For All The Times...

we miss garbage day,
I walk in late to church with the kids,
we leave the dishes out on the counter (dirty),
we miss walking the dog,
we have overdue library books,

we are especially thankful for times of

shared celebrations,




homemade NHL posters,


creative birthday cakes,


surprise thoughtful gifts,


each other.

Thank You God

This amazing gift of warm weather has really elevated my state of thankfulness over the past weeks. I love warmth and I love sunshine. (I am my father's daughter.) There are so many small things that have recently brought a smile to my face.

Seeing motorbikes, convertibles with their tops down, flowers still blooming, zucchini still producing, the dog poking his head out of the window in our moving vehicle, having a freezie as a refreshing snack in Fall, evening fires and smores, long walks wearing t-shirts and shorts, sitting outside to read, having to throw off my duvet at night, enjoying a thanksgiving picnic and wearing flip flops! The list could go on and on. God is good in so many ways.

Last night I was reading "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Something I have wanted to do since he was quoted in the Psalms of Ascents Bible Study last Fall. Here is a quote that got me thinking on my level of thankfulness on the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend.

Bonhoeffer also said, "God is the God of truth, not the God of emotions."

I had to think on this for a minute because God has created us with emotions and He himself shows His understanding to us by His display of emotions in the Bible. However, what the author intends is that we know that we cannot be run by our emotions. Reacting and living by our emotions will cause us to run from God every time He calls us to something outside our comforts and dreams. We need to base our life on Truth. It is only since I have started believing what God's word says as truth that I can truly overcome the daily struggles I have. Often struggles of response and fears.

I am deeply thankful to God for His ways – that they are not our ways.

I am thankful that God is my salvation. He has saved my life and He continues to deliver me daily from unbelief, lack of self control, lack of love...

I am thankful for His abounding love which is greater than all I can imagine and greater than my condemning heart.

Thank you God that you are a God of Truth.

Thanksgiving Appetizer!

Today we hosted Dave's family for Thanksgiving. It was a really nice time together.

We had been planning and preparing ahead and this morning realized that we were well ahead of schedule. So, we kept making things! I didn't have to prepare dessert but am quite fond of cranberries in baking. Dave made a great citrus cranberry sauce; he made enough that I could use some for a Cranberry Swirl coffee cake recipe I found. When Dave asked when I would serve it I said, "well... as an appetizer."

I put out a cheese spread with crackers as well as punch (cranberry based also!). And it was thoroughly enjoyed as an appetizer!

And just in case you're interested in using your leftover cranberry sauce for an appetizer!!...

Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake – Thanksgiving 2009

1/3 c chopped walnuts

½ c butter or margarine, softened

1c sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp Almond extract

2 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 c sour cream

1 can (16 oz) whole-berry cranberry sauce, divided

GLAZE:

¾ c confectioners' sugar

2 T milk

½ tsp vanilla extract

Sprinkle walnuts into a greased 10” fluted tube pan. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in almond extract. Combine the dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Spread half of the batter over walnuts. Top with half of the cranberry sauce. Repeat layers.

Bake at 350 for 50 – 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth; drizzle over cake. Yield 12-16 servings.

I am so thankful for my family, for good food, and starting new traditions. Even more, I am thankful for a God who is enthroned above and is who He says He is.

Exodus 34: 6 - 7a
And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. "