You're the STAR - Week#1 GARDEN (December 2020)

Christmas is fast approaching - I can't wait to see all of your wonderful Holiday posts!

Thank you again for joining us!

There are many ways to follow me:

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

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Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

Picture scanned from a Christmas card - Original artwork by Hazel Lincoln

Day#7 - Christmas Blog Post Advent Calendar

WELCOME to the December 2020 "You're the Star" Blog Hop!
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WELCOME to GARDEN feature week of the December 2020 "You're the STAR" blog hop!
Meet your GARDEN week Hosts 

 
This week is GARDEN feature week
Swing by the GARDEN Hosts blogs:
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Annie @ 15 Acre Homestead

This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!

There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories.  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#1 GARDEN - gardening, homesteading, recycling, outdoor activities &/or preserving (this can include any type of green living,  repurposed ideas, outdoor concerns, posts relating to farm animals etc all while remaining family friendly)




(All features were chosen from the November 2020 "You're the Star" blog hop)
How to Buy Seeds for Your Vegetable Garden by Oak Hill Homestead

Hiking Chapel Gorge Trail in Wisconsin Dells by Amy's Creative Pursuits

The Secrets That Lie Beneath Our Feet by Mille Fiori Favoritti

DIY Stovetop Holiday Potpourri by Comfort Spring

If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.

Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!

It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!

(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

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Click the button below to enter the Great Giveaways going on now!!:

Second of Advent - ANGEL Visits Mary

Second of Advent - ANGEL Visits Mary

Advent is the precious time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Last year we studied Isaiah 9:6

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(click the titles to view each post below):
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
MIGHTY GOD
EVERLASTING FATHER
PRINCE OF PEACE
This year we will be focusing on Angels and specifically the angels who foretold of the coming of Christ.

Last week, we studied the foretelling of John the Baptist through the Angel Gabriel - when he visited Zechariah (click HERE to view that post).  Today, we are focusing on when that same angel (Angel Gabriel) visited Mary 6 months after visiting Zechariah.

There are some similarities in both visits:

Elizabeth, Zechariah and Mary all followed God wholeheartedly.

Mary was "highly favored" (verse 28 above) and Zechariah & Elizabeth were both "righteous in the sight of God." (verse 6 in last weeks post).

The other similarity is that both Zechariah and Mary were told what to expect in the future. (Zechariah was told about how he & his wife Elizabeth would be having a child - John the Baptist, and Mary was foretold that she would become the Mother of Jesus).

The difference between Zechariah and Mary is how they responded to Angel Gabriel.

In the passage below you see that Mary did ask "how she would become pregnant since she was a virgin" (see below), but after it was explained to her she said "I am the Lord's servant - may it be as you have said." (verse 38 below).  Mary's response shows total belief and faith that everything Angel Gabriel told her would come true.

Zechariah on the other hand, showed doubt when he said: "How can I be sure of this?" (verse 18 from last weeks post).  Angel Gabriel had already explained what will be happening to Elizabeth in the future but Zechariah responded in a skeptical way.  It was almost as if Zechariah was saying - "Na, that sounds fishy to me."  That's why Zechariah's voice was taken away from him until John the Baptist was born.  As we learned last week, there are consequences to not believing God's plan.

Mary visited Elizabeth after hearing the news of her future.  She spent 3 months with Elizabeth.  The Bible verses below are the beautiful song that Mary sang during her visit with Elizabeth.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

    of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

    holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

    from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

    but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

    but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

    remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

    just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-55

God sent angel Gabriel to visit Mary to prepare her for the future and to foretell the coming of Jesus Christ. 


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Shared with:

Happiness is Homemade

Over the Moon Link Party

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Enjoy precious time with your family during Advent.
click HERE to view this post about
Family Worship Time during Advent

European Christmas Music #2 - IRELAND

European Christmas Music - IRELAND

There won't be much travel this Christmas season due to the Pandemic, so I thought it would be fun to bring the sounds of Christmas in Europe into our homes.

We will be visiting 7 European areas during this musical trip (click the following titles to visit):

France

Ireland

Germany

Italy

United Kingdom

Sweden

Spain

Also, after the featured songs, I will share some of my recipes that coincide with that area.

Today we are visiting the Republic of Ireland. 

Please enjoy the following Irish Christmas songs!


Wexford Carol

A special thanks to "Celtic Woman Official" for sharing this with us on YouTube

The Bells of Dublin/Christmas Eve

A special thanks to "The Chieftans - Topic" for sharing this with us on YouTube

Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake

A special thanks to "The Irish Rovers" for sharing this with us on YouTube
 

Christmas in Killarney

A special thanks to "Barra MacNeils - Topic" for sharing this with us on YouTube

 
IRISH RECIPES 

click on each title to view the entire post:

Jigg's Dinner (Corned Beef & Cabbage)

The following are my potato recipes (previously shared on this blog).  I thought it fitting since Ireland is known for growing potatoes (especially during the potato famine in the 1840's)

Cheesy Scalloped Ham & Potatoes Squared

Leek & Potato Soup

Making Real Mashed Potatoes

Baked Potato Dinner with 4 Toppings

Ham, Asparagus & Potato Pancake Stacker

Potato Bacon Spinach Chowder

Kale & Bacon Potato Patties

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Shared with:
Thursday Favorite Things

Happiness is Homemade

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Enjoy precious time with your family during Advent.
click HERE to view this post about
Family Worship Time during Advent

Fun Fridays #46 - STOCKING STUFFER SURPRISE

Fun Fridays #46 - STOCKING STUFFER SURPRISE
Happiness and laughter are so good for our health!
"A happy heart makes the face cheerful" Proverbs 15:13
(click HERE to read the health benefits of laughter)

This is a series called:  "Fun Fridays".  On the first Friday of every month I will share with you an old photo or something from the recent past that made me happy;  in hopes that it will at least make you smile 😊


I want to begin by saying that the real reason for Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  When I think back to my childhood, Jesus was always (and still is) the focus of Christmas, but Christmas mornings were also special.  My mom was a master "stuffer" of stockings.  Often, the many little gifts packed into the Christmas stocking (each individually wrapped) were more precious than that one giant gift under the tree.  In the picture above, I was holding the stocking open so that my little sister could dig down deep for that next treasure.

ENJOY!

Click to view other Fun Fridays:

#33 - Non-Scary Happy Halloween
#34 - Fall Farm Dog
#35 - And Santa Said....
#36 - One Piece Snow Suit
#37 - Macrame Kitty-Cat Hanger
#38 - Crocheted Pillow Baby Props
#39 - Braided Beauty
#40 Garden Boy
#41 Beach Burying
#42 The Day I Met My Sister

#43 Marsh Canoeing

#44 Chilly Trick-or-treating

#45 Thanksgiving 1980

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Linked to:

Thursday Favorite Things

Over the Moon Link Party

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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

European Christmas Music #1 - FRANCE

European Christmas Music - FRANCE

There won't be much travel this Christmas season due to the Pandemic, so I thought it would be fun to bring the sounds of Christmas in Europe into our homes.

We will be visiting 7 European areas during this musical trip (click the following titles to visit):

France

Ireland

Germany

Italy

United Kingdom

Sweden

Spain

Also, after the featured songs, I will share some of my recipes that coincide with that area.

Please enjoy the following french Christmas songs!


Il est né, le divin Enfant

(He is born, the Divine Child)


A special thanks to "REV" for sharing this with us on YouTube

Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris

(Between the ox and the gray donkey) 

A special thanks to "Shirley2107" for sharing this with us on YouTube

Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle

(Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella)

This is a traditional French carol from the "Provence" region in France written during the 16th century.   This is the first verse translated to English:

Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Bring a torch, come swiftly and run.

Christ is born, tell the folk of the village,

Jesus is sleeping in His cradle,

Ah, ah, beautiful is the mother,

Ah, ah, beautiful is her Son.

A special thanks to "Quintin Couch" for sharing this with us on YouTube
 

Petit Papa Noël

(Small Santa)

A special thanks to "Oxygene 80" for sharing this with us on YouTube

 
FRENCH RECIPES 

click on each title to view the entire post:

Rainbow Swiss Chard Quiche

French Pear Pie

 Fruity Cream Cheese Filled French Toast

Upside Down Lemon Meringue Tarts


5 Scrumptious Creme Brulee RECIPES

 Coffee Creme Brulee

 Sweet & Salty Cocoa Creme Brulee with Chocolate Covered Pretzels

 Blueberry Vanilla Creme Brulee

Hot Chili Pepper Chocolate Creme Brulee


 Tirami-Brulee (Combining French & Italian Sweet Masterpieces)

Copyright, Permissions& Disclaimer


Shared with:
Happiness is Homemade

Over the Moon Link Party

Thursday Favorite Things

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Enjoy precious time with your family during Advent.
click HERE to view this post about
Family Worship Time during Advent

Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop #397

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist #397!

Before we get to the blog hop today - checkout this post:
Day#1 - Blog Post Advent Calendar

Picture scanned from a Hallmark card

Start planning next year's Victory Garden!  There are many wonderful seeds available at Mary's Heirloom Seeds (click picture below):

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Checkout the many great giveaways going on right now!

Click the button below to enter each Giveaway!!:

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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!

We're your hosts & co-hosts 

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Checkout my amazing "Featured" Pinterest Board

(click HERE to view & follow)

Features!

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured! 

My Features this Week are:

1. "How To Make Farmhouse Ornaments Using Cardboard" by Southern Sunflowers

2. "Vintage Christmas Faux Fireplace" by A Debbie Dabble Christmas

3. "Crochet Christmas Trees" by Annemarie's Haakblog

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!

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Grow your own!
Many wonderful garden products from
 "Mary's Heirloom Seeds"!!
click to view