- a full day of doing work that matters
- students who care about each other and about their school
- that school which is mine as well, both as an alum and as an administrator
- a bouquet of flowers from the ladies in my women's group that are days old and still beautiful
- post-it notes and my husband's love for their utility
- beautiful weather at the park with wonderful people
- life stories and paper plates and markers
- a husband who takes down my stored stuffed animals and piles them on the bed when he's away
- every breath
- peace and quiet
- God's goodness
- today
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Friday, June 05, 2009
I Am Thankful For
Friday, November 28, 2008
Post-Thanksgiving Reflections
What a great day! Seriously...
I spent all of yesterday morning shooting pictures of our adorable niece and nephews, Neeley, Luke, and Parker, as well as their parents, Brad and Wendy, out at their farm. Cliff was a great assistant, and I'm really excited with a lot of the shots. If I had our computer, I'd probably have something to show for it, but you'll just have to wait until next week to see these beauties.
Later, we had an early Thanksgiving meal out at the cabin with all of Cliff's parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings, and nieces and nephews. You can imagine in a fairly small hard-wooded cabin, it was a pretty loud and raucous time. I did manage to take a nap and get some time to talk with my family, though, so it couldn't have been that bad. We made a last-minute decision to stay out at the lake last night and kept Neeley, Luke, and Parker there with us. We managed to tweak the bunny ears enough to catch "The Incredibles" on the TV and watched lots of the boys (my husband included) playing "Halo" on the XBOX 360.
It was a beautiful morning out at the lake, today, so we attempted to stay there as long as possible. Which basically means until we got so hungry or so tired of wearing the same clothes from the day before, that we just gave up. Unfortunately, most of the food stores from the summer have been depleted and everyone took leftovers home, so all we had this morning was a loaf of bread and maybe 3 cups worth of milk. I managed to improvise and whipped up some cinnamon toast, which was mighty tasty if I do say so myself.
Since we left just before lunch, we drove the kids back out to the farm and we just can't really seem to find the motivation to leave. It's just wonderful out here, and having no plans and no responsibilities and nowhere to be is just nice - if even for today.
I'm thankful for that, among many things!
I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving, and we're sorry we didn't manage to get on here to say so!
I spent all of yesterday morning shooting pictures of our adorable niece and nephews, Neeley, Luke, and Parker, as well as their parents, Brad and Wendy, out at their farm. Cliff was a great assistant, and I'm really excited with a lot of the shots. If I had our computer, I'd probably have something to show for it, but you'll just have to wait until next week to see these beauties.
Later, we had an early Thanksgiving meal out at the cabin with all of Cliff's parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings, and nieces and nephews. You can imagine in a fairly small hard-wooded cabin, it was a pretty loud and raucous time. I did manage to take a nap and get some time to talk with my family, though, so it couldn't have been that bad. We made a last-minute decision to stay out at the lake last night and kept Neeley, Luke, and Parker there with us. We managed to tweak the bunny ears enough to catch "The Incredibles" on the TV and watched lots of the boys (my husband included) playing "Halo" on the XBOX 360.
It was a beautiful morning out at the lake, today, so we attempted to stay there as long as possible. Which basically means until we got so hungry or so tired of wearing the same clothes from the day before, that we just gave up. Unfortunately, most of the food stores from the summer have been depleted and everyone took leftovers home, so all we had this morning was a loaf of bread and maybe 3 cups worth of milk. I managed to improvise and whipped up some cinnamon toast, which was mighty tasty if I do say so myself.
Since we left just before lunch, we drove the kids back out to the farm and we just can't really seem to find the motivation to leave. It's just wonderful out here, and having no plans and no responsibilities and nowhere to be is just nice - if even for today.
I'm thankful for that, among many things!
I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving, and we're sorry we didn't manage to get on here to say so!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Thankful Game [Cliff]
Kristine e-mailed these questions to me, and here's what I have to say:
Something Functional in my house that I'm thankful for is:
The Toilet. Also, the shower.
Something about my body that I'm thankful for is:
You probably don't want to know. But I guess, also, my health and legs.
Something hard that I've been through that I'm thankful for is:
Living in Africa and being at West Point.
Something about this country that I'm thankful for is:
That we can have a transition in governmental leaders without militant action even when we don’t all agree together.
Something about 2008 that I'm thankful for is:
God meeting all of our needs.
A word I'm thankful for is:
Hope.
A sound I'm thankful for is:
Being able to hear wolves howl and an Elk bugle.
A place in nature I'm thankful for is:
Mountains. More specifically, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.
Something Functional in my house that I'm thankful for is:
The Toilet. Also, the shower.
Something about my body that I'm thankful for is:
You probably don't want to know. But I guess, also, my health and legs.
Something hard that I've been through that I'm thankful for is:
Living in Africa and being at West Point.
Something about this country that I'm thankful for is:
That we can have a transition in governmental leaders without militant action even when we don’t all agree together.
Something about 2008 that I'm thankful for is:
God meeting all of our needs.
A word I'm thankful for is:
Hope.
A sound I'm thankful for is:
Being able to hear wolves howl and an Elk bugle.
A place in nature I'm thankful for is:
Mountains. More specifically, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.
A Thankful Game [Kristine]
God has given us much. We all have countless reasons to be thankful in every circumstance.
Here are some specifics:
Something functional in my house that I'm thankful for is:
The stove. Spending time cooking over our electric eyes or anticipating the goodness of something baking in the oven is what I spend a lot of my time doing at home. So, that just makes sense.
Something about my body that I'm thankful for is:
I have learned, recently, to be thankful for a lot of things about my body. But if I have to pick just "something", then... I love that my feet, my legs, and my lungs have carried me to heights I never dreamed of reaching. Like this one.
Something hard that I've been through that I'm thankful for is:
Having my heart broken by the person I love most in this world. In that sense, I have known the depths and the heights of our relationship in a way that has taught me more about grace and mercy than possibly anything else. I am a stronger woman, a greater friend, and a truer companion because of this. And he is a stronger man, a greater friend, and a truer companion because of it, as well.
Something about this country that I'm thankful for is:
Freedom and the right to be uncommon.
Something about 2008 that I'm thankful for is:
Travelling to new places in the world with my best friend.
A word I'm thankful for is:
Hope.
A sound I'm thankful for is:
Laughter.
A place in nature I'm thankful for is:
This place.
How about you?
Here are some specifics:
Something functional in my house that I'm thankful for is:
The stove. Spending time cooking over our electric eyes or anticipating the goodness of something baking in the oven is what I spend a lot of my time doing at home. So, that just makes sense.
Something about my body that I'm thankful for is:
I have learned, recently, to be thankful for a lot of things about my body. But if I have to pick just "something", then... I love that my feet, my legs, and my lungs have carried me to heights I never dreamed of reaching. Like this one.
Something hard that I've been through that I'm thankful for is:
Having my heart broken by the person I love most in this world. In that sense, I have known the depths and the heights of our relationship in a way that has taught me more about grace and mercy than possibly anything else. I am a stronger woman, a greater friend, and a truer companion because of this. And he is a stronger man, a greater friend, and a truer companion because of it, as well.
Something about this country that I'm thankful for is:
Freedom and the right to be uncommon.
Something about 2008 that I'm thankful for is:
Travelling to new places in the world with my best friend.
A word I'm thankful for is:
Hope.
A sound I'm thankful for is:
Laughter.
A place in nature I'm thankful for is:
This place.
How about you?
Short[er] Day at Work
Well, I'm over the hump for the day!
Here in university administration, we have been graciously given a half day off today. So I'll be heading out in an hour or half or so to head home, pack my stuff, and make sure the apartment is all tidied up before leaving to pick up Cliff. He has also been graciously given a shorter day as well, which will put him leaving at 4PM instead of the usual 5:30PM.
I realized this week how fortunate I was to be a student for so long, particularly these last two years at Vandy where the students (graduate, included) get off for the whole week of Thanksgiving. Because I was a "student first!", I always got off for my assistantships then, as well. On the flipside, it's incredible how much of the other part of my job I can get done when students are not around - at least not quite as much. Not that I would trade my time with them for anything... things seem a little pointless without them around.
It's just so quiet here, but maybe that's a good thing. Becuase Lord knows the next couple of days, tomorrow especially, will be jam-packed with people to see, places to go, and things to do. And I wouldn't have it any other way... at least, as long as I can find some time to sleep-in, read, and, as we like to say, relaxitate.
Here in university administration, we have been graciously given a half day off today. So I'll be heading out in an hour or half or so to head home, pack my stuff, and make sure the apartment is all tidied up before leaving to pick up Cliff. He has also been graciously given a shorter day as well, which will put him leaving at 4PM instead of the usual 5:30PM.
I realized this week how fortunate I was to be a student for so long, particularly these last two years at Vandy where the students (graduate, included) get off for the whole week of Thanksgiving. Because I was a "student first!", I always got off for my assistantships then, as well. On the flipside, it's incredible how much of the other part of my job I can get done when students are not around - at least not quite as much. Not that I would trade my time with them for anything... things seem a little pointless without them around.
It's just so quiet here, but maybe that's a good thing. Becuase Lord knows the next couple of days, tomorrow especially, will be jam-packed with people to see, places to go, and things to do. And I wouldn't have it any other way... at least, as long as I can find some time to sleep-in, read, and, as we like to say, relaxitate.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thanksgiving with the Finchers
Yesterday, against all odds (namely my inability to speak), we had our Fourth Annual pre-Thanksgiving dinner with Casey and Sara. We started out in 2005 with your traditional cuisine and every year since, our variations of Thanksgiving fare have become increasingly more creative. This year was no exception!
Our lovely hosts:
...dreamed big and decided on Turkey Manicotti for the entree. (Come to find out, cannelloni and manicotti are kind of but not really the same thing. Here's what ever-reliable wiki has to say about the matter.)
From there, the rest of the menu was decided in a series of reply-all e-mails and was as follows:
Crostini w/ Olive Spread [Finchers]
Turkey Manicotti [Finchers]
Greens w/ Strawberries, Red Onions, Pecans, and Cranberries [Finchers]
Country Green Beans [Neeleys - I used the recipe I linked on last week's FLL!]
Peppery Parmesan Mashed Potatoes [Finchers]
Pumpkin Cannoli Tarts [Finchers]
Pumpkin Pie [Neeleys]
(I think we got off too easy, this year...)
Not only is is great to have good friends, but good friends who can cook, who love to have fun, and with whom we've been able to share some great moments with over the last few years. And there was a new Fincher to celebrate with us, this year! And of course, what is Thanksgiving without playing card games and watching football?! OH, and playing BLOCKUS!!!!!!
We've already started brainstorming for next year's menu...
Our lovely hosts:
...dreamed big and decided on Turkey Manicotti for the entree. (Come to find out, cannelloni and manicotti are kind of but not really the same thing. Here's what ever-reliable wiki has to say about the matter.)
From there, the rest of the menu was decided in a series of reply-all e-mails and was as follows:
Crostini w/ Olive Spread [Finchers]
Turkey Manicotti [Finchers]
Greens w/ Strawberries, Red Onions, Pecans, and Cranberries [Finchers]
Country Green Beans [Neeleys - I used the recipe I linked on last week's FLL!]
Peppery Parmesan Mashed Potatoes [Finchers]
Pumpkin Cannoli Tarts [Finchers]
Pumpkin Pie [Neeleys]
(I think we got off too easy, this year...)
Not only is is great to have good friends, but good friends who can cook, who love to have fun, and with whom we've been able to share some great moments with over the last few years. And there was a new Fincher to celebrate with us, this year! And of course, what is Thanksgiving without playing card games and watching football?! OH, and playing BLOCKUS!!!!!!
We've already started brainstorming for next year's menu...
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