Christmas

Happiness Is Homemade Party

Welcome to Happiness is Homemade Link Party 508

Welcome to the party! It’s Mel from Decor Craft Design as your hostess for December. Yes, December is my turn to host and I’m very exciting for this coming holiday!

Floral decoration with white pumpkins called baby boo and chrysanthemum flowers.

Have you started decorating for Christmas? For our featured posts this week, we have selected some holiday decor ideas to get us in the Christmas mood.

If you missed the party last week, you can check it out here!

tall thin Christmas tree in a diningroom

An inspiring clever idea on How to Make a Thin Christmas Tree Look Fuller is coming from Sonata Home Design.

Such a creative way to make a Coffee Filter Angels Christmas Ornament Craft you can try from Darcy and Brian.

Creatively Beth made these Easy Coastal Christmas Ornaments look very shiny and beautifully perfect for coastal Christmas theme.

Simple idea of Easy Cone Christmas Tree DIY from An Organized Season makes an excellent Christmas decorations.

Wow! These Gluten-Free Cut Out Sugar Cookies look amazing and festive for coming Christmas. Get the recipe at Mommy Hates Cooking.

If you are looking for a classic, sugar cookie recipe that is not gluten-free, you will find it right here:

Classic Cut-out Sugar Cookie Recipe from Ducks ‘n a Row

Pin It HERE

Did you know we have a Pinterest Board where all features are saved to? Save our pins to your own board for your future reference, easy peasy!

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Glorious illustrations and fascinating facts about the blessed event, the birth of baby Jesus on Christmas told brilliantly in this keepsake-worthy book. #Ad Families who receive it now can enjoy it over and over again, year after year, as they celebrate many sweet holiday seasons to come.

Thank you for joining us this week whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all of the inspirational shares!

Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit!

Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade!

This party is published on 6 different blogs so, bloggers, the posts you share get lots of exposure! Many thanks to our hosting blogs for giving us all this opportunity every week!

Linda @ A Labour of Life

Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row

Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn

Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess

Mel @ Décor Craft Design

Niki @ Life as a Leo Wife

Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love to have you join our party!

Decorative ornament hanger hooks for Christmas tree decorations. #ad

Christmas Is Coming Blog Hop

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Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. Every week bloggers come by and share their best recipes, home decorating creations, crafts, kids activities and more! What we really love is when others come by to see what we have shared! Need a new recipe? Come by and get it here. Looking for refreshing your home? This party is the place to find ingenious ideas that are so easy to do. Our party is a clearinghouse of creativity!

We can hardly wait to see all of the recipes, crafts, holiday décor, family fun and memories that will be shared at this party. Before we start, let’s take a look at the most popular posts from last week!

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Most Viewed Featured Post

Puff Up Breakfast Casserole – My Life Abundant

Thank you to all of our blog part hosts! Be sure to stop by their blogs for a visit ♥

MEET THE HOSTS
Ahna – HAMMERS N HUGS | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Emily – LeCULTIVATEUR | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER
Tara – STILETTOS AND SHIPLAP | IG | PINTEREST
Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | TWITTER

And we would LOVE it if you would share our party with your friends. Here is a tweet to make it so easy for you:

Come to a holiday blog party, hosted on 8 popular blogs! This week we have the best #recipes, #homedecor, #crafts #giftideas and more! Share on X

How Did They Know To Look For Baby Jesus?

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The Bible proves itself. From the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, the Divine inspiration of the scriptures is recognizable through its prophecies. Detailed descriptions of future events are found all through the Bible. Many of these predictions, written hundreds of years in advance, have come true with shocking detail. and others are coming to pass even now. No other book can claim to be the Word of God with convincing proofs like this one.

So, how did people know to look for a Messiah, in the first place? The Bible is a book of prophecy. It gave much detail about Him long before He was ever born. It even quotes Moses saying that a prophet would come who was like him, a deliverer: [Deuteronomy 18:15: Luke 24:25-27]

Bible Prophecy Tells of the Coming Messiah

He would be born of a virgin. [Isaiah 7:14]

He would come from Bethlehem. [Micah 5:2]

He would be of the line of David and the Son of God. [Isaiah 9:6,7]

He would die for our sins. [Isaiah 53]

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. Isaiah 9: 6,7

Evil King Herod of Bible times believed the scriptures and feared it to the point that, when he heard that the Messiah had been born, he sent out a hit-squad to kill him. Yes, Herod was afraid of a tiny little baby.

The Magi [the 3 wisemen] were watching the stars for a sign. They likely knew by reputation that the Hebrew scriptures held the keys to the future. That is how they knew to look for him. The Messiah’s birth was a huge big deal and they devoted themselves to finding Him.

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So there He was – baby Jesus – born in Bethlehem, just as the scriptures said. His first bed was a humble hay-filled manger in a stable. A star was set in the sky by God to mark the spot. Angels appeared in the heavenlies, glorifying God for the greatness of that holy day. Upon hearing the news from those heavenly messengers, shepherds left their flocks to go see for themselves.

And so the story of the greatest rescue operation of all time – even greater than Moses and the parting of the Red Sea [Exodus 14] – had begun. Planned from the foundation of time and told far in advance of its happening, Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. [Luke 19:10] A marvelous mystery to many. A love story beyond belief – but true! And it all began on one holy night.

How did they know to be looking for baby Jesus? #faith #Bible #Jesus Share on X

Blessings!

One of my favorite little books tells the reader where in the Bible you can find these prophetic words. It is Sid Roth’s life story “There Must Be Something More.” Sid tells of his failed search for success and happiness, his near-death through his involvement in the occult and then the BIG discovery that Jesus Christ is Lord. Yes, this Jewish man discovered that Jesus is the Messiah. He found that the Bible is the Word of God and holds the keys to the future of all mankind. [If Sid’s name sounds familiar, by the way, you may have seen him on TV. His show is called “It’s Supernatural.”]

Very Merry Christmas Collection Of Holiday Crafts & Recipes

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Merry Christmas! So glad you are here. While we take the week off from our blog party to celebrate with family and friends, we picked out some great crafts and recipes for you to enjoy! See you next week.

Although this Christmas will soon have come and gone, you are not going to want to forget what you see here. Be sure to go to the original blog to pin the ones you love. That way you will have these great ideas all tucked away for the future!

Grandinroad Hack – A Pallet Project – Eclectic Red Barn

Gold Leaf Christmas Trees – Sparkle Living Blog

Beautiful Christmas home decor ideas, holiday treat recipes and crafts that you will LOVE! #holidays Share on X

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Set of Plaid Reindeer – Holiday Decor #Ad

How To Make A Gingerbread House – Simple Steps For Living Life

A Very Merry Little Living Room – LeCultivateur

Make decorative Cookie Press Cookies for the Holidays #Ad

Death By Peanut Butter and Chocolate – Marilyn’s Treats

Holiday Wreath Breakfast Kuchen – Ducks ‘n a Row

Home Decor at Amazon #Ad

Transparent Floating Photo Ornament – My Life Abundant

How To Decorate Glass Blocks – Jennifer Maker Blog

Luxury Handmade Gift Tags – Pillarbox Blue

Christmas On The Outside – Living On Cloud Nine

Bliss Collection Holiday Gift Tags #ad

Quilted Christmas Stockings For The Whole Family Plus Pattern – Gluesticks Blog

Festive Keto Cranberry Orange Bread – Fit To Serve Group

Christmas blessings to you and yours!

Enjoy!

7 Best Nativity Sets Your Kids Will Love To Play With

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Nativity scenes are keepsakes that your family will treasure for years to come. I have a mini-nativity scene sitting on my family room mantel featuring Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus that I leave on display year-round.

Kids, of course, are very hands-on. They want to play with their nativity sets. So, get them unbreakable nativity scene toys that they can touch, move around and actually PLAY with while learning the Christmas story!

FOR EVERYONE: >> Family Nativity Scenes Are Holiday Treasures

I share my preschool classroom with a Sunday school class. When I arrived this week I found that the other teacher who uses the room had set up a nativity scene display for little children. It was so cute, I took some pictures [below.] My students did play with the pieces – they couldn’t help themselves, it was so much fun. And then we put it all back in place when we were done.

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Adorable Miniature Nativity Set for Kids with 12 movable pieces. #Ad

Precious Moments Winter Moments Advent Calendar #Christmas #Ad

Give your kids a fun toy to celebrate Christmas with - a play nativity set! #Christmas #giftideas #kids Share on X

Fisher Price Little People Christmas Story Toy Set #ad

Enjoy!

Why Saying “Merry Christmas” Is So Special To Me

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“Merry Christmas!” I am so thrilled that it is OK to say “Merry Christmas” again. Wherever I go – the bank, the grocery store, the gas station – everybody is saying it! It is like they are trying out a new toy. Smiles are big. Joy is in the air. This is what Christmas should be like.

After all, we are celebrating the beginning of the best thing God ever did. He sent His Son to rescue us and bring us into a relationship with Him. And, to add to the good news, He has prepared a “forever-home” for us in heaven. I love that! Celebrating Jesus’ birth is bigger than a big deal and I am going to say “Merry Christmas” more than ever in celebration.

Of all the things that Jesus came to do for us, I value the unexplainable peace He gives. His peace can be in our hearts all of the time, no matter what is going on around us.

Why saying Merry Christmas means so much! #Christmas #faith #peace Share on X

Do you know that it is possible to be saved and still not feel peace in our hearts? That is because of fear. Fear is a thief who steals our peace. People are aggravated, agitated and mouths are going a mile-a-minute with complaints, accusations and more complaints on top of that. I believe that most of that is rooted in fear. But Jesus came with an answer:

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. ” Jesus said “Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 See? God’s peace is the remedy for fear.

At Christmas, we celebrate the very first day that Jesus came to live here. He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. That baby was sent with a mission to “seek and save that which was lost.” Like little lambs that went astray, He came to gather us up in His arms and bring us safely home. No strings attached, it is a free gift from God. We accept Him as our savior and receive His forgiveness for all of our sins – past, present and future – and then we get loads of fringe benefits from being in His family, too – one of which is peace.

Peace feels really good but how do we get it? We start by thinking about Him – all of the time – and agree with what He says. We must get our eyes off the circumstances and onto the Word of God. As we do, fear leaves and peace floods in. It works for me every time.

All of this has been on my mind because I was feeling anything but peaceful, lately. News junkie that I am, I have discovered that too much “news” is bad news! It had been robbing me of the peace that Jesus came to give. So, I turned off the radio and TV news – for the most-part – and now I think about things that are “good, true, pure, lovely and of a good report.” I am done with listening to the clamor and I have told the newsy scuttlebutt that it has to go. I am tuning in to God’s Word which lifts me up. Try it. It will lift you up, too!

So, “Merry Christmas my friends.” I will be taking a couple of days off to just relax and enjoy. Right now, as I write this, I am looking out the window at the beautiful fluffy white snow coming down. So pretty. Now that is peaceful! I will see you back here in just a few days, Tuesday night to be exact, for our weekly blog hop.

In the meantime, may…

“The Lord bless you and keep you.

May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace!” Numbers 6:24-26

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Enjoy!

….

Merry Christmas!

How To Have A Holiday Cookie Swap!

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The holidays would not be complete without Christmas cookies and lots of them! While you could try baking all of the recipes you love, why not team up and have a holiday cookie swap, instead? This very popular holiday get-together gives you another way to see family and friends plus you come home with a wide assortment of delectable home baked treats!

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Holiday Cookies recipe collection!

Baking Christmas cookies for a cookie exchange party

How To Host A Cookie Exchange Party

Invite guests – especially those who like to bake!
Ask each person to bring one dozen homemade cookies per person coming to the party plus an additional dozen for sampling. This method assures that everyone takes a nice variety of cookies home with them for their families to enjoy. i.e. if 10 people are coming, you bring 11 dozen cookies of the same recipe.
When your guests RSVP, find out what kind of cookies they plan to bring. This will help you to assure that there will some variety. If too many of the same kind of cookie is coming, politely ask some guests to make a different recipe.
On the day of the party, serve beverages for your guests to enjoy with their cookies plus another type of snack (salty instead of sweet?)
Create a festive atmosphere. Decorate your house and have Christmas music playing in the background. Use some pretty seasonal paper plates, napkins & cups to enhance your display. Enjoy!
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Get a wide variety of delicious homemade Christmas #cookies for the #holidays without having to bake them all. Host a cookie exchange party! #Christmas #familyfun Share on X

Enjoy!

Christmas JOY Table Decoration

Christmas

Welcome to Happiness is Homemade Link Party 508

Most Viewed Featured Post

Very Popular

Bible Prophecy Tells of the Coming Messiah

How To Host A Cookie Exchange Party