Chocolate Giveaway @ Country Pleasures

My mother-in-love is having a giveaway on her blog at Country Pleasures (you can go to it from my blog-just click on the link under A Family Tradition). It's got to do with chocolate and that's all she's telling us! You have until Valentine's day to sign up so hurry on over to sign up! Who doesn't love chocolate? Yum-O!!!!

A Game of Tag!

I found this pic off the internet. It's cute. It's strawberries in the shape of hearts. Very fitting for Valentine's Day!

I've been tagged to answer these questions all with the #4 so here goes!


4 Movies I'd watch over and over: The Notebook, Because I Said So, Sweet Home Alabama & The Love Comes Softly Series

4 Places I've lived: I have only lived in Missouri, but Rob & I have moved a lot so I'll just list the first 4 streets we've lived on: Sesson St, Arkansas St, Utah St, & W. Third (now we live on E Third! With 2 other moves between W 3rd & E 3rd)

4 Shows I watch: Jericho, 24, One Tree Hill & FRIENDS (cuz I own all 10 Seasons-I used to watch Gilmore Girls when it was on-it's my fav show-I plan on buying all 7 of those seasons!)

4 Places I have been: Panama, Mexico, Louisville KY, Memphis TN

4 People who email me: Sue, Sheila, Rob & Danny L

4 Favorite things to eat: Chinese, Mexican, Ravioli & Pizza

4 Places I would rather be: Heaven, church, in a new house & ditto Sue-I'm always happy at home

4 Things that I look forward to this year: watching Chloe grow-she will be 3 this year!, buying our first home, our new church that my hubby pastors growing, & seeing friends & family members that have strayed from God or don't know God to be saved, come back to him & be in church

4 people to tag: Terri, Jules, Nin & Deby so girls Tag your it! Have fun!

Snowy Days & Hot Chocolate Go Hand In Hand

It's snowing today in our town. It started about 9, and has snowed all day off and on. It's now night time, and cold enough it's going to freeze. My favorite thing to do on a cold, rainy or snowy day is to curl up with a blanket and good book and drink either hot tea or hot chocolate. So, in honor of today being our first official snow day in West Plains, I decided to search the internet for a homemade hot chocolate recipe. I found tons of them but decided on this one. I like peppermint and hot chocolate so why not put them together? Now, I haven't actually tried this myself, but I will in the next few days and let you know how it turns out. If anyone else tries it-please feel free to let us know how it tastes! You can find this recipe and many more at http://coffeetea.about.com/od/chocolaterecipes/r/whpeppchoc.htm
Enjoy!

White Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 oz white chocolate, chopped
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 6 hard peppermint candies, crushed fine
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 2/3 cup whipping cream

PREPARATION:

Beat chilled cream with crushed mints until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate for about an hour. Meanwhile, heat milk to a simmer, them mix in chocolate. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth. Add mint extract and stir through.

Pour into mugs and top with minty whipped cream.
Serves 4

Simplify Your Space

Well-it's been awhile since I've made a post on here. I've been really busy. Chloe had the pink eye last week but only for a day Thank God! Rob's work hours are better and I'm subbing a lot. The church is going great! So that's a quick update. I've been reading a new book I got the other day called Simplify Your Space. It's a Women of Faith Book. I LOVE it! As I read, I'm going to post ideas and suggestions on here so visit me often! The author uses the CALM approach to organized space.
C= Create a plan A= Approach it by sections L=Lighten up and let go M= Manage it simply

The first chapter is taking your kitchen by sections, cleaning everything out, organizing it and getting rid of the things that aren't necessary to keep. I'm fixing to clean my kitchen this way so I will do a before and after pic! Until then, Hope everyone is having a good Monday and enjoy the rest of your week! God bless!


I made the red heart pillow for our Etsy store. It's available now so head on over to heart2home.etsy.com and shop til you drop! Remember-any of my items that I list on my blogs, if you buy directly from me, I won't charge you shipping and handling!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. I pray each of you have a blessed new year. It's been a wonderful year for us, especially with Rob becoming a new pastor. We look forward to the new year and what God has in store for our family and our new church. In the excitement and spirit of Christmas, let us never forget and always hold dear to our hearts that the TRUE meaning of Christmas is Jesus' birthday. He is the reason for the season. He is the reason for life. If we don't have him as our personal savior and haven't repented of our sins, we have nothing. We lose out on eternal life in heaven with him. I pray each of you know Christ and if you don't, please don't put off salvation any longer. What better time to accept him than on the day we celebrate and honor his birth. The greatest gift you could ever receive is the gift of salvation. Christmas begins with Christ so keep Christ in your heart and life all year long.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.......

Christmas Blessings to all! I trust everyone is doing well and keeping warm now that winter is pretty much here! We're supposed to get snow this weekend-anywhere from 1-8 inches. I pray it comes later tonight b/c our Christmas program is tonight at church and I don't want to postpone it! Pray for the kids tonight. The little kids will have their program at 6 and then the teens play will be around 6:30 when the little kids are done. I work with the little kids and they have been working so hard on their songs and reading parts. I pray that all goes well for them tonight! I'm in the teens' play-I play a teenager! This weekend is the last time to get your name in for my Ornament Swap-I will draw names Monday and let you know then so that you can get it out before Christmas. I only have 4 people that have signed up, so calling all bloggers to participate in my swap! PLEASE! well-gotta go finish cleaning house and do some stuff before practice tonight. Take care and God bless!

Christmas Ornament Swap

Christmas is my favorite holiday and favorite time of year. I love decorating my house for this blessed season. It's so much fun, and even more fun now that I have a child. She's 2 and 1/2 and really into Christmas this year. She loves the lights, the trees and all that goes with it! She has her own 3 ft tree in the living room with the big one and she even decorated it herself-with a little help from mom. In light of the Christmas spirit-I would like to have a Christmas Ornament Swap. I think this would be fun. So-I'm going to give it a few days to have any interested contestants sign up by leaving me a post or emailing me at melissaluck@yahoo.com and then I'll draw the names and let you guys know so you can get them out in the next week or so. Please pass it on to all your blog buddies so they can join in. I don't have many blog friends and would love to meet many many more! Also, I challenge any who wants to either leave it on my blog or on yours or on both-what your favorite tree ornament is. I have many favorites-my most favorites are the snowmen with our names on it but I really like this crotched Santa stocking ornament that I have. It would be my fav. Also, tell what your "theme" would be of decorating your tree. My "theme" for my tree in the living room is Santa. I have a little Coca Cola tree in the kitchen b/c my kitchen is coke. Well-I hope everyone is enjoying the blessed season, keeping warm, staying healthy and being safe during the hustle and bustle of Christmas. May God bless you all and Peace be with you always! Now-go sign up for the ornament swap! please!