn between 2 desires...one, wanting to live and the other wanting to be with Christ in Heaven. Sometimes I feel the same way. I love my family, friends, and the many blessings God gives me....on the other hand, how amazing would it be to be in the presence of God!! No worries....just worshipping and spending time with Him for all eternity!! I know I'll be there someday...and I look forward to that day....in the meantime I'll live my best for Him.

But, Paul also makes a good point. While we are here on this earth, we can be fruitful for Christ. We can let others see Him through us. That's what we are here to do. Sometimes I get caught up in all the other things I have going on in my life such as: being a mom, a wife, going to school, taking care of a household...that I forget what my main purpose is here on this earth. I wish things could slow down sometimes so we can do what we need to do for God...spend time with Him...learning what His word wants us to do. We have the power to do that! I think it just takes us prioritizing what's in our lives. God should be at the first of that list. He came here and died a criminal's death to save us! What an amazing gift! I know I'm going to try harder to let God know what He means to me....He is my All, my Protector, my Forgiver, my Shelter, and so much more. He is my Father!

Hope everyone has a wonderful night! Thank you for stopping by!

Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Good morning!! I got up early with my hubby this cold, wonderful morning and decided to catch up on everybodys blog. I've been gone this last weekend for a late Thanksgiving and haven't been able to read the blogs. I always love reading all about everyones week. Hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving.


Christmas season is here!! It's officially December. I love this time of year...don't you? Celebrating our wonderful, amazing gift of Christ and all the blessings He brings us, decorating, and lots of baking and cooking.~sigh~ It truely is the most wonderful time of the year!


It is a very cold morning here. It got down to freezing last night. I'm sure when the kids wake up and see white for the first time over everything...they'll say..."Mommy it snowed!" I love their innocence! I'm really enjoying my coffee this morning!


Hope you all have a very blessed day! I have to get kiddos up and get ready myself for school. Take time today to reflect on the many blessings God has sent your way!

The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6