To know and remember …
I am loved …
for free.
You are too.
And that’s good to remember.
thankful for another surprise hallelujah :: The Joy Challenge
November 28, 2010 by
My dad sent me this one. I know I’ve already posted a surprise hallelujah but goodness gracious me oh my … this is the way we should live our lives.
Just sitting around at the mall. And at any moment, ready to share the biggest and best thing that’s ever happened. In our lives. And in history.
Hallelujah!
Enjoy … (and thanks Daddy!)
thankful for last minute things :: The Joy Challenge
November 27, 2010 by
It was a crazy week. I started a new job Monday at 105.9 FM in Austin with Crista Ministries. Great job. Fabulous ministry. Wonderful people. But a new full time job nonetheless … a tad stressful.
Then Monday night we got a midnight call … our 20 year old Emily was making doughnuts with her roommates and had an accident. She suffered 3rd degree burns on her right hand (dang cooking oil!!). At the last minute, my precious husband sped off in the middle of the night to sit in the hospital with her (she’s in Waco at Baylor – some 2 hours away). Bless his fatherly heart. Only one of the many reasons I love him. Meanwhile, I was at home freaking out.
So the week tumbled along. Me – trying to keep my head up feeling like a deadbeat mom. Me – trying my hardest to keep my head in the game. It’s those last minute things that trip you up. The unexpected stuff.
Emily finally got home. And I finally got to mother her. She’s going to be okay (prayers for her hand and healing are appreciated). And we commenced with our Thanksgiving plans. His family. Mine. Lots of good times. And lots of family.
And then today. Some last minute things that made me grateful. Emily and I made a joyous run to Anthropologie. Emily and I went to Saturday night church. Emily and I made a late night run to HEB (our local grocery store) and found … of all things … darling candles Illume candles. Ridiculously reasonable. Perfectly adorable.
We bought a boatload. For her friends. For mine. Checking off the Christmas to do list. Spending time laughing together.
Thank you God for last minute things. For grocery runs with my daughter. For you protecting her when I couldn’t. For a husband that runs to protect and care for her … at the last minute.
thankful for enough :: The Joy Challenge
November 26, 2010 by
I have a confession.
Sometimes when I shop for Christmas gifts – I buy stuff for myself. It’s not that I go out thinking I want to load up on stuff for myself … it just happens. And then I end up with a barfing closet. It’s kind of embarrassing.
It happened for years and then I stumbled on an antidote. I’m going to share it with you – just in case you struggle like me with impulsive buying. With forgetting to remember that you already have enough.
Now, if you don’t want to know …
Please stop reading this post.
Because if you continue …
It’s a sure bet, you won’t dig shopping as much and you’ll stop overbuying. Yes, even on days like today. This antidote is the key to overspending on days like Black Friday.
Now, just in case you’re not ready – I’m going to post some pretty pictures of Thanksgiving to protect you from upcoming information. That’s right, if you are armed with those special Black Friday flyers and not ready to stop needless spending — do not scroll down. Instead, just click away from this screen.
Aren’t these gorgeous hydrangeas? Lynn had them on her dining room table?
Aren’t these gorgeous girls? They’re all cute little cousins creeping on FB.
Okay, fair is fair. Here goes … to gain control over impulse buying and feeling merciless against the onslaught of tantalizing sales on Black Friday, pray this prayer:
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Ps. 119.37
True confession: I prayed that one and slowly but surely, I lost a taste for the stuff. Of course I have to keep praying it. Cause sure as certain, that appetite for more will surge again. But without trying to sound to weird and churchy, this little prayer helps. It’s worth a try. Jot it down on a post-it note and take it to Target. Mutter it under your breath when you’re at the mall. Keep it in mind when you’re wandering around Wal-Mart.
Cause it just might be the thing that keeps you out of trouble this year. That helps you to remember, you’ve already got more than enough.
thankful for blessings :: The Joy Challenge
November 25, 2010 by
I know you’re busy. Setting the table.
Getting things ready.
But please don’t forget … to stop and count your blessings.
Hug them one by one.
Who can ever praise You half enough?!
Ps. 106.2
thankful for my cat :: The Joy Challenge
November 24, 2010 by
I have a confession. For as long as I can remember, I have hated cats. Detested them.
I avoided them. Shooed them. Thought they were sneaky, nasty creatures … until I met Madeleine.
And now I love cats.
Madeleine adopted us when she was just 6 months old. She wandered into our garage and won’t leave. I chased her out. I locked her out. But she wouldn’t leave.
Don’t laugh at me … but I think God thought I needed a kitten. So he dropped one on my doorstep.
I adore her.
And I do admit, she owns me.
And our house.
Who owns you?
Thankful for baking :: The Joy Challenge
November 23, 2010 by
I started a new job yesterday. And it’s a lovely job. Great location. Fabulous people. And yet, starting a job can be stressful. And yesterday was no exception. So guess what I decided to do to last night to chillax?
Bake.
And this was my therapy. Banana nut muffins. A delicious recipe from The Muffin Lady. Here’s the start:
I dotted half the batter with Callebaut chocolate chips. It’s like a dessert muffin. All melty and muffiny and chocolately. Yum. They came out of the oven looking like this …
Yummy, huh? And pretty.
When I was baking I realized sometimes we forget that the things we have to do – are actually things we want to do. Like baking. And laundry. And watering thirsty plants.
And it’s not until you’re away from home all day that you appreciate the way the dryer hums when it’s doing it’s job. Or the way the plants look right after you water them. Or the way banana muffins topped with Callebaut chocolate smell fresh out of the oven.
All those things so uniquely home can seem everyday. Mundane.
But they’re not. They constitute the essence of home.
Which is the best place on earth to be.
The Muffin Lady’s Banana Nut Muffins
3 ripe bananas * 1 cup oil * 2 eggs * 1 cup sugar * 2 cups flour * 2 teaspoons baking powder * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1 teaspoon salt * 1/4 teaspoon mace * 1 teaspoon vanilla * 1/2 cup walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bananas in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until pureed or mashed. Add the oil and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time. Sift the dry ingredients. Gradually add the sifted ingredients. Add the vanilla. Fold in the nuts. Bake in a wax paper lined muffin pan for 30 minutes.
thankful for a stress-free Thanksgiving :: The Joy Challenge
November 22, 2010 by
Something tremendous happened yesterday. And I thought I’d share it with you. Because I’m nearly certain that it will help you have a stress-free Thanksgiving.
I was at a horse show all weekend with my daughter, Sara. It’s one of those glorious all day affairs with much visiting amongst moms in between watching the girls do their rounds. The barn owner, Christy, is a friend of mine. She was there with her daughters. And she was sweet enough Saturday evening to take Sara out to dinner after the show.
The early morning sights at the horse show ...
Before I go on, you need to know a few things about Christy. She’s a model. Seriously. She’s drop dead gorgeous and she models. She has an enormously charming husband, three amazing children and a fabulous house near the lake. On top of that, she has a barn. A girl that’s got it all together.
Here's Christy ... and her husband Dave on the left.
So as I was saying, Christy took Sara out to dinner Saturday night after the show. And when she came to drop her off at our house, she pulled in the driveway. Sara jumped out of the car – opened the garage – and waved goodbye. No big deal. Until Sunday when Christy said this:
Christy: I knew I liked you but now I really like you.
Me: Well, thanks.
Christy: No. You don’t understand – when I dropped Sara off – she opened your garage.
Me: Yes …
Christy: Well, it looks like my garage and that made me feel so good. There was stuff everywhere …
Me (laughing): Oh, Christy – that’s my garage clean! If you had only seen it 3 months ago, you would have really loved me.
That conversation made me realize something important and it’s getting me back on the right track. Because … I started really stressing about Thanksgiving. Thinking my house needs to be just so. That the meal should be replete with unadulterated homemade goodness. But the truth is … it’s okay to run by Marie Callender’s and pick up some pies. It’s okay to buy (gasp) a smoked turkey from Rudy’s. It’s even okay to have a sink full of dirty dishes.
And a messy garage.
It’s not perfection your guests are looking for at all. It’s just regular old you. Inviting them in to your everyday life. For some good food and conversation.
So, cheers to a stress-free Thanksgiving!
thankful for wonder :: The Joy Challenge
November 21, 2010 by
This last Friday I had the chance to speak at the Texas Women in Business luncheon. Fabulous group of women. Lovely lunch at Abel’s on the Lake. Reminds me why I’m so happy to live in Austin. The topic was ‘Arresting Ingratitude: Live the Life You’ve Always Wanted.’ I talked about 3 different ways to engage a spirit of gratitude. And one was to ‘actively wonder’ at your life and the things in your life.
So just a little exercise this Sunday … instead of hopping in the car to check off all the things on your list. Or rushing into church because you’re late (again). Just take a look up … and wonder:
Why did God make the sky so blue?
What made him want to pin white clouds above?
And why on earth do I get to enjoy this view?
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
G.K. Chesterton
thankful for a Gratitude Giveaway winner :: The Joy Challenge
November 20, 2010 by
Before I tell you the BIG news … I have some really good news for those of you that didn’t win this time. There will be another BIG GIVEAWAY NEXT MONTH! I figure it’s Christmas and we could all use a little help buying things for the people we love so … I’m going to do another giveaway in December. And the theme is … well, let me give you a little hint:
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings …
MY FAVORITE THINGS giveaway!
Need some details?
*There will be 3 $50 gift cards. *There will be 3 winners. *And it all starts December 1st!
Each entry period only lasts 48 hours, so check in daily to see what’s up for grabs when …
Oh happy day!!!!
So all you need to do is just stop back by daily from now til Christmas to see what’s going on …
In all, I’d just like to say … thanks for stopping by, for saying hi, and for sharing your thankful heart. It made me so happy to read all your responses. Some made me laugh. Some made me cry. But no matter the response – I felt immense joy and gratitude in the sharing. Thanks so much.
AND NOW, TIME FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:
THE GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY WINNER IS (drum roll please …)
Annie
anniesbutterworth.blogspot.com
PS. If you have a ten year old plus, there is a giveaway going on now for my book Parenting Your Teen and Loving It: Being the Mom Your Kid Needs and some delicious stress soothing caramel sauce.
