Saying Goodbye to 2008

Well here we are! On the threshold of yet another new year. With only a few hours left in 2008, I am remembering some of the highs and lows that the year has brought to the Springer's.

In April, my step-brother Mark got married. His new bride is just as sweet as she can be and beautiful to boot! We all just love Kirstin and feel that she is a positive addition to our family. Along with Kirstin comes Miss Marley. She is Kirstin's sweet little girl. We all just think she is a doll. Mark........ya did good!

In June we welcomed our little Jackson. Jackson was born on June 20 at 8:10am via c-section. He was 7 lbs and 12 oz. He was only 18 1/2 inches long. Short little thing! He is an absolute joy to have in our family. Words alone can't express what this little bundle of joy means to me. He just melts me. I finally got my future Georgia Bulldog football player! Hold on Dawgs.......He's a coming!

Miss Morgan not only became a big sister this year, but she turned 10 years old. FINALLY, double digits! Oh the teen years are going to be SO MUCH FUN! Can you sense the sarcasm in that statement? She is now a 5th grader and is just as smart as she can be. This year she has been accepted into the gifted and talented program at school. This will be of great benefit down the road when it comes time to decide on colleges. Of course, her mother would love to see her attended the University of Georgia!

My sister Jennifer moved from Lake Saint Louis to the Lake of the Ozarks. She and Scott love it there. They say that life is like that of Mayberry. They also got a new baby this year, my new neice dog Beacon. She is a Boston Terrier. She is absolutely the cutest thing! Very laid back for a Boston! Miss Hailey turned 8 this past May and still as sweet as she is beautiful. She is such a breath of fresh air. Mr. Aiden turned 3. What a little dynamo. He is always on the go and he knows that he can melt the hearts of his Aunt Nana and Aunt Wessica! By the time he is 20, look for him to grace the cover of People magazine as the sexiest man alive!

Let's see, Ryan's dad became very ill this year and was told that he would need a liver transplant. We had some very tense moments waiting on a liver. He finally got one in August. We can't tell you how amazed we are at how well he has responded to his new liver. He is almost back to the same old David that we know and love. Please keep him your prayers and pray that he doesn't go into rejection.

We found out in October that my dad is diabetic. This was a shock to all of us. He had been out mowing the grass and was struck in the leg by a stick. He doctored it himself and thought that it would get better. Well, it only got worse. He was put into the hospital because of the infection and because of blood work that had to be done, found out that his blood sugar was off the charts. He was very lucky not to have gone into a diabetic coma at some point. Divine intervention my friends. We found out before it was too late. Daddy has had trouble adjusting to the new lifestyle but is doing much better now.

My little sister Jessica once again found a lump in her breast. She had it removed and thankfully the lump was benign. Bless her heart, she is only 25 and has had to have two masses removed. We hope that this doesn't become a trend. She and her boyfriend bought a house this year. This is a huge move for her. We are just hoping now that Kyle will put a ring on her finger! They too got a new baby this year. They also got a Boston Terrier. Her name is Zoey! She is something else. Wired!!!!!! We all love her.
My beloved Georgia Bulldogs! What can I say? They blew out Hawaii in the Sugar bowl on Jan. 1st. We went into the 2008 season rated #1. We were on the cover of SI. Only to screw it up and finish the season with 3 big losses. The loss to Georgia Tech..........well, I can't even bring myself to even finish that thought. We'll get them next year! We lost our beloved Uga VI on June 28. Only thing to say about that is "Damn Good Dawg!" He served us well and will never be forgotten. We welcomed his son, Uga VII on Aug. 30 during pre-game ceremonies at the Georgia/Georgia Southern game. We are all so proud of him already! The Dawgs will play Michigan State tomorrow in the Captiol One Bowl. Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
Well, I guess that sums up 2008 for us. We hope that 2008 was good to you and your family and pray that 2009 will only bring you love and good times.
Until then.............

Laundry, Layouts And A New Laptop

Well, our Christmas vacation has come to an end. I can't tell ya how hard it is to leave home every year and head back to Champaign. As we back down the long driveway at my dad's house, I always get that huge lump in my throat and fight back the tears. I tend to be a bit weepy all the way to the Georgia/Tennessee line. But, I usually shake it off by the time we get to the the north side of Chattanooga. Reality hits me between the eyes by then!

With the end of vacation always comes the ominous mountain of laundry. You know, the dirty clothes always tend to make their way in with the clean. Just how does this happen? So, in order to make sure that you get ALL of the dirty clothes clean you realize that you MUST wash everything. Ugggggggg. Laundry and I tend to go round and round in a vicious circle.

Ryan got me a new laptop computer for Christmas so he has been transferring all of my STUFF from the other computer to the new. I didn't realize just how much STUFF I had on the other computer. Of course, I also have had to endure the lectures on how laptops work and all of that techie stuff that Ryan insists that I know. I just smile and say, yes Ryan you have already told me that like 10 times now. I get it!

As you can tell, I have changed the background of the blog. Out with the old and in with the new! Now I need to work on the music portion. I really don't think that you want to hear Christmas music going into the new year. I sure don't!

Well, better get back to the massive mountain of laundry. I think that I need a maid for 2009! RIGHT!

Oh what fun we are having in Atlanta. The weather has been warm, but misty. I can handle the misty part and I am LOVING the warm 70's and 60's. Makes a girl not want to go back to the frozen tundra.

I have to tell ya, I haven't laughed this much in a long time. My sisters crack me up. You just never know what is going to come out of their mouths sometimes. We were up really late last night just laughing. We watched the latest Dane Cook stand-up DVD and laughed until we all just about pee'd our britches. How the kids didn't wake up really surprises me because we were so loud.

Well, I got a new laptop computer for Christmas. I was totally not expecting that at all. I've told Ryan that I wanted one but only got the typical " Oh, we can't afford that right now" speech. I was so excited when I opened up the box. I love it!

Well, I better run for now. Need to jump in the shower and try to catch more of these awesome after Christmas sales. Not that I can buy anything else at this point, but it sure is fun to see what is out there!

Until later.............

Over The River And Through The Woods

Well, today is the day that we leave for Christmas vacation. We are going to my dad's house in Georgia. It is 6:47am and we are trying to get out the door. We have to tie up a few loose ends and then we are hitting the road.

This will be Jackson's first road trip. I just hope that he will sleep most of the way!

I can't wait to get there! Both of my sister's are there along with my Dad, my niece Hailey and my nephew Aiden.

Ok. Well, until I get a chance to chat again. Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus

Once upon a time, in about the third century, in the city of Myra in modern-day Turkey, there was a young man named Nicholas. As a lad, Nicholas loved God and at an early age showed signs of becoming a strong Christian leader. By the time he was a teenager, he was often called the "Boy Bishop" and was greatly loved by everyone in the community.

Nicholas's family was very wealthy, and from the moment he received his inheritance, Nicholas began to give it away to the poor and needy. He especially loved to give gifts to children, though he always did it secretly. The best-known tale of his generosity involves three young sisters who were too poor to pay their wedding dowries. Nicholas wanted to help, but he didn't want to receive any credit for the act of charity.

Legend has it that Nicholas climbed onto the roof of their house and threw a gold coin down the chimney. The coin landed in the oldest girl's stocking as it was hanging beside the fireplace to dry. The second daughter's dowry was provided in the same mysterious way. So when the time came for the youngest girl to be married, her father hid himself on the roof and waited. Nicholas's secret was revealed, and he was loved even more than before.

Hundreds of years later, this good bishop was declared Saint Nicholas, pronounced Sinter Klass by the Dutch. Today, he is known far and wide as Santa Claus.

You may also have heard the name Kris Kringle. This comes from the Dutch work Christkindl, meaning "Christ child." Although this name is often used interchangeably with Santa Claus, it was originally created in an attempt to refocus people's attention on Jesus as the real gift-giver.

The truth is that Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, and Kris Kringle all reveal the giving heart of God, who is the original Father Christmas.

The Wise Men

Who ever said there were three of them? Or that they were at the stable with the shepherds? Or that they were even kings? A popular Christmas carol makes its vote clear: "We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts..." The Bible, however, never refers to the Mgi as kings, and they most likely journeyed from Persia rather than from what we now think of as the Orient.

Now, before you saw the crowns off your Nativity figurines, you should understand that certain Old Testament prophecies suggest this interpretation. However, when Matthew tells the story, he never calls them kings - and he doesn't call them by name, either.

The Gospel of Matthew refers to these travelers as "wise men" or "Magi," translated from the Greek word magoi - from which we get our word magician. But don't think card tricks and bunnies pulled from top hats here! These magicians were priests, powerful men of great wealth who counseled the kings of the Medo-Persian Empire.

So where did the "three wise men" story get started? That's likely a presumption based on the fact that three gifts were presented to Jesus. Which brings up yet another misconception. The Magi were not even present in the original manger scene. By the time they brought their baby shower gifts to the party, Jesus was probably close to two years old.

And what strange gifts they were!

Gold? Frankincense? Myrrh? A gold rattle, perhaps, or a little gold baby spoon. But who would bring spices to a toddler? Let's see if we can clear that one up.

Gold signified royalty and acknowledges Christ as the King of kings Frankincense was used in worship and denotes the deity of Jesus. Myrrh was most commonly used in preparation for burial and represents the death of the Son of Man, who would rise to sit at the right hand of the Father as the Son of God.

Who would give such strange gifts to a baby? Wise men would.

Nativity Scenes

The Nativity scene, also referred to as the creche, or crib, is the symbol of Christmas. It illustrates the night of Jesus' birth and the beginning of His-story. But we know that God wrote this story long before the first Christmas Eve.

From the moment when Adam and Eve sinned, mankind was seperated from God. This broke the Father's heart, and so immediately He set the plan in motion to send His Son, the Messiah, to restore the Father's relationship with His children - because this relationship is the reason He created us in the first place.
Like and father who has an extra-special present already wrapped and ready to give to his children, God could hardly wait to give the gift of His Son to the world. But just like the dreaded sticker reads, "Do not open 'til Christmas," God chose to wait until the fulfillment of time. That didn't mean He couldn't drop a few hints along the way. Throughout Scripture we see that God revealed bits and pieces of the big surprise to His children. Even not knowing all the details, they knew enough to get excited. Because of this, the children of Isreal knew that God was going to send the Messiah to redeem His people. The Scriptures revealed that the child would be born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, and would be a decendant of their beloved King David. Some believed that other Old Testament passages may have pointed to the star of Bethlehem and the gifts of the Magi.
Can you see how many of the pieces in the nativity scene illustrates a fulfillment of prophecy? The stable in Bethlehem, Mary the virgin mother, Joseph the direct descendant of David, the star, the wise men bearing gifts from the East, and, of course , the baby Jesus.
The the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12, NKJV).

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane — a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Immunizations & Crazy Cold Weather

Sorry that I am posting so late this evening. I had to take my sweet little Jackson to the doctor today for his 6 month well-baby visit and immunizations. I just hate those days. I have dreaded it all weekend. There is just nothing more that can upset me than to see my sweet, happy smiling little boy happy one second and then the look of total pain and shock the next. I don't know who cried more, me or Jackson. I will say this, he didn't cry as long this time as he did his last set of shots. Dummy me, I forgot to give him Tylenol before we left for his appointment. By the time we got home this afternoon, you could just tell that he didn't feel well. Sweet baby is sleeping well at the moment. I just hope that he will sleep all night.

The weather is CRAZY cold! Yesterday we could go outside without a jacket, today it is below freakin zero with the windchill. I can't wait until Sunday so that we can drive south and thaw! I'm really hoping that Atlanta has nice weather while we are there. After enduring the last few winters here in the frozen tundra, we deserve some warm weather at Christmas. Ryan says that we should warm up to the upper 30's by Thursday. Thanks! Nice heat wave!

Well, better run. Need to finish up a few things before it is time for bed. I promise more Christmas meanings to come............Stay tuned!

Christmas Dinner

Jesus was always inviting Himself over for a meal - and what a dinner guest He was! You never knew quite what to expect when He stepped through the door. You might witness a miracle between the first course and the second. You might hear, for better or worse, surprising truths about yourself. You might find yourself serving a ragtag cast of characters from the other side of the tracks. One time Jesus even provided the wine - 180 gallons of it!

One of His last acts before He died was to break bread with the people closest to Him. Today we remember His death on the cross for our sins when we drink the cup and eat the bread of Communion.

Knowing all this about Jesus, we shouldn't be surprised that the first celebration of His birth was a feast - specifically, the Feast of the Nativity, which originated in Rome during the fourth century. Although there are no records of such a feast in the early church, and you won't find it in the Bible, it isn't out of character with either. The Old Testament brims with feasts designed by God and given to His people. And as we've seen in the New Testament accounts of His life, Jesus loved to eat with His friends. (Sounds like a pretty good endorsement for feasting to me.)

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us that the great banquet will be one of the first things we experience together in heaven. As one angel put it, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). Do you know how to get invited to the party? Jesus said, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends" (Revelation 3:20).

As you sit at the table for Christmas dinner and thank God for the food, remember Jesus. If you've invited Him to step through the door and be Lord of your life, what better time to do it than at Christmas? It's His birthday, and - from then on and forever - it will be your, too.

~ (Here is an all time favorite drink at the Springer's house at Christmas)

I can't imagine that Wassail was not served at the very first Feast of the Nativity. Even if it wasn't, we can still serve it at our Christmas feast.

CHRISTMAS WASSAIL

1 gal. apple cider

1 tsp. ground allspice

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1 6oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 6oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Combine 2 cups of the apple cider with the allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a large Dutch oven or Crock Pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining cider, brown sugar, lemonade, and orange juice to the hot mixture, stirring well to dissolve the sugar, heat until very hot (do not boil). Makes 41/2 quarts.

Enjoy! :)

The 12 Days of Christmas

I know you've heard of Chrismas cookies and Christmas carols, but have you ever heard of Christmas code? It just may be that the song "The Tweleve Days of Christmas" is really about more than partridges and golden rings.
For nearly three hundred years, it was against the law in England to be a member of the Catholic church. Well, that didn't keep Catholic parents from wanting to teach their children about God, but in order to do so they had to be creative.
And here, once again, is where we leave the world of certain history and move into the misty realms of legend. As the story goes, several of these concerned parents got together and wrote "The Twelve Days of Christmas." They used a secret code hidden in the song to teach their children about the things of God. Let me crack the code for you!
"My true love" represents God, who gives all the gifts listed in the song.
"A partridge in a pear tree" is Jesus, who gave His life on a tree (the cross).
"Two turtle doves" symbolizes the Old and New Testaments.
"Three French Hens" are faith, hope, and love.
"Four calling birds" speak of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
"Five golden rings: correspond to the first five books of the Bible, also-known as the Pentateuch.
"Six geese a-laying" stand for the six days of creation.
"Seven swans a-swimming" are the seven gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12:6-8).
"Eight maids a-milking" point to the eight beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3-10).
"Nine ladies dancing" signify the nine fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
"Ten lords a-leaping" represent the Ten Commandments.
"Eleven pipers piping" are the eleven faithful disciples. And finally.....
"Twelve drummers drumming" call to mind the twelve points of the Apostle's Creed.
Learning this song would help the children remember some important facts about Christianity. Best of all, they could sing it publicly! When they did they declaired their allegiance to the King of kings.

Opening Presents

Traditions! At no other time of the year are traditions more important than at Christmastime. A tradition is like a secret password that allows you into the club and tells you that you belong to something bigger than yourself. Traditions bind people together as family, church, nation, or culture.

Some Christmas customs and rituals cross cultural lines; others define them. In Australia, Santa's sleigh is pulled by eight white kangaroos. In Finland, it is traditional to take a sauna bath before Santa's visit. In Spain, Papa Noel delivers presents by climbing up balconies. And in New Zealand, Christmas is in summer, so families head to the beach for a yule-"tide" picnic.

When and how to open gifts is another traditions that varies world over. Should presents be opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Do you put them under the tree or hide them in the branches? Are they wrapped or unwrapped? One thing is certain: In the end, it doesn't really matter how a present is opened as long as it is opened.

What if you had put a lot of thought into finding the perfect present to give someone you love very much? This gift cost you more than anybody could ever know, but to you, this person was worth it. Now how would you feel if the one you adore never opened the gift, or refused to even receive it?

God gave the gift of His Son, Jesus, to you. Have you opened your heart to receive Him as your Savior? The Bible says, "It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you"(1 Corinthians 11:2, The Message). This Christmas, it would please the Lord if you would open the gift He has given you.

You don't even have to wait until Christmas. :)

(The above picture is of my mom and my sister Jennifer. Christmas 1980. Jenn was 4 years old.)

The Colors Of Christmas

When we think of Christmas, we often paint a picture in our minds with strokes of green and red against a canvas of white, with a touch of silver and gold here and there. Why are these colors most commonly associated with Christmas? Who was the first artist to choose these hues from their palette? It was God. It is He who paints the seasons with colors.

Think about it. Which colors come to mind when someone mentions Easter? Azalea pink, lavender iris, buttercup yellow? The most common colors of springtime in bloom. The same is true for Thanksgiving, when we decorate with pumpkin orange, roasted-turkey brown, and maple-leaf red. At Christmastime, God decorates the world with splashes of holly and berries set against a backdrop of snow - with a flash of the sun reflecting in an icicle, just for dramatic effect.

God uses the language of color to help His people understand eternal truths. "Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool'"(Isaiah 1:18, NIV).

Over the years, tradition has ascribed special meaning to the colors of Christmas. Green suggests life - the eternal "ever-green" life we have in Christ. Red recalls the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for us. White speaks of the purity of the spotless Lamb. Gold celebrates the divine nature of God's Son and reminds us that He is the great King. Silver commemorates the price that was paid for His betrayal - and our redemption from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

As we decorate this Christmas, let the green of the wreath, the red of the poinsettia, the white of the snowman, the gold of the trumpet, and the silver of the tinsel remind us of the Master Painter and prompt us to praise Him for His creative us of color in our world.

(The picture above is of my mother and myself. Christmas 1971. I was 8 months old.)

The ADVENTure of Christmas

I was given a book a few years ago for Christmas. I always put it out on the side table next to the couch because the cover is just so cute and festive this time of the year. I picked it up this evening and was thumbing through it and realized that I should share some of the things in the book with you. So, over the next few days I'll be posting a few things that I thought were interesting. The book is called, "The ADVENTure of Christmas ~ Helping children find Jesus in our holiday traditions": Written by Lisa Whelchel

I so want to instill the things that I have learned from this little book in my children as they grow up. Only to pass these learning's on to their children. And so on , and so on. I wish that I would have been taught these little tales as I was growing up and was being taught what Christmas really means. I just hope that you too are inspired to pass these little nuggets of knowledge on to your children as well. Happy reading!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

It is said that in the seventh century a zealous young English missionary was the first person to use the evergreen tree as a symbol for God. Winfrid, who would later become known as Saint Boniface, used the tree as an object lesson. He taught that each point on the triangular-shaped tree represented a different person of the Holy Trinity --Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Legend has it that one day Winfrid came upon a group of men offering a sacrifice to an oak tree as an act of worship. So angered was he by this idolatry that Winfrid swung his ax and felled the oak tree with one mighty blow. According to the tale, a fir tree eventually grew from the stump of the oak. Struck by this occurrence, the missionary proclaimed that the tiny new tree represented Jesus' victory over death on the cross and and the eternal life mad available to us by the King of kings.

The Christmas tree is a beautiful reminder of why Jesus was born in the first place-to die for you and me. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24, NIV). As we put up the Christmas tree in our homes, it can only deepen our joy if we remember His death at this time of His birth. It is because He died for us that we can receive the eternal life represented by the evergreen boughs.

Have you ever noticed that the boughs of your tree extend out like the arms of Jesus stretched out upon the cross as He offered His life to anyone who would come to Him in faith? And your Christmas tree is very definitely pointing toward heaven and, as Jesus did with His words and actions, drawing our attention to the Father who loves us.

So, when you stand before your Christmas tree, stand tall, as the tree does, and be a witness for Jesus. Let it direct your attention to the Father above. Fix your eyes on Jesus, then open your arms wide to touch others with His Spirit of love. Then you, too, will be pointing people toward heaven- and to life beyond the power of death.

Hustle Saturday!

Man, I have got alot to do today and so little time to get it done! You know how most Saturday's are. Got to get all the things done that you just couldn't get done during the week! I know that you know what I'm talking about! Let's see what all is on my list of to do's:

Wal-Mart: Milk! Didn't realize until this morning how low we are. Baby food! Jackson is about to graduate from rice cereal and oatmeal to fruits and veggies. Oh how messy that is going to be. Diapers! This one doesn't need any further description.

Target: Laundry Detergent for Jackson. Because we have a HE washing machine and Dreft and Ivory Snow don't make their detergent for HE machines! Go Figure!

Sally's: Lusterizing Cream. It's a smoothing polisher cause my hair can get really frizzy up here in the frozen tundra! Styling mousse: Cause what girl doesn't use mousse? Leave-in Conditioner. Cause my hair is so dry it needs that extra moisture!

Ok! So, there ya have my little list. I'm sure that I will be adding more to that list as I see things as I go this morning. Or, as I see things that just look like I need them at the store. Funny how you just go for a few items and end up with WAY more than you had intended to buy. Ryan is the worst! He will go to Wal-mart to buy a loaf of bread and he gets destracted by ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that is shiny! His head will turn a full 360 if he sees something that may excite him. You just know that he is thinking " OHHHHHH, Shiny! Must go touch and see! So predictable!

I am going to meet my friend Jennifer Briski at 3 PM to go see Four Christmas's at the theater. That means that I must bundle up and wear a turtleneck, sweatshirt, biggest coat that I have, gloves and a scarf. That is just to sit in the theater just to watch the movie!!!! What's up with movie theaters cranking up the AIR CONDITIONING on the coldest day of the year? Jenn and I went to see House about 3 weeks ago and we both thought that we had the worst case of frost bite EVER! I'll let ya know if the movie is good or not. Vince Vaughn is in it so you know that it has to be funny! I'll keep ya posted!

Ok, well gonna run for now! Need to get myself together and get out the door before it really starts snowing!

Oh, before I forget.........I did get all of the Christmas decorations up yesterday!!! YEAH ME! Now I just need to get Ryan motivated to put the Christmas decoration up outside. Right!!!!!

Christmas a go-go!

Well, looks like Christmas is in full gear here at the Springer house. Ryan finally got down all of the Christmas "stuff" from the attic, so now it's time to decorate. Morgan (bless her little heart) actually put all of the Christmas balls on the tree by herself last night. She did a really good job too! Ryan and I both were so busy with other things that we just didn't have time to help with that part of the tree decorating. Funny how having a 5 month old can throw a kink in your plans.

I am going to be putting up all of the other decorations today while little guy is down for his naps. Let just see how much I really get done. You just never know how long he is going to sleep. That has become a guessing game around here!

I have only bought a few gifts so far. I'm usually that last person running around one of the malls in Atlanta Christmas Eve. Retailers must really hate me. They want to get home to their families to enjoy their Christmas Eve festivities and there is that ding-dong who waits until almost closing who can't seem to make up her mind. Yep! That would be me! Sorry about that all of you retail people. I promise to do my very best this year to get out of the mall by noon. Right!!!!!!!!!

Ok, well I guess I better get at it folks. I'll try to get Ryan to take a picture of the end result so that ya'll can see the final outcome. Until then, Happy Decorating!

Welcome Ya'll!

Well, I must say that this is a new day for me! I now have a Blog! Who would've thunk it?

Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog and checking it out. I am new at this blog thing so please be patient with me as I " tinker" with the site a bit. This is a learning process for me (I am a bit on the slow side when it comes to the computer) so Ryan is trying to teach me the ins and outs of the blogging world. Can you hear the frustration coming from both of us?

Anyway, this will be my way of keeping friends and family in the loop (so to speak) when it comes to our family. I can promise lots of laughs, sighs, tears and most of all, lots of love.

Keep checking back with me as I get this gig up and running!

Recipes From Our Kitchen :: Soups

BAKED POTATO SOUP

• 12 slices bacon
• 2/3 cup margarine
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 7 cups milk
• 4 large baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.

In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.

---

SANTA FE SOUP

• 1 can Black Beans
• 1 can Pinto Beans
• 1 can Kidney Beans
• 1 can corn1 (28oz.) can tomatoes
• 1 can Rotel Tomatoes
• 1 pkt. Taco Seasoning
• 1 pkt. Ranch Dressing
• 1 lb. ground beef, browned
• 1 cup water
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Fritos

Pour beans, corn, tomatoes, rotel, taco seasoning, ranch dressing and browned ground beef into crock-pot. Add water. Stir well. Turn crock-pot on high for at least 4 hours. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, cheddar cheese and Frito's. Also good to serve with corn bread.

---

Goulash

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 pound ground turkey
2 large onions, chopped
3 cups water 1 (29-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
3 bay leaves
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 cups dried elbow macaroni

In a Dutch oven, saute the ground beef and ground turkey over medium-high heat, until no pink remains. Break up meat while sauteing; spoon off any grease. Add the onions to the pot and saute until they are tender about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, House Seasoning, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Place a lid on the pot and allow this to cook for 20 to 25 minutes.
Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid to the pot, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves and allow the mixture to sit about 30 minutes more before serving.

House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Recipes From Our Kitchen :: Beverages

Let-It-Snow Cocoa

2 c. whipping cream
6 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
12-oz. pkg. white chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Stir well to blend before serving. Makes 10 servings.

---

Best-Ever Lemonade

zest and juice of 4 lemons
1 c. sugar
2-ltr. bottle club soda, chilled
Garnish: lemon slices

Combine lemon zest, juice and sugar in a 2-quart pitcher. Add club soda slowly; mix well. Serve over ice with lemon slices. Makes about 2 quarts.

---

Recipes From Our Kitchen :: Desserts

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle


2 (14-ounce) packages gingerbread mix
1 (5.1-ounce) box cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
1 (30-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping
1/2 cup gingersnaps, optional

Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped topping. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl.

---

Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (6-ounce) package raspberry creme filled dark chocolate baking pieces (recommended: Hershey's Premier Dark Chocolate Baking Pieces Filled With Raspberry Creme)
Raspberry Icing, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars together at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.
In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in baking pieces. Drop cookies by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes.
Remove to wire racks to cool. Once cool, drizzle with Raspberry Icing.

Raspberry Icing:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon seedless raspberry preserves

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring until smooth.

---

SYMPHONY BROWNIES

1 17.6-ounce package brownie mix (I use Duncan Hines Hershey)
3 6-ounce Symphony candy bars with almonds and toffee chips

1. Prepare the brownie mix according to the package directions.

2. Line a 13 x 9-inch cake pan with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil cooking spray.
Spoon in half of the brownie batter and smooth with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Place
the candy bars side by side on top of the batter. Cover with the remaining batter.

3. Bake according to package directions. Let cool completely, then lift from the pan using the
edges of the foil. This makes it easy to cut the brownies into squares.

Recipes From Our Kitchen :: Casseroles

Chicken and Rice Casserole

2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
3 cups diced, cooked chicken
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans green beans, drained and rinsed
1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1 (4-ounce) jar pimentos
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (6-ounce) box long-grain wild rice, cooked according to package directions
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar Pinch
salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat butter or oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.
Add all remaining ingredients to bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined.
Pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.