Christmas – Meghan E White

We all have Christmas traditions. One of ours is to play the movie White Christmas while the tree is being decorated. I love all the music from that classic movie. Of course the iconic “White Christmas” song by Irving Berlin is one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time. And I do love that song. But there’s another song from the movie that I love. “Count Your Blessings” was also written by Irving Berlin. He wrote it during a time he was suffering from insomnia brought on by stress. A doctor suggested to count his blessings instead. Good advice.

When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep counting my blessings
when my bankroll is getting small I think of when I had none at all
and I fall asleep counting my blessings.

I think about a nursery,
and I picture curly heads,
and one by one I count them
as they slumber in their beds.

If you’re worried and you cant sleep,
just count your blessings instead of sheep
and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.

Worry and stress are exasperated during this “Most Wonderful Time of The Year”. While it should be one of the happiest times, for many it can be one of the hardest. I think of this song often throughout the year when I feel stressed. When I stop and count all of my many blessings it gives me perspective. The problems will always come, but the gifts from our Heavenly Father will come too. So let’s thank Him for all He has given us, for all He has done and continues to do.

The Word of God is clear about what we are to do with our worry. Give it all over to Jesus. Here are just a few verses:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7 (NIV)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (NIV)

No matter what you are facing today, stop and take a few moments to thank God for everything He has blessed you with. Write these blessings down and look at them daily to remember how faithful God is. Let’s count our blessings! Our lists should be so long that we run out of paper. If you are in a painful place, at least write a few blessings down. There is always something to be thankful for. Your list will grow as you begin to think about all the good God has done.

Here is a big blessing to start you off. Jesus came into this world as a tiny baby to save us. Thank you Jesus for the blessing and miracle of Christmas.

When we thank God for His many blessings something happens. We stop focusing on the problems and stress and start focusing on God. That changes our mood and our attitude. Our faith grows, and our praise gets stronger. That’s powerful!

May your load be a little lighter today. May God give you fresh joy and perspective when you think on all He has done.

Love you all,

Meghan

P.S. If you need prayer leave your request in the comments or on my contact page.

Images by monicore from Pixabay

Food, Uncategorized

Charcuterie Board

November 27, 2019 meghanewhite

Charcuterie (pronounced shar-koo-tuh-ree) is the French word for pork-butcher shop. Now say charcuterie ten times. It’s the art of preparing cured meats. In fifteenth-century France, charcutiers shop windows were filled with all sorts of cooked and cured pork since they were not allowed to sell uncooked pork. French charcuterie involves pates, mousse, and things like rillettes.

Today, charcuterie has taken on a whole new meaning. It’s no longer just meat. You can find charcuterie everywhere from Instagram to restaurants. It’s made a comeback and I am thrilled. This is my kind of eating. Unpretentious, grab what you like, kind of eating. The sky’s the limit with what foods you place on your charcuterie board.

There are no rules or complicated recipes to follow. You can use cutting boards, plates, or a large serving tray like I did. Add cured meats, cheeses, bread, fruit, nuts, or whatever suits your fancy. And, there is no cooking involved! Charcuterie can be a creative appetizer or a meal. I had so much fun making this charcuterie board and I hope you will make one too.

Wow your guests during the holidays with charcuterie. They will think you are the coolest host in the world. No more spray cheese and stale crackers for you. Not that cheese from a can is all that bad on occasion, but this time you’re going big. You’re going grand. It’s time to change things up when it comes to appetizers. If you’re not ready to take the leap, then by all means stay safe. But, I really hope you at least try and make your own charcuterie board. You won’t be disappointed.

Happy eating!

The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Charcuterie Board

Here is the list of food I used for my board:

red grapes
strawberries
dried cranberries
blackberry preserves
pistachios
roasted almonds
chocolate covered pecans
colby jack cheese
sharp cheddar
provolone
blue cheese
brie
pepperoni
prosciutto
salami
marinated artichoke hearts
Kalamata olives
Spanish olives
assorted crackers

How to assemble your charcuterie board:

Start with placing any bowls of olives, sauces, or spreads on the board.
Next, place all meats.
Now add your cheeses.
Then add crackers or sliced bread.
Fill in with fresh and dried fruit.

My tips:

Lay parchment paper down first when using a tray.
Have both soft and hard cheeses.
Use both fresh and dried fruit.
Add variety with different colored and textured food.
Keep it simple if you’d like, with just meat, cheese, and bread.

Have fun with your charcuterie board! Be creative and enjoy!

You can read my latest article in the link below. Check out Mustard Seed Sentinel for fantastic content.

https://www.mustardseedsentinel.com/post/meghan-s-corner-charcuterie-board