Yes, I eat raw cookie dough!  I also eat just chocolate

cake for breakfast and sometimes for dinner as well.

I also sometimes share these pleasures with my sweet

granddaughter Maggie.  

I know some of you are thinking "Oh my, there are

raw eggs in it?"  I know, but honestly, the pleasure

is worth the risk.  I have been eating raw cookie

dough for my entire life and I am still alive.  

What is it about cookie dough?  I don't know exactly,

I just know it is yummy!  It gives you that living on 

the edge feel . . . taking a risk on life . . .  taking a

chance.  It may not seem like that big of risk compared

skydiving, playing russian roulette, or bungee jumping,

but it is about the biggest risk I am willing to take.  

Are you willing to take risks?  Are you afraid to make

a change in your life, worrying what could happen?  Or

are you trusting God in all things . . . knowing confidently

that all things always work for our good?  And the big

question is "What is good?"  And "Are all things good?"

Our lives are filled with good things and not so good

things.  Are you counting on God to work all things for

your good?  Who is to say what is good?  Is God's good

and perfect plan going against your "perfect plan"?

I have found that trusting God in all things is the only

way to have total peace with Him.  And peace with

Him is the only way to live.  True contentment can only

come in your life when you are in God's will.  God's will

may not always be your desire or your perfect place.

It may be filled with pain, disappointment, illness,

and trials.  God promises not to ever leave or forsake

us  . . . ever.  He is there in happy and sad times.

He rejoices with us and he also mourns with us.  

His desire is for us to grow in Him in all circumstances.

Are you using your current situation to bring glory

to God?  We can always rejoice in all things . . . knowing

that they will all bring good!  Isn't that a comfort to know,

to know that every step, every tear and every smile is 

not a surprise to God?  

As we approach the start of 2014 . . . a new year . . .a

new beginning . . . keep in mind that God is in control.

Let your New Year's Resolution be to praise God in all

things!  He can turn the darkest place in your life into

a place of rejoicing.  Will you praise Him today?  It's not a

risk  . . . it is a promise of blessings and good things . . . 

kind of like cookie dough.   Make a batch and be sure to

lick the bowl.  

Happy New Year,

Lisa

Christmas is one week from today.   

Are you ready?  There is always

so much to do this time of year . . baking,

buying gifts, hosting and attending parties,

caroling, sending cards, and so many other

activities that can take away our focus

on the real reason we are celebrating in

the first place.  Have you found time to

celebrate the birth of Christ with your 

family?  If you haven't, I urge you to

take time to spend time together as a

family and worship His birth.  

My family and I always attend the Christmas

eve candlelight service at my church and

then we all gather at my home and have

dinner and open presents.  This has always 

been a special time spent with the ones I

love the most.  I enjoy it more than ever now

 that I am a Nana.  I love my grandchildren more than

I could ever put into words. I love their warm hugs,

the smell of their hair, their giggles, and the

way they make me feel loved.  I can barely go one

day without seeing them.  Christmas is pure JOY 

with them in my life.  

I thought this Christmas would be difficult since 

my recent divorce.   I wondered how I would

celebrate with all the changes in my life.  There have

been moments of sadness, as I decorated the 

tree . . . as I got Christmas cards addressed to 

the both of us . . . and as I opted for minimal

decorations, instead of decking the house out

and hosting our usual open house.  

But, honestly, I can say that I have spent so

much time with God the past few months, praying

through the storm . . . that there is such a depth

of intimacy with Him that I could have only found

through suffering.  There is a reliance on Him that

can only be experienced when everything else

around me seemed to give way.   I have had

to cling to the Jesus . . . and have found it to

be the most wonderful journey in my entire 

spiritual walk.  I know that may be hard to

imagine . . . but I wouldn't trade the suffering

for what I am experiencing now!  I have grown

to depend on Him and His word and His promises!

I am not afraid of what tomorrow will bring . . . he

promises that all things will be for my good.  That

is His promise . . . and I cling to that.  I am so 

looking forward to His plans for me in the future.

There has been so many blessings we have 

experienced in our family.  We have a love

for each other that we had not felt before.  My

girls and son-in-laws are all so close.  There is

so much love when we are all together, we

can hardly contain it.  It has been amazing.  I 

would not trade this for anything in the world.  

Through the pain and suffering, we have all 

been blessed beyond measure.   

Blessings have also come through so many 

friends who have been there when I needed 

them most.  I didn't realize how many friends I 

actually had until I needed them . . . they were

there taking me to lunch, bringing me lunch,

sending cards, texting, calling to check on how I was

 doing, coming over just to cry with me, supporting 

 and encouraging me, and most of all lifting me

up in prayer.  I thank God for each and every

one of you . . . you will never know how encouraging

you are to me.  I love you all.  Thank you!

Please keep my family in your prayers.  We feel

your love and support every day.  May you and 

your family have a blessed Christmas this year!  

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  It

means enjoying our family and friends, but 

most of all it means celebrating the birth of our

Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  It means preparing

our hearts and our home for all of the upcoming

celebrating. 

 I have been busy decking the halls of many

 homes and transforming them into winter 

wonderlands.  I wanted to share some of the

Christmas cheer with you.  Hope you enjoy.  

This tree has a snowman theme woven into

this slim tree.  The snowman head seems 

right at home peeking from beneath the branches.

Many other snowmen were used to 

continue our frosty theme.  

 A custom tree skirt was added this year in
a harlequin pattern complete with monogram.  

The mantle was adorned with two dancing reindeer 
and painted presents peeking from the garland.

 The angle on this shot is challenging, but this
is the bannister, complete with grapevine
reindeer to greet you when you enter the 
front door.  Excuse the cord, we hid this 
later.  ;-)

 This tree has a natural look and has a woodland
theme.  I used burlap ribbon, galvanized
buckets, woodland creatures, mercury glass,
acorns and snow covered sticks.  

Little bear feels right at home nestled in
the middle of the branches.   

Mr. Owl keeps watch on the bottom branches.
  He is watching and waiting for Santa.   

I kept the sideboard simple with simple pines. 
The sideboard and antique window mirror is
so pretty, simple is the best choice here.  

The kitchen table was adorned with moss
covered reindeer, complete with burlap bows.

 The silver accents look amazing on this
mirrored coffee table.  Simple and sophisticated.  

 Robin egg blue and mercury glass on this
tree accent the decor in this living room.  

 Love the mix of pearl, mercury glass
and icy blue.  

 Hydrangeas and pine were placed in pearl
cones that were placed in the tree to give
it three dimension.

A bowl full of ornaments is a simple way
to add sparkle.  

  The dining table is kept simple by using
existing lanterns and adding mini ornaments around
 candles.  A ribbon was tied to add a festive touch.   

And the best gift of Christmas is to enjoy
this new little bundle of joy.  My newest
grandson, Stryker Cannon Smalley.  He
is definitely ready for Christmas and is
patiently waiting on Santa.

Enjoy decorating your homes this year and
remember to enjoy and cherish every moment
with your family and friends.  May God bless
you.