Christmas Blog Bash 2013 -- Christmas Traditions

I and some friends are all posting about different aspects of Christmas!  Then we're putting links to the others blogs.

There are many different traditions that each family do every year for Christmas. Here are some of the ones that my family and I do:
     One of my favorite traditions that we started last year is reading an advent book  We read Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide last year, and then we read Tabitha's Travels, which is by the same author, this year.  They are exciting books about the adventures of Jotham and Tabitha, and how each of them get to Bethlehem to see the birth of Jesus.  Each day, from the first Sunday in December to Christmas Day, Mom  reads a section aloud.  Ellen and I always can't wait to hear what happens next!
     We also try to read another Christmas book each day.  Some of our favorites are: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (Mom's will need to read and edit some), The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden and Barbara Cooney, and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski.
     Each year we like to participate in a couple service projects.  In the past we've: done Operation Christmas Child and helped at the drop off center here in Omaha, rang bells for the Salvation Army, caroled at a nursing home with our Bright Lights group, and bought Christmas gifts for a family with our church group.
     I always enjoy buying a real Christmas tree and decorating it as we listen to Christmas music!  Christmas music is also such a special part of Christmas!
     In December we always prepare for our annual Christmas recital.
     Every year we make ginger bread cookies, and Ellen and I like to frost them while Mom and Dad go out shopping. :-)  (There are pictures of them and the recipe on Ellen's blog.)
     I also enjoy seeing all the Christmas cards we receive from family and friends!
     We usually go over to our grandpa and grandma's (on my mom's side) on Christmas Eve, and  then have a fun time eating dinner, opening gifts, and spending time together.
     Then on Christmas Day we go over to Grandma V's where there is a large gathering with most of our aunts, uncles, and cousins on Dad's side. 
     These are just some of the traditions that we do each Christmas season.  My favorite parts of Christmas are the fun times with family and friends! 
      I hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Here are the links to the other blogs participating in the Christmas Blog Bash:
Ellen's blog
Spencer's Blog
Justin's blog
Caleb's blog

Our New Window Seat!

Dad made Ellen and me a window seat for our room!

He let us help.  :-)

 Pocket holes!

Framework:

Sides:

First coat of paint:

The lid:

What an awkward position!

The lid is on!

Storage inside!

Finished product:

Jazz on the Green

One of my favorite summer traditions is Jazz on the Green. I really enjoy being with friends, being outside on a nice evening, playing games on the open green, and taking a picnic dinner.  

Our friend Emma Mae at Jazz on the Green.

The first time this summer they had fireworks.  They were excellent!  

Strawberry Cake

Mom found this recipe in an old Martha Stewart magazine so we decided to try it.  It was very quick and easy to make.  We all really enjoyed it!

Makes one 10-inch cake

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pie plate

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 10-inch pie plate.  Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl. 

2) Put butter and 1 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Reduce speed to medium-low; mix in egg, milk, and vanilla.

3) Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture.  Transfer batter to buttered pie plate.  Arrange strawberries on top of batter, cut sides down and as close together as possible.  Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

4) Bake cake 10 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.  Bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 1 hour. Let cool in pie plate on a wire rack.  Cut into wedges.  Cake can be stored at room temperature, loosely covered, up to 2 days.

The Wissmann Family Journal: A Double Debut!

They're having a pre-release special for the new CDs if you order by August 1st!  Just click on the link below to go to their blog.

The Wissmann Family Journal: A Double Debut!: Its official! Both of our new CD projects have been ordered and are in the process of duplication. Which means we'll have them in our...

Make Me a Blessing

 

Out in the highways and byways of life,

Many are weary and sad;

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,

Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, 

Make me a blessing-

Out of my life

May Jesus shine,

Make me a blessing,

O Savior, I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,

Tell of His pow'r to forgive;

Others will trust Him if only you prove

True, ev'ry moment you live.

  

Make me a blessing, 

Make me a blessing-

Out of my life

May Jesus shine,

Make me a blessing,

O Savior, I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing, 

Make me a blessing-

Out of my life

May Jesus shine,

Make me a blessing,

O Savior, I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

WORDS: Ira B. Wilson, 1880-1950
MUSIC: George S. Schuler, 1882-1973 

Another Great Quote...

There are so many great quotes by our country's Founding Fathers!  This quote was in the program from the play/musical "Let Freedom Sing!" that we went to on the Fourth.  It was performed by the Millard Alliance Church in Seward, NE. 

"How is it that we have forgotten 

to humbly implore the Father of lights 

to illuminate our understanding?  

During the late contest with Great Britain 

we many times offered prayers for help 

in this very room and our prayers were heard 

and they were graciously answered.  

The longer I live, the more convincing proofs 

I see of this truth, that God governs 

in the affairs of men.

And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground 

without His notice, is it probable that an 

empire can rise without His aid? 

 And have we now forgotten  

that Powerful Friend?  Of do we imagine 

that we no longer need His assistance?

"We have been assured, gentlemen,

in the Sacred Writings,

that "except the Lord build the House,

they labor in vain that build it."

I firmly believe this; and I also believe

that without His aid we shall not succeed

in this political building...I therefore beg

leave to move that henceforth prayers 

imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its

blessings on our deliberations be held

in this Assembly, not just today

but every morning before we proceed..."

--Benjamin Franklin--

Spoken before the Constitutional Convention

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania --1787

Happy Fourth of July!

Here are some great quotes that I think fit with the celebration of our Independence:

"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity"

John Quincy Adams

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?"

Thomas Jefferson

I think the last quote is so true today.  We all need to remember that 

"Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any people."

Proverbs 14:34

The Things I'm Grateful For

In January, Mom encouraged me to keep a daily gratitude notebook.  Each morning when I read my Bible I write three things I'm grateful for in a notebook.  I number each one and write the date next to them; now I have over 500.

Here are the top 20 things I'm grateful for:

1. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His everlasting love
2. The Word of God
3. My loving family 
4. My friends
5. My home
6. All the beauty of nature God created for us to enjoy
7. Music (hymns especially)
8. God's bountiful provision of food and clothing
9. The freedom to worship God as He commands
10. The decision of my parents to homeschool us and the freedom to do so
11. Health
12. Our five senses
13. Our dog Ginger
14. Piano
15. Books
16. Electricity
17. Audiobooks
18. Modern technology
19. The seasons
20. All the many blessings God showers upon us

A Beautiful Summer Morning

Ellen doing math in the backyard with Ginger.

What a fun summer morning doing school!

A Quote...

''I expect to pass through this life but once.

If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good 
thing that I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, as I shall 
not pass this way again.''

~William Penn

Reading Romans 1-8

I did a challenge that my friend Grace shared on her blog.  (Here is the link to her blog: The Romans Challenge )  The challenge is to read Romans 1-8 everyday for 50 days!  It was challenging for me, as I usually only read two chapters a day.  On April 14th I finished my 50 days!  Through it I have been able to see the big picture of the gospel, and our progression from helpless sinners to a new life in Christ.
I have also been memorizing it.  My goal is to memorize all eight chapters, but so far I only gotten through the the middle of chapter three.

Here are some key things that I've learned from Romans:

•  The gospel was promised beforehand by God through his prophets.
• Jesus Christ was declared through the power of the Holy Spirit to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.
• The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe, and it is by faith. "as it is written 'The righteous will live by faith.' " (Rom.1:17)
• Everyone is a sinner whether they openly reject God and live wholly for themselves or try to attain salvation by their own good works (as it says in Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God")
• God gives us a righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and in his sacrificial death for our sins.  "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all" (Rom. 4:16a)  It is not by works, but by God's grace that we are saved.
• "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.''  (Rom. 5:8)
• At one time, we were sinners and enemies of God, but now we have been reconciled to God through the death of Christ, and we have peace, joy and the hope of the glory of God
• When we are baptized into Christ, we join in Christ's death and resurrection so that we may live a new life with Him and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)!  We then should count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God and become slaves to righteousness leading to holiness which leads to eternal life.
• "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23 emphasis added)
• The law is holy, righteous, and good because it is from God.  Its purpose was to show us our sin and need for Christ, but it is not by obeying the law that we are saved.
• "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 8:1) If we are in Christ Jesus we are free from sin.
• Once we have a new life in Christ, we cannot go back to our old way of living, nor can we do what is right without relying on the Holy Spirit to give us strength and guidance.
•  If we have the Holy Spirit, we belong to Christ and have become children of God. 
• So we are more than conquerors through Christ for God works for the good of those who love Him, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord!

Baby Blanket with Ruffle Border

My cousin taught me how to crochet this blanket several years ago, and my friend Mrs. Bettis taught me how to do the boarder which comes from The Complete Book of Crochet Border Designs by Linda P. Schapper.  Ever since it has been my favorite baby blanket pattern.  (For baby boys I use a different border.)

For this blanket I used sport weight yarn that is 80% acrylic and 20% wool.  Usually I use Sugar 'n Cream yarn which is 100% cotton and a bit thicker.  (When I use Sugar 'n Cream yarn I only chain 102 to get it about the same width.)
This blanket is 28'' by 26'' (The size may vary because of your tension or if you use thicker yarn.)

Blanket:
Ch 152
Foundation row: Hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, then hdc in each stitch across, turn.  (150 hdc)
Row 1:  Ch 2, *hdc in front loop of next stitch, then hdc in back loop of next stitch; repeat from * across, turn.
Repeat row 2 until it is approximately 23'' (or whatever size you prefer).
Fasten off.

Picot: Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
Border:

Row 1:  Join yarn to any corner of blanket.  Sc across each side of blanket, sl st into 1st sc (When doing the border, do not turn).
Row 2:  Ch 1, *3 sc in corner, sc across to next corner sc,* repeat around, sl st into 1st sc.
Row 3:  Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 2, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc;  repeat from * across.  (You may want to only skip 1 sc around corners so it lays flat.)
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), picot, *(dc, picot) 3 times in next ch-2 space, dc into next sc, picot* repeat around, ending with (dc, picot) 3 times in last ch-2 space.
Fasten off and weave in ends.


Crochet abbreviations:
ch- chain
dc- double crochet
hdc- half double crochet
sc- single crochet

sl st- slip stitch

Ellen's Everyday Events

 Ellen has her own blog!  She's wanted one for awhile, but it has taken us a while to get it set up.  Here's the link Ellen's Everyday Events Enjoy!

Easter Blog Bash -- Crocheted Eggs

Some friends and I are doing Easter related blog posts.   I have posted the links to each of their blogs at the end of this post.

This is a crocheted Easter egg pattern I found on Pinterest.   Here is the link for the  Crocheted Egg Pattern.   These eggs are crocheted around plastic eggs, which I had never done before.  I used worsted weight yarn that I had on hand, but I did have to use larger hooks for both the eggs and the flowers.  She used a size G-hook for the eggs and a D-hook for the flowers, but I used a range between G-I sized hooks for the eggs and size E-G for the flowers.  When I used the G or H hook I had to add another increase row.  I don't know if it is just my tension or that my plastic eggs were larger than hers.

These are the ones I made:

Here are some Easter eggs that I made up several years ago.  I used Patons Grace yarn which is 100% mercerized cotton.  They are pretty similar to the pattern above, but I filled them with cotton or poly fill instead of using a plastic egg.  The baskets I started the same way as the eggs, but added a couple more increase rows before doing just single crochet rows.   Then the handle is just a chain connected to the basket.  These are fun little projects that are nice to give as gifts.

 

 

 

Here are the other blogs that have Easter blog posts that you may like to see:

Becca's Blog

 http://www.alittlewoman.com/easter-blog-bash-2013/

Spencer's Blog

 http://tias.rothfuss.us/easter-blog-bash-2013/

Justin's Blog

http://embracethegeekness.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-easter-blogging-bash-th-history-of.html
 

Baby Boy Diaper Cover

I been thinking that my blog is named Handwork by Hannah and I haven't had anything I've crocheted or knitted on my blog for a while.  So here is a baby boy diaper cover (they are also called soakers) I just finished.

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February Snow!

What beautiful snow we got on Thursday!  I love days like yesterday and today when the sun shines brightly on the beautiful snow.

Ellen shoveling the steps yesterday morning.