Christmas Archives - The Sparrow's Home

White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

December 9, 2019 by Susan 4 Comments

Jam-packed with salty pistachios, tart dried cranberries and sweet white chocolate, this cookie is the perfect bite. It also looks beautiful on a cookie tray!

I made a cookie similar to these a lot of years ago for a work Christmas party and was told by one co-worker that they were the best cookies he’d ever had. They are kind of the perfect bite…sweet, tart, salty, rich. YUM!

They’re certainly perfect for Christmas with the red, green and white, and look pretty on a cookie tray. I think they’d make a lovely gift, too.

Our new favorite party game is simply fun…and different every time you play

December 31, 2018 by Susan 2 Comments

If you like Apples-to-Apples, this fun party game may be your new favorite! You use books to find the perfect fit to a prompt. Prepare to laugh…a lot!

We get a new family game every year for Christmas. And this year, I am proud to say…we found a real winner! My friend Kay from Heart to Heart Homeschooling recommended this one to me and I knew it would be a hit. My husband wasn’t sure, but after our first time playing he looked right at me and said, “I was wrong, that was fantastic!”

Butterscotch Crunchies

December 10, 2018 by Susan 4 Comments

Peanut butter and butterscotch combine to make these sweet, rich no bake cookie. Butterscotch Crunchies are a staple on our Christmas cookie list.

Peanut butter. Butterscotch. Cornflakes.

That’s all you need for this rich and tasty no-bake cookie. We like to add sprinkles, since they are a Christmas cookie staple. And I mean staple…My youngest told me recently that we could nix any other cookie from our annual Christmas cookie menu before skipping this treat.

My two cookie contributions this year were these gems and white chocolate dipped Oreos, another non-negotiable if you ask my family.

100 Bible verses to inspire you this Christmas and New Year

November 5, 2018 by Susan 19 Comments

Bible verses speak to us at Christmas and New Years in different ways. Often times at Christmas we are reflective, looking back and taking stock of what Christ’s coming has meant to us. And then we look ahead at the New Year with anticipation and hope.

Christmas is a little ways out yet. And although I don’t allow Christmas music before Thanksgiving, it’s never to early to share Scriptures that might prove useful or encouraging.

Whether you are looking for a Christmas Bible verse for a card or a family devotion you are in the right place. Hoping to find something in God’s word to inspire you in the New Year? Right place. Just need something to reflect on this season? Bingo.

God’s word is always timely. Maybe that’s why it’s described as living and active. I hope you find just what your heart is looking for here. More than 100 verses to ponder, inspire and encourage you.

Blessings –

Super Fresh & Simple Orange Cranberries

December 21, 2017 by Susan 2 Comments

Super fresh and simple orange cranberries recipe. Only three ingredients and no cooking! The leftovers save exceptionally well, too.

It doesn’t get much easier than this recipe for fresh orange cranberry sauce. Some might call it relish, but to me relish is a condiment, something you put on a hot dog. This is meant to be eaten by the spoonful, like a more traditional cranberry sauce.

As long as I can remember, these were the cranberries that we had on our Thanksgiving table. The bright, jewel-like red color of the cranberries makes a perfect showing for Christmas dinner as well.

One of the best things is how well leftovers last. They are great for breakfast, or alongside a sandwich for lunch. I’ve also stirred in a little leftover whipped cream for a tasty treat.

My sister taught me something new just this year when she described how she puts some in the freezer, and then scrapes off the frozen icee mixture. (And yes, I do have some in my freezer now). Yum!!

What Did God See in Mary & Joseph? [Free Printable Lesson]

December 18, 2017 by Susan Leave a Comment

Clearly Mary and Joseph had qualities that God valued, since He chose them to raise His son, Jesus. Enjoy using this free printable Bible study lesson perfect for Christmas!

Let me ask you this: If you were unable to raise your children, what characteristics would you look for in the people you chose to take care of them?

The passages of Scripture that tell of Christ’s birth have become so over-familiar to us, haven’t they?

I’m teaching our adult Sunday school class this week, and as I was looking for a lesson that wasn’t the same old same old, all I could find was….well, the same old same old. I went back to the beginning of Luke and began to read the familiar words again.

Then the question I asked above came into my head. I realized that out of all the people who have ever lived, God chose Mary and Joseph to raise his son, Jesus. Clearly they pleased Him. Wouldn’t it be interesting, I thought, to look into their character to hunt for qualities that we could apply to our own lives as we seek to be people who please God.