Giving Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving. This is the first year that I have not spent Thanksgiving with family. I'm so blessed that there is a group of people living here that I now count as my extended family. We all understand the feeling of not being home during the holidays. And today we will share a meal with 40 people! We miss the Whitesell/Moore and Pittman families and will be thinking of them today. Here is a short list of things I'm thankful for...

- Our family understands and supports our being on the other side of the world. We could never make it through days like today not knowing that.
- We have the Internet to keep in touch.
- We have great friends back in the states that care enough about us to check in often.
- We have many friends here that have become like family.
- Father has given me true friends here. I asked him for at least a year before we moved to provide me a friend while living here, someone that I really connect with. He has answered in more than one person.
- Turkey, Ham and all the fixings. Today should be a meal to make Granny Great and Grommy proud. ( I should add that I am only making 7 Layer Salad, Broccoli Salad and a Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip and Stan made a Chocolate Pecan Pie.)
- I have a wonderful husband and two of the best little boys ever born. They may drive me crazy sometimes (all three of them) but in my opinion that just proves true love.
- We are provided for in abundance. You can't even imagine how blessed we feel for that.
- Most of all I'm thankful for Jesus Christ. If you don't know why send me an email and I'll tell you all about it. ;)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Wordless Wednesday; The Market

Confessions

This is for Jessi C. She did this on her blog and it seemed like something I should do as well. So here are a few confessions.


- The diet is not going so well. I'm having a really hard time feeling motivated to eat well so close to the holidays. All that about eating healthy has only been partially attempted. I am trying to eat more healthy snacks, drink more water and exercise at least three times a week. That's as far as I've gotten.
- Since we've moved here my boys have started watching a lot of movies. I know it's way more than is good for them, especially now that Kirby, and even Bennett a little bit, can quote several movies. It started when we first moved here and had to run around all day getting stuff done and used movies to keep the boys happy at home with our helper. We've gotten better lately but it's still way more than it should be.
- The only true routine the boys still have each day is for sleep time. They still get a regular nap and go to bed at the same time. All room time and outside time schedules we had for them when we lived in NC have stopped. There are even times when they don't get outside for two days. We want to work on this but when we don't have predicable schedules ourselves it's really hard to set one up for the boys.
- Stan and I fight over who will change every poopy diaper of Bennett's.
- I listen to the Black Eyed Peas. Their music is offensive and full of bad language but some of their songs can get me pumped up for a workout like no other music.
- I love to put on makeup and feel like I look 100% better with it on. Most days since we have moved here I don't bother. When I don't even get a shower or put on clean clothes, makeup just seems silly.

OK, I think that's it for now. That's enough honesty for one blog.

Wordless Wednesday; New Furniture Edition

White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

Since I've been doing so much cooking from scratch I thought I would share a few of my favorite recipes. This is one I got from my friend K and we love it. Stan didn't think this combination sounded so good at first but his mind was quickly changed. Enjoy!

1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree

Combine and set aside:
4 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

Cream on medium for 2 minutes:
1 1/2 cups oil
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1 egg

Add 1/4 cup pumpkin puree and mix with wet ingredients for another minute. Add flour mixture and remaining pumpkin alternately until all is mixed together. Stir in white chocolate chips. Set in refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Bake cookies at 350 degrees on a lightly greased baking sheet for 15 minutes (you may want to check on them early because 10 minutes is perfect for my oven but each oven is different). Makes 5 dozen cookies. Unbaked dough can be frozen in an airtight container.

I can't get pumpkin puree here I have to make my own. I thought that I would include that as well in case you want to try that out as well. My pumpkin puree turns out more like baby food consistency which is why the dough must go in the fridge before baking. If your dough is firm as soon as you mix it you may not have to wait the 1-2 hours.

Pumpkin Puree

Cut pumpkin from stem to bottom length wise. Scrape out pulp and seeds. Cover both halves with tin foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 60-90 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and then scrape the pumpkin out. Using a blender or food processor, blend until smooth. Puree can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days or frozen in Ziploc bags for future use.

Are we the only ones...

That go to Wal Mart for almost every date night? Here we can use the excuse that there really isn't much to do. But it's sad to say that we used to do it when we lived in the States too. Of course then most likely we would choose Target so we could get Starbucks and shop for clothes too. But really, is this common for other people too?

On Friday night some dear friends of ours offered to keep the boys for us OVER NIGHT! They have not spent a night without us since June. Before the big move we were blessed with the occasional over night break thanks to Grommy and Poppy. They even kept them over night for us two nights before we moved so we could run around and get stuff done. But June was several months ago I wasn't even sure they would last all night. Our friends have become lovingly know as Uncle J and Aunt J (not using there full name for privacy) to Kirby and Bennett. J & J have a teenage son, daughter and a nine year old son. That is an added bonus for the boys. So we got an extended date that lasted from after nap time (4:30ish) to after lunch the following day. They had a blast. No problems, they both handled it like big boys.

More importantly Stan and I had a good time together. Like I said we dropped them off around 4:30 and since we both had only had a bowl of cereal all day (the furniture was delivered so we were busy--pictures to come for WW) we were starving so decided for an early dinner. We went to one of our favorite places and ordered our favorite dishes and thoroughly enjoyed not having to share then with the boys. I know, I'm selfish. :) After dinner we took the short walk to WM for some shopping and walking around. Since we picked up a few movies (you can get VCDs for about 25 cents) we headed home for a movie complete with popcorn and dove chocolate (yes I know that isn't really good for FP but date nights shouldn't count for dieting). The next morning we got to sleep in. It was great. It had been a long time. We took the morning to Skype with Grommy and Poppy and set up our new office and enjoyed noodles for lunch.

We picked the boys up around 1:00 and they had a wonderful time. The only tears the whole time were from Bennett when it was bedtime and he didn't want to go to sleep because he was having so much fun. To top off this fabulous time for us all our friends offered to do this for us every few months! I have to say we will take them up on this. Since we can't really return the favor--I don't think an 18 year old needs us to keep him over night so his parents can go out--we have decided to pass it along to other families. I think we will take this extended invitation for our next night out on March 20, when we celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.

250+ People Dancing at the Square

Sorry this is so dark but it's a moving version of the last picture from Wednesday. Only Kitty has seen such a thing first hand but this will maybe give you an idea of the amount of people that were doing a synchronized dance. The best part was it was people of all ages.

Wordless Wednesday

An Unhealthy Me

I am 100% a stress eater. I have been under more stress this year than ever in my life. That means I have gained weight...not good. I tried to make a change a few weeks ago, but after a few days I just went right back to my old ways. We had a full week of pouring rain and I used that as my excuse to not exercise. I'm back into old habits. I've done more diets than I can count. I've gained and lost weight so much that I'm sure I've owned every size clothes possible. But this is getting old. I really want to get to a normal weight and stay there. I have never been able to do that. I am so tired of being unhealthy and lazy.

I'm determined to make a change. I am starting First Place...again. I have a friend here that has also done it in the past and wants to make some changes. Accountability always helps. But really I just have to make up my mind to do it. The food is so different here, anything I eat outside of my home is cooked in oil. It will take even more effort than ever before. It just can't go on. I don't want to continue in this 'yo-yo' dieting. I want to get healthy for myself but also for my children. If I don't set a good example now then they will just follow in my foot steps. I like to eat but I'm starting to see that I like health more.

I'll be praying hard for these changes. I would love it if there is anyone out there who will give me a little prayer support.

The Election

I have many thoughts on the election this year. I have to say, it's very strange to watch all this unfold from the outside. I have a totally new perspective of politics (which I usually don't like to discuss). Part of this change comes from seeing the eyes of the world on America. I can be totally honest in saying that there is not one country in the world, other than my home country and a little of the country in which I now live, that I have any knowledge of politics. I think this is sad. I do realize that America is the strongest country in the world, something we should be proud of, but I think it would do me some good to look at another country's political system and learn a little something. I'm going to pick a country in which I know nothing about politically (I'm thinking France because there is a French lady in my class) and study up. My challenge is for you to all do the same.

I will fully admit that I didn't vote. You may be shocked and amazed but for us this year it just didn't happen. This Spring when we were preparing to move the final ballot had not even been decided. I will say my mind was on other things and has been for the past several months. When it came time to think about our absentee ballot it was too late to get it here and get it back. You can call me a bad American or whatever and you may think these are a bunch of excuses but it is what it is. I still feel I have the right to my opinions and beliefs as every other person.

All this to say, my Party didn't win. The person who is the next President of The United States of America does not hold the same views as I do on many issues. But I have to say a few things that I am thankful for. For the first time I think we can truly say as Americans that we believe all men are created equal. God does not see that a 'black' man has won this election, He sees a man. But what the world finally sees is that now we as Americans see a man as well. Yes, Obama is a black man, I do realize that. But what I'm trying to say is that I feel it is a wonderful thing that America, a nation that has had racial issues from the beginning, is showing that we are moving on. I am also thankful to be from a country with opposition. We are able to have opinions that differ and still exist in peace. We held an election that was open to all citizens and those citizens could make their choice. I like that we don't all agree. That is what makes America move forward and continue to be great. No matter how you feel about the state of the economy, government, etc. as Americans we hold a great privilege that is not held by most of the world. We are not told from birth what to think, believe or do. We are given the freedom to decide all on our own.

I am most thankful that my Heavenly Father still sits on His thrown. Nothing that happened this week was news to Him or changes His position in Heaven. I will be praying for Barack Obama and all of the other leaders in our country. Obama has a job that I would never choose and he needs us all to be praying for him. Whether you voted for him or not, I hope you will join me in praying.