A Time of Thankfulness

Seriously?  It's November already?  October ended almost as swiftly as it began, and let's try not to notice that my last legitimate post on this blog was in March!  I think it's time that this blog got a serious face lift, and I could probably use a little creative refreshment as well.

For anyone reading now who has been following my family's journey over the past year, it's been a humdinger!  We are leaving our whole lives behind here in the states and moving to Paris, France, as missionaries with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. (go check out www.HintonsInParis.com!)  I don't need to go into all the hairy details at this time, but let's just say the process has had its stressors.  It came to a climax last week when we sold practically everything and moved out of our precious house in Visalia.  Currently, we are staying with my parents in Sacramento, preparing to move into temporary housing until we move on to Paris.

...But, as I said already, it's November already.  Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I adore the fall.  And I can't let the stress of moving disrupt enjoying the little pleasures in life.  November marks preparation for Thanksgiving, and I would like to start this month off taking note of what I am thankful for.  Especially during a time of stress like this (and I'm sure we all can identify with stressors in life), I need more than ever to be reminded of what I am thankful for.  Let's start this harvest season of thanksgiving off right....

I am thankful for a roof over my head, a comfortable bed to sleep in, food in the refrigerator, and people who love me dearly.

Truly.  These are the types of luxuries that we fail to take notice of each and every day.  We forget that if we have a bed to sleep in and three meals a day, we are among the world's wealthy.  How convicting.  As I am temporarily homeless, I am reminded of the blessing of a roof and a bed... a comfortable bed at that!  My parents home has always been a place of comfort for me with its good smells and cozy furniture and warm decor.  These are things I need more then ever right now to add a little sanity into my life.

People who love me.

Do I even realize the power of that statement?  I have an adoring and supporting husband, who cheers me on, pushes me forward, and dries my tears every single day.  He always makes me feel strong, beautiful and capable of whatever I put my mind to.  In a time and day when so many marriages fail, I am thankful to have my incredible spouse.  I also have two beautiful children who snuggle with me every day, smile at me in the morning, and come to me when they are crying.  They are always reminding me that I am loved.

As I have had to let go of so many things lately, I am finally recognizing that this is all a person really needs.  If I have food, shelter, and people I love surrounding me with Christ in the center, there is little left to fret about.  As everything is rapidly changing, may I keep that in the forefront of my brain during this upcoming holiday season.

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

Luke 12:27,28

A Much Needed Vacation

Summer's almost over, but not without some good family vacation!  

From John's magic bookings to his two weeks of youth summer camp, to ten days in Taiwan, and multiple business trips, he's been gone and I have been flying solo more this summer perhaps than not.  I'd say that John's time away has totaled near a month within the last two and half months.  Needless to say, I have gained a lot of parenting experiencing juggling two kids on my own!

It has been exciting to hear about everything God has been doing through John and the youth ministry and his magic ministry.  The Lord is good, and we are extremely thankful.  And in response to all of this "good" busy-ness, we are so excited and ready for the coming week...


Tomorrow afternoon we set off for a full week beach trip with my entire immediate family.  It's been quite a project to simply get the four of us packed for this adventure!  But I can hardly express my excitement!  And look at how lucky we are:

Sixteen of us will be jammed into this lovely five bedroom beach house right on the shores in Oxnard, California.  Our family of four, my parents and my two sisters and their families.... oh man is it going to be wonderful.... and get this: 8 kids all under the age of 6!!  Boy are we going to be busy!  But I can't wait.  

How I need this break to relax and reconnect with family in a way I haven't since I can't remember how long.  So perhaps I will be reporting from Oxnard next time you hear from me!! ...Off to the sand and the waves, let's hope I don't get my annual summer lobster burn!

Why I Am In Love With Autumn: Reason #5 - It Rings in the Season

Need I remind you that there are still two and a half weeks of autumn left, even if it is the Christmas season?  ...Ah, but that is the biggest reason for why I adore the season of Fall so much!  The festivities of fall ring in the holidays and are the perfect beginning to the most wonderful time of year.

how about this for an adorable way to welcome Christmas in the transition of autumn to winter holidays! (source unknown)

 
My first time hosting Thanksgiving went marvelously.  The turkey was scrumptious, the desserts were delectable, and the company was even better.  How I love being surrounded with family for this holiday.  It truly is something to be thankful for.  And what I love so much about Thanksgiving is that it is the kick-off to the Christmas season.  Frankly, what better way is there to begin the Christmas holiday than with a feast of thankfulness?!
 
I am a Christmas dork.  If you thought I was a nut for autumn, you haven't seen me around Christmas.  John complains every year that I don't allow Christmas music in the house until after Thanksgiving, but believe me, by the time Friday rolls around, I am decking the halls and belting carols at the top of my lungs!
 
...However, it killed me this year because I came down with a nasty cold right on Thanksgiving, and it really got the best of me in the days that followed.  Where I would normally be putting up the tree and breaking open the eggnog, instead I was lying on the couch hacking away with no energy to be excited about the holidays in the way that I wanted to be.
 
So I may have gotten a bit of a late start on my Christmas jollies this year, but you can now rest assured that if you enter the Hinton home from now till the end of December (and probably later), you will be enveloped with all the comforts, smells, and festivites of Christmas.  I will offer you the Christmassy beverage of your choice, whether that be egg nog, a holiday tea, or apple cider or a cup of peppermint coco... and you will have a tasty holiday treat to compliment your beverage.  You will hear Christmas tunes gaily ringing from our speakers, and the fireplace will be glowing while the tree is twinkling.  The home is complete with festive fragrances as well.  I have mistletoe hand soap and fresh pine candles and a spiced cider wall plug in.  I am, however, still surrounded by all my Christmas tubs of decorations, but hopefully in a few days those will be empty and our home will feel complete and ready in decor.  I just love decorating for the holidays.  

Still be aware, nonetheless, that I am expecting our little boy to be born any day now.  I am now 35 weeks gestation, and within days of when Charity greeted our world.  Yes, she was a month early.  So I don't know if our little man will be here before or after the Christmas holiday, but in knowing that the time could easily be around the corner, I am attempting to fulfill all my Christmas traditions while I still have the ability to do it.  Besides, the effort is worth celebrating my Savior's birth into our human race.  Without that fact, all of these traditions and festivities would just be a bunch of hoo-ha. Christ's birth is the very finest reason I can think of to celebrate in such a lavish manner.  This truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Only 3 More Days!

Whew!  I'm getting anxious and excited about everything that is approaching...
  
While I still haven't nailed down that perfect dessert, I did accomplish a lot today.  After completing a very thorough two-hour shopping spree around the grocery store, my refrigerator is stocked for Thanksgiving... almost.  I'm a little terrified because the most essential & precious (need I say ridiculously tasty)Thanksgiving herb, sage, was sold out at our local Winco.  They didn't even have flat leaf parsley.  I'll be checking other stores and returning tomorrow to see if I can retrieve my precious herb or the stuffing just won't be the same!

Beyond our massive grocery store excursion, I have completed my "Thanksgiving Day Game Plan" list so that I am fully prepared for the efforts that are about to take place.  I figured this was the best way to ensure that I didn't miss any details on the big day.  I first wrote out all the different dishes and desserts that will be prepared in my kitchen, complete with oven temperatures and cooking times... a staggering 12 dishes! (Am I nuts?!)  Then I proceeded to type out my detailed 3-day schedule... Observe the madness that will be commending in my household all beginning tomorrow:

Thanksgiving Day Game Plan

Two days before…

• ·       make cranberry sauce & refrigerate
• ·       print off all recipes, organize
•         do any final shopping

The day before…

• ·       remove pomegranate seeds & make salad dressing
• ·       make seasoning salt for turkey
• ·       make pie crusts and chill
• ·       prepare stuffing:  cook & combine dry ingredients, refrigerate
• ·       bake pies and pumpkin tart
• ·       Set table, clear counter top
• ·       Get out designated serving dishes

The Big Day…

• ·       Wash Turkey
• ·       Prepare Turkey stock
• ·       Roast turkey thighs for gravy
• ·       Make gravy, refrigerate
• ·       Get out ingredients for cider
• ·       Prepare cracker cheese platter for lunch/appetizers
• ·       Have mom make corn pudding
• ·       Set out and organize all ingredients for each dish

Three hours before dinner…

• ·       Preheat oven to 425 °
• ·       Make herb butter
• ·       Season and stuff turkey
• ·       Put turkey in the oven
• ·       Finish prepping stuffing
• ·       Make cider & apple water
• ·       Make “stuffing” mix for apples

1 hour before dinner…

• ·       Check turkey temp
• ·       Make seasoning for green beans
• ·       Begin peeling sweet potatoes
• ·       Put John on mashed potatoes
• ·       Start roasting sweet potatoes 15 min before bird comes out
• ·       Make sweet potato glaze
• ·       Have mom start green beans
• ·       Start heating gravy
• ·       Pull out bird, tent and let rest 20 min.
• ·       Turn down oven heat, bake stuffing and re-warm corn pudding
• ·       Prepare salad and baked apples go in oven
• ·       Serve feast!

 ...I'm already tired just thinking about it!  However, at least I now have a plan all laid out, and I can go into the rest of the week confident that I know what I'm doing (or can at least act like I know what I'm doing!) 
 
It all starts tomorrow!  Say a little prayer for me and wish me luck, friends!

Countdown to Thanksgiving: 5 Days Left!

Am I possibly going to have enough time to pull this off??  The infamous Thursday is looming around the corner...

John's parents arrived this evening.  I think we all feel like now the festivities can begin. My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is that it is truly a holiday that centers around family.

Today, in preparation I am researching dessert recipes.  I'm really stumped for what I'm going to make, because there are just too many good options. One dessert has already been set in stone for Thanksgiving in this family, whether I like it or not.  It's pecan pie.  Three years ago I made my very first pecan pie with a recipe taught to me by my sister-in-law, Elizabeth.... who, I might add, is a proficient baker.  She knew how to make her dad's favorite pecan dessert, so as soon as I managed to master the recipe myself, it was never coming off the holiday menu.  There is only one problem with this situation:  I am personally not a fan of pecan pie.  So I asked myself, "Why would I go through making an entire Thanksgiving feast to not enjoy a dessert at the end that I truly love??"  Why?"  Well, I just won't have it.  I have too much of a sweet to tooth to undergo such a travesty, so indeed, an additional dessert must be made.  

My original thought was that I will simply make either an apple or pumpkin pie in addition, and then choose the alternative pie flavored ice cream from Dryers, so that I get a little of everything.  And if you have never had the Dryers Pumpkin or Apple Pie flavored ice creams, I beseech you, go and pick up a carton and have some for this Thanksgiving!  They are to die for!

  

As my search for the perfect Thanksgiving dessert has continued, however, I am tied between three equally fabulous options:  

Ginger Pumpkin Tart
     ...has a ginger cookie crust, and the pumpkin filling is made by whipping together pumpkin puree, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk... yummy!

Stuffed Baked Apples
     ...a quick, easy dessert (can't beat that), that sounds oh-so scrumptious. Basically an apple pie inside out:  a hollowed out apple stuffed with all kinds of yummy goodness and baked in the oven.  Serve a la mode, and you can't go wrong!

Cranberry Cheesecake Pie
     ...a cranberry cheesecake filling with additional fresh cranberries nestled inside a flakey pie crust... I'm sorry, but I don't know what about that doesn't sound good!

So there you have it... If I was cooking for a crowd, I would probably find a way to simply make all three, but alas, with only four people around the table, I simply cannot justify so many sweet calories.  I'm going to be finalizing my Thanksgiving menu tomorrow (which I will discuss in tomorrow's countdown post), so after I take a few votes, hopefully I'll have this decision nailed down... I wish I had enough time and enough mouths to make them all... but I don't need to commit Thanksgiving suicide!

Please, cast your own vote and tell me your opinion on which dessert I should make!  Sweet eats, everyone!

Countdown to Thanksgiving

Preparation for the big holiday at the end of this month has kept me away from blogging all month. 

 ...Okay, and normal life plus pregnancy has gotten in the way of posting as well...
 
But the Countdown to Thanksgiving has already begun, and it's only a week away.  How do the holidays approach us so quickly?  It seems like yesterday I was staring up at the hot sun begging for fall to begin.
 
This year.....**drum roll**..... I'm hosting my first Thanksgiving (gulp)!  Truth be told, I'm actually very excited about it.  We trade off holidays between families each year, and this year Thanksgiving was to be spent with John's parents.  The original plan was to fly out to them in North Carolina, but after we learned of our pregnancy, we realized  there was no way I was to be flying during my third trimester with my early labor history.  Months ago when we made these plans, I was truly terrified at the idea of cooking the infamous Thanksgiving meal.  However, as the holiday has been approaching, and as my homemaker instincts have really kicked in in the last months, I'm truly excited for the big celebration of gratitude and food!  Don't be fooled, I'm still a bit nervous at how I'm going to be pulling it all off, but I'm up for the challenge.
 
So.... with only six days remaining till Thanksgiving, I'm going to attempt to blog each day as I countdown and prepare for my first big holiday hosting.  You'll get an inside look on something I'm gearing up for as the holiday approaches and maybe it will be an inspiration for the way some of you celebrate this year.
 
Yesterday, I put together a sweet little "Thankful Jar".  ...Something I wish I had thought of at the first of the month.  Nothing fancy, just an old mason jar tied with some rafia.  You could make yours however you want.  I've cut strips of orange paper and each day this week, I'm filling the jar with things I'm thankful for (and encouraging my family to do the same) as they come to mind.  It is my plan to read through the many things we are each grateful for around the Thanksgiving table this Thursday.   

Practicing a discipline of thankfulness, I believe, is important beyond just this one time of year, but taking time to reflect on the things that bring me gratitude is certainly valuable in making the most of this once a year holiday.
 
I also found a product that offers this practice of thankfulness for children in a darling way:
 

...A sort of advent calendar for Thanksgiving, this darling decor from Pottery Barn encourages kids (big ones too) to write down something they are thankful for and place it in the appropriate day's pocket for each day of the month of November.  
 
Either way, be practicing thankfulness before and after Thanksgiving this year.

Why I Am In Love With Autumn: Reason #4

My morning mug:  Pumpkin Ginger Tea.

This tea is like fall in a cup, and I truly can't get enough of it.  

Let me do a little product review for you: 

• A rich, beautiful black tea
• It is part of a line up of fall teas by The Republic of Tea, and it can only be found seasonally at Cost Plus World Market (my all-time favorite store).
• It can be purchased in-store only for $10.99... perhaps a bit pricey to some people, but worth it if you love tea!
• Comes with 50 bags of tea, so this will last you a while!
• The initial flavor is ginger, but then the overwhelming flavor theme is the pumpkin... it's like sweet, baked pumpkin running all the way through each sip.  Then it has all the notes of traditional pumpkin pie spice: cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
• As an avid tea drinker, I give this one 5 out of 5 stars.  It has stellar flavor!

Let me also offer a few tea preparation suggestions:

• Because it's a black tea, it can be brewed with water at a rolling boil. Some other types of teas, like green and white teas, require the temp to be just under boiling.
• To retain the heat of the water while brewing, I cover my mug with a plastic lid or a plate. You may even want to pre-heat your mug.
• I brew my tea for 4 minutes.  Anywhere from 3-5 minutes is fine, but if you brew tea too long, it becomes bitter.
• I also prepare my tea the way my mommy taught me, and the way she learned in England: with milk and honey, NOT cream and sugar.  In my opinion, it's the only way to drink black tea! (but don't use nonfat milk, it's too weak and not creamy enough)

The taste and comfort of this tea screams fall and all the flavors that you crave during this season.  Drinking it practically begs you to do so in front of a fire with a blanket or on a brisk autumn afternoon when you need to take the chill off.  What better way to be put in the fall mood than by curling up with a cupful of this to enjoy sip by sip?

Why I Am In Love With Autumn: Reason #3

I realize this may sound a little self-indulgent.... but can you blame me?
...One of the reasons I love the autumn season is because my birthday is part of it.

I have fond memories of many birthday celebrations growing up.  We look forward to our birthdays as children much more than we anticipate them as adults.  Whenever October rolled around, it meant my birthday was coming soon.  It also meant the most awesome festive cupcakes that my mom would make for me to deliver to my classmates.  (Wish I could find you a picture, so you could all see these show-stopping treats!)  They were adorably garnished with candy corns and orange and yellow lollipops on chocolate icing.  Talk about festive!

But in all seriousness, I hope that even as grow into middle age and elderly years, I will always enjoy my birthday as opposed to dreading getting another year older, which seems to be the trendier attitude these days.  Instead, I see it as God's graciousness in getting me through another year and giving me another year of life.
  
This year's birthday was a good one; it was yesterday, and my husband treated me very well by giving me a day without Charity and a day of spending time with him.  We shared a lovely breakfast together, went to the movies, did a little shopping, had some pizza for dinner, and ended it with a pleasant, quiet time at Starbucks before picking Charity up at the end of the day.  A simple day of simple activities, but all things that I never get to enjoy anymore as a full-time mommy.  This, of course, made it extra special.

...So three cheers to getting older and having another excuse to celebrate!  I love autumn!

Why I Am In Love With Autumn: Reason #2

The Colors!!

No need to mention that oranges and reds and golds are among my all-time favorite colors on the spectrum anyway. I love to dress in beautiful warm colors, I love to decorate with them, I love just about everything that has to do with these delicious hues.
  
The colors of fall speak warmth and coziness to our psyche. These colors make me comfortable. I love driving down the street and seeing all the colors of the changed leaves. Hues of fiery orange, rich goldenrod, warm cinnamon, and deep burnt red... it's like nature's poetry.

I especially love orange. To some it's an ugly color, to others it's extremely trendy. But I love it so much that I actually have walls in my living room and kitchen painted a rusty orange, I follow a whimsical blog called "How About Orange", and every fall season I like to invest in some wonderful orange accessory. Two years ago it was a fabulous fiery scarf, last year it was a great new orange top. This year, as my budget is penny-pinching, it was a simple, fabulous bottle of shimmery orange nail polish.

Perhaps the color of autumn will inspire you this season as well!  So wrap yourself in warmth, and enjoy these rich hues of nature before the sting of winter takes them away.

Not Every Day Can Be a Good Day

Yesterday was one of those days.  Sometimes my hard work as a mom doesn't feel all that appreciated. I suppose, however, that I cannot blame that on my 19-month old. It was yesterday that Charity decided to literally bulldoze everything she came in contact with, thus destroying my clean home (it's a wonder it ever stays somewhat neat around here!)  And whenever she was removed from the area that mommy wasn't okay with, she would wine and tantrum.  Lovely. 

While naptime is usually a welcomed relief from days like this, yesterday's nap did not provide much relief, as she only napped for 50 minutes as opposed to her usual 2 hours, thus resulting in a tired and fussy toddler on top of the whining wrecking ball that I already had.  Joy.

I realize motherhood and parenting in general cannot be filled with perfect days and angel-like children... in fact, those days are the rare ones.  This truth doesn't alter the fact, however, that those less-than-perfect days make me want to cry and hide in my room for the entire afternoon, pretending that I am not a mother.  This is even more the case while enduring pregnancy = a tired, sore body and raging hormones.

I can say that there was at least a pleasant intermission to my toddler's "off-day" when daddy came home and we took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. That place truly delighted her...

  

Of course, her delight in the Pumpkin Patch also meant her utter disapproval and breakdown upon leaving.  So for a short hour of my day, I got some relief from my emotional child, then it was back to mood swings and whining.
  
It's all a part of a parent's day-to-day, I realize.  Days like this cause me to seek the wisdom of Solomon who wrote, "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Ecc. 7:9). It's far easier to get provoked and angry, even if it's towards a toddler who is just trying to learn the ways of her world while making a mess of things.  Instead in response I must lean on the Holy Spirit for that fruit of patience which he promises, and attempt to not be a "fool" of a mother.  Lord, grant me strength.  

So far today, Charity has been a bit more pleasant... I'll pray it lasts, and be thankful for the trade-off.

Charity's Fall Photo Shoot

We had a lot of fun getting fall family photos last week.  

Here are some of the cutest ones.  

For a more complete album, check out my facebook pictures here.

 

 

yay! fall leaves! 

 My lil' punkin

 "Where's Baby Brother?..."

 "...There he is!"

The winning family photo!

Why I Am In Love With Autumn: Reason #1

The WEATHER.
Not too cold, just cool, crisp and refreshing.  Ah, the weather of fall.
 
Can I just say, we have had such a long and hot summer here in sunny Visalia, and I have been dying for it to feel like fall for quite some time now.  This week I finally got my wish, and it has been oh so fabulous-o.
 
There are so many reasons to appreciate the weather that comes with fall.  Anytime the season changes and the weather alters, it puts me in a good mood.  I think God intended it this way.  Change is good for the human soul.  You gain a sense of renewal.  With cooler fall weather comes a change in wardrobe, a change in atmosphere, and a change of the smells in the air.  I love the crispness of it all.  I love the sweet smell that a cool autumn rain will bring (such as the aroma that I am currently enjoying out my window).  I love the cleansing zing that you get from breathing in that cool morning air you can only get this time of year.  And there is nothing like that chilly, refreshing breeze that runs through the air, licking your hair.
 
In addition, going along with my love of fashion, with the drop in temperature comes the opportunity to wear cozy sweaters and my all-time favorite accessory: scarves.   I truly have a scarf fettish.  I have dozens of them hanging in my closet for every occasion.  So you can imagine my delight at finally being able to adorn some of these little beauties.
 
When it's cooler outside, it makes you want to bundle up inside.  Light a fire, have something hot to drink in your favorite mug, curl up in your fuzziest blanket.  And then, let the sounds of wind whipping or rain pattering or leaves rustling soothe your soul.  Nothing beats that atmosphere.  I am a sucker for the comfortable and the cozy.
 
Ah yes, there is nothing quite like the weather that accompanies this season:  Pleasant and serene while having a bit of bite!
 

Anxious for Autumn

Crisp, crunchy leaves, scarves and sweaters, pumpkin patches and hay rides, hot apple cider and homemade applesauce, warm colors and rich smells... 

...I have never been more ready for the season of fall to begin as I am this year.  Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, maybe it's the need for a change, but the anticipation is so intense, it's literally making me bonkers.

I love the fall season; everything about it and everything that it brings.  It is my favorite season of the year (save for that short month of December in which we celebrate Christmas).  Some of the best food comes in the fall.  The fragrances are the most delightful. The colors that are attributed to fall -- rich oranges, deep reds and browns, golden yellows -- they are all my favorite colors on the spectrum as well.  And I love busting out fall fashion and wearing cozy sweaters and dawning my scarves.  Just the warmth and festiveness that comes this time of year makes my heart dance and my soul sing!

It's been a long summer.  A long, hot summer.  And finally... FINALLY ...a glimmer of hope.  The weather forecast today finally reported temperatures in the lower 80's.  I'm ready to see the trees change into their autumn attire. I want to begin making my famous apple cider and take Charity to the pumpkin patch.  

I think part of all this anxiousness comes from the fact that I am already experiencing some discomfort in this pregnancy, and I want my favorite time of year to hurry up and get here so I can enjoy it while I still have some mobility and am not completely miserable yet.  I'm nervous that I'm going to be in physical agony a lot sooner this time around.

So, I know that Labor Day is suppose to be that sort of last celebration to bid summer fair-well... 
...I'm ready to ring in autumn.