At the beginning of the month we discovered that my step father had to have a quintuple heart bypass surgery. That was definitely shocking and scary. Thank God, he came through it fine and is at home recovering now. Things like this force me to stop and realize life is truly short and precious. Tomorrow is never promised. I need to make some changes in my life and live with no regrets. That is for sure. Changes in progress.
Then, of course, life has been busy with the holidays. Shopping, wrapping, get togethers, decorating. So hectic but so worth it. I'm not sure if it's just my family (and I am thinking not) but get togethers can be so nerve wracking when not everyone is getting along. Makes for some interesting times. I start reflecting on relationships, around the holidays. Especially the ones that no longer exist. Past friendships etc. I'm not sure if that hurt ever diminishes. I hope it does. I'm just not certain though. There have been people in my life who I truly cared.. err care.. about but for one reason or another they are no longer a part of my life. I have a hard time letting go of those relationships for whatever reason. In the past 2 years I have lost 2 of my best friends. By lost, I do not mean they have died but they are just no longer in my life. Not necessarily by my choice. Quite honestly, I am not positive as to why, actually. Regardless, I know it's best for me to let go of those relationships but it's just never that easy (especially since some are family). I have to come to terms with the fact that I won't always have all of the answers and there will always be "whys" lingering and I just need to be ok with that. I have plenty of blessings in my life. I have some really amazing and I mean AMAZING friends and I am more than thankful for them. So time to let go of the past and move forward with no regrets.
Onto Christmas! Christmas was wonderful. I LOVE seeing the excitement in my children's faces on Christmas morning. It reminds me of being a child. Not being able to fall asleep on Christmas eve, listening for reindeer hooves and the next day LOOKING for reindeer prints on the roof, waking up at 6am to tear into our gifts. Oh the magical world of a child. I hope I am doing a good job at raising my own children with that much joy and excitement inside of them. I love when they rip open a present and their eyes light up and they yell out "LOOK AT WHAT SANTA BROUGHT". I love how sometimes the box or the wrapping paper intrigues them even more than the gift itself. This was the first Christmas I was able to buy a DOLL! I bought Isla a little cabbage patch doll. I always loved mine when I was a little girl. That was fun shopping for little girl things and reminiscing.
I am going to share my favorite holiday treat recipe this year. It is layered peppermint fudge and I am pretty sure plenty of it has stuck with me, if ya know what I mean ;)
LAYERED PEPPERMINT FUDGE:
INGREDIENTS:
- 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, softened
- 2 cups (12 ounces) HERSHEY’®S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk, divided
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup vanilla or white chips
- 3 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 1 to 2 drops green food coloring
DIRECTIONS:
- Line a 9-in. square pan with foil; grease the foil with butter and set aside. In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and 1 cup milk over low heat; cook and stir for 5-6 minutes or until smooth. Remove from the heat. Add vanilla; stir for 3-4 minutes or until creamy. Spread half of the mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until firm. Set remaining chocolate mixture aside.
- In a heavy saucepan, melt vanilla chips and remaining milk over low heat; cook and stir for 5-6 minutes or until smooth (mixture will be thick). Remove from the heat. Add peppermint extract and food coloring; stir for 3-4 minutes or until creamy. Spread evenly over chocolate layer. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until firm
- Heat reserved chocolate mixture over low heat until mixture achieves spreading consistency; spread over mint layer. Cover and refrigerate overnight or until firm
- Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Gently peel off foil; cut fudge into 1-in. squares. Store in the refrigerator.
I am sorry but I do not have a picture of this recipe. Must've eaten it before I thought to take one lol I promise it is yummy though!
Here are some pictures of our Christmas. Enjoy!
Look at those sweet face and tell me I am not blessed! I am more than happy with my life. God is good :)
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