The giving of many thanks

So, was your Thanksgiving thanks-filled? I absolutely adore the minutes after everyone sits down to enjoy a thanksgiving feast and family members take their turns offering up what they are most grateful for.

I cherish these moments because they remind you what make your loved ones tick; I cling to their words because our daily lives often seem more filled with the grumblings within and without than the unadulterated gratefulness that is infinitely more becoming.

I love the giving of thanks.

I also love the sight of my main squeeze cooking up a juicy turkey and carving it for his family. (He's the one smiling; his brother is the one hiding!) I enjoyed meeting David's mother and father, and the sister and niece I also met for the first time this weekend. David's nearest brother and his family are thoughtful, intentional and interesting. And I look forward to meeting his other brother's family who lives out West someday in the future.

We also traveled to my sister Julie's house for another celebration on Saturday; the food was amazing, the fellowship even better.

I missed dad this weekend (as I imagine most of you missed a loved one who has passed on), and I took Shakespeare's words to heart: "He that lacks time to mourn, lacks time to mend." And so on Thanksgiving Day, after the family had left, and David and I sat together, the tears flowed.

Though the pain over the wrongness of our separation cut through my heart, the sobs also reminded me of the gift of dad's presence in my life for over 34 years. And the hope-filled assurance that I will see him again, when all wrong is made so very right.

Thank you, lover of my soul, for this deep assurance. Thank you for life, love, and even loss--for it reminds me of the gifts of life and love. I am thankful, even for the opportunity to miss these gifts, and to long for them all the more.

quote for today

“Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.”
–Kathleen Norris, Hands Full of Living

So, what good book currently awaits you at the end of the day?

Thanksgiving recap later this week...

Drink Reed's & make your stomach happy!

I drink this crazy brew every week--Reed's ginger brew--which is technically ginger ale, but with up to 25 grams of ginger in a bottle, it's like a thousand times stronger than Vernors or something.
I'm addicted, really. But this is one addiction that's actually good for me: with fruit juice instead of refined sugar, some way powerful ginger, and herbs and spices, all brewed batch by batch, it's a killer complement to any meal.
At Reed's, they treat their products like fine wine and take their health benefits seriously. David and I love the way the ginger helps you digest a meal (other health benefits extolled at reedsgingerbrew.com).
I dare you to try the "extra ginger" brew...or if you'd rather start slowly, go for the raspberry ginger brew. It delivers a happy kick that will make your stomach smile.
It's available at health food stores, and now some grocery stores, like Meijer. Drink up, then post your review here!

One Enchanted Evening

Last weekend, my fine-looking boyfriend and I had a magical time. It started with the culinary delights of The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant.

The truth is, we are both foodies at heart, and neither of us could get over the fantastic array of vegetables and exotic cheese; the beauty of filet mignon, shrimp, and pork in a mojo broth; the exquisite richness of dark chocolate raspberry fondue covering our skewered bananas, cheesecake, and marshmallows, paired with the perfect port wine. Ooo-laa-laa!

And this is where I give you a secret from our waiter that is priceless when it comes to enjoying an evening of fondue--dump at least one of your courses in the pot, no skewers required. That is the trick when you're feeling hungry and want your food straightaway without having to slowly cook it yourself. We employed this trick with our vegetables, retrieving them with our slotted "rescue" spoon a minute and a half later, and enjoying quick fruits with almost no labor.

One final word: allow three hours from start to finish.

Then it was on to the Celtic Woman concert to enjoy a musical ensemble comprised of five Irish female artists: vocalists Chloë Agnew, Órla Fallon, Lynn Hilary and Lisa Kelly, and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt. The group's repertoire ranges from traditional Celtic tunes to modern songs.

Fiddler Mairead Nesbitt was spellbinding, nymphlike, and joyous as she brandished her instrument, dancing and twirling while she effortlessly mastered the fiddle--in high heels, no less. It reminded me of how I believe we will offer up our giftedness in heaven, with abandon, no reservations, and with unimaginable verve. The voices of the others were airy, perfect, and sometimes strong. There was Swanee River and You Raise Me Up, Irish tunes (but of course) and rocked-out percussion sequences.

You will wonder if you should pay $40, $50, or $60 to see this wonderful sight--I can only tell you that I am a lifetime music lover, and I have never experienced its equal.

An enchanted evening, indeed. Thanks, David! You're the best.

quote for a Thursday

“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” Natalie Goldberg

My question...so why do we still try to control our lives so much, knowing that we can't? Please post...