Christmas from the Neighbors
Just before dinner last evening, my neighbor from across the street stopped by with a delightful surprise—a batch of freshly baked cookies.
Do you share Christmas baked goods or specialty treats with your neighbors?
Growing up, the holiday season in my neighborhood was a time when our neighbors would shower everyone with their culinary creations. One family would gift us with their homemade tamales, warm and wrapped in vibrant corn husks! Our Italian neighbor delighted us with a rich Eggplant Parmesan, lovingly prepared by their Nonna. We also received sweet gifts like divinity candy, with its airy texture and velvety fudge that melted in your mouth. Not to mention the beautifully decorated sugar cookies, adorned with colorful frosting and sprinkles, each one a little work of art. Those festive exchanges created a sense of community and warmth that I miss.
So, this became our dessert after dinner!
Not all of it! We'll munch on it for a couple of days.
I have just wrapped up this week's study of Revelation 6, which covers the opening of the Seven Seals of Judgment. It's quite intense material, and there is more to come. Tomorrow, we will have our leader's discussion group, where we will discuss our study and the 30-minute lecture. After that, we will break into our individual groups to facilitate discussions among our members. It has truly become a great honor to shepherd these women.
The time I sacrifice each week has been challenging, but I am gradually learning to improve my time management skills. I am dedicated to this process, and my commitment remains strong. I am gaining more from this experience than I am giving. My reliance on the Holy Spirit to equip me truly amazes me. If I hadn't been a believer before, I certainly would be now, as I am experiencing blessings beyond measure.
One area that I am particularly pleased with is the study of Homiletics. It has opened up scripture to me in ways that I cannot fully describe. I am excited about this and wish to share it with others. I hope everyone can learn to break down scripture and gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
I have created a page for those who love to study the Bible and wish to dig deeper, using Homiletics and Revelation 6 as an example
Just to let you know, I am still learning this method. What matters is that I am doing it and getting a lot out of it.
I find this so adorable: when I start printing something, she quickly runs to watch. It truly fascinates her.
"Susie, you silly cat!"
She pushed her paw in so far that she jammed the cartridge.
Once I post this, I might find time to sift through my collection of sentimental Christmas treasures.
Lord willing, I will see you all tomorrow...
Debby
You have really nice neighbors. they took a lot of time and effort. You are using the gifts that God gave you in such a wonderful way!! LOVE your kitty and the printer. Guess curiosity didn't kill the cat; it just jammed the printer!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, good one Ginny! 😆
DeleteI wish I could come sit in your Bible study class. I would love to study Revelations again. It's been a long time since I had a real study of the whole book, and I think we should all be reading it now...because it appears that we are living it, or soon going to be. Thank you for your commitment to teaching this and relying on God's Holy Spirit to guide you. I can well imagine you are growing in your own faith as you lead the group. What a blessing. Oh, I love the gift of the cookies from your neighbor! What a thoughtful thing to do! I wish I had the energy to bake all those things and share them. That's such a wonderful gift! I love the pictures of your kitty watching the printer, etc. That was really cute!! so typical! I hope you got it unjammed! LOL. Sweet kitty. Have a blessed rest of your week.
ReplyDeleteMy husband came to fix the jam as I was getting frustrated! Grrrr!
DeleteI thought it was so sweet of her. She’s a nurse and is always working; like my daughter-in-law who also is a nurse. So I never know when the neighbor is working or sleeping! Nurses who work I. Hospitals work hard!
Who knew I could even do this? And at the age of 70 no less! In Gods kingdom we’re never retired from serving Him. It’s fun! 🤩
How nice to get all those goodies from your neighbor.
ReplyDeleteYes, I bake things for people around town.
Yes you do and all throughout the year!
DeleteWhat a lovely gift from your neighbours. I used to do a Secret Santa type thing with mine, but everyone guessed it was me.
ReplyDeleteIt took me awhile to get time management under control when I was a leader of our Bible Study. Now they are only doing the study in the evening and I just can't make it due to not being able to see the ice at night.
God bless.
I couldn’t do evenings because I’m an early riser and by 7pm I’m pooped! I tried going to an evening study a few years ago and I kept drifting off during the lecture. lol.
DeleteMy brain starts to shut down after dinner and is on chill- mode.
I love the gift your neighbors delivered, homemade and sweet. :-) We use to share homemade sweets too, cookies, fudge and more, but sadly it seems COVID19 still has my neck of the woods scared of sharing homemade treats.
ReplyDeleteCarla
I hadn’t even thought of Covid. I guess no one thinks about that anymore and just goes about their lives.
DeleteWhat nice neighbors! I've been making up some Christmas mix to share with our neighbors. I'm posting the recipe for it on Thursday.
ReplyDeleteYour study sounds so interesting! We are doing a series on Revelations right now at church. I'm heading to your link on Homiletics.
I want to make your mix but can’t find white chocolate! All out at least when I shopped. I may have to go to another store.
DeleteI certainly have done the baking and giving of cookies to neighbors in the past, Debby. It is so gratifying to give without receiving. I want to bake something this holiday for our local police and fire departments. They are the best! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI did that one year! It was very much appreciated
DeleteSusie cracks me up, thanks. You have great neighbors. One of our neighbors, Jose, is from Puerto Rico and he is always dropping off Empanadas, fine by me, I love them smiles. Wishing you a beautiful day my friend.
ReplyDeleteEmpanadas! What a great neighbor. 😄
DeleteUnfortunately, our "neighbors are miles and miles away. Not friends with us, but we just know some of them. My friends (long time even) won't even come to our homestead anymore. Apparantly, we are too far, but they do expect me to go into town for them. You are lucky.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasant surprise
Deleteone statement will answer all the questions. I used to eat cookies, don't now and i have never baked cookies, i always bought them, i did once in a while 50 years ago bake the slice them and bake and once baked a frozen pie. the easy answer is i dont bake, and I try not to cook, just enough for us to survive. that means I don't take people food and don't get any either. agree with Ginny, you are doing great things for others and recieving them too.
ReplyDeleteCookies are treats - I try not to indulge in too many throughout the year. My sons do not have sweet tooth’s like me. They’d rather I gave them meat!!!
DeleteOur first Christmas in the condo was 2020. We received several gifts from people in our building and reciprocated. In 2021 I purchased small gifts for each unit but got very little response. I suspect that since the quarantine had been lifted people had gotten back to their regular life.
ReplyDeleteWe never know what is going on with people, from year to year. That was nice of you though, and I am sure it was appreciated.
DeleteI've never lived in a neighborhood such as yours, but I'm so touched by the tradition! Thank you -- both for the Homiletics link and silly Susie. So cute!
ReplyDeleteSusie has always been a character
DeleteYou do have some nice neighbours, this is not something I do as I am far to shy to mix with the neighbours
ReplyDeleteI’m kinda shy too - Jo-Anne. My husband knows all the neighborhood dogs and only know the owners by their dog’s names!
DeleteSusie is so cute!! What a sweet thing for your neighbor to bring the assortment of cookies. They look so yummy! This made me think of one of our neighbors a few years ago. She was older and she and her husband were not very friendly, but one particular Christmas season, our doorbell rang and there she was with about 6 cookies in a box. I thanked her and a day later, I went to eat a cookie....It was hard that I couldn't even bite into it. It was the thought though, and not the cookie it self. We have had a lot of small laughs about this. I know how much you are enjoying the Bible Study. It is wonderful to study the Bible in depth. I would love to come if I lived in your area, I certainly would. Happy Wednesday...
ReplyDeleteYou’re right. It’s the thought that counts. Funny story though and yes I can see how you would still remember that.
DeleteI am a baker at Christmas. I make a variety of cookies this time of year to pass out to family, friends and until I retired a big platter to work. It takes me two days of baking and decorating to get them all done. I have made up to 10 types in the past but have scaled it down to about 6 or 7 now. I make as many doughs that I can freeze before hand so I can just bake and decorate when it comes time. I realized recently that I have been doing it for 35 years now. I would kick Jim out of the house while I was baking. He usually went to visit his friends in Paradise over night. He loved delivering them after they were ready to go.
ReplyDeleteI used to do that in my younger years - my husband likes to bake once in a while.
DeleteWhat are cranberry manna cookies? ☺️
ReplyDeleteI can’t describe it - crumbly cookie with cranberries, white chocolate and pecans. It was good!
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