Five on Friday: All Things Thanksgiving

In savoring every moment of this wonderful season of thanks, I am joining with several other wonderful ladies for this week's Five on Friday.

 

 

Join me in all things Thanksgiving!

 

[one]

 

This week holds a lot of special family events. The first celebration we had was on Tuesday. We celebrated my father-in-law's birthday. G was all about helping Papa open his presents and read his birthday cards.

 

[two]

To add further celebration, my daughter's first tooth decided it would make it's way to the surface. I can't believe she has a tooth!!! I tried to capture a photo but I soon discovered it was not worth the battle. Yay for baby teeth!

 

[three]

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. We had a lovely spread with all of the fixings. To make it a little more special this year, we celebrated it as my daughter's first Thanksgiving. We are so blessed to have this red-headed bundle of joy in our lives. She makes my heart so full. I also attempted one of my bucket list items...a pecan pie. I used this Caramel Pecan Pie recipe and added a 1/4c of chocolate chips...YUM!

 

 

[four]

I'm not one to wake up at 2am to hit the Black Friday deals, but I will venture forth once the sun is up. My sister-in-law and I made our way to town and scored some really great deals. We now have about 90% of our Christmas shopping complete. I also enjoyed some fabulous deals from the comfort of my home. I just love that I can place orders in my pajamas.

 

 

[five]

My tree topper and ribbon from last year have gone MIA. So...I thought I'd put my Pinterest scanning and pinning to good use. Thanks to this tutorial, I made my very own tree topper. I'm pretty proud of my first ever bow!

 

The remainder of this weekend will be spent soaking up some giggles with G and decorating the house for Christmas...rumor has it G may be in her first parade soon...

 

God bless and make it a point to give thanks all year long.

Living Well

"I don't really want more time; I just want enough time. Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done-I just want time to do my one life well."

 

(from One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp)

 

Time to do my one life well. I feel as though time passes through my hands like water and I keep grasping, only to be left with droplets as reminders that my hands once held it. I watch my little girl grow before my eyes. Each day brings new wonder and new discoveries. Her fascination with life continues and it's as if I can see her soaking up the world around her.

 

For so long we dreamed of her existence. We prayed daily for God to fill my womb with the gift of life. As time passed and what we thought was "wait" turned into our perception of "no", we began embracing the idea that maybe God had something else for us. I remember the moment my tears of longing and sorrow turned into tears of joy. For so long we prayed.

 

Now that she is here, I desperately long keep her little. Small. Dependent. And yet I look forward to her first words. Her first day of school. Coloring books and crayons. Sleepovers. And yet I'm reminded that from the time her first breath was taken in this world, my responsibility to grow her, to educate her, to help mold her into a woman for Christ has begun. I am left asking myself, "how can I teach her to live this one life well?"

 

The first thing that comes to mind is prayer. I continually pray for a fortress of protection around her body and soul. I pray for her future friends and boyfriends (eek!). I pray for her future husband. I continually pray for the Lord to already begin preparing her heart for salvation. I pray for wisdom for her daddy and I. I pray that we will seek His will in her raising and that we will provide solid examples of what it means to love, fear and count all things joy in the Lord.

 

The next thing that comes to mind is to live by example. How can I teach her to savor God's goodness when I drink from a half empty cup? How can I encourage her to seek after the heart of God in all things when I sulk in self-pity and anxiety. Tonight, in this quiet house, I am left staring at my demons, these things that cast a shadow over what once was a ray of beautiful, radiant light. My journey to reignite joy, to live in His grace and to count every God-breathed moment with thanks has opened doors that I had hoped to have lost the key. Facing my hurts, my fears and facing them with God instead of my mortal tunnel vision is an everyday act of intention. It. Is. Necessary. I see God moving, however slow, through this process with me. All of this will make me a better mother, a better wife and a more vibrant example of what Christ can do with a life.

 

The last thing that comes to mind tonight is His Word. God uses scripture to pierce our hearts and enlighten our minds and souls. Truth is life. It is light in darkness. It is foundational to Christ-centered living. It brings comfort. It brings peace. It brings restoration. In order to live this one life well, we have to know how we are called to live it. God provides explicit instructions. We are to live intentionally.

 

Aim to live this one life well. Change is constant and so are the hours in a day. It's how we approach them both that makes all the difference.

 

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:11



The Hackers

My darling family has been battling various illnesses for a couple of weeks now. I wouldn't be so frustrated if I was not diligently sanitizing my classroom and my home. I thought I was finely getting over everything...until Thursday. Around lunchtime I began not feeling well. I was cold (which hardly ever happens to me) and was beginning to feel very weary. By the end of the school day I had made my way to the school nurse to discover that I was sporting a 101 fever. Needless to say, I got some sub plans together and spent Friday at home. G went to the sitter and I attempted to get some much needed rest.

My fever has not returned since the evening hours of Friday, but I'm still not 100%. I've developed this hacking cough and I'm still feeling quite tired. The worse part, is that G is starting to get a cough as well. Share, share alike. My mom jokingly said if I wasn't so determined on keeping the germs at bay, they'd leave me alone.

I woke up this morning at 5am when my  hubby left for work. I waited for G to wake up...and nothing. I dozed back to sleep and around 6am I listened to the monitor, completely expecting to hear her making small talk over the intercom. Nothing. At 7am, I began to wonder...she never sleeps this late. Of course at that point, the mommy worry kicked in. I quietly stepped into her room and this is what I saw...

She has been rolling over for a couple months now, but never at night. This morning she was not only sleeping on her belly, but she was facing the opposite direction that I laid her down last night. She might have slept longer but I think taking pictures woke her up...mommy fail.

Check out the little hand print on her face...

Throughout today I have tried to take it easy and just rest. I tended to the dishes and have been stoking the fire to ward off tonight's bitter chill. G has napped pretty well, which has given me some down time. While I could not get myself to sleep, I did complete a project I've been wanting to tackle for a while. It wasn't until my friend pinned the project that I had a concrete idea of how to accomplish it. Thanks Ashley!

Today's project...The "Chalkboard" Sign

 

 

 

I'm looking forward to a few more holiday projects in the coming weeks. What winter projects do you have on your list?

Five on Friday "Best Friend Edition"

Today I'm linking up with The Good Life and RunningMOMentum to share my Five on Friday. I've decided to make this a special edition of sorts and dedicate it to my best friend. She is currently serving on a mission trip in Africa and because I miss her terribly, I thought I'd share some of our favorite memories.

[one]
How we met...Laura and I were both called to work as camp counselors at CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center during the summer of 2004. I was originally supposed to room with another person, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she was unable to come. The camp directors prayed about this placement and decided to put Laura and I in charge of a group of the younger girls. We would not see eye to eye, laugh, cry and form an unbreakable bond by the end of that summer.

From our Camp Staff Reunion in 2006


 

[two]
Since the beginning of our friendship, she has always been a source of encouragement and brutal honesty. She is "my person" and I know without a doubt that God has linked us in a very special way. It never ceases to amaze me how she knows just what to say, just when to call or text, or when chocolate is needed.

 We liken our friendship to Meredith and Christina on a regular basis.

[three]
I give major props to my bestie for this one. She willingly (with some begging) joined me for my first 5k in 2011. This was a huge deal for both of us. I am grateful in so many ways for her and her continuous encouragement. I could not have completed this goal without her.





[four]
One of my favorite trips with this girl was my first time to Washington DC. As a resident of our Nation's capital, she knew just how to introduce me to the city. I felt so unbelievably special. I arrived at her home and she had an itinerary all ready to go We took a tour of local cupcake shops, which is a must for me, as well as a jaunt through the DC Zoo. We visited many historic sites, including the Arlington cemetery. We visited the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and ate some of the best food! She truly out did herself.


[five]
Finally, the most important part of our friendship is this...our sisterhood in Christ. It has been such an honor to see her grow into an amazing, beautiful servant of God. As I mentioned, she is currently serving the Lord overseas. While her trip will only last 10 days, I'll be grateful when she places her feet on US soil again. I can't wait to hear about her experiences. I've loved watching God prepare her for this trip. Some of that preparation occurred when my daughter was born. Laura of course came down to see us. She has since developed more confidence with little ones, which is perfect for the work that she is currently doing in Africa. I'll forever cherish our friendship, and Lord willing, when we're old and gray, she'll still be my person.




As promised...the Maple Bacon Waffle!

As promised in my Waffles and Worship post, here is the recipe for my Maple Bacon Waffles.

You'll need:
4 pieces of crisp, chopped bacon
1tbsp Maple flavoring (add more if you'd like)
2c flour
2c milk
1tbsp sugar
1/4c oil
2 eggs
4tsp baking powder

Have your waffle iron heating. Begin by whisking the eggs in a medium sized mixing bowl.

Add the milk and maple flavoring and mix.

Slowly stir in the remaining ingredients (it helps to mix the dry ingredients in a small bowl and then add).

Side note: This is a great task for the kids. Meal time becomes that much more meaningful when they are included in the cooking process.

Spoon a scant 2/3c (this is a general amount depending on the size of your waffle iron) onto your waffle iron and "bake". These are super filling and so delicious!

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

In other news, I've had the Christmas spirit for quite a while. Normally I refuse to listen to Christmas music or put up any decorations until after Thanksgiving. This year however, the urge came on strong extra early. Maybe it's because it will be G's first Christmas. Maybe it's because this year has marked the one year anniversary of the passing of my dad and grandpa. Maybe it's because seeing my little girl look at the twinkly lights melts my heart and I just have to do whatever it takes to see her smile. Thus, our Christmas tree has made its way into the living room. It is currently undecorated, but that will come in time. I do have presents under the tree (go me!). I realized upon pulling out decorations, that my ribbon and tree topper are missing...not long after G was born, my husband and in-laws took it upon themselves to "clean up" the basement. All of this is appreciated, however, I cannot find anything! My husband is certain they are down there "somewhere"...let us hope so.

And the highlight of my day...my precious little girl turned 7 months old today! I cannot believe how much she has changed over the last month. While she has reached many milestones over the last few months, we are in awe of how evident some of these changes have become over the last month. I cannot express the amount of love I have for our little miracle.

 

Waffles and Worship

It has become quite apparent that the germs and illness that my husband has been harboring have made their way to attack my immune system. In comparing a timeline of ailments and symptoms, we have since determined that I am now dealing with what he has been dealing with for the last week or so. G has also been sick. All of this has led to a major deep disinfecting of our home.

Lysol and Clorox, you are my friends.

My hubby was feeling much better today and made his way to church while G and I remained home to mend for another day before the week begins. It just breaks my heart to see my little thumb-sucker not feel well.

Deciding I wanted some comfort food for breakfast, I broke out my waffle recipe. This recipe is extremely versatile and simple. The variation I made this morning was Maple Bacon. Sounds yummy right?

If you don't have a waffle maker, my heart goes out to you. I received our waffle maker last year for Christmas and waffles became a staple during my pregnancy. An additional perk is that these waffles, once made, freeze nicely and work well for a quick meal.

I'll post the DIY recipe soon. First however, I wanted to share a part of my worship with you this morning. I hate missing the church service and fellowship with my Sunday School class. However, I know that I can praise God right where I am at, anytime (this Truth should not be used as a crutch to not attend church service...we are called to join with fellow Christians in worship and learning-

Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Pardon the soap box but it breaks my heart to see fellow believers wander their way out of church using this as an excuse for not attending...)

With that being said, I ran across this little quote on Pinterest:

Now that is the kind of woman I want to be!!! I want satan shaking in his red pajamas when he sees me coming. I was reminded of a study I did in college through the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. I was skimming the pages with all of their underlines and highlights...and then, I stopped. I stopped on page 94. I had underlined some scripture found in the chapter titled Healing the Wound.

 

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,
  for the LORD has anointed me
  to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
  and to proclaim that captives will be released
  and prisoners will be freed.

 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
  that the time of the LORD's favor has come,
  and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory.

Isaiah 61:1-3

 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...quiet my soul. What an overwhelming, beautiful realization. He has placed His hand upon me so that I may move forward and advance His Kingdom. BUT, not only is His Spirit laid upon my being, but HE HAS SENT ME! He has chosen me to fulfill an agenda that only I was created to do. In reading that scripture I see what I am called to do. I see how I can reach others. I am to be a comfort. I am to be real. I am to edify Christ in both word and deed. I am to bring the Good News that will result in beauty, joyous blessings and praise. I can't help but sit wonderstruck at this awesome truth. God has empowered me with such things needed to complete anything requested or required in His name.

 

As I read these verses to my daughter, I smile at the thought of all the possibilities laid before her. God has written her story and the silvery thread of His Spirit is woven into each page. I can't help but laugh as this chubby little baby coos and grabs at her toes. Those little feet will prayerfully take her places to reach hearts for the Lord and those little coos will prayerfully turn into songs of praise that will strike a chord in the souls of the lost. As a mother, I can only imagine how she will someday captivate others for Christ.



Productivity and the Sparrow

Despite feeling pretty cruddy, I found the motivation to complete a rather large undertaking today. Taking advantage of my hubby being home, I tackled the first room for my Home Organization Challenge. Today I tackled the bathroom...dum-dum-dum...(I'm all about theatrical music for effect).

 

 

Prior to spending the majority of my day de-cluttering, scrubbing with a toothbrush, and disinfecting every square inch of the bathroom, I made a quick protein packed breakfast to get me going. 

 

Breakfast Flatbread

1 flatbread

butter

1/2c scrambled eggs

2 pieces of bacon (and any other toppings your heart desires)

and 1/3c of shredded cheese

 

Preheat your oven to 400.

While your oven is heating, quickly scramble two eggs.

Lay your flatbread on to your baking sheet. I use a tasty multi-grain version.

Lightly spread butter over the flatbread.

Evenly sprinkle the eggs over the flatbread.

I use low sodium, pre-cooked bacon. I simply sliced it and sprinkled it on top of the eggs.

Evenly scatter the cheese over your toppings.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until your cheese is completely melted. Keep an eye on it. The flatbread will crisp pretty quickly.

Enjoy!

 

 

After bending over backwards (almost literally) to complete the bathroom before the sun went down, I took a quick breather outside. The air was cool and thick clouds draped the mountains. I glanced up at the two large trees in our front yard and was pleased with what I saw. The top halves of both trees were full of small sparrows. Their sweet chirps were almost melodic against the rustling of the leaves. This moment in time became one of reflection. I continue to battle anxiety and in that still, peaceful moment, I was reminded of God's grace and love for me. As the autumn breeze whisked my hair about my face, I got a sense of God's immediate presence. I was reminded of His love for me. I was reminded that while I do not warrant His goodness, grace and mercy, He provides all in abundance. While I will never be worthy of all the blessings He showers over me, He finds true worth in me.

 

 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:7b

 

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Luke 12:24-32


 



 As I continue to work through my daily battles, I am grateful for the promises that God has so specifically given in His word.

Five on Friday

I know, I know. Friday is almost over. With the way this week has been, I say, "better late than never." I hope you'll join me in linking up with The Good Life and RunningMOMentum for today's five.

 

 

[one]

The cold weather heightens my love of so many things this time of year. I've been on a major soup kick lately...which is all around wonderful. Soups and stews are fantastic and beneficial in many ways, especially at the beginning of this beautiful holiday season. The recipes I use make quite a bit. We enjoy the soup for dinner, and then I'll take some for lunch and the rest goes in the freezer for a quick meal or for those cold winter nights (they also heat up nicely over a fire should the power go out-Lord forbid-or festivities call for a bonfire meal.) I dived wholeheartedly into two new recipes that I think you'll enjoy.

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

and

Potato, Sausage and Kale Soup

 

 

[two]

While getting the house back together this week (in hope of putting up Christmas decorations asap...I've got the holiday spirit!) I've had the T.V. on for some background noise. I was sucked into a state of procrastination when two of my favorite old school movies began. It's not until I begin watching these movies again do I remember just how much I love them.

 



 

 

[three]

Here in central Virginia, the falling of leaves means winter is quickly approaching. The nights have been really cold and the days have ranged from chilly to pleasant. Once this weather sets in, the flannel sheets come out and the quilts find their place on the bed and various pieces of living room furniture. Last night I pulled out the quilt my grandmother made for us in celebration of our marriage. I cherish the love and time that went into this quilt. My hubby loves it because she chose various shades of his favorite color.

 

 

[four]

At first I was appalled when I saw Christmas decorations making their way into isles next to the Halloween flair. However, as the months have gone on, I've gotten over the premature stocking of the shelves and found myself super excited earlier this week walking among the red and green. This is the one time of year when my favorite (store bought) cookies are available. I can always count on going through at least a couple of boxes throughout the holiday season.

 

 

[five]

I admit that I am pretty buddy-buddy with Pinterest these days. I've been thoroughly enjoying snagging some wonderful holiday ideas. I've got a few hopeful attempts for this year that I'll prayerfully complete and post about later. However, one pin that I'm super excited about will hopefully help me get some order restored to this house. Since G's birth in April and returning to work in August, I've not been able to catch up on our home's organization. I discovered this gem and plan to put it into play in the very near future. I feel encouraged by this upcoming Home Organization Challenge...

 

I'm already looking forward to next week's Five on Friday. I have plans to make it a special edition...tune in next week!

 





Pasta Alla Improv

So...I had every intention of making Pasta alla Vodka tonight...which is a little hard to do when you have no vodka. I had no choice but to improvise. Tequila it is! I must say, it was pretty tasty. I imagine the vodka would have a slightly different flavor, but all in all, I'd consider this minor adjustment a success.

1. The main characters: Tequila, tomato puree, garlic, pasta (not pictured...cream, Parmesan, butter, chicken, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes). I baked some chicken to add to the pasta.

2. Follow the recipe as it indicates. Butter, garlic, and tomato puree.

3. Add the cream.

4. Savor the smell and adore the gorgeous color.

5. Toss in the pasta.

6. Slice the chicken.

7. Add the Parmesan cheese and chicken. Toss and enjoy!

The only downside to my love of cooking is my disdain for washing dishes. One must do what she must. Off to the soapy suds I go!

Wedded Bliss

After approximately 1200 miles, we are now home, and glad to be. That is quite a haul with a 6 month old (who was surprisingly amazing during the long hours of travel). The weekend itself was wonderful. It has been quite some time since we've been to Indiana and saw my side of the family. It was such a treat to hang out with my closest cousin, Amanda.

She and I have always been close. Since our years in diapers, we have been mistaken for sisters. Our personalities are very similar, our "love lives" have commonalities, and the list could go on for miles in ways that we are connected. Above all else we are family. The Lord has been so gracious in our lives and I love how I can share those moments with her. Through the dozens of "Single Awareness Days" and dateless Friday nights, we've been able to accept (and hold tightly to the hope) that God had someone special for us.

Sister-Cousins

5 years ago I said "I do" to the one God had chosen for me. Amanda was by my side as my Maid of Honor. I was so blessed by her support throughout my long distance relationship with the man that would become my husband. What an honor it was to stand in her wedding this past weekend. This was a pact that we had established long ago in our days of daydreams and Barbie dolls. This weekend this pact was fulfilled. God has done great things!

Here are a few pictures from the big day. Everything was beautiful!


G meeting her great-grandmother for the first time!

The bride's family

G and her daddy

 It's hard to believe that tomorrow begins another week. The exhaustion from the weekend traveling has caught up with me and I am not looking forward to the start of this week. I'm praying for a solid night's rest and restoration for the morning. Have a blessed night!

Five on Friday

After a 12 hour drive yesterday I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm functioning as well as I am. I'm also glad to be catching up on my Five on Friday. I'm linking up with The Good Life and RunningMomentum for today's post,

 

[one]

On Tuesday we had a teacher's work day. It was wonderful!!! While I tend to have a mile long list, my primary focus was filing. I have so many papers that needed a home. The two main issues that led to this extensive, time consuming task were both self inflicted. 1. I did not take the time to re-file the items that I pulled from my binders. 2. Instead of using activities that I already had, I would pull many new items off of TeachersPayTeachers, I am proud to say that after several hours, my binders are organized and my papers are filed. What a relief!

 

[two]

Over the weekend I placed our Christmas card order. I was so excited because I got to use my Groupon voucher...fabulous right? One would think. Earlier this week I was looking at my bank statement and I saw a charge from the card company. I contacted them and apparently I had used the majority of this voucher sometime over the summer. I don't know how I missed that. Needless to say, my "great deal" ended up costing me about 3 times more than what I would normally spend on Christmas cards. ::sigh::

 

[three]

We began what resulted in a 12 hour trip to Indiana yesterday for my cousin's wedding. It was a long and (thankfully) uneventful trip. We were surprised however, how people felt completely comfortable in telling us what they think should be done with our child. On two occasions, both at restaurants, our servers proceeded to tell us how their grandchildren were eating french-fries and scrambled eggs at G's age. They kept encouraging us in their own ways to "just let her have one. I'm sure she'd love it!" Well great for your grandchildren. Our little girl will stick to her applesauce and pears for now. I don't think I'd ever have the gall to tell a couple of strangers what would be okay for their kids and then give opinionated glances when they kindly decline.

 

[four]

Last night we met up with my aunt, my cousin and her fiancé for dinner. I have not seen my family since April of 2012 when we attended my dad's funeral. It seems so long ago! The wonderful news is that she is getting married tomorrow!! and we got to meet her fiancé last night. He seems great! I think they will be splendid together. After a couple hours of catching up and laughing, we all parted ways to get some sleep before the festivities begin.

 

[five]

Today will be filled with wedding favors, wedding rehearsal, and catch up time with other family members. This side of the family has not met our daughter and I can't wait for her to see them. Lots of pictures will be taken. I also can't wait for her to meet her great grandma. It will be their first meeting. We're all looking forward to it.

 

I'll have pics and more details coming soon. I hope you'll take some time among the chaos of this life to sit back and breathe deeply. Enjoy these fleeting moments. Have a great Friday!



 

Taco Tuesday has gone flat...

*disclaimer: tonight's post is a complete hodge-podge...

If you caught my earlier "menu" post, you would have seen that Tuesday nights are deemed Taco Tuesday at our house. This night consists of various Mexican meals throughout the month (and of course tacos). I was inspired by the Mexican Flat bread recipe posted by The Pioneer Woman. I made a simple rendition that turned out super tasty and was super easy!

My Mexican Flat bread

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. I then began with a multi-grain flat bread (I placed a piece of foil on my pan for easy cleanup). I then mashed some pintos...simply because I thought I had a can of refried beans, but must have used them at some point. I spread the pintos onto the flat bread. I then sprinkled a single layer of black beans. While I was completing these tasks, I was cooking my chicken breast. I cooked it on the stove top with a dusting of salt, pepper and cumin. Once it was cooked through, I cut it into small chunks. I sprinkled the chunks over the beans. I then took a delicious heaping pile of cheese and spread it evenly over top. I placed the flat bread in the oven for 10-15 minutes (until the cheese is melted and bubbly.)

I took it out, let it cool for just a couple minutes and then sliced it. A dollop of sour cream and I was enjoying a wonderfully yummy meal. I will be making this again!


All of this was great fun...which was needed considering the rest of my evening has been a giant list of "to-dos". With tomorrow being our last day before our lengthy road trip, we still have a lot to do. We have a lot of packing...my hubby's deer to process...and some other odds and ends before we can leave early Thursday morning. ::sigh::

I've made a list...and I'll be checking it twice.

Before the non-stop motion of this evening, I did take a few minutes to savor the beautiful view of fall from my front porch. More than likely these beautiful hues will no longer be hanging on the trees when we return...I'll miss their splendor.

I hope you too will take some time to enjoy this beautiful season of change and promise.

100

Today marks a special moment in my journey of 1000 gifts. This morning I wrote down my 100th gift of thanksgiving. Only 900 more to go! Learning to live eucharisto continues to present challenges...but the rewards are far greater. I am learning the true meaning of grace, thanksgiving, and joy. I am learning to rest and find gratefulness in all of the things that I once overlooked as commonalities.

There were so many things I took for granted before this journey began. I looked at life with a monochrome palate, and an often ungrateful heart. This was not intentional, but without putting a name to all that is, I was completely unaware of the gifts that God has so graciously poured over my family and I.

I am learning to live with expectancy.
I am living with true, unsuppressed joy.
I am learning to love myself.
I am living in moments of grace and thanksgiving.

Even the hard eucharisto is becoming more natural for me as I try to view all that is from the lens of my God. It's amazing how much we learn and how much change can occur in one's heart when we begin to practice looking beyond ourselves and into the heart of God. His goodness is boundless.

Tis the Season

So...I had some fun things to post for my Five on Friday but due to chaotic circumstances, the post did not get completed. However, before moving away from this past week, I wanted to quickly share with you G's first Halloween...

I must say, she was seriously the cutest little caterpillar I have ever seen! I just love her to pieces!

Okay, moving on. This past week was a whirlwind and as this weekend passes far too quickly, I am trying to prepare both physically and mentally for this upcoming week. We have a major road trip coming up, and while the destination will be a good time, the trip...probably not so much. I'm usually pretty optimistic, but a 10+ hour car ride with an opinionated 6 month old does not sound like a load of fun.

To take my mind off of the miles ahead, I took some time tonight to lift my spirits. I fought off the urge to put up the tree, but presents...yes, Christmas presents, were wrapped in this house tonight. I usually have much more of my shopping done by this point in the year. However, with all we've had going on, very little has actually been accomplished. I was however, simply thrilled to feel the colorful paper slide beneath my fingers. There is just something so satisfying about placing that bow on top as a finishing touch. While I am not one to wish away time, I do look forward to my daughter's first Christmas.

We were also fortunate to have a beautiful day for some quick pictures earlier this morning. My wonderful sister-in-law came and out and took a few shots for us. My favorites were put onto our Christmas card (which I'll put up soon). I bought a Groupon a while back and had forgotten about it. It expires in the next few days so I had to get our card together. I'm pleased with how they turned out. I typically order from Vistaprint, but thanks to my Groupon deal, I was able to order my cards, along with some prints, for about $19 (the cost of my Groupon) from Picaboo. I will say that the cards I made and purchased this year cost more overall than those that I normally make and had I not had my discount, I probably would have opted for the company that I've used in the past.

Here are a couple of shots that I really liked, but did not make it to our card...

One tradition that I also always look forward to is filling a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. I enjoyed this project growing up and it has stuck with me since. I even received a letter from a child in Honduras one year. Both my husband and I want to instill a mentality of giving in our daughter. This year, she'll of course be with us filling the box, however, we can't wait for (I take that back...I can wait but I do look forward to...) the day when she can pick out her own items to place in the box. We always pray over the box and its contents in hope that which ever child receives it, will come to know the love of Christ and greatly benefit from the items inside. It is so exciting to think of the joy that spreads across the receiver's face. Another cool thing that OCC has added over the last couple years is the online option to track your package and see which country it goes to. We'll definitely be taking advantage of that this year. I hope you'll consider sending a box this year.  It truly is better, and more blessed, to give than receive.