The final Giveaway is my favorite Christmas album.
Rose of Bethlehem by Selah. Larry and I have gone to Selah’s Christmas concert 3 times and each time were so incredibly blessed by their talent and the faith that they share through their music. The first time, I bought this album and listened to it over and over as I prepared for both of the girls being home for Christmas for the first time in 6 years. I have to admit, it is a little harder to listen to this year, knowing that Lauren will be so far away from us. I know she is probably listening to it too though, because I gave her a copy a couple years ago. This will go out via Amazon to the winner [US addresses only please], drawn by the good old Random Integer Generator thingamabob from the comments on this post.
To enter – leave a comment, answering this question:
What is your favorite Christmas music/album/performance and why?
This final contest will run until Saturday at midnight EST, with the winner to be announced Sunday evening.
Good Luck!
I wasn’t surprised of course. I had seen them checking out ticket prices online earlier in the week, so I knew they would not be here much longer. I was just glad that they stopped by when they left 
I guess one stick of butter is enough to see them through a 90 minute ride. I hope so anyway – they will get in real trouble if they try to sell that truck! And once I got a cup of coffee in me, I realized that Txiz is TEXAS! They are headed 
In a larger bowl, cream together
Add and cream for about 2 minutes
Pat out into a flattened square and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours, or up to about 3 days.
Roll out on floured surface to about 1/3 inch thickness, and cut into desired shapes. I used a tiny jam jar for the round shapes and a dough cutter to cut squares.
Bake at 350º for about 8 to 10 minutes – they should have just the very tiniest hint of brown – if they get more than that, they will be overdone.
Cool on racks for an hour or so. They are wonderful just like this
Or, you can melt together 4 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate, 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon orange zest. [I grate this the day before and let it dry out – makes yummy little chewy bits in the glaze] You can melt this in the microwave – do it for 10 seconds and stir well – if not well melted, try another 5 seconds, stir and then maybe another 5 seconds. I can’t give you exact times because all microwaves are different and to me, it is better to be cautious and only heat a little at a time than it is to burn it and have to start over. Dip the cooled cookies and allow to dry completely before storing in a sealed container.
Yum
And did you enter the 
They wanted a tree, so I poked around in my decorations and found this one which is just their size. They loved it!
A short time later, I heard an incredibly mournful sound coming from the place where we had set up the tree for them. Once again, they were betrayed by their magnet-noses and got stuck to the very decoration they had so admired only a short time before. I gently extricated them and advised that they keep at a bit safer distance in the future.
I asked them which was their favorite decoration and while I could not get a verbal response, I have pulled them out of this wreath on the front door about 50 times, so I think it may qualify as their favorite.
They refused to answer any of the questions about favorite traditions, pointing out that as this is only their second Christmas, they haven’t really had time to develop any traditions at all. When I asked them about their favorite memories, they were happy to share how much they enjoyed waking up last Christmas and being given to Flea. Awhile later, I realized that they were both suddenly quiet and moody and they seemed almost despondent. Bessie asked if they could borrow a pen and then I saw that they had rummaged around on the kitchen table and found a card to send, so that Flea will know they have been thinking of her. Awwww – see how thoughful they are?
I have never been able to figure out how they manage to come and go so freely, but somehow they got outdoors. They were enjoying the view from where they had spent many happy hours at the beginning of their freedom – out in my back shade garden. They seemed fascinated by the snow. 
The next thing I knew, Bessie had clambered down from the rock and gotten herself stuck in a little snowbank. Fred jumped right in an hauled her out of there before she was udderly frozen.
I lost sight of them again, but they turned up awhile later with a new friend. They were somewhat disappointed when I explained that he could not come in the house because he would melt, but have gone back out to chat with him more from time to time.
That was pretty much as far as I got with the Supertag, Flea – I will do it myself later this week. I tried, but you know what minds of their own they have. Last night, I heard something going on out here after I had gone to bed and when I snuck out to see what they were up to, this is what I saw! I think they are getting ready to move on once again.
I will keep you posted on that!
