Prairie Oak Homestead

Please turn off the music at the bottom of the page before viewing. :)

 Not Only Christmas Day   Lord, this is my prayer Not only on Christmas Day But until I see You face to face May I live my life this way: Just like the baby Jesus I ever hope to be, Resting in Your loving arms Trusting in Your sovereignty And like the growing Christ child In wisdom daily learning, May I ever seek to know You With my mind and spirit yearning. Like the Son so faithful Let me follow in Your light, Meek and bold, humble and strong Not afraid to face the night. Nor cowardly to suffer And stand for truth alone, Knowing that Your kingdom Awaits my going home. Not afraid to sacrifice Though great may be the cost, Mindful how You rescued me From broken-hearted loss. Like my risen Savior The babe, the child, the Son, May my life forever speak Of who You are and all You've done. So while this world rejoices And celebrates Your birth, I treasure You, the greatest gift Unequaled in Your worth. I long to hear the same words That welcomed home Your Son, "...

I've been having some rough days and go to the doc on Tuesday to see what we can do about sleep and possibly be scheduled for a sleep study. My diaphragm is weak and causing lots of difficulty breathing. At night is especially difficult when I sleep. It gets weaker as the day goes on and then has trouble lifting my rib cage while I am laying down. The sleep study will check to see what's going on and then hopefully be able to prescribe me a bipap for respiratory assistance. Some days (most days) I feel like I'm fading away... On another note...Christmas is fast approaching. Such a peaceful time of year. But, it can have it's moments of sadness. I miss so many people. It's hard feeling like in some way you have been forgotten. Families gather together this time of year and you can't help but think of those who are no longer with you. Christmas just isn't the same without those people... Despite the rough days, I will continue to rejoice in my Lord and find ...

 Add ingredients to crockpot in order as written... 16 oz roasted unsalted peanuts 16 oz roasted salted peanuts 1 12oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips 4 oz bar german chocolate broken 1 24 oz vanilla almond bark broken Do not stir Put crockpot on low for 3 hours. After 3 hours stir and drop onto wax paper and let cool. :) You could substitute the german chocolate for butterscotch chips if you wanted.  

These are just the beginning...I hope to post more when we get more decorating done. Was just too pooped out to keep going. :) One of the oldest ornaments on the tree (upper right) It's about 36 years old. ;) My 14 yr old son is getting so big! The first ornament my husband and I got when we were first married in 96 :) I will be doing my Christmas baking next week. :) I look forward to making more good memories...

for the baking season! Due to my increased weakness, I have started making up cookie dough and freezing it. I don't want me or my family to miss out on the yummy treats I have made every year.  My solution was to make up different cookie doughs and freeze them. When it's time to bake, then all I have to do is take it out the night before and let it thaw in the fridge and put the dough on a cookie sheet and bake! :) We will have holiday monster cookies, sugar cookies with sprinkles, peanut blossoms, bird nests, peanut butter balls, and caramels. :) What are some shortcuts you use during the holiday season?

I attempted to make fudge today. I made this recipe. It seemed easy. I didn't have the strength to make longer processed kind. Hope it turns out...never made fudge before. *gasp* Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, an easy fudge recipe, is made with only 4 ingredients.   Ingredients: 6-ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sifted powdered sugar Preparation: Line an 8-inch square pan with foil and butter it. In a double boiler, melt chocolate, peanut butter and butter. Stir to combine. Stir in sugar until it melts. Pour into prepared pan. Cool and cut into squares. Store in refrigerator.

I want to see your homemade Christmas gifts! Let share our ideas! I love to make this for the holidays. :) Sore Muscle Salve Recipe This is a wonderful homemade salve you can make right in your own kitchen. It is much like Tiger Balm. It is a warming salve. Would make a great gift. 1 c Calendula infused olive oil (or cayenne infused oil for extra strength) 1.3 oz beeswax 50 drops camphor essential oil 50 drops eucalyptus/peppermint essential oil 30 drops cajuput essential oil 20 drops clove essential oil 20 drops cinnamon essential oil 1 vitamin e capsule Heat beeswax with oil 30 sec at a time until melted. Add essential oils and vitamin e capsule. Pour into containers. I use 1 oz tins. Makes about 8-10 oz. Here are the rules to my link party... 1. Please post something YOU made. It doesn't matter if it is crochet, quilt, clothing, baked goods, anything would be fine. I want to see it! If you use someone's idea or patterns please give them the rightful credit. 2....

 I love this time of year with it's pretty lights, crisp air, wonderful old Christmas songs, beautifully lit Christmas trees, Christmas cookies, lit up nativity scenes, sharing gifts with others, celebrating our Savior's birth with our church family, decorating the house all cozy like, listening to the crackle of the woodstove, and watching snow fall softly (hasn't happened yet this year). This time of year makes me smile and brings joy to my heart. It's just very special. Lots of good memories associated with this season...and that my friends is what I cherish.

Stopping in today to say Merry Christmas!  We will probably be busy tomorrow to post. :)  We start off the morning with scripture then cinnamon rolls. :)  The rest of the day is spent as family time just enjoying the peace and awe of the day. I want to say Merry Christmas to those I cannot verbally wish a Merry Christmas to.  I pray your Christmas this year is as wonderful as the others.  This year is different for us, but the base is the same...Jesus. Enjoy eating all the goodies that were made for you. :)  I know I will. :)  I love that part of Christmas... I will end this sending my love to you all... Keep Christ close to your heart...

I got this from "The Legacy of the Home" I hope it makes you think, as it did I... Tonight is Christmas Eve. The stores and banks will close early. Families will be gathered at home, or visiting one another. There will be church services tonight and everyone will be pondering the birth of Christ and enjoying the Passages from the book of Luke. It is a heartwarming time of year. Yet, in some homes, there are financial woes. When these mothers think of Christmas, they despair at the idea of coming up with money for presents. They pray and cry out and wish they could afford gifts for their children. Perhaps the heating bill was too high this month? Or the car was acting up? Maybe the cost of basic food is getting to be impossible to manage. Regardless of the source of their worries, these mothers cannot imagine Christmas morning without some sadness.  They hear others say their shopping is done and the presents are wrapped , and they weep in their hearts, bec...

This is a wonderful time of year...I love "hibernating" at home by the woodstove and relaxing with the captain and Hunter.  We recently decorated the house and tree and couldn't help but be reminded of this time last year.  Hunter talked about "dad" today and how they came over and celebrated Christmas with us with a meal and we used our good china.  It was a good time...Made a good memory.  But, there is an ache behind that memory.  Not being able to celebrate this year with them and not being able to see him and wish him Merry Christmas. I sure miss him.  I hope he is well... It will take me years to shake the ache in my heart during this time of year.  But, even so, I am content with remembering the good that God allowed during this season last year. It's amazing how quickly a bond can form as if it was always there.  When it's broken, it's hurts all the more. I will continue to grow in Him and learn from all the experiences in my life....

My husband was laid off yesterday for the winter....earlier than normal.  Work has been a bit scarce these last few weeks.  It will be nice to have him home. The weather here today is rainy and cooler.  I kinda like it today.  It helps me rest. :)  On days like this I like to stay home and bake.  I'm going to be baking these today.  They sounded good to me. :) http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/coffee-fridge-cookies/ Thinking about trials the last couple days...Today in my devotional was this... "God knows that you can stand that trial; He would not give it to you if you could not.  It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be.  God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man's strength, through God, to bear it." Streams in the Desert. It helps to know that God knows I can stand the trials He ...

Here is one of my favorite scenes from LHOTP. It sums it up pretty well. ;)

I really like this time of year. Even more this year. I realize it can be overwhelming, sad, and lonely at times for some people. But, it can also be joyful, fun, and peaceful. It's a great thing to celebrate the birth of our Lord. He took on flesh and we have a high priest who can sympathize with us. :) It's also a fun time of year to be with family, eat cookies, sing, dance around goofy, play in the snow, drive around and look at the lights, and enjoy the peaceful evenings in the quiet of the house. Take time to relax and think on just what this season means. How much our Lord loves us...

Last night we celebrated Christmas early at our house with some special guests. They are wonderful people with big hearts and a love for God. I cooked ham, mash potatoes (with bacon, cheese, and sour cream), bacon green beans, and coconut cake. It was all really good minus the coconut cake. It was a little dry to me. But, hey, I ate it anyway. LOL. Here is Mama D wearing the apron I made her... This next picture I had to take to document this thing that had happened.... Dad and Ryan did the dishes! It was really nice to have them do that. I didn't know what to do with myself. LOL. I woke up this morning with NO kitchen chores to do...it was wonderful. :) It was just a wonderful time and I enjoyed spending time with them. You know, God loves me so much that He has blessed me in this way. Wow...and you know what? He loves YOU, too! He cares about us and the little things AND the big things like needing a dad. He is an amazing God whom I am glad to serve. I pray the experien...

When I was really little I had a dad that would put me in a closet when I cried, did drugs in front of me, ran from police, wasn't available to talk to, said things he shouldn't say to children, and would reject me when we had to call collect after my mom finally divorced him. I have spoken to him twice in 12 yrs. He doesn't want anything to do with me... My mom remarried and my step-dad was a good guy. He and I were not really close, but at least he didn't do the things my real dad did. He took care of us and loved us. He was killed 3 yrs ago... Now that all doesn't sound much like a blessing does it...Not really. BUT, the good Lord saw fit to restore to me some of the years that was lost without a dad. How amazing is His love for us! God has connected us with a man that has treated Ryan and I as his own children. The love he shows for us as a dad is truly amazing and selfless. For the past several months, we have grown closer to him and to Him. I have bee...

I have a sort of writer's block today. I've been tired and have had a headache for a few days...so my mind is kinda blank. ;) Haven't been up to much lately except for working on some Christmas projects. I enjoy doing those. I've also been doing the regular daily chores like cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc. But, this time of year it's fun to do them to Christmas music. :) Here's one we listened to last night while I was cookin' dinner. I was standing at the stove swaying to the music while Hunter danced around (he'll never admit it LOL) Never been to Hawaii...I bet it would be fun. :) Not too sure about the plane ride there though. ;) This month is full of blessings...God surely loves us. He is so good...how could we ever thank Him enough? By giving our lives to Him and loving others. Love...it's one of the best actions the good Lord has put in us to do. It can also be one of the hardest... What are some of your favorite Christmas cookies...

This past weekend up through yesterday was sausage makin' time. It was a tiring effort for me, but well worth it in the end. :) We ended up with breakfast sausage, italian style brats, and regular brats. That will feed our family for a while and it's all natural. :) Very yummy in my tummy. :) We had saved up some coin and saved enough to get a stuffer. We were using our grinder, but it just wasn't making it very easy on me. It grinds beautifully, but doesn't stuff so easily. So my husband bought a stuffer just for stuffing. It made the job a lot easier. I was glad for that. We were going to use the change we saved for a smoker, but that will have to wait til next year. Can you believe it's December already? Wow...this year has flown by. I must have been having a lot of fun. ;) Christmas is right around the corner. I love this time of year. Time to celebrate the birth of our Lord, time to spend making memories with family, eating lots of good food, coz...