Best of 2009

December 17 - What word encapsulates 2009 for you?

My word of the year for 2009(as part of an Ali Edwards challenge for a new year) was TRUST .   I defined it more specifically -  to trust God that I am right here where He wants me to be, doing what He created me to do.  It truly has amazed me this year with just how often, in so many different experiences, this word has been uppermost in my mind and reinforced to me.

 When stress starts to mount, I remind myself to trust God in all situations, with all problems and worries.   Sometimes I have to remind myself over and over again, even in the same day, that God has always cared for me and He has never failed to provide everything that I need.  Why would He suddenly do things differently now?  I have this picture in my mind of a Heavenly Father who delights in each of His children, just the way I do as an earthly parent.  I love to see my children, talk with them, watch them, help them, protect them and encourage them.  My God does the very same with me!  So I can trust Him just as a child trusts a parent, completely and without reservation.

Two years ago when I decided to leave fulltime teaching, the word 'trust' took on new meaning.  Before that I had been prone to rely on myself, my pay cheque, my ideas, my job but then my professional life, as I had known it for nearly 14 years, was over.  As a substitute teacher now I trust that God will send jobs my way and when He doesn't, as happened this week, I know the other plans He has for me are more important at this time.

These are some of my favourite Scripture (NIV) verses about trust:

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.


Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."


Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;


John 14:1
[ Jesus Comforts His Disciples ] "Do not let your hearts be troubled.Trust in God ; trust also in me.


Trust isn't just a word for one year - a word to be replaced by a different or better one in the next year.   I chose it because I knew I needed to live it, breathe it and dwell in it - this year and always.    


These are some reminders of trust from my last year:


- trusting that God would be with Darrin and Kelsey as they were married and would share life


- trusting that our two new grandchildren would be healthy and strong


- trusting God to see Tyler through medical school and clerkship


- trusting that Melinda would have support and encouragement as a new mom


- trusting that visiting Africa was part of God's plan for us


- trusting God for safety while traveling - flying, driving, sailing, walking/hiking


- trusting God to show me how to help others this Christmas


- trusting that God will provide jobs and income, not just for me but for our family members as well


I could go on!  I'm trusting Him for tomorrow and for always!  

Ten on Thursday

1.  The weather has moderated a whole lot and it was above zero today!  Only in Alberta!  And of course now the weather forecast is for freezing rain - it goes from one extreme  to the other around here.

                                 

2.  Have you ever heard of a cookie stamp?  Apparently you press it down into the cookie after it's rolled and it "stamps" a raised design into the cookie top.   The ones shown are flat but some come with a wooden handle too.  I think I might like something like this!

3.  Speaking of cookies!  When we were making perogies the other day, Naomi told me that she's noticed I don't like to roll things out - and she was right!  So I decided to challenge myself, use the rolling pin and make these cookies that I've been talking about for a long time.

They turned out wonderfully and I made friends with my rolling pin.  I doubt if pie crust is on my radar yet though!

4.  One of my favourite Christmas baking projects is to make  fudge puddles.  The recipe was clipped from Country Woman magazine in 1992 so it's an oldie but they still taste great.

A single recipe makes 4 - 5 dozen but I decided to double it so I ended up with 10 dozen of these little guys!

5.  When all was said and done today, I had several cookie tins full of good things.  Some of these are going to be shared as gifts and some will be used when we entertain in the next few weeks.  I still want to make gingersnaps and shortbread.

6.  I also made a few of these Brownie Wreaths, as found on the Better Homes and Gardens website, to give away to friends and family.   This one went with the plate to a silent auction.

       

7.  And at that silent auction, I found this new little piece to add to my holiday decor.   It's got glitter on it and is quite cute ;))

8.  I'm working on my December Daily album, inspired by Ali Edwards, and loving the little snippets of time that I sneak here and there to do pages.  I'll share some of it soon.

9.  I found an online calendar template tonight and started creating a little paper project for a gift.  I love being inspired, dropping everything else and going off to create!  Pictures to follow in a day or two - after I give it away :)

10.  I saw Oprah's show tonight where she interviewed Stephanie and Christian Nielson.  If you aren't aware of their story, go to the Nie Nie Dialogues to read it.  Make sure you take tissues - I was crying (as were many others in the audience) as they were interviewed!   Stephanie is a burn survivor and one special lady.

Best of 2009

December 14 - Rush - What gave you the biggest thrill this year? - Walking through Times Square in New York City was an incredible experience.  I kept thinking "Wow - this is really it - this is what everyone talks about - this is the Big Apple!"  It was more vibrant, interesting, colorful, surreal than I ever imagined. And it was really cool :))

December 15 - Best packaging - our new grandsons, Samuel and Blake, came packaged as the sweetest little guys.  Perfect from the top of their heads to the bottoms of those tiny toes, we are so blessed by their presence in our family!

December 16 - Tea of the year - Chai Masala, brewed at home.  And a close second would be the fruit tea that I brought home from the Czech Republic - it's got chunks of dried apple, oranges and spices and is so delicious.  I should have brought more home with me.

Christmas Menu Ideas

This was last night's supper - featuring the perogies that Naomi, Meadow and I made.  They were delicious!  I had some spinach and pomegranate seeds in the fridge so I searched online for a recipe and found this fabulous salad.  It's on the menu for Christmas dinner!  I highly recommend it for great color and an interesting mix of textures and flavours.  I  used a raspberry vinaigrette for the dressing.  The protein was grilled  lemon herbed steelhead trout.   All around, an excellent supper, worthy of repetition :))

Gratitude Gifts Today

These are my gifts today:

- crisp fresh sheets

- a quiet morning with sun shining on the snow

- paths - and the reminder of my path in life

- my Christmas quilt hanging in a central spot

- Bananas Foster and Cranberry candles burning bright

- a warming trend after a record-setting period of low temperatures

- mixing ingredients and watching each one change the whole mixture

- tasting fresh baked cookies, still warm out of the oven

- full cookie tins

- a day spent with Naomi, Meadow and Blake

-  lots of cuddling with a smiley little boy

- reading stories in the tent with Meadow

- watching little fingers mix and stir to create her own mixture

- wearing an apron crafted years ago by a loved one

- potluck suppers

- watching little ones gather onstage

- Christmas dresses

- sweet little songs sung with enthusiasm

- the excitement of Santa arriving

- watching as she gathered her courage and sat on his knee

- working with Naomi to make an ethnic family favourite, perogies

- memories of years past

- Christmas ornaments hanging on trees

- colored lights hanging along the eaves of houses

- safe travel and a reliable vehicle

- finding gifts for a little one listed on  the Angel Tree

- online shopping

- packages coming in the mail

- finished projects in the workshop :)

- planning for Christmas gatherings

- birds, puffed to keep warm, gathered outside my kitchen window

- bushy tailed fox ambling along the road

- evergreens with snow caps

- crisp juicy apples

- the sound of my scissors cutting long swaths into the flannel

- chats with my sister

- fresh made cranberry sauce

- a long forgotten reminder of my Gramma and her love of ceramics

- finding the same verse in Sunday's lesson, in my devotion book and in an online message - I hold it close to my heart this week

Simple Woman #67

For Today . . . December 14, 2009

Outside my window. . . even colder!  We are in the throes of winter here with the coldest temperatures in 20 years.  It was -45 degrees C at the International Airport the last 2 nights.  At our house it went down to -34 - we are on a hill so it stays a little 'warmer' here than down in town, 8 miles away.  The snow is like a deep blanket, covering everything in about 3 feet of white stuff.  



I am thankful . . . for these words from Philippians 4:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And I am also thankful . . . for the deep and abiding joy that is mine because He sent His son, Jesus, to us at Christmas.  Joy that is deeper than anything else and Joy that never leaves - it is always mine.

I am praying . . . for wisdom in the ways that  we will celebrate,  for relationships that are bent and for God's love to surround us.

I am thinking . . . about a few more gifts to make, a couple of things to still buy and our Christmas dinner menu.

I am creating . . . surprises!!

I am celebrating . . .  only 10 days until Christmas!

From the kitchen . . . Brownie Wreaths, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies - and mashed potatoes!  Strange, I know but Naomi and I want to make perogies this week so I've got the potatoes cooking.  No supper here tonight because we are going to eat at Meadow's playschool concert.

I am wearing . . . black track pants, striped tshirt, orange 'University of Calgary' sweatshirt, and crocs.

I am reading . . . still the The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly - I know, book club came and went and I'm still reading the book.  I almost abandoned it but after lots of encouragement, the discussion and moving into part 2, I'm doing better and will finish it.

I am hoping . . . to take some great pictures at Meadow's playschool concert tonight!  This is the first one we will go to as grandparents - hard to believe!  I remember the excitement of our kids' concerts when they were little and now they are the parents.

I am hearing . . . the furnace running - again! - and Diana Krall's Christmas jazz album.

Around the house and yard . . . snowdrifts, growing deeper by the week!

One of my favourite things . . . sampling fresh cookies, right out of the oven and still warm :)

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .  hopefully some subbing but the buses didn't go today because of the extreme cold, making perogies with Naomi, wrapping, sewing, painting the bathroom door, getting our tree, a choir concert.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . I love books - I love Christmas - therefore, I love Christmas books!!  A few classic selections from the school library.

Thank you for creating this exercise, Peggy!  And if you are reading this, please consider joining us for these weekly reflections.

Best of 2009

December 12 - Best new food - I made Rhubarb Chutney this summer and it's become a new favourite preserve.   It tastes good with any fish, chicken or pork dishes and I'm proud of making it myself.  I also made a Barley Mandarin Salad with cooked barley, mandarin orange sections, and spinach.  It was a great new salad to add to my repertoire.

December 13 - What's the best change you made to the place you live?  Hands down, no questions, don't have to think about this one - our new hardwood floor!!  It is so beautiful and gives a whole new look to our home.  It's smooth, shiny, and we are so very happy having it done.  Of course it's opened up a whole new set of other things to improve but we'll work away at those as time and dollars permit.

Check Gwen's blog if you want to read other posts on this topic.

Best of 2009

For December 11 - Best place - on the chesterfield, snuggling with a grandchild or two, reading books!  Those little heads smelling so sweet, eyes fixed on the illustrations, ears tuned to every word, shoulders snuggled under my arm, a smaller one cuddled on my lap, all of us exploring the world of words and pictures, making new connections and interpreting our world - it is an absolutely perfect place!

On our African adventure, I really liked the salt water pool at the resort in Zanzibar.  It was my first experience in that kind of pool and the warm water was heavenly.  The thought of it warms me right up on this chilly winter day!

Thanks to Gwen Bell for inviting bloggers to take this journey through the past year.

Recipes

Crystal asked me to share the recipe for the Cranberry Pistachio Bark that I made last weekend.  It's so easy that it's almost not even a recipe!

Melt 1 lb. of good quality chocolate in a double boiler over gently simmering water.  Stir often until mixture is smooth and just melted.  Remove from heat.  Let cool until just warm - maybe 10 minutes.

Stir in 2 cups of dried fruit or nuts.  I used toasted pistachios and cranberries with the white chocolate and I'll use the almonds with dark chocolate.  The possibilities are endless!  Pour mixture out onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet and smooth the surface.  Place in the freezer for 2 - 3 hours until chocolate is set.

Remove from freezer and break into pieces.  Store between sheets of wax paper in tins in the refrigerator.
I had these 3 tins full from 1 large cookie sheet.  Enjoy !!!

See - I told you it was too easy!  I used Bernard Callebaut chocolate that I purchased at Nutter's, a bulk food store.

Creating

The elves are busy at our house this week!

My sewing machine has been humming but I can only show you some gift bags!  After Christmas I'll do a sewing post to share my simple creations.

And today Grampa got busy too!  Bob's main project lately has been the floor redo but today he switched to another kind of building - for little people :))

Best of 2009 (continued)

Here are a few more Best of 2009 picks, as organized by Gwen Bell.

December 5 - Night Out - in downtown Manhattan, at a burger pub, with Melinda and Tyler, celebrating Tyler's birthday.  And later eating ice cream and then walking through Times Square, marveling at the neon signs, buildings, crowds, and energy of New York City.

December 6 - Workshop or conference - On National Scrapbook Day in May, I went to an all day crop organized by Scrapshotz in Calgary with Heather and that was lots of fun!  I got some pages done about our trip to Poland.  And in April I went to the International Reading Association conference, a perennial favourite of mine,  in Edmonton.  I love a day devoted to children and reading and books!

December 7 - Blog find of the year - I've followed a lot of blogs but if I could only read one each day, it would be Holy Experience, written by Ann Voskamp.  That girl has a gift with words and her camera, she lives on a farm, and her faith is a living, breathing daily reality.  She truly is an inspiration - I know she's shy about praise but God is using her in mighty ways!

December 8 - Moment of peace - early morning Bible reading when the sun shines in our bedroom and my day starts calmly, focussed on Him.

December 9 - Challenge - driving through Kenya and Tanzania, watching the women and children walk collecting water and firewood - and having children call out to us as we passed by in our safari vehicle, "Water, please."  And now coming home to so much of everything and sometimes seeing it being wasted or not appreciated.  This is still on my mind most days.

December 10 - Album of the year - Christmas music:  Andrea Bocelli "My Christmas" -  Christian album:  "CompassionArt (Creating Freedom from Poverty)" - 12 artists inspired to write and record an album with all proceeds and royalties going to help the poorest of the poor- from the album cover.

Best of 2009

Today I stumbled across a new blog written by Gwen Bell and discovered that she's hosting the Best of 2009 blog challenge.    It's a look back at the year with specific questions for each day in December.  
I'm starting late so I'll try to do a few days at a time to catch up.  Please, please consider joining her community - the prompts are great.

December 1 - What was your best trip in 2009?  I had 3 wonderful out of province trips this year and each one was special.  In June I flew to Nova Scotia,  met Samuel and spent a week cuddling him and being pampered by our friends Linda and Edward.  In July we flew to New York City and spent another week with Samuel, Melinda and Tyler.  And then in October we spent a month in Africa - an amazing time in Kenya, Tanzania and Eqypt.  It was a very good year for travel :))

December 2 - Share the best restaurant moment of the year.  Hands down, it was the meals on the Nile Adventurer while we cruised in Eqypt.  De.li.cious!!  Sandra and I enjoyed every bite, I think, and we enjoyed the company of other travelers around the dinner table too.

December 3 - An article that you read and reference / talk about - From the November issue of Reader's Digest, an article on H1N1 and how to help your body stay strong and healthy.

December 4 - What book touched you?  From book club, I think it would be Still Alice (the story of a 50 yr. old woman who is struck with early onset Alzheimer's disease) by Lisa Genoa.  Heather read it and I passed it to my sister too.  I think of it often.

This is a great exercise in recall!!  Please let me know if you decide to join in.

Gifts

As I work to create a few handmade things for Christmas, this came up via Ann's blog, Holy Experience, today.  My heart is full of emotion as I watch the images and hear the words.  May the gifts I give to others be gifts to Jesus too.

Gratitude Gifts Today

Today I am grateful for:

- snow crystals sparkling like diamonds on the snowbanks

- mornings at home

- leftovers with which to build a new supper

- signs of Christmas slowly filling our home

the creche on our fireplace mantle

- God's protection as I avoided a collision today - it was so, so close and I know He put out His hand and directed my driving!

- the excitement of children as I read "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" to them

- the reminder that Christmas is not found in a store or a fridge or a tree

- finished projects - ready to be wrapped

- Shepherd's Pie for supper

- visits with old acquaintances

- the sticky, nutty taste of poppycock

- smooth lengths of new fabric to preshrink

- potatoes to peel, reminders of last summer's growing

- a fat little stocking stuffed for Samuel (I wish I could see him opening it)

- the furnace humming and pushing warm air into the cold corners of the house

- fresh white mini-carnations on the Christmas tablecloth

- reminders of people and gifts given as the china cabinet gets cleaned out

- ordering pictures online

- finding small gifts that will bring smiles to the recipients

- clean dishes ready to go back in their places

- my sewing machine

- Christmas letters and pictures in the mailbox

- holly garland wrapping the banister

- knowing that His arms are wrapped around me every single day

Simple Woman #66

For Today . . . December 7, 2009

Outside my window. . . a bitterly cold winter wonderland!  The high today was -27 degrees C with a windchill of -37 degrees.  It was sunny but very crisp and the major snowfall combined with wind that we had over the weekend has buried us in snow.  The snow removal crew plowed 2 trails to the playground at school today.  Even so I think the kids would have had a hard time getting there - good thing it was an indoor recess day!

the view from our front window

I am thankful . . . that I have a warm home, food in the cupboard, plenty of clothes and many people who love me.

And I am also thankful . . . that Melinda, Tyler and Samuel are safely back home after a trip to Tennessee and Atlanta.

I am praying . . .  that God will give me many opportunities to share joy and to remain grounded in Him during this season.

I am thinking . . . about how to best pack a box to send to NYC :))

I am creating . . . a December Daily album, as outlined by Ali Edwards.  It's a great little project for each day this month!

I am celebrating . . . creating some great fabric projects and a finished hardwood floor project.

From the kitchen . . . moose roast from the crockpot,  Blomidon Inn Brown Bread (thanks for that recipe so long ago, Mel!) and cranberry pistachio bark :))

I am wearing . . . black dress pants, a grey sweater, black down-filled vest and a pink / green / black scarf (so glad I bought this scarf last spring - I love it!).

I am reading . . . still the The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly -  book club is discussing this on Thursday night but I'm not sure that I'll get to the end of it before then.

I am hoping . . . to bake lots of cookies this week.

I am hearing . . . Josh Groban singing on his "NOEL" album.

Around the house and yard . . . snowdrifts!  Yesterday Bob shoveled out a path from the garage to meet the driveway where our neighbor plowed for us.  We got more snow in this one storm than we've had for a long, long time.

One of my favourite things . . . getting photos and Christmas cards in the mail!  Thanks, Sweet JB :))

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .  another day of subbing, more sewing, some wrapping, cookie baking, lots of dusting and a choir concert to enjoy on the weekend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . I sewed these stockings for our 3 grandsons yesterday.  They turned out so cute!  Now the fun part is filling them up!

Please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook to read more posts.

Christmas Past

Christmas Trivia  as seen on the  Memories on Clover Lane blog

1. Best childhood gift from Santa:  books!  I remember getting Nancy Drew books, Black Beauty, Little Women and my all time favourite Heidi!  I was a huge reader (still am) and had my nose in a book all the time :))

2. Best childhood memories:   The Sunday School Christmas Eve service at church.  We had practiced for many Saturdays before hand, learning verses and songs.  Costumes were assembled and the church was packed with people to the top of the balcony.  Often as the children came up from the basement, each one dropped a Kleenli Kit in a box at the front, to be sent to kids in other countries.  (I have no idea how many of those kits my Mom has assembled over the years!)  After the program, all the kids got a brown paper bag with an orange, some nuts and hard candy.  We weren't allowed to open that bag until we got home!

3. Favortie Christmas cookies:  Pinwheel Cookies - I've never made them - they are my Mom's.  And Shortbread would be a close second.

4. Icky Christmas memory:  not going to Christmas Eve service a few times.

5. It's not Christmas without:  family!  It doesn't have to be Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but it's really Christmas at our house when they are home.  We will definitely miss Melinda, Tyler and Samuel this year :((

6. Our Church Service: Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7:30 p.m. led by the youth group.  Near the end of the service they will come down the aisle with lighted candles and soon everyone will be holding a lit candle, the lights go down and we sing Silent Night.  The building is always packed and it's a wonderful holy evening.

7. Christmas Pet Peeve: Spelling Christmas as Xmas!  When this happens, Christ is gone from the whole celebration - and I made sure that the kids I taught at school knew this too.   I really feel strongly about this.

8. Favorite Christmas CD:  This year it's Andre Bocelli's "My Christmas", especially track 6  "What Child Is This".  Definitely Amy Grant, Josh Groban and Rita MacNeil are at the top of the list too.   

9. Real or Fake:  Real!  The first 20 years we were married we had an artificial tree (long story about 2 different family traditions) but these days it's a real spruce tree, dragged home just a week before Christmas and decorated by myself since the kids are all in their own homes now.

10. I spend Christmas Eve :   going to church, coming home to enjoy some appetizers and music.  This night is all about the birth of Christ, the one we've been preparing for the last 4 weeks.  When our family was little we always opened our gifts this evening since chores in the dairy barn took up the next morning (which is the way I grew up too) but now we wait until everyone comes home to open presents. 

Now it's your turn!

"Christmas Priorities"

This amazing piece of art was created by Greg Olson.  I love the message it sends, the warm glow and the richness of the painting.  Stacy Julian posted it on her blog and discussed an interesting activity her family did about Christmas priorities - check it out.

May the Christ Child fill your celebrations and the love He brings fill your heart during this wonderful season!

Working

This guy has worked so hard on all the details for finishing the floor project!  Today it was the steps - and it took alot longer than he thought it would but it looks marvelous.  I'm off to vacuum and maybe the sun will shine tomorrow so I can share some pictures with you :))

Signs

The crossing guards at school brought in all their equipment after everyone had arrived and then went off to have a well-deserved hot chocolate before class!  And the blizzard rages on outside tonight!  It's snowed alot in the last 18 hours and now the wind is whipping it all up into snowdrifts.  Everything south of Edmonton is experiencing a winter blizzard tonight.

Ten on Thursday

Thanks to Connie  for nominating me for this little award!  I was  very pleasantly surprised and will share the fun.  


Once the award is accepted, the nominee has to do the following:

•Thank the sender for nominating you.
•make sure you link to the person who nominated you.
•Copy the logo onto your blog
•List seven interesting things about yourself.
•Nominate Seven Kreative Bloggers
•Post links to their Blogs
•Leave a comment for each letting them know of their nomination.



So here are some random tidbits that you might not know about me:


1.  In the last 4 years we have travelled to 4 different continents.  Lucky, I know!


2.  When I first started babysitting, the going rate of pay was 25 cents per hour and 50 cents per hour after midnight.  How I hoped that the people would stay out late!


3.  Our girls took me to get my ears pierced for my 40th birthday.  


4.  The first time I ever painted walls was just a few weeks ago.  (Bob's mom has always been my go-to painter.)


5.  My china set is Old Country Roses by Royal Albert.  The very first piece I ever got was a teacup from my grandmother's estate after she died in 1967.  The set has been built piece by piece ever since then.  


6.  Working in a bookstore would be a dream job for me - and a constant source of spending my paycheque!


7.  I am a night owl, often starting projects like pickle making, sewing or creating after 10 p.m..


And 3 more just from me to make it fit with my 10 on Thursday project:


8. I don't know how to swim - but I can float in salt water!  That's not really a big accomplishment, is it?


9.  Fresh fruit is a big treat for me, especially watermelon, blueberries and cherries.  Pomegranates are a new favourite.


10. I love getting - and sending - mail.


I'm going to pass this award on to:


Melinda 


Margaret 


Linds 


Vanessa 


Shelley 


Rhonda 


Carm 


I hope you'll play along, my friends. 

Wishing

Even at 50% off it's still out of my reach - sigh!

About all I can afford is to take a picture of it -

and that's not going to keep me warm!

Gratitude Gifts Today

I am grateful for these things today:

- white baby mums in a vase on my table

- mashed potatoes and gravy

- children's artwork and their concentration to complete it

- sculpted snowbanks

- pictures printed immediately

- Christmas music sung in beautiful harmony, with heartfelt emotions

- the warmth of the sun

- mailing letters and small packages

- Christmas stories and plays

- a rapt audience for story time

- the opportunity to give a ride

- full moon rising over the snow

- the furnace blowing warm air through the house

- little piles of Christmas presents rising

- Christmas cookies and squares

- lights turned down low as a play is presented

- poinsettias blooming

- a found camera cord (Thanks, Meadow!)

- candlelight

Christmas Music

Oprah's Christmas music show today featured this amazing song!  
The first bit of the video shows another song - stick with it to hear "What Child Is This", sung with amazing emotion. It's so good!

Simple Woman #65

For Today . . . November 30, 2009

Outside my window. . . winter has arrived!  The ground was covered with 4" of snow this morning and it continued to snow for most of the day.  As the sun went down, the wind came up and the roads are icy.  And it's only supposed to get colder, like -18 C by the weekend.

I am thankful . . . for the Advent season and the chance to prepare to experience the joy and wonder of Christmas again.

And I am also thankful . . . for faith that so many lived on that long ago first Christmas Day.  (I read such a good item about that today and for the life of me I can't find it to link to now - sorry!)

I am praying . . .  for Tyler as he prepares to write a major medical licensing exam on Wednesday.  And we ask for your prayers for him too, please.

I am thinking . . . about how much fun it would be to go to the Olympic curling trials in Edmonton next week.

I am celebrating . . . that it's only 24 days until Christmas!

From the kitchen . . . clam chowder, rye bread, and Cranberry Delight cookies (recipe from Stacy Julian).

I am wearing . . . navy cords, burgundy turtleneck sweater, a long gold heart necklace, downfilled vest, and slippers.

I am reading . . . for book club - The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly -  set in Burma, it's the story of a political prisoner who spent 26 years in solitary confinement.

I am hoping . . . to do some online shopping this week.

I am hearing . . . Andre' Bocelli and Mary Jane Blige singing "What Child is This?" on the Oprah show tonight.  This is one of the tracks on Bocelli's new CD, My Christmas - it's awesome and very moving!

I am creating . . . a family Christmas photo card.

Around the house and yard . . . snow!  The hardwood floor is finished but tools are scattered throughout the house and the dust is thick enough to write your name in it!

One of my favourite things . . . vacuuming the new floor!  It's so easy and looks so good when it's done.  If you know me, you know that vacuuming is way, way down on my list of fun things to do - so this is a radical change for me!

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .  a full week of subbing, the women's Christmas program at our church, a box to get ready to mail and hopefully more sewing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . bananas hanging in the market in Stonetown, Zanzibar.  I love how they grow and thought a tropical picture would be good today :))

Thanks to Peggy for this project.  You can read more daybooks here.