Thanksgiving thoughts

Had a quiet Thanksgiving at my sister's- her basement is finished, the kids played with their cousins downstairs. We brought a good salad, au grautin potatoes, Tasha made an apple pie, and I made a pumpkin cobbler. The salad was greens, feta, cranberries, and sugar pecans with balsamic vinaigrette. My friend Tracie suggested the salad recipe. My sister and mom cooked the rest, and my sister's tables looked very pretty.

Went shopping today- Tasha needed clothes to start her job next week, I bought a new purse and the baby some little soft boots to wear. Went to buy a new battery for my phone, they don't carry that phone anymore I can special order a battery for $40 or buy a new phone for $60.

I was thinking at Thanksgiving that it is pretty easy to live here- in Minnesota- we ate lots of delicious food from all over the world, have warm houses-there was a dusting of sparkly snow making it seem colder than it really was- and anything we might need it literally blocks away. There are a half dozen good hospitals close by. We have seven kids, all well fed, educated, entertained, dressed with the help of generous friends who give us literally hundreds of dollars worth of clothes every year, and doing well. Today went "shopping" for Ivy, who is growing tall, in the basement- found five warm shirts and a pair of Vans shoes for her.

Our schedule this coming week is overfull, there are a few days with overlaps that are impossible to do- Ivy might have a basketball game she'll miss as we have Tasha's women's choir concert at Mankato on Thursday night, for one. We are blessed to be active, and healthy, and doing things that are interesting.

Days like these it is easy to feel content with life as it is. I feel lucky to have my family. I feel very content physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Anyone who thinks a stay at home (for the most part) mom is not challenged has not been one. I learn a lot every week. I try to use my gifts in my life. My spiritual life is sometimes, I am sad to say, put on the back burner.

Plan to use the fact I like baking next week to make 100 treats for the local dinner for those who need it. My friend Vilma, from Lithuania, says in her country it would be said I have "a good hand" since she likes my baking. I like that expression. Bought Christmas M and M's, I have a recipe that makes tons of cookies, I'll use that one and maybe my peanut butter one with powdered sugar, although it seems tons of people are getting wary of peanut butter lately. It's a staple here!

Wednesday True gets the pins out of his arm and his cast off. Will post a photo, maybe. He will be glad to be unemcumbered.

Hope you have a good few days!

Tracy

My daily life

Well, I am finally starting to get my energy back- my baby is 10 months old. My friend Sue commented once that you don't get anything done the year after a baby is born! I wonder if it's longer if you have twins-

Anyway, I wanted to start a blog.
My subjects for the next few weeks are very mundane- getting ready for Christmas at my house, paying down debt, getting adjusted to having a daughter going to study abroad, and all the action that goes with a packed house.

My husband is Graham, 42.

My kids are Tasha, 19, True, 13, Ivy, 11, Violet, 8, Promise, 5, Cherish, 3, and Capri, 10 months.

Today I moved Cherish upstairs in my endeavor to have the house ready and settled for Christmas-here are the things I found under the mattress-
a pulled out cassette tape, the key to a musical jewelry box, a lock for a diary, keys for a diary, enough crayons and pencils for a pencil cup, and a few books.

This weekend we are going to clear out True's room, a friend and my mom are going to help me paint it on Monday. I started it about 3 years ago. I'd like to rip out the carpet, he has allergies, it would be healthier.

Frugality today- no money out. Cooked out of the pantry, split pea soup with potatoes and carrots, cranberry muffins, Ivy made a cake for dinner. Ivy stayed home sick today, I hope she is better tomorrow. She had a headache.

Not much contact from my daughter Tasha this year at college- she comes home frequently, but is busy. I miss daily emails from freshman year. It'll be nice to have her home for Christmas break.

Goals I'm thinking about-losing 10 lbs by Christmas, maybe. Not too motivated or concerned. I would look better.
Maybe starting a Christian Action group at church.
I need to start a prayer journal.

Other news- Capri is cutting her third tooth, top left- cute!

Will post again soon.

Tracy