Well, all of us are feeling very guilty for not posting anything for quite a while. Amy hinted that I should do it, although I'm not sure what I should write about. Oh, Amy said I should write about my Christmas baking. Yes, it is already that time, at least at our house. Actually, I have been planning for at least a month now. But I have heard that cookies keep in the freezer for up to 4 months, so I figured starting last week is about 3 months to when I will take them out and give them away. So far, I have made two kinds of spritz cookies (with my new cookie press I got at our church garage sale for $2!), sugar cookies cut-outs with my mini cookies cutters, cranberry walnut cookies, and butter ball chiffons. I want to share this recipe with you, because I thought they were surprisingly good. I mean, I expected them to be ok, but I'm not usually a big fan of lemon, toffee, or pecans. So here it is:

Butter Ball Chiffons

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix 2 teaspoons water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 2 Heath candy bars (1.4 ounces each), chopped Directions: In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the pudding mix, water and vanilla. Gradually add flour. Stir in nuts and chopped candy bars. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 3 minutes before removing to wire racks. Yield: 5 dozen.

I haven't taken any pictures of my cookies yet, but I will try to take one before I package them up to give them away.

Another new and exciting thing in my life is that I am going to Poland in January! I will go with International Messengers, like I have before, only this time, the camp will be just for high school students instead of families. The dates of the trip are January 21-February 8, although if we can work something out, I might take a detour on the way back in Brussels and see Marie for a few days. Please be in prayer about this trip. Pray that God would open doors and soften the hearts of our students.

I am still working everyday, and loving it! What a blessing to be able to work with my dad. I am sure I never in a million years envisioned myself working at a lumberyard of all places, but, then again, I never envisioned myself not going to college, so it's a good thing that God envisions stuff we can't even wrap our minds around. I love Twila Paris's song, I don't even remember the title of it, but my favorite part goes:

Couldn't it be that He is only waiting there to see

If I will learn to love the dream

That He has dreamed for me?

I can't imagine what the future holds,

But I've already made my choice.

This is where I stand until He moves me on.

And I will listen to His voice.

Wonderful, isn't it?

My mom and I have started Beth Moore's Daniel Bible Study on Monday nights at church. I love doing her studies, but even more than that, I think I like being with so many godly women. It is such an encouragement.

A couple pictures of our cuties:

Here is Ella wearing Katie's glasses. Isn't she adorable?

Kyle likes to try on our shoes.