Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for--a bountiful harvest, health, home, family, friends . . . and much, much more!
Have a wonderful day!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Called Home
I just received an email update that Thomas Blake passed away today at the age of 6 months. He did not survive the latest surgery that was necessary to fix his heart. Please keep his family in your prayers.
Cranberries
Did you know that Wisconsin produces the most cranberries in the US? Did you also know that they grow on vines and are only in bogs at harvest when the beds are flooded so the berries float to the top? I did not know either of these things. I didn't even know cranberries grew anywhere but the east coast until Rachael Ray had cranberries from Wisconsin as her "Snack of the Day" yesterday. Then, thanks to my newspaper insert today, I became a regular cranberry expert. :o) Now you also have a couple fun facts to share if conversation is lacking around your Thanksgiving table.
As I have mentioned before, I am hosting the Thanksgiving dinner this year. My turkey is thawing in the refrigerator. I just love cranberries, so I wanted to do something special with them this year. I made my first ever batch of homemade cranberry sauce today.
I have absolutely nothing against the canned kind. In fact, I love how the numbers and lines from the can are indented into its sides and ends. That alone screams "Thanksgiving" to me.
But, due to my love of the Food Network and allrecipes.com, I decided to try my hand at making some "real" cranberries this year. I am probably the only one that will appreciate them, but my taste of them warm out of the saucepan was definitely positive. The recipe I used was SUPER easy. They were done in 10 minutes and it was kind of fun to hear the berries popping as they cooked.
Here is the recipe I used from allrecipes.com:
Washed Cranberry Salad
1 bag fresh cranberries, rinsed and any stems removed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cups orange juice
3/4 cups water
(OR you may use all water for the liquid)
Combine all in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 10 minutes. Take any foam off the top and store the cranberry sauce in the refrigerator.
As I have mentioned before, I am hosting the Thanksgiving dinner this year. My turkey is thawing in the refrigerator. I just love cranberries, so I wanted to do something special with them this year. I made my first ever batch of homemade cranberry sauce today.
I have absolutely nothing against the canned kind. In fact, I love how the numbers and lines from the can are indented into its sides and ends. That alone screams "Thanksgiving" to me.
But, due to my love of the Food Network and allrecipes.com, I decided to try my hand at making some "real" cranberries this year. I am probably the only one that will appreciate them, but my taste of them warm out of the saucepan was definitely positive. The recipe I used was SUPER easy. They were done in 10 minutes and it was kind of fun to hear the berries popping as they cooked.
Here is the recipe I used from allrecipes.com:
Washed Cranberry Salad
1 bag fresh cranberries, rinsed and any stems removed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cups orange juice
3/4 cups water
(OR you may use all water for the liquid)
Combine all in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 10 minutes. Take any foam off the top and store the cranberry sauce in the refrigerator.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Baby Thomas Blake
I have been continuing to follow Thomas' story in the past few weeks. This little boy is such a miracle--surpassing all expectations that have been set for him. Even when his doctors told his parents he probably wouldn't wake up from his coma, he began to open his eyes as his parents were processing the bad news. He turned 6 months old in these past weeks, sees, hears, and responds. Now, however, he faces a new setback in his recovery and tests are being done to see what is wrong.
Say what you want about technology. I think it can be a powerful and wonderful thing. Thomas now has had over 50,000 visits on his page--from friends, family, and strangers who have stopped to pray for him. He has not only brought Christians together, but people of all faiths. Imagine--one very sick little boy in a hospital doing that. God truly works through all of us--no matter where we are, how young, how old, or how weak.
I read his mother's posts hoping every time that the newest one will announce a great step in his recovery. I read so that I can pray for his family, knowing that the road between the Omaha hospital and his dad & sisters back home is way too far. I read to witness his mother's amazing faith and strength, realizing that my daily struggles are what she would give anything to face right now instead of the heartache no parent should ever have to bear.
None of us knows what the future will hold or what crosses we may be called to bear. Even though I always TRY to see my blessings, I know my sighs, eye rolls, and sometimes short temper toward my children can cloud my view quite a bit.
Please do what I did tonight and kiss your rambunctious, messy, loud, naughty, & healthy kids and say a little extra prayer of thanks for your miraculous blessings. While you are at it, please send up an extra prayer for baby Thomas. I know his family would appreciate it.
Say what you want about technology. I think it can be a powerful and wonderful thing. Thomas now has had over 50,000 visits on his page--from friends, family, and strangers who have stopped to pray for him. He has not only brought Christians together, but people of all faiths. Imagine--one very sick little boy in a hospital doing that. God truly works through all of us--no matter where we are, how young, how old, or how weak.
I read his mother's posts hoping every time that the newest one will announce a great step in his recovery. I read so that I can pray for his family, knowing that the road between the Omaha hospital and his dad & sisters back home is way too far. I read to witness his mother's amazing faith and strength, realizing that my daily struggles are what she would give anything to face right now instead of the heartache no parent should ever have to bear.
None of us knows what the future will hold or what crosses we may be called to bear. Even though I always TRY to see my blessings, I know my sighs, eye rolls, and sometimes short temper toward my children can cloud my view quite a bit.
Please do what I did tonight and kiss your rambunctious, messy, loud, naughty, & healthy kids and say a little extra prayer of thanks for your miraculous blessings. While you are at it, please send up an extra prayer for baby Thomas. I know his family would appreciate it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
100 Things I Love
I first saw this idea in a scrapbook magazine. I liked the idea, but wasn't sure I could even think of 100 things I love. After all, love is a pretty strong word. Since then, though, quite a few things have come to mind that I really do love.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I have decided to take on the challenge. A rule I have made is that the obvious--my family, our health, friends,--are certainly the things I love the MOST in life, but will not count toward this list. Maybe it would be more accurately named, "100 LITTLE Things I Love"
I will list 10 at a time as I think of them and hope to reach 100 by Christmas.
Here I go, (in no particular order):
1. newborn babies
2. coffee with friends
3. reading a few chapters of a book--uninterrupted
4. calm, sunny days with a temperature between 70-80
5. the Internet--my portal to the outside world
6. being Christian, and more specifically Catholic
7. empty laundry baskets
8. marathon shopping days
9. the sound of the ocean
10. "The Price is Right"
As we approach Thanksgiving, I have decided to take on the challenge. A rule I have made is that the obvious--my family, our health, friends,--are certainly the things I love the MOST in life, but will not count toward this list. Maybe it would be more accurately named, "100 LITTLE Things I Love"
I will list 10 at a time as I think of them and hope to reach 100 by Christmas.
Here I go, (in no particular order):
1. newborn babies
2. coffee with friends
3. reading a few chapters of a book--uninterrupted
4. calm, sunny days with a temperature between 70-80
5. the Internet--my portal to the outside world
6. being Christian, and more specifically Catholic
7. empty laundry baskets
8. marathon shopping days
9. the sound of the ocean
10. "The Price is Right"
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