Gratitude Friday

Hi, everyone! I almost forgot what day it is. Grab a big mug and you can either have peppermint hot chocolate or Starbucks Christmas Blend. Here's the list, which is going to be quick because we have friends coming to visit in a half hour.

1. Jen (my daughter) and Brad! Their wedding date is May 30, 2010.

2. Ian's talent in photography! Ian took Jen and Brad's engagement picture today (not the one on this page) and they turned out fabulous.
3. Thanksgiving Dinner! Wow, it was a lot of food and delicious. I need to learn how to make stuffing, though! Sad, I know, but I just can't get the hang of making it and then stuffin' the bird. But I loved the pumpkin pie and cranberry topped cheesecake, plus leftovers today.

4. a day to stay home! I didn't go anywhere today except to the bakery. No shopping for me. It was really nice to be in my bed at 4 AM rather than being out with the crowds.

5. friends and family! What would I do without you, through good times and bad? Thanks for hanging around and loving me.

What are you thankful for today? Happy rest of your holiday weekend! Be sure to visit Home Sanctuary for more Company Girl Coffee fun.

Happy Thanksgiving (and a recipe!)

This morning I'm thankful for a houseful of people and animals. No matter that my little house is bursting at the seams, I am blessed to have a roof over my head, a place to place my head each night, and more than enough food on my shelves. As I start my Thanksgiving festivities (turkey has just gone in the oven), I thought I'd share my eggnog french toast recipe. It was so yummy and something new for our family! Enjoy~

Taken from AllRecipes.com

Eggnog French Toast

2 eggs, beaten slightly
1 1/2 cups eggnog
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
12 slices French bread

Directions:

Whisk the eggs. eggnog, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a mixing bowl until well blended. Pour the mixture into a shallow dish. Preheat an electric skillet to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease the skillet. Dip one slice of bread at a time into the eggnog mixture, being sure to coat each side of the bread thoroughly. Place the prepared bread slices into the preheated skillet, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on each side. Place cooked slices on a serving plate and cover with foil to keep warm until all French toast is cooked. Serve immediately. (I added a tablespoon of white sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla to my eggnog mixture; the cinnamon is the correct amount! The key is to cook the french toast over medium heat or it browns too quickly.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your ovens!

As I was preparing the cutest little chocolate chip pumpkin pies, David realized that he needed to bake the topping for his cranberry cheesecake. The two items are sharing 20 minutes in the oven. One of the pies is going to have to make a sacrific for quality control and then they're being tucked away for later consumption. I'll share a picture of David's cheesecake with you when it's all complete. It's so pretty! ps I just peeked, the pies are looking scrumpious.

Random Dozen

Random Dozen ~ Thanksgiving Edition!

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous? Traditional, with a few new things thrown in! I have a soon to be son-in-law to impress! Ha, he told me he eats anything except pumpkin. Brad says it's is a vegetable and doesn’t belong in desserts. We’ll have two desserts this year!

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.") a paycheck! My husband is out of work and I have been subbing lots. So, when that paycheck comes in the mail next Monday, I’ll be extremely thankful for provisions during this time.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for. The gift of laughter!

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory. Two Thanksgivings come to mind. #1 is a month before David proposed to me, back in 1983. Power was off and we watched football by battery with 32 extended family members there, too. The turkey was cooked over the wood stove, the mashed potatoes done in the camper. He wasn’t scared off! #2 is a sad memory. My grandma had passed away the week before Thanksgiving of 1993. Of course, the power was out the night before the funeral and we ate by lantern light at my mom’s house the night before the funeral, I think. (memory is sketchy!) The Thanksgiving meal was at my aunt and uncle’s house with many people there because Grandma’s funeral had been the day before. There was also snow!

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year? The kids will search (and fight!) for the wishbone.

6. Do your pets get any left-overs? They’ll try, but no leftovers for them.

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? David usually has a spontaneous prayer before our meal.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing? Football for the guys; the girls will be looking at the ads and making a strategic shopping plan for the next day. We’re also working on wedding plans this weekend!

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing? Bleck! Is this an East Coast question? Never heard of oysters in dressing.

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving? Yes. The original one and some other “firsts”, such as refugees who are coming to America for their first time. An excellent kids’ book to give you perspective: How Many Days till Thanksgiving, by Eve Bunting.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying? Pumpkin, a cranberry topped cheesecake

12. Do you feel for the turkey??He should have campaigned more for people to “eat beef.”

For more random dozen answers, skip over over 2nd cup of Coffee's blog. Happy Thanksgiving!

"Follow Me...no procrastination, no backward looks"

Tonight at church Dave, our pastor, spoke on this portion of scripture. I was listening!

From The Message Luke 9:57-62 On the road someone asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you, wherever," he said. Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know." Jesus said to another, "Follow me." He said, "Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father's funeral." Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom!" Then another said, "I'm ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home." Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day."

My own paraphrase of what Jesus is asking, " Are you going to give up what you want?" Yikes! Instantly my mind filled with thoughts of the wanting of my own classroom. I didn't like that. But am I going to be obedient and give up what I want? It's His plans and He doesn't need me to try to fix things the way I want them to be. He's got it figured out... "just follow me!"Looking at my wants over the next few days, I'm sure there's lots in my life because I just walk into Starbucks right now and I WANT all of the new items. For those who know me, I'm a huge procrastinator (and being a perfectionist, too) Look at what Jesus said, "NO PROCRASTINATION!Today's the day, get going." Talk about a kick in the hiney tonight!

I'm listening and ready to follow now. Hang in there with me, it's going to be the most interesting journey! Destination time: the rest of my life

ps A song we sang tonight had this phrase, "The One who spoke the waters into place whispers into my ear." He does all those amazing big and little things, just for me and you! Let Him whisper to you like He does to me.

I'm a perfectionist, I'll confess!

But I can still get an A for effort!

Gratitude Friday

It's the middle of the night but it's still Friday! Grab a BIG cup of coffee and join me in Gratitude Friday.

1. the ability to help plan Jennifer's wedding, via email! I just had a glimpse of the ceremony and reception materials needed for the big day. Jen and Brad arrive on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving weekend and I can already have some items in Jen's box to send back with her to Goldendale. If email wasn't available, we'd be sunk with waiting for the pony express! We have gotten spoiled with the speed of communication these days.

2. warm comforters! As I'm perched on my computer chair at 3:10, I realize that this house is cold and perhspa I really should be back under that warm comforter on my bed. However, I'll press on, share my thoughts that no one else ever really reads & then go back to bed.

3. teaching jobs! I've been blessed with many guest teaching jobs. I'm really starting to understand Kindergartners and how their little brains operate. They are sweet kiddos!

4. David's unemployment! Ok, it's definitely not a blessing, but his being off work has allowed me to write "honey do" lists for around the house. I have my longtime friend Wendy arriving on Saturday afternoon and the house is going to be sparkling because of his wonderful cleaning and polishing. The Thanksgiving meal is almost completely purchased and ready for consumption. I haven't lifted a finger on the shopping! Thanks, Mr. York!

5. snowflakes! I don't think I posted last week and there was a small showing of snowflurries during the afternoon recess break on Friday. One of the girls in another class had never seen snow before! It was a fascination to watch her during the recess. I almost felt giddy as she stuck her tongue out to catch a snowflake and, of course, I joined her!

6. Starbucks coffee and treats! I met up with my summertime boss yesterday and not only splurged on my favorite drink (first time Starbucks ALL week!), I inhaled the first of the season cranberry bliss bar. Oh my goodness! It was sooooo delightful. I can't afford to buy the whole loaf so I'm going to have to search for a recipe to make something very similar to it. Did I mention I also bought not one or two, but FOUR Christmas ornaments? The very cutest miniature Starbucks cold drink cups. Can't wait to see them on the tree! (I only get one; the kids get the rest!)

Wishing you a wonderful Friday before Thanksgiving! Enjoy your coffee this morning~ I know I will need a triple dose of it. Just insert the IV into my arm. I won't feel a thing, honest!

PS I'm needing to revise my blog -- it's kinda boring, both in look and information. I am definitely not the eloquent writer that I've seen out in blogland, nor am I filled with a sense of humor in my writings like my friend Mary (LOVE her blog! Cohagen Chronicles), or a "filled to the gill" writer of energy, play on words thoughts and inspiration like my friend Rachel at the beautiful Home Sanctuary site. I would like to be so blessed as a writer but I know I have a style of my own hidden somewhere....ideas?

Honoring Our Veterans Today!

November 10 on 10

Happy November "10 on 10." I didn't get the full ten this month. I had worked all day and by the time I got home, it was dark! But here's a few pictures of my day, with the backyard shots, the Beagle Boys and my favorite place for coffee. Enjoy!

first ice on the bird bath

weeping willow tree

cold morning for the Beagle Boys

Venti Vanilla Latte', please! Non-fat, extra hot

Dieter


Ubu

Gratitude Friday

1. Five and six year olds! Great morning of teaching with them.

2. Hawaiian pizza! That's what's for dinner after a stressful afternoon (I taught a different grade level in the afternoon.)

3. Four days of work. With David being unemployed, every penny earned counts.

4. Leftover Halloween candy. I've been enjoying the samplers of Butterfingers and Snickers; items I can't take to school to share because of the peanuts.

5. An inexpensive brake repair job on David's car. What might have cost $500 was only $200. It was a faulty valve, not the actual brakes.

Ok, grab a cup of coffee and some pumpkin chocolate muffins. Take a minute to sit down and visit with me. I've missed you! What have you been up to these days?

Living Happily Ever After....

Brad Bellamy proposed to Jennifer this week so we're adding a wonderful son-in-law to our family! We are SO excited!!!! No specifics on the wedding date but I'm guessing within the year.

Brad's from Goldendale where Jen teaches high school Spanish. He loves sports and she doesn't. Opposites do attract! But being in a small town means that sports are a big thing at the high school and she goes to all of the games. Of course, she's probably cheering for the assistant coach a lot! :)

They'll be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner so I'll be sure to get some great pictures.

Any advise for the mother of the bride?