A New Year...A Clean Slate!

For those of you who know me well, I'm pretty sure that you know the side of me that gets sentimental and contemplative...and wordy.
A brand new year brings out this side of me faster than any other I can think of! So if you are in a hurry or don't really want to read another "Long Boring Book, by Sheila", you can quit right now (I will never know).

I usually spend the week between Christmas and New Year, sleeping in, de-Christmas-ing the house, being with family, and contemplating the year behind me, as well as the year ahead.

I like to think that I make the most of each year, and "squeeze it for all it is worth."
The other part of me knows that many years have come and gone, and I have not lived up to my full potential. I have spent years wrapped up in the very things that Christ came to free me from. Living bound and a prisoner to selfishness, anger, bitterness, guilt....

This year, 2007, has been one of inward searching and longing for my life to be about much more than "me". I am finding out that most of us women long for our lives to be about something eternal. We want to make a mark on the world. What we are searching for is simply one thing...significance! We go to a lot of work and sometimes, years of heartache, hoping that someone will finally notice, and give us a smidgen of credit or validation.
What I learned is that I have been spending too much of my time hoping others notice me and what I do, and too little time concerned about what Christ sees in me. "Oh, God forgive me!!"

This morning in our worship at Boise First, Pastor Darrell had us bow our heads in prayer, then to hold our hands in the shape of a bowl. He then asked us to mentally fill that bowl with all the things from this last year that we are not proud of. The bad attitudes and sins that fill us and keep us from being useful in God's kingdom; anger that corrupts and consumes us....then Pastor Darrell asked us to open our hands and release the things in our bowl to God.
We then were encouraged to make another bowl, and to ask Christ to fill it with His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His love and His peace....for a brand new year!
This time was so powerful for me today! It reminded me of the words to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness...morning by morning, new mercies I see..."
In that moment, I pleaded with God to take it all and to make my bowl a vessel that He can purify and use for His purpose and will.

I have many things that I want to do in the coming year. I have grand plans to do things better, get caught up on my scrapbooks, be a better wife and mom, journal more, get all of my recipes organized, teach my children to do laundry....but more than all of those, I so long be in deeper relationship with Christ.
I must quit "doing" and spend more time "being. " Being a lover of the Word, being in communion with Christ all throughout my day, being a searcher, being a servant, being a follower...simply being...in Him!

My prayer is that through the act of being, I will find true significance in Christ. Knowing that He created me simply for His pleasure. Isn't that such an amazing thought!!

My Bible verse that I am claiming for this coming year is:
Philippians 1: 9-11
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

Happy New Year!
Sheila

P.S. The part about teaching my children to do laundry...I am really serious! Much to their agony, they will be doing their own laundry very soon, or I will have to go on strike!
I can just hear my grandma..."Oh, dear, you don't know how good you've got it! I used to do laundry for all nine of us on an old washboard, with lye soap...then I had to hang it all, and then iron it...."
So, my response to her would be, "Grandma, I am so proud of you, but obviously, you were a much better, stronger woman that I am, and I must have help!!!"
I also intend for each of my children to leave home knowing how to do laundry, cook a decent meal or two, and keep a clean house! So this is just a mom taking a step in the right direction!

Portraits of Christmas

The Taylor Kids in Christmas jammies

Alex with his race-track

Nikki and Emme

Megan

Alyssa and Ash

Davenport/Horn Christmas

Ashley

Alex

Nikki doing Kit's hair

Christmas at Grandma Sue's

"Cousin pile-up"

Nikki, Kenlee & Alyssa with their Christmas Train

Girls and their dolls (Grandma Margaret made all the matching jammies)

Baby Brittney & Baby Katie

Merry Christmas from the Taylor's!!!

Highly Recommended!

For those of you who live in the Treasure Valley, I have a restaurant I would like to recommend.
The "Brick 29 Bistro" is an experience all in itself!
It is owned by Dustan and Keila Bristol. (Keila worked with Duane in Physical Therapy several years ago.) We just found out last week that she and her husband are the owners of this amazing Bistro!

Dustan has been a chef for several restaurants in Boise, and is very qualified in his field! I love that he uses local fruits, vegetables and meats in his dishes.

Today, I took Duane there for lunch, and we shared the BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado and Tomato), and the Turkey Sandwich. Dustan told us today, that the BLAT is the most requested lunch item. We were also very impressed with the Turkey. It has herb cream cheese, French brie, ligonberry mustard and shredded Granny Smith apples piled on it. It had so many different flavors, and as Aaron would say, "It was a party in your mouth!"

We topped our meal off with the Chocolate Orange Cake(for Duane's birthday). Duane said it had to be the best dessert he has ever had! He really did say that!

Located in Nampa in the Old Masonic Temple, it has such character, and Dustan and Keila have made the atmosphere at the Bistro, unique and relaxing, while the decor feels classic and fresh!

If you are looking for a great place to eat...you won't be disappointed!

www.brick29.com

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

I am so blessed to be married to the greatest guy ever!
Duane and I have been "in love" for 18 years! He came into my life, and loved me for who God had created me to be, and for what he saw in me! For that, I will be forever grateful!

Tomorrow is his birthday, and I want the world to know what a great man he is!!


Darling,
Your love for God and us, shows up in every area of your life. You are a committed provider, loving husband, and a fun, gentle & kind father.
I hope you know how loved you are!
Forever-
Sheila

Let's Party!

Tonight, Duane and I hosted "The Aman Family Christmas" in our home. (The torch was officially passed on to me).

We had such a great time! I think there was right at 30 Aman's in the house! There were nearly that many that were unable to come, and they were missed!

Thanks to Mark, we watched old "Aman Family" movies, that he had transferred to DVD. That was a hoot to see!

God has been so good, and tonight I praise Him for blessing me with such a loving family!

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Today is my sister-in-law, Stephanie's, birthday! (she is in the brown vest)

Steph came into the family, when she married Duane's brother, Terry.
I remember my very first reaction to her. (She had flown to Idaho to meet the family). She walked into the house, and I thought: (A) "she is pretty" (B) "she is soooo quiet".

Little did I know that 10 years later, my idea of her being quiet, would change so dramatically!
Don't get me wrong, she is not a loud, obnoxious person...but quiet? Not around this family! She is the most fun, hilarious person in our family. She is the life of the party! She can make tears run down your face! ("Thank God He did!")
Steph is among many other things: kind, compassionate, giving, merciful, ambitious, creative...

She is a wonderful mommy to three absolutely beautiful little girls-Brooklyn, Bridgette & Baby Brittney.

Steph, thank you for being such a sweet sister! I am grateful that you are part of my family. Terry made a wise choice when he chose you!

May God bless you abundantly on your day!
Happy Birthday!
Sheila

P.S. These is the only picture that I could find of Steph. I will have to start taking more of her!!

O Christmas Tree(s)

Ashley and Nikki made these this afternoon. We are having a Christmas party for our small group tonight, and these are finger-food desserts for the party.

I think they turned out lovely! Good job, girls!

Our Snow Day!

As a Home-Schooling Family, we don't usually have trouble getting to school in the snow, so our need for "Snow Days" is well....zilch!
That is until today. We woke up to snow falling, and the children were bummed that they couldn't go play in it.
Then Cherylyn called and said that Alyssa couldn't come to school today, because she is sick.
I hung up the phone, thought about how little snow we Idahoan's (in the valley) get, and how I could make three kids very happy today...So I hollered up the stairs that we were going to take a snow day! You should have heard the celebration! They all made sure I knew that they loved me, and I got three BIG hugs!

The children bundled up and headed out into the winter wonderland. Our little neighbor, Lexie, saw the kids coming out to play, and she was thrilled! She soon joined them.
Although our snowfall at it's deepest, might have measured at 1/2 inch, we all agreed that it sure made everything look pretty!
Nikki threw some snow in the air, and proclaimed: "I love Christmas!" She has always related snow to Christmas. Funny Girl!

As the kids made snow creations, mom was inside catching up on some housework. Then I made sugar cookies, hot cocoa, and toasted cheese sandwiches, for the kids to enjoy when they came in.
They ate lunch, and then had fun frosting the cookies. They are beautiful! You might notice that one or two of them have BSU colors. We are big fans!

So, what if we have to catch up on one day of school...we've made some great memories today!

We rang the bells!

This afternoon, Ashley, Alex, Nikki and myself, stood in front of JC Penny's and rang bells for "The Salvation Army."
Last week, we heard that they were very short on volunteer bell ringers this year, so I called and was given an assignment immediately!

I have to say that it was a walk in the park! It was only two hours out of our life...two hours that gave us a lifetime of blessings.
The children were a little apprehensive at first, but about 20 minutes into it, they were opening doors for the customers, saying, "Merry Christmas", and arguing about whose turn it was to ring the bell.
Almost every single person that walked by was kind and gracious, and many stopped and spoke with us. One older gentleman, looked at me as he put a $20.00 in the bucket, and said, "The Salvation Army saved my life many years ago!"

We are scheduled to do it again this next week...so, if you see our family wearing red aprons that say, "I am a Bell Ringer", and ringing the little bell, please stop and say hi to us...oh, yeah, bring a dollar or two to put in our bucket!

LET IT SNOW!

We are getting snow....not alot....but a little is better than none at all!
The little neighbor girl just built a tiny snowman. It is adorable!

My conversation with Nikki today-

Nikki: "Mommy, I want to write a Christmas book about Baby Jesus."

Mommy: "I think that is a great idea!"

Nikki: "But, I forgot how it starts, and I need you to help me."

Mommy: "Okay, remember that in the Bible it tells that an angel came down to Mary, and told her that she was chosen to be Jesus' mommy. " "I would think that may be where you would want to start?"

Nikki: "Mooooommmm! You have it all wrong!"
"Pastor Michelle told us that, first an angel visited Zacherius in the Temple, and told him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, were going to be parents"
"And, you know what?...they were really, really old!"
"And then the angel went to Mary and told her that she was going to have a baby, and that his name would be Jesus. "
"I think that the angel told Joseph too!"

Mommy: "That would be a great place to start!"


I LOVE CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE EYES OF MY CHILDREN!!!

Hazelnut Truffles

I am making these as gifts this year. Who knows, maybe you will get some???
I watched Ina Garten, otherwise known as the Barefoot Contessa, make these on the food network. They were fast and easy!
For those of us who find ourselves craving chocolate, these should be "to die for!!"

Hazelnut Truffles

1 cup hazelnuts
3 1/2 ounces good bittersweet chocolate
3 1/2 ounces good semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon prepared coffee
1/2 teaspoon good vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Chop the hazelnuts and place them on a sheet pan. Roast them in the oven for 10 minutes. (If the hazelnuts have skin on them, roast them for 25 minutes.) Set aside to cool.

Chop the chocolates finely and place in a bowl.

Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it boils. Immediately pour the hot cream through a fine-meshed sieve into the bowl with the chocolates. With a wire whisk, slowly stir the cream and chocolates together until the chocolate is completely melted. (If the chocolate doesn't melt completely, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir for a few minutes just until it melts.) Whisk in the coffee, and vanilla. Cover and chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour until pliable but firm enough to scoop.

With 2 teaspoons or a 1 1/4-inch ice cream scoop, make dollops of the chocolate mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes, until firm enough to roll into rough spheres. Roll the chocolate in the chopped hazelnuts and chill again. Truffles are best when they're allowed to set overnight in the refrigerator.

Now, since I am in a weight shedding contest with a couple friends, and they are going to be calling me out for sharing a chocolate truffle recipe, I will include the following recipe to redeem myself. I have not made these, but they sound delicious! The gal who gave me the recipe, is putting the dry ingredients in jars, and giving them as gifts.

Whole-wheat and Bran Buttermilk Pancakes

1 1/2 cups quality whole wheat flour (I buy Bob's Red Mill Organic)
1 1/2 cups quality unbleached white flour (same as above)
1/4 cup course oat bran
1/4 cup wheat bran
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon (if desired)
1 Tbls. baking soda
Mix dry ingredients using whisk.
Add:
3 eggs (fresh if at all possible!)
2-3 cups of buttermilk (start with 2 cups, then add by the 1/4 cupful until reaching desired consistency)
Mix well and drop by 1/4 cupfuls on nonstick griddle. Eat with fresh fruit, preserves, or real maple syrup. These are delicious AND healthy! This recipe will make about 24 pancakes. Save and wrap any extra in a ziploc bag after cooling. They are easy to microwave and serve again for a quick breakfast. Enjoy!

Let's say thanks!

I received an email today with this link:

www.letssaythanks.com

You can go to this site, pick a patriotic thank you card that Xerox will send to a member of our troops, serving in Iraq.
There is absolutely no cost to do this.

I just thought I would pass this on!

The Comings & Goings of The Tooth Fairy

We are not sure what the Tooth Fairy's schedule entails every night, but one thing we do know is that "she" came to our house last night, and left a dollar under Nikki's pillow!!
Yesterday at Grandma Sue's house, Nikki pulled her very first tooth, with Alyssa's support and prompting.
She was so thrilled and giggled non-stop for a few minutes. It was funny! I think she was most excited because, Grandpa Bob always gives the kids two dollars when they loose their teeth. So, after he gave her the cash, she said, "Ash, look what Grandpa Tooth Fairy gave me!"