Category: Christmas

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Christmas Gift Giving: NO Toys! Buy Them Hours of Creative Fun.

Don’t buy your kids toys, buy them hours of fun.

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Whether you are looking for Christmas gift giving or making a special kid in your life happy, think in HOURS not items. By this I mean you should look at the time your child will play with an item as you evaluate whether or not to buy it.

Continue reading “Christmas Gift Giving: NO Toys! Buy Them Hours of Creative Fun.”

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Homeschooling and Christmas Tips

Have you said, "No more!" to helping at Christmas time at your church because you are weary? You are building a legacy.
Do you feel like you have realistic expectations for December and the holidays? Here’s some Christmas tips for you!
I have often found myself worrying and anxious with mom-guilt: Am I doing enough? Will this be a good Christmas? What else should I be doing? Is baking 60 dozen cookies for the neighbors enough?!?
Picture of green and red decorated Christmas cookies
I was helping with the church Christmas play one year (which went well) but my home life was another story. I felt like a nervous wreck!
So how are you doing? I find that I have had the best holidays by following these rules for myself:
  • Keep quiet and let others talk!
  • Make sure you compliment the efforts that others have made to make the holiday special whether they traveled to get to the dinner, cooked the dinner, or contributed in some other way.
  • Do your share in helping to keep any children entertained. Moms with young children will certainly appreciate having the help: reading to children, playing with blocks, holding a baby, or even changing a diaper. Older moms will love it as well: play cards or chess, listen to the children talk about their school, projects, dance class, siblings or babysitting. Teens will want to talk about their accomplishments, hobbies and dreams, too. Most people are glad to share themselves with someone who loves and cares about them.
  • Don’t expect that people will voice their appreciation of YOU or compliment YOU.
  • Serve the needs of others.
  • Not everything will go well. Don’t have unrealistic expectations- there will be spills, someone will be late, someone may be rude, something may not taste exactly right.
  • If something doesn’t go right, move on. Don’t dwell on it.
  • Ask permission before offering opinions and advice. “I have some ideas about that. Would you be interested in hearing it?”
Be thankful for who you are with and the blessings of God has showered upon you this past year. We keep a “Blessing Book.” We have found that remembering God’s blessings at the end of every day keeps us grounded in the truth and reality of God’s care for us.
We recommend that YOU keep a blessing book too. Our goal is to write down 3 blessings per day. Some days there are lots more blessings to record!
Concentrate on the positive. I took a challenge to write down 50 Things That Make Me Happy. I thought it might be difficult but once I got started, it wasn’t! Will you take up the challenge? This might be a fun group activity to do with family this Christmas.
Bonus and MUST READ article for this year: Don’t Buy Your Children Toys This Christmas! This article talks about buying your children hours of fun instead of the usual toys. Great ideas!
Homeschool Christian Mom Elizabeth Estelle is ready to help you!

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A Christmas Tradition: Baking Nut Roll is a Must!

If you want to start a tasty tradition at your house, don’t miss this sweet, ground-walnut-filled yeast nut roll, full of tasty sweet goodness. This recipe make 9 loaves, so you will have plenty to share, if they last that long! If you start by 8 am, you can be sitting down to fresh warm loaves and coffee by 1 pm.

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Nut Roll: A Family Christmas Tradition

This sweet bread is bursting with flavor and a sweet ground walnut filling.

Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Bread
Prep Time 3 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Servings 72 servings (9 rolls)
Author Homeschool Christian Mom

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp yeast
  • 1/2 cup+1/2 tsp sugar
  • 2 cups + 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 lb butter 2 sticks
  • 1 tbsps vegetable shortening
  • 8 egg yolks, divided
  • 8 cups bread flour
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted for brushing tops of cooked loaves

Filling for NUT ROLL

  • 1/2 cup warm milk
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 2 lbs ground walnuts I use a food processor.
  • 8 egg whites, beaten stiff
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar For Filling: Heat milk and butter and add to ground walnuts.  Add sugar. Fold in beaten egg whites and vanilla. If the filling seems too pasty, add milk.

Instructions

  1. Put yeast and ½ tsp sugar in an 8 oz measuring cup.  Mix with fork and add about ¼ cup warm milk.  Mix well until yeast dissolves and let rise in warm spot until it reaches the top of the cup.

  2. Heat the 2 cups of milk, butter, and shortening, in a saucepan.  Let cool to lukewarm.

  3. Beat 6 egg yolks and sugar together until creamy.

  4. Add the milk and egg mixture to the flour
    alternately with the yeast. I use a mixer with a dough hook for this step.

  5. Knead dough until it becomes satiny.  At this point, add more flour or milk as needed to reach proper consistency. Dough should be smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 2 hours.

  6. Divide the dough into about 8-10 balls, approximately the size of baseballs.

  7. Roll each ball into a large rectangle: about 12 inches by 14 inches.

  8. Spread the filling over the dough and roll upjelly-roll fashion.  Fold ends over and pinch closed.

  9. Brush loaves with a mixture of 2 egg yolks mixed
    with 1 tablespoon water.

  10. Bake at 375º for 18-22 minutes or till done.  Remove and brush with butter.  Cool on wire racks.

Recipe Notes

If you want to start a tasty tradition at your house, don’t miss this sweet, walnut filled yeast bread, rolled into tasty goodness. This recipe make 9 loaves, so you will have plenty to share, if they last that long! If you start by 8 am, you can be sitting down to fresh warm loaves and coffee by 1 pm.

© 2019 www.homeschoolchristianmom.com

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Homeschool Christian Mom FREE Facebook group with tips on grading, scheduling and more!

Homeschool Christian Mom Facebook page: We discuss the ins and outs of our homeschooling days and offer great ideas to help each other succeed.

Youtube: Homeschool Christian Mom These videos discuss homeschool scheduling, working with your Littles, thinking long term, and many other topics.

For additional home schooling support, join my private client group. 

Alexa skills: Subscribe to Homeschool Christian Mom News

Twitter   @hmschchristnmom

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