Simple Pleasures

Happy New Year!

 
2011 is an hour and a half away! I usually make resolutions, but this year I have decided not to. I'm not putting any expectations on this year. I want to take each day at a time, being present and alert to what God has for me each day. No more fretting about yesterday or worrying about what my life will look like tomorrow. Instead, I want my energy focused on embracing the now. I love the quote from Dan in Real Life: "When making plans, plan to be surprised." Maybe that's my resolution for 2011.

Gratitude

 

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Winter Survival

I was reminded tonight of a particular Girl Scout experience of mine. I was in the 6th grade. A CHILD. A MERE CHILD. Our troop leader decided it was a good idea to take us all to a Winter Survival camp hosted by our local girl scout organziation. It started out well, believe it or not. Our first task was to break into teams and build a shelter in case we were stuck in cold conditions and needed warmth. Guess who was named team leader?! That's right, girl scout reject, Jenilee. I surprised myself and everyone else there. My team won! I don't know how. Our shelter was just a bunch of sticks pushed up against a tree with leaves all over the top. To top it off, that picture was in the newspaper the next day, and my 6th grade teacher announced it to the whole class and stapled the clipping to the bulletin board. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

So, you are probably thinking, "Way to go! See, you can survive in the winter!" The story is not over. Next, we had to learn how to use a compass. You know, in case we ever get lost in the woods. I don't go in the woods, so I considered this information irrelevent. So, I just started chatting with my girlfriends. Little did I know, we were going to have to show that we could guide ourselves in a certain direction. I failed. I went west when I was supposed to go north. Or something like that. I was hating my life. And Miss Pro girl scout leader was not happy with me. I can still remember her face. UGGHH.

Things got worse. Much worse. The final task was to break into groups of 4 (other girls you didn't know). We received our tents, supplies, and basic provisions and were sent on our merry way to find a spot to camp for the night. If we needed assistance, we were to blow our whistle 3 times. Seriously? They promised they would be able to hear us. One of the girls on my team suddenly claimed to have cramps and had to go home. CONVENIENT, sister! YEAH RIGHT. She lied. I know it. I was on to her. So we were down to three. The other 2 decided to sneak off to other camp sites and hang out with friends. No thanks. How can anyone socialize in weather below 32 degrees?! No fire, because I couldn't start one. No dinner, because no fire. I did manage to make it down to the river to get a bucket of water. Mind you, the water was frozen solid by morning. I was supposed to change into different clothes before going to bed, but it was so cold I jumped right into my sleeping bag. The sun was just setting, and I decided to go to bed, because morning would come quicker if I just went to sleep. Well, I was awake all night, FREEEZING, because I had not changed into a new set of clothes. At 5:30 a.m. I woke up, packed up my bags, marched up the hill to where the leaders were peacefully sipping on hot coffee, and said rather vehemently, "TAKE ME HOME." I wasn't playing. They calmed me down, walked me back to my camp site, started a fire for me, and then left me AGAIN. I was close to using my whistle on their nature loving selves. But I decided to put some biscuits on a pan over the fire. They burned. And stuck to the bottom of the pan. PAM doesn't exist in nature. No breakfast.

It was finally time to go home. My mama was at the church as soon as the bus pulled in. She saw my face, and knew things were not good. She said, "Jenilee, I am so sorry. You will never have to do winter survival again!" Potato soup was made as soon as I got home, she fixed me a place on the couch, and brought me my pajamas. That's my mama. I've never been more thankful.

So, the bottom line is, I survived...BARELY. And that is why I hate the wilderness to this day.

The end.

Inspiration for a New Year

Here are some great links to some inspiration for the New Year!

http://www.spiritualwealth.com/

http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2010/12/30/a-walk-at-the-end-of-the-year/

http://throughaglass.net/archives/2010/12/28/wait-in-hope/

ENJOY!

 

Snow Day at Riverwood

Originally, I did not want to get snowed in at home. I like to be at my own place, with my own things. But I knew that looking outside of the windows at my apartment would not hold a candle to the view I would have at my parents' home. So, I'm going to view today as an opportunity to be still and spend time with my parents. Here is what I will be taking in today:

 

 

Sweet puppies

 

 

Sausage omelette and toast for breakfast!

 

Chili beans and potato soup (pic coming soon for lunch/dinner)

 

Taking a lunch break from keeping us all safe!

Mama's snow boots!

From in the inside looking out.

 

White Chocolate and Butterscotch Pumpkin Blondies

White Chocolate and Butterscotch Pumpkin Blondies...I made these several weeks ago and forgot to post them! They were really good. I will have to find where I got the recipe and post that later. I'm sure you could just google it.

 

 

Thankful on Thursdays

Photo by Country Living

 
Christmas lights

Red wine

Lunch dates

Cold, brisk days

Hope

Home

Chick-fil-a

Color

Laughter

Christmas blend coffee

Baby Jesus

I have the perfect little boy to play the Baby Jesus. Are you ready? Introducing the one and only LULU: The cutest little baby in swaddleing clothes EVER!

 

Christmas Plans

 

 Photo: Country Living

 It is the last day of school before holiday break. The kids are crazy, and I do not have the heart to evaluate them on the day before break. Parties, movies, and hot chocolate are on the teachers' agendas. I cannot compete with that! I'm not that cool. And to tell you the truth, I am having a hard time getting motivated! School is such a happy place to be the day before Christmas break. 

I have a lot of little things I want to do over the holidays, so I thought I would get a list going here. I love lists!

• Bake/Cook. A. Lot. Fudge, Chocolate Chip Mint cookies, eggnog cupcakes (for my dad), etc.
• Organize all my closets, my drawers, and my craft room.
• Decorate cookies.
• Jigsaw puzzle and Cross stitch. Yes, I am 28 going on 60.
• Read!!
• Crafts (might start scrapbooking my small group adventures)
• Make peppermint martinis.

 

Small Group Christmas Party and Sleepover

Tonight was our small group Christmas party/sleepover. We had a blast eating, decorating cookies, building a gingerbread house, exchanging  our secret santa gifts, and showing off our tacky outfits!

Abigail made delicious peppermint bark.

 

Hot chocolate with marshmallow peeps!

 

Christmas punch!

Spinach dip.

Cupcakes...sorry, I forgot to rotate!

Kirsten and Emma brought these cookies!

 

Abigail baked tons of sugar cookies and made all of the icing. She set up a cute decorating station.

Precious girls.

 

Presents!!

Cookie decorating.

 

Love the shirt, Emma!

  

Abigail getting ready for some gingerbread action.

Step 1.

 

 

Taking a hot chocolate break!

 

Me and Lulu!

 

Decorating begins.

 

Beautiful!