So ... that is what Christmas is all about?

If you ever want to see the most selfish, self-center, heartless, non-compassionate people ever, just wait until November.  You get to watch them until the end of the first week of January.

No, I don't like the holiday season and I haven't since 7th grade.

I remember sitting in church when I realized how much I despised the last two months of year and how much they depressed me.  Now the mother of six and in my early forties, I still despise most of it and struggle to find the "Joy of Christmas" each year.  It isn't the Nativity hating atheist that does it to me.  It isn't the Yule loving Pagans.  It isn't Santa Claus.

It's the "Christians".

The very ones who are suppose to be focusing on the birth of our Lord and Saviour are the worse offenders of all .  Why?  Well, they're suppose to be setting an example of the love of Christ to the world and few of them do.  They don't care who is missing Thanksgiving with their family so others can pick up that can of forgotten cranberries.  They don't care who is working 14-16 hour shifts and having baked turkey in the break room while their spouse and children eat Thanksgiving without them.  They don't care who is missing their children open their gifts on Christmas morning so they can go to the movies for entertainment.  They don't care which children are parentless for the holiday.  They don't care who is missing their last holiday with an older or sick beloved family member in order for others to get more crap for people who haven't room for the crap they already have.

They just don't care.

And I don't know which is worse: the amount of greed and selfishness and the lack of compassion, or the fact that it no longer amazes me.

The human eye can see a candle flicker from 3.1 miles away (that is when the curve of the earth takes it out of human view).  On a dark night looking down from a mountain, you can see a candle from 30 miles away (Live Science).  I am so thankful for the lights of those who give so much during this time of year for those around them.  They do it all year long, and they give so much of themselves showing the true Jesus inside of them.  I am also incredibly thankful for my children who don't ask for a ton of stuff at Christmas, but are instead content with what they have.  It is because of the flickering lights in my line of vision that I eventually find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger.

It is nine days until Christmas.  I am ready now to get a tree and decorate our home for the Birth of the Saviour.  We'll still have Santa and gifts, but most of all, we'll have Jesus and family.  And that is what this season is really about.

Hello Fresh!

Chicken Polpetti

A little delayed by the winter storm. Lots of ice, no snow. Sad about that, 

BUT here is my second review on Hello Fresh.  

Yesterday one of my sons asked about the chicken meatball dish I had made for lunch one day while he was at school. My homeschooled children had told him how delicious is was and he really wants to try.  Well, it was one of the recipes I had made from Hello Fresh. The Chicken Poletti was definitely the favorite!

Instead of beef, ground chicken is was used to make the "meatballs". 

I had never used ground chicken before; it was a little different to work with than ground beef, but the directions did say to wet your hands before forming the balls which made a big difference. 

I was able to make a total of twelve nice size chicken balls.  

I know chicken balls sounds a bit odd, but that's what we call them.

After they were browned on all sides, they were simmered in homemade sauce while the pasta boiled.  

We wound up diving it four ways.  

My 18-year-old said it was just the right amount to fill him without stuffing him 

and everyone agreed.

 The 3-year-old took a bite and said, "That is aMAZing!"  

I  have to say that one of the things I really enjoyed about reviewing Hello Fresh is that the recipes were ones I would never thought of trying. I doubt I would have made "meatballs" out of ground chicken, but now, it's being requested! Adding new and different recipes to our family meal menu has been great. 

One of my friends pointed out that one of these would make a great gift that is different and unique. Plus they get a recipe card with all the ingredients and instruction so they can make the meals again. Go check them out, and if you decided you want to try them yourself, use the code "T7QDA8" when you sign up for $20 off your first box.

Hello Fresh Review 1 of 3

Hello Fresh!

This was fun!!!

About a month ago a friend told me about an opportunity to review a service called Hello Fresh.  This service allows you to select three meals (regular or vegetarian), THEY do all the shopping, then deliver it to your door so you can have all the fun of playing chef at home without searching for new recipes and running to the store to shop. It sounded like fun, so I signed up right away. 

On November 20th I received a FAAAABULOUS box!!! It was filled with everything I needed to make three meals: recipe cards with full illustrated instructions, meats, FRESH HERBS, veggies, etc. I've taken pictures, and today I am posting my first set; pictures of the box and all the amazing goodies inside! Over the next few days I will be posting reviews of the meals with pictures. Go check them out, and if you decided you want to try them yourself, use the code "T7QDA8" when you sign up for $20 off your first box.  For more reviews by other people, click here.

... sighs ...

You just can't oppose corporate greed while supporting the actions of greedy corporations.