First Baptist Festivities

Follow @makenzie_jones

 

I am so thankful to have this church that provides so many ways to celebrate the holidays by having fun while still keeping "the main thing the main thing."

Here's a couple pictures of me with my co-servers of Latte Moon!

This year we added aprons and buttons, which I thought were really cute.

One Wednesday night, we all made cookies and Christmas cards to give out to people to share the true love of Christmas!  We had so much fun, and you can check out some more of it on instagram by searching the hashtag #EquipCookies

Above are the 4 that I made.

This is crazy Rob, our youth pastor!

He is all about serving and taking/posting awesome pictures.

My friend Tessa took this picture to capture the variety of cards created by the girls at my table.

These are the people I gave my #EquipCookies to!  Up in the right top corner, I promise I didn't give it to the dog.  I gave it to the dog's owner, my neighbor!

Peanuts always has a way to work some Christian ideas into almost everything it does, especially in Christmas themes.  Pastor Dean also found a way to work Peanuts into his sermon.  How cute!  Poor Chuck, though...getting yelled at by Lucy once again.

FBCMTN has done the Living Christmas Tree as many years as I have been alive! 
They it one weekend before Christmas, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  The lights and music are amazing, and it is great to hear so many songs of the season along with the Christmas Story.

Pastor Dean opens and closes and shares his love.

Baby Jesus, Joseph, and Mary

Mom and Dad got some extra tickets so I could take a couple friends.  These girls are Megan and Rachel!  After watching the tree, we went to TCBY to have a holiday treat.  Even though it may be cold outside, we all agree that it is always a good time for frozen yogurt.

Honey-Maple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

My TNN (Trojan Nation Network, a usually 2-day-a-week half hour like a homeroom) class had a little Christmas party where we could bring in goodies to share.  I found this recipe in a Family Circle magazine and was super excited to try them!  They turned out great-not crunchy!  They're healthy, too, so this is a great Christmas time treat.

 

Here is a picture of the recipe from the magazine.  However, I used whole wheat flour, added some cinnamon and extra raisins, used honey, and left off the glaze.  Many recipes can be changed slightly for your specific taste!

A Day Full of Christmas

Time has so gotten away from me.  I am so behing on my gift wrapping, card making, decorating, cooking, celebrating, and just getting in the spirit!  There is no way that it is December 16th already.

 

However, yesterday was a very Christmasy day!  I started out taking two gifts to people at church and learning some new songs in service.  I got my own Latte Moon this morning, too, to take with me to Sunday School at the youth building across the street.  I was glad I had something warm; the sanctuary left me still cold and it was freezing temps outside as well!  This here is coffee with pumpkin spice creamer, topped with mini marshmallows and cool whip!  I never knew until this morning how yummy those toppings make coffee.

After Sunday School, my class had our Christmas party at our terrific leader Patty's house.  Our college leader, Jenna, and her family came, too.  Patty set up a chicken and/or beef taco bar, fixed drinks and coffee, and had also made some super yummy buckeyes!

 

  Below are some of the cookies we baked.  We made hundreds of treats!  These cookies are going to go to some older and/or disable people around our area that our church does some ministry with.

 

 

 

Top left is Morgan, who is spreading some PB on crackers to be dipped in white chocolate.

Below her is Patty, dipping the crackers.  She was too excited about those!

Bottom left is Cassie, who was getting a kick out of us flattening the cookie dough.

Top right is Bella, trying but failing to flatten an entire chunk of cookie dough.

Last but not least is Julia rolling and covering snickerdoodle dough made by her mom.

I made a batch of gingerbread cookies!

Our class is much larger than just these girls, but due to previous holiday plans, not everyone could come!

To conclude my Sunday, I went with my mom, dad, friend Brooke and her mom to my church's final night of The Living Christmas Tree, The Birthday of the King.  I would be terrified to be up there so high in that tree, especially the poor lady at the tip-top!  This performace of Christmas songs and the true Christmas story of Jesus's birth is heard by so many each of three nights.  It is a great way to get in the spirit and share the gospel.