On This Day

On this day there are hot foreheads. And there are Disney movies playing one after the other. On this day throats are scratchy and babyhood balnkies litter the couches. Cheeks are pink and eyes droop sad. I am thankful for dye-free children's Tylenol on this day. I pull close too-warm bodies with damp heads and rub aching backs. On this day thunder mumbles in the far away sky And I am happy to be the mother on this day. *** Let me just tell you how good it feels to be back in this space of creativity. Can you do me a favor? If you're still reading (my blog has been painfully lackluster these past months) please drop me a quick comment. Just a "hello" will do. I want to take a bit of an inventory of the place. And...have you had the flu yet this year? This thing's not playing around!

How to Give Thanks.

There's been a lot about thankfulness lately.

I'm reading the words of this beautiful book...almost finished and I have an urge to turn to the very first page again after I've read the last and start it all over again seamlessly.

Maybe I'll read it on a loop.

We've been centering nightly prayers around thanking God for our blessings,
consciously stating the things we are most grateful for at the dinner table,

making an effort to notice the good.

Dinner time one night this week almost brought me to my knees...

seeing through the simple eyes of children sometimes will.

Something like this:

"This food is good mom, thanks."
It's Beck...he loves his mama's cooking.

"Thanks, bud. It's so great to be thankful because some people don't have this kind of food.
Some people don't have any food at all in a day.

So we need to show our thanks to God for blessing us."
I was trying to tie it together.
Trying to guide a little mind to bring praise to God.

But he trumped me.

It was this:
"But mom, why are we thankful that we have a lot and other people don't have any?"

Oh.

A punch to the gut.

Why are we thankful for our plenty...our blessings...while others are wasting away?

We sit around our brightly lit dinner table, inside our bustling, warm homes and blithely give "thanks" to God for the good.

While others...what are their lives like?
I have no clue, because I have never had to live a semblance of a life less blessed.

Why do we get the blessings poured out?

Are we more deserving? More loved by God?

Are we more His than they are?

No.

These blessings given to us were not only meant for us...

they were meant for them too.

"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required."Luke 12:48

Can I tell you something?

I wanted to pull those three children up from the table, leave the steaming food to cool, pull on coats and mittens, empty our cupboards and head out into the dark night to give.

To give just a little of our much to anyone who wanted it.

To show real thanks to our God for his blessings.

Because, I'm coming to realize that thanksgiving isn't about murmuring a few words of acknowledgement... (although it might start that way)

it's about giving it away.

Pouring it back out.

He didn't give it to us to hoard.
He gave it to us to bless.

...and bless

...and bless.

To be the face of God to some people who haven't seen it yet.

I stammered something about giving thanks and then showing thanks by helping the people with less.

But it was so pitiful. So vague.

I didn't have a plan.

I had no idea how to carry it out with these three little searching souls...

how to make it really mean something.

I kind of left it at that.

While my mind was spinning, they went back to their blessing of a meal and our night plowed on.

Nightly baths in warm, sud-sparkled water.
Minty toothbrushes.

Brightly-colored story books and bedtime prayers snuggled into flannel sheets and down comforters.

I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Wondering how I can fit real thanksgiving into my life and into theirs.

I mean...we have a plan.

A shimmering hope of moving away from here and going where they need us...where we can be the face of God...

But can we do it here? In the meantime?

While we wait?

While life is so busy and the days and months slip by before I can catch my breath?

I don't know.

I think we can.

Somehow.

I'll keep you updated on that.

But if this post and Beck's simple question hits you as hard as it hit me...

you should read Ann Voskamp's book.

It is a dangerously breathtaking look at real gratitude.

...I am torn wide open.

Photo-a-day

Some pics from my photo a day challenge.

It's been a happy January so far.

: )

We're on day 13. There's still time for you to join and catch up (or just jump right in).

Let me know if you do!

xo

Little Girl, Big City {Part Two}

If you missed Little Girl, Big City Part One

{or...ahem...forgot because it's been so long...}

Click here to read.

Where were we?

Oh yes, in a taxi, in Chicago, on the way to the American Girl Place.

So.

That taxi driver whizzed the taxi through the crowded streets and there were horns honking and people scurrying.

It was only one week before Christmas, after all.

There were places to go and presents to buy.

But soon enough they had arrived and were standing happily outside of the American Girl Place.



That little lady was so excited to get inside and look at all of the beautiful things.

But first, she had to admire the windows...

...and then she had to give the bell-ringer some change...

And then it was okay to go inside.

It was better than she even imagined...

all of the pretty things to see.

She learned about some of the historical dolls and found all of their miniature accessories quite enchanting...

even if her mama did think she was a little too young to have most of them.

She got to pick out a special Christmas outfit for her doll, Rebecca.

And her mama helped her put it on and said that she had "impeccable taste."



The little girl was so happy to be having such a wonderful day.

But, by the time 3 o'clock rolled around she was feeling especially tired.

And, although she wouldn't admit it, her mama and Grandma Honey could tell by her many yawns and sleepy eyes that she needed a break.



The idea of a fancy tea in a room bedecked in pink Christmas decorations was just what she needed to perk up...

Silly girls are still silly no matter how fancy the occasion.

She got the special birthday treatment and basked in the glow of being birthday girl.

And her dolly sat right by her side in a 'specially made doll seat.

Hot chocolate is the perfect afternoon sip but, oh, when the server brought out the plates of tea treats that girl, her mama and her Grandma Honey lit up!

Flaky chocolate chip scones, small peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches and delicate cookies.

That little girl ate to her heart's content and she even tried some new things.

She wasn't so sure about the raspberry tart...

but decided she liked it right away!

Soon after tea and a few special gifts to open it was time to leave the magical American Girl Place.

But the day wasn't quite over.

There was one more short train ride to the hotel.

And, you would never believe it, the train station was under the ground!

In the basement of the city.

The three ladies, weary but smiling after their long day, plopped into the train seats and let the train click clack down the track to their fancy hotel for the night.

And, even though her mama was sure she would, the little girl didn't snooze a wink on that train ride.

She couldn't close her eyes.

There had been too much to see and learn on her trip.

But boy, did she sleep like a little log in the grand hotel.

And, you know what?

She woke up the next morning (her actual birthday morning) to a beautiful sight:

the city dusted in perfect, white snow.

The ultimate gift for the ultimate girl.

The End.

January Photo Challenge

Fun lil photo challenge to keep the blog and the instagram movin'.

Found via Beka.

Feel free to join!

Day #1

"You"

{yes, I got a haircut!}

P.S. Little Girl, Big City Part Two coming soon.

Click here to read Part One.

:)

And...what do you say to a series of Bachelor posts?

I may not be the most regular with them but I can promise to try!

Anyone watching cute lil Ben this season?

Happy Saturday!

Our Place

Do you remember this?

Or this?



This?





Family Christmas on the beaches of South Carolina.

We're doing it again this year.

Seven days of family, funniness and...the beach, you guys, on Christmas!

I've never spent a Christmas on a beach. It might be weird.

But I can tell you one thing:

I will not be complaining.

I have a good feeling that Sand and Christmas lights will make quite a dashing couple.

If you don't remember here are the posts about our last two trips to SC:

South Carolina trip 2008

South Carolina trip 2009

{PS. I love how, in this post, I was so sure I'd never see our house again.

I could not have been more wrong. We're returning to the same -perfect- beach house this year.}



A Christmas Post



Chicago.

 Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate. Dark. With whip.



Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He wraps some and sets others out just so...for maximum "wow" factor.

 Colored lights on tree/house or white? I used to think white but have been leaning toward the colors more lately.

Do you hang mistletoe? I don't. It's sort of sad. Next year, perhaps?


When do you put your decorations up? Just after Thanksgiving.

Cookie Day 2011

What is your favorite holiday dish? Any sort of crackers with cheese or creamy dip. Appetizers win.

 Favorite holiday memory as a child? Looking at the decorated Marshall Fields windows in Chicago. Magic.

 When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I can't remember. It was like this slow realization that left me neither disenchanted or bitter.

 Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We usually do all of our "family gifts" on Christmas Eve (a tradition of the husband's) and then our Santa gifts on Christmas morning, naturally. 


How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights and all handmade ornaments from my babies this year. (Nothing breakable...have you met my littlest?)

No? You haven't? Well...here he is.

My "Ralphie."

Snow! Love it or dread it? Dread it's coming and the mess it makes but adore looking at it.


Can you ice skate? Oh my. I have but it isn't pretty. I'm really good at sipping hot chocolate and watching others ice skate though.

Hot Chocolate - all dressed up.

Do you remember your favorite gift? Usually anything that came from the American Girl store was a big win.


What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Laughter. Warmth. Family. Jesus.
What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cookies.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? The advent calendar. Baking Christmas cookies with the little ones. Giving gifts. 


What tops your tree? A red star. 

Holiday dinner for two.

Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Not gonna lie, I adore receiving. But the look on someones face when I've gotten them the perfect gift is completely priceless. Giving. 

Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Eh.


Favorite Christmas show? New: Elf.  Old: Little Women. Older: White Christmas 

Saddest Christmas song? Sad and Christmas don't belong in the same sentence.
But the UGLIEST Christmas song has to be that ridiculous "Last Christmas" song. Blech.


What is your favorite Christmas song? Sacred: O Holy Night. Secular: Christmas Waltz

These cookies are unassuming and amazing.

{Christmas survey from here.}
Do your own and post in my comments for a little link-up.

Little Girl, Big City {Part One}

Once upon a time there was a little girl.

She was a pretty little thing with sparkly blue eyes and spun-gold hair.

She was turning five.



On the day before her birthday - a chilly day in December - her birthday adventure began.

Her daddy and brothers woke up early, before the sun even had a chance to peek over the horizon, to bring her to the train station.

She was going to Chicago!

{accompanied by her Mama and Grandma Honey, of course.}

It may not have been such a crazy morning if they hadn't missed their scheduled train...

but they did.

And so, the morning was crazy.

First, they were a little behind because Mama had to curl this little girl's hair so it would lay just right.

Next, Daddy took a wrong turn with only minutes to spare until the train left the station and put them on a path far out of the way. By the time they arrived to catch the train it had already gone without them.

Mama just about cried.

But Daddy had other plans.

He raced those worried girls through red lights (boy did Mama laaaaugh at that) and under bridges and over the highways until he beat that train to the next station and they hopped right on, just as if they'd never missed a beat.

They met Grandma Honey on the train and sat down to the strawberry cupcakes the little girl had requested, made special by her Mama.

They ate those cupcakes with a fizzy, pink drink at 9:30 in the morning.

They were famished from their busy start to the day.

Cupcakes taste just as good...maybe better...at 9:30 as they do any other time of day.



Before she knew it...

after some coloring and story-reading and window-gazing and lunch-eating and Mommy-snuggling

{and maybe some Mommy-shushing}

...that little girl had arrived in Chicago.

Her Grandma Honey made certain she was dressed snugly before she ventured out into those windy streets.

That little almost-five-year-old was amazed at the high buildings and bustling crowds she met.

Mama said, "This is the city where I was born. Do you like it?"

She said, "Yes." Her eyes as big as they could go.

Grandma found a cab to take them to their next destination...

"Where to?" the cab driver asked.

"Chicago!" that smart little girl answered.

"You're IN Chicago." the man said - he wasn't wearing any shoes! only socks.

On those dirty old, cold streets.

"To the American Girl Place, please." Grandma answered.

And they were off...

{Part Two to come...}

I'm Still Here...

...and, apparently, so are you.

Thank you for not deserting my deserted blog!

Christmas break is upon me and, thus, the opportunity to blog.

New, Christmassy blog posts coming soon!

Tenderloin TLC: Roasted Rosemary Pork Loin

We don't eat much pork in our house.
I never really knew how to treat it...how to coax the best flavors out of it...

how to really love it.

I mean, I knew about the classic pork and apples combos but it just never really appealed to me.

Until I had Tracy's Roasted Rosemary Pork Loin at one of those diamond-in-the-rough church Christmas parties.
{You know, the kind of potluck with a motley crew of mismatched pans and rubbermaid bowls full of the most mouthwatering deliciousness... You know the kind.}

She put together this gorgeous pork loin that was succulent and laden with rosemary and sweet juices.

Ugh.

Changed my pork-less little life.

Here's how to treat your pork loin right:

You start with rosemary.

Lots of it.

Gather and mix brown sugar, sherry, garlic and some grainy mustard.
Dump in the chopped rosemary.

Prep the bath...the loin is about to luxuriate in this...

Sprinkle a hefty amount of salt and coarsely crush pepper over the prepped loin.

Douse the seasoned meat in all of the brown sugar and rosemary mixture,

and pop that happy little baby into the oven - covered nicely and tucked in with tin foil.



Be sure to set your timer for every 45 minutes or so to take out the meat and spoon the juice over the top;

it will keep the meat glowing.

You're going to cook it for a few hours {depending on the size of your roast} and for the last hour or so take the foil off and let it crisp up a bit on the outside.

And then...plate her up and give that girl the close-up she's begging for.



Me still, my heart.

Pork tenderloin heaven.

Roasted Rosemary Pork Loin

5 lb pork tenderloin

2 cups dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons sherry

1/2 tablespoon grainy mustard

salt + pepper

garlic + fresh rosemary

{be liberated from the confines of the recipe and use the garlic and rosemary to taste.}

Cover with heavy foil and bake at 325 for 3-4 hours.

Remove pork loin every 45 minutes to an hour to baste in sauces.

Remove foil 1 hour before the end of cook time.

{Adjust cook time for a larger/smaller roast.}

This is such a great holiday recipe.

It screams Christmas to me.