Getting in the mood

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

re: agave nectar

FYI...
the alternative is the continued use of turbinado or raw sugar (for white sugar) and sucanat (for brown sugar) and honey when workable. The goal being to use foods that are unrefined or as close to unrefined as possible OR closest to their "whole" state or naturally occurring state in nature.

agave nectar

I am super bummed about this...

http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=247

I know, it is just a sweetener. But, as we have transitioned away from refined sugars I thought we had found a great solution in agave nectar. It is disappointing to find out otherwise.

the journey

The Journey
By Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

speaking

Have you ever had someone speak into your life in such a way as to cause a "holy disruption"?


...words or "direction" that launched you on a journey with the Father that you couldn't predict but became profound
...an observation that may have meant something in particular to the individual giving it but turns into a vastly deep treasure box when you open your heart to it and the Trinity unpacks it for you
...with you
...for your rescue, the rescue of your heart
...maybe for the hearts of others
...someday

I have.

the sparrow, eh?

How has he demonstrated this in your story this week?
He has certainly shown up in mine.

"But with God, who notes the fall of every sparrow, the events of our lives are thoughtfully and thoroughly orchestrated to bring about our redemption." ~ The Sacred Romance

savor

savor:

Function: verb

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb
to have a specified smell or quality

transitive verb
1: to give flavor to : season
2 a: to have experience of: taste
b: to taste or smell with pleasure : relish c: to delight in : enjoy <savoring the moment>


related words...

relish

1: characteristic flavor ; especially : pleasing or zestful flavor
2: a quantity just sufficient to flavor or characterize
3 a: enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires
b: a strong liking


enjoy

intransitive verb
: to have a good time

transitive verb
1 : to have for one's use, benefit, or lot :
2 : to take pleasure or satisfaction in

identity

Identity

By Thomas Merton

If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I think I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for. Between these two answers you can determine the identity of any person.

the miracle of learning

Untitled from vaporlife on Vimeo.

truth

By Muriel Rukeyser

What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?
The world would split open.

Source: From Cries of the Spirit, edited by Marilyn Sewell

got this in an email...good stuff

Life is short...
Forgive quickly
Kiss slowly
Love truly
Laugh uncontrollably...

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.

inspiration

enough

Enough
by Patrice Vecchione

"You don’t have to have everything. Whatever it is, whatever you have within yourself, consider it enough, and that the Spirit behind, above, and below you will do the rest. Your house is enough; it’s got plenty of floor space, great windows. The goods stored in your cupboards are all you need. The place you live will give you what’s necessary. Notice how different it feels in your body to have enough. Try it. Say to yourself, 'It’s enough. What I have is what I need.' ”

beautiful day

What a beautiful day it was here in Colorado! My desktop weather widget has been threatening rain/snow for the last couple of days but outside of a deliciously cloud-covered dreary day yesterday it has been beautiful. And there is nothing but sunny days in our near forecast.

November has been a wonderful month so far. It is project month around here. We have completely overhauled our house, shooting for the best arrangement for welcoming our newest little member. With the transition from fall to winter, we are fine tuning our organization in the form of extra hooks for coats, closets being rearranged and cleaned out, summer clothes being stored away and sweaters being put in the drawers, and a clean/empty garage to park our van in.

Our goal is to have all of our Christmas preparations done by the end of the month and we are well on our way. The only exception may be the baking...I love doing that all month. We hope/plan to continue and deepen our "intentional resting" in the month of December. I am really looking forward to enjoying this holiday season in a much more "present" way than I am sure I have spent many in the past. Plus, we don't know when our little darling will decide to make her appearance. I'd like to be sitting on the couch next to Mark with Ethan, Owen and Audrey cuddled in close, my feet up, Christmas tunes on, tree lit, hot cocoa in hand and the scent of my favorite Christmas candle in the air when the time comes!

We have a touch of the "yucks" around here...nothing real specific but nobody feels quite right...some have a little cough, some have tummy aches, some have runny noses. I hope that by the end of the week we have all these wrinkles ironed out. We have plans for some time with dear friends on Friday night and then Saturday we drop the kids with Amy and Josh for the night. Mark and I are looking forward to some lovely time as Mark and Lorrie for about 24 hours.

In the midst of it all, I am giving thanks for the treasured ways my Father is caring for and nurturing my heart. The depths he is reaching to and the ways he is speaking continue to confirm in my heart the things he has been whispering to me and inviting me to with Him this year.

celebrating fall

We are finding all kinds of ways to celebrate fall. We have had such a lovely week of weather and have taken advantage of any time we could be outside. We also enjoyed a great fall hike and picnic, carving pumpkins and some trick-or-treating.