On the 3rd Day Of CHRISTmas…giveaway with Whitney Capps

Welcome to day three of the 12 Days of CHRISTmas giveaway!!! There will be holiday ideas, easy recipes and both practical and pampering prizes to win. Best of all, each day you will meet one of my fellow “sistas” from the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaking team. Get to know them and their wonderful resources including books and teaching cd’s. Why, you might even just discover the speaker you have been looking for to appear at your next event.

So get in the holiday spirit. Tune in each day. Hop on and leave a comment. The more you leave, the better your chances of winning. The 12 daily winners will be announced on the 13th day of December so comment on all 12 posts if you can! 

Day Three

Well, there aren’t any hens, French or otherwise, to be given away on this our third day of CHRISTmas. However, you may just win a fun and foofy girly gift from today’s featured Proverbs 31 speaker, Whitney Capps. (You’ll have to read the entire post to see what she is giving away, but let me just tell you ladies, I wish the host could get away with winning it–it is something I adore!!)

But alas, I’ll have to hope my dear hubby or one of my kid’s reads today’s post and gets me a duplicate of Whitney’s giveaway. In the mean time, grab something to sip on and meet one of my newest ‘sistas’ whom I totally love already. Whitney is a breath of fresh air, has a passion for people, radiates with Christ’s love and is lovely too!! ( I don’t think I told her this, but when we met at this year’s She Speaks Conference, I was certain she was someone’s daughter attending the Next Generation track!! She could pass for a high schooler!!!! Oh, to be young again…….)

I’ll stop rambling now and let you meet…..my  new, sweet friend Whitney Capps.

Spend much time with Whitney Capps and you will probably learn more about her failures than her successes as a follower of Christ.  More often than not, however, it is that transparency, vulnerability and honesty that helps Whitney’s audiences embrace the unfailing but sometimes difficult reality of Who God is.

 

“I don’t teach because I have a lot of answers; I teach because I have a lot of questions.”  Ask Whitney Capps why she loves to speak and that’s the answer you’ll get.  No pretense.  No pride.  No posturing.  Whitney teaches because she loves to shatter the perception that to study the Scriptures one must be a scholar or a saint.

 

“I’m neither.  And yet in His infinite grace when I study the Word, the Author Himself condescends to explain it to me!  How can I not share with others what I’ve learned?”

 

Whitney is just a regular gal trying to figure our married life and motherhood. She’s a girly-girl who loves shoes, shopping and a good eyebrow wax, but could “veg” on the couch all day watching sports of any variety. Oh, and if ice-crunching drives you crazy, you probably couldn’t be her friend.

Whitney and her husband live just outside Atlanta with their two (soon to be three) young boys. Let’s hear from her now…….

Whitney, what is in store for you and your loved ones this Christmas?

This particular Christmas holds a special sense of anticipation as we look forward to the birth of our third baby boy in the first week or so of January. So while we are preparing for his arrival we are also trying to soak up every minute with our three year-old and two-year old. This Christmas is the first time that Cooper, our oldest, has been able to really enjoy the thrill of the season. It has already been so much fun! Each holiday activity, from decorating the tree to making cookies or spotting a yard-art Santa, thrills the boys. It has been such a treasure to see Christmas fresh, sparkling and new through their eyes.

 

What ways are you attempting to teach your young children about the true meaning of Christmas and avoid the trappings of the secular world?

This Christmas we are talking a lot about the baby in Mommy’s belly and baby boy Mary carried in her belly.  It has been neat to see the boys make the connection to Mary and the baby Jesus in a personal way. Beyond that we are trying to use Christmas to help our boys further understand the importance sharing.  As any Mom can appreciate, stripping our boys of the “MINE” mentality is an on-going battle. We want them to share openly and willingly what they have with one another and with others. Christmas (and the addition of a new sibling) makes learning this lesson even more poignant.

Whitney with her hubby and boys.

You have a passion for communicating God’s truth to the younger generation and to seekers. How can we use the Christmas season to creatively accomplish this?

The thing I hear most from teenagers and seekers alike is a desire to see “real Christianity.” Christmas provides a great time for us to share in the joys of the season, to celebrate, to laugh, to enjoy, to participate. In years past that has meant celebrating with others while at a Christmas party where the revelry was a little too secular and a lot too intoxicating. While I didn’t participate in the “merry-making” I hope my presence and love for them communicated the reason for the season-Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Evangelism opportunities abound during this time of year; we just need to look for ways to take the light into the world, genuinely and gently.

The advice I give to teenagers while trying to decide whether an activity places them “in the world” rather than reaching the world is to ask a simple question. “Am I setting the agenda for how I act, serve, respond and witness in this setting or am I being influenced by those around me?” Teens need to feel equipped and trusted to evangelize and make a difference. I encourage them to think about how a situation will allow them to be a vocal, visual witness for Christ. They then must ask themselves the tough question, “Am I strong enough to stand out?”

What is the best holiday idea you have ever been given?

My Dad is a pastor. Growing up our home was inundated with Christmas gifts, cards and well-wishes. My Mom would gather up all the cards we received and put them in a basket on our kitchen table. Before each meal we would pull a card from the stack, and during the blessing of our meal Dad would pray for the family that sent the card or gift. I have such sweet memories of hearing Dad pray specifically for these families. Often it would take us months to work through the entire basket. It was a great way to extend the spirit of Christmas well into the New Year and remind us how blessed we were to have such a wonderful extended family of brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s a tradition we’ve carried on at our home. The boys love looking at the cards over and over again. And it helps us avoid becoming too habitual or mindlessly repetitive with our blessing.

What fun to get to know you. Thanks Whitney for connecting with us today!!!

You are so welcome!!

Now for the comment question and girly prize; just reading about Whitney and her young sons (with one more on the way; you do realize that come January, she’ll have boys three, two and newborn. YIKES!!!) Anyhow…. I’m sure there will be lots of oohs and aahs at the Capps household both this Christmas and in the years to come as she and her husband celebrate with their little boys. 

But what about we grown-up girls? What makes us ooh and aah at the holidays? Leave a comment today letting us know one of your “favorite things” It may be crisp apple strudel or sleigh bells. Or it may be going caroling, your grandma’s famous pecan pie or your yearly viewing of Frosty. It can even be a one word answer. Eggnog anyone? Any comment will enter you in the drawing to win the prize.

Speaking of the prize…..Whitney will be giving away a gift set from Bath and Body works complete with holiday hand soap and some cozy socks. What a fun and girly gift!

So get your fingers flying ladies and leave those comments telling us what makes you smile when it comes to Christmas. I’ll go first………..

Candy Cane Crunch!

Here is the recipe for a sweet treat we make every year. Great for teacher, coach and neighbor gifts. Package it up in crisp cellophane bags from the florist or craft shop and then tie it up with some red and white curling ribbon. Easy, easy, easy…..Enjoy!!!!

Candy Cane Crunch

24 ounces baker’s white chocolate (bars or chips are fine)

2 cups crushed candy canes

Crush candy canes in a food processor or place in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin. (Okay, sometimes my boys use a hammer! Shhh!) Melt chocolate in microwave on 50% power til melted (2 or more minutes) stirring after each minute. Or melt in a saucepan on low. Stir in candy canes. Pour onto a jelly roll pan or cookie sheets with sides. Cool and break into pieces. Yum!!! (We stick ours out in the garage on the deep freeze to speed up the cooling process–one of the benefits of living in Michigan–your garage is like a second, huge fridge!!!)

*NOTE: You can really get creative with this recipe. Use milk or dark chocolate. Or substitute a different flavor hard candy or use nuts instead. You can even sprinkle coconut, colored sprinkles or mini-marshmallows on top while the candy is still hot. Or, make a batch each of white and milk chocolate. Pour both into a pan and swirl for a marbled effect. Anything goes!!! Just try not to make it too thick. About 1/8 inch is best.

Now…it is your turn………What is one of your favorite things?

Merry-Minty Blessings,

Karen

57 Comments

  1. I love the Christmas lights. Our small town in Ohio sets up an awesome light display in the park and its free. I also love the music and singing all my favorite Christmas songs.

  2. The one thing I love the most about Christmas is spending time with family. My mom passed away almost 3 years ago and so now I appreciate the time I get with all my family, especially my extended family though during the holidays. Love sitting with just the Christmas lights on watching Christmas movies with the kids or listening to Christmas music.

  3. I love white Christmas lights. I love to turn all of the other lights off and spend the evenings with just the tree lights on. I also love riding around to look at decorations at night. My husband and I are the self-designated decoration police and we discuss who we think has earned a fine (usually for tackiness) and how steep the fine should be. It’s a lot of laughs.

  4. Whitney,
    Having three boys is an absolute blessing. I use to dream of the days when they would have their college sweatshirts and I could borrow them. I am there and it doens’t happen, the girlfriend has them.
    My favorite thing is on Christmas morning having all three of them on the top of the steps and awaiting the day. It has been great watching them go from one step to three, because they just don’t fit. Just spending the time as a family and remembering why we celebrate is just wonderful. Enjoy those boys!
    Diane

  5. Seeing bubble lights on a tree makes me smile—takes me back in time to when I was a kid and went to Grandma’s house. She had twinkling, glowing. wondrous bubble lights, fragrant cookies baking, snow was gently falling— and there was magic in the air.

  6. My most favorite thing is taking my children to see the Christmas lights all around the metroplex. When I was a child, we would get in a our 12 passenger van (big family) and pick up my Granny Dot, who would bring hot chocolate in a couple of thermoses, and then we would ride around looking at houses lit up in brilliant colors!

    Two years ago my family of origin did this…got in a church van, packed in 15+ people, and went around singing and drinking hot chocolate. I cry everytime I think about it.

    So now we take our kids out to see the lights set to Christmas music, drink hot chocolate, etc. It should be marvelous this year with 5 children! Usually we have infants (we are a foster family) but we have 2 this year about to turn 1 and 1 about to turn 2, plus our teenage daughters. I love it. This is my favorite part of the holiday celebration.

  7. I love sitting looking at the tree with my family and watching an old Chritmas movie. The Bishop’s Wife and White Christmas our two of our favorites. It is so great to take time and enjoy each other during this busy season!

  8. Oohhh – Amy you made my comment before me. I LOVE, snuggling in my chair with no lights on but the tree, and thanking God for all our blessings. Whitney, we have 3 boys and 1 girl… all 5 and under. It’s crazy and amazing all at once.

  9. Listening to Handel’s Messiah is what makes the season special for me! When I was an exchange student in Germany, my parents even sent me a copy to listen to while I was so far away! My kids can only tolerate a few songs, but I’m hoping as they get older they will appreciate it!

  10. It’s gotta be the music! Any one of Michael W. Smith’s three Christmas CDs (he loves Christmas music, too!) totally puts me in the Christmas spirit. If you haven’t heard them, you’ve got to out and get one – really! It’s gorgeous music, and so totally centered on Jesus as our Emmanuel. My other favorite Christmas artists: Point of Grace, Avalon, Steven Curtis Chapman – all great stuff!

  11. My kids are what make me smile the most at Christmas time. Everything is magical to them. They exclaim with joy everytime they see a house with Christmas lights on it; they bounce out of their rooms each morning to see if the Christmas tree is still in the living room; they sing Away in the Manger with sweet angelic voices. I just love seeing the wonder in their eyes as the season unfolds.

  12. The Christmas music! My 10 year old daughter said this year that when it first came on the radio she got tears in her eyes as she was so excited!

  13. Hearing the sound track from Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorite things… given to me by my wonderful family.
    Merry Christmas!
    Lisa in WA

  14. One of my fav things is having candles all throughout the house – that smell like cinnamon or pine!

    I’m enjoying getting to know all these ladies you are interviewing on your blog!

    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

    Blessings,
    Kate :)

  15. Shortbread cookies and chocolate nutclusters (only made at Christmas time!).

    My parents are part of church group that goes carolling every year. I live too far away to join them now, but I hope to start a similar tradition soon as my girls get old enough to join in. I loved seeing the joy it brought to people, especially those who couldn’t get out or who didn’t have any other company to share the holiday with.

  16. My Christmas favorites are getting to take a couple of weeks off from work, and spending more time with family. Just being able to hang out at home over coffee, or grabbing lunch during the day without any hustle or bustle.

  17. Aunt Donna’s homemade pies. Peanut butter cream and butterscotch are the best. She also makes chocolate and even coconut.
    She taught my kids how to make them last year.
    I love the story as to how she started making them. She played at a friends house (as a kid) and the mom was always pulling a fresh baked pie out of oven to cool and Donna hoped for a piece but always had to leave before it was cooled. So she determined she would learn how to make pies and have them whenever she wanted. They are the best and it wouldn’t be the holidays without them!

  18. Definitely the holiday music! My hubby and I have a deal. I can start playing Christmas music after the first snow or after Thanksgiving. Whichever comes first! Loved it that the first snow came early in November this year!

  19. Whitney–I have 3 boys who are teenagers now. What an adventure you are on….they are great fun!!

    My favorite thing at Christmas is the music!! Songs like “O Holy Night” and “Away in a Manger” bring the crazinest of the season into perspective.

    Have a blessed Christmas!
    Kim from PA

  20. Every year my grandmother has baked goodies and made a Lemon Pecan Cake for every household in the “family.” It’s been a tradition since long before I can remember (I’m 37). This is the first year she is not able to do any baking or make the cakes. She and my grandfather are now living in an assisted living facility as my grandfather’s alzheimer’s has progressed so bad she can not care for him any more. The torch has been passed…this year, Kayla and I get to do some goodie baking and TRY our hand at the Lemon Pecan Cake. Memories of family always brings a smile, sometimes even a teary smile, at Christmas time.

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