Traditional Cookies

I made two kinds of sugar cookie dough yesterday morning--used 4 sticks of butter.  Yikes!  The dough needed time to chill before our late afternoon cookie making event at my sister's house.  Jon and I packed up cookie dough, cookie cutters and sprinkles and headed to Kristi's house about 2:00 p.m.  

First up were the Snickerdoodles--it just isn't Christmas without these cookies.  I've been eating these cookies my whole life and not just at Christmas.  I always found it difficult to turn down a snickerdoodle cookie, but not a single one ever tasted as good as my mom's recipe.  Rolling them is therapeutic!  Laken and Jon handled the cinnamon/sugar layer.  Even after everyone sampled the wares, we had more than six dozen left.

Second, we made Sand Tarts--don't know where my mom found the recipe or where the recipe got it's name.  She starting making these when I was in high school (maybe), but even so, that makes the recipe at least 40 years old.  Kristi and I have really struggled to get them right--we're so much better at them than when we first started making them by ourselves.  The trick is to roll them as thinly as possible.  If done correctly, they are the ultimate in crispiness.  No frosting for these, just an egg wash and sprinkles to decorate.  Some family members prefer one shape over another (angel vs. reindeer or mitten vs. light bulb), but I think they're all equally tasty.

By the time I rolled out the last batch, the freezing rain was coming down like crazy, so Jon and I left before the final pan came out of the oven.  We will be enjoying the fruit of our labors on Christmas day!

End of November

My last post was on November 27 . . . how much could happen in the last three days of November, you ask?  Here's a rundown of the last three days:

Thursday, November 28--Thanksgiving!  We had the privilege to share Thanksgiving dinner with Steve/Pam Kern and Rachelle LaBotz.  Pam and Rachelle cooked everything--Stephen and I just had to show up and eat! 

 We had all of the traditional dishes, including turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, hot rolls and pumpkin pie; plus, corn casserole, a jello salad and apple pie.  It was amazing.

Friday, November 29--"Birth" day of our third grandchild!  Our son called about 6:00 p.m (PST/8:00 p.m our time) to let us know they were heading to the hospital.  We went to bed about 11:00 p.m.(CST/9:00 PST) without hearing anything more.  Received a call at 1:15 am letting us know that Aviah Jean Parris was born at 9:30 pm (PST.)  She weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long.  She and Shannon are doing well; in fact, they went home from the hospital today.  Here's the only picture we have of her, so far.

Saturday, November 30--First day of the last mission trip for 2013.  We left our house at 5:45 am so we could be at the airport by 6:30 am.  The airport was packed and the lines were really long.  We did, however, remind ourselves that the airport lines pale in comparison to the lines we usually see at the border crossings (when we go by bus.)  The flight was 55 minutes--so much better than a 13+ hour bus ride.  We met up with the team from Murrell's Inlet Baptist Church at the hotel.  The bus (and translators from El Salvador) picked us up at 4:00 pm and we held our first family festival of the week.  It was a great night--the team shared door-to-door, I worked the inflatable and Stephen gave the gospel after the movie/drama.  

The last three days of November--FRIENDS, FAMILY and FAITH!  

An IDEM Thanksgiving

For the second year, our IDEM (discipleship small group) celebrated Thanksgiving together. There are 8 couples in our group and all but 2 couples are Salvadorans.  So, we and the Blackstocks (our group leaders) are thrilled that the group wants to share this part of our culture.

Last night's traditional menu (prepared by the gringas) included:  turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green been casserole, sweet potato casserole, cranberries, pumpkin pie and pecan pie.  We also had salad, corn, typical Salvadoran red salsa and bread.

After dinner we all shared the things for which we are thankful.  Topping the list:  God's faithfulness and love, family and friends.  This is a group with the right priorities!

Later we played a Bible version of the Taboo game in Spanish, of course.  What a riot!  

 Keeley carves the turkey.

Typical Salvadoran red sauce for the turkey.

Whipped cream and ice cream not pictured.