Enjoying the special treats

Disclaimer: I wrote this several weeks ago, but for some reason it got lost in "time" and was posted back in April 2011.  I found it and thought I'd move it more current!

It's really a change in a deeply ingrained life strategy.  I'm not an extreme hoarder, but I definitely struggle to use up the things that are special, for fear that when they run out . . . then what will we have.  It's been a process of conviction really.  First, it was E and J's phrase and lifestyle "use the best first and you'll always have the best."  Which in the logistics of it is true; use the imported powdered sugar and when it's gone, you'll have the other option which is now the best available.  But it even reaches to a deeper level of contentment.  Enjoy it now, contented, and trust that what I have later I can also be content with.

"1000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" gave fullness to the concept of contentment and deepened the conviction in my heart that I wasn't entering fully into the now and trusting Him with the tomorrow.  Seems silly that such matters of the heart surface over things like peanut butter, powdered sugar, sweet potatoes and black beans.  I know the issues of contentment don't end there, but that is a practical place I'm seeking to push back and believe Him; enjoy Him.  And with the bounty that all our visiting friends brought (more special treats than we could have asked for) it would truly be gluttony to not.

So we're using them, pulling them out of our black pantry trunks and enjoying His little gifts of grace now.  Rather than hoarding them for a really bad day; which when I examine my heart means I'm trusting that bag of Recee's Peanut Butter cups to carry me on bad days instead of Jesus.  That somehow on that day, His generosity will have run out; His grace been exhausted is not Truth.   

Peanut Butter Balls . . . a luscious Christmas confection.  And we made them together out of all imported ingredients.  One of the best parts was watching Stephanie's how to video on the Joy of Baking with Elli. I didn't know it would transform our cooking experience.  We can struggle to work together in the kitchen.  But Elli had seen the video and knew the directions.  And we had a blast making them together; many times her quick to remind me or educate Ethan (who didn't get to see the cooking movie) of the next step.  We may cook together, via the internet, more often!  

 

 Guilty of snitching as we cook

 All of us were guilty!

 The peanut butter balls didn't turn out as picture perfect as I remember Sandie Anderson's being, but you can tell we all enjoyed making them!

And then this recipe is too good not to share.  We had the special treat of sweet potatoes (sold once a year in the capitol) bought for us and delivered by a friend.  Combined with the bag of black beans that made it in our shipment, this is such a yummy soup.  It's very flavorful (Elli didn't love it) and honestly gets better the next day.  I hope you try it and enjoy it!

Black Bean Soup with Sweet Potatoes
2T. oil
2 medium yellow onions
3 medium cloves garlic, chipped
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cumin
1/4t aniseed
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
4 15 1/2 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into medium dice
plain yogurt and lime for garnish


It is pretty self-explanatory recipe.  Saute the onions until soft.  Then add all the spices and sautee briefly.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer until sweet potatoes are tender.  Blend all but 3 cups of the soup, combining the blended and non-blended to serve.  So tasty!

Baby's got back!

Monday was a local friend's birthday and we all went out to eat lunch at our favourite restaurant.  I was sitting inside the corner shop, chatting with the shop keeper and waiting on my ride.  This shop keeper is the most gregarious and expressive woman I've met in a tightly wrapped head scarf.  We talk often, as it's my go-to spot, in walking distance, for some of the basics.  This was the conversation on Monday:

Shop keeper: "Have you  had another sonogram?"
Me: "No"
Shop keeper: "And they said you were having a boy?"
Me: "Yes"

Shop keeper: "They are wrong."
Me: "Really, how do you know?"
Shop keeper: "Well you've just gotten a little bit fat.  And it's not so much in your belly.  It is in your backside.  And if you get a big backside, you're having a girl."
Me: (long pause, searching for a culturally appropriate response, yet feeling slightly offended). "Oh, now I'm bummed/sad/discouraged (otherwise emotionally ambiguous)."
Shopkeeper: "Don't be sad.  You wanted a girl right, to play with Elli?  Your backside will get smaller after the baby comes."

Oh the possible conversations in a day!  You know I had to ask my friends over lunch if it was true.  We concluded that under at least 4 layers, how can we really tell?

Sledding at the ruins

The snows continued coming, not always sticking, but it has been snowing quite a bit.  After 2 days of snow, without much accumulation to count for it, and the weather calling for sunny days ahead, we made a quick run to the Ancient ruins up by our house for a quick sledding adventure.  And everyone had a blast. 

 Elias sporting his snow pants and intrigued by the gloves

 Elli, always eager to exuberantly celebrate life!

Sometimes I look around and find it hard to believe I live where I do.

It looks like Ethan's off to conquer some Black Diamonds, on his sled. 

Bracing for the thrill that keeps them asking for one more hill!

Can't believe how much he looks like his Dad and his Papa Frank!

 

The look of accomplishment.  Conquered the slopes!

In the seeds

In a small side conversation on one of our Thanksgiving skypes we were discussing the fruit trees in our yard, and this years crop of 10 persimmons.  Dan asked if we had heard about the telling sign of the persimmon seed.  Apparently if the seed is shaped like a spoon, we'll be shovelling lots of snow this winter.  If it's like a knife, we'll be chopping away at a lot of ice.  There was also a seed shape telling of a mild winter, but I can't remember what that one was.

Several days later, I enjoyed a persimmon (Elias and I are really the only ones in the family who like them).  It had snowed again and I was curious to see what was in the seeds.

 They look like spoons to me!  (I tried to capture the snow in the background, but unfortunately you can't see it.)

So this has become a common afternoon activity; hot tea and a board game inside where it's warmer.  Apparently in the month of November, we had more moisture (rain and snow) than we did all last winter.

I shared the signs of the seeds with 2 local friends.  I honestly thought they would have something similar as "old women talk" (literal translation of what we call old wives tales back in the States) is prevalent.  But they had never heard it.  They've come back to report seeing more spoon shaped seeds and have shared what it means with others.  Oh that seeds of Truth would spread so quickly!

Our Live Christmas Card!

This was today's creative notion!  They came into the kitchen all ready for their "play!"  The set up for the show is about as great as the actual presentation, but I thought I'd shorten it for viewing purposes. 

Hope you are getting in the spirit of Christmas too!  We sure are!