Joy To The World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven & nature sing, 

And Heaven & nature sing, 

And Heaven, & Heaven & nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields & floods, rocks, hills & plains

Repeat the sounding joy, 

Repeat the sounding joy, 

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins & sorrows grow, 

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found, 

Far as the curse is found, 

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth & grace, 

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness, 

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

May the joy of Christ rule in your heart this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The Ferguson Family

2011

Favorite Thing Friday

I am just giddy this year!  Why? Because for the first time in 9 years we are getting to spend Christmas morning in our own house!  I cannot wait to truly establish our Ferguson Family Traditions celebrating Jesus' birth & demonstrating a small glimpse of that love around our own tree.

These two sweeties in Christmas jammies on
Christmas morning?!?!
I.cannot.wait!

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

Rachel

Let it Snow * Let it Snow * Let it Snow *

Okay...so it isn't REAL snow but rather an obliterated chunk of styrofoam.  It was one of those "Mom Moments" when your first instinct is O.M.G. but then you get over it & grab the camera.  They were afterall having fun, being kind to each other, working together on a project & they are 4 & 2 for pete's sake!
In case you were wondering...styrofoam pellets are full of static. They have the unique ability to stick to walls, hair, clothing, baseboards etc...  And 5 days post snow fall, I am still vacuuming random pieces from around the house.  Oh well...Tis the Season!

Rachel

Oh, You Better Watch Out...

We finally got our chance to visit Santa this week.  Our weekend got hijacked by a bad stomach bug so we did a girls only trip on Monday morning & it ended up being perfect because we were the only ones there.  Aubrie got lots of one on one time with Mr. Claus while Lily...well, there is always next year.  (Although we are making progress because she did actually talk to him this year!)

Deep in conversation. 

Big girl!

Lily is keeping her distance.

2009

2010

2010

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Rachel

~Tasty Tuesday~

Mini Cheesecakes
I stumbled upon this recipe about 5 years ago.  I made them for co-workers...ate all the leftovers & marveled that I had gone 26+ years without ever tasting the deliciousness before.  Fast forward to November 2011 where one of the said co-workers posts on my FB wall was I the one that made those "amazing little cheesecakes"?  Why, yes...yes I was.  And I had forgotten ALL about them!  So when I offered to host the dessert portion of our small group Christmas party I knew exactly what little recipe needed to dusted off & quite simply devoured.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup (1/2 Stick) Butter or Margarine, Melted
3 (8oz.) Packages Cream Cheese, softened
1 (14oz.) Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
3 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 300*  Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar & butter.  press equal portions onto bottoms of 24 lightly greased foil muffin cups.  (I just use the foil, remove the paper liner.)
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.  (Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature.)  Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth.  Add eggs & vanilla; mix well.  Spoon equal amounts into prepared muffin cups (about 3 Tbs per cup).  
Bake 20 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly touched.  Cool completely at room temperature. Garnish as desired & refrigerate before serving.

Topping Ideas: Turtle, Peppermint/Chocolate, Strawberries, Sprinkles, Oreo Crumbles, Whipped Cream...the options are endless!

Enjoy!

Rachel

Time to Party!

Whew!  Last week was busy & it is all just getting started!
We started with pajama week at school along with Christmas Parties.

Christmas Jammies from Nani.

Aubrie's School Friends.

Lily's class playing Musical Plates.

She wasn't really sure why I was in her class.

Ms. Sarah & Aubrie decorating cookies.

Ms. Stacy & Aubrie.  So thankful for her teachers!

 Friday night we took advantage of FREE childcare at church and had our small group Christmas Party.  It was a blast!  We had amazing (and I mean ahhh-ma-Zing) food, company & lots of laughs!  I love doing life with this group of people!  They are amazing followers of Christ who serve and love really really well!

The Paladino's.  Our dinner host & hostess dressed to impress!  ;)

I had an epic fail here because I didn't take another picture during dinner.  Leslie had her house and tables set so cute & festive.  And seriously, the food was amazing!  We moved locations to our house for dessert.  (We just happen to live about 6 houses down from the Paladino's.)

More food!  The dessert spread.

The guys listening intently to Bferg's wisdom...or something like that.

Segregated!  That's how it always happens!  :)

We have family starting to arrive tonight & tomorrow for a week of fun!

Merry Christmas!

Rachel

The Christmas Story

"When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."

Galatians 4:4-5

This is the whole reason & meaning of Christmas!  Take time this Christmas season to revel in the grace & mercy that was heaped upon us as sinners!  Rejoice in the redemption that took place on the cross for your sins. And praise our God for our adoption as His sons & daughters into His eternal life!

It will change your whole perspective on the holidays!

Rachel

~Tasty Tuesday~

It has been awhile since I've posted a recipe.  Don't worry...my family isn't starving.  I have been doing my matriarchal duty & whipping up the grub in the kitchen.  Barefoot no less.  
(Just kidding.)

A new twist on a favorite comfort food.  Bferg swooned & the leftovers are gone.  A true test of a truly good recipe.  Don't let the name scare you away...trust me.

Eggplant & Goat Cheese Stacks

1 Eggplant, peeled and sliced in an even number to stack
2 Eggs, beaten

Dredging Mixture:
1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan
Salt & Pepper to taste


Oil for frying


4-8oz. Goat Cheese, cut into rounds


Preheat oven to 350*
In a large pan preheat about an inch of oil over medium-high heat.
Dip eggplant into egg mixture & then into the breadcrumb/parmesan mixture.  Place dredged eggplant in oil and cook until golden brown about 1-2 minutes per side.
Drain on papertowels.
Place fried eggplant on a sheet pan in a single layer and top every other slice with a round of goat cheese.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Stack to make a "sandwich" and serve.


I served ours on top of a homemade tomato sauce infused with basil & red wine along side of a generous helping of polenta.  It was comfort food perfection on a chilly winter night.
This is the time when I grovel at your feet for not taking any pictures of this masterpiece.  Please forgive.  I adapted this recipe from this website and she took amazing pictures & mine turned out just as beautiful.  (Minus the batch I burned because I cook with 2 preschoolers running through my kitchen.)


Enjoy!


Rachel
.

Get Your Wave On!

Last Saturday we went to the annual Bentonville  Christmas parade.  We met up with our sweet friends (who have kids the same ages as ours) braved the wind & waved our hearts out.

Cuddling under the blanket to stay warm.

Aubrie has the, "I'm too cool for waving" pose on  here.

But then the firetrucks rolled down the street.  The girl loves her some firetrucks!

The Grinch & Cindy Lou.  Our favorite this year!

Lily & Peter.  Sweet Buddies!

Lily is over it.

But perks up for Santa & Mrs. Claus!

I wish I had video of this moment...Lily is telling Santa that she needs to talk to him!  Priceless!

We had a really fun morning & it helped us get in the Christmas spirit!

Rachel

"It's Beginning To Look Alot Like..."

Christmas!

Where is time going?!?  Am I the only one that feels like it was just Labor Day?  Because time doesn't seem to be slowing down I am just going to go with it and propel myself into full on into the madness!

We had an amazing, fun but relaxing Thanksgiving.  My parents, along with the little bro, came to our house this year & thanks to a brined bird we had the most amazing dinner.  We did all the classic Thanksgiving day rituals; Macy's parade, turkey, football, pumpkin pie, Charlie Brown T-giving & painting a room. Yes, that's right.  Bferg & I took advantage of in home child care & painted what is now Lily's room but soon to be both girls' room.

Friday night (while the second coat of paint was drying) we switched holidays & headed down to Fayetteville  to see the square all lit up for Christmas.

Pretty in Pink!

Our Family.

Grammy & Papa with their girls.

"Posing"  (Need I say more?!? :)

This looks sweet but Lily is actually telling Papa to let go..."I got it."

Favorite Pic of the weekend.  Lily cashed out at dinner.

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; ...

 And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Rachel

"Yet I Will..."

"Though the fig tree should not blossom & there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail & the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold & there be no cattle in the stalls, YET I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength...& [He] makes me walk on my high places."

Habakkuk 3:17-19

I am blessed.  Beyond words, beyond description.  I am who I am because of the love & mercy of my God & it is He who bestows His favor on me.  I am thankful for my God, my family, my dear friends & all my material blessings that I so often take for granted.

Happy Thanksgiving!  

I pray your day will be filled with giving of thanks to the One who lavishes His love on us!

Rachel

Favorite Thing Friday

Aubrielle made this at school yesterday. She is especially thankful for her sister Lily.  I may have shed a tear while standing in the school hallway while collecting her things.  I am a middle child planted between two brothers.  When I found out Lily was a girl there was a part of myself that panicked. I have never done girl drama well & I wanted my girls to be best friends.  But I knew that that was out of my control.

I spent the remainder of Lily's pregnancy praying that God, like only He can do, knit my girls' hearts together.  I truly believe He has answered that prayer!  Yes, we still deal with fights, squabbles over toys & "drama".  But they are best best friends & for that I am so thankful! 

I now pray that God will continue to keep them close & keep their sisterly relationship strong.

Rachel

Makin' A List...

And checkin' it twice!  I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is just a week away!  I love this time of year!

Happy Wednesday!

Rachel

{Thankful} Thursday

Hope
A feeling of expectation & a desire for a certain thing to happen.

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself & God our Father, who has loved us & given us eternal comfort & good hope by grace comfort & strengthen your hearts in every good work & word."  II Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am so thankful for my hope in my Lord.  My hope in eternal life comes through the Gospel.  I can have hope that my struggle with sin will one day be perfected in the new Earth of eternal life.  I can have hope that God can manifest His characteristics through me.  I have hope that God can save & change the lives of many who choose to follow Him with their whole life.  And I can place my hopes & dreams that are deep in my heart in the lap of the Lord because He is love.

Rachel

Priceless

A willing participant  +

Some kitchen utensils  +

Buzz Lightyear gloves  =

Sweet memories with their Daddy!

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him."

Psalm 103:13

Please ignore my messy house & my kids clothing (or lack there of)...it is called real life!  :)

Rachel

Retro is "In"

Today is my 32nd birthday.  Lily thinks we are both 2 & Aubrielle told me I'm almost 25. 

When I was in 6th grade (20 years ago...gosh that sounds old) my Grandma Raye bought me a clock radio for Christmas.  I remember it because it was one of the first years I actually got to pick out my present.  I also remember it because I specifically wanted one with green numbers (unlike the old school red numbers).

My beloved clock woke me up everyday of junior high, high school & college. It has traveled across states & helped me clock my babies feeding schedule.  It is a part of me.

Bferg asked me yesterday if I wanted a new clock.  Wanted a new clock?!?  Insert telling him all I just told you but in a overly dramatic voice.  It works just fine, it is my beacon in the night (literally) and retro is in.

But maybe one year....

Rachel

Favorite Thing Friday

Our annual (last) trip to the lake to view the splendor of the leaves!  They were at their peak & the weather was perfect.

Happy Friday!

Rachel

{Thankful} Thursday

I have seen this week on FB people posting a thanksgiving a day here this month of November.  We also started a new series last night in our connection group on virtues.  I love it & love the thought of trying to incorporate this into my blog this month & hopefully through the whole holiday season.

Grace
Unmerited mercy & a combination of love & forgiveness rolled into one.

"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace."  John 1:16

I am so thankful for His grace.  Grace that is both undeserved & unmerited but lavished on me by my loving Heavenly Father.

Remember & meditate on His Grace!

Rachel

Halloween Fun!

Trick or Treating at Daddy's Office.

Costume Parade at School.

Waving to Nani!

Halloween Night.

Off they go!

This picture isn't great but it shows them going to each house all by themselves!

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2011

I would like to freeze time now!  They are growing up too fast!  So glad we are making fun family memories together!

Rachel