Twice double batch of brownie cookies, vespers, dinner date and home-tending

It can feel so lovely and good to meet goals,

including baking, if I am talking about my week and life...

Brownie Cookies, done and in the freezer! 

I did the math some years ago to make this 

recipe quadrupled, which makes 2 full gallon freezer bags full.

We enjoyed 2 still warm from the oven! 

I am almost done with this soup now... 

All of these cookies are in the garage freezer now! 

I have it on the calendar to take them back out Monday afternoon,

so that they are all bagged up for St Nicholas day morning.

For now, they are staying as fresh as possible in the freezer... 

It was wonderful to be in church.

It is such a gift to have God in one's life.

God the Father, protecting us

God the Son Jesus Christ with us forever, coming to be with us

in such humility, as baby, beginning our salvation, being willing to 

be WITH us, as we are, and wanting to bring us to a greater

wholeness by cleaning and bandaging us...

The Holy Spirit giving us life...hope...protection...

and the Church to be that Beacon of Light in a world

that has increasing confusion and brokenness...

what a wonderful gift it is to belong to God and to be able to go to Church!!! 

After vespers, we went to the dinner for a dinner date.

I love Christmas decorations and the diner is no exception.

It was so nice NOT to have to make dinner or wash dishes!

I got most of the dishes washed from today when we returned,

other than the cookie racks. 

That will wait until tomorrow! Plus some big jars I am going to put, DV, 

in the dishwasher! :) 

We are staying local tomorrow which is nice

(we will be at our far-away church very soon for St Nicholas day!)

I am very glad for the chance to rest...

This is the new duvet cover I got from IKEA along with the comforter.

I washed it tonight. 

Made in Bangladesh. 

A very poor country, but growing from what I understand.

 So much of what we have now days is from

places that have a lot less than I do, or many of my readers here.... 

I try to pray everyday for those who are impacting our lives

by what we use and perhaps take for granted. 

 I feel like I am looking at my life and home from new

grateful eyes, in part because I feel very struck with how

so many are not living in homes as they wish, 

rented or bought, and how having our condo 

(which is as nice as a flat in Europe in my mind) and our pantry,

I can't tell you how much having a stocked pantry means to me. 

I remember when it was hard for me to buy groceries,

years ago, when I was looking for work, interviewing at many

professional level jobs but not landing any of them,

and that having a stocked pantry, not to mention

beautiful things, dishes, more than enough clothes, 

warm blankets and food for all of us,

including Cleo...

well, it's a lot to be thankful for. 

Here's a picture of Cleo on the box

that has a music stand in it,

that is for our Munchkin as one of his 

St Nicholas presents... 

DV (God willing) we will see them on St Nicholas Eve!

And with this, I must leave you for tonight.

I am going to have a lot of family and friends visits soon

and may not be blogging as much, when Christmas comes to town,

but we will see what I am able to do!

***

Monday is house cleaning and I hope tea making!

***

May God be with us all and have mercy!!!