Sunday, November 06, 2005

Just a bunch of thoughts...

(Noah in his Batman costume, sitting with the scarecrows at my Mom's house)

1. Been really busy trying to organize things around the house. I don't get "Spring Cleaning" fever. I like to do it before the holidays arrive.

2. I cleaned out our linen closet today. It's SO organized. I'm happy about that. :)

3. I'm so proud of my Mom. She drove 2.5 hours on Friday, by herself, for her first weekend to visit friends since my Dad passed away. Mom, I love you and am SO proud. I felt a big release this weekend not worrying about if you were alone, sad, or needing us. :)

4. We took Noah to see Chicken Little this afternoon. Really cute! I love watching Noah laugh during a movie. And I have to laugh when he asks me a question at full volume in the theater. haha :)

5. Went to a crop at church last night and did ONE layout in six hours. How pathetic is that?
I was completely unmotivated and the ideas weren't flowing at all. Ugh.

6. Our new curtains arrived and make our room nice and dark in the morning. Oh, but it's SO hard to get out of bed now. Makes me want to sleep in!

7. While I was at the crop last night, Noah told David, "I'll be glad when it's morning and I wake up and see Mommy. I miss her so much." I love that child :)

8. I sure do miss my Dad. Christmas and Thanksgiving are my favorite times of year and I really look forward to decorating and the family get togethers. But this will be our first holiday time without him here and I know it will have a big effect on all of us. He's in heaven with his Jesus, though, and I know he'd want us to carry on as normal, especially for the kids. And we will.

9. Speaking of my Dad, who was the biggest Texas Longhorn fan ever.......
TEXAS - 62, BAYLOR - 0. Ouch. :)

10. Diana Krall just released a new Christmas CD. I listened to some samples of it on Itunes and it's AWESOME! Oh, and if you have digital cable, the Sounds of the Season music channel has started playing 24/7 Christmas music!
11. As a side dish for lots of our meals lately I've been roasting vegetables. They are yummy, healthy and so simple! I'll use carrots as an example in the recipe below:
Roasted Carrots
8-10 fresh carrots washed, peeled, and cut into large chunks
good olive oil
thyme
fresh ground pepper
kosher salt
(you can use regular salt and pepper, but these have better flavor)
Preheat oven to 425. Place carrot chunks in a medium baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the carrots. Sprinkle thyme, salt, and pepper all over carrots. Toss carrots around with your hands, making sure everything mixes well together and all carrots are coated with ingredients. (you will probably use 1-2 Tbsp. oil and approx. 1 tsp. thyme, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 tsp. salt. These are only approximate so use according to your taste) Place baking dish in the oven, uncovered, and bake until carrots are softened, but still firm. They will also start to brown on the edges. (Baking time varies by vegetable.) Makes 4-6 servings. :)
12. I am not very good about letting people do things for me. I am trying really hard to work on this. I absolutely love to go out of my way for other people, but for some reason do not always feel deserving of that same treatment. I know how much joy it brings me to do things for others, so I have to remind myself that I am robbing others of that same joy when I don't allow them to do things selflessly for me. The other day my friend Jackie sent me 9 back issues of Everyday Food in the mail. Just an act of kindness...no strings attached. She knew I would love them. I told her I actually cried a little when I opened them. Not because of the actual magazines, but because she thought to do that for me. That may seem silly to some people, but it's something I've always struggled with in my life. It's always been easier for me to be in charge of things and handle everything myself than allow anyone to help me or have to go out of his/her way. Sounds so strange when I write it all down, but it's definitely something that I've constantly prayed about, especially lately since losing my Dad and developing asthma. (requiring me to ask for help more often) My Dad was the same way. I know it bothered him so much to have to ask for assistance at the end of his life. But he allowed me to drive him to his chemo treatments every week, even though he apologized the whole ride there and back for "inconveniencing me." I'd never trade that time with him for anything. What a gift he gave to ME by allowing me to serve him. I promise to remember and learn from his example. I'm getting there.
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I'll blog again soon. :)
- Jennifer
"The greatest thing anyone can do for God and for man is to pray. You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. Prayer is striking the winning blow ... service is gathering up the results." - S. D. Gordon

9 comments:

Carrie Anne said...

I'm with ya girly...I so don't get Spring Cleaning fever. Definitely right before the holidays I get motivated to do complete overhaul. Strange, huh? Glad I'm not the only one!

Anonymous said...

Jennifer, I've missed you. I'm did not realize this about your father. I lost my step-dad in October years ago. Dad won the county prize every year for most decorated holiday home. So, if was very different that first year.But, time does heal the wounds of separation. Instead of mourning his loss, we did things up even bigger and better and tried to celebrate his life. Big, big hugs!

On a lighter note, I am a fall cleaner too! Get it all dejunked before bringing in the new! Besides that, everything in the house gets moved around and needs it then anyway!

Noah's sure a cutie! HAve a great weekend! I'll look forward to seeing you again soon!

Sophia

Shell said...

Hey Jennifer! I've been missing you!

I like reading your blog, 'cause it reminds me to appreciate all the little things in life, ya know?

And just for you and your dad, I'll be happy for Texas. (but just for a little bit, hee hee)

Anonymous said...

Jennifer- glad to see you blogging. My thoughts and prayers with be with you and your family over the holidays.

Noah is just way too cute! i just love him!

and i am so happy that your mom got out for a bit!

((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you blogged today....I've checked every day since Monday, because it's such a treat to read what you share. I will be praying for you as your approach this season that makes you miss your dad so much.

Kip said...

I can understand what you're feeling about your dad as I feel that way too having lost mine in 2001.

Kip

msjonnalee said...

gosh, I love that quote... I'll have to put it on my blog too... you won't mind, will you???

Anonymous said...

I love you! You are one of those friends who entered my life and my days has been richer since we met. This list of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and observations confirms everything I love about you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the perfect YOU.

Liz said...

Love that pic of your ds. =) and gasp! diana krall is coming out with a xmas cd?? MUST have it...thanks for sharing that info. Looking forward to your next post. =)