The Makings of a Moeller Family Christmas

The Moeller Family has slowly been making some Christmas Cheer this December, but we are waiting for the older kids to start arriving on Sunday for the real Christmas parties to begin. 

1. We decorated outside with LED white Christmas lights.  We had to buy new ones, due to our basement flooding last summer. I still might do something with garland and red velvet bows outside before the older kids get here on Sunday.   I am going for the neighborhood award for "Best Tasteful Minimalistic Decorations."  LED Lights do use 98% less electricity. - Do we get some points for that?
2. Bob is making me a little homemade wooden manger with baby Jesus to go atop a bale of hay (leftover from our Thanksgiving pumpkin/squash display).  It will also have a spot light on it.    
3. I love our gazebo behind our home during every season, but best of all at Christmas.  A wreath on the door of the gazebo, Christmas lights inside like a warming house for skating...  (all true except for the skating part, but it looks like a blizzard is blowing in as I am writing this.) 
4. My Christmas wreath is worthy of the front door spot.  It was one of the centerpieces on each table last December at Zach and Amy (Papritz) Attaran's wedding reception.  It's stunning metal wiring with beautiful small turquoise berries and gold berries like from a Christmas forest.  Happy Anniversary Zach and Amy.  We are celebrating your Anniversary here!
5. My block Christmas Party is looking more like a New Year's Open House Block Party; at least the neighbors know a party is coming up.  We have wonderful new neighbors next door, so we are anxious to introduce them to the others on our block.  We live on a block end-cap, so there are only four homes.
6. We did some December pre-holiday painting (using only colors from Panera) in several rooms to make it so we did not have to have the lights off and the candles on at all times.  ha ha
7. We miss our grandson, Benjamin in the U.K., every day but especially now around Christmas.  So, we set out a basket of red and green toys pretending like he is here.                                                        
8. We have switched all radio channels to WMBI, now playing only Christmas music.  
9. Our younger two daughters at home went to sing some Christmas Carols at a Christian nursing home with their youth group. Even though it was an alzheimer's ward, some of the ladies really cheered up while the kids were singing and reading Christmas Scripture verses.  (I was one of the van drivers. :)
10. There's been a few mall trips for the little girls to window shop and drop hints to me.   
    
11. Megan collected from friends for a couple of hurting friends this week for Christmas gifts.  So sweet and sensitive. 
12. We are going to make my Christmas Salad this weekend.  Click here for recipe   
13. We made 48 lbs. (yes 48 pounds, not 48 pieces) of Chocolate fudge for most of our friends and donors to our For Better For Worse For Keeps Ministries and mailed across the nation. We sent to over 100 donors and received almost as many thank-yous notes for the fudge. What is Christmas without fudge?  Cheryl's fudge recipe.  I add the marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla in at the very end.  I don't boil the marshmallows.                                                                          
14. We have been listening to the Christmas Story The Birth of a King audio click here.
15. Christmas Day our whole family is going to help cook, clean, set tables, help, chat...a group of friends are bringing soldiers from the Naval Base.  The soldiers will be at a nearby Christian school and church from 9:00 Am to 7:00 Pm.  They are U.S. Navy Basic Trainees and are going to be treated like royalty, including a welcome by lots of people and a band playing a Sousa March.  Our son, 1st Lt. Moeller, will be there in his U.S. Army Officer Uniform.                      
16. Because our daughter, Chef Megan, is one of six chefs for the military outreach dinner on Christmas Day, she is going to make our Christmas Day dinner on Christmas Eve with the help of her younger sister, Sous Chef MacKenzie.                                                                                                     Meg and Mackenzie Christmas 1999
17. We are thankful that 1st Lt. Moeller is not going to Afgan with the U.S. Army.  What more could we want for Christmas?
18. We are thankful for the best gift of all - Baby Jesus.

Procrastination Pays Off!

So you still have people to buy for on your Christmas List? 

We are excited to let you know about an upcoming before Christmas e-book promotion for Creative Slow-Cooker Meals: Use Two Slow Cookers for Tasty and Easy Meals by Cheryl Moeller. 

From December 22 – January 2 we will be offering the cookbook at a special “sale” price of $2.99 through our ebook distributors—this includes Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple, and the Sony Reader. So on December 22...

 

What Would Your Home Look Like in a Snow Globe?

Type in your address and see your house in a snow globe. Click here

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is to sing loud for all to hear" - Elf

FREE on Kindle - Baby Saves Christmas

FREE
Baby Saves Christmas by Cheryl Moeller and Melissa Moeller Briggs
Mother Daughter Duo Authors

FREE on Kindle Today, Monday, November 26 through Friday, November 30
A Christmas fiction about family fun and the true meaning of Christmas.


"I sure love this book for my kids.  We read it every Christmas Eve for an easy but important family tradition." - Lisa

Cyber Monday Week, Business Owners: Link up to Sell, Shoppers: Click in Each Link to Shop

I am so proud of my friends who are running small businesses from home.  It's what made and makes America so great.  I look to their pioneering and entrepreneurship for inspiration.

So it's Cyber Monday, but we are going to have Cyber Monday week.

I'm a mom just like you and I have a link I am going to put up, also so you can check out our products:  CDs, DVDs, books, and Kindle books.  

This is a place for business owners to link up their shops for a one stop buying place for shoppers.
Link up your Etsy shops, websites, blog hosts...  Whether you sell one thing or many, this is your
place to sparkle.


The best way to thank a small business owner is to buy something from them today!

Desirous and Desperate for the Christ Child's Glory (A Christmas Devotional)

by Bob and Cheryl Moeller

We'll never forget when an acquaintance proclaimed to us on December 11th of that year; she was going to bake large quantities of 12 unique types of cookies for their family Christmas celebration.

"I don't care what happens. I have to finish all my baking," she said.

And, we were thinking, "Why?"

To do this marathon over-achieving baking goal, she missed church for two Sundays, our church's Christmas concert, her children's performance in our Christmas program, and her children's Sunday school trip to sing Christmas carols at her mom's nursing home and the mall as an outreach.

Tragically, her mother who lived nearby in the nursing home, passed away early Christmas Eve day.

During the funeral eulogy the daughter delivered with sobs, she said "I never saw my mom once in the last two weeks because I was too busy shopping for cookie ingredients and baking for our Christmas celebration. Had I known my mom was going to pass away this week, I would have spent my time with her."

This December in our Christmas Celebration, let's not miss the important, the Glory, because of the mundane.

We are very grateful for God's glory as 2012 draws to a close. We echo the words of the Psalmist, "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart...I will sing your praise." Psalm 138

May we be desirous and desperate for the Christ Child's Glory this next month. Let's not trade the Glory of the Christ Child for a box of cookies. www.forkeepsministries.com

All I want for Christmas is a Kangaroo

(Big Jackson One Room Schoolhouse, Big Jackson, MI was one of the schools where
Marvel Windquist taught.)


My Grandma Windquist was one of the last one room schoolhouse teachers in Michigan.
She retired in 1969.

Grandpa Windquist's farm was near the Big Jackson crossroads. At the crossroads there was just the one room schoolhouse and a church. Big Jackson is in Newaygo County, north of Big Rapids, MI.

Through the years, Grandma lovingly knitted and crocheted made us all baby blankets, afagans, mittens, and gloves.

One Thanksgiving she whispered to my mom she was knitting cardigan
sweaters for all 12 of the grandchildren for Christmas. Grandma was way before her
time, being cool with knitting.

I overheard the conversation and told my three sisters, we were all getting knitted kangaroos. Being the youngest sister, I felt very cool and important that I had the inside information.

I was shocked Christmas morning, when we received knitted cardigan
sweaters intead!

Moral: Don't listen in on other people's conversations.

Product Review - Hannah Mixes for You

We had the joy of reviewing Hannah Mixes for You Products.

Megan reviwed - Creamy Potato Cheddar Soup Mix
Warm, nourishing, fresh tasting, great blend, perfect cold day soup!
It makes a lot more soup than you think, because you need to add more
milk and water than it calls for. Let winter begin!

MacKenzie reviewed - Snickerdoodles
What do they put in this mix that makes you want more? There must be
a hidden,secret ingredient. Straight from the oven, you can't really
beat this treat.

Bob reviewed - Hot Chocolate Mix
I found myself hiding the glass jar that this mix came in. It was rich,
so you didn't need that much in a hot cup of water. I know what I'm getting
the clients on my Christmas list this year.

Cheryl reviewed - Double Chocolate Walnut Bread Mix
My older kids wanted brownies, so I tweaked this recipe by adding butter and
no milk and it make perfect brownies. It cooked in less time also. Quality
ingredients make quality products and that's what we found with Hannah Mixes
for you!


Below is an order form:

Hannah Mixes For You

Soups (Presented in cloth bag) $5.00 ea
 Creamy Potato Cheddar Soup Mix (5-6 servings)
Gentle blend of potatoes and creamy cheddar.

 Alphabet Soup in Minutes Soup Mix (4-5 servings)
A favorite with kids and parents alike.

 Italian Tomato & Pasta Soup Mix (4-5 servings)
Bold and flavorful!

 Home-style Chicken & Rice Soup Mix (10-12 servings)
A healthy classic.


Breads & Muffins (Presented in cloth bag) $6.00 ea
 Quick Pumpkin Bread Mix (1 loaf or 12 muffins)
A Year-Round Favorite.

 Double Chocolate Walnut Bread Mix (1 loaf/12 muffins)
Yummy Chocolate with a creamy texture!

 Fresh & Fruity Muffin Mix (yields 18 muffins)
Delicious for a breakfast treat or snack!


Cookies (Presented in glass jar) $7.00 ea
 Snickerdoodles Cookie Mix (makes 5 dozen)
A heavenly tasting treat! (Available only in bags)

 Trail Mix Cookie Mix (makes 4 dozen)
Wheat germ, raisin and coconut… yum!

 Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix (makes 4 dozen)
A healthy and delicious choice that kids love!

 Oatmeal Raisin & Spice Cookie Mix (makes 4 dozen)
A wonderful blend of oats, raisins and spices!

NEW THIS YEAR!!!!
Hot Chocolate Mix in a Decorative 8 oz. Jar (8 servings) $7.00 ea
Hannah Mixes Order Form



SOUPS $5.00 each Quantity Total
Creamy Potato Cheddar Soup Mix
Alphabet Soup in Minutes Soup Mix
Italian Tomato & Pasta Soup Mix
Homestyle Chicken & Rice Soup Mix

BREADS & MUFFINS $6.00 each
Quick Pumpkin Bread Mix
Double Chocolate Walnut Bread Mix
Fresh & Fruity Muffin Mix

COOKIES & HOT CHOCOLATE MIX $7.00 each
Snickerdoodles Cookie Mix
Trail Mix Cookie Mix
Whole Grain Chippers Cookie Mix
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookie Mix
Creamy Hot Chocolate Mix in Decorative Jar
ORDER TOTAL


QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL JO @ 847 366-3284

Customer Information
Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone Number:
THANK YOU for your order!! Please make checks payable to Hannah Anderson. Mixes will be delivered two weeks from date ordered. For delivery & other requests, please indicate here:


To place an order, email your information to joanderson.2@juno.com or fax us at 773-774-5388.

Eight Ways to Enhance Any Language Arts Homeschool Curriculum at Christmas Time

(Illustration by Susan R. Smith)

1. Make up a story to tell your children over a period of days or weeks during the month of December. Swiss Family Robinson began as a series of stories that Johann David Wyss told his children bit by bit, each night at bedtime. As a parent, you can capture your children’s hearts and imagination with the retelling of the Christmas story and stories of your childhood Christmas memories.

2. The Long, Long Christmas Book Train. Around the ceiling in your homeschool room, put a large construction paper red or green train car each time your children finishes a book in December. Challenge your children to read enough books in December to make the caboose and engine meet or fill up a whole wall! When the Christmas train goal is met, throw a Christmas train themed party with another homeschool family.

3. Name that Christmas “Stuffie.” Give each of your children a $1 small stuffed animal or “stuffie” for your December homeschool mascot. Spend an hour thinking of names for your Christmas “stuffie.” Each child makes up their own list of 20 or 50 creative “Yuletide-themed” names, depending on the child’s age. Then, have them eliminate names and come up with their most favorite.

4. “Read to me by Skype.” Have an older homeschool student, cousin, aunt, or grandpa skype or telephone each day during December and read your younger child a Christmas theme story. If you have older children, have them call up a younger homeschooler each weekday in December and read to them.

5. Don’t get out of your regular Library habit. Your children could easily stay home during busy days and use the internet, but they also need to visit the library in person. Stay and read at tables. Do a Christmas craft, if offered. Gaze and gawk. Dawdle through the aisles.

6. Writing enhances reading. Reading also enhances writing. There are many opportunities for a child to write around the “Holy-Days.” The lost art of letter writing can be found again, when your kids write letters to each relative.

7. What you do; not just what you say. Even during the busy month of December, Mom and dad need to read each day to set the “reading is important” example.

8. Cereal Book Club. During December invite some homeschool friends over to your home for a Cereal (Serial) Book Club. Each child brings a box of their favorite healthy cereal to share and a copy of an assigned book in a certain series with the topic of winter or Christmas. Each child shares the book’s name, two amazing facts about it, and reads their two favorite pages of the book aloud. Encourage all the children to finish the other books in the “cerealies” (series).

By Cheryl Moeller


Cheryl is also the author, along with her daughter, Melissa of the book,
Baby Saves Christmas, juvenile fiction with homeschool characters.
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=25973&it=1

Cheryl has also written a curriculum (that's only $3.00) for preschoolers called
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=25421&it=1

New E-book - Baby Saves Christmas by Cheryl and Melissa Moeller

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=25973&it=1

Christmas juvenile fiction with
homeschool characters. Don't miss this
new fiction with curriculum!

What people are saying about Baby Saves Christmas:

"A wonderful book to share Jesus with our five children this Christmas. We hope you too, will take advantage of the Christmas season to share the message of the Baby with your babies.” - Rick and Laura Pierce, Executive Director of MarriageVine Ministries www.marriagevine.com, Homeschool Mom of 5

“Great for your beginner readers. Sit back with your little ones and enjoy this quaint story together, and consider how the home-made Christmas presents are often the best.” - Kathy Davis, Homeschool Mom, www.homeschoolbuzz.com

”Definitely a five-bark book! Here's a terrific reason to paws...ur...pause and take a fresh look at the magic of Christmas. You decked the halls but now YOU feel decked? Plop a child on your lap and a dog at your feet. This is a tail...ur... tale you'll treasure reading year after year.” - Jon and Diana Gauger, from dog-dominant Dupage County, Illinois

"This heartwarming, clever story about the real Christmas moves quickly from the first page to the last!” - Nick and Lisa Jungheim, Duncan, Oklahoma

“A delightful gift for children that strikes all the right notes, Baby Saves Christmas is a charming story of simple faith and the real meaning of the season.” - J. Louise Larson, editor, The Ennis Journal, author of The FabJob Guide to Become a Party Planner, Ennis, TX

“The remarkable story of a Christmas without pretense is told with wit, warmth, and wisdom.” - Sheilah, Homeschool Mom, Illinois

“I really loved this cute book.” - Micaiah, Homeschool Student, Illinois

“Makes the important point that Christmas has been taken over by materialism.” - Elyse Connors, Kalamazoo, MI

“An unforgettable sweet story of amazing power.” - Carolyn Oswald, Emmaus, Pennsylvania

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=25973&it=1

Product Review - Tales of Glory Nativity Set - from One2Believe Toys

http://store.messengersoffaith.net/mof50538.html

Every home needs a nativity set that invites children to act out the Christmas story.

We received this beautiful set today from One2Believe Toys. Our kids couldn't be happier!

This is a user friendly soft plastic set that children and grandchildren will feel welcome and comfortable with. Our youngest is riveted to the beautiful figurines and it's sure to be her first choice for playtime until Christmas Day and beyond.

MacKenzie says: This is an adorable nativity set that I can actually touch and play with. I have played with it alone and with my sister. I also play with the set with friends when they come over for a playdate.

Order online today:

http://store.messengersoffaith.net/mof50538.html

Ten Fantastic Frugal Homemade Fall, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas Gifts

1. Christmas Candy Crunch Ice Cream Topping


Chocolate Candy Crunch Ice Cream Topping
1 stick butter
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. milk (use regular milk)
2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
1/2 c. peanut butter
3 c. oats
Boil butter, cocoa, milk, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter for 1 ½ minutes. Add oats and mix well. Spoon out onto wax paper. Let sit out over night on your counter. Crumble slightly and place in jars. Include a little card that says, “Cocoa Candy Crunch Ice Cream Topping” Best kept in refrigerator.

Or you can make:

Peanut Butter Christmas Candy Ice Cream Topping
2 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk (use regular milk)
3 cup quick oatmeal
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 Tbsps. vanilla
Boil butter, milk, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter for 1 ½ minutes. Add oats and mix well. Spoon out onto wax paper. Let sit out over night on your counter. Crumble slightly and place in jars. Include a little card that says, “Peanut Butter Candy Crunch Ice Cream Topping” Best kept in refrigerator

2. “Lemon Pie” Ice Cream Topping

6 Tbsps. Butter
1 cup sugar
4 Tbsps. lemon juice
2 beaten eggs
Melt butter. Take off heat; add sugar, lemon juice and beaten eggs. (The eggs must be beaten very well or they may curdle). Then put back on heat, cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool. Pour sauce over ice cream. Include this on a tag: “Lemon Pie” Ice Cream Topping
Do not heat in this jar. Keep this jar in the refrigerator. Will keep fresh for one week in the refrigerator.
3. German Chocolate Ice Cream Topping

1 c. evaporated milk
1 c. sugar
3 egg yolks
½ c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. coconut
1 c. pecans
Combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter and vanilla in small saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly. Stir in coconut and pecans.
Include Tag that says: “German Chocolate” Ice Cream Topping. Serve Hot or Cold on Ice Cream. Do not heat in this jar. Keep this jar in the refrigerator. Will keep fresh for one week in the refrigerator.

4. M & M’s Hot Cocoa

Hanukkah Theme Craft
“Single Hot Chocolate Gift Bags”
Supplies:
See-through Hanukkah decorated party bag
or see-through plain party bag, Hanukkah stickers to decorate
Box of packets of hot chocolate mix
Royal blue (color of the Israeli flag) M&M’s
White M&M’s

Using one see through party bag, open and pour in six dry hot chocolate packets.
Add twenty white M&M’s and twenty royal blue M&M’s
Tie bag closed with a silver twist tie and arrange a small driedel in the closed twist tie as the package décor. Write on a gift tag: Happy Hanukkah! Mix with boiling hot water. Serves three!

5. Caramel Apple Hot Cider

Combine dry Apple Hot Cider Mix and wrapped Kraft Caramels (unwrapped). Place this mixture (dry cider mix and unwrapped caramels) in a cute see-through jar with a cute lid or cover with ribbon. Wrapped up with a cute mug, this makes a great fall gift.

6. Christmas Bread in a jar

Zuc – coconut quick bread dough with a few maraschino cherries mixed in.
Spray a wide mouth Ball jar with non-stick cooking spray. Then, fill it half full, but no more than half full. Now, you must place all the jars you have
filled on a cookie sheet (the jars should not be touching). Don’t put more than 6 – 8 on one cookie sheet. The jars must be placed on a cooking sheet or they will crack up in the oven. Bake for 20 – 30 minutes, depending on the size of the jar. Then seal with the lid while the jars are still hot and put the whole top on. Decorate with a cute piece of material. Add a tag: Christmas Bread in a jar. Keep refrigerated. Use within one week.


Recipe for Zuc – Coconut Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsps. Vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded coconut or shredded flaked coconut
2 cups raw unpeeled grated zucchini
1 cup of maraschino cherries, drained and cut (optional)


Mix together the first nine ingredients. Then fold in the coconut and zucchini.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes to 30 to 40, depending on the size of Ball jar that you use. Whether it’s a big or small Bar jar, just make sure it’s wide mouth.


7. Children’s Handprints

As a cute grandma or mom gift you can buy some fabric, and cut with patterned scissors. Then have each of your kids put their handprint and write their own name (if they can) and then date it - all in fabric paint. You can do it any size - and any fabric. So you can do it as a tablecloth, table runner, doilies size, or as a wall hanging. It's especially clever as a grandma gift if you get all the grandkids in on it - not just your
own.

8. Placemats for grandparents

“Leaf Placemats”
These are placements Grandpa and Grandma will love. This is a good craft project to do when the leaves are changing in the fall with your children. Find and collect some colorful fresh leaves on the ground around your neighborhood. Take a picture of your preschooler near a tree. Write on a small index card the Bible verse - Hebrews 13:5b - God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Cut four pieces of wax paper about 16 inches long. Lay two pieces of wax paper, wax side up, on your work table. Situate several colorful leaves on the paper right side up, leaving at least a one inch border around every side of the wax paper. Situate the Bible Verse card and the photograph of the preschooler near the tree right side up, also. Lay the other piece of wax paper upside down so the wax is touching the leaves. Make sure the two pieces of paper are the same size and match up or cut accordingly. (You need an adult to help with this part.) With a hot iron but a light touch, quickly iron the two pieces of wax paper together.)


9. Penguins on Ice (as an appetizer or a gift). Arrive at your holiday party with a tray of these cute little Penguins for the guests or the hostess gift. For the tray, use a mirror to pretend like it's a skating rink for the penguins.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-Cheese-Penguins/Detail.aspx

10. Buttons, Buttons, Buttons The big thing for Christmas gifts this year is buttons, buttons, buttons. Hot glue gun buttons to barrettes, flip-flops, magnets and cardboard (frame in a cute picture frame).