Today is the last day of our look back at some of the more popular blog posts from this year. This blog post was posted in November and is titled, "Meaningful Monday." The most popular blog post for the month of December was the Christmas poem we posted last week Friday 12.22.17.

May you all have a safe and Happy New Year!

Without further ado, here is November's popular blog post:

​As we gear up for more "busy" over the next six-seven weeks, let's pause so that the meaning of this week and the season doesn't escape us leaving us spent.

My youngest (who gives me some great dramatic stories to tell) said this one day when he was told to pick up his cars, "I need to play cars NOW because when I'm a dad I won't get to play cars because dads don't play cars." As I was musing what he said, I started feeling guilty. Not a false sense of guilt but guilt that leads to truth. 

Even though he didn't say it outright, he was speaking volumes to my heart. How often do my husband or I sit down and play with the kids in their room on the floor? Not as much as when they were littler. We (or rather I) plan our days and there is not much "pause time". We have sports, school events, work, Trail Life, church, doctor appointments, parties to plan and go to, grocery shopping, laundry, YMCA, and the list goes on and on and on...

So one day out of the blue instead of going into their room to tell them to do something (clean up for dinner, get ready for school, pick up toys, etc.), I went in and sat down on the floor. I asked if I could play with them and they said, "Yes." It was enjoyable playing with them and being in their world. This is what I need to do more often. Do what interests them, not just what's on my agenda. I made the decision to invest "pause time" with them now so that when they are older they will have "pause time" with me. It is what relationships are built on - meaningful moments together.

So while you are making your plans for the rest of this year, put some "pause time" in there. Your body, mind, and family will thank you.

"Be still (have pause time) and know (let it sink into your thoughts) that I AM God (there is none other)..." Ps. 46:10

"Be silent, Oh all flesh, (shhh! my busy mind and schedule) before the Lord..." Zech. 2:13

#pausetime   #bestill   #meaningful

Continuing on our look back at favorite and most read posts, here is one from October:

​Have you ever driven down the road, passed by a church, and read something clever on a church sign that made you ponder or laugh? I have. Here are some quips that I've read on signs along my travels. May they make your Monday a little brighter!

"We aren't Dairy Queen but we have the best Sundays."

"Is prayer your steering wheel or spare tire?"

"What's missing from ch_ _ch? U R."

"Need a life guard? Ours walks on water."

"Every Goliath needs a stone of faith."

"Wake up before you fall asleep."

"Forbidden fruit creates many jams."

"The only time you should look down on a man is when you are helping him up."

#churchsigns #inspiration #ponder #laugh

This week we are taking a look back at some of our more popular p0sts. We are re-posting them for you to re-read or read for the first time. Either way, our hope is you will enjoy and appreciate them. The following post appeared in August:

Banana, Banana

Happy Wingsday! It's Wingsday around here and it's time to give you a fruity tip. Have you ever opened a banana and only eaten 1/2 of it? What do you with the other 1/2 so that it doesn't get brown and mushy?

I don't like to waste anything and I don't like throwing things away. So, if you are like me and like to eat every piece of everything you bought this tip is for you.

Take the remaining banana in the skin and place it in the microwave. Don't turn the microwave on. Use the microwave as a storage container. It will keep the banana fresh for a 2-3 more days so you can eat it fresh and not mushy. It can even be cut up and put in your cereal too.

Happy Wingsday eating!

#bananabanana #keepitfresh #fruitytip

Recently I was at a Christmas party and a dear woman I know recited a Christmas poem from heart. As soon as she finished, I knew I wanted to share it with you all before Christmas. It comes from her book, "You Are Loved". May it touch your hearts the same way it touched ours too.

                                                          God's Gift of Love
 
                                                          God sent to us His gift of love
                                                     Wrapped up in a baby small.
                                                     He came to give His life for us
                                                     And save us one and all.
 
                                                    And Jesus walked among us
                                                    To show us how to live,
                                                    But no one seemed to understand
                                                    How much He had to give.
 
                                                    And then He died upon the cross
                                                    To pay the price for sin.
                                                    He rose again and now He lives,
                                                    He comes to live within.
 
                                                    His Holy Spirit fills us
                                                    And guides us on our way
                                                    He gives to us the love of God
                                                    To share throughout the day.
 
                                                   Now we’re the only wrapping
                                                   God has here below
                                                   To put His gift of love in
                                                   For all the world to know.
 
                                                   So when He puts His love in you
                                                   Be sure to let it show
                                                   And share His love with others
                                                   Wherever you may go.
 
                                                        By: Patricia A. Elston

Have a Merry Christmas!

#youareloved   #Christmas   #gift

There is a church near our home that was having a Wednesday morning service yesterday. It was just 30 minutes. Even though my to-do list has been long these days and my time short, there was something about that 30 minutes of "pause" that appealed to me. I decided no matter how many things hadn't been crossed off my list, it was more important to reflect on the reason for the season than to keep going, going, going.

What a refreshing pause it was that made pressing play more peaceful. My prayer for you over the next 4-11 days is to find the pause button so you are ready to enjoy the play.

​#pause #reasonfortheseason #play

If you are baking cookies with kisses on top this Christmas season, we have a poem for you to make it more meaningful and, of course, angelic. Here it is:

Angel Kisses
(author unknown)

These are angel kisses
Sprinkled with lots of love,
Sent to you from Heaven
And blessed from up above.

So when you're sad or lonely
And wish your day were through,
Have an angel kiss
And know I prayed for you.

If you want the poem to be a little more festive, replace the "sad or lonely" line with:

So when you see the Christmas lights,
Smile and remember to
Have an angel kiss
And know I prayed for you.

Angel kisses make things better. Can I get an "Amen!"?

Here's a tip for quick and easy Angel Kiss Cookies:

1. Take refrigerated sugar or peanut butter cookie dough, bake according to package directions.
2. Immediately out of the oven, press a Kiss in each cookie.
3. Put on cooling rack or paper towels to cool down.
(Tip - I like to put them on paper towels on the cooling rack so that all the grease/oil gets absorbed and they get to cool down too.)

#angelkisses #cookies #Christmas

Get out your cookie sheets, recipes, and sugar...it's National Baking Day! Not that we need an official day to bake, we'll bake almost any day of the week. We looked over our Pinterest page and picked out some recipes. Today we are filling our kitchens with delicious smells of Blueberry Angel Food Sheet Cake and Angel Cookies with chocolate and pecans. The cookies are gluten free and are only 4 ingredients! Easy peasy.

Remember, a good baker always makes sure the food tastes good enough to feed to others. Taste test at least one bite (or two or three) just to make sure it came out alright before sharing. (smile)

Here's a tip: Make sure your oven is preheated before putting any food in. The food won't cook evenly or properly if the food isn't put into a hot oven.

To try the recipes we are baking or to pick a recipe that fancies you, check out our Pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.com/whereisyourangel/angel-recipes/

#happybaking #angel

One of my favorite words is "free"! Especially if it's followed by an exclamation mark. Since Christmas is only 10 days away, we are going to waive shipping charges up to midnight tonight. On any size order. So don't delay, act right away. The special code for FREE shipping (not available for rushed or expedited shipping) that ends at 11:59 p.m. tonight is "FREE." Since we are feeling so generous we will also give you a free indoor Where Is Your Angel?™ magnet for the first 20 orders over $29.95. 

What better gift than a Watchman Angel to give those you love and care about? Happy shopping!

#free #shopping #watchmanangel #Christmas

For a salad that's divine, try some of mine.
It's green and it's red, you can eat it with bread.
Oh, it's good too, enjoy it with soup or stew.
There's a meal that's complete, you will want to eat.
Enough of the rhyme, it's time to dine!

Heavenly Salad
(serves 4-6)

1 bag salad mix your choice (usually sold in 10 oz. packages)
1 c. chopped uncooked kale (optional)
(I like kale for the added texture and nutrient quotient it gives.)
1 c. shredded carrots
1/2 c. almonds (or pecans or walnuts - whatever your nut of choice is)
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. chopped cilantro (adds a 'wow!' to the taste buds)
1 10.5 oz container of Cherub tomatoes or 1 pint of Angel Sweet tomatoes
(If you don't want a tomato in every bite then use 1/2 the container.)
1 5 oz. package blue cheese crumbles (gorgonzola is good too)

In a large salad bowl, pour out the contents of the salad mix making sure the salad completely covers the bottom of the bowl.
Add remaining ingredients in the order listed. Do not stir, think layering. Sprinkle the remaining ingredients in a clockwise motion over the salad ending with the cheese.

Eat and devour! Serve with a soup or stew. Add bread for good measure.

My kids love this stuff! I hope your family does too!

#heavenly #salad #angel #cherub #divine