Recipe for Joy

No party is complete without:

Colorful Balloons

Lively Music

and Chocolate Cake!

Every year, even in the crazy baby and toddler phase we have made it a priority to set aside a time to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

Yes, we also indulge in the wonder of Santa Claus as our children are only little so long and we also enjoy exchanging gifts. Even so, we have tried our best to keep gift giving simple, focusing more on giving than receiving. Always pointing our children back to the greatest gift of the season, Jesus.

On Christmas day our family makes a simple cake and we sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. The kids have fun helping and especially love eating it.

One thing I continue to remind myself especially now when our children are still young, is to keep things simple. I can’t get wrapped up in picture perfect Pinterest ideas. My life is full and with four children, three being boys under seven, things can go from calm to crazy in mere seconds. Unrealistic ideals only stresses me out and makes me want to throw in the towel before I even start. I need simple and I need to give myself a lot of grace.

Here’s what our birthday cake consists of:

• 1 box of brownie mix
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract

For the topping:

• Chocolate frosting ( I prefer dark)
• Crushed candy canes
• Candles and colorful sprinkles

Also needed: Small helping hands. (Sampling of frosting optional but for the full messy joy experience it’s highly recommend.)

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In case you have missed it, we have setup an Adopt Together profile, their mission is to help provide a way to give a financial gift to an adopting family and receive a tax write off.

During the month of December, any Adopt Together donation will qualify for a chance to receive a beautiful handcrafted, “Cradle to the Cross” candle holder that journeys through both Advent and Lent. We will also included Ann Voskamp’s newest book, an advent devotional entitled, Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas.

We hope you will Give Today to bring us financially closer.

We will draw one donor’s name on the night of December 31st
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We are ever grateful for your continued support, encouraging words and many prayers. Thank you for joining us on this amazing journey.