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Home Life & Encouragement

I am a Christian wife of 29 years, a mom of 25 years, and a daughter. It is my desire to encourage and inspire you as I share my life journey, struggles, hardships, pain, and joys. I want you to know you are not alone in life and if I am able to share some encouragement with you then my heart will be at peace.

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Category: Cookies

25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Gingerbread House

25 Day Christmas Countdown Day 23 Amazing Gingerbread Houses  I didn’t get one made this year, but we made this one last year. My daughter and a sweet adopted family friend made an amazing one that I am very proud of. I will add the directions to make it from scratch, The directions I will … Continue reading Gingerbread House

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December 23, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Christmas Recipes, Gingerbread House, Holiday, Recipes
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Christmas Snowballs

25 Day Christmas Countdown Day 21 Day 22 Snowy Coconut Balls This is an amazingly easy recipe with few ingredients but strong in flavor. My family expects this simple cookie to be made every Christmas. It is also an easy cookie to add to a cookie platter. Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour2 cups finely chopped … Continue reading Christmas Snowballs

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December 21, 2018December 20, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookie, Easy Recipe, Holiday
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Holiday, Home

Christmas Real Vs. Perfect

Christmas baking in my house… I have how much time??? With “x” amount of time, what can I get done? Oh wait, I need to run out the door? Ok, I can do this because last batch of cookies cake out of oven, but counter is a train wreck. What do I do about this … Continue reading Christmas Real Vs. Perfect

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December 19, 2018Baking, Christmas, Holiday, Rawness
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Cake Box Cookies

25 Day Christmas Countdown Day 16 This is a very easy recipe to pull together if you have a simple cake box in your pantry.   Ingredients 1 box cake mix of your choice 2 eggs 1/4 c water 1/3 c oil Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients together. Place scoops … Continue reading Cake Box Cookies

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December 16, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Comfort, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Christmas Thumbprint Cookies

25 Days of Christmas  Day 12 This is one of my go to recipes when I am pulling cookies together for Christmas cookie platters. It is also good if you need a cookie for a cookie I exchange program. They are simple and delicious. Ingredients 1/2 c butter 1/2 c creamy peanut butter 1/2 c … Continue reading Christmas Thumbprint Cookies

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December 12, 201825 Day Christmas Day Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Kitchen
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Soft Sugar Cookies

25 Days of Christmas Day 8 This is a recipe my mom used every Christmas as I was growing up and now I make them every year. I wouldn't use any other sugar cookie recipe. This recipe allows you to leave them plain, sugared, or frosted. This is a recipe that will allow you to … Continue reading Soft Sugar Cookies

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December 8, 2018December 2, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Kitchen, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Frosting To Create Your Masterpiece

25 Days of Christmas Day 6 Are you looking for a frosting that will bring your gingerbread men alive or make your sugar cookies works of arts? How about those Christmas cupcakes or that gingerbread house, this frosting will bring all of these creative pieces together. This is a recipe you can make in advance … Continue reading Frosting To Create Your Masterpiece

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December 6, 2018December 2, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Frosting, Holiday, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Holiday, Home, Recipes

Gingerbread Men

25 Days of Christmas Day 5 I used this recipe yesterday to make my little guys. This recipe is passed the taste test of my family and my husband's coworkers. They are soft and absolutely flavorful. Here is the link to the online recipe I used,  Eileens Spicy Gingerbread Men Happy Baking! Ingredients 1/2 c … Continue reading Gingerbread Men

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December 5, 2018December 5, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Gingerbread Men, Kitchen, Recipe
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Comfort Food, Cookies, Easy Recipe, Fudge and Candy, Holiday, Home, Recipes

My Daily 25 Days of Christmas Recipes

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to my faithful followers.  Last year, every day I posted a favorite holiday recipe that I make every year from now through Christmas. These are fun and easy recipes to make. Many are ones you can enjoy making together as a family while some are ones you can throw together … Continue reading My Daily 25 Days of Christmas Recipes

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December 2, 2018December 12, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Holiday, Kitchen
25 Day Christmas Treat Countdown, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Home, Recipes

Soft Gingersnap Cookies

25 Days of Christmas  Day 1  Soft Gingersnaps Are you looking for an easy Ginger Snap Cookie recipe? I have a super easy and soft cookie recipe that I use from All Recipes Website Grandma’s Gingersnaps.  It makes a lot of cookies and these are ones you can make in advance, freeze individual balls and cook … Continue reading Soft Gingersnap Cookies

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December 2, 201825 Day Christmas Day Count Down, Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Kitchen, Recipes

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About Me

Heidi Benson

Heidi Benson

I am a wife, mom, and daughter. I served in the United States Army, went to college, received a Batchelor's Degree in Criminology, homeschooled my daughter every year from start to finish, started working at a Christian school after being out of work for 20 plus years while I raised my daughter and now I am currently a volunteer assistant to the director at our local hospital. I married my husband when he was in the United States Army so I have the unique knowledge of what it is like to be on both sides of a Military uniform. While we were stationed in Germany, my daughter, who is 27 years old now, was born and I made the difficult decision to put my career on hold to be her mom. The past 25 years have been wrought with many struggles, but as a result of those struggles, this blog was created. As the years passed and the struggle kept coming, I would say, "I'm not sure why we have to go through all of this, but if we have to then it is my desire to allow my story to serve as a means of encouragement to others so all this pain isn't for nothing." The years passed and the struggles did not. However, I feel now is the time God wants me to share these stories of hardships with the hopes they provide encouragement to you if you are struggling in the same way. It is my prayer they will serve as a healing opportunity for you. I want you to know you are not alone. There are others who know where you are and what you are feeling. Cling to the hope this won't last forever and that God is standing beside you while He holds you up and dries your tears. He is showing you the way, you just need to follow Him. Big Hugs, Heidi

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Heidi :) @homelifeandencouragement.com

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