Thoughts on “A Complaint-Free World”

I made this cool little sidebar icon for those of you interested for a “Complaint Free Movement” reminder.  (To install to your sidebar, click: How to Install a Photo to Sidebar Using WordPress Text Widgets)

I wanted a verse.  The perfect verse for me was the same verse I’d given my second grade Sunday School class for emphasis:  “I want you to SHINE LIKE STARS IN THE UNIVERSE!”  And…I forgot the rest of the verse, the part I needed!  Ouch!  I NEED Philippians 2:14-16!

Meditations from Philippians 2:14-16:

1. My job assignment is NOT to make the world a positive place.  My job is to “hold out the word of life” effectively, according to Matthew 28:  The Great Commission, that is, without grumbling and complaining. 
2. To have Christ working in me is that only way it’s possible, and only for the right reasons is it possible: Jesus Christ working in us because he loves the world.
3. Don’t sacrifice at the altar of peace.  Grace AND truth walk hand in hand for the believer.  Give “the word of life” in gentle, loving, caring, inspired, and creative ways.  That challenge is what makes the Christian walk so exciting for me!!! 
4. Am I reading this right?  Can complaining and arguing REALLY create a crooked and depraved people?  Thinking hard, for the Israelites, that was the case.  God delivered them from Egyptian captivity.  But, when grumbling and complaining spread through the camp like a disease, it caused mass chaos every time, turning their hearts away from The One who had just delivered them.  All he wanted from them was their worship, their thanksgiving, faith, and trust.  We infect each other still today.
5. We are not cut from a different fabric from the Israelites today.  Without Christ to make us new, we are the same grumbling people who cannot worship our saving God to save our lives.  Literally.

“so that you will BECOME blameless and pure…in which you shine like lights in the universe as you hold out the world of life”… 

Who knew that one small discipline could yield so much benefit?  This verse makes me want to look at ALL my disciplines as a whole again, taking them seriously to see how my neglect of them doesn’t just affect ME…it also dims His light shining through me.  Lord, discipline me, to your glory and fame!

Granting Wishes Upon a Star Today

My daughter asked that for her next gift time, I name a star after her.  {Ahem}.  I WHAT?  I mean, I’ve heard of that, but I’ve never known a child to ASK for it.  Doesn’t she want a Webkinz or something?  Something TANGIBLE?

Nope, turns out a girlfriend of hers got one before Christmas, she thought it was cool, and that’s on her wish list.  I told her I’d “check into it”.  Meaning, I really hope you forget about that because it sounds expensive and extravagent.

Well, I just had to return some earrings I’d gotten for Christmas because they weighed A TON, and I looked and looked at the jewelry to find something else and nothing really hit me.  So, I wandered around the store, all the way to the back corner.  What did I find but some “star naming stuffed bears” on sale for 10.99. 

Now, I still think it’s extravagent, but at 10.99, I can grant a wish for a star!  You log on, pick the location and name of your star, and have a bear with a metal star on his foot to remind you and a tag to keep the information on.  Now, God is just cool to help me with THAT!  They are called “Shining Stars” and you can go online and also give your stuffed animals personality characteristics and play games.  HERE is the Shining Star website, and you can interact with other members, but like with Webkinz.  Looks cool!

The Best Use Ever for A Coach Purse

I am just about in tears, ya’ll.  For real. 

I was in my closet looking for a Christmas gift {or two} I can’t seem to find, and I was also looking for a pouch of camera disks I seem to have mis-placed in a purse pocket somewhere.  I found one of the disks, not the pouch.  I went through ALL my old purses, just in case.   I like that little pouch for my disks!

It was then that I saw a brown purse I’d rejected for lack of a place to put my cam and my phone.  Who needs even great leather it if won’t hold your stuff?  I thought, “Do I need to keep this thing?  I never even carry it.” 

Then remembered that bought it a few years ago for “backup binding leather-potential” at a thrift store.  It was a purse, small compared to my first backpack find and softer, but it might possibly work.  I liked the color and feel to it.

Recently after I recovered my Bible, I had put some stain on my Bible to try to restore color and even out stains, and I haven’t been happy with it since.  My mom says it has “character”, and she liked it a lot.  But, it just wasn’t the same.  The flap didn’t really match anymore and I wasn’t sure I’d ever find more leather I liked.  I’d totally forgotten about the purse.

Tonight, I tried fitting my Bible inside it, and…if I took out the sides gussets, maybe…

Ya’ll, I saw then that it was a Coach leather purse.  Now, showing my great fashion knowledge, I knew it was “a brand” a few years ago, but I didn’t know it was “the brand“.  AND, to further cause gasps and squeals amongst the women folk I didn’t know until today that they run new $300-$600 upward.

I bought it for $2.00 used. 

I know.  It’s insane.

It is so perfect.  It has a flap, attached in one piece!  An upgade!  It also has a easy-turny device to close it that I like.  Zippered inside pocket wow…now my offering won’t fall out!  It even has a slide in pocket on the back for a journal.  The leather is just the same color of the old one prior to my stain issue, and there is a nice seamed edging all the way around.  

I’m trying to get it glued on tonight so it can set.  I just couldn’t wait!  My eyes sting from fatigue andI need to go to bed.  But, I’m just so excited I can hardly stand it!  I want to hold my Bible! 

I read on the Coach website that the beginnings of the Coach company came from thoughts about the softness of a baseball glove.  That was funny to me, I’ve said that’s how I’ve always wanted my Bible to feel, like a worn in, soft, leather glove.  Same “usefulness”!   To protect us from the hardballs of life!  HA!

My hub and son KEPT shaking their heads saying, “Have you ever heard of eBay?” But, used, worn a bit?  It MIGHT have brought $40.00.  I would have paid more than that for a straight peice of leather, much less one with a zipper, pocket and binding.  It was worth more to me!

Lord God, thank you.  There is was, waiting for me in my own possession already, like most everything else you want to give us.    

(I’ll add pics here tomorrow, hopefully).

Merry & Bright

Last night’s community college at the church made my season.  It was a Christian, chill producing 50+ Christmas choir in  white shirts and red ties with an energetic, Christian, fun, pull-you-into-it young lady leading. 

Four thumbs up from us.  It was a well-spent family hour.  I begged them to come back next year…hopefully we’ll have more people in the audience than are in the choir.  I know two of the singers from Madisonville who are professionally trained singers, but I didn’t know they were part of it until last night. 

You never know from a college setting what you are going to get, but it was truly a superb performance I hope we utilize more fully next year.

I’m just sitting down to some Cheese Whiz and crackers, waiting on the oven to heat up so that I can cook my pre-formed frozen sausage balls.  Yes, something exists…they aren’t QUITE as good as the Bisquick version, but there is much more I’d rather be doing than washing my hands 15 times while, you know, forming raw sausage. 

The next best thing is pre-formed meatballs, which we are having for supper.  I bought swedish meatballs, some egg noodles, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup.  I saw the recipe on the ball bag…sounds easy enough, and I’m into EASY cooking right now.  The way I see it, the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are the two “have to” meals for a mom of the two months while preparing.  The rest of the time, we lose weight on ham and turkey sandwiches and soup!

I am SO excited about my shopping trip today locally!  I’d been praying about (Sssshhh!) my gifts for the women in our family.  [edited out for surprise element!]

For myself, I’m also getting my senior ring, my mother’s bracelet fixed, and my fav gold chain fixed.  It’s been the season for jewelry break-down.  I decided I’d rather wear my favs than get something new really.  I’ve not never found a good jeweler I was comforble with.  I like the folks over there a lot.  I’ll be back.  Hopefully they will be ready soon, though I told him  they didn’t have to be ready by Christmas.  I’m sure they have a lot to get done before then.

Other things that make me totally head-over-heels happy today:

• Peter Pan Peanut Butter (you can argue with me all day long, and Peter Pan is STILL the best).  My kids won’t eat anything else now!  That samanilla scare a while back was very bad for our family for many months while it was off the shelf.  This morning, I had a leftover jar to finish and I STILL am hearing about inferior Peanut Butter and random oil.  Ah, I’m thankful to be able to afford Peter Pan.
• DARLING nativity sets with the scriptures on each piece!  The entire set is on sale at Wal*Mart for $10.00.  Warning, one of them Mary looks cross-eyed, don’t get that one.  I bought several until I find someone who needs one they were so special!  I’m going to rework some gifts having found them! SO neat.
• Modge Podge.  I’ve read about this product over and over and FINALLY found it at Wal*Mart in Matte, and all sorts of finishes.  It’s basically like a glue and an acrylic topper combined to seal dough ornaments, collages, and any paper on wood or other craft projects.  I’m psyched.
• I found some awesome books “The Don’t Sweat Guide to Holidays:  Enjoying the Festivities and Letting Go of the Tension” by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.  They were on sale on a book table for $.75.  It isn’t a Christian based book, and I don’t take everything he says as gospel, but I love his emphasis on keeping things realistic and keeping the main things the main things. I’m putting them in my brothers stockings, I think.  They were 205 pp and great two page bathroom reads for couples.  I’ll probably enjoy it first.     I like books like this to review leading up to holidays.
• Little bags of holiday trinkets and games and pencils for kids at Wal*Mart…I do not have the energy to order Sunday School class gifts, and this SO simplified my life!  Ahhhh!  Thank you, Wal*Mart!  I don’t care what anyone says about you…you made my day, today!
• Kentucky Legend PRE-SLICED ham quarter.  THANK YOU WAL*MART.

Okay, the oven is ready, and I have a gift-wrapping fest planned before the kids need to be picked up in YEESH!  three hours!  So, off I go to munch sausage balls, Biltmore House Hoiliday Wassail (from a mix stirred with Cranapple Juice…thanks to Steve & Chryl last year!), listen to my new Christmas tunes, and WRAP for the kids LIKE A MAD WOMAN!

Blessings to you today!  Share a smile!  Someone I don’t know and will probably never see again waited on me several minutes at the door while my bag broke and I re-bagged things, just to hold a door open for me…it TOTALLY made my day.  Give random acts of kindness!  Today, someone found $20.00 on the sidewalk and asks me three times if it was mine, hesitant to keep it.  I told them it probably wasn’t…and finally I said, just pass it on to someone who needs it if you like.  They looked thoughtful, and nodded.  I think they will.  It’s moments like that that keep the season “merry and bright”!  Make some moments.

Oh my goodness, the jewelry store just called, my engraving is already done!  WOW!  I’m so tickled–okay, MORE tickled.  But, there goes gift wrap fest!  Whew.  I’m going to have to make some TIME!   Maybe I’ll wrap and reward myself with a trip back over there if I stay on task!   Gotta run!!!  No pics today!  Gotta go FAST!

  

“How Do I Give If I’m In Debt Myself?”– Financial Quandries

A few questions have come up.  If you are interested, and need some help or freedom in this area:  read on.  If not, skip it!  Isn’t blogging a joy?    

There are two things to differentiate:  the tithe, and then the offering.  Two very different things. 

The titheis to be a “first-fruit”.  What’s a first-fruit?  It’s not Juicy Fruit.  It’s not an apple.  Don’t put either of those in the offering plate unless God tells you to specifically.

In the Old Testament, God asked the people to give the first of their crops and harvests to him, the best of what they had.  It was to be given as an offering before they ate any of the restof the harvest.  The firstfruit was given to help establish priority of thanksgiving, the priority of obedience, and to remember God first.  

The tithe today is intended to represent “first-fruit”.  That is why you don’t want to wait until there is a surplus to tithe.  Test God in that.  He will meet the rest.  Some adjustments and priority may need to be made, but that’s where the rule of 90 comes in. 

The Rule of 90:  (I coined that term myself…I love it.  I sounds so official).  I didn’t coin the idea.  The other 90% has to be given to God for the 10% rule to work with grace.   God wants our all in everything.  And the very cool thing is:  He does more with it than we ever could!

Tithing seems to work to align our lives in greater wisdom and less attachment to things.  He teaches us to rely on creativity, ingenuity, and thanksgiving to fill our hearts rather than the pleasure of “stuff”. 

The baseline for the tithe, what God expects from us, is generally defined as 10% of the check (gross or net is up to you to decide.  One person said, “Do you want a gross or a net blessing?“)   Most financial books only consider income.  However, there are also I’ve been compelled to give a tithe on other blessings or provisions God provides me out of the ordinary.  There is a Biblical basis for this.  In the Old Testament, they tithed any provision…even spices. 

We have the children tithe their birthday cash.  This is a personal decision not dictated by scripture, but a tool we’ve chosen to use to teach our kids the priority of giving.  They enjoy it and are sad when they leave it at home.  I’ve seen them cry and ask us to go back home for it.  They like to take part and give something “adult”, giving something of their very own.  It’s amazed us to watch.   

The Offering:

The offering is given above the tithe.  While the tithe is considered the monthly commitment to help support the budget of the local body where we are involved, we think of offerings as other gifts we may give to support special causes inside or outside the church.  It’s “a love offering”…something to help others “just because”.

You might ask, “How do you get ahead enough to do both, I can’t even get my act together enough to tithe yet?”

Start.  I recommend starting with the tithe rather than with the offering because the tithe is what God asks.  Give what you can.  Give an offering if you absolutely cannot tithe, but if God asks us to do it, his requests of us are not burdensome.  He only asks us to do what is good for us.   

Show genuine and long-term interest and discipline in giving and managing income, and he will help you learn more and more until you see the joy in it.  It’s like anything else we learn, it takes time, some stumbling, some falling, and eventually learning to walk with a solid gait so that you don’t even remember the “learning to walk”.  You just know that you walk.  I have to tell you that it’s great to not have to feel convicted or defensive every time the subject comes up.  Try.  

I had jury duty this week and several people had VERY legitimate excuses to not serve where they were asked.  The judge said, “But, can you try?  Do it one time for me and we’ll see how it goes before we excuse you, okay?  Try, and then we’ll make arrangements”.  Perhaps the same applies here.  Before you make excuses, try.  Then make needed adjustments if you have to. 

But, we’re WAY in debt.  Sometimes the ends don’t meet! 

I’d like to suggest that in 90% of the cases, debt is due to extravagance, not need.  It is due to credit card abuse and use, overspending, and frivolity.  That’s the bottom line.  Yes, we pay for mistakes.  One way to keep from doing it again is to begin tithing.  A monthly reminder that we are working toward a goal of managing our money as God intended will help the next time you want to upgrade a car or get more than is necessary.

Let me insert a personal note here.  I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than a family committed to becoming debt free.  They learn to be creative with their time.  They learn to not keep up with the Joneses, they develop an inner beauty that radiates because they are trying to honor the Lord with what they have.  They learn to be content where they are and share out of that, rather than trying to impress.  They are a joy to be around.  I had one friend who regularly invited us over for simple meals of homemade waffles or spaghetti.  To this day it was the best food I’ve ever eaten, and the best company we’ve ever kept.

I’ve had friends who wanted to be out of debt so that they could be even better givers.  They tithed what they could in that process, but they wanted to be freed up– to lose their focus on money and “stuff”.  They may have started at a lower percentage, with the goal of increasing it every quarter until they got to 10%.  Personally, I’d rather know I’m blessing the Lord and give the full 10%, trusting Him, but you start where you are, and it’s easier to do 10 when you’ve begun there.  Start where you are, and get there.  You may have a heart to increase it as the Lord increases you, as some I know.  Giving becomes a surpasses joy, I do know that.

Examples:  I’ve seen four families go through a debt free process.  One family had 3 kids, one 4, one 5, and one was a couple without kids.   There are many ways to start, but a budget is usually involved.  If you a person who struggles with management and numbers, a simple envelop system may work.  You take budget areas and label an envelope with each area according to records of past expenses, or how much you think the family could make it on that area.  (Don’t forget to include long- term expenses like insurance and taxes).  Also, try to build several hundred dollars for a start on an “emergency fund” envelope.  

If the grocery envelop goes empty, you have to pull from another area that month: entertainment, eating out, or clothing.  After a few months, you begin to see where spending problems are, or where adjustments need to be made:  there is motivation to get creative or do better in some areas so that there is some left in other areas.

Larry Burkett’s “How to Manage Your Money” is a great resource for money.  Ron Blue offers good suggestions as well.  Read what you can, try it, and find what works best for you.  Keeping the idea fresh in your mind by reading books helps with restraint, especially in high expenditure times like the holidays where people want to “love” people to death and then stay mad the rest of the year trying to pay off the debt!  Agh!  Break that cycle this year!

Gifts:  How Do I Give and Make the Holidays Work? 

We are not hurting financially at this time.  But, we still try to set up the kids for their future.  How?  We regularly give our kids gently used gifts for Christmas if it’s something they might enjoy.  Things I’ve found along the way and saved for a rainy day.  I’ve always wrapped some “necessities” like warm winter clothing or church clothes so that they know the value of those things and remember to have joy and thanks over them.  They are the priority, why not learn to celebrate that together in a tangible way?  Plus, it makes the tree pretty and helps extend gift giving time without buying so many toys they don’t need.   We all make homemade gifts for each other and buy useful things.  We might defer the purchase of an appliance until the holidays so that we have something new and useful to enjoy at that time. 

It doesn’t have to be something sparkly and new, meant to impress all our friends for us to remember to feel valued and take joy.  Provoking jealousy is a problem…don’t do it.  Guard yourselves if being around those types of people causes you to feel “less than” in your approach during the holidays.  Rejoice for them!  But, don’t let it question your family’s approach if the goal is debt reduction.  Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page.   Don’t surprise a spouse with a “big gift” if you agreed to minimize.  That is a killer of joy.  Rejoice in simplicity. 

Reduce the amount spent on baking.  You’ll live without it.  Most of us won’t miss it a year.  Simplify.  Create other traditions like covered pretzels or working puzzles that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Rejoice in traditional ornaments and family heirlooms instead of having the latest fad decorations.  An occasional new item is alright, try to find it post season for next year. 

Well, that’s all for today!  I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas or that they’ve been useful in some way.  If you have questions, feel free to email me.  I’ll try to get to all the questions here and there.  Thanks for asking!

Tuesday Happenings.

It’s been a pleasure to receive honest emails on the last couple posts.  Thanks for your transparency and authenticity.  Remember, the goal is that we bless and honor the heart of God, not that we act like other people or try to reach standards of discipline , though discipline is involved. 

If finances are a struggle for you, find the counsel you need to get debt relief, and know the joy that comes from giving.  Giove to him first.  Beyond that, offerings are the cherry on top.  The tithe is the goal.  10%. 

I appreciate the opportunity to try to gently teach other’s in the same way others have so graciously and humbly taught us over the years.  Yes, it’s hard.  But, worth the freedom and joy.

In other news:  today was “jury day”.  I was not randomly selected for the Grand Jury.  I WILL serve on circuit court for at least the next three months.  That will be a child care challenge.  I may have to call on some of you.

~~~

I just settled down for a moment to enjoy a cup of brew from my new Cappuccino maker.  I love me a good cup of decaf, but it’s hard to find good decaf, much less a good cappuccino.  I’m often dissatisfied with the 4 dollar cup at Starbucks (as if we had one).  I found a Mr. Coffee machine for $2.00 yesterday, originally a $100.00 machine. 

It’s a little messy and time consuming, but SO FUN!  I made us some last night and showed my husband the process.  I may have to grace you with another stellar how-to video.  The thing about those videos, expressing how to do things people are interested in is…it invites non-believers to your blog.  Yesterday, I had 1,100 hits to this blog over a random post on scrapbooking I had done last winter.  While people are here, I hope they find a touch of grace and that they long for the joy of Jesus.  Any tools we can use to invite people into our lives, right?

I’ve also been wanting to try out a MAC.  gasp.  Not necessary BUY one, just TRY one.  Why be anxious, oh ye great PC folk?  I’m just trying it, not converting!  Anyway, I found a 1o yr. old college entry level iMac for $5.00 yesterday. I’ve been told they are like a Toyota, they never die and you don’t have to worry about viruses.  They are great for video and graphics, which I need.   

A friend told me where to check for a missing power cord…the gentlemen at that place  gave it to me free!  Now, I just have to procur a USB keyboard and figure out how to find general word processing software on it.  I hope there is some! 

If I could use it to edit pictures in my scrapbook room and print titles for pages, it would be well worth the space in my scrap room.  Space is at a premium in there!  It’s a lovely large green box of a monitor/computer, not the most attractive in the world, but still a fun find!  Good entertainment if nothing else for $5.   

Well, that’s all my rambling and coffee break for today.  Time to go watch my darling little nephews while Mom runs out for a bit.

The Journey to Bethlehem

At the end of each day, I’ve taken a moment or two to consider what activities had to do with celebrating the season.  Instead of JUST ticking off a to do list and looking at the piles of boxes every day as a reminder of how much of yet un-done, a moment taken to reflect on what WAS done is such fun.

Yesterday:  an updated front porch wreath with some ornaments I bought on sale last year.  Looks A LOT better. 

Today:  simple, cheap cards filled out on the way to a family gathering…we’ve all started “exchanging cards” as we greet one another…it’s fun, and personal.  The thought of being remembered means more than the expense of the card, a letter, or a fancy anything.  I’m so glad to belong to a family like that.  Especially since there are SO DARN MANY of us!  My mom has 15 brothers and sisters, all still living.  I’m into second and third cousins on top of that.  Whew.  Yeah.

Tonight:  As a family, we took care of grandma, raked leaves, put away lawn furntire, started on Christmas lights, finished the tree, and watched a couple Christmas shows.    I made ornaments for my Sunday School class to complete…I’ll try to share later.  They were fun.

Take a few moments at the end of every day to reflect on the events of the season.  Rejoice in the journey to the manger…all the celebration.  Not as a means to an end, but as a joyous season of thanks and fun.

Slowly Getting There

I have felt so odd today.  Everything a bit out of place.  A few notes missed, out of character.  Feeling sort of pulled together.  Perhaps the lack of routine is getting to me, the change of seasons, the change of family situations, new tasks to learn, meals to cook.  Oh, yes, lots to be thankful for, but an overall lack of normalcy.   A family member in Iraq, one facing surgery this week, another with cancer.  Just a lot of “new”. 

I so needed the sermon today: the holidays are not about perfection, perfect situations and people and hot cocoa moments (I just made that up “hot cocoa moments”.  That’s a good one)…it is about our need for a Saviour–through it all.  And I’m thankful for that. 

I’ve come to realize that this whole day has been a decision for me to continue the disciplines of Thanksgiving into the Christmas season, with the priority of thanks now simply shifting to my thanks for Christ, through whom all good things flow.  Jesus makes Thanksgiving possible. 

Rather than “transitioning to the Christmas season”, I want to continue the discipline of joy, thankfulness, observation, service, celebration…these are my comfort and joy.

You know what?  At the hanging of the greens service, there were many “carolers”…people looking crisp and holiday.  But, there were many like me, watching, just showing up, enjoying in jeans and a sweatshirt.  At first, I was self conscious.  I usually find something red and festive for the occasion to take part.   Tonight, I decided to recover, and just ”be”. 

While I was “being”, Boy Wonder gave me wonderful hugs and a neck massage.  I rubbed his curly mass of hair for a while as he reclined on my shoulder.  I was afraid I might make him self conscious, so I stopped.  He took me hand, twice, put it back, willing it to keep moving through his locks.   

Down the pew, my Goldilocks curled her lengthening legs up in her handsome Daddy’s lap, hugging his neck tight for a very long time, smiling up at him adoringly as only a daughter in her sweetest moments can do.  The Hub and I locked gazes,  reaching across three children to clasp fingers, if only for a few moments.  We smiled at each other, drinking it in. 

Red?  Oh, he was there…sprawled across all of us most of the time, fighting for more space, as in…the whole pew, not giving me place to land OR room to stand.  The pester-wort of the evening, he saved all his hugs for Mamaw.  I got tickled as he read “CANDY” in the program, and they grew excited together about it.  Mamaw acting as if she didn’t have a clue. 

Add The Hallelujah Chorus, Wonderful, Merciful Saviour (and a healing baby as Jesus), a quartet and various solos to chill you, Christmas carols (ending in my favorite, Silent Night), and I began to soften to the gentle, healing lull and simple joys of Christmas.  Not the work of it…but the spirit…giving: glowing lights to replace fallen leaves.  Joy to replace the cold of winter.  Smiles and cheer to soothe hurt, pain, sickness.

I might just be able to celebrate beyond Thanksgiving.  I might.

Comments have been turned off for the evening.  Thanks for the grace of your presence.

Amazing Grace and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium Reviews and Weekend Notes

1. The slow and family oriented pace of this week with family and husband has been just what we needed, even with the occasion fit by one of us due to proximity overload.   I’ll take it.
2. I think I’m going to continue my “time of thanks” moving toward Christmas.   Thanksgiving is not a day to be thankful, but to set our heart toward thanks…I have come to realize this year that THAT is the anticdote to the “give me” attitude of Christmas.  Right now, presents are in the background, and I hope they stay there. 
3. Make lists of things that would bless you for those you love…it’s just a whole lot easier and more fulfilling than spending money on “stuff”.
4. I hope to find some home-made things to show thanks as gifts.  (This week!”)  Lists shall begin.
5. Which leads me to why I am not obliging recipe chains, lists of eight, and other tags this season.  If I get one more assignment, I might get cranky.  I do love reading them, and perhaps in the dead of winter, I will go back and do them then on a snowy day when my mind has enough RAM for more list-making.  I know you understand.  I hope to publish some blog tool “helpful things to know” guides very soon.  I like to think of unusual gifts.  This year, to give a gift to the church for Christmas.  I’ll design three wordpress blog headers (only WordPress for now) this month in order to make $35 in contributions per header to go toward the church building fund.  I’ll do it only in the FIRST TWO WEEKS this month.  Limited time offer.  Let me know if you want one,  I will cut off the list at three this month.  Do something that will last a while unless you want to make another donation.  I will not update them for free when the seasons change.   
6. There may be some days where I turn off comments and just reflect in a spirit of holiday meditation.  I hope you understand.
7. The movies, Amazing Grace and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (click for “PluggedIn” summary and reviews) were both worthwhile movies to watch this week.  Both hit the season I am.  The first hit my current reflections on Jeremiah…how often God showed concerned for the hurting, needy, poor, and alone.  And…how he wanted that to be our heartbeat as well.  I’ve grown too cynical.  I was challened by those who give their lives to the causes and purposes God has places on their lives, even through their own physical struggles and pains.  The second movie, as well as the first, also dealt with the issues of “passing the torch”, giving our predecessor thought, setting the foundation for work to continue to fulfill divine purposes.   Both lifted my spirits and challenged me at the same time.  I have to note admirably that neither had any negative content–that makes a movie memorable for me.  The minute I have to start “blocking reflexes” watching a movie, I hate it.  I have enough to block in real life, I watch a movie to get a break from that. 

Those are my Saturday ponderings!  Have a great Holiday Weekend! 

“My soul finds rest in God alone, my HOPE is from Him” (Psalms)

 

Thanksgiving Day

The meal turned out great, and we had everything timed to be hot when it arrived.  It went so beautifully.  In years past, my feet hurt, and I’m exhausted, but this year, I learned to cook what I could ahead, and rest today some.  Aaaah. 

The turkey was really moist, I’ll have to remember how I did it.  1 cup of salt brine, a 12.5 pound turnkey with pop up timer, and butter already on it.  I added a butter rub to the skin, and a coating of salt.  Turkey with no salt just doesn’t have much taste.  It wasn’t too salty, but the drippings were!  We used a roasting back with four vents cut in it, but the vents weren’t right over the bre*asts (I spell odd words that way to tory to keep from getting spammed), to keep them steamed well.  And we used a roaster pan.  We cooked it on 325 for about 4 hours.  We started at 10AM, which left plenty of time for the turkey to cook and to cook the dressing.

The Hub said it was the best dressing he thought he’d ever had.  Everyone liked it.  Here’s my preference.  A half pan of cornbread (not sweet), cooked the night before, 1/2 package of Pepperidge Farms original crumbs, and about 3 dinner rolls left over from last nights supper (I’ve used biscuits in the past, but I think the rolls made it lighter this time:  note to self).  We put in 1 can of onion soup (Campbell’s), one can of Cream of celery, 1 1/2 c. of finely chopped celery (I use my mini chopper– I don’t like chunky veggies in my dressing), and about 1/4 c of dried onions (um, I have a think about onions, too…I don’t really like their texture cooked, but I do like the flavor).  I added about 1 T. of sage, some salt to taste, then added the two eggs, already mixed with a fork in another bowl (because my Mom tells me you don’t want to overstir the dressing or it will turn out too heavy, just toss with your hands…so I do).  I baked it at 350 for about 45 min to an hour in a glass, greased pan.

While I prepared the dressing, I baked the broccoli casserole (1/2 block Velveeta, 1 small pack of cream cheese, 2 T dried onion, 1 package prepared broccoli, and Ritz crust), Mmmmm.  I’d already pre-baked all the ingredients in the microwave while the turkey cooked, so I just needed 15 minutes to brown the crust.  I only used 2 T of butter to the roll, and that wasn’t enough butter.  I need to go for half a stick next time, or reduce the crackers…Nah, more butter.

I worked on the gravy while that cooked, only I didn’t think it was quite thick enough.  The taste was great.  I’ll probably go ahead and thicken it more with corn starch next time, then thin with water to dilute the salt from the turkey next time.

While the dressing cooked, we mashed potatoes…The Hub was my peeler today, and whew…I was thankful!

He meddles a bit in the kitchen.  He’s like a back-seat chef…but that’s okay…he keeps me in line just enough to make it worthwhile. 

I made the cranberry strawberry “mold” last night.  It turned out to be a salad rather than a mold because it didn’t set.  I think next time I’ll reduce the liquid down to 1 cup and see if that helps.   The flavor was wonderful.  Even people who didn’t usually try cranberries liked it.  I’ll try it again for sure.

Now, I find black Friday irritating and on my nerves.  Immediately, everyone is distracted by the sales bills.  Next year, I want to do our family meal on Wednesday so that we can focus on Thanks before the stores steal the thunder.  I’m totally cranky that to get good deals on things you need, you HAVE to focus on it.  I’m not just irritated, I’m pretty mad.  It is totally NOT what I want to be doing tomorrow.  I want to put my feet up, get my laundry done, and just sit still.

I’m sure it will be a fun day with the fam somehow, and it seems The Hub is in a mood to replace my once again cantankerous vacuum.  If we could find one with a bag again, I’d do back-flips.  It’s bad enough to have to vacuum, but I REALLY don’t like having to clean all the filters and canisters.  It’s a total cleaning downer.  They do a good job, but at what cost, people?  At what cost?

The Day Before Baking Begins

Today was a brain day.  I wanted to get caught up on reading, and had some projects I couldn’t get off my mind I wanted to explore on my last day home without the kids before Thanksgiving Break.  Tomorrow, I hope they will help me make the Banana Pudding (with both round cookies, and graham crackers…The Hub and I have had to compromise on this difference in preference!)  I also want to try a cranberry-strawberry salad I found…I love the strawberry element to tone down the cranberries.  It calls for pineapple as well.  I think everyone is making some sort of cranberry salad already, but I really want to try it.  I may make it in two dishes, now that I think of it…one to share at Mom’s this weekend.  I don’t exactly know why I thought that fit to share here, but there you go.

Tonight, as to the “slowing down to scrapbook”, I’ve found I wanted to write, not glue, not organize, not select papers.  So, what I think I’m doing is…there is this basket I’ve been putting “Mommy copies” of pictures for  “for Mom” album…someday.   Boy Wonder is now 11, and I still have those pictures waiting.  I’d bought some “slide-in” regular photo albums some times ago (about eight of them, because they all matched, back when I swore I’d never, EVER scrapbook.  I had my reasons.  Now, I have my reasons for being obsessed with it.  What can I say?)  Anyway, I decided to slide all those into the album, out of order, kids all mixed and matched as far as ages, and I’ll journal on separate slips of paper to slide into the middle section if I feel like it.  Those will come in handy later.  It’s great to look at them in a different way…out of choronological order.  I’ve almost filled one book tonight! 

I made some pork chops today in the George Foreman grill.  Over-all, I’m not sure pork is my favorite Foreman recipe.  I drenched them in marinade, and still, not as moist as I prefer.  I liked pork chops really well as my mother in law makes them, baked on top of sliced, scalloped potatoes.  Mmmm. 

Today, Jeremiah has captured my attention.  1.  God told him 3 times:  do not pray for this people.  Isn’t that interesting?  He was mad, and he knew the people needed to be punished, and he said, basically, “Don’t even try to talk me out of it…I’m sick of this.  Think of me.”  In another place, God said, basically, “Why am I mad all the time at YOUR misbehavior…it’s time to turn the tables…take your punishment.  YOU be upset for a while.”  I’ve been there with my kids…I get that!  There are all sorts of interesting literary things to note, too much for this post.  So much to take in.

The Hub is sitting over with the kids, reading the last of  a “Hardy Boys” story.  They are on the grand finale tonight.  Red is asleep on the couch, curled up under a pillow case, because it was “just the right size for the loveseat”, he said. 

Today, I’ve been inspired by these ideas for Christmas, and by this program, just for fun . I just ran into some cool, free, women’s handwriting journaling fonts here you can download).  And,  this was a neat post on Thanks inspired by the movie, Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.   (I’ve heard mixed reviews…what do you think?)

I am thankful today that the yard people decided to tackle our leaves for us so that The Hub doesn’t have to take his time off to flare up allergies. 

Okay, so warning:  I get a little ecclectic, even moreso than usual with posts around the holidays–just so much life to take in!  BTW:  I feel like I’m going to a big restaurant to eat supper, and I don’t want to eat anything heavy so that I can really enjoy it…only it’s still two days away!!!  What is for supper at your house the day before your “big meal”?

Help Me See: Photography and Worship

A quick break from a list still “un-done”, but progressing!  Second refrigerator cleaned out Misty-style (wiping down with baking soda water, and drying).  Looks great!  Great tip!  Laundry running, lists churning, visits made, turkey picked up, food planned, cooking begun (tonight, fruit salad, left-overs for supper).

I am behind on my 90 days reading, having taken yesterday off, so 30 chapters tonight!  I’m on about Isa. 58.  I’m supposed to get through Jer 15 or so today, I think.  My list feel out of my Bible again.   (Must.  Catch.  Up. {panting}).

This post by Ann at Holy Experience of Listening articulated some great thoughts of the relations to photography and worship.  I loved it.

Each year, she also does something like “Year of a Thousand Thanks” or something like that…she writes down through her day every single passing thought of thankfulness.  I am thankful, but she has also trained herself to be thankful.  It’s a beautiful thing to read.  She will write down thanks for the light backlighting the golden-rod.  The old grey watering bucket that glistens under a covering of frost.  The pauses of beauty her children (many, many children) take to speak to dolls in hushed tones.  It’s worth checking out.  I feel more thankful just reading the things we can pause to be thankful for!

My Very Favorite Fall Tree

This is my favorite fall tree this year.  I pass it a few times a day, so I’ve watched it’s splendor of color changing every day. 

You’d think I’d say, “Been there, seen that”, but every day, I say, “Wow, that is the most beautiful tree I think I’ve ever seen!” 

When the sunlight streams through it?  Watch out.  I’ll have to try to go on foot and get that.  This is just a little drive-by, rainy-day sample to get you warmed up for what’s to come.  Today it was raining and I was afraid all the leaves would fall off, so I slowed down and took one –no one driving too closely behind me, thank goodness.

How I do love this tree!

Yesterday, an old friend emailed me from days gone by.  A former pastor’s wife from my youth, bless her heart.  She said, “I was just telling Rick yesterday I wish I could see the trees there again this fall.  I so miss them.  Then, I was reading your blog, and there they were!  I got to see!  It’s amazing how God blesses the desires of our hearts, isn’t it?  Thanks so much for posting, and keep writing.”

Well, how about that? 

I enjoyed some worship time this morning just driving around enjoying what someone else misses.  My eyes were opened.   We DO have the most beautiful city in the Fall–the most stunning trees I’ve seen anywhere this Fall.  This tree is on the street I live on, a mile or so toward town.

Photoshop Elements: “Thankful”

This is the John Deere Cake my 12 1/2 year old neice made for our November birthdays!  Wow!  Homeschooling at work, there.   She transported it all the way from Louisville.  What a pro.  She’s made a couple wedding cakes and a picture I saw of one she did for a shower blew me away.  I wish I had a picture of it to show you.

That big ‘ole John Deere was mighty tasty!  That is a girl who knows her audience.  Her aunts and uncles and cousins went nuts.  You can tell we are in farming country!  I think there was only one wheel left!  And, I’m glad she left the box for it…I needed it to put all my cupcakes in today!  She said, “Wow!  This is like the perfect kitchen {lovingly rubbing the big, wide bar ivory laminate counter-top}!  I just LOVE it!  I would have all kinds of room to decorate my cakes here!”  My 30 year old kitchen.  You know what, girlfriend?  I just love it, too!  I love every cut in the dull linoleum floors (don’t have to worry about them), and I love the bar, and I love that all the homemade things people have made for us through the year look right at home here.  I wouldn’t change much about it.  Which is why we haven’t!  We would like knew floors soon, but I so love the big square pattern on it now.  The former owners picked things that last a while in terms of fashion, and I love that.

Back to the point…

I should take a moment to mention that I am my neice’s namesake…she probably takes all the creativity genes after me (we’re only related by marriage, but what does that matter at a time like this?)  Just kidding…her mother is so creative it boggles the mind.  She got me into scrapbooking, somehow, though I vowed I’d NEVER do it when I first met her.  That was before kids, and before I realized I have a need in my life for paper, and history, and journaling things.

Note the look on Uncle’s face taking in the innards of my computer.  I said, “Hey!  I only dust about three times a year…”and I was going to say, …”and the inside of the computer didn’t make the list” when he laughed and said, “Well, I can sure tell!”

Who knew the guests would check for dust INSIDE something screwed together?  You just can’t win for losing!  I’ll bet Martha Stewart doesn’t even dust in there!

You Should Really Vacuum Your Computer…Down Deep

Wow.  What a wonderful day.  Kim, you made my day!  I consumed my caramel candy bar before noon.  Funny thing, on the back door I’d hung a funny tag for my husband that read:  “Anyone bringing chocolate may enter.”  Good thing he has friends like you!

Today, thankfully, I didn’t have to run many of the errands I thought I’d need to run…everything was done on time, and the day was so restful and peaceful for all.  The kids played with Daisy Dog a lot…she LOVED that.  When my kids got home from school, cake, presents, and all sorts of cousin-running-around ensued.  Man!  I miss that!  I loved playing with cousins when I was little, and so many of my kid’s cousins are long distance.  Most.  Well…all!

We had fall everywhere, and the fireplace going.  After lunch, a couple people even took a nap.  Okay, so me and Grand-dad took a nap.  My cold meds were kicking in by then!  I just melted down onto some pillows until the kids would “Hey!  Mom!” me…which was, as I recall, every time my eyelids fell comfortably, but hey…they are kids.

My little second cousin, what is she Misty, like 12?  Made the most unbelievable birthday cake for us.  I don’t have time to upload the pic at this sec, but you’ll have to get a load of that soon.

Goldilocks and I just glittered some pretzel wands after coating them in white chocolate.  The cup cakes are done and ready to become her yearly “ladybug!” request, and we are getting ready to mix up the “crown” cake.

As a bonus today, my brother-in-law, the computer guy, noticed how loud my computer was and immediately started disassembling it.  So, there we are, a room full of company, and there he is, on the floor, saying, where can I take this thing to vacuum it out?  I convinced him to wait a few minutes until company left, and he literally ripped the thing apart.  Wires were flying, screws were out, fans were off.  I was trying to not hyperventilate.  I’ve vacuumed it before, but, you know…never anything that intense.  It just caught me off guard.  “Can I check my email first” didn’t have time to come out, you know?  It was pretty scary and all.

But, dad-blame-it…my 747 jet engine sound taking off is GONE.  Ya’ll…I had no idea.  It’s been very loud since the day we got it.  I think the fan may have been a little uneven or something.  It would keep me up…from my bedroom…at night.  The computer is IN THE KITCHEN!  Some nights, I’d have to get up and go turn it off to sleep is was so dang loud.   My husband never complains about sound and he commented on it most nights during supper.  I think it was louder than my dishwasher! 

Anyway…I think it’s stopped working altogether now because it is silent.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  He said, “Come over here”, halfway through my cake mixing.  I turned off the mixer and he’d already vacuumed.  The grid behind the fan was so dirty and covered it looked like metal.  You couldn’t even tell there was a grid behind it moisture had made it such a solid-looking wall.  I’ll bet when we’ve cleaned it before we didn’t even know to clean it as it was behind the fan, which he’d removed.

I’m indebted.  And humbled.  Wow.  I couldn’t have known to fix that if I’d tried.  This day was such a blessing of rest, fun, and joyful family time.  Both mothers so tired and moving so slowly with bad knees and Eric’s mom with a walker this week, suddenly so frail, looking at knee replacement.  It’s a scary thing in your late 80s.  We cherished the day.  Nothing mattered by sitting together, resting, and just being together.  Just what we all needed.

Well, on to my ladybugs and other glittery happenings–