Little things mean a latte!

Hubby ran out this morning & came back w/ this...

Which means I finally got to try Dunkin Donuts Peppermint Mocha Latte & mint chocolate donut! YUMmmm :) It tastes like...Christmas! Thank you, honey :)

Dinnah Down Undah

Wednesday, during our Around the World in 180 Days class, we finished up our study of Africa & moved on to Australia. Each family brought food to share & we enjoyed some Aussie Tucker together.

Our Aussie menu? Funny you should ask :)

Australian Meat Pie
(this was our contribution)

Pumpkin Scones

Bran Muffins

Vegimite

no pic :(

Toasted ham, cheese & pineapple sandwiches

Plantation Ice Tea

& for dessert!
... Avacado Ice Cream (yep, you read it right!)

& Pavlova

This unusual dessert has a meringue crust that
melts in your mouth topped w/ whipped cream & fruit

Just fun to try some new & different things.

G'day mates!

Amazing Grace

As part of our Around the World in 180 Days class we're learning what a HUGE horrible blight slavery has been across the globe & throughout time. Just HUGE. I believe I heard somewhere (in one of the movies we viewed on the subject of slavery recently) - that at one time 3/4 of the earth's population was enslaved!? Anyhow - yesterday we watched Amazing Grace ... one of my all time FAVORITE movies about British Abolitionist William Wilburforce. I love, love, LOVE this movie & admire this man. It's also the story (to a lesser degree) of John Newton who was heavily involved in slave trafficking before realizing what a sin it was, repenting & becoming a minister & the author of the reknowned hymn, Amazing Grace.




And this (from the movie soundtrack) is one of two of my favorite renditions of the hymn Amazing Grace (The other is a rendition my daughter & her piano teacher composed together which I plan to post soon). So incredibly beautiful....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqJsBRFdrA0

ADVENTure w/ Exponential Potential!

After being the recipient of a random act of kindness last year, I was inspired to attempt to celebrate Advent by "performing" at least one totally random act of kindness for someone least suspecting of it & different each day! I enjoyed it so much I didn't want to stop & carried that intent over into the new year...but as w/ most New Year's Resolutions, I'm sorry to report that it was too short lived. Anyhow - I'm excited to begin counting down the days to the celebration of Christ's birth again this way bc it is so much more meaningful than doing it w/ candy calendars & the like - & I'm encouraging my family to do the same - which should make for some interesting table talk at dinner time :)

*

***
I can only

hope that as I

attempt to shift my focus

from myself to others by looking

for meaningful ways to be a blessing

- that it will become more of a habit - and

that in that process somehow I'll become

more of the person I want to be

... without having to
try
so
hard

I haven't even started & I'm already behind!... (Dec 1 kinda snuck up on me!) but I can easily make up one day. I'm SO excited to begin & I can just imagine the exponential potential(!) for inspiration & encouragement if others are inspired in a similar way & they, in turn, inspire others ... & so on ....& so on ...& so on :)

I wonder.....would you care to join me?!

Thank God for Dirty Dishes

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.

Author Unknown

From our table to yours...

Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours!!

May your day be filled w/ food, fun, fellowship, family & friends - & your mind be so consumed w/ all that you've been blessed w/ that it pours out of your heart & mouth in the form of GIVING THANKS! :)

I'm off to bed shortly & looking forward to nodding off by counting my blessings. So much to be thankful for.

My Kitchen Prayer

God bless my little kitchen,
I love its every nook,
And bless me as I do my work,
Wash pots and pans and cook.

And may the meals that I prepare
Be seasoned from above
With Thy great blessings and Thy grace,
But most of all Thy love.

As we partake of earthly food,
The table before us spread,
We’ll not forget to thank Thee, Lord,
Who gives us daily bread.

So bless my little kitchen, God,
And those who enter in,
May they find naught but Joy and Peace,
And Happiness therein.

Author Unknown

via

a unique gift

Playmaker wrote this song as a gift for her best friend/boyfriend's 16th birthday. I wish I had filmed her when she played it for him for the first time last night at the surprise party we had for him here at our house - but I filmed her after the party instead. I've enjoyed hearing her compose it & find it to be such a unique & personal gift. She even named it after him.

It's the first song she's ever composed. So sweet.

Enjoy!