Trying Not To Rush

Tomorrow is the first day of December!  I get really excited about the Christmas season, but today I want to enjoy one more day of November.  Sometimes, I think we look ahead to some big event, that we forget to enjoy the day we've been given.  So, today I am slowing down and not thinking about Christmas, but I'm savoring the blessings God is giving me today.  The last day of November.  When my alram sounded this morning, I really didn't want to get out of my warm cozy pillow-top bed (#32), but I did.  I get the pleasure of waking up my two sleeping beauties each morning (#33) by rubbing their backs, singing silly made-up songs, and gently tugging them out of bed.  I peeked out the living room window and saw the first crack of dawn (#34) as the sky began to add a glimpse of color and the darkness began to fade away.  I turned on the radio, which is always on MyBridgeRadio (my favorite station - #35), and enjoyed the Christian music that was playing.  I am so blessed to be able to be a stay-at-home mom (#36).  It wasn't necessarily a choice I wanted to make, but my health is so much better when I'm not pulled in too many directions.  And I have been blessed.  I enjoy being able to workout at Curves (#37) after I drop off the girls at school, and today I sat in the infra-red sauna afterwards (#38).  Ahhhh.....I turned the radio to my favorite station and just sat in the presence of God (#39) as I listened to some of my favorite songs and let the infrared heat penetrate my body.  There are SO MANY benefits to this type of sauna.

• Purification reduces stress
• Boosts immunity
• Removes toxins
• Increases circulation
• Burns calories
• Pain and injury relief
• Beneficial for low and high blood pressure
• Skin purification
• Relaxation
• Helps balance body pH levels

I am also thankful for our tankless hot water heater (which we got when our old water heater died last spring), because we now have an unlimited amount of hot water (#40).  And for some reason, our whole family enjoys nice long showers.  I guess we are all enjoying that little blessing of continuous hot water, whether we realize it or not.  Ahhh....the simple things in life.  Why is it that they often go unnoticed?  Today, I'm going to enjoy today.  I don't want to miss the joy in the many gifts that God is giving me today.

Grateful for a Job...or two...or three...

(#29) My husband.  I have the best husband for many reasons, but today I'll pick just one.  He works so hard to provide for his family.  He isn't a work-aholic, but he does put in a lot of hours with the 3 jobs he holds.  Yet, he still makes time for his family.  He teaches government and history to high school students (and he even makes it interesting).  Kids love taking his classes and being involved in his "We The People" and "Capitol Forum" programs.  And it's always rewarding to hear from former students who come home over break, find him up at the school, and tell him that he really helped prepare them for college and that he made a difference in their lives.  One former student enjoyed his government class so much, that he pursued a college degree that led him to an internship in D.C., and now he's working on Capitol Hill - a opportunity that my husband could only dream of.  My husband's passion is evident, and it rubs off on his students.  Not only does he work full-time teaching, but he also works just as many hours coaching football during the fall, and soccer during the spring.  He absolutely loves building relationships with his athletes and students.  He is definitely making a difference.  The annual football banquet fell over the weekend, and it's always fun to get a not-so-quick recap of the season (the good, the bad, and the ugly), followed by hugs and "thank you's" from his senior athletes.  Here's the autographed picture the seniors gave him this year.  He gets a bit of a break now, until soccer practice begins in March.

(#30) My husband's 3rd job - a seasonal mowing business.  It isn't very glamorous, but he enjoys being outside, getting a little exercise, and seeing the freshly cut lawns after he's finished.  We thought it would be good for the kids to get involved also, so they could earn a little spending money -- but they haven't been very involved....yet.  It was supposed to be a "seasonal" job, but in Nebraska, this type of work actually means every season except winter.  He mowed for the final time of the "season" last weekend.  So now he gets to put his mowers away until next spring.  One of the perks to mowing these yards, is that there are a lot of grass clippings.  Why is that a perk?  Well, Chad has a friend who gladly takes our grass clippings for his cattle, in exchange for farm fresh eggs.  That's what you call a win-win, my friends.

 

(#31)  Farm fresh eggs are the best!  If I told you that farm fresh eggs have seven times more beta carotene, twice as many omega 3′s, three times more Vitamin E, a 1/3 less cholesterol, AND 1/4 less saturated fat than store bought eggs, would you believe me?  Maybe? (You should because it’s true.)  According to Motherearthnews.com, the benefits of farm fresh eggs FAR exceed those of standard eggs.  When you accept a job, you expect to get paid, and you hope that it will be rewarding.  But jobs provide so much more than that.  They provide relationships, opportunities, and sometimes they provide eggs.  I am so thankful that God provides more than what we expect.

A Nice Long Thanksgiving Break

(22)  No school.  I don't know who loves the holiday school breaks more:  my husband or my children.  One of the things we always do on school breaks, is play games as a family.  I married a very competitive husband, who passed those genes down to our children, and game day around here gets pretty crazy sometimes.  I am the one who plays for fun, but if I have the chance to beat my competitive hubby, then I definitely will take that opportunity.  All in fun, of course.  I'm thankful for a family who enjoys playing games.  We have some of the best memories sitting around the table, playing games.  "Phase 10" is our family's favorite.  Jillian either watches or sits on my lap and helps me.  She doesn't like to lose, so she would rather watch. 

(23)  Jacob was home from college over Thanksgiving break, and his girlfriend Sami got to spend some QT with him (and us) over the long weekend.  We love having Sami around, and since her family is a big "game" family too, she fits in really well.  BTW....Jacob surprised us with a new hairdo when he got home. 

 

(24) Pinterest.com.  Wow!  For those of you who have experienced pinterest.com, you know what I mean.  It is full of great ideas.  Here's one idea that we tried last week.  They are coasters that the girls made for their school teachers.  We used a 4x4 tile from Menards, some scrapbook paper, and some homemade mod podge.  After three coats of mod podge, we sprayed some polyurethane on them (to make them water proof), and will put some felt on the bottom before they are ready to be used.  Easy!  And cute! 

(25)  Family time.  Because my sister lives a couple miles away, and my parents are only about 25 miles away, we are fortunate to spend lots of time together.  On Saturday, everyone came to our home to enjoy some left-over turkey (26 -- I love leftover turkey!) and to play some games.  We can be a pretty competitive bunch, but it's all in fun, and we do a lot of laughing as we play games around the table .  Jenica & Hayden are old enough to join us in our games, but they sometimes would rather jump on the trampoline or just hang out doing something else.  And Jillian and Xander are always busy, busy, busy.  They climbed in this chair long enough for me to snap a picture.

(27) Flippin' Sweet Pizza.  We enjoyed some pizza and one of their huge calzones over the weekend.  The owners moved here from San Francisco a few years ago, and their pizza and calzones are AMAZING!!  We are so lucky to have Flippin' Sweet in our little town. 

(28)  Christmas Movies.  Everyone knows that Christmas is my most favorite time of the year.  Even though I have been listening to Christmas music for a couple weeks now, we waited until today to start watching Christmas Movies.  (Jacob even took a stack of Christmas movies back to college with him to watch with his buddies.)  First up today:  Elf.  "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."  And "does somebody need a hug?" (two of my favorite lines from the movie)   Second up:  Christmas With The Kranks.  I especially love this movie because it reminds me of the trip our small group gals took to the Omaha/Lincoln area a few years ago.  We packed a lot of Christmas fun into those 2 days:  a concert by Michael W Smith, The Katinas, and Point of Grace; great food; a little shopping; lots of laughing; and the movie Christmas With The Kranks.  I'm so thankful that God uses things like these to remind me of special times I've had with family and friends. 

Thanksgiving

(21) We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day yesterday.  We joined my sister's family at my parents' farm for a noon feast.  One of my favorite things to do is go around the table and name something we're thankful for.  We all took turns as we passed the food, as there really is MUCH to be thankful for.  We take a lot of things for granted, actually.  How many of us grumble about the piles of laundry we have?  Instead, we should be grateful for all the laundry we have because that means we have a family to care for.  We all agreed that we are thankful for my brother's family in Arizona, and even though weren't around the table with us, they were in our hearts.  Mid-afternoon, our family left for Hastings to help serve the Thanksgiving Meal at a homeless shelter.  It was a very humbling experience.  It reminded me of the difference between "wants" and "needs."  We were reminded again  how much we have to be Thankful for: family, friends, a job, a home and so much we dont need. Thank you Lord, for everything I need and so much more.  My heart ached as I saw single-parent families go through the line, wondering what their story was.  They were so grateful for our help, and for all the yummy traditional thanksgiving food was available to them.  I love the four-phase process Crossroads goes through, as they help each and every person get back on their feet.  We may think there's nothing we can possibly do to help.  But there is.  We have time, and we have resources.  I'm reminded that Christ has called us to be His hands and feet, not only when it's convenient for us, but when there's sacrifice involved on our part.

Giving Thanks

(16) One of my favorite songs is "Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart".  And there is so many reasons to be thankful.  You can click on this song and hear it on YouTube if you'd like.  Just think of how grateful they must have been at the First Thanksgiving, when the Pilgrims and Indians came together to thank God for His protection and for a wonderful harvest.  Just last night, Jillian turned to Chad with a very serious look on her face and said, "Daddy, were you a Pilgrim or an Indian?"  After the initial shock of the question wore off, Chad said, "go ask your mother." 

(17)  Good Health.  I am so thankful for the health and well-being of our family.  Okay, okay, we aren't the most healthy family around when you consider that I have RA and the other 4 members of our family each have a heart condition.  But, I am so thankful that we are able to lead normal lives, despite our health challenges.  And I'm thankful for good doctors and for the insurance provided by the school. It could always be worse.  In fact, our dear sweet neighbor Linda has suffered from a brain tumor for over a year and she is now in her final days.  She would have been Jenica's 7th grade English teacher if she hadn't gotten sick the spring before.  Her husband has done some carpentry work for us on our home.  And our hearts just ache for their family.  Please pray for them today and in the days ahead.  They are going to be difficult days. 

(18)  Betty Crocker.  I love to bake!  That's no secret.  My sister even refers to me as "Betty" periodically.  And boy does good old B.C. put out some good recipes.  And easy!  Today, I am baking  Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars to take to my mom's house tomorrow.  They aren't very hard, and look so delicious!  I can't wait to try them tomorrow.  I'm going to make homemade caramel sauce to drizzle over the top.  I also made buttermilk brownies, and since Jenica was at a friend's house, I got to lick the frosting bowl myself.  I'm also extremely grateful for Chad, who is always eager to help with the dishes, even when the counter can't get any fuller.  I love a man with dishpan hands! 

Betty Crocker's Divine Caramel Sauce
1 c. light corn syrup
1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. butter
1 c. Heavy Whipping Cream
In 2-quart saucepan, heat corn syrup, brown sugar and butter to boiling over low heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in whipping cream; heat to boiling. Cool about 30 minutes. Serve warm. Store covered in refrigerator up to 2 months. Reheat slightly before serving if desired.

(19)  Reading with Jillian.  Jillian is in first grade, and we get to read together a LOT.  She is supposed to keep track of how much time she spends reading, and her teacher has assigned homework of 15 minutes per night.  Today, we are reading a book called "If You Were At The First Thanksgiving."  This is a book that I will get to read, as it's a bit lengthy.  But Jillian does great and is learning new words all the time.  Phonics are a bit challenging for her, but she's catching on to our very challenging English language. 

(20)  Lending a helping hand.  I love helping people, which tends to run in the family.  Our whole family enjoys helping others, which makes this mamma's heart smile.  Jacob is in his first semester at college, but when he was home a couple weeks ago, he noticed a sign-up chart at church for Salvation Army Bell Ringers.  So, he quickly went and put his name down.  He has been doing this every year since 9th grade.  This noon, I volunteered to fill in at Curves so the owner could leave for her Thanksgiving trip a little early.  And tomorrow afternoon our family is going to a homeless shelter in Hastings to help serve their evening Thanksgiving meal.  This morning, Jenica got up early (when she could have slept in, since there was no school today) and joined a group of friends from youth group, who raked leaves for someone who needed help.  They filleded 25 33-gallon bags with leaves!   And last week, Chad offered to help a single lady in town by cleaning out her gutters (which took 3 hours).  What joy fills my heart at the opportunity to lend a helping hand.

Basketball Season

(15)  Basketball has begun in our home.  For Jenica, that is.  She had her 4th basketball game today, and it's so much fun to watch her improve from year to year.  I love the conversations we have on the way to school in the morning, and I almost wish we lived 10 miles away from school instead of 2 so the chatting doesn't have to end so quickly.  This morning, our conversation centered on how great we feel when we do really well at something.  It is so satisfying; so rewarding.  She is taking a "Careers" class this quarter, and they visited our Physical Therpy Office yesterday.  She thought a career in PT sounded really great, being able to help patients learn to walk again, following surgery.  It's only natural to pat ourselves on the back when something great happens, whether it involves scoring the most points in a ball game, or if we get to help someone recover from physical injuries that limit their abilities to stand or walk.  But God is the one who ultimately deserves the credit.  If we have skill or expertise in a certain area, it's because God gave us that gift.  He is responsible.  He is the One who deserves the pat on the back.  It's not because of what we've done; it's because of what HE has done.  And what an honor it is, to be used by Him to impact the lives of others.  As I think of Jenica's ballgame today, I think of the patience and hard work that goes into coaching Jr High girls. That's one tough job.

Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner

(14)  Wild Turkeys.  Have you ever wondered why we eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day?  Why not ham, or pork, or beef?  Well, I did some research on the internet (no one goes to the big heavy encyclopedia anymore) and found an answer.  The real reason turkey was served (along with deer) at the First Thanksgiving was meerly because it was available.  Yep.  Now that's not a very exciting answer, but it's the truth.  Unlike chicken (with eggs) and cows (with milk), the turkey really doesn't provide anything other than the meat.  And turkeys were more abundant and easier to find than geese.  Poor little turkeys. 

Recently, we've been noticing two wild turkeys that have been wondering around the north side of Holdrege.  I usually see them in someone's yard or crossing the street by the park.  Today, a friend and I took advantage of Sonic's "Happy Hour" and then drove to the park to see if we could find the turkeys.  When we arrived, the turkeys were perched on top of the railing by the boat dock, but since I didn't have my camera with me at the time, I missed capturing it for you.  When I returned to the park with my camera, we found the turkeys pecking on seeds or something in the grass, just strolling around like the belonged there.  The swans have some competition!  Just look at these pretty turkeys that have decided to claim our park as their home.  Now, if we lived somewhere that had wild turkeys running around all the time, this wouldn't be that big of deal.  But they usually just stay by the rivers.  So, they really get our attention, and we have been watching out for them as they cross the streets.  They've become part of the community.

Danish Heritage

(13)  "Mange Tak".  That's Danish for "many thanks."  My family's roots trace back to Denmark, and I can remember my grandfather speaking Danish for us when I was a little girl.  I heard him say certain phrases and sayings so much that I can recite the words.  My aunt Joyce is planning our family Christmas gathering this year, and when we all get together, we are each going to bring some Danish snacks to enjoy.  So, I did some searching on line and found a few recipes that I'd like to make.  And today I did a practice run of Danish Rye Bread or "rugbrød" in Danish.  I decided to make it into a long loaf this time around.  Did you hear that?  "This Time."  I'm certain that I'll make it again.  And if it turns out good today, I'll make a crunchy spinach dip to go with it for our celebration.  It's an easy recipe and doesn't have much prep time at all.  However, it's about 18 hours from start to finish.  It is made using a process similar to sourdough, which is why it takes so long to develop the perfect flavor.  Doesn't it look beautiful! 

I love that we are going to celebrate in Danish fashion this year.  My grandparents would have LOVED being part of this!  And I'm excited to share some of our Danish heritage with my own children.
Danish Rye Bread

In the morning:
1 c. warm water
1 TB yeast
1 TB white sugar
1 c. rye flour
In a large bowl, combine the above ingredients, then cover batter loosely and place in a warm, draft-free spot.  (I used my oven and left the oven light on for a while to create a nice warm "womb" for my "brød" to grow.)
In the evening:
1 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. white sugar
1/2 c. warm water
1 c. rye flour
In same bowl, add the above ingredients and mix well.  Cover again, and set aside overnight. (I put it back into my warm oven.)
In the morning:
Mix in:
1 TB sugar
1 TB Kosher Salt (or 3/4 TB Sea Salt or 3/4 TB table salt)
1 c. warm water
Gradually add:
2 c. rye flour
1 c. all-purpose flour (or more)
When dough has "pulled together" turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes.  Form into a loaf, and place on a baking sheet.  Allow to rise for about 40 minutes.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. 
Servings per Recipe:  12 (172 calories each, 37.2g carbs, 5.5g fiber, 4.8g protien)

Disney & Sourdough

(11) Never too old for Disney.  My grandma loves Ice Skating and she also loves Disney.  So when Disney On Ice "Treasure Cove" began advertising shows in our area, she quickly organized an outing for anyone in the family who wanted to join her.  "Of course, I'll join you, grandma!"  I know these opportunities to spend time with grandma won't always be here, so I jumped at the chance.  As soon as she got a head-count, grandpa drove her to the Event Center to purchase tickets.  There were 8 of us in our group this year, which spanned 4 generations.  We all grew up with Disney.  Grandma's favorite Disney snow is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  Who doesn't love those cute little dwarfs!  I hope that when I am 85 years old, I'll be able to attend Disney on Ice with my own kids and grandkids.  And I'll tell them that the tradition began with their great-great-grandma Bernie.

(12)  Sourdough Bread.  This is one of my favorite kinds of breads, but I've never made it because it takes a special "starter" to mix into the dough.  And it seems like a lot of work!  Sourdough reminds me of the trip Chad & I took to San Francisco in 1999, and all the sourdough we ate while we were there.  I'm not getting any younger, so I decided that now would be a good time to give it a try and make some myself.  I found an easy recipe for Sourdough starter on-line, which also got good remarks from those who tried it.  I have been "feeding" my starter each day with 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup flour, and a pinch of sugar.  And boy, has it grown!  The girls think I'm silly, and they call it my "baby".  The whole process is really fascinating to me.  Who figured out that this process would result in some of the best-tasting bread ever created?  I mean, seriously.  It had to be an accident, didn't it?  But today was an exciting day!  Besides the fact that I got to sleep in, it was time to use our starter and make some bread.  Even Chad took a turn kneading our first loaf of bread from our very own first-generation starter.  (My husband is the best!)  I wonder if I'll be able to keep this starter going and share it with my daughters some day.  Some starters have years of history.  Wouldn't that be fun to pass on to my girls in 10-15 years?  Okay, back to reality.  Our first batch of sourdough looks and tastes wonderful!  Chad was so excited to try the sourdough that he dropped the tub of butter on the floor...upside down.

Daily Kisses from God

(8)  In my opinion, some of the most beautiful sunrises occur in Nebraska.  As the girls were getting ready for school this morning, I peeked out my dining room windows and enjoyed God's Artwork in the eastern sky.  I am NOT a morning person.  In fact, I would love to sleep past 8 every day if I could.  But that doesn't happen very often during the school year.  And rather than grumble about getting up early, I watch darkness fade away as the sun begins to make it's appearance.  The colors in the sky change so quickly, and it's fun to peek out the window every few minutes and catch a glimpse of the awesomeness of God through His artwork in the sky.

(9)  A Kiss from God.  When I returned home from dropping off the girls at school this morning, I was greeted by these yellow pansies, blooming under a bench in the rocks near our front door.  Our over-night temps have gotten really low, but these persistent little pansies aren't going to give up on shining their beauty.  Their yellow color shouts "look at me!"  I actually have a LOT of volunteer pansies that bloom in these rocks on the east side of the house.  They're a daily kiss from God.  Even in November.

(10)  Bath and Body Works.  I absolutely LOVE their Body Cream.  It smells so good, and it gives my dry skin a nice fragrant drink throughout the day.  I have a tube in the kitchen, in the bathroom, next to my bed, in the car, in the pickup, and in my purse.  And just look at how pretty the packaging is.  Today, I'm thankful for my triple moisture body cream. 

The Next Best Thing to Q'doba

(7)  If you were to ask me:  Where is your favorite place to eat?  I'd tell you "Q'doba Mexican Grill."  My mouth starts watering when I start thinking about their Mexican Gumbo.  I first experienced Mexican Gumbo with my girlfriends Mary & Kendra, a couple years ago and realized quickly that we had just discovered something AMAZING.  It's filling, it's flavorful, it's delicious.  The first Q'doba opened in Denver, and now they have over 500 restaurants.  But since the closest Q'doba for us is 30 miles away, I found a way to bring Q'doba's Mexican Gumbo to our home.  I found a recipe that is just as good as the real thing, and I made it for supper last night.  Here's the recipe I used. 

Chicken Tortilla Soup
6 c. Chicken Stock (1 added 2 packets of Swanson's Flavor Boost Concentrated Broth)
2 c. Cooked Chicken, shredded
1/2 Onion, chopped
1/2 c. Green Pepper, choppped
1/2 c. Red Pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
1 tsp. Cumin (or more)
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Bay Leaf
3 TB Lime Juice
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 can Black Beans, drained
1 can Corn, drained (or Creamed Corn)
1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chilis (we used Mild)
1 sm can Tomato Paste
3-4 TB Fresh Cilantro
3 c. cooked white rice
Garnish:  Monterey Jack Cheese, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Tortilla strips

Saute onion and peppers in 1-2 TB olive oil.  Add salt & pepper.  In a big pot, combine all ingredients, including sauted veggies.  Let simmer 30 minutes.  Place 1/3-1/2 cup rice in bottom of bowl, and ladel the soup over the top of your rice.  Garnish with shredded Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and coarsely crushed tortilla chips (or tortilla strips). 

We actually ate a late supper last night, because Jenica had basketball practice until 6:15 and then youth group at 6:30, and I always like to eat as a family.  So we waited for Jenica to get home.  This was the week that Jenica's youth group does "Project Serve".  Their small groups go out into our community and help people (usually the elderly) with the things around their home that they need help with.  Last month, Jenica's small group did some light cleaning inside a home.  Last night they raked leaves outside of a home.  I love that our church youth group does this on a regular basis.  It encourages a heart of serving others in a world that often does the opposite.

My Cup Runneth Over

I love these words from the 23rd Psalm.  And I love knowing that God supplies all that I need, and that He fills my cup until it overflows with His blessings.  He delights in filling my cup beyond capacity.  And this morning, I am feeling an abundance of blessings. 

(2) SNOW!  We woke up to SNOW this morning, but I didn't even realize it.  Not right away.  I had fallen into my getting-everyone-ready-for-school pattern and it wasn't until Chad looked out the window of the deck that we realized the weatherman's prediction of 20% chance of snow actually resulted in SNOW!  We were no longer dragging our little behinds; we were instantly super-charged and ready to tackle the day.  Why is it that a little dusting of SNOW energizes us?  Shouldn't we feel energized each and every day when we wake up, just knowing that God will fill our cup that day to the point of overflowing?  But God used a little SNOW to remind us of Him.  Jillian and I did a "Happy Dance" in the dining room in our jammies, and then we decided to draw a heart in the snow just outside the patio doors.  We are praising God for sending a little SNOW our way this morning. 

(3)  Hot Tea on a cold November morning.  I am not a coffee drinker.  Not even the fancy jazzed up kind with flavored cream and sugar.  But I LOVE Chai Tea.  My preferred way of drinking Chai is as a Latte with steamed milk and a little vanilla syrup.  Mmmmm.....  But I also love Tazo's Organic Chai tea bags.  Mmmmm..... The aroma is delightful, and the perfect way to warm up on a cold day. 

(4)  A little SNOW, some hot CHAI tea, and a cozy QUILT.  Ahhhh..... My cup runneth over.  This is my favorite quilt.  It is always folded at the end of my bed, and it's one of my treasures that reminds me of a sweet dear elderly lady named LaVerne.  This quilt belonged to her, and not only do I love the gold colored back ground and the hand-appliqued dresden-plate pieces, but I also love the fact that it reminds me of LaVerne.  She was a sweet little lady with big blue eyes, who lived to be 95 years old before she went home to be with the Lord.  I love vintage quilts, and the stories they tell.  One reason I love winter is because I can pull out the quilts for each of us to snuggle up in.

(5)  Christmas Music.  Yes, the snow inspired me this morning to pull out some CHRISTMAS MUSIC as the girls (and Chad) got ready for school.  Third Day was playing on MyBridgeRadio, and their new song "Sound of Your Voice" reminded me of their Christmas album.  So, I went to our CD cabinet and found it.  It's been playing on "repeat" most of the morning.  It's never too early for Christmas music, in my opinion.

(6)  Moms In Touch.  I love praying with my Moms In Touch groups.  This morning, I led our Middle School group since our regular "leader" was away.  I love lifting my children in prayer with other praying moms.  This is a tough world our kiddos live in, and just hearing other moms praying for my children gives me such peace and a joy that fills my heart.  We pray for our children, our schools, the teachers, the administration, and each and every student that walks down those hallways by name.  Some of these kids may have never been prayed for before.  And us moms join together, praying for each and every child by name.  God loves each and every one of them, and it is such an honor to be able to pray for them.  My cup runneth over.

Jacob & Chocolate Chip Cookies

(1) Now that Jacob is in college, I get to experience the joy of baking cookies for him on a whole new level.  His favorite kind is also the favorite of my entire family.  Soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies.  I make them with 1/2 c. butter, 1/2 c. butter-flavored criso, and I pull them out of the oven while they still look a little bit doughy.  Mmmmm.....   The aroma fills the kitchen, and I smile as I think of my college-aged son who will receive these cookies in just a few short hours.  I imagine him eating these cookies on the top bunk in his dorm room, guarding them from stray football players, who make their way into his room on a regular basis.  I love being able to bake for him.  (Of course, I made enough so the rest of our family can enjoy them also.)  These cookies won't have to travel in the mail.  Oh, no, they won't!   Jacob will get to enjoy these fresh cookies TODAY.  You see....He is going to leave studying and writing papers behind him for a few hours, so he can meet us at his sister's 8th grade basketball game this afternoon.  And I'll be able to surprise him with some homemade cookies for the trip back to college. 

Am I Really Doing This?

As I sit here at the computer, my mind keeps asking me:  "What am I doing?"  I periodically find myself looking at blogs that my friends are faithfully updating, smiling as I see what new and exciting things are going on in their lives, checking out new pictures of how the kiddos have grown, wondering:  "where do they find time to do this?"  And here I am.  How am I going to find time to update this blog?  Or maybe "make time" is a better choice of words.  We can all do many things with our days, but... what do we make time for, and what falls to the bottom of our priority list?  So, we shall see how long this lasts for me.  Is it just a phase?  Time will tell. 

The truth is....I read a book a while back that really inspires me to look for the beauty in each day and in each circumstance.  It's there.  There is always beauty and joy to be found.  Sometimes I have to look a little harder to find joy.  But a blessing is always present, if we make it a priority to search for it.  It becomes easier and easier to find the blessings, once we train our minds to look for them.  The book that inspired me is "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voscamp.  This book is a celebration of grace and a recognition of the power of gratitude.  She wrote about the gifts she received each day, and her goal was to see if she could reach 1,000.  So, this blog is a celebration of the gifts I find each day.  And it's a way to share our family's joys with you.  My challenge to you is this:  grab a notebook and begin keeping a list of the Blessings that come your way.  And experience a life full of joy and gratitude.