3rd Day of Christmas Giveaway…..with Melissa Taylor
Attention Weight Loss Wednesday gals….Do not fear! We are still checking in today. Just scroll down past this 12 Days of Christmas interview to see our WLW post. After, of course, you’ve entered today’s giveaway!
(If you are just joining us in our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, click here to get caught up. You can enter to win the prizes on any of the posts until midnight EST on Sunday, December 13th)
On the third day of Christmas…..meet my gregarious, godly and oh-so-pretty P31 sista’ Melissa Taylor! Melissa’s heart for Jesus and love of people comes through in all she does, whether she is speaking at an event or writing a devotion or answering the phones in the P31 office (I actually can ‘hear’ her smile through the phone when I call!). She is a treasure to us at P31 and now you can know her too! Meet Melissa:
I live in Charlotte, NC with my husband of 20 years, Jeff, and my 4 crazy fun and beautiful kids. Speaking and writing for the Lord is my passion. I’ve been doing that with Proverbs 31 Ministries for 8 years. I have a desire to encourage every woman I meet to be all that God created her to be and not to settle for anything less! Two years ago I also joined the staff at Proverbs 31 as the office Administrative Assistant and Prayer Coordinator. I am an ordinary everyday woman who just wants to bless others with what God has given me.
If you’d like to connect with me, please visit my website, www.MelissaTaylor.org. You can also connect with me on Facebook, www.facebook.com/melissa.r.taylor or Twitter, www.twitter.com/melissartaylor. Thanks so much! I pray you have an awesome Christ filled holiday!
Melissa, can you share a tradition your family has enjoyed over the years?
We get bowls of popcorn and M & M’s get in the car, turn on Christmas music and drive around the city looking at Christmas lights. I love this because it’s just me, my husband and kids all together. No cell phones or iPods allowed. We’ve had great conversations during this once a year journey.
How do you intentionally focus on Christ in the midst of all the flurry of activities that happen in December?
Beginning December 1st, we read from The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman right after dinner. Each page reveals a door. You open the door and a piece of the Christmas story is there. Whoever opens the door reads the passage for that day. And you aren’t allowed to peek ahead! This is just one of a few activities our family does.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie you watch at this time of year?
Absolutely. It’s A Wonderful Life is my favorite serious feel good movie of the season. Home Alone 1 and 2 are my favorite seasonal comedies. Love these!
You are offering a creative giveaway today based on a special memory of yours. Can you tell us about it?
With pleasure. My giveaway is called Peppermint Memories and Music. When I was a little girl, I used to visit my Grammy for Christmas. She always had peppermint sticks in a dish to give to anyone who visited her home. Grammy was a friend of Jesus. Her life radiated Christ. Now we have a dish with these peppermint sticks in it. When we offer them to guests, we tell them of Grammy and her love for Jesus. So ladies, if you are today’s winner, you will receive from me: Grammy’s special peppermint sticks, a Christmas dish, and a $15 iTunes cards to purchase your favorite music. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for visiting with us today Melissa!
Alright ladies, leave a comment today with your favorite Christmas tradition, most loved holiday movie or way to focus on Christ at Christmas. Or, since Melissa’s giveaway involves candy, your favorite homemade or store-bought candy to savor while you ponder our Saviour at Christmastime. Or, if you really need to get OFF the computer and onto life, (like I should be doing right now!!!) just say, “I’m in!!” and you’ll be eligible to win this creative giveaway!
Third Day Blessings,
My favorite Christmas “candy” is the fudge my mom makes each year. It’s just your basic marshmallow fluff fudge (milk chocolate with nuts), but her fudge always tastes the BEST!
Favorite candy? Hmmmmmmmmm, I like pretzels dipped in almond bark. But I like the idea of the popcorn in the car for christmas lights. We willhave to go a-driving this year!
l love Christmas! It brings back many fond memories of my childhood and times spent with my grandparents! They are all gone to be with the Lord now but I love to just sit and think about all those days gone by :)
I finally saw part of It’s a Wonderful Life for the first time last year–I want to rent it and watch it all with my hubby after the kids are in bed.
I love making caramel every Christmas. As I child we had taffy pulls, Georgia style. I’d love to do this with my kiddos at least once! I definitely feel inspired to go get some Grammy’s peppermints and share Jesus’ love.
My favorite Christmas movie isn’t a movie at all…it’s the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. I know, I know…how old am I? It just takes me back to a time when my life was simpler, uncomplicated…before my parents’ divorce, when all was well with the world. Now, I have to juggle time with all of the families each holiday and it’s so tiring. I do my best not to let it get to me, though!
Always fun to read of other people’s Christmas traditions. This brought back fond memories of Christmas’ past with my parents, siblings, & grandparents. Thank you.
Michele
Mmmm! I love peppermint candy too! I was just thinking that I needed to make some peppermint bark this year since I haven’t done it in a few years. Now I just need to find a reason to make it so I don’t eat the whole batch myself ;)
Great ideas! Thanks
It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite Christmas movies too! I also love to watch The Preacher’s Wife because of all the music!
When I was a child, one special memory, other than waking up before the crack of dawn to open gifts, was that our parents always gave us a goody bag/sack. It was filled with some nice treats of fruits, nuts, and candy (double sugar high for the day). I think I will try that with my boys this year. I always looked forward to that bag! We’d munch out while playing with our new toys until mom was up to start breakfast.
My favorite is the old fashioned ribbon candy. Not the stuff you get at your local wondermart either. The homemade stuff from family stores in the area. Ya gotta love it!
I’m in!
I’m in!
We love making buckeye candy. And also going around the look at the Christmas lights with our kids.
I love peppermint too. It’s not just candy but I love Schwan’s peppermint stick ice cream. It has bits of peppermint candy in it and it’s only around a Christmas time. I also like the Candy Cane Kisses. Yummy!
My favorite holiday movie is also “It’s a Wonderful Life”. My two kids and I watch it every year. My 21 year old son will come to me right before Thanksgiving and say “ok mom, when are we going to watch are movie”. I also love “Miracle on 34th Street” and “White Christmas”. My mom and I get together every year to make candy and cookies to give to our friends and neighbors. Another tradition I have is to cook dinner for my folks and a few friends on Christmas Eve. Then we go to church. Good to hear about your Melissa. Thanks for sharing.
I’m in! The recipe for the Peppermint Meringues sounds great! we make Candy Cane cookies each year.
It’s just not quite Christmas without “It’s a Wondeful Life”. After that, I like the Grinch and Charlie Brown. Melissa, I have really enjoyed your devotions and stories in the P31 magazine.
We like to make chocolate covered Ritz sandwiches! It’s kind of cheating, I know, but we’re not really candy people – more of a cookie person – but these are great. Sandwich two Ritz crackers – any variety – with peanut butter in the middle and dip them in melted chocolate. Cool and eat! :-)
Fun to find you here today Melissa! Just came from reading your e-mail and here you are again! Double blessing :) You are such a precious friend to me.
My family likes to watch the Tim Allen Santa Claus movies, and I always watch, “All I Want for Christmas” every year along with “White Christmas”.
Last year I made some Candy Cane White Chocolate Bark, and it was DELICIOUS!!! I believe I got the recipe either here or from another P31 blog. Always fun to make a new tasty treat. My mouth is watering right now for peppermint :)
Blessings,
Joy
Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase is my favorite holiday movie! Love it!!
Thanks for sharing, Melissa. I really enjoy reading your blog!
We have the tradition of going to look at Christmas lights also. We usually go through the drive through of some fast food restaurant before we begin our tour!
My favorite Christmas movie of all time….A Christmas Story!
Elf with Wil Ferrell is funny too.
Linda…I always use liquid egg whites in recipes and have never had any problem. In fact, I’m going to use them in momofgmd’s recipes. :)
I have never used liquid egg whites. I would imagine as long as they whip up into stiff peaks that they would work. I guess it would just be something you’d have to experiment with. Sorry I can’t be more help!
A favorite family movie at our house is Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase….soo funny.
momofgmd, thanks for the recipe. It sounds good and easy to make. One quick question: Will it turn out right using the liquid egg whites that come in a carton?