The Greatest Showman: Amen, Yes Sir, Drop the Mic, etc.

In November, Jamie took me to see Murder on the Orient Express. I'm a diehard Poirot fan and the movie didn't disappoint. During the previews, I caught my first glimpse of a movie I wasn't aware had been made: The Greatest Showman. Being the Victorianophile that I am, I've read quite a bit on P.T. Barnum and some of the performers who worked with him, and as soon as I realized what this movie was about, I literally shouted his name in the theater! It would have probably embarrassed Jamie if not for the fact that he's learned to expect the unexpected when doing life with me---and we were the only ones in the theater.

Anyway, I was super excited to see the show this month, to say the least. Our son, Cainan, was also dying to see it so when he found out his youth pastor was getting ready to show spoilers next week, I knew we'd better get out and see it asap! Jamie and I took him this afternoon.

I've been to the theater twice today, actually, because the moment I got home, I declared to Michael that he had 15 minutes to get dressed and ready because he was taking Lynzie to see the evening showing. They're there as I write this.

There's so much I want to say about it but it's one of those experiences that words can't do justice to. A holy experience, even, if you let it be. The message of the movie empowers, emboldens, affirms, uplifts. It frees.

Throughout the entire show, me and the huge lump in my throat were thinking one basic idea: freedom. So many people think a relationship with Christ and a Biblical life are things which restrict and restrain. People who don't understand Christ's sacrifice believe it's a burdensome life that will keep them from all they could be. The truth is, Christ's blood frees us. Christ's covering empowers, emboldens, affirms, uplifts. It allows us to be everything we were created to be and introduces a world of unimaginable possibilities to those who will walk in obedience.

Part of being obedient is being bold enough to be who God created you to be.

One song from the show keeps running through my mind, with just one phrase slightly changed:

"When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna sing the blood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me"

Silly, maybe...but that's what I kept hearing every time she said, send a flood. The blood of Jesus---vital to our existence in every way, it also gives us the freedom to boldly be who God created us to be.

That's all I got, folks. Go see the movie. Go thank God for the freedom he's given you. Then go fearlessly be all he created you to be.

The Homemaking Party: Cranberry Orange Scones

Hello Friends! 

Hope everyone is having a joyful and relaxing cozy season. I've cleared my schedule this week so I'm just kicking back, making goodies, reading books, and writing letters! If you love handwritten correspondence, check out the New Year Pen Friend exchange at The Victorian Letter Writers Guild. I'm taking sign ups through January 10. 

On Sunday, our worship team had a little breakfast party together and I made these Cranberry Orange scones. I had several compliments and requests for the recipe so thought I'd post it here for you all. Thanks for stopping by the Homemaking Party!

Cranberry Orange Scones

2 c. flour

10 tsp. sugar

1 TB grated orange peel (orange zest)

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/3 c. cold butter

1 c. dried cranberries

1/4 c. cream, half and half, or milk

juice from the orange (or 1/4 c.)

1 egg

1 TB milk

In a large bowl, stir the flour, 7 teaspoons sugar, orange zest, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs (I use a pastry blender); set aside. In a small bowl, stir the cranberries, orange juice, cream and egg. Add to flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. Finish mixing with your hands to incorporate all flour and then knead in the bowl six or seven times. Pat dough out into about an 8 inch circle on a greased baking sheet. Cut the circle into 8-10 wedges, stopping short of cutting all the way through. Brush with milk and sprinkle with remaining 3 teaspoons sugar.

Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pan about 5 minutes, then cut through each wedge with a sharp knife and finish cooling on a rack or serve hot. 

Pink Saturday: Decorating for Christmas

Hi Friends! It's Pink Saturday at Beverly's blog so make sure to stop by and say Hi at How Sweet the Sound! Today the kids are having a bunch of friends over so I'm planning to bake them a bunch of treats! My house is decorated for Christmas and I'm getting into the holiday mood!

This year I bought this pink Christmas tree for my library. Some of you may remember when I bought the little pink one I've got sitting on my Grandma's sewing box. {Um, my Grandma's dusty sewing box! Yikes! Avalon is dusting it as I write this!}

This is our first year without a fireplace mantel so I'm a little flustered about where to put some of my things. I know I'll form new decorating traditions but for now, things are just sort of hanging out wherever. Ha!

I've almost got enough mid-century stuff to fill my biggest hutch!

I found these sweet choir boys at an estate sale in Pendleton, Oregon this summer. They remind me of the boys in the choir at Bath Abbey---although those guys wear green.

Had to get creative with the stockings --- no mantel --- but Brenna (4) had the idea to hang them around the bay window. Great idea!

Jamie's Christmas village gets sweeter every year.

This year he bought a fountain that lights up. It looks just like the one in the Bentonville square! He and I are the couple on the bench to the right in this photo.

Every year, everyone gets a new ornament. This is the one Jamie bought me this year. I love it! I love tea things and strawberries---it's perfect!

Another tradition is my poinsettia. Jamie always brings me one sometime during the holidays. Isn't it gorgeous?!!

This is Lynzie's nutcracker collection. I'm going to need to start collecting them for myself now because she'll be out in a couple years and the gorgeous collection will be gone!

Hope everyone is having a beautiful holiday season! Happy Pink Saturday!