Celebrating Another Year of "Immanuel: God with Us"

Oh, how I love Christmas! My intentions were to write here several times this month, and also during the month of November. Sharing glimpses of joy in the midst of preparations for our big Family Christmas with 24 loved ones around our tables, and filling every room of our home.

The writing of posts didn't happen, but JOY was overflowing from my heart each and every day of December. We had just had six intense weeks of caring for a family member (from mid-October through the end of November), finding a new place where he would be cared for in his needs. It was difficult, and intensely emotional, but we experienced in deeper ways than even before what it means to have Immanuel: God with us. 

Can we even comprehend the gift that we have? God with us. 

"This doesn't just mean

God somewhere in the vicinity.

Or God down the street.

Or God within shouting distance.

God is with us."

(Quote from Jennifer Kennedy Dean)

Our greatest gift is Jesus. What joy the Father must have had to give us His Son! Anticipated and planned for since the beginning of time. The One who would make it possible for us to know Him intimately! The One who would rescue us and bring us back to Him. The One who would send His Spirit to live in us, closer than any other: Immanuel: God with us.

And here we are at the end of another calendar year, celebrating with those we love (all gifts from Him), and taking time to pause and remember all the ways that He has been with us through another year. 

Giving us strength and joy even in hard times as we call on Him for help and He provides exactly just what we need. Giving us warm touches of His love: a hug, a smile, a timely word of encouragement, a promise from His Word. And all through the year, giving us the simplest of gifts, evidences of His love: a warm cup of coffee flavored with just the perfect blend of creamer, time with family and friends that brings us warmth and love, treasured times of adventure and also of quiet moments as we soak up His love and beauty in the deepest parts of our souls. 

I am overflowing with joy, because of Immanuel: God with us. And after all the fun of preparations all through December for our family 'Home for Christmas', It was all that we hoped for and longed for, and then some more. 

All six of our precious grown children were home; home with us, along with all the dearly loved ones that we are blessed with because of them. Missing one son-in-law, a pilot who had to fly that day. And nine of our ten grandkids were here, missing our oldest who is in Japan with her husband, and baby girl, our first great-grandbaby! Along with two brothers of ours, we were 24 gathered around our festive Christmas Dinner tables! Each one, so loved. And each one, a gift from God.

Wishing you a wonderful New Year 2024, filled everyday with glimpses of God's love and presence. 

Beginning with Sourdough Baking

Sourdough baking has been around for a very long time, but it began for me in early fall of this year. And it all began for me when I received a starter from one of our dear daughters (in TX), who had received her own starter from our son's sweet gal (in NY)! This precious starter traveled home from TX with me, as I "fed" it enroute while stopping at motels, and also at another daughter's home for night. I really love beginning my sourdough journey with a starter that came from family! (Thank you, Cristy, and Fer!!)

So my sourdough journey began on an actual trip of ours! And as we enter the New Year 2024, sourdough baking is becoming one of my new hobbies! 

This post is primarily for my own records ... documenting the first things that I made with my sourdough starter in the fall of 2023. I needed to set it aside for the most part during the months of November (while we were busy helping out a family member), and also December (when I was busy with preparations for our Family Christmas with 24 family here in our home)!  

After spending a good amount of time reading about the process, and learning to care for my starter, here are the things that I made in 2023 ...

Naturally Leavened Sourdough Bread - made on Aug. 25 

Sourdough Blueberry Muffins - made on Aug. 28 

Buttery Sourdough Biscuits - made on Aug. 28 

Blueberry Scones - made on Sept. 2 

Sourdough Banana Bread - made on Sept. 13 

Part of my birthday gift the end of Sept ... Artisan Sourdough Made Simple, a very helpful source, also with photos to learn the process.

Everyday Sourdough - made on Oct. 1 

Everyday Sourdough - made on Oct. 2-3 

I then needed to take a break for a month or more, but kept on feeding my starter every week, while storing it in the refrigerator.

Soft & Fluffy Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls - made Dec. 19

I served these dinner rolls for our Family Christmas Dinner!

And now, the very end of December, I am looking forward to entering into sourdough baking more fully in the new year. There is so much to learn about this method of baking with natural yeasts to create breads that are healthy and delicious.

I look forward to sharing more about my sourdough journey in the New Year!