I think you can boil down our Christmas festivities to...eating. We've had soup, chicken, turkey, chili, spaghetti, all manner of starches, and plenty of sugar.
Of course, if you knew what our kitchen looked like, you would know most of this eating has gone on in other people's houses. I think I may have forgotten to mention that less than 12 hours after coming home for his Christmas vacation, my husband decided to have the kitchen remodeled. At first, this just meant taking down the ugly wallpaper border, texturing the few walls we have, and painting.
Within 24 hours of beginning the remodel, it turned into texturing and painting our bathroom, fixing cracks in our bedroom walls then repainting, and having the kitchen cabinets painted inside and out.
Oh, that last detail? That requires putting the entire kitchen into boxes, which are now sitting all around our family room. Thankfully you can still sit on the furniture in there. Except, you'll just be looking at cardboard boxes if you do that.
One and a half more days until the cabinets are cured enough to put the kitchen back together.
I am practically counting the hours.
Can you tell I might be going a little crazy?
And that my husband might have a little bit of a problem with the concept of relaxing on a vacation?
So, amidst all the family holiday activities (aka eating), we've been working on the house...and buying and decorating a Christmas tree at the last minute.
This Christmas holiday is not at all what I imagined it would be. But neither has this entire year been what I imagined it would be.
My imagination is obviously faulty.
Somehow I managed to make a bunch of Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup for the family on Christmas Eve. It probably all worked out because that was between the texturing and the cabinet-painting, with just John in the kitchen painting walls. And what with the unprecedented SNOW we got that day, I think soup was a great call.
I stole this recipe from the Big Mama blog, doubling it for our large family gathering. And making it in crock pots instead of on the stove because it's less time-consuming that way...just chop it all up, cook the meat, throw it in the crock pots, and let it cook. You can compare this recipe to the original to choose which one you prefer, but this is GOOD soup!
Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
2 pounds sweet chicken Italian sausage, casings removed
2 large onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
10 cups beef stock
2/3 cup water
1cup red wine
56 oz. canned diced tomatoes
8 carrots, chopped
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
16 oz. can tomato sauce
5 zucchini, chopped
16 ounces cheese tortellini (mmmm, maybe more like 24 oz.)
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 tbs. chopped fresh parsley
Grated parmesan cheese for topping
Brown the sausage in a large pot. Drain all the grease except for 1 tablespoon, then add the onions and garlic and sauté for 5 more minutes.
Add all ingredients, except tortellini, to the crock pots. You'll need two big crock pots for this much soup.
Cook tortellini ahead of time according to package directions. Add tortellini to soup about 10 minutes before serving to warm up the pasta in the soup.
Serve with some parmesan cheese. (I forgot about this part, and it tasted good without the cheese, too.)
Serves: about 16 (You can just half the recipe for a normal 6 - 8 serving portion.)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Gelukkig 2de Kerstdag!
Merry Christmas!
Or should I say, Happy Second Christmas! That's "Gelukkig 2de Kerstdag!" in Dutch. There is such a thing. Kind of like Boxing Day in Canada or Africa, except I've not lived in either of those places and can't speak to that particular rendition of 2de Kerstdag.
So since it's still the Christmas season, and since I did mail out Christmas cards, but did not include any type of personal message/greeting/letter, I figure maybe I will just post a type of "Christmas letter" here on the blog.
Although, really, if you've been reading the blog, you should already know what's been going on with us. However, if you haven't kept up with the blog this would be a good way to gain a summary view of our adventures over the past year.
But obviously not a fantastic way to do so. After all, there were many random, weird, funny, happenings posted on here throughout 2009 that will not be included in the recap.
When I ambitiously began writing a draft of a Christmas letter about a week ago (with vain hopes that I could finish it, print it out, and stuff it into addressed envelopes with signed Christmas cards to get them mailed before Christmas - ha!), it was challenging to come up with a theme that was not depressing or sad. In fact, there was a Wall Street Journal article about a week ago pointing out that Christmas letters this year are not all about your travels to the far east, your big promotion at work, and your kids prosperous jobs with a big international company. What do you say in a Christmas letter when the economy's bad, you've been out of work for ten months, and your kids graduated college and are living at home because there are no jobs to be had?
Humor is definitely one way to approach it. I, however, decided to really try to focus on some positives, without completely ignoring the difficulties we've faced this year. It turned out to be easier than I imagined.
In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas life can sure get busy and hectic. (Which is why this letter never got sent out in Christmas cards and is just now appearing on the blog.) As we have been reminded throughout this year, times of calm and patient waiting need to be recognized and consciously experienced. Waiting is so hard. Waiting for Christmas, waiting for a job, waiting for the answer, waiting for the right time, waiting for a child.
While we have experienced an emotionally and physically difficult year, the waiting and hurting have also brought about tremendous growth and stronger faith in our lives. After being diagnosed late last year with endometriosis, I have spent the past year undergoing various infertility treatments and surgeries. After months of attempts to become pregnant, we bid the unsuccessful medical treatments farewell last month. The medical part of this journey takes such an emotional, physical, and financial toll. I will continue with alternative medicine treatments to improve my health. Through all this waiting and disappointment, our hope in God's perfect plan has been renewed. I know it sounds strange, but we trust there are better things than we could ever imagine in store for us. We are grateful for friends and family who have prayed for us and encouraged us this year. We don't know what the next step in the journey to add to our family will be, but we have faith that God will show us the way one step at a time.
I am still employed with a crisis pregnancy center nearby. After waiting more than a year for the right job, I am still grateful every day for the wonderful ministry I get to be a part of. It is a joy to share practical resources, counsel, and Jesus' good news with women facing unplanned pregnancies.
After our trip to Africa last year with Compassion International, we spent several months waiting to see how God would use our experience after we returned home. Amazingly, John was able to use his experience with Compassion in Africa and his accounting knowledge to help organize a mission trip for accounting students at Baylor University. Baylor and Compassion International worked together to allow a group of college students to minister, educate, and encourage pastors, entrepreneurs and children in Uganda this past May. Several Compassion children were also sponsored as a result of this trip! We hope this becomes an annual trip for Baylor accounting students.
While we may not have become pregnant this year, we did add to our family in another way. We have sponsored Ronnie, a 12-year-old from Uganda, through Compassion International for five years. This year, we added a little girl, Martha, to our "family". Martha is also from Uganda, is seven years old, and lives with her grandparents. What a joy to receive letters and drawings from these two and to witness them growing physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually!
John is still with Ernst & Young. With the economic downturn, he spent some time this year waiting to see if he would gain enough clients to stay employed with the company. Several months ago he was put on a couple big jobs, both, unfortunately, out of town. The travel is ongoing, and he is just waiting to see how this will all pan out and what the next step in his career should be. We continue to tell ourselves to take one day at a time.
Christmas is a great time to remember the value of waiting. God declared He would send a Messiah to save us...and then nothing happened for 400 years. Now THAT is a long time to wait. But in His perfect timing, Jesus Christ was born in a stable, not exactly the King we expected but definitely the perfect Savior we needed. In your waiting, may you always cling to the sure hope that comes in trusting Christ. Merry Christmas!
Or should I say, Happy Second Christmas! That's "Gelukkig 2de Kerstdag!" in Dutch. There is such a thing. Kind of like Boxing Day in Canada or Africa, except I've not lived in either of those places and can't speak to that particular rendition of 2de Kerstdag.
So since it's still the Christmas season, and since I did mail out Christmas cards, but did not include any type of personal message/greeting/letter, I figure maybe I will just post a type of "Christmas letter" here on the blog.
Although, really, if you've been reading the blog, you should already know what's been going on with us. However, if you haven't kept up with the blog this would be a good way to gain a summary view of our adventures over the past year.
But obviously not a fantastic way to do so. After all, there were many random, weird, funny, happenings posted on here throughout 2009 that will not be included in the recap.
When I ambitiously began writing a draft of a Christmas letter about a week ago (with vain hopes that I could finish it, print it out, and stuff it into addressed envelopes with signed Christmas cards to get them mailed before Christmas - ha!), it was challenging to come up with a theme that was not depressing or sad. In fact, there was a Wall Street Journal article about a week ago pointing out that Christmas letters this year are not all about your travels to the far east, your big promotion at work, and your kids prosperous jobs with a big international company. What do you say in a Christmas letter when the economy's bad, you've been out of work for ten months, and your kids graduated college and are living at home because there are no jobs to be had?
Humor is definitely one way to approach it. I, however, decided to really try to focus on some positives, without completely ignoring the difficulties we've faced this year. It turned out to be easier than I imagined.
In the weeks and days leading up to Christmas life can sure get busy and hectic. (Which is why this letter never got sent out in Christmas cards and is just now appearing on the blog.) As we have been reminded throughout this year, times of calm and patient waiting need to be recognized and consciously experienced. Waiting is so hard. Waiting for Christmas, waiting for a job, waiting for the answer, waiting for the right time, waiting for a child.
While we have experienced an emotionally and physically difficult year, the waiting and hurting have also brought about tremendous growth and stronger faith in our lives. After being diagnosed late last year with endometriosis, I have spent the past year undergoing various infertility treatments and surgeries. After months of attempts to become pregnant, we bid the unsuccessful medical treatments farewell last month. The medical part of this journey takes such an emotional, physical, and financial toll. I will continue with alternative medicine treatments to improve my health. Through all this waiting and disappointment, our hope in God's perfect plan has been renewed. I know it sounds strange, but we trust there are better things than we could ever imagine in store for us. We are grateful for friends and family who have prayed for us and encouraged us this year. We don't know what the next step in the journey to add to our family will be, but we have faith that God will show us the way one step at a time.
I am still employed with a crisis pregnancy center nearby. After waiting more than a year for the right job, I am still grateful every day for the wonderful ministry I get to be a part of. It is a joy to share practical resources, counsel, and Jesus' good news with women facing unplanned pregnancies.
After our trip to Africa last year with Compassion International, we spent several months waiting to see how God would use our experience after we returned home. Amazingly, John was able to use his experience with Compassion in Africa and his accounting knowledge to help organize a mission trip for accounting students at Baylor University. Baylor and Compassion International worked together to allow a group of college students to minister, educate, and encourage pastors, entrepreneurs and children in Uganda this past May. Several Compassion children were also sponsored as a result of this trip! We hope this becomes an annual trip for Baylor accounting students.
While we may not have become pregnant this year, we did add to our family in another way. We have sponsored Ronnie, a 12-year-old from Uganda, through Compassion International for five years. This year, we added a little girl, Martha, to our "family". Martha is also from Uganda, is seven years old, and lives with her grandparents. What a joy to receive letters and drawings from these two and to witness them growing physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually!
John is still with Ernst & Young. With the economic downturn, he spent some time this year waiting to see if he would gain enough clients to stay employed with the company. Several months ago he was put on a couple big jobs, both, unfortunately, out of town. The travel is ongoing, and he is just waiting to see how this will all pan out and what the next step in his career should be. We continue to tell ourselves to take one day at a time.
Christmas is a great time to remember the value of waiting. God declared He would send a Messiah to save us...and then nothing happened for 400 years. Now THAT is a long time to wait. But in His perfect timing, Jesus Christ was born in a stable, not exactly the King we expected but definitely the perfect Savior we needed. In your waiting, may you always cling to the sure hope that comes in trusting Christ. Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
See the picture up there?
I probably should have mentioned this weeks ago when I changed the picture up there on the blog header. I decided that snow is a much-desired component of December and Christmas even though I have spent most of my life living where this is not reality. In fact, chances are one in a million that I will actually see snow in this part of Texas on Christmas day...or really on any day.
Ice, maybe. Snow, probably not.
So I chose to add some Christmas cheer to the blog with a nice reminder of the days when I lived where it snowed: Amsterdam.
Yes, in case the tiny European cars and myriad bicycles didn't give it away, that's a view from our apartment in Amsterdam.
It must have been one of the three days during the winter months where the sun actually showed itself.
The snowfall in Amsterdam is pretty ideal: enough to cover ground and trees; large pretty flakes falling from the sky; yet not enough to be any hindrance to driving or biking around the city.
OK, maybe it is a bit of a hindrance to face going out when your bike looks like all those in the photo - covered with a layer of snow - and then having to pedal through falling snow (it's pretty much like riding through the rain; you're gonna end up wet).
Ahh. The memories. I wish Christmas looked like this here!
P.S. John was home for a few hours/overnight and is unfortunately back in another state by now. However, I forced him to take 10 minutes to sign Christmas cards, SO I will be attempting to purchase stamps from an automated machine this afternoon in hopes that I can actually mail the cards tomorrow! No Christmas letter, but holiday greetings BEFORE Christmas Day. At least for most of the recipients.
Ice, maybe. Snow, probably not.
So I chose to add some Christmas cheer to the blog with a nice reminder of the days when I lived where it snowed: Amsterdam.
Yes, in case the tiny European cars and myriad bicycles didn't give it away, that's a view from our apartment in Amsterdam.
It must have been one of the three days during the winter months where the sun actually showed itself.
The snowfall in Amsterdam is pretty ideal: enough to cover ground and trees; large pretty flakes falling from the sky; yet not enough to be any hindrance to driving or biking around the city.
OK, maybe it is a bit of a hindrance to face going out when your bike looks like all those in the photo - covered with a layer of snow - and then having to pedal through falling snow (it's pretty much like riding through the rain; you're gonna end up wet).
Ahh. The memories. I wish Christmas looked like this here!
P.S. John was home for a few hours/overnight and is unfortunately back in another state by now. However, I forced him to take 10 minutes to sign Christmas cards, SO I will be attempting to purchase stamps from an automated machine this afternoon in hopes that I can actually mail the cards tomorrow! No Christmas letter, but holiday greetings BEFORE Christmas Day. At least for most of the recipients.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
I am almost speechless.
Dear (insert my husband's company name here),
We so appreciate you providing my husband with a job. One that allows me to do ministry with no financial concern. I just have one little question.
Is it too much to ask that my husband live at our house? You see, I was at once dismayed and amused to receive this particular Christmas card in the mail yesterday:
Apparently the staff at the hotel in which helives stays in Wichita now consider him family. Ummm. Should I laugh or cry? This is all very disconcerting.
Again, thank you for the employment but not so much for the travel.
Sincerely,
A wife who might need to send her husband a Christmas card at his hotel
We so appreciate you providing my husband with a job. One that allows me to do ministry with no financial concern. I just have one little question.
Is it too much to ask that my husband live at our house? You see, I was at once dismayed and amused to receive this particular Christmas card in the mail yesterday:
Apparently the staff at the hotel in which he
Again, thank you for the employment but not so much for the travel.
Sincerely,
A wife who might need to send her husband a Christmas card at his hotel
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
I do intend to wish you a merry Christmas.
We've gotten a mother lode of Christmas cards in the last two weeks. I can't help but think, as I check addresses on my Christmas card spreadsheet against envelope return addresses, "Wow. I bet all these people for whom I asked addresses a month ago are wondering where in the heck their Christmas cards are."
All I have to say is: if I asked for your address those many weeks ago, at least you know I had every intention of sending you a Christmas card.
And for those of you who have stayed put over the past year and didn't receive an address request from me, let it be known right here in front of the whole world that I intended to send you a Christmas card as well. I still love each and every one of you!
(So much so, that I really wanted my husband to actually sign the cards rather than obviously printing both our names in the closing which would announce to everyone that John neither saw the cards nor knew who was getting a Christmas card this year. Which, at this point, he doesn't.)
Assuming my husband will be returning to town soon (as in, before Christmas), I still have every intention of mailing out Christmas cards.
Although, apparently good intentions mean only slightly more than nothing around here.
And I come by it honestly, seeing as my mom enjoys sending out the New Year/January "Christmas" cards/letters. Right about now that seems like a fantastic idea!
I truly hope each of you are enjoying the season, celebrating the joy of having a Savior, and focusing on the reason for Christmas. And thank you for all the holiday greetings!
All I have to say is: if I asked for your address those many weeks ago, at least you know I had every intention of sending you a Christmas card.
And for those of you who have stayed put over the past year and didn't receive an address request from me, let it be known right here in front of the whole world that I intended to send you a Christmas card as well. I still love each and every one of you!
(So much so, that I really wanted my husband to actually sign the cards rather than obviously printing both our names in the closing which would announce to everyone that John neither saw the cards nor knew who was getting a Christmas card this year. Which, at this point, he doesn't.)
Assuming my husband will be returning to town soon (as in, before Christmas), I still have every intention of mailing out Christmas cards.
Although, apparently good intentions mean only slightly more than nothing around here.
And I come by it honestly, seeing as my mom enjoys sending out the New Year/January "Christmas" cards/letters. Right about now that seems like a fantastic idea!
I truly hope each of you are enjoying the season, celebrating the joy of having a Savior, and focusing on the reason for Christmas. And thank you for all the holiday greetings!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Priorities
'Tis the season to stand in line way too long to buy one item...or groceries so you can eat dinner.
On the upside, standing in line that long gives you time to chat it up with the people also waiting in ridiculously long lines to buy those "must-have" items.
Speaking of "must-have" items, while waiting in line to check-out after picking up some groceries and batteries, I witnessed the lady in front of me purchasing the items in her shopping cart. Or, should I say, some of the items in her shopping cart. It turns out she didn't really have enough money for everything, so she proceeded to have the cashier ring up one item at a time and check the total price. This lady decided to buy each and every toy she had picked up, leaving behind those "non essentials": light bulbs, multi-purpose cleaner, and cereal.
I guess it doesn't matter if the house is clean when there's no light to see the dirt. And maybe the kids won't notice there's no food for breakfast when they have new toys to play with.
What has happened to any rational sense of priorities?!?
Of course, I also realize the tremendously long lines to check out in a store in the middle of the day during the week, bumper-to-bumper traffic everywhere you go, and and the inability to steer a shopping cart around a store because of the sheer volume of people does a number on your sanity.
If it weren't for the pesky need to eat, I would totally avoid the stores for the next couple weeks.
Now, on the more positive side of Christmas preparations, you can visit The Nester's blog for a cheerful Christmas Tour of Homes!
P.S. You will not find my home in the tour because, well, we've slacked on the decorating this year. Which is why I choose to just go look at other people's craftiness and Christmas decor!
On the upside, standing in line that long gives you time to chat it up with the people also waiting in ridiculously long lines to buy those "must-have" items.
Speaking of "must-have" items, while waiting in line to check-out after picking up some groceries and batteries, I witnessed the lady in front of me purchasing the items in her shopping cart. Or, should I say, some of the items in her shopping cart. It turns out she didn't really have enough money for everything, so she proceeded to have the cashier ring up one item at a time and check the total price. This lady decided to buy each and every toy she had picked up, leaving behind those "non essentials": light bulbs, multi-purpose cleaner, and cereal.
I guess it doesn't matter if the house is clean when there's no light to see the dirt. And maybe the kids won't notice there's no food for breakfast when they have new toys to play with.
What has happened to any rational sense of priorities?!?
Of course, I also realize the tremendously long lines to check out in a store in the middle of the day during the week, bumper-to-bumper traffic everywhere you go, and and the inability to steer a shopping cart around a store because of the sheer volume of people does a number on your sanity.
If it weren't for the pesky need to eat, I would totally avoid the stores for the next couple weeks.
Now, on the more positive side of Christmas preparations, you can visit The Nester's blog for a cheerful Christmas Tour of Homes!
P.S. You will not find my home in the tour because, well, we've slacked on the decorating this year. Which is why I choose to just go look at other people's craftiness and Christmas decor!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Simple Christmas
I've never had all my Christmas shopping done before Dec. 1. I've also never NOT hosted a Christmas party at my house in any year past.
So, I kind of have no motivation to finish decorating the house for Christmas. Even getting Christmas cards addressed and mailed seems not very urgent or necessary right now. With no looming deadlines...except for the actual day and even then there will be no company coming over...I'm in serious procrastination mode when it comes to any regular Christmas preparation activities.
And, can I just say, as much as I absolutely love hosting guests and parties, it is really nice to have other people hosting all the festivities this year!
So, thank you, other people!
I think it's enough to listen to Christmas music, drink hot beverages, wear Christmas pajamas, and enjoy the unseasonably COLD weather we're having this week. We even had actual snow drifting down from the sky the other day. It didn't stick, but what an appropriate welcome to the month of December! Snow really is beautiful, especially when you live in a region that hardly ever sees the white stuff.
Know what else is beautiful?
These flowers the girls in my small group sent me.
I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life! Ya know, with the end of the infertility treatments, a negative pregnancy test, the holidays coming up, and a husband who is constantly traveling, it was a bright spot in the day to get flowers and read a note letting me know there are people praying for me and loving me.
Thank you, ladies!
And now, I shall take a hot shower, put on some Christmas PJs and my Sock Monkey slippers, and crank up the Christmas music. Happy December!
So, I kind of have no motivation to finish decorating the house for Christmas. Even getting Christmas cards addressed and mailed seems not very urgent or necessary right now. With no looming deadlines...except for the actual day and even then there will be no company coming over...I'm in serious procrastination mode when it comes to any regular Christmas preparation activities.
And, can I just say, as much as I absolutely love hosting guests and parties, it is really nice to have other people hosting all the festivities this year!
So, thank you, other people!
I think it's enough to listen to Christmas music, drink hot beverages, wear Christmas pajamas, and enjoy the unseasonably COLD weather we're having this week. We even had actual snow drifting down from the sky the other day. It didn't stick, but what an appropriate welcome to the month of December! Snow really is beautiful, especially when you live in a region that hardly ever sees the white stuff.
Know what else is beautiful?
These flowers the girls in my small group sent me.
I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life! Ya know, with the end of the infertility treatments, a negative pregnancy test, the holidays coming up, and a husband who is constantly traveling, it was a bright spot in the day to get flowers and read a note letting me know there are people praying for me and loving me.
Thank you, ladies!
And now, I shall take a hot shower, put on some Christmas PJs and my Sock Monkey slippers, and crank up the Christmas music. Happy December!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Early Christmas
It gets cold at night in the arid West Texas desert.
And that so happens to be where my parents live.
It might also interest you (or probably not) to know I prefer to wear slippers, rather than regular shoes, around the house to keep my perpetually cold feet warm. Normal shoes are not comfortable to wear around the house when you're kicking back, and socks just don't do the trick.
Since I flew to my parent's place for Thanksgiving, space was limited. We exchanged Christmas gifts while we were all together, so much of my luggage space was taken over with DVDs, toys, kitchen utensils, obligatory dress shirts (must be the #1 gift given to male family members), and pumpkin bread. Therefore, I did not pack any slippers.
Thankfully, my mom let me borrow hers the first night we were there and the temperatures dipped into the 30s. My sister happened to see me returning the slippers right before I went off to bed and asked, "Oh! Do you want some slippers? Right now?!?"
I understood her excitement to bestow this gift on me early when I saw the slippers.
Sock Monkeys!!! They are the cutest little slippers! And appropriate...to wear sock monkeys on your feet! I just had to share.
And they do keep the feet toasty warm.
And that so happens to be where my parents live.
It might also interest you (or probably not) to know I prefer to wear slippers, rather than regular shoes, around the house to keep my perpetually cold feet warm. Normal shoes are not comfortable to wear around the house when you're kicking back, and socks just don't do the trick.
Since I flew to my parent's place for Thanksgiving, space was limited. We exchanged Christmas gifts while we were all together, so much of my luggage space was taken over with DVDs, toys, kitchen utensils, obligatory dress shirts (must be the #1 gift given to male family members), and pumpkin bread. Therefore, I did not pack any slippers.
Thankfully, my mom let me borrow hers the first night we were there and the temperatures dipped into the 30s. My sister happened to see me returning the slippers right before I went off to bed and asked, "Oh! Do you want some slippers? Right now?!?"
I understood her excitement to bestow this gift on me early when I saw the slippers.
Sock Monkeys!!! They are the cutest little slippers! And appropriate...to wear sock monkeys on your feet! I just had to share.
And they do keep the feet toasty warm.
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