5 Things to Say Goodbye to in 2016

What worked and what didn't work in 2015?
It will different for every single one of us.

Here are some good places to start throwing out what maybe didn't work over the past year.
Say goodbye to...
-those nasty gremlin voices in your head that tell you are incapable of doing something.
-the times you were immature, out of line, harsh, or just used no freaking common sense. Take them as humbling experiences (sometimes I hate that part!) and keep moving along.
-expectations you had for yourself that by now you should have done this or that. Life can be messy and imperfect. Hold yourself to a standard of grace, not perfection.
-constant need for connection by carrying the phone around each room of the house religiously. Put the phone down more. Turn off the dings, beeps, and rings. Maybe even set in the other room, gasp! I know I need more of that in my life.
-to the nagging thought that next year will be the same and that nothing will ever change. Rather, say hello and embrace all the wonderful possibilities and dreams this next year will hold for you.
Am I missing anything? What would you add to the list?

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bars

Have you ever read the book "The Five Love Languages" by Dr. Gary Chapman? While my love languages are words of affirmation and quality time, an honorary one for me would be  chocolate. Ahh yes chocolate as a secondary love language.

Credit to this recipe post goes to Deliciously Sprinkled

I have had this recipe on my mind for awhile in wanting to try it, so when I was drafted to make a dessert for Christmas dinner I decided to spice it up and try something new. And by the compliments this little tasty earned, I am thinking this may be a new holiday favorite!
Ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 2 cups flour 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 can sweetened condensed milk 3/4 cup fresh raspberries

Directions 1// Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.
2// Using a hand mixer, blend butter until creamy.
3// Mix in brown sugar, flour, and salt until crumbly.
4// Press 1 3/4 cups of crumb mixture into being pan. (Make sure to save some of the crumb mixture to sprinkle on top of raspberries and chocolate chips)
5// Bake crust for 10 to 12 minutes.
6// While crust is baking, our condensed milk and add dark chocolate chips. Stir over low heat until mixture is smooth and chocolate fully melted.
7// Remove crust from oven and pour chocolate mixture over warm crust.
8// Sprinkle remaining over chocolate mixture. Spoon raspberries over mixture and top with mini chocolate chips
9// Bake for 20-30 minutes. Let bars cool before cutting and eating commence.

Not to difficult right? It is funny to me because I do not like dark chocolate by itself, but pair it with something like brie cheese or fresh fruit and I am there. And yes, these are as tasty as they look ;)
Are you a fan of dark chocolate? What are your favorite pairings to go with chocolate?

The Real Gift God Wants This Christmas

When I was little, I was known to be a snooper when it came to birthday or Christmas presents. I was just so darn excited to wait and be surprised. I had to know ahead of time, I couldn't wait for the surprise to be discovered in the fury of wrapping paper flying everywhere. Thankfully as I got older, I grew out of my impatient present loving ways.
Advent is a time and season of waiting. There are many seasons in each of our lives that require patience in the waiting. Sometimes the waiting is easy and peaceful, and sometimes it feels like an impatient toddler just wanting to find and open their presents.
And amidst the wrapping presents, cooking, shopping, and sometimes stress of the season, what God really wants from each of us is something so simple. The real gift God wants from each of us this Christmas for to be invited into the mess of our lives. That image is something I have spent a lot of quiet time just thinking and reflecting on over the past four weeks of Advent.

Think about it. What do you give to the King of Heaven who was born in barn where animal poop and smells abound? The invitation for Him to make his home in the mess of your own life. I know it sounds so simplistic and even cliche, but this Advent it has meant so much to me in a lot little ways.
Just imagine yourself leaning over the manger, looking at that cute, squishy little baby who oh by the way just happens to be God. And what do you give Him? The invitation ask Him into the broke, hurting messes that each of us carry, that many do not observe.
Invite Jesus this Christmas to make His home in the messy stuff of your life, just like His first bed was in a nasty, smelly old barn. We've all got "stuff". Whatever is abounding, invite Him into it: anger, resentment, sadness, hurt, pain, jealousy, fear, whatever it is. That's my Christmas gift to God this year, just asking Him to make His home in the messy stuff. And I think that those simple prayers and invitations into our hearts are the ones Jesus loves most. Because they are not fancy, but just raw, real prayers of the heart.
Yes finish the baking, tree trimming, wrapping of last minute presents, but sometime between now and Christmas day, take some time to be quiet and still. Invite Jesus into the mess. He can take it. No matter the mess of our hearts or lives, it is not to big for the depth of His grace and love.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel... The world is waiting.