January in pictures

Fresh local produce and using my new Vitamix a LOT.

 Record low temps=a cold house and warm treats.

This month, my kiddos fell in love with reading independently. So excited for them!

 I want to remember how he fits under the table to sweep. And how there are bands everywhere.

A last-minute trip to the beach to see Mimi and Grampa was a perfect January diversion.

 Charleston food. Yum.

 50 degrees at the beach is still 50 degrees. Brrr. This pelican posed just for me. :)

Snow in Georgia? Yes, please!!!

I've been soaking in the January early morning sun through our bay window. Love the light.

Using what you have on hand

If you had joined us for dinner on any of the nights that we've eaten at home in January (which is the majority of them,) it's a really good bet that you'd be eating soup from this amazing cookbook.

I love that the cookbook is organized by months, which means many of the recipes focus on what is available seasonally. AND I love that I can look up ingredients in the back and find options for obscure veggies. You want this cookbook.

I love making soup. It's comforting. It's perfect for adding all of these new-to-me fresh veggies we're getting every other week from Local Organic Moms.

And?

Soup is perfect for substituting what you have on hand.

Today's recipe for example? I altered three of the main ingredients. And I liked it so much, I may not ever use the suggested ingredients as they're written.

Also. Isn't the rainbow chard above just the prettiest thing you've ever seen to cook?

Wild Rice and Red Chard Soup with Andouille

1/2 cup wild rice, uncooked
2 cups cherry tomatoes (I roughly chopped the roma tomatoes I had instead)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 links andouille sausage (I used a Boars Head salami--pictured on the left edge of the cutting board)
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch red chard, tough stems removed, leaves and ribs chopped (I used rainbow chard)
6 cups chicken broth (I prefer chicken stock)

1. Cook the rice according to package directions and set aside.

2. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. In a bowl, toss the tomatoes with 1 Tbsp olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet and roast in the oven until tomatoes begin to split or caramelize, about 10 minutes. Set aside.

3. In a large pot, fry the sausages over medium-high heat until they are cooked through, about 15 minutes. (I just fried the salamis until they were warmed and the outside was browned.) Transfer to a cutting board and cut into quarter-inch slices. Set aside.

4. Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to the pot and warm over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chard and cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes.

5. Add the broth and bring to a boil, scraping any bits on the bottom of the pot. REduce heat to low and let simmer.

6. Add the rice, sausage, and tomatoes and stir to combine. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 6.

Let me know if you try it!

Looking forward

Twenty Fourteen dawned for us after a whirlwind of a fall and holiday season.

It's been a whole week now.

I've been soaking in the slow days. Enjoying the post-Christmas and pre-back to school ease of last week. Finding our first week of 2014 homeschool a cold and cozy and treasured collection of hours so far. Going slowly, day by day and space by space in organizing our home.

I let this place go quietly, despite my plans for blogging while we traveled. Best laid plans and such.

But the quiet has been so welcome. It provided space for thought and space for just being in the moment with my family.

I'm looking forward to making more quiet places and spaces in life this year. Looking forward to chasing some dreams. Looking forward to making fruitful hours instead of busy ones. Looking forward to spending more time in this space with you, too.

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

From our family to yours...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6

A Winner!

I loved getting to read the stories shared about acts of service during the Christmas season...thanks for sharing and for entering!

The winner of the giveaway for the book The Sparkle Box is #2--Stephanie! Congrats!

I'll be in touch with the details of the giveaway...and thanks to all who entered!

A Christmas Peppermint Float

The other night, we surprised the kiddos with a cozy evening in (after too many nights out). On the agenda? A Christmas movie and treat.

Last year, we went the way of The Grinch...but this year, we decided for some nostalgia.

White Christmas just might be my favorite Christmas movie...so many favorite scenes...and I was excited to share it with our children for the first time. (They enjoyed it. Except for Nathanael during the kiss at the end!)

Peppermint ice cream (from Braums) is a sweet memory of childhood for me. So to go along with our movie (thanks to Pinterest and Southern Living,) here's our take on Christmas Peppermint floats:

Christmas Peppermint Floats

1 recipe homemade Hot Chocolate mix (recipe follows)
peppermint ice cream (I used Mayfield)
mini candy canes

1. Heat hot chocolate, enough for your crowd.
2. In festive mugs, place 1-2 scoops of peppermint ice cream.
3. Ladle hot chocolate over ice cream and top with candy cane. Serve with a spoon and enjoy!

Dark Hot Cocoa Mix

1 1/2 cups of a mixture of 43% cacao dark chocolate morsels and 60% cacao dark chocolate morsels*
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup instant nonfat dry milk
2/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa

1. Mix all ingredients until blended and store in an airtight container.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat one cup of milk per serving to 180 degrees over stove. Remove from stove and stir in 1/4 cup hot cocoa mix per serving until combined. Make sure that the chocolate chips are fully dissolved. Serve.

*This recipe from this month's Southern Living calls for 53% cacao chips, but I couldn't find those, so I used a combination of what I had on hand!

Our Christmas book tradition (and giveaway!)

For the last several years...maybe four...one of our favorite Christmas traditions has been wrapping up 24 Christmas books and counting down the days 'til Christmas as we read favorites, old and new. I keep the books in a festive basket or bin and after reading the day's book, it gets put behind the wrapped books...for the kids to read as Christmas approaches.

One of the things I love about this tradition is that is keeps us from reading all-of-the-Christmas-books in one sitting as soon as they're unpacked with the Christmas decorations. It also helped when the kiddos were younger to see how close we were to Christmas. (We have other advent calendars too, but these books seemed to be the most helpful, especially before the kiddos understood the concept of a calendar.)

There are books that are favorites of mine as a child that I've hunted down (my favorite illustrated copy of Twas the Night before Christmas and The Christmas Snowman). We have many that have come as gifts, including several of Jan Brett's wonderful books...and of course, classics like How The Grinch Stole Christmas and O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi.

Each year, I always try to add at least one new book...and phase out ones that the kids may have outgrown. (Although I still set those out in our "Christmas toys" basket!) 

Our new book this year was The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie.

The Sparkle Box is the sweet and simple story of Sam and his curiosity about a silver box he discovers on the mantle of his fireplace. His mother tells him that it isn't ready to be opened yet, as they still need to fill it. As the story unfolds, Sam and his parents go about their lives during the days and weeks leading up to Christmas, with an emphasis in the story placed on serving others. Christmas morning arrives...and Sam is finally able to see what the sparkling silver box was all about.

This was the first book that we unwrapped this year, as I wanted to begin December with a focus less on stuff and more focused on giving to others and the Gift that we've been given in Christ. The story is well-told and the illustrations are lovely. I found myself pausing to hold back tears as the ending neared, the story a good reminder for adults as well as children of the call to serve others.

While reading, I couldn't help but think of Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" And sure enough, on the last page, in a note from the author, was the verse and a challenge to fill your own Sparkle Box this Christmas season.

The book includes a silver, glittery cardstock-weight box that you can assemble to begin a Sparkle Box tradition in your own family. (There is a pocket on the back cover for storing your box after Christmas.) The kids and I will be brainstorming some ideas today for serving others in this last week before Christmas...I'm looking forward to it a lot.

If you'd like to win a copy of The Sparkle Box...please leave a comment: share a favorite memory of serving "the least of these"or your favorite Christmas carol! Comments will be accepted through Thursday, December 19 12:00 pm EST and the winner announced that afternoon!

This review of The Sparkle Box is sponsored by PR by the Book, who provided my copy and the giveaway copy, but the review is entirely my own opinion.

slow, slow, quick, quick, slow

I remember chanting those words at a similar time of year in a very different season of life.

Eighth grade cotillion.

You could see the boys nod their heads and mouth the words. A few of the girls were seamless in their execution of the steps. A few, you could tell, were counting their steps silently.

Slow. Slow.
Quick, quick, slow.

That's how I feel about the last few weeks...a combination of quick and slow.

A slow onset of autumn weather...followed by a few summer-like days.

A quick November (I was traveling over three of the five weekends.)

A slow drive to Virginia for Thanksgiving...and a wonderfully slow five day visit with Brent's brother's family...lots of time spent watching eight cousins enjoy time together.

A quick onset of the advent season, as we returned home December 1.

A quick trip to cut down our Georgia tree (some type of lacy Cypress...a first for us!) And a quickly decorated tree...all in the same evening!

Quick shipping of gifts (Lots of love for Amazon Prime.)

A slow and gradual approach to decorating. It always seems to take me a little longer to decorate the first year in a new home...and this year was no different!

Quick mornings and days...trying to find rhythm and balance for Christmas activities and homeschooling and wrapping gifts and the next stage of paperwork for our adoption and the usual upkeep of a home at Christmas.

A slowing down to enjoy time together...to read our advent devotions and light the candles.

A slowing (to almost a stop!) of blog posts...as there's been much to say but not many moments to say it.

Quick weeks, full of good and fun activities with friends and our church family...

And quick nights; I am definitely putting in my night owl hours.

I'm looking forward to this next week...with a slower pace of school beginning Monday (just math & reading)...no evening plans scheduled at all...and time to enjoy the days leading up to Christmas.

I hope that in the midst of the "quick, quick" this season, you also find slow moments, to rest and reflect on the Hope and Joy and Peace that advent recalls.

Simply Lovely, No. 19

I simply pass by, many times before I finally take notice.

What once contained and then supported the bloom
is perhaps even lovelier when its job is done.

Today, I burnt the oatmeal.

This Monday morning dawned as most do after returning from a girls getaway weekend with old, dear friends.

I'm thankful that I've learned over the years, that reentry isn't always easy.

Today I am tired from three way-too-late nights chatting with friends, which didn't help my recovering-from-an-awful-cold state of health.

Today, I burnt the oatmeal my children were looking forward to. And then the second pot boiled over.

Today, I was in pajamas for my longer than I had hoped to be.

Today, little voices were louder than they should have been and not quite kind.

Today, I reached for the Shout to treat some stains on my daughter's dress and realized too late that a bottle of Windex had taken the normal place of the Shout. Oops. (And thankfully, a quick rinse seems to have saved the day...so far.)

Not an ideal beginning to a new week. But I was prepared for the possibility.

And so despite the Monday-ish beginning...the rest of the day has been sweet.

Strong coffee and a perfect afternoon snack.

Sweet and patient learners with no tears today.

Happy lunch-eaters with no complaints today.

A grace-receiving Mommy who's thankful for the good and trying moments of today.

This weekend was a sweet reminder of the many blessings I've been given by the most-generous Giver. A time where my heart was full and my soul feels refreshed and encouraged.

And just like I can return to my normal after such a full weekend, I find myself able to return here today, after almost a month's absence and a failed 30 days blog series.

So, I'm welcoming myself and you back today!