Our Calling

'And we we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.' Romans 8:28-30

'The main calling of our life is more than just knowing the truth - it is having that truth become our life. The main purpose of the church is more than just providing ministry to the people - it is labouring until each one is conformed to the image of Christ'

Christmas 2008

Well the kids have all gone home and the house is quiet..... we had a great Christmas with most of the family here, our eldest daughter and her family spent Christmas at home in South Africa, it was their first proper Christmas there. we had lots of fun and then the snow came and we had even more! Our youngest daughter lives by the coast with her family and so they don't see much snow, this was a treat for them and the twins loved it!

Christmas Morning

Opening stocking

PJ's & Tutu's
Peeping through the kitchen window

Grandma clearing snow

With Mummy

With Daddy

Grandpa wondering how thick the ice is on the canal

Up to Mischief!!

I had to add this.....I think I may be in for a busy time this Christmas!

Christmas Girls!

Wow!

I just got emailed this photo from my brother, it's of my daughter a few days before she had the twins with my niece in law. How big is that lump?!

Christmas Mincemeat

This year I have used different recipe's for both the pastry and mince meat. I added orange juice in place of water in the pastry and used a cooked recipe for the mincemeat without the use of suet...and they are delicious

Ingredients

1.3kg(3lbs) cooking apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

Juice and zest of 1 orange & 1 lemon

600ml(1pint) of medium sweet cider or apple juice

450g(1lb) brown sugar

1 teaspoon each of cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg

450g(1lb) each of raisins & currants

225g(8oz) galce cherries, halved

Method

Put apples, juices, zest and cider in a large pan and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 mins

Stir in sugar, spices and dreid fruit (not cherries). When sugar has dissolved, simmer for a further 15 mins

Remove from heat and stir in cherries, cool and pack into jars and cover

Preparing for Christmas

This is the little pram we have bought for the twins, I have made this little quilt to go in it.