Gratitude is something I have to cultivate. Naturally, it’s easier for me to focus on the wants. To compare my life to those I think have it “better.” Better house, better stuff, better circumstances. But the truth is, there’s so much to be thankful for!
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my thoughts have turned to dwell on thankfulness. So often I can rush past Thanksgiving to focus on Christmas. Even as I shop for turkey and pumpkin, the stores have decked their windows with Christmas trees and faked wrapped packages. But I want to stop and focus on giving thanks. To ponder good gifts. To create visual reminders of thanksgiving.
A lot of you fellow bloggers seem to be doing the same. Here’s a few great ways to dwell on thankfulness, that I’ve discovered in various places on blogosphere:
I love the Tree of Thanks over at Domestic Life. A great and simple way to make gratitude a family project.
If you’re more inspired, check out the Thankful Cork Board at Mt. Hope Chronicles. Wow!
Or, you could start your own One Thousand Gifts list and join the Gratitude Community over at Holy Experience. Every Monday Ann continues her list of thankfulness.
If you want to delve into gratitude on a deeper level, check out Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ new book, Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy.
If you want to remember the story behind Thanksgiving, Barbara Rainey’s book Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember is a beautiful resource.
But no matter the method, I hope you choose to cultivate gratitude with me.
A week or so ago we were out in the yard and I manage to quickly catch this demonstration of sibling affection. It’s a bit out of focus, but I love it for what it is: brotherly love.
Duncan opened wide his arms and Owen ran in.
So sweet.
And I love the brilliant blue of Duncan’s eyes in this picture.
They call each other “Ga Ga” (Duncan) and “Tia” (Owen) now. They’re so funny and cute and hard and exasperating and maddening and kissable all at the same time.
Since Josh has been home more, since being laid off, I’ve had the opportunity to exercise–alone–in probably the first time since the boys were born. This is good, because I’ve not been so consistent in my exercise routine lately. I’m lucky to make it out once a week for a walk, let alone get some strength training in. The boys have gotten pretty heavy to push in their stroller on the gravel and hilly trails, not to mention they don’t particularly like being strapped in long enough for me to get a decent workout in. I would be good to take my own advice, but haven’t been.
But I’m now finding myself more and more free to go out for a walk on my own. And I’ve been even (gasp!) running a bit. Just a bit mind you.
I find it strange to be without the double stroller, to suddenly be able to move at full speed, unhindered.
It’s harder than I thought.
And so I find myself pavement pounding, lungs bursting, breath labored. Pushing myself to my limits and ever so slightly past. Stretching beyond my comfort I keep going, foot over foot. And I feel it: the good ache.
The ache proves I can go farther than I thought. That being stretched isn’t such a bad thing, painful as it can be at times. It is the process of being strained and tested. It’s uncomfortable yet strangely satisfying. Then, when it feels like I can’t go the proverbial next step, my muscles warm and limber. Breath finds it’s rhythm, feet seem to fly. I’ve moved beyond the ache. But the only way was through it.
There’s a gift to be found in the good ache, in the persevering running of my marked-out race:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. -Hebrews 12:1-3
Just my contribution to Tuesdays Unwrapped with Chatting at the Sky . . .
(Image: istockphoto.com)
For my fellow foodies, have you ever heard of Donna Hay? If not, let me introduce you . . .
I was introduced to her through a food blog a while back. I fell in love with the gorgeous and stylish signature photography that’s used to shoot all her cookbooks. Wow, just look at them and drool. Clean and uncluttered fabulousness.
And then there’s the food. Yum. I’ve been checking some of her titles out of the library and really want to purchase Flavors eventually. A cookbook organized by flavor such as “Lime” and “Vanilla,” yeah, I’m there!
And check out her Style Ideas on her website. Great and creative ideas for styling a tabletop for your next dinner party!
Indulge!
A few days ago we had a delicious autumn feast. The recipes were so good I had to share them with all of my blog friends. I made Corn & Cheddar Chowder, which I got from Laurie over at Ordinary Mother. To serve along with it I made Cheese Popovers and a salad of spinach greens with feta cheese, cranberries, red onion, spiced pecans, and Balsamic Vinaigrette. The soup is easy and so are the popovers. Popovers are my new favorite to serve along with soup. Easier and faster than rolls and fun for kids, they’re a winner every time. Wish I took a picture of the popovers, but they were so warm and tasty, we ate them too fast! A picture from Cooking Light will have to do.
Happy autumn feasting!
Corn & Cheddar Chowder
Step 1- Boil
2 diced potatoes for 15-20 minutes in:
2 pints chicken broth (4 cups)
1 bay leaf
½ tsp. sage
½ tsp. cumin
2 tsp. paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Step 2- Sautee in a separate pot:
3 Tbsp. butter
2 finely chopped onions
2 cloves minced garlic
Step 3- Add
3 Tbsp. flour into butter mixture. Mix well.
Step 4- Add
¾ cup evaporated milk and
½ cup milk to step 3
Step 5- Boil
Until thickened
Step 6- Combine
Butter/flour mixture to the potatoes/broth mixture
Step 7- Add
1 ½ cups frozen corn
1 (4 oz.) can of chilis chopped
Step 8 – Add last*
1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup white wine
*serve right after cheese melts (don’t add cheese and wine until you are ready to serve it).
Cheese Popovers (From Joy of Cooking)
Grease muffin or popover tins.
Preheat oven to 450.
Beat until smooth:
1 C. milk
1 TB melted butter
1/4 tsp. salt
Add one at a time, but do not over beat:
2 beaten eggs
The batter should be no heavier than whipping cream.
Grate into a separate bowl:
1/2 C. sharp cheddar or Parmesan cheese
Add:
1/8 tsp. paprika
A few grains cayenne
Pour 1 scant tablespoon of batter into each cut and cover it with a few teaspoons of cheese and another tablespoon of batter.
Don’t overload–too much batter in the pans will give a muffinlike texture. Bake at once. After 15 minutes, lower the heat without peeping, to 350 and bake about 20 minutes longer. To test for doneness, remove a popover to be sure the side walls are firm. If not cooked long enough, the popovers will collapse. You may want to insert a sharp paring knife gently int other other popovers to allow the steam to escape, after baking.
Around our house, we’re not getting more sleep, but less. Unless we crash before lunch and get in an extra nap.
was the backdrop for this lovely engagement session last Sunday. Take a peak.
It’s been busy around here lately. Busy and a bit disorienting.
Josh got laid off this past week; his last day was Tuesday. We knew it was coming and tried to prepare the best we could. Still, no matter the preparation, adjustments must be made to a new lifestyle. Like being down to one vehicle. Josh had a company truck, so we must say good-bye to it.
With Josh being home now, the rhythm of the day is different. We had to put aside normal activities one day to file for unemployment and other government aid. That means long forms. Josh has a priority need to use the computer for job searching and resume sending. But I still need the computer for photo session proofing.
Speaking of photo sessions, I’ve been blessed by a sudden influx right at the perfect time. So thankful for that. My first engagement shoot was Sunday. Can’t wait to share it with you!
And the coolest thing that happened last week. In the midst of waiting everyday for the news of being laid off, Josh brought home some good news one day.
We’ve been wanting to install recessed lights in our living room since April. But our car ended up needing several thousand dollars worth of work, so we delayed until the fall. Well, the fall arrived and we decided that if Josh was going to lose his job, it probably wasn’t the time to install the lights. We’d have to put it off until a more stable time.
I was bummed. It’s so depressingly dark in our living room. Plus, it does not make it easy to host friends.
Our living room is like a cave. The boys had busted our two floor lamps a while ago (no surprise there). In the winter months it gets little natural light with the front door having to stay closed and the brown paint doesn’t help matters. I figured I’d have to buy a lamp at Target or something, and even so, lamps and lamp shades aren’t exactly cheap.
But Josh came home from work one day with the exact amount of recessed lighting we needed for our living room! He just happened to be at a job site where they were going to throw them away. Under usual working conditions he’s not on the job sites, but since his company had stopped bidding, Josh was helping out in the field. The lights had been demoed and were going to be trashed. Thus, the lights that we’ve wanted for the past six months were gotten for free!
How cool is that? It was nothing we couldn’t have lived without, but what a special reminder God cares about the little things?
How ’bout a little show and tell . . .
Before (all we had was that little desk lamp!)
After
Now the boys can see to play with their toys and I don’t have to hand guests flashlights!
“I feel sometimes as if I were a child who opens its eyes on the world once and sees amazing things it will never know any names for and then has to close its eyes again. I know this is all mere apparition compared to what awaits us, but it is only lovelier for that.”
—Marilynne Robinson, Gilead
like autumn. I just love all everything about autumn: the wild wind, the changing leaves, baking with pumpkin and apples, and pulling out the sweaters and boots. And, as you may know if you’ve been reading this blog for a while (or know me), I love decorating with natural elements. Here’s my autumn decorations this year.
My dining room table centerpiece.
Leaves and gourds grace my little shelf by the backdoor.
“Tablescape” in the living room. That little twig pumpkin was something my mom picked up for me from the $1 section at Target a few years ago.
Love my vanilla scented potpourri.
This really has nothing to do with autumn decor. But this basket used to hold music until I stained some old milk crates for that purpose instead. Decided this basket was too nice for just holding music. It now sits on my coffee table.
Love my little lantern I got from Ikea a while back.
Don’t let autumn pass you by without bringing a little of it indoors to brighten your day. Now if I only had some warm apple cider . . .
