Thankful

We headed to the Carolinas last week to spend Thanksgiving with my sister L, her husband M and their 3 sweet kiddos.

Earlier this month, L and I compiled a collection of our favorite family holiday dishes. Thursday morning, we got up and got to cookin’ as the Macy’s Parade went by on the television and our children played together outside and crafted Pilgrim, Indian and Turkey hats to wear at the table. I knew my sis and I were both pretty good in the kitchen but I do have to say that I’m still impressed with the meal we prepared! Only 2 cooks, one oven and four burners and everything was delicious and warm at dinner time—and right on time! Turkey, Grandmama’s cornbread dressing (turned out pretty good, but we’re convinced there must have been magic in the scale of her recipe and that old baking pan she used!), mashed potatoes, corn, Mama’s yellow squash casserole, green bean casserole (I decided to add some crumbled bacon to the recipe and loved the results), Mimi Penland’s sweet potato dumplings, roasted pears with caramelized onions, deviled eggs with bacon (yes, we are Southern cooks and believe bacon and butter can make most any dish better!), rolls and sweet tea.

Miss M said a beautiful prayer over our food, thanking God for family and many blessings and for sending His Son Jesus to be our savior, she asked God to help her and her cousins make good choices and many fun memories during our time together. I wish I’d recorded it. It was spontaneous and heartfelt and made our mealtime that much sweeter.

Thursday evening, M had a grand idea for some Thanksgiving night fun. He lit a fire in the pit and projected the movie Elf onto a big sheet he hung from their back patio. We all cuddled next to the fire with mugs of hot chocolate, homemade pumpkin pie and popcorn and roasted marshmallows while we watched the movie. So much fun! Our children had a blast—I bet they’ll never forget it!

Friday morning, Chef Mickey served up pancakes and French toast, and then we headed into Asheville for some leisurely window shopping (no black Friday craziness for us!), street entertainment, and lunch at Early Girl Eatery (to-die-for shrimp and grits! and sauteed trout with pecan butter--yum!), followed by an afternoon nature walk in the mountains.

Saturday, we were really spoiled when the L Family Bed and Breakfast started our day with homemade beignets and café au lait! Events of the day included s trip to Wahalla where thoughtful L gave all the kids flashlights and we explored Stumphouse Tunnel.

We then hiked Waterfall Trail to Isaqueena Falls and hiked the BRRR Boyscout Trail through Heritage Preserve.

After an afternoon of hiking, we stopped in Greenville on the way home for a walk around Falls Park and pizza at the Mellow Mushroom.

Saturday night we relaxed at the house and watched both our Gators and the L's Tigers lose to their biggest rivals (boo!).

Sunday morning, we kicked off Advent season with a too-cute holiday breakfast and the first sighting of the season of the L Family’s Shelf Elf before reluctantly packing up and heading for home.

Thank you LMOE&E for the fun memories and hospitality. We love y’all and look forward to the next time we are able to spend time together!

As we drove home listening to Christmas music, the girls singing along and drawing, D in the driver’s seat, I realized that everything most important precious to me, all my earthly treasures, were there with me in that van. I love my husband and girls so much it hurts. I like to tell them that the ONLY person in the universe who loves them more than me is God. Downhere’s song “How Many Kings” came on the radio and the tears started flowing as I was overwhelmed by how BIG God’s love is and how much He loves us. How much He loves ME! I am so undeserving and so unworthy, yet so amazingly blessed. I am thankful.

Scroll down and pause (II) the background music before playing the video.

Little Girl, You are a Masterpiece!

Our little Miss M turned 8 a couple of weeks ago. I can hardly believe it. Halfway to a driver’s license!?!? Only 10 years ‘til she heads off to college!?!? How can time be going by so fast???

Here are a few pictures from her art-themed birthday party at Picassoz Cup (a local paint-your-own pottery shop):

Artists at Work: Giggly Girls: Celebrating with Sweet Friends: The Birthday Girl and Her Sisters: Mama, Daddy and Birthday Girl:
Have I mentioned here that Miss M is an artist? I'm sure I have and it bears repeating--and a few examples! Here are some of my favorite recent works. I’m so in awe of them—and of her!

Here's a little glimpse of our Miss M at age 8:

She is a natural horseback rider, an animal lover and an avid reader. She has a smile of pure sunshine and a hearty belly laugh. She loves Colorado-style chicken tacos, injera and beef tibs, salmon, asparagus and ordering room service whenever we spend the night at a hotel. She has a huge heart for helping others and a thirst for adventure. She’s begging us to take her to Africa. She wants to learn to snow ski this winter and to surf next summer. She’s growing up into such a little lady, but she’s still (and will always be) our little girl. She hasn’t outgrown cuddles and still asks that Mama or Daddy tickle her back as she drifts off to sleep. She inherited my organized and goal oriented gene and gets excited about things like making grocery lists and agendas, monitoring the balance in her piggy bank and checking off items on her chore chart. Though she and her sisters have their share of spats, she can be so nurturing, gentle and kind to her sisters that it just melts my heart. She prays at night that her classmates and teachers will see the fruits of the spirit in her life and she heads off to school each day eager to learn and be everyone’s friend. God has blessed her with many talents—a beautiful singing voice, the ability to play the piano and violin, an amazing ability to draw, sketch and create. He must have big plans for her life to have blessed her so. I don’t know what we ever did to be so blessed to be her parents—but we are grateful.

My Mom-in-Love recently interviewed Miss M for a blog post. Our big girl had some thoughtful and entertaining responses (questions and answers verbatim):

Mom B: What does love mean?

Miss M: It's a kind of caring, and you feel it. You can tell people it, so they can understand you. If they don't understand it, show them that you love them by kissing them, and giving them a big hug, or doing something special for them. Or show them with your attitude... show them that you love them. I think they will understand your love by then. And if they still don't understand, try to think of other ways that you might show someone that you love them.

Mom B: Why do women wear make-up?

Miss M: Oh, I know this one, because I am a woman! So that they can be attractive to boys sometimes. Or like in plays (theater), girls will wear make-up so that they will stand out to the audience and get the boys attention. And get girls attention too. I like to look good in plays, and I like to look good for my cousins that come to see me. Women wear make-up so that they can look beautiful! You know why I think that? Because my Mama thinks she is old, and she says she needs to look pretty for my Daddy. She said that when she married Daddy she was taking off her make up for bed and thought "Oh No! Maybe he’ll think that he made a mistake that he married me!" THAT is why women wear make-up.

Mom B: Why do boys chase girls?

Miss M: ‘Cause girls are pretty, and because girls are attractive, and the boys want to attract themselves to the girls!

Mom B: So what happens when the boys catch a girl?

Miss M: I've never seen a boy catch a girl EVER before!

Mom B: Why do boys open their mouth with food in it and show it to the girls?

Miss M: Oh I know this one! They do that with pizza and show it to the girls, so little girls will laugh at them! And they WANT to be disgusting eaters! Polite girls don't think it's funny. Some funny girls think it is funny. They keep doing it until they see that the polite girls are keeping their quietness! THEN the boys will close their mouths, I think!

Mom B: Why do women wear high heels? Why does your Mama wear high heels?

Miss M: I don't know... because she doesn't like to wear them... but she wears them anyway!!! If she liked to wear them then, I would KNOW!

Mom B: Why do men shave?

Miss M: So that they can look handsome!

Mom B: What if they do not shave, how do they look then?

Miss M: I don't know ...I just think they don't want to shave. They still look good to me , even if they don't shave!

Mom B: Why do men burp?

Miss M: Men don't burp... little boys do! And I think they burp so that little girls will laugh at them... ‘cause they just want to be disgusting! Men don't burp because they’re grown-ups, and they learned not to burp. Burping is a real bad manner!

Our Miss M is pretty perceptive and has an opinion about everything! She's such a fun little girl! Thank you, God, for letting me be this precious child's mother!

Happy Birthday, MNB! Mama and Daddy Love You to the Moon and All Around the World!

Before you had a name or opened up your eyes,

Or anyone could recognize your face.

You were being formed so delicate in size

Secluded in God’s safe and hidden place.

With your tiny hands and

Little tiny feet

And little eyes that shimmer like a pearl.

He breathed in you a song and to make it all complete

He brought the masterpiece into the world.

You are a masterpiece….

And now you’re growing up your

Life’s a miracle

Every time I look at you,

I stand in awe….

-from Sandi Patti's You are a Masterpiece