Mid-Week Memories

Sharing some pictures from the previous week.....

Seems like ever since I've been home from the Thanksgiving break, that we have been going full-on.  Shopping has begun for Christmas gifts and I am starting to plan the party for my small group.  The outside lights are on the porch post and around 2 small evergreen trees we have in the front yard.  Candles in each window are going up tomorrow and Friday evening we will do the tree.  After that, we will gather in the family room for a special Christmas movie. Meanwhile, girls still have after school clubs and lessons to attend and housework still needs to get done.  My Christmas cards have been ordered after I finally decided which pictures to use for the card.  Have you ever used the website, Snapfish?  A friend of mine introduced me to it....and I am so glad she did!  I love the website...now that I am used to it and know what I am doing!

We are having really mild temperatures...it's strange. Tomorrow is supposed to get up in the low 60's with rain.  I sure don't mind!

While we were on the cape, the weather was beautiful.  The girls spent some time walking the beach with their cousins, and Dave and I even enjoyed a walk on Saturday morning before we left to come back to NY.  The sunrise was beautiful on Thanksgiving morning, and Saturday morning.  Tide was rough coming in on Friday morning but settled down to like glass for the afternoon.  The Lord made an amazing world, didn't He?  I love watching the ocean but I love even more getting back to my home near the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Berkshires.  Sometimes, on a clear day, depending on where we are in town, we can even see part of the Green Mountains of Vermont.   I love where we live, but I also like getting down to the family beach house.  There is nothing like spending time with family.  

Claire baking brownies
for Thanksgiving Desserts
Sunday 21 November 2010

Courtney helping to fill water glasses
for Thanksgiving Dinner
26 November 2010

One of the tables set for
the T---Family Thanksgiving Feast
26 November 2010

Some of the T----clan
(my niece B on couch with my mother in law;
my hubby's oldest sis, K and her friend, E in background)

Courtney's Victorian Dollhouse
decorated for Christmas!

Making memories......

a wonderful thing to do.........

What memories are you making this holiday season??

Monday Musings

Back to work and school.....and I have my first cold in 2 years!  Woke up Sunday with a sore throat, head cold symptoms.....not used to that since it had been so long since I've been sick. I blame it on the fact that I had virtually NO citrus fruit since leaving our home for the beach house. I usually eat a half grapefruit every morning during the late autumn and all through the winter.  I had neglected to buy some for our time away and we didn't get a chance to find any in the beach town.  So....not sure if there is a correlation or not but at least everyone else in my family is healthy!  So...off to Fresh Market I go for more grapefruit! All I know is that ever since I've added it to my daily diet during the winter months, I haven't had a cold!!

Am musing today about people who hold grudges.  Seems so sad to me.

Whether it's from a misunderstanding or just not being able to forgive, forget and move forward....not sure...just so sad to me.....

and musing about why, in the past, I've allowed my self to worry about what other people think of me and my decisions or screw-ups....and knowing I have freedom in Christ to be my self as long as I am not sinning...and if I do sin somehow (anger, jealousy, bitterness, complaining, or something else more obvious), I wish people had the grace and mercy to get past it!  I still tend to worry about what others think but it is mainly because I don't want people to not like me.....am sure there is something deep rooted in that....or not.....I do know I have learned from being married to Dave, that I am a peace-maker.  I like to resolve things and make peace with people. It sure is difficult though with people who still carry around grudges or unforgiveness.....or just don't see that people can change and that the Lord can heal hurts. and that sometimes the past just needs to be the past!!  

Am also musing about the upcoming Christmas holidays.  did some online shopping over the Thanksgiving break.  We are cutting way back.  Just one gift per grandparent....and we have decided to participate in reaching out and sending gifts to a relative in need.  She is a teen mom, getting her license to be a nurse assistent and lives on her own with her 6 month old baby. She is my step-niece (Dave's sister's stepdaughter) and we are so proud of her for not getting an abortion, keeping her baby, and working towards being self-sufficient.  It is tough.  Normally, we participate in our Encouraging Families Ministry at our church.  It is where we "adopt" a family for Christmas and shop for them and give them some items from their wish list.  But..we decided to surprise Lyndsay....she is family. And by doing this, we are hoping to spread the Good News to her, too!  We are praying her heart is open......

Am also planning on the Christmas Party I am hosting for my small group next week!  I can't wait.  These 9 moms in my group are my friends.  We are all sisters in Christ. There is nothing like spending time together, both as a small group but also doing things socially. This will be our first social event as a group and I am so excited to be planning it.  I am also thankful that they are helping with bringing food!  I have a request in to take a personal day the day of the party,  but I don't know if it will get approved in time so I may have to work that day!  And the neat thing is that it is my birthday that day but my husband and I will celebrate it later that weekend....he knows I would rather go out to breakfast on that Saturday, than dinner that evening. It also happens to be the evening of the junior high youth group so he and my youngest will be out of the house.  My oldest decided to join the Christmas Choir at church so she will be out that evening too....

this week we have Christmas decorating to do, the outdoor lights to put on the bushes, and the tree to put up on Friday evening.  Our tradition is that the tree goes up on the first Friday evening of December.  In my opinion, any time before December 1st is just too darn early!

I also have my husband's company Christmas party this week.  That is always a fun evening at a wonderful establishment in a city near us....

my oldest daughter is working furiously on getting her art application materials ready to send to the college where she was accepted.  She is trying to get into their art department.  I will be relieved when this is finished! It is stressful just watching her!

Whatever you have planned for this first week of December, I hope it goes well. 

 I am determined to keep working out, eating healthy, and getting my rest.....my "mantra" this holiday season is "hiding the Word in my heart and giving everything over to Him" so that I have less stress and can enjoy these days leading up to the celebration of the Birth of our Savior and Redeemer.

What are you musing about today??

Thanksgiving Fave Five

It's Friday and I am not in NYS, but near Cape Cod with my husband's clan. The turkey is in the oven, the potatoes, squash, and other veggies are all prepped and the appetizers are about to come out.  Most of the clan is here and the others who are coming, are on their way!  I am blessed to be a part of the T-----Family.  And no...we are not visiting the Mayflower this year....:)

Yesterday, our American Thanksgiving, found us having quite a day.  I have included parts of it in my Friday Fave Five!  A big THANKS to Susanne for hosting this each week....I really like finding those special moments or things that God blessed me with during the week and which I call my faves.

• Service:  truly one of the best moments of the week was heading to Good Shepherd Church here in the "beach house town" and serving the needy families who came for a Thanksgiving dinner.  We had so much fun chatting with these folks, serving them, and we were blessed by the children who designed placemats, and a man with no family who offered to play the piano.  He used to play in NYC for dance troupes!  My children loved serving the young children that came and it really showed them that there is such a need for soup kitchens in our country.......how fortunate that this particular church opens up their doors to the needy families in the area on Thanksgiving Day.  It was such a good experience for all involved.  We got to pray with them, and sing with them, and surprise them with lots of yummy desserts and take home baggies of food!  GOD IS GOOD!

• Social Times: Early morning cups of coffee and conversation with my sister in law whom I only see once a year, typically.  My hubby's oldest sister from CA came to the East Coast for Thanksgiving with a friend and we had such a great talk on Thanksgiving morning, early, before anyone else was up.  My hubby was awake but K and I had the kitchen to ourselves and had many cups of coffee, chatting and getting caught up on our lives.  I treasure these moments because we live so far away and I really enjoy her company.  It was great to see her.

• Sweet Sleeping Baby:  my step-niece had a baby about 6 months ago and she was able to come to our Thanksgiving Feast today!  It was my first time seeing baby "Bella" and I had so much fun "chatting" with her, holding her and talking to her mom (my step-niece).  L is a very young mom. She is only 19 and she almost made a different decision regarding her baby. But...we are proud of her for raising Bella and working on a LPN certification.  She is starting to make good choices and for that I am very thankful.  

• Sunrise over the Bay:  On Thanksgiving morning the only people in the beach house were my family of 4 and my hubby's sister from CA and her friend.  I was the first one up so brewed a pot of coffee and watched the sun rise over the bay.  It was absolutely glorious.  A cold morning but very clear and the water was super calm.  It looked like a sea of glass.  Just breathtakingly beautiful.  We are so blessed to be able to gather here each Thanksgiving with the whole clan and celebrate their most special holiday.

• Sleeping in:  since we arrived on Wednesday evening here in the cape cod area, and since we weren't cooking Thanksgiving dinner until today (Friday), Dave and I and the girls were able to sleep in on Thursday morning this week.  I still was the first one up, but, it was so cozy cuddling down under the Amish quilt that is on the bed where we stay. The girls had fleece blankets on their beds and were cozy as well, but there is nothing like a heavy Amish quilt.  The picture above is NOT the quilt in the bedroom where we stay, but it is an Amish quilt with similar colors. I love being able to sleep in on vacation days!

Well, that's it for me.  We are still here and I am posting this late because we cooked all morning, entertained all afternoon and now tonite, some guests are playing board games, some are watching a movie, and a few have gone back home.

I hope all my American blogging friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving.......

To my blogging friends & people who visit from time to time:

 May the blessings of God fill you abundantly

during this Thanksgiving weekend.

Enjoy your family, feast, fun, and fellowship.

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Our Cheerleader

Have you ever played a sport where you had a section of "cheerleaders" urging you forward?

I never played organized sports in high school or college although I did several sports outside of school, mainly hiking, basketball,  and biking. I remember in the summer before my senior year of high school, hiking one of the High Peaks (#12) in the Adirondacks, with other teens and leaders from Youth Group Camp.  We hiked up Giant Mountain and our leaders "cheered" us on.....encouraging us to keep going.  To press in.  To make it to the summit.  When we did, oh what a time of praise and worship we had.  It was truly breath-taking, looking back down the side of the high peak, and seeing from where we came.  How awesome is our world the Lord has created for us to enjoy!  From that moment on, I determined in my heart to become a hiker.  I think it was the "cheerleaders" in my life at that time.  They also "cheered" me on to pursue the passions and purposes of God for my life.  And some of them were there for me when I was in a bad relationship after college.....helping me to pray through some major spiritual battles, as well as emotional ones!  How blessed I have been with friends who act as "cheerleaders" throughout different periods in my life.

Our lives are like a race.  We are made to pursue God's purposes and to pursue His presence!  But, sometimes sin gets in the way, doesn't it?  Sin can keep us from running the race God intends for us to run. Sometimes it might be selfishness.  Anger, bitterness, shame, fear, immorality......and so much more.

Jesus was tempted too.  On his race, He had to endure Satan enticing Him.  And at His final breath, He had to look towards His summit (or finishing line), which was to be crucified for us!  He had to fulfill what He was sent to do.  He had to fix His eyes on the reward....which is us, His Bride, and endure all kinds of suffering.  He did it for Love for us.  He finished the race with no sin.

We are not perfect.  Yes, we are going to sin.  Yes, we live in a fallen world.

Yet we must keep going.

I was reminded of this in my morning devotions.  Here is part of what I read:

"Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."  Hebrews 12:1 & 2

Let's turn away from sin that keeps us from running the race well.  Our pastor just finished up a sermon series entitled "Satan---Our Enemy".  Oh how the devil loves to see us stumble.  He waits for us to fall.  DON'T LET HIM WIN!  He certainly won't win in the end......!!  

Keep pressing in.  Keep running the race.  Look up to Him who is your guide.

He is cheering you on.......

November Fave Five 3

It's the week before Thanksgiving!

Time to reflect back on the week and find those five favorite things.....mine involve music, a movie, special moments with my daughters, special conversations, and my favorite hot beverage...... I like to think of these as blessings from God....special treasures tucked into my week....

What are your favorite things?  To play along, simply head over to this site and link up with Susanne.  She is our very gracious host for the Friday Fave Five!

• MOVIE NITE!  My 2 daughters and I had a free Saturday evening. My husband was in the air on the way to New Orleans for a week-long business trip and none of us had plans for the evening. I was looking forward after a long day of errands and housework, to sitting and relaxing with my girls and watching this movie that had great reviews. It is a fantasy. And a tear-jerker.....we enjoyed popcorn (my oldest) and ice cream sundaes (the ballerina and I).  There is nothing like renting a movie and curling up on the couches for a quiet evening in.  

• FEAST FAVORS!  I had so much fun making these Thanksgiving favors.  Each autumnal bag holds gourmet chocolates, candy corn, sour sugar pumpkins and a candle (for the women).  The children are getting chocolate turkeys, handmade by a chocolate shoppe here in our town, and put on lollipop sticks.  I traced a small pumpkin cookie cutter and put on card-stock.  I wrote each person's name inside the pumpkin and then used a leaf stamp and leaf stickers to decorate the corners and back.  Tied glittery orange/yellow silk ribbon around each baggie to keep the treats inside.  I can't wait to place each one on each person's dinner plate.....simple, inexpensive, and easy....a real fave for me!

• NEW FLAVOR!  My teenager's favorite coffee is Dunkin' Donuts French Vanilla, but when we ran out this week, I told her I was buying a new flavor they just came out with:  MOCHA MINT.  It is YUMMY!  Perfect for the holiday season.  Yes...we'll still brew the Green Mountain Nantucket Blend for the morning cup but this yummy flavor goes great as an after dinner coffee or a late afternoon snack. and the best part?  It brought us together for conversation in the car on the way to a French Club meeting I had to attend with her Wed evening.....chatting with Courtney in the car is turning into a fave with me.....

• MUSIC!  I rarely listen to classical music any more. Which is strange since I majored in Music (Piano/Voice) as an undergrad.  But...the other morning, on the way to work, I was having trouble finding music on the 3 Christian stations I like...it seemed like they were just advertising constantly...so...I switched to the classical station and was sweetly serenaded by a lovely orchestral piece followed by a piano sonata.  It made me pause to reflect on my days of practicing piano and I determined in my heart to carve out time to sit at my piano this winter and actually get back to the classical music I love so much. 

• CHRISTMAS SHOPPING &  CONVERSATION!  I had so much fun with my youngest, Claire, yesterday.  We both had a half day of school due to conferences, so after lunch we headed out with the Operation Christmas Child boxes and filled them for little girls.  What fun I had watching Claire choose just the right items.....from a cuddly dog to fancy hair ties.  She was so happy that I let her wander the small shop on her own (I was actually one aisle over at all times).  She loved talking with me about the project and it made me realize just how special this activity really is, especially with today's American children growing up with relative ease compared to children of 3rd world countries. We talked about how this year we must be on a budget for Christmas if the girls want to attend the youth group retreats and school field trips and how they must earn the money for these trips by working extra jobs around the house. This topic also "just happened" to be the discussion for my small group that very evening!  Having good conversation with other mom friends who are sisters in Christ about the difficult act of teaching tweens and teens to save, spend less, budget, tithe, invest, have a good, healthy work ethic really makes my fave list.....these women are doing life and I am blessed to be able to lead them and walk alongside them. We all learn from each other. And with that.....I say a huge "THANK YOU" to God...He knew I needed good friends.  He knew my heart was lonely and sad over a broken friendship that I am still hoping can be restored.  I place my hope in Him.....and give Him thanks for surrounding me with friends who understand and are lifting me in prayer.  I love praying for them, too, and our 2 meetings each month really inspire us to press in and seek Him together.

And...that's it for me!

My hubby comes home late tonite.......and then we have 2 days to whip everything together for the Thanksgiving vacation.  

Did you have a fave moment this week?  What about a fave Scripture??

Feel free to leave a comment sharing what God surprised you with!

Remembering the Reasons!

I was stressing a bit yesterday thinking of all the little details that my husband and I have to try to remember  before cooking the Thanksgiving feast. Here's the thing:  my in-laws expect a Family Feast.  (You can scroll to the post below to see why).

Now...I don't mind helping my hubby cook...I actually enjoy cooking.  It's just easier in my own kitchen.  It is really hard to try to think ahead and wonder "is there a large enough dish for the sweet potato casserole?  What is going to be open on Thanksgiving nite when we are actually preparing many of the foods? Most people celebrate Thanksgiving on....well....THANKSGIVING!

We are driving 4 hours to a house that we don't own, to cook in a kitchen that is not really ours, to try to bring as many groceries with us, plus luggage, etc. all in one car.  It does cause me to have a little stress. We are the ones "throwing the party" according to my sister in law so yes, this means the menu can be our decision. but...we do try to stick to the more traditional foods. Yes....my father in law is nice enough to get the turkey....it would be virtually impossible for Dave and I to transport the turkey and keep everyone safe from food poisoning.....so I am thankful that my father in law is taking care of the turkey...at least it will be thawed out and ready to stuff by the time we get there! (i hope......)

Yes, it is a perk that my in-laws pay for a maid to come and clean the house first.  And I just found out that this will all be taken care of before we have to get in there.  Around our house....my daughters and I are the maids! lol.....seriously.....it's not something we are used to.  It sometimes causes me stress because I am a perfectionist!

But...this is the T----family holiday so I just go along with whatever it is they want.  It means alot to my mother and father in law.  and really......

We need to remember WHY we are celebrating this holiday!

It is for the freedom of religion that we enjoy.

It is to say thanks to the Native Americans and the Pilgrims for working together and paving a way for our country.  The Pilgrims wanted to be able to worship God in their way. Thus they fled England.

We are thankful we can worship God in our way.

Whichever church denonmination you are, or which ever method of worship you prefer......it is because of the freedoms we enjoy that we set aside this day to say THANKS!

And....thanks be to God....for providing us with food, shelter, family/friends, a country with freedoms, rights, laws, and many other things we sometimes take for granted.

Will everyone like my green bean/mozzarella/tomato dish? 

Will the "kids" in the family help out with clean up, displaying a good attitude? (no, we don't get to hire the maid for cleaning up after the feast...she only comes in to wash floors and bathrooms so my mother in law doesn't have to do all that before everyone gets there...there are 18 people coming this year.....a little less...but still a big crowd)

Will everyone like the favors?

What about the wine and other drinks my husband is providing? Will they be ok?

What if I run out of potatoes??

All of these temporal, earthly thoughts cause stress...and that's not the point of the holiday.

In all things give thanks!

So....no more stress......instead I have a plan. 

I have started the shopping of certain things we can transport minus a cooler.

I have told the girls they need to start packing their clothes on Sunday as we have school Mon-Wed. 

Dave and I will shop together on Saturday for anything we need that I don't remember about before he gets back from his trip......and anything else will just have to be bought early Friday morning..the day we actually are celebrating Thanksgiving.....

and...the important thing is to serve the people of the church we will be at on Thanksgiving Day, with a cheerful heart and a smiling face....and to teach the younger T----family members that this is what it is all about:  serving others......giving of our time.....making others feel good....sharing the Light of His Love.....welcoming people who might be different from us....embracing new things.....

and being thankful amidst it all.......

It's time for my mid-autumn blogging break!

As many of you know, my hubby's clan is originally from the Mayflower......yup...it's true....one of the Pilgrims on the ship from England was his great x eight uncle.....and yes...we have visited (and even had one Thanksgiving feast!) the Plimoth Plantation/Wampanoag Village/Mayflower ship MANY times.....and yes....the Thanksgiving holiday is a HUGE deal in the T-----family!  And yes...most of his family still live in Plymouth County and/or the New England area...other than his big sis who lives out in CA but will fly in to Boston for our holiday......

SO.....once again, we prepare to have a huge feast at the T----family beach house.....everyone will be there except my nephew Adam who is "over there" :( (serving our country at the ripe young age of 22).  His sister will be with us, though, much to my daughters' delight...she is in her 3rd year of college up in Maine and can come for a couple of days......and my other niece, Hanna, will be at university in Scotland where of course they don't celebrate Thanksgiving.....so she has classes.....we will miss her.....but her mom is flying in so all is good......

Plymouth Rock
Plymouth, MA

So....it's been 4 years since it was our turn to cook....Dave has 1 younger sibling and 2 older siblings...we all take turns cooking the feast to give my mother in law a break.....which means, Dave and I, traveling from NYS, must be super-prepared with all the food needed, etc. (my father in law takes care of the turkey...we just have to stuff and cook!).  We actually are having our family feast on Friday of that weekend so that we can all serve at the Good Shepherd Church in the town where the beach house is located.....that church offers a Thanksgiving meal for needy village people and we started the tradition of serving there last year....everyone felt so blessed to be serving on Thanksgiving day.....Dave is the only Christian in his family (other than some cousins in PA who do their own feast down there) so to see his family members partaking in this ministry is just awesome.....and my daughters loved interacting with the children who came to eat....it really is a blessing to "pay it forward".....this takes planning, too so.....I am busy this week!

So.... I will not be on here much.....I WILL be back for the Friday Fave Five....I have a really busy week...I will be doing the "single mother" thing as my hubby leaves later today for a week-long business trip to New Orleans......I am just praising God that my oldest has her license so she can use his car if needed while he's gone...it really helps to have an extra driver in the house!

Along with feast planning and shopping, I am repainting my dining room chairs.....not sure why I am tackling this task but let's just say if I have to have one more small group meeting with ladies sitting on my "needs re-painting badly" chairs, I am gonna lose my mind!  That is one long over-due project...my goal is to paint them tomorrow afternoon while my oldest is at church doing a service project with the other high school student leaders....and then I get the "pleasure" of helping her with her art application essay.....

so.....I hope you all have a blessed week......

I just posted a few yummy recipes on here...feel free to look around and copy any recipe you see......

and I will leave you with this Scripture portion I just read this morning...I love the Words in Psalm that God gave to us through the servant who was a man after His own heart!

"Cause me to hear Your Lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.  Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;  in You I take shelter.  Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;  Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land of uprightness."  Psalm 143:8-10

NOVEMBER FAVE FIVE 2

Ok....this week flew by....did any one else feel this way??

It's Friday and time to find those 5 special things that God blessed or surprised us with and that make our fave list!  My list includes Snow, Sales, and Special Times/Special People

To play along, head over to our Canadian friend, Susanne @ Living to Tell the Story where she hosts this each week......and check out her book list!  She has an amazing reading list...I always get good ideas from Susanne.

Hope and Donny
2009

• FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP!  My sister Hope and her hubby Donny visited us last Saturday afternoon for lunch, conversation, and a rousing game of Settlers of Catan!  Hope is 5 years younger than I am but we have always been close.  Her husband and mine get along great and my daughters love them....they think it's neat that they raise hens for eggs.....and Hope surprised me with a dozen of their organic, fresh eggs.  They live in the central part of NYS so we don't get together all that much....maybe about 2-3 times per year...but we always have fun when we do!

Our front yard and street
Monday 8 November 2010

the deck on 8 November 2010

• FIRST SNOW!  No...winter is NOT my fave season nor was the weather in eastern NYS my fave thing on Monday.  However...the first snow IS a favorite of mine.....it'd be best if it was late December, but hey....We were surprised by the Lord with a wintry mix across the Capital Region of NYS.  Our school district was not let out early (altho some were) and all after-school activities went on as usual which meant yes...after leaving the classroom, I had to drive in the icky, slushy mess THREE different times....(Claire still had jazz that evening and by then it had turned to sleet/rain & Courtney still had a club meeting).  BUT....given the mess of the day and evening, it actually looked kinda pretty.....and forced me to realize my days of sitting on the deck are done until April..........and now this weekend we get to put the deck umbrella away.....of course the snow only lasted about 24 hours but still....was very pretty for the first hour or two....:)

• SWEATER SALE!  While my youngest was at her ballet classes on Tuesday evening, I hopped over to a fave discount store in our town to do some xmas shopping for my oldest girl.  While there, I saw the sweaters with this label! (they have some of my fave sweaters....) WOW....I was able to get 2 sweaters, originally over $60.00  for less than $20 each!  How awesome is that!!  And I found an AE shirt that my teen wanted for Xmas...for only $10!!  Hooray.....

Hazelnut Coffee

• COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH A CLOSE FRIEND!  My friend Lynn and I met for coffee early on Thursday morning since I had the day off and our daughters had no school.  We met at Brueggers and had great coffee (I hadn't been there in a long time and had forgotten they sell my fave brand!)  I enjoyed a steaming cup of Hazelnut and we talked for over an hour.....we try to stay connected a couple of times per month other than our small group time.  We caught each other up with what is going on with us spiritually and in the families....we ended up chatting for over an hour and it was well worth getting up early!  There is nothing like a good conversation, with a good cup of coffee and knowing you are united in Christ in your friendship.  Always a fave with me......

Dave and Faith
on the metro
Paris 4/10

Super Easy Apple Pie

• SURPRISE, SWEETS, SPECIAL TIME!  Wednesday, at about 11:30 pm, as I was just drifting off to sleep, my husband surprised me by arriving home from his out of state business trip.  I thought he was coming back on Thursday morning but, rather, he came in late Wednesday.  That was such a pleasant surprise....we talked awhile and then last night for dessert, I made the above apple pie. You can find it by clicking here.  And what a special time I had while he and my youngest were out at junior high youth group!  My oldest was typing a paper in the basement office and I had the entire upstairs to my self. I lit an Autumn Leaves candle, put on Maple Cinnamon coffee and had a piece of the pie.....all while reading a suspence book (posted on the sidebar)....a special quiet evening after a full day off from school that was jammed packed with xmas shopping, housework, cooking, baking, and planning for Thanksgiving.  Those special quiet times with a good book are ones that I savor......

Now...what about you?  I want each and every person reading this post to leave me a comment stating one favorite thing from your week.  It can be anything:  a Scripture, a food, a coffee, a person, a moment, a book.....come on and join in.....and if you have a blog, head over to Susanne's site....and check it out!


and...enjoy the weekend everyone.....I have a busy one coming up with Thanksgiving prep and starting to pack for the feast at the beach house.......so...I won't be on here much.....It's my hubby's turn (and mine) to cook for his clan...so...this means lots of shopping, planning, and prepping....on top of helping the senior get her art portfolio organized and onto a CD for mailing into the college art department, proof-reading her Art essay, proof reading another essay for another college application, and spending some time with my youngest.....but...busy weekends are ok!  God bless you!

From Dark to Dawn.....

It's mid-autumn although it really feels like late autumn....and...we have more than another month to go before the calender says it is officially Winter.  I like the fact that we had to set the clocks back on Saturday evening.  Not only did it give my family an extra hour of sleep, but I woke up my regular time only to discover that it wasn't dawn yet.  Now, don't get me wrong. I much prefer the longer days and brighter mornings of spring and summer .....once October gets here in our part of NYS, the mornings are DARK when our alarms ring at 5:30.  But, the one good thing about "falling back" with the time change, is that the mornings are light again by the time I get out of bed to hit the alarm.....(hey...I only hit the snooze button once!).  

On Sunday morning, I arose at 6 a.m. and realized how deeply everyone else in the house was sleeping.

I loved it!  I took my Bible, my journal, and the novel I had started the day before, and padded downstairs to get the coffee brewing.  I knew my hubby would be up soon because he had an early meeting at church.  I savored the first steaming mug of coffee while sitting with my Bible on the couch in our family room.

I looked out at trees almost bare, to see the dawn just breaking.  How pretty!  It was going to be a sunny, chilly day.  We had no hard frost yet (although as I write this, we are getting our first snowfall of the season.....a weird storm with rain, sleet and a wintry mix leaving us with about a half inch of snow on the roads!)
Anyways....I looked out and most of my yard was in darkness.  Long shadows. It was hard to make out the bird feeder in the far back by the bush.  I just barely saw the blue jay swoop down to grab some sunflower seeds...in fact, I heard his saucy cry before I actually saw him.


I was in Hebrews 11.  The "faith" chapter!  The first verse is one I memorized as a child:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen."  Hebrews 11:1

And wow...what truth there is in that verse!  It's our reality as Christians!
We know and believe in God whom we have never seen with our physical eyes.
We have a hope.....and a faith.....


Here is a quote I like from the devotional that went with my reading:


"Hope on its own has no power.  I can hope to wake up one morning and be three inches taller than the night before, but that hope would not serve me well.  Hope depends on what it is linked to.  Our hope in Christ is surer than anything we can see and experience on this earth, and we arrive at that place through faith.  Faith is a living thing.  It is our lifestyle." (Sheila Walsh)


We might not know what lies ahead but we can have the assurance that Christ goes with us.  And yes...sometimes we have to walk through some darkness.....with shadows all around......but like the dawn that broke over the tops of the trees in my backyard and the surrounding yards, the Light of Christ breaks over us just when we feel like it might never be bright again.  Maybe we feel abandoned at times...maybe we feel lonely, or overwhelmed with situations that seem impossible.....
keep pressing on...keep walking with Jesus....
He lights the way and turns our darkness into dawn......

Please scroll down and mute my playlist before listening/watching this......this is a Christian group my teenager enjoys and this song is amazing!

NOVEMBER FAVE FIVE 1

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S NOVEMBER???

And it's FRIDAY....which means it's time to find those five special blessings that God provided us with during the past week.  Susanne, from LIVING TO TELL THE STORY, hosts the FRIDAY FAVE FIVE each week....big hugs to her! If you've never visited her blog, go ahead and click on the title above.....and then leave me a comment to share what your fave thing was this week!

• A NEW COFFEE!

This coffee is a new brand to me (Harmony Bay) and not as good as Green Mountain (not as robust, but it is smooth...makes a nice after dinner or during small group coffee!) I was drawn to it because it was only about $5. per 12 oz and the flavor was different.  

•  A FREE LUNCH!

Indian Lake Tavern/Restaurant
Indian Lake, NY

Last Saturday, my 11 year old wanted to hike Castle Rock (formations at the summit are supposed to look like a medieval castle) with her friend Marissa and Marissa's mom, Lynn. Lynn and I are good friends and we both enjoy hiking with our tweens.  So...we set out on Saturday morning where it was a mild 52 degrees here in our town. We got up to the Central Adirondacks...it was raining and only 33!!  So....we drove back down to Indian Lake Village and had a cozy lunch by the fire in the tavern....and the great surprise of all??  Lynn insisted on treating Claire and I... because I was driving, she wanted to pay for the food!  How awesome is that??  We had a blast.  Went back down the mountain to another mountain village (Northville) where I showed everyone where I had spent part of my childhood summers at our family camp and where many of my mom's relatives still live, and then we shopped in the little country store.  I even bought my oldest a Xmas gift!  A fun, relaxing day...and of course we got back to Albany where it was gorgeous. ~sigh~~hiking will now wait until May.......

•   TRICK OR TREATERS......and Claire engaging in "acts of service"

Ok, now before y'all start in on the Halloween vs. No Halloween let me just say NO, we here at the T----family do NOT celebrate this holiday. Suffice it to say that we have no problem with anyone else choosing to engage in the various activities surrounding this "holiday"...our church considers this a "conviction" area.   Mainly because I agreed not to when I married Dave. Based on the history/origins of the "holiday".  However...this year, we decided to save money and just stay home. The seniors at our high school are allowed to dress up so Courtney went as a cheetah (she had a cute costume, too!) and we allowed her to go to the Senior Dance. (that all took place on Thursday and Friday)  On Sunday,she had a ton of work for school/college applications so she needed to have a day in, anyways.  After church I made a nice dinner and we decided to put the porch lights on so Claire could pass out treats to the trick or treaters.  She had asked, so Dave said Yes.  We recognize that her primary love language is Acts of Service so...she was one content gal. She loved every minute.  And it  gave me time to work on my Marriage Monday post! :) (Scroll down to read it!)

• A WISE STATEMENT!

Courtney, age 17
August 2010

This daughter of mine....teenage girl....well, just when I don't know if she is retaining any life principles or Biblical values we are trying to teach, she comes out with a statement that blows me and my husband away!  Her little sis, Claire, was having fun giving candy to trick-or-treaters. Claire, age 11,  made the announcement that when she was a mom, she was gonna let her kids celebrate Halloween. (good grief....). I just smiled and listened.  Courtney, though, said, "well, I'm gonna leave that up for discussion between my future husband and me"....SMART GIRL!!!!!!  WISE answer!  Glory to God!

ACCEPTANCE INTO COLLEGE!!

and just as I was about to post my 5th fave thing (I am writing this late afternoon Thursday because I have my small group tonite and Friday afternoon I have my Moms in Touch prayer group so had to do it a day early) which was gonna be "reading a good book with candles flickering", Courtney opened her mail from the college of her choice.....and...she found out she has been accepted in to her "first choice" college AND she won the Dean's Scholarship!!!  We are VERY excited, happy, and proud of her.....now she just has to get into their Art Department....which means she is gonna be even busier this weekend......and to top if off, she made National Honor Society and the Induction Ceremony was this afternoon!  She and 2 of her girl friends from Youth Group were also inducted.....many special moments today for sure!

Well. that wraps it up for moi.....tomorrow (Saturday) I am having my sister Hope and her hubby Donny over for lunch....they live about 1 1/2 hours north-west of us, in the central part of NYS, and we haven't gotten together since August.  We are due for a time of food, fun, and fellowship.  I am blessed to have 3 younger sisters who know the Lord....as do the spouses of the ones who are married.....I'm making a huge pot of garbanzo bean chili, cornbread, Chocolate-Walnut Decadent Puff Pastry, and a fruit platter.  I think my husband wants to break out the Settlers of Catan game...and it's supposed to be a rainy, damp weekend so board games and comfort food sound perfect to me!

What are your weekend plans??

And.....how about leaving a comment telling me one favorite thing from your week!! I'd love to hear from you!!

GOD BLESS YOU!

"I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,

in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great,

studied by all who have pleasure in them.

His work is honorable and glorious,

and His righteousness endures forever."

Psalm 111: 1b-3