12 Days of Ministering

As a young girl, I lost two very dear cousins of mine to cancer.  It was during that time frame that our family started a tradition of celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas.  Each year, our father would spearhead organizing countdowns large and small for families in need.  This tradition has been one of my favorite to participate in during the holiday season.  This year, I would like to share a 12 Days of Ministering countdown.  I hope it will be a way for you to have a little fun remembering those that you minister to in addition to promoting the Light the World campaign.  Merry Christmas to all!

Beehive Messages - Cookie Exchange 2010

This is one of my favorite holiday activities...OUR WARD'S ANNUAL COOKIE EXCHANGE!  My dear friend, Isabel, has made this something that us ladies look forward to all year.  This year was no different!  We were greeted with open arms and came loaded with our 4 dozen cookies...EACH!  Yes, there were tons of cookies and goodies, but that's what makes this so much fun!  This year, Isabel placed an ELF out in the room with a little tag that mentioned that once you touched him you could not set him down.  He was passed around throughout the entire party.  We played a game (I know nothing about tampering with the game...HA! HA! HA!) where teams had to hurry to decorate another teammate to look like a decorated Christmas Tree using the supplies given.  Including...green streamer, a star, presents, ornaments, etc...  I still think out team took first, but that's not what other's would say.  We munched on a few treats and then headed in to the dinning area where we shared stories about our cookies and sampled a few too!  YUM!  At the end we each got to take a sampling of the cookies home to share with our families.  We ran out of time to do our gift exchange this year so we all got to pick a gift that was placed under the tree.  We love the fact that we walk away with cookies and a gift...who wouldn't...right?!  I know nothing about the cookie cheerleaders that showed up this year and don't have pictures of them because they were so BAD, but if you happen to see some of their pictures on-line I apologize for the great fun they were having.  I also love that we have the next generation joining in with us...our daughter's!

This year my cookies were little Gingerbread Houses that you hang on hot chocolate mugs.  I used a Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter and made a slit on each house prior to baking so they could fit nicely on the mug once they were cooked and decorated.  I also made some Chocolate Chip Cookies...the recipe is to die for...I PROMISE!

If you would like a copy of my cookie recipes that were shared this year at the Cookie Exchange...please comment here or email me directly at jennifer.hawkins@hotmail.com.  Please be sure to send me your email address.

Happy Holiday Treats!  YUMMY!

Crafts - Paper Stockings

Yes, this is another fun craft project that my mom put together this holiday season for the ladies in Relief Society.  Thought they were really cute!  I don't have the template, but I think you could make one pretty easily.  It's a stocking made out of paper on the front and the back of a paper box.  She stuffed the stocking with tissue paper and a special surprise for the ladies.