Help bring history to life by applying for the American Village Junior Interpreter Program. Each summer, up to 25 students ages 12-17 (rising 7th – 12th graders) receive professional training at the American Village in Montevallo and assist our educational interpreters in presenting the customs and times of the 18th Century.
The deadline to apply for the for the American Village Junior Interpreter Program is January 31, 2024.
American Village is looking for students who are motivated, adaptable, mature, and also possess performance skills, along with an interest in American history. Deadline to apply is January 31, 2024. Auditions will be held in February and the program will run from May 28-July 4, 2024. Apply now at americanvillage.org. There is no fee to be a junior interpreter. Participants do need to purchase an 18th Century costume (usually $250). For more details, click here or contact Rebecca Evans, Co-Director, Junior Interpreter Program at 205-665-3535 x1048 or [email protected]. †
The Christmas trees are decorated, the lights are twinkling, a plethora of packages are on everyone’s doorsteps, and homes are buzzing with friends and family. It’s that time of year again to think about what you’re going to serve your guests that will wow them and leave their bellies full of cheer. If you’re looking for a decadent, buttery dessert that will be an unforgettable finish to any holiday meal, then Pecan Pie Bread Pudding is the answer. This unique twist on a classic dessert will bring on all the holiday joy!
Pecan Pie Bread Pudding Recipe
Jamie Tarence’s Pecan Pie Bread Pudding is the perfect recipe to wow your holiday guests with this season.
Ingredients
8 cups bite-sized bread pieces (French bread is perfect.)
3 large eggs
1 ¼ cup light corn syrup
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon maple or vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup pecans, halved or chopped
Instructions
Prepare an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish by lining it with parchment paper and spraying well with a nonstick cooking spray. Place all bread pieces into the baking dish. Pour melted butter over the bread. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, granulated sugar, maple or vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the pecans. Then, pour evenly over the bread pieces. Use a rubber spatula to move the bread pieces around in the dish until all pieces are coated in the syrup mixture. Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes or until set and golden. Serve warm topped with whipped cream or hard sauce! If you’re looking to make your own whipped cream, check out my homemade whipped cream recipe here.
5 more holiday treats to serve your guests this season.
It started with a birdhouse. Lowell Shipp, known as Bud to all his friends, and Pawpaw to his family, did not like to sit still. What he did love to do was create things. He built antique cars. He built barns, garages, and sheds. He built farm solutions for his tractors and lawnmowers. After retirement, Pawpaw had made just about all the major things he wanted to create. But he couldn’t sit still.
So, he started making birdhouses, intricately designed and beautifully crafted. People began asking to buy his birdhouses, but Pawpaw mostly loved gifting them to family and friends far and wide. Making birdhouses grew into creating farm tables, benches, ladders; anything that was requested. It wasn’t unusual to see Pawpaw working in his little woodshop starting in the early hours of the morning, a light from the window glowing out into the darkness. Like the light in his woodshop, Pawpaw was a light to those around him. In his own quiet way, he taught us that hard work is important, and so is putting others before yourself. He lived John 13:34, “Love one another.”
In February 2021, Pawpaw had a stroke, and the lights of the little woodshop went dark. His family was able to return a portion of his love and care by assisting him through each day, making his last months as comfortable as possible for him. After his heavenly homegoing in January 2022, it was hard to even look towards his woodshop, now dark and quiet. But God had a purpose and a plan that had been set into motion long before anyone knew.
Hannah and her Aunt Meranda love to minister to others with delicious meals, desserts, and more.
Hannah had left her former job to assist her granddad each day after the stroke. After he went home to heaven, she felt certain that God was calling her to take a step of faith and open a bakery instead of going back to her former work. But so many details needed to be worked out, and one of the biggest details? Location. Hannah looked all around for the perfect location for her bakery, and one day, God led the family back to Pawpaw’s woodshop. It would be the perfect place to continue the ministry of loving one another and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through creating things- only this time, the creations would be sweet treats and more!
With the help of family and friends, Hannah turned Pawpaw’s woodshop into Psalm 34 Bakery, Psalm 34 being a constant reminder through the hard times and great times to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” When the bakery opened, Meranda, one of Pawpaw’s daughters and Hannah’s aunt, came alongside to help her make desserts, chicken salads, and hot meals. The two have never looked back. They continue to be in awe of the Lord’s goodness as He sends new opportunities their way to minister to others with a delicious meal, dessert, catering event, smile, or word of encouragement. The lights of the woodshop shine once again, and busy hands are at work each day, making new things to bless someone else, quietly putting into action the command to love one another. Just like Pawpaw did.
You’re invited! Join Psalm 34 Bakery & Catering on December 9 for the grand opening of their larger retail location in Hayden, Ala. Click here for details.
The holiday season has arrived, and many are hyper-focused on planning menus and sneaking in a little shopping for Christmas gifts. A common gift theme for the holidays is a dog, but finding the perfect dog can be hard. One way you can make a difference and see if adopting a dog is the right thing for your family is holiday fostering a rescue dog.
Holiday fostering a pet is a great way to test if adopting an animal is the best route for you and your family.
Instead of finally caving to your significant other’s wishes or handing your children more responsibility, consider fostering before taking the plunge of adoption. By agreeing to foster, you still get the benefit of caring for and loving a furry, four-legged friend, but you also really get to test the new family dynamic. You will have a chance to see firsthand whether the kids really will take the dog out, even when it’s cold outside. You will also get to see all of the rewarding moments that come with caring for a rescue dog. Rescue dogs are unlike any other dog you will ever meet. While they all ended up in the rescue for a plethora of different reasons, they all have one thing in common – the desire to find their forever homes.
Holiday adoptions are wonderful, but they can also be spontaneous. Dogs are 10-15 year living commitments. There’s nothing worse than seeing a dog find a forever family only to be returned by the end of January. Be a holiday hero and open your home to a foster. Give them a Thanksgiving plate and a stocking over the fireplace. Spoil them in ways they’ve never known. Give them a warm bed and plenty of love. If by the end of the holidays, you can’t see yourself without that dog, then Two by Two will happily send the adoption contract. But if you realize a new addition is too much, then at least you know you gave a rescue dog the best Christmas they’ve ever had. Learn more about fostering with Two by Two at www.twobytworescue.com/fostering. †
As December approaches, Christians worldwide embark on a special journey of faith known as Advent. This season, lasting four weeks and leading up to Christmas, is a time of reflection, anticipation, and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent offers a beautiful opportunity for families to draw nearer to God and one another as they prepare their hearts for the arrival of Christ.
The Meaning of Advent. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “coming” or “arrival.” During Advent, Christians reflect on the coming of Jesus into the world, both in His historical birth in Bethlehem and in His future return. It’s a season of hope, love, joy, and peace.
Focuses of Advent. A word represents each week of Advent, and a corresponding candle of the Advent wreath is lit to remember the focus in worship services throughout the season. The central white candle of the Advent wreath is lit on Christmas Day.
Week 1: Hope. The first word of Advent is hope and reminds us of the anticipation of the Old Testament prophets for the Messiah’s coming.
Week 2: Love. The second word of Advent is love and reminds us of the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
Week 3: Joy. The third word of Advent is joy pointing to the joy the shepherds experienced at the birth of Jesus.
Week 4: Peace. The fourth word of Advent is peace reminding us of the angels’ proclamation of peace on earth.
Celebrating Advent with Your Family. Advent encourages families to come together in prayer, reflection, and anticipation. It’s a time to share stories, read scripture, and discuss the significance of Christ’s birth. You may want to look at the stories mentioned above for each week of Advent as a family. By focusing on hope, love, joy, and peace, Advent reminds us that the true meaning of Christmas lies not in the hustle and bustle of the season but in the humble arrival of the Savior. In celebrating Advent, families are not only preparing their homes for the birth of Christ but also their hearts. It’s a time of spiritual growth, nurturing faith, and fostering togetherness. As we journey through these weeks of anticipation, may we find the hope, love, joy, and peace that Christ’s coming brings and share these blessings as we long for Jesus’ second Advent.
Irv Gordon was the original owner of a 1966 Volvo P1800. It holds the Guinness World Record for the highest mileage recorded—3.25 million miles. What was the secret to this astonishing accomplishment? According to Hotcars.com, “He claimed that his secret to longevity was regular oil changes, closely following the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines, and keeping the car clean.” Gordon proved that consistent maintenance and care of a vehicle can transform ordinary expectations into extraordinary results.
What are you and your spouse doing to extend the life of your marriage? The secret to longevity in marriage requires careful maintenance of your vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationship with your spouse.
Love God More than Your Spouse. Loving God involves more than emotional admiration. It also means obeying Him (John 14:15). Spouses who love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and minds (Matthew 22:37) will also love each other. Love for God goes hand in hand with loving others. The apostle John warns, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:8, ESV). How we treat our spouses reflects our love or lack of love for God.
Love Your Spouse as Yourself. Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Your biblical neighborhood begins with your household and expands to the “end of the earth” (Acts 1:8, ESV). We are instructed to show preferential love for those closest to us. The apostle Paul reminds us,“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10, ESV). Christian husbands and wives have a unique physical and spiritual bond that is priceless and requires meticulous care. We should nourish and cherish our spouses as we would ourselves (Ephesians 5:29).
Do you want your marriage to run like a well-oiled machine? The secret to a long, God-honoring marriage begins with following the owner’s manual—the Bible. God’s marriage-maintenance plan includes a daily application of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a, ESV). This plan seems simple- like changing your engine oil every 5,000 miles. But it is the simple things that often get neglected.
Loving God more than your spouse and loving your spouse as yourself can prevent marital breakdowns and the desire for a spousal trade-in.
-Alonza Jones
President and Co-Founder, Biblical Marriage Institute
How do we honor the Lord with our stewardship at Christmas and as we plan for the new year ahead? Here are seven year-end financial moves to consider.
Rest your heart. Contentment grows as we trust God’s leading. I’ve found that Galatians 5:16 presents a wise heart posture for biblical stewardship as Paul tells us to “walk by the Spirit.” As the Spirit graciously leads, we remember that God owns it all, and He honors faithfulness.
Plan and monitor your financial journey. Set goals and practice sound giving, saving, spending, and investing strategies. User-friendly financial software packages like Quicken and Ramsey Solutions can support your journey. Likewise, the expertise of a competent and godly financial advisor or Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) may be beneficial.
Prioritize charitable gifts. Besides being generous and cheerful while funding the Great Commission, you should be able to deduct the amount of such contributions on your tax returns if you itemize deductions.
Evaluate your investments. Ponder what types of companies are owned in your portfolio. Do they appropriately honor your values? Also, this is an opportune time to assess the performance of your portfolios. For example, for investors who meet regulatory requirements, allocating a portion of investments to alternative assets such as private real estate, private equity, and private debt may offer new opportunities for diversification and higher returns.
Open and use a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). A DAF with an organization such as the National Christian Foundation of Alabama may simplify and organize your charitable giving. Consider donating appreciated assets like stocks, real estate, and business interests.
“Bunch” your charitable contributions for tax savings purposes. “Bunching” allows you to make multiple years of gifts into a DAF in a year, itemize those gifts, and then grant those contributions to charities over successive years. In the subsequent years, you should be able to use the standard deduction of $27,700 for couples or $13,850 for singles.
Consider tax-loss harvesting. If you have losses in your taxable investment portfolio, you may “harvest” (sell) these to offset recognized capital gains this year. This tax strategy can yield attractive results, though there are specific IRS rules to be followed.
May your year-end moves take you along a joy-filled path of stewardship!
BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions offers comprehensive financial planning and investment strategies aligned with your values. We specialize in serving business owners, corporate executives, and families stewarding earnings or inherited wealth. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your interest in our services. Qualifying portfolios may be eligible for a review at no cost.
Watch this video to learn more about year-end financial moves.
The season for watching and reading Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol has arrived. Let’s take a moment to review this oft-viewed tale in the context of estate planning.
With some prodding, Mr. Scrooge spent Christmas Eve reflecting upon his life and the shape of the world when he would no longer be alive in it. Afterward, Mr. Scrooge took decisive steps. He purchased a turkey, went to church, visited his relations, and made good with the Cratchits.
If his life review prompted Mr. Scrooge to retain counsel to plan his estate, what might he have needed? A twenty-first century answer would be that he would want at least three documents. A durable power of attorney, delegating his authority to an agent, so that his business might operate if he became incapable of managing his affairs. An advanced directive, making many of his health care decisions in advance of his final illness, although such documents weren’t typical in Dickens’s day. Finally, at the very least, Mr. Scrooge would want a will that would identify an executor and dispose of the property and assets he spent a lifetime accumulating. Although Fred, Mr. Scrooge’s nephew, might inherit the bulk of the estate, Scrooge did become a second father to Tiny Tim, and would likely have provided for him by a specific bequest in the will. Indeed, given Tim’s poor health, Mr. Scrooge would have wanted to consider a trust, to set aside funds for his care.
We may surmise that Mr. Scrooge had an estate. From what we know of his character, he likely took a buy and hold approach: purchase shares in a sound company, and watch those investments grow exponentially. Was he a miserable miser? Humbug! He lived a life long devoted to two words: compound interest.
No doubt Mr. Scrooge kept records, which greatly benefitted his executor when the estate went into probate. He likely accounted for every lump of coal that he doled out to Bob Cratchit. When the great man died, his executor did not face a wilderness of disorganized papers and debt collectors red in tooth and claw. No, after Mr. Scrooge went to his reward, his executor sat down to review clean balance sheets, greatly simplifying the probate of the Scrooge estate.
This holiday season, I hope that you will, between church and turkey, find time to enjoy A Christmas Carol, whether or not it inspires you to reflect on estate planning.
A clean house is an amazing gift any time of the year. Did you know you can purchase gift certificates from Molly Maid of Birmingham? These gift certificates are a thoughtful gift idea for anyone. Gift certificates can be purchased at www.mollymaid.com/gift-certificates/purchase. Molly Maid of Birmingham is also offering 10% off all one-time cleans- valid for new customers only. This coupon expires on January 1, 2024.
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