Thursday, October 30, 2014 | By: Anita

Good Reading

I have always loved to read. As a kid growing up, my favourite thing to do was to find a quiet corner and lose myself in a book for hours on end. Sure it was nerdy but it was always an exciting way to go on an adventure. To be honest, not much has changed now that I am an adult.

I still love to read. Throw in a few cups of tea and call it wonderful!

At the beginning of the year I set for myself a goal to read 150 books {currently I'm reading book #75} This goal seems somewhat lofty and I am not sure if I’ll get to 150 but I’ll keep on ~ cause yah! I like to read.

Here's a list of the 5 best books I’ve read so far!


On the Island ~ Tracey Garvis-Graves
When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.
T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments -- instead of his friends.
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.
Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.”


What she left Behind ~ Ellen Marie Wiseman
“Ten years ago, Izzy Stone’s mother fatally shot her father while he slept. Devastated by her mother’s apparent insanity, Izzy, now seventeen, refuses to visit her in prison. But her new foster parents, employees at a local museum, have enlisted Izzy’s help in cataloguing items at a long-shuttered state asylum. There, amid piles of abandoned belongings, Izzy discovers a stack of unopened letters, a decades old journal, and a window into her own past.
Clara Cartwright, eighteen years old in 1929, is caught between her overbearing parents and her love for an Italian immigrant. Furious when she rejects an arranged marriage, Clara’s father sends her to a genteel home for nervous invalids. But when his fortune is lost in the stock market crash, he can no longer afford her care—and Clara is committed to the public asylum.
Even as Izzy deals with the challenges of yet another new beginning, Clara’s story keeps drawing her into the past. If Clara was never really mentally ill, could something else explain her own mother’s violent act? Piecing together Clara’s fate compels Izzy to re-examine her own choices—with shocking and unexpected results.”

Everything to Lose ~ Andrew Gross
“A determined, (down on her luck, ) mother caring for her handicapped son becomes entangled in a murderous conspiracy to keep a twenty year old secret buried in this blistering thriller, set during the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, from Andrew Gross, the New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds and No Way Back.
While driving along a suburban back road, Hilary Blum, who's just lost her job and whose deadbeat husband has left her alone to care for her son with Asperger's, witnesses a freakish accident. A car ahead of her careens down a hill and slams into a tree. Stopping to help, she discovers the driver dead--and a satchel stuffed with a half a million dollars.
That money could prevent her family's ruin and keep her special needs son in school. In an instant, this honest, achieving woman who has always done the responsible thing makes a decision that puts her in the center of maelstrom of dark consequences and life-threatening recriminations--a terrifying scheme involving a twenty-year-old murder, an old woman who's life has been washed out to sea, and a powerful figure bent to keep the secret that can destroy him hidden.
With everything to lose, everything she loves, Hilary connects to a determined cop from Staten Island, reeling from the disaster of Sandy, to bring down an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep what that money was meant to silence, still buried.”

The Puzzle Barktree ~ Stephanie Gertler
Grace Hammond Barnett grew up in the emotionally desolate company of the strangers who were her mother and father. Her only happy memories are of the times spent with her younger sister, Melanie, and Jemma, the warm-hearted family housekeeper who helped fill the void left by Grace's detached, inaccessible parents. Now a mother herself, Grace feels trapped in a sterile marriage to a prominent surgeon and haunted by the recurrent dreams of drowning. Her only anchor is her cherished daughter, Kate.
In the aftermath of her parents' sudden double suicide -- a tragedy that leaves Grace, Melanie, and Jemma reeling -- Grace is bequeathed a house she never knew existed. Leaving her penthouse in Manhattan on New Year's Eve, she travels alone to Sabbath Landing, New York, to a log cabin house on Canterbury Island, surrounded by Diamond Lake. Here, Grace meets Luke Keegan, a local fishing guide whose family history is inextricably bound to hers...and to a devastating secret buried in the cloudy memory of childhood.
With compassion and elegance, Stephanie Gertler crafts an emotionally rich story of what it means to survive and thrive against all odds. Like its intricate, interlocking pieces that branch out to shape lives, The Puzzle Bark Tree plumbs the mysteries of the people we can never truly know...of the incomplete memories we carry with us, and the love that can make us whole.”


Mean Streak ~ Sandra Brown
Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a paediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.
While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.
Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can't turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.
As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.”

What are you reading these days?

Blessings
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 | By: Anita

Autumn Decor

Autumn is my favourite season of the year! I really appreciate the pretty colours, and the foods eaten during this time of the year. Oversized comfy sweaters, falling leaves of red, yellow and orange and delicious soups warm my heart in autumn time.

My daughter also loves this time of year as well. And one of the many things she does is bring autumn into her home.

She does this with:

Colour

Autumn is full of so many beautiful colors: red, orange, yellow, and even brown. She uses pumpkins and gourds to showcase the many colours of fall. She’ll add printed sayings about fall and autumn throughout the house. Just by placing these items strategically in and around her home she brings autumn into the house.

Aroma

Candles are also a good way to add autumn aromas in the home; which you will find liberally throughout her house. Scents of cinnamon, pine or apple. Since she is also a great baker she’ll easily whip up a batch of homemade biscuits or muffins to add wondrous scents to her home. This time of year also finds her making soups and with a good stew/chilli simmering it makes her home smell amazing!

Taste

There also seems to be certain foods that just say autumn. I’ve already mentioned stews and soups but she also uses crock-pot meals as a way to add the aroma of autumn to her home. We’ll spend a day together putting 20+ freezer meals that are not only super easy to pop into the crock-pot but also bring the season of fall to mind.

It is her JOY to liven up their home with the beauty autumn brings each year. And with this welcoming atmosphere, all guests, myself included enjoy their time in her home.

How do you bring autumn into your home?

Blessings

Monday, October 27, 2014 | By: Anita

mhmm monday

This time of year finds me in the kitchen baking... muffins, cookies, or breads.   So when this website posted this I knew it was one I wanted to try!

Ingredients:
1 stick softened salted butter
½ c sugar
1 egg
3 large ripened bananas mashed
1 t vanilla
1 c whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
2 T extra dark cocoa powder
½ c sour cream
1 c dark chocolate chips (mini will work as well, but I prefer regular sized ones in this recipe)
Directions:
Preheat over to 350℉
Grease a 9×5 loaf pan, or 2 mini pans with non-stick spray.
Cream the butter and sugar together.
Stir in the egg, mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla until well blended.
Add baking soda, cocoa, and whole wheat flour.
Mix everything until well incorporated.
Add chocolate chips.
Pour batter into loaf pan(s) and bake for 45 minutes for a loaf pan or 30 minutes for a mini loaf pan until a tooth pick inserted in the center come out clean.
Remove from oven and let it cool ten minutes before removing from the pan.
Enjoy!

Blessings
Saturday, October 25, 2014 | By: Anita

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 43

Last weekend The Lambton Museum hosted The Lambton Fall Colour and Craft Festival,  where a variety of craftpersons offer their wares including:
folk art
woodworking
fine art
photography
children and ladies clothing
jewellery
stained glass
pottery
food (baked good, sauces & mixes, candy, etc.)
knitting and crochet
and more, who come together to share their talents.

I enjoy attending each year, and this year Krystle & I set aside the afternoon last Saturday and we wandered throughout the aisles of the many crafters. I usually find myself in awe of their skills, silently wishing I could have excelled in one of those areas. It doesn’t take long before a frown sets in and I have to wonder “But am I using my talents?” That’s when the doubts starts to creep in, and I really to begin to question my value and my worth. The harder I try to push and force myself to be something I’m not, the deeper the rut grows.

Thankfully the Holy Spirit begins to speak and I am reminded “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:14 {New International Version {NIV}}
And then I smile to myself!

I remind myself that there is no need to worry. HE has me somewhere else ~ with a purpose that I might not be able to see at the time and to simply appreciate the gifts and talents of others.

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | By: Anita

Happy and know it!

“You're never happy.”  Those are the words said to me by my husband. And I will be honest, the words hurt. However, those words probably hurt because I knew there was truth to them. While the word “never” is a bit extreme, when I'm honest with how I've responded in recent situations, I can appreciate why my husband would make such a statement. 

But those words have pierced my heart. Maybe God needed me to hear those words. Not in an attempt to be hurtful {that is not God}, but to draw me closer to Him..

Life is so full of good things, we ought to be happy. But you, see I equate happy with perfect!

Alice Domar, in her book Be Happy without being Perfect” reminds those of us with perfectionist tendencies that ‘perfection is the enemy of happiness’ and that ‘we’re not perfect and guess what? we don't have to be’.

And yet, if I’m not careful, I tend to rush through the process of living on my way to the next big thing. Too often I've allowied circumstances to dictate whether or not I am happy. I've wasted countless hours and days and even years looking ahead, eager for the following appointment. 


Life will never be perfect. I know, I know I am slow on the uptake…

So through it all, in our longing to have and be more, we need to learn:

to enjoy this place,
to slow down and be present, and
to give thanks for it all.


“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 {New International Version {NIV}}

The truth is, today is all we have. So we might as well live it cheerfully. And honour Him. And bring Him glory. And trust Him. The key to staying HAPPY is to be thankful for all things.  

 ♪♫♫♪ Cause if you’re happy and you know, then you really want to show it… if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands {clap, clap} ♪♫♫♪ 

Happy, not perfect … there is a difference!

Blessings
Monday, October 20, 2014 | By: Anita

mhmm monday

With the cooler days starting to arrive, there is a good feeling about going back to comfort foods in the kitchen.    All recipes shared from this website are tried, tested and true from the kitchens of women just like me.  It's my favourite go to when looking for great new recipes.

Tortellini and Cauliflower Bake 
Ingredients:
4 cups cauliflower, cut bite size
1 (350 g / 12 oz) package tortellini of choice
1 (280 g/ 10 oz) package fresh spinach
1 1/2 cups combination of mozzarella, cheddar and Monterrey Jack Cheese
2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
freeze dried basil

Cheese Sauce:
3 Tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 Tbsp flour
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups combination of mozzarella, cheddar and Monterrey Jack Cheese
1 tsp freeze dried basil

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
In the meantime, in a saucepan, melt butter, stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds, stirring.
Add flour, stirring in with whisk, gradually adding the milk and stirring until smooth. Add salt, cheese and basil and continue stirring until bubbly. Set aside.
To boiling water in large pot, add cauliflower and bring to boil again, then add tortellini.
Bring to boil once more, cooking cauliflower and tortellini 5 minutes, then add spinach and cook until wilted.
Drain and transfer pasta and vegetables into 2.5 liter /quart oven proof dish.
Pour cheese sauce over top and mix in. Top with grated cheese and tomatoes. Sprinkle with extra basil.
Bake at 375 F for 20 - 30 minutes. Serves 5
Enjoy!

Blessings
Saturday, October 18, 2014 | By: Anita

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 42

On Monday we had our family home to the farm for Thanksgiving dinner… And you know what? I’m really starting to love the tradition of family home for holidays. The house is fuller and is so much more lively when the kids are here… to be honest I had at first debated whether or not to even have Thanksgiving dinner. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to celebrate knowing that our son Kyle {who lives in Orillia} was unable to attend… but I reminded myself that even though he is not able to come, it isn’t fair to the other two who can make it.

As the day approached, I found myself getting super excited to have my family here. That morning, I found myself waking up early, in a bit of a tizzy to start my day. Krystle and Gerard arrived here by mid-day. We played several games and enjoyed the scrumptious appy’s that she brought. Darcy and his roommate arrived later in the afternoon and shortly after that we found ourselves sitting down to a delicious dinner of roast turkey, gravy, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes {had received a text earlier in the week requesting both from the boys} stuffing, green beans with sautéed onions, carrots, peas, coleslaw, and bread. And of course no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie and Krystle brought a Nutella Pumpkin Pie.    Mhmm, mhmm, so good!

Tuesday, was the Anniversary of my 29th birthday.
Having just had the family home the day before and with the Farmer super busy this time of year, the day came and went without much fanfare.  But Krystle wouldn’t let my special day pass by without some sort of celebration. So on Thursday we found ourselves heading off to Beertown for drinks & dinner.

With the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday and my birthday on Tuesday, it was simply a beautiful week! 

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings
Thursday, October 16, 2014 | By: Anita

Patience

Ok, let’s face it!

There are going to be times in our lives when we have to wait. Whether its at the grocery store, in the Doctors office, or at a stop light. I dont know about you, but I am NOT the most patient of people. {just ask the hubs} Especially when it comes to waiting for something, that Ive been specifically praying for.

It’s hard sometimes. Being patient in a difficult situation will always challenge us. And yet, patience is a delicate trait we are called to have. So, how can we practice patience daily in all circumstances?

It simply does not come easy for me. I am working on accepting my reality as a gift from God. In all things, He is God, and He is good. I long to be patient in every situation, yet more often than not, I find myself yearning and seeking things, that may or may not be a part of God’s plan for my life.

I was literally talking/praying out loud while I walked the country road and was working my way through the labyrinth of emotions related to our situation. I started the sentence with ‘If it is your will ... blah, blah’ and then I stopped. If it is his will? OK. Well, what if it’s not? I am not sure why but suddenly I felt I needed to make the prayer specifically about my heart. I began to think that praying if it is your will please let this or that happen leaves the door open to feel wronged and dismayed if I don’t ‘get’ what I want.  How about praying for trust in His leading that He will provide in HIS time. What if I changed my prayer to receive His decision with grace and acceptance?

If I believe that God is in control of my life, then no matter what happens, I must learn to remain in a place of peace and rest, {read patient} that I have all that I need.
Can a person who feels stuck really be trusting God with her future?

I believe so

God knows and understands the ache in my heart. But God, who knows the end from the beginning, must have something on the horizon. Until then, I lean, I trust and I let go.

Change is hard. Too often I find myself running ahead, trying to put all the pieces together. And if I am not patient, I may miss the God opportunities that are waiting for me. What if there is a blessing just around the corner and I miss it, because I crossed the street? In order to be patient, I must fully lean on the strength of the Lord, in each and every season.

It doesn’t matter what life throws at me, God remains the same. And I find so much comfort in knowing that though my circumstances will change, and they will change often, God Himself does not change. He remains the same.

I know that God has an amazing plan for our lives. {Jeremiah 29:11}

I will welcome this next season with open arms with excitement and joy, believing there is greater glory that will be given to the One who deserves it all.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 {New Living Translation {NLT}}

How do you practice patience in your life?

Blessings
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | By: Anita

Favourite Fourteen

I’ve been sitting here thinking and thinking about what I wanted to post today... You see it’s my birthday… and while we’re not really celebrating, it’s still kinda a big deal for me.
Since my birthday is always near or sometimes even on Thanksgiving, we’ve been celebrating usually one or the other. It wasn’t until 2010, when in June, Krystle got married and both boys left for post-secondary school that I really started to focus on making a Thanksgiving dinner.
 
In fact my one son asked me “Mom, do you even know how to cook a turkey?” Thanks J
 
While the kids lived at home we ate most of our meals together so it didn’t seem important to celebrate Thanksgiving with just us because we still went to my parents for dinner. So we focused more on my birthday… now with the kids all out on their own it’s hard to expect them to come home for mom’s birthday especially if it’s mid-week and/or it’s not a “special” one.
 
It’s ok really, it’s not like I am 7 or anything…

Every year, I’ve written about my birthdays and/or our Thanksgiving family times; and as I looked back over each year’s postings, my heart did a little happy dance..

So here are the 14 blog posts in the last 7 years of our celebrations.

2007 ~ I turned 40 

2008 ~ A birthday and postscript

2009 ~ Being thankful and birthday thoughts

2010 ~ New Thanksgiving traditions and birthday wishes

2011 ~ Celebrations and mid-week thanks 

2012 ~ Turning 45 and feeling blessed


2013 ~ Happy thoughts and family times and full of thankful

These are some of my favourite memories…

Blessings


Monday, October 13, 2014 | By: Anita

mhmm monday

When the girls over at this website shared this pumpkin recipe last year, I knew it would be become a favourite for this time of year!

Pumkin Angle Food Cake

Ingredients:
1 box 450 grams or 1 lb white angel food cake mix
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 398 ml / 15 oz can or 1 2/3 cups pure pumpkin puree {not pumpkin pie filling}
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice  or {2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg}
3/4 cup cold water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F°
Spray the pan of your choice with cooking spray.
Combine all the ingredients in a large glass or metal bowl and beat on medium speed for one minute. Scrape bowl once in between to ensure all ingredients have been mixed in.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick comes out clean. The cake will need between 30 - 45 minutes to bake depending on your pan. To test for doneness, a toothpick inserted into the thickest part of the cake should come out clean.
Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
 
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
1/3 cup softened butter
1 cup softened cream cheese {can be spreadable}
about 2 cups icing/powdered sugar
finely chopped crystallized ginger {optional}

Directions:
Beat together butter and cream cheese and then slowly beat in the powdered/icing sugar until you have a spreadable frosting that holds its shape.
Spread evenly over cake and garnish with finely chopped crystallized ginger.
Slices into 12 servings
Enjoy!

Blessings
Sunday, October 12, 2014 | By: Anita

Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving! 
♪♫♫♪♪♫♫♪♪♫♫♪♫♫♪♪♫♫♪♫♫♪♪
Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is with us
Forever
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
♪♪♫♪♫♪♪♫♫♪♪♪♫♫♪♪
Forever by Chris Tomlin

What are you thankful for?

Blessings
Saturday, October 11, 2014 | By: Anita

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 41

It was a whirlwind weekend of wonderful!

My sister decided we needed a girls’ trip and despite the fact that I am terrified of getting lost, she convinced me that this trip was not-optional. Since one of the 14 goals in 2014 was to take a road trip with girls, I figured who better than with my mom, my sister and my daughter.

Deciding that an overnight trip to Birch Run Mall in Port Huron, Michigan was the place to go we headed out on our adventure, last Friday. Where we spent the first part of our evening at Applebee’s feasting on the delicious appetizers and where I tried the super fun Corona’rita.

We then spent the rest of the evening in our hotel room; chatting, laughing, playing games and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

Saturday dawned bright and early for a day of shopping… yes, shopping
At the end of the day, I came away with several different tops that will co-ordinate with so many clothes already in my closet.  It was a day well spent, {both literally and monetarily} and a wonderful way to spend time together!


What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings
Thursday, October 9, 2014 | By: Anita

One day at a time

And then there are those handful of days when I don’t feel well, like today. I woke up at 4am. I’m not sure why exactly, other than it‘s been one of those nights. I do know that I don’t have the energy to commit to the day I had planned. Instead of getting it all done, I have to conserve energy, take care of myself, heal, and identify what I really need to accomplish.

If you struggle with chronic illness like me, or are under the weather, or are just having a bad day, take the pressure off and ask this question …

What’s the only thing you have to do today?


A few years ago, I would have pushed through, gone to work, ran errands, carried the world around on my shoulders, and pretended I felt fine, only to feel worse at the end of the day and the next day, and the day after that. Sound familiar?

But I’ve learned that…

cleaning can wait
errands can wait
email can wait
all of the other bits and pieces can wait.
If I feel better later I’ll do them and if I don’t, I won’t. They can wait.

I'll be feeling better soon, but this is a great reminder that doing less creates time and space to love more, enjoy more, and to be more.

Blessings
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | By: Anita

Really? Really!

How are you… really??

Should I be honest?  I wondered.

What if I start crying? What if she doesn’t really have time to listen? What if she’s just asking to be nice?


I could keep it simple and say, “I’m fine.”

There I was, standing in the lobby at church waiting for my husband, when a friend walked up and asked how I was doing. Since I am in active cycle of my illness I was not “fine.”

I was exhausted. I was overwhelmed. I was afraid.

Sometimes it’s hard to let people know how we’re really doing because we don’t want to be high maintenance, right?  And it’s easy to believe people don’t really want to know when they ask. Sometimes they don’t.  But what about those times when someone sincerely wants to know and I still don’t want to tell them?

There are times when I tell people I’m fine even when I’m not, because I want to be. I hope by saying “I’m fine” that eventually I will be. Other times I act like I’m fine because I think others expect me to be.

Then there are days when hormones trump all good manners and if my people are within ten feet they know I am NOT fine. In fact, if I tell them I am, what I really mean is that I am Freaked out, Irrational, Neurotic, and Exhausted!

But not in public. Not where others can see the real me.

This my year to be intentional about what I say, what I do and more importantly who I am and choose to follow. I wonder, can we be women who live unfiltered lives? Not a call to use words carelessly, over-share, or end all creativity, but to say “Here I am. Just as God made me.”

Can we share the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful and bring God glory through our interntionality? Can we be women who embrace imperfection?

Can we say…
I struggle with anger ~ but trust God to give me peace
I’m insecure ~ but believe God’s plan for my life is good
I’m not a strong speaker ~ but know that God will give me the message
I worry ~ but have faith that God’s way is best
I struggle with envy ~ but trust God knows why it’s not yet my turn
I’m not perfect ~ but God will fill in where I am weak

And that is where I stood that day in the lobby at church. At a pivotal point of decision. Will I be honest and let her see the real me? Should I let her know how I’m really doing?

Everything in me wanted to keep my guard up, keep my heart sealed off and my lips sealed tight.

But I was tired. Tired of pretending I was fine.
So I took a risk. I let my heart, my words and my tears spill. Shared the hard parts of this life. And while it feels safer to pick and choose the pieces of our lives we share, there is freedom and fellowship when we remove the filter of “fine.”

I want you to share that you don’t have it all together, because then I can pray for you. I want you to share your victories ~ the big and the seemingly insignificant ~ so I can cheer for you. I want to see the photos of the beautiful party and the mess left when everyone leaves, so I can relate to a heart that cares more about people than perfectly swept floors.

I believe we can be women who choose to share our live with intention, ones that are filtered by nothing more than the grace of God.

God is working His grace and His strength in my weakness.

When I’m willing to be weak, He gets to be strong. When I’m willing to be real, others get to see, pray for and get to know the “real me” and the real God I desperately need and love.

When someone asks how you are or how they can pray for you, is it hard to be real with them?

Blessings

Monday, October 6, 2014 | By: Anita

mhmm monday

I am always looking for new recipes to make for dinner.  So when this website shared this super yum and super simple way to make chicken, I was all over it and decided to make it happen! 
 
Pineapple Salsa Chicken

Ingredients:
2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken {6-8 thighs or 4-6 breasts}
1 20 ounce can of pineapple, juice drained
1 16 ounces jar of salsa
 
Directions:
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray
Place chicken in slow cooker
Top chicken with salsa and pineapple
Cook on low for 6-8 hours
If freezing, place chicken in the bag and cover with salsa and pineapple. Freeze. Defrost overnight in the fridge and cook in slow cooker for 6-8 hours
 
Blessings
Saturday, October 4, 2014 | By: Anita

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 40

October!
 
It’s my favourite month of the year. Not because my birthday is there in the middle of it, although that doesn’t hurt… for me though, this month marks the entrance into my ever most favourite season ~ Autumn.

It’s the most beautiful outdoor season of the year.

I stand looking out in awe of the most beautiful colours of the landscape, where orange meets blue, brown meets rust and red shines though the green. That is until the chill of winter sets in, but that’s for another post.

The cool, crisp temperatures, the beautiful leaves, pumpkin spice tea, and fresh apple cider. It is all just delightful!
 
The trees certainly don’t seem to mind the change. The slowing down of growth. They continue to wave their imposing limbs toward heaven in praise, perhaps just grateful for the dormancy that the cooler weather brings. The rest. The leisure. All in His timing.
God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
{Ecclesiastes 3:11a, {NLT}}
 
So I stop and enjoy this season as I continue to watch His glorious work of closing summer’s door and opening autumn’s.
What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings
Friday, October 3, 2014 | By: Anita

Pain

I opened my devotional and the page is titled, “Pain”. oh the irony of the timing... I’ve been symptomatic with my illness and to be honest, I just wanted to flip to another page, maybe read a different thought. I wanted something encouraging and uplifting.

I didn’t want to think about pain. When it’s something you deal with almost everyday, you want your devotional to help you think of something else, anything else. I wanted to think of life, breathing, and growing.

But here’s what I learned …

Pain can be redemptive ~ your broken heart can lead you to God. Pain can reveal God’s power as you see Him respond to your cry for help. Pain can test and prove your commitment to God. Pain equips you to comfort others in their pain because you know what they are going through.

I thought back over the last few weeks, and honestly, we’ve experienced a little of each of those things. Pain is a funny thing. It leaves you feeling mangled; a bit disfigured or marred. It crushes hope right out of your lungs if you but give it the chance. 


We may be pain now, in this moment, but the thing is ~ it will pass.

My thoughts derail as I reflect on where I’ve been and I tell myself that, even though I don’t know where I’m going, a faithful God has been leading me down this road the entire time and I have no reason not to trust.
So here’s the thing we must remember … it is not going to be forever. Use your pain to strengthen your faith, your character, and your compassion for others.

“Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
Psalm 55:22 {New Living Translation {NLT}}

Blessings

Wednesday, October 1, 2014 | By: Anita

Blogtober

It seems that a lot of the blogs I follow are joining in with the Nester’s 31 Days Series ~ an invitation to write for 31 days straight for the month of October. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you’ve even done it before. 
A couple of years ago, I had been seeing a few blog posts about it. I wondered what it was as I had never heard of it before. And my curiosity was peaked. After a little investigating, I learned that it was a writing challenge where bloggers pick a topic of their choice ~ and write about this one topic ~ every day, for the 31 days of October.  I found myself checking in daily to see what was being written which resulted in me starting to follow several of these blogs…

I was thinking, that this year, I might join in on the 31 days, but wasn’t sure how I could manage it.

Last year for the month of October, I did blog every day following the prompts based on two of the blogs I used to follow regularly. I realized that since I enjoyed checking in everyday to see what they were writing about, I thought that I too could give this a try. I was excited to see what the next 31 days would teach me. 

But this year?

Deciding to write for 31 days straight seems completely intimidating and exhausting. Seriously. If you’re like me, you write maybe two or three times a week on a normal month. At the beginning of this year I introduced two weekly posts “mhmm Monday”,  featuring a recipe that I have either made or hope to make and “Beautiful Things” posted each Saturday, that shares something beautiful that happened during the week.

All through September I’ve been thinking about whether or not to join the 31 Day series. How would I continue to be inspired to write each and every day? How do I choose a topic that would be relevant for 31 days? Or, should I just continue doing my own thing?

So for this October, while I love to read those who are joining the 31 Day series ~ cause you know I’ll be checking in… daily. It’s just not the right fit for me this time.

Are you joining the 31 Days?

Blessings