Without Valentine's Day, February would be... well, January.  ~Jim Gaffigan

Do you know what I love about February, dear Reader?  I love that the soul's instinctive reaction to all the cold barrenness outside is to drape the house in red and pink and turn its thoughts to warmer things.  Whether its your beloved, a wee one in diapers, a dear friend or a companion of the four-legged variety, the object of your earthly affection somehow appears in an even warmer, fuzzier light in February.  At least, I hope so.  

 

And what better way to share that sense of warm affection than with a smart-looking Valentine!  The creative itch had been in the back of my mind for a few weeks.  Then voila! An email arrived from church with the tantalizing offer of a Handmade Valentine Exchange.  Immediately, my brain was full of different fabulous Valentine ideas.  A trip to Hobby Lobby (where the delightful designer papers were on sale) led to a slew of whimsical die cuts, some dramatic stick-on letters & a can of spray adhesive.  Thus armed, I headed home to create.      

The results of my blissful (if somewhat sticky--spray adhesive can be dangerous) creative effort are presented here for your perusal.  Perhaps they will inspire you, dear Reader, to surprise the object of your affection with a little homemade bit of joy.  P. S. These were a big hit at the Valentine Exchange and I received some equally delightful and original Valentines in return.

Quote Courtesy of The Quote Garden.

Rear Property Line

I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind. ~~Albert Einstein

Ah, dear Reader, is there anything more delightful than waking up late and wiling away the days of a good vacation?  I've been blessed to savor such days all this week.  We in the Midwest are experiencing an incredibly mild winter.  So, with the sun shining and the temperature near 50, I headed down to southern Illinois to spend a few days at Cousin's little farmette.  It felt really good to get away and spend quality time with her.  We cooked and ate and watched trashy TV.  We also spent a happy afternoon outside: she doing chores around the farm and burning up old brush, me squishing happily through the mud, with my pants rolled up, taking photos.  Below are my favorite shots from our visit.  Enjoy!  

Cousin cleaning stalls

Lonely Micah

Cousin's Barn

Muddy Shepherd

Barn Vignette

Barn Siding

Farm View

Reluctant Portrait

Josie Head Shot

Trailer Detail

Fence Detail

Jade the Greeter

Cousin's Farrier Supplies

Self Portrait, Garage Window

Micah Head Shot

View of the House

Wee Man in the Pasture

Quote courtesy of thinkexist.com.

Do you have a favorite spot to curl up and renew yourself?

2012: Here We Go!
Well, dear Reader, it's the beginning of another year...can you believe it?  This October will mark three years of Ordinary Wonderment.  Three years of recipes, party ideas, anecdotal essays & stories, photos and (beginning in 2011) a chronicle of my walk with God.  Looking back, I'm amazed how my little blog has evolved!  So many lessons and oh, so much joy has been recorded here.  Can't wait to see what comes next!  

What makes you comfortable?

In thinking about where I want to focus my energies in 2012, I picked a new word. (For more on picking your own word click here.) Last year, my word was relinquish and true to form, I found myself letting go of many things in 2011. Like always having to be in control and being so tightly-wound.  I let go of the need to cram my free time full of everything I could possibly fit in.  I let go of defining myself by what I drive (a sneaky little lesson I didn't even know I needed to learn). 

Most importantly, I relinquished control of my life to Christ.  I decided to follow Him and do His will--fulfilling His purpose for my life.  And for the very first time in my life, I am at peace with who I am and how my life is going.  It's definitely not perfect, and not quite where I pictured myself at 35.  But I've never felt so richly fulfilled as I do now.  And that is beyond worth.

Where is there an over-abundance of cuteness in your life?

My word for 2012 is humility.  While listening to Moody Radio a few weeks ago, I was struck by the distinction Dr. John Dickson drew between modesty and humility on Chris Fabry Live.  Dr. Dickson defines humility as "a noble choice to forego your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself."  This is different than modesty in that you're not so much down-playing your own accomplishments as choosing to further the interests of someone else before your own.  Like Christ did when He humbled Himself by taking human form and dying on the cross for our sins.  Now, I recognize the dangers of blogging about this--it can easily come off as tooting my own horn.  What I want to emphasize is that choosing to focus on humility in 2012 is not about making me look like a better Christian or a better person.  In fact, this is an area that I struggle with.

Choosing to be aware of how my thoughts, intentions and actions affect others has begun to weigh heavily on me in recent months.  In my heart, I know it's God nudging me to be more mindful.  Does my influence enhance others' experience of God or does it take away from it?  Am I reflecting the love of Christ?  Am I drawing people to the incredible love I've found or am I turning them off?  If I live my life just like everybody else, why should they change?  Of course, being an imperfect person means I will always struggle with this.  Still, I want to be more mindful of my influence in 2012. 

I'd also like 2012 to be the Year of Organization.  Reader, have you ever felt something big coming on the horizon but you're more afraid than excited to find out what it is?  For me, that's often because my 'house' is not in order.  The clutter that is my life puts a damper on moving forward and being ready when God presents me with the next opportunity He has for me.  I worried less about this when I was driving my own life--mostly because I had no idea where I was going.  But now that I've accepted my role in His plan, I better be ready when He calls me up.  That means knowing what gifts and resources I have and where to find them when I need them.  No more excuses.  It's time to fully-organize.            

A place for everything and everything in its place.

 I started last week with cleaning closets, my desk, my bedroom and (because we got a little warm weather) my car.  This week I organized my jewelry & accessories (no small task) and am gearing up to tackle the mother of all organizing projects: the storage room.  Until the dreaded storage room is clean and all unnecessary junk has been removed, there's no place to put the boxes I have in the garage...and the dining room...and the kitchen...and on the downstairs landing...and in the upstairs hallway.  Oh, I forgot the basement.  See?  I'm a total mess--so if I can do this, so can you. 

Only thing a cat loves better than houndstooth sherpa: a loose string. 

 

Ok, that's my plan for 2012.  Well, that and to have an amazing time loving God and his kids.  What about you, Reader?  What has to happen for you this year?  What's non-negotiable?  What can you accomplish with just a little effort?  What can you let go of that will help you feel free?  What small thing will bring you some much-needed joy?  If this turned out to be your last year on this Earth, what would you do with it? 

Do you have an inspiration board to keep current projects, ideas and thoughts front and center?

It helps if you share your goals with others who will annoy you later with questions about them.  It also helps to stop often and be grateful for something--even if you aren't where you want to be yet--appreciate the things that are going right in your life.  You never know when they might be gone.  That goes for the people in your life too.  

Thank you, dear Reader, for continuing on this journey with me.  I can't wait to see where we'll wind up next. 

Are you keeping the big picture in sight?

The Candy Mantle

Christmas 2011: A Photo Recap
Dear Reader, I hope your holidays were packed full of joy and peace this year.  Here's a little recap of favorite images from our celebrating.  What a great way to end a big, challenging year.  Now on to 2012! 

Our house, Christmas Eve

Uncle gets a lump of coal.  Aunt Chef is not surprised.

Cinnamon Roll, Christmas Morning

Candy Tree in Red Wash

Aunt Chef gets some Gingerbread Joy

 

Stone Crab Claws, Seafood Fest 2011

A little Christmas Joy for Aunt

A Digital Photo Frame makes Photo Girl happy

Lobster Newberg Tarts

Mom likes her Custom Photo Calendar

Pan-seared Sea Scallops

Brother discovers that if you wait long enough, Santa will even bring printer paper.

Cheddar-baked Biscuits

Christmas Camouflage (or so he thinks)

The man upstairs.

What I've Learned: Gratitude is often about savoring all the little moments.
It occurred to me some weeks ago, dear Reader, this would be my first Thanksgiving and Christmas as a Christ-follower.  While I've always enjoyed celebrating the holidays, this year brings a much deeper contemplation of what it all means.  It's not just frivolity, eating stuffing & cranberry sauce while watching White Christmas and checking names off my gift list.

Instead, there is a nuance of purpose this year--an intentional awareness of and reverence for all my favorite holiday traditions.  Everything is more meaningful, more significant.  Each little opportunity to share the love of Christ reflects the peace I'm finding in my own walk with God.  There's a deep richness in the holidays this year that, frankly, I've never experienced before.  Like seeing HD TV for the first time, when all you've ever known was a black & white set with bad reception.  Of course, the equipment up-grade happened inside me.

Back to the holidays...Thanksgiving was lovely...and tinged with a bit of adventure.  I smoked a turkey for the very first time--delicious and very much fun!  I also spent the whole week asking people what they were grateful for and contemplating what my own life would be like if I'd been born anywhere else in the world.  The freedoms we have here as women--to be educated, own property, have a job and our own cars, to marry whom we wish--these things are unattainable for so many others around the world.  What a blessing just to live in this country, in this era!  What opportunities to see the world and affect change!  I need to focus on these and all the other blessings in my life instead of getting wrapped up in my own selfish concerns.

And now, as I sit here typing out my thoughts to you on this deliciously dark and cozy Christmas Eve night, I can't help but be amazed.  I wanted this Christmas season to be meaningful and chalk full of opportunities to help others. Well, God obliged: providing a chance to wrap cookies for folks languishing in prison and another to sing Christmas carols at the homes of total strangers.  I also rolled, dipped and gave away countless Oreo Truffles and stayed up late at night cooking meals for friends in need.  I got to savor every moment of Christmas concerts, church services, cookie decorating & wrapping the simple, meaningful gifts I bought this year.  The thing is, none of this had much to do with me.  It was all about Him and how best to love & serve His people.  It's a feeling I've never known, this peace in generosity.  Life-changing.

I wish you this peace too, dear Reader, and much joy in the coming year.  May 2012 bring you revelations of great joy and a deep sense of purpose.  And if you don't yet know Emmanuel, God With Us, and what he sacrificed to purchase forgiveness and freedom for you and me, may you also discover a burning desire to know Him better in the year ahead.  God Bless you and Merry Christmas!   




    

Funeral Potatoes

Culinary monogamy has been my M.O. for several years now, dear Reader.  Once I find a recipe that faithfully reproduces culinary nirvana, I stick with it.  Why mess with a reliable thing?  But, once in a great while you come across something (dare I say it?) better.

The dish in question: Hash Brown Casserole.  Though I adore my cheddar cheese soup version of this shredded potato delight, another has caught my eye lately.  Funeral Potatoes.  Yes, the name is awful.  But the cheesy potato goodness is so legendary that merely saying the name out loud can cause heads to nod and knowing looks to be exchanged. Funeral Potatoes are too good to serve only at sad events and should be elevated to a place of honor at most holidays. This delish recipe comes courtesy of our Fearless Trail Leader (and consummate baker), Julie Kneip.  Enjoy, Reader!

Funeral Potatoes

36 oz homestyle (square) hashbrown potatoes
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
16 oz sour cream
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (1/2 cup set aside for topping)
1/2 cup minced onion (I like green onion)
1/2 cup melted butter
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups cornflakes (for topping)
1/2 cup melted butter (for topping)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix mushroom soup, sour cream, butter, cheese & onions.
Then, in large bowl, thoroughly combine potatoes with cheese mixture.
Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Pour hashbrown mix into lightly-greased 9x12 glass casserole dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
In medium pan, melt remaining butter.
Coat cornflakes with butter.
Remove casserole from oven & top with remaining cheese.
Then top with cornflakes and return casserole to oven.  Bake for 10 minutes.
Allow casserole to cool for 10 minutes.  Serve warm.
Makes 6-8 servings.









 

What I've Learned: God's plans are so much better than mine.
Sorry for the long delay, dear Reader.  It's been a busy fall.  But now there is plenty of time to catch you up on some of the lessons this season has reiterated for me.  The most memorable has to be the October wedding of my dear friends K & M.  After four months of intense planning, researching, soul-searching, prayer and portrait practice, Brother and I photographed their beautiful destination wedding at The Irish Cottage in Galena, IL over the first weekend in October.

Between the intimate setting, gorgeous weather and, of course, the adorable couple themselves, it was such a joy to capture the love and ambiance that permeated every part of K & M's special day.  And to think I might have chosen not to trust God's nudging to accept this challenge!  I could have taken the safer, easier path and not risked anything.  I could have said, God, you don't understand.  I can't do this.  But I didn't.

Instead, I chose to follow where He was leading me and am so glad I did!  Shooting this wedding not only gave me confidence and a better understanding of what I'm capable of as a photographer (as well as areas where I need to improve), it taught me to rely on God when trying something new--to depend on His guidance and provision in every situation.  It also offered a glimpse into what God wants me to do with these skills for His kingdom: helping me form and solidify the compassionate and discerning perspective I will bring to every photo shoot from now on.  What an incredible sense of purpose that brings!   

And what a gift to be able to use these skills to make tangible memories for others--especially those who might not otherwise have such an opportunity.  I can't think of a better reason to hand the reins over to Jesus and follow His lead. (Except for the gifts of Grace & Salvation, of course.)  My plans seem so very shriveled and small in comparison to His.  What about you, dear Reader?  What is God nudging you to do these days?  What part of your life does He want you to turn over to Him?  What would happen if you just let go and surrendered?  What if the results were better than you ever hoped?  What would that be worth?

    
















For your enjoyment, Reader, here are a few more of my favorite shots from K & M's gorgeous day: