A couple of days ago, I had made a huge pan of cornbread dressing to take to a Christmas party at church. There was enough to feed about 30 people! To be sure it was getting done in the middle, I decided to take it out of the oven to stir it but as I did so, the aluminum pan it was in decided to buckle in the middle and the dressing went all over the kitchen floor (and on the carpet which sits between the sink and the stove). As i tried to clean it up with towels, tracks of cornbread dressing lined the floor from the kitchen to the utility room because it was sticking to the soles of my shoes from stepping in it! Because I had just finished cleaning up chicken broth from leaking out of another aluminum pan that held chicken meat in it for the party, I stood there and decided that as mad as I was that there would now be no dressing for the party. I didn’t want to mess up my makeup and go to the party with red eyes because I cried! It had indeed been a trying afternoon! Frosty and I got to the party, decorated some tables, and enjoyed the wonderful evening with sweet friends and some really great food (in spite of the fact that we had no dressing)! The carols that were sung brought me to tears for a few min when I began to think of the words that were being sung! Had my day panned out as planned? Absolutely not! But when I thought about Mary and Joseph, their plans didn’t exactly pan out as they had thought. In fact, the plans they had made, but didn’t get to keep, brought I’m sure, some pretty judgmental looks, and probably some very unwise advice to both of them! But God….because of the light that He brings to our lives, unplanned circumstances can be accepted with a joy that is ours because of the One who makes all things, planned or unplanned, quite beautiful! Did we have dressing that night? No, but did we have a precious time of fellowship and wonderful food! Absolutely! Did Mary and Joseph begin their marriage in the traditional way expected! No, but their obedience to God allowed them to raise the Son of God! What the world sees as a disaster, is sometimes simply put, God shining His light into our lives which will shine forth to others!

As Christmas draws near, let us all allow for unplanned or planned circumstance to shine our lights brightly in our worship of the Christ Child!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive Her King!

As the pastor said Sunday, The best Christmas Carol of all….Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe!

Merry Christmas to all! Frosty and Noel!

Saw this recipe on Two Peas & A Pod and made it into cupcakes. They are so moist and so so rich with ginger. Took them to a party at our sons house and they were a hit!

With powdered sugar or frost with cream cheese frosting! Made them into cupcakes instead of the bundt cake so only baked them for about 15 min. Buy because ovens vary, begin to check them after 13 min and remove when cupcakes test done. They should be very soft on top when done but do not leave a dent when pressed down! Topped with Archway gingerbread men and gold sprinkles! Thank you Two Peas & A pod for a most delicious recipe!