Thanksgiving for Christmas - thinking outside the box

No one wants sickness right before Christmas. Especially not the real and actual flu. And especially not in a toddler. Yes, today my two year old tested positive for the real and actual Influenza virus. We often throw the word flu around anytime we have a cold and body aches and don't know the name of the exact bug we've caught. Most cold viruses are not super dangerous, but the Flu can be life threatening, especially in children and the elderly.

Today I am giving thanks for our current medical system. I'm giving thanks for our ability to look into a drop of blood, or a swab of mucus, and read critical data. Hundreds of years ago we did not know the difference between the common cold and the Flu and we didn't have a specific medicine for the Flu. Now we do, and if it's given within the first 48 hours, it can save lives.  I'm also giving thanks for the Mommy gut instinct God gave every Mommy. It is often confused with Mommy FEAR, our other, not-so-good, tendency. I often doubt myself, unsure of the difference. But today I am thankful that I got it right. I normally wait the recommended 3 days, when a fever shows up, before taking my baby to the doctor. Sickness strengthens the immune system and I don't want to throw medicine at her every time she is sick. But today something felt wrong. And as it turns out, I was right. If I'd waited the usual three days, there would have been no medicine to help her win this fight.

This reminds me that there is no black and white answer to rely on for every single circumstance. There are always exceptions to the rules we live by.  I am reminded how dependent we are on Divine Wisdom to guide us.

As Mom's, we are especially prone to grasp for formula's to make us feel safe. And for good reason. We love our children more than anything in the world and will do anything for them. There are many blogs out there, and Mom's on playgrounds, with loud voices, telling us how to raise our kids, giving us only one rigid view on anything we might encounter as a parent.  I like to think of myself as independent, strong minded, and confident. But I'm not above getting stressed out by the comments of another Mom on the playground.  So today I want to remind all of us that rules-of-thumb are fantastic on most days, but let's relax and be free of the harsh sensation that there is always only one right way to do things, whether it's diet, potty training, discipline...you name it.  Let's remember to look upward, to the One who is leading us, and follow our gut in an unusual direction if that is the way He leads us.  We have all heard that some children don't follow the usual pattern and every situation is different. This principle does not just apply to Moms. LIFE rarely follows the same pattern every time. Let's be ready to think outside the box.  

Let's be ready to think outside the box even when thinking about "the perfect Christmas."

No one wants sickness right before Christmas. Especially not the Flu. But I am giving thanks for the silver lining.  I've spent a lot more time this year, than any other year, staring at the beautiful lights on my tree while I hold my baby. Which leads me to give thanks for a busy toddler who is actually snuggling me in the middle of the day. What better Christmas could I have?

Small Thanksgivings - A Delight All It's Own

Scattered all across this land today, my family is celebrating Thanksgiving together in spirit, but not in body.  Gatherings of 20-30 persons, that we all love so much, are dwindled to smaller numbers when life circumstances keep us from traveling.  This year it was going to be 8 of us at my house, but then strep throat struck and our number dwindled down to 4, including the toddler.
But there's actually something special about a Thanksgiving gathering of 4.  After all, "where two or three are gathered..."

Candy Cornucopia

Want a fun, easy food craft to make your Thanksgiving day sparkle?  Try Candy Cornucopia.  

This simple project has cheered me up today, a woman celebrating Thanksgiving away from home and bogged down with too many things to list here.  Sound familiar?  I'm certain most of us could say we feel bogged down with too many things to list.

Our Thanksgiving table is going to be simple by American standards.  Only 5 dishes, including the pie.  But at the last minute I've decided to include this party favor for each place setting.  I've never done this candy craft before, but it took me 15 minutes to assemble 8 plates, and it is delighting me from my fingers to my toes.

You can build this with any variation of candy you prefer.  What's in mine?  Three smarties, a handful of gummy bears, 2 skinny cow dreamy clusters, and a handful of jolly rancher sour bites. All stuffed in a waffle cone and laid on a paper plate.

My daughter and nephews are gonna get big eyes when they see this.  And I'm glad there will be one waiting on my plate too because I kinda feel like I'm 10 years old again at the moment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Life on the Move - Searching for Home

Weather is finally cooling here in Alabama.  Autumn is truly here, my favorite time of year! when I can open the windows and invite fresh air into my home.  It's exactly what I've waited for all summer, and tomorrow I'm leaving this gloriousness and moving to Florida for two months.  We are doing this for several reasons, work included.
A month ago, if you suggested I move to Florida for two months, I would have rejected it outright. My home is currently in Alabama.  For twenty years I have searched for a place to call home and now that I've finally found it, I don't want to leave.  Or so I thought.  

A few weeks ago, during a visit to Florida, I lay on my back at the end of yoga class and thought to myself, "wouldn't it be really great to move back and stay here for a few months?"  In that moment, I realized I still feel at home in Florida.  A few hours later I received a call and learned I would indeed be forced to move back to Florida for two months.  On my back, in a quiet moment on a wooden floor, perhaps it was the Spirit giving me an idea, preparing me for the coming news, letting me feel like it was my own idea.

A new way of life has been stirring in my heart.  For twenty years I have searched for a place to settle down and never leave, my heart yearning for a sense of belonging.  My heart still yearns.  Yet I'm making peace with the idea that some people are meant to live in one place for a lifetime and some people are meant to wander.  I thought I was the type to settle and now I'm learning that I'm meant to travel.  This explains why I felt at home in ALL the places I've lived: Vermont, Virginia, Colorado, Destin Florida, Orlando Florida, Switzerland and Alabama.  It also explains why I have always felt the urge to move on at some point.  

I always say that my true home is not of this world.  My home resides in the spiritual realm and I think I'm embracing this reality on a new level.  I was holding onto another person's ideal that did not belong in my own life and it was weighing me down.  I thought everyone needed roots to be healthy. But maybe my roots come from another Source.

Therefore, after a three month period of writer's block, as I sit down to write to you again, it seems fitting that the name of my blog has changed... again.  I am now writing to you from, Deep Scent of Jasmine: Life of a Homemaker Searching for Home.  This is the blog of a woman who will build a new nest many, many times throughout her life, continually seeking ways to change and grow.  She will always be at home and she will always be on her way Home.

As we speak, I am writing to you from my backyard patio.  This is my favorite place in the house.  It is where my almost two year old and I eat breakfast every morning, weather allowing.  She eats and plays while I drink my morning tea and slowly wake up.  I took the following photo of her this morning from this spot.  We will miss our big green lawn in Alabama, but we plan to return.  Perhaps Samantha was having a chat with Tigger about our upcoming move.  Perhaps she was preparing his heart for it.

Blueberries for Samantha

Berry Picking has been part of my life every year since childhood.  There have only been one or two years when I missed picking because I moved to a new state or country and didn't know where to go to pick that year.
I'm beyond thrilled to see that my daughter has taken an immediate shine to one of my favorite traditions. She immediately knew what to do.  I didn't give her a single instruction.

A Day of Recovery

Today was a day of recovery.  Many recoveries....
It was our first day home as a family after two weeks away.
It was the day we went to the doctor and learned that our 18 month old has clean lungs. After a 5 week battle, she is Pneumonia free!
It was the day our beloved dog, Tigger, escaped, ran away, and was miraculously recovered 3 hours later, without a collar and tag, by my husband, who merely happened to drive by and see a saint of a woman already posting lost and found pictures.

Most importantly, it is the day I have found renewed strength, love and energy for raising my whiny, yet sweet and adorable, treasure of a child. My husband surprised me last week with a weekend getaway all by myself while he babysat. It was my first overnight away from my baby and, at nearly 18 months since her birth, it was much needed.  I have come home eager to spend as many hours and days as possible with her.

And last, but not least, it is the day my small herb and vegetable garden revived after near death.  These poor infant tomato and basil plants wilted badly during my two weeks away. Apparently I didn't leave them enough water in the basin. Thankfully, a little water and love has worked a miracle.

It is life expanding and necessary to travel, but there is no place like home.  Tonight I am thankful for my home, my life as a homemaker, and all the recoveries of the day which made my home buzz and come to life again.

Magazine Review - life:beautiful

My favorite magazine is considering going all digital online.  This is not simply my favorite magazine.  It is the ONLY magazine I read.  I'm a slow reader.  As a homemaker with a zillion hobbies, I don't have time for more than one magazine.  This one is perfect.  It's published seasonally, four times per year.

I LOVE this magazine.  When I learned that the changing world of print media may be forcing them to change with the times and quit printing and move to all digital format, I nearly croaked.  I love the Internet for certain things, but I also love holding beautiful print material in my own two hands as I read the life giving words and absorb the food and colors and ideas splashed across the page.  It is a rare delight and I will go into mourning if life:beautiful magazine stops arriving in my mailbox with the onset of each new season.

Therefore, I am spreading the word!  life:beautiful will continue to arrive in mailboxes across the globe if enough people express interest and subscribe.

This magazine is like a Good Housekeeping and Travel magazine and Christian Living magazine all rolled into one.  If this sounds wonderful to you, please click the link below.  Subscribe and spread the word.
This magazine has touched my life.  Not only has it inspired new recipes on my table, but there have been days when I was spiritually drooping and life:beautiful re-connected me to the Lord Himself.
Click below and see for yourself.....

http://www.lifebeautifulmagazine.com/

Quiet Joy

I want to write a long and beautiful post today.  But I have no words.  My heart is full and quiet with indescribable Peace and incredible Joy.

Instead, I will share with you pictures from our humble, beautiful, Life moving Easter Sunday.

Originally, I thought I was going to share one or two pictures of Samantha's first Easter basket, which Chris and I gave her on Friday before he left for India.  I was going to share that because that is the only interesting news I thought we would be blessed with today.  Instead, I was surprised with pictures and moments far more beautiful.

An Alabama Snow Story

It was another unusually cold morning in Alabama.  I'm not in the habit of checking the weather every day, so I had no idea what was coming.  We were spending an hour in the bathtub, steamy, cozy and snug, far away from the chilly drafts of the living room when we got a text from her Daddy. 

"It's snowing," he announced.  I ran out of the bathroom to look out the window.  Oh man!  I just put her in the bathtub for her turn. (We were taking turns.)  "I hope it's still snowing when she's done with her bath," I thought.  Little did I know, we had plenty of time.

View from my bedroom window

She enjoyed her bath and 30 minutes later I bundled her up to introduce her to snow for the second time. (Thanksgiving in the Virginia mountains was her first taste of snow.) 

It was so exciting as we walked outside to check it out.  We didn't think we would see snow in Alabama this year.

Our hands got super cold, super fast, so I reluctantly took her back inside.  We ate maple syrup on snow and slowly began to piece together bits of news.  The weather forecast had been wrong.  This storm was expected to hit southern Alabama. School was cancelled down there and Northern Alabama sent their few snow clearing trucks down south to help out.  Little did they know, we'd be in dire need up here.  As the morning progressed it became obvious how icy it was becoming. Schools let out and families tried to reunite, many without success.  The fortunate children spent the night at school and day care, warm and cared for by teachers, while parents spent the night on the floor at work. The unfortunate ones spent 9, 16 or 24 hours on the road, just trying to drive a few miles.  Roads were clogged by stand still traffic, accidents and cars slipping and sliding into one another. Even the best snow drivers in America couldn't drive on this rare sheet of ice. Many were forced to abandon vehicles and seek the nearest shelter.

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The view turned whiter as the day progressed.  Husband/Daddy made it home safely at noon.  He works only a mile away with no steep hills to travel and has a four wheel drive truck.  No trouble for us.  

Indeed, this sort of trouble with two inches of snow is a foreign concept to us.  We both grew up driving in deep New England snow, the sound of massive snow plow trucks never far away, constantly clearing the way, wherever we wanted to go.

Late in the afternoon, after nap time, we headed back outside to play in the snow, this time with several extra layers and mittens.

I've never been so thankful for my warm house, and family in it with me, as I was these last two days.  As I write, temperature is rising, snow and ice are thawing and stranded motorists make their way back to cars to untangle the roads, no doubt looking forward to stepping foot inside their homes again, never more grateful for the warm shower coming to them this afternoon.

Sunshine Hallelujahs

Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, the sun is out!  After two months of very little sun, we've had several days of sun non stop.  We've taken our lunch outside every day.

Here in our home, when we spend time outside, we sleep deeper and we smile more.