an Advent opportunity

It is an interesting thing to balance, this time between now and the end of the year. On one hand, there's Christmas. Joyful red and green celebrations, twinkling lights, peppermint and jingle bells; elegant, raucous, beautiful, silly music; pine boughs, wet streets and secretive errands to bustling stores ~ I love it all. On the other hand, there is Advent. Candlelight, reverence and preparation for the Child who was born to die for us all; solemn hymns, passionate purple, the spirit of discovery, wonder and unworthiness of it all ~ this, I also love.

In recent years, I have been so very concerned with keeping Advent, that I lost Christmas. I became such an Advent pharisee that the season became lost. A short excerpt from last December's blog:

I count myself among a small minority who prefers to honor Advent - in church, at least - by not rushing Christmas before it's time for that baby to be born. ...without Advent, how can one enjoy Christmas? I don't know. I just feel as if, by insisting on putting Advent first before Christmas in my personal celebration, in these past few years I've missed both and end up somewhat empty-handed and empty-hearted when Christmas comes around.

I'm not one to get caught up in the hype - in fact, I will run in the other direction if I see hype creeping in - so gross consumerism is not the issue here. A change of heart is in order, and shan't be too difficult. After all, I've been a Christmas Keeper from way back. I love this stuff, and I'm going to let myself have it!

Tonight I read a wonderful sermon by a Unitarian minister who goes by the name of Peace Bang in the blogosphere. She makes excellent points about what she calls the confusion of the season, and recommends we treat Advent/Christmas like the thanksgiving feast: "I think that if you want a juicy holiday season, you must rest like the turkey. A half an hour every day." A daily dose of Advent-Sabbath, if you will. So that is what I am going to do.

Starting tomorrow, December first, I am going to do one thing each day to celebrate and prepare for Christmas. It might be something big, it will probably be something small - but it will be my own personal Advent task: to find joy in this balance of preparation and celebration.

gratitude, day 12

God gave you a gift
of 86,400 seconds today.
Have you used one to say

"thank you"?

~William A. Ward

gratitude, day 11

for a quiet dinner with a friend, and for the privilege of sitting with him through the mourning process, I am truly thankful.

gratitude, day 10

The spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

- Job 33:4

For sunshine
crisp air
green veg chili*
wine-poached pears
creativity
and a surprisingly easy day

I am truly grateful.

*it turned out really, really good!

gratitude, day 9

Gratuitous photo to take up space in the blog
and make it appear more appealing (if not more interesting to read.)
Look at how weathered those prayer flags look!
And the tree! How golden!
This photo has nothing at all to do with the contents of this blog post.

Today was more of an adventure (in a small way) than I bargained for. Remember that day when n-o-t-h-i-n-g was scheduled or required? Ha. Ha ha ha.

After quite a long and joyful evening last night, I stayed up (again) way too late for no good reason other than I wasn't sleepy. (Blog post on day 8 will be up soon, I hope.) Six hours later, my alarm went off and I was up. Fixed a mocha, sat and checked out Post Secret and a few other things, and then got dressed for church.

Arrived an hour early, and I wasn't sure if there would be enough time to take care of what I needed to do: arrange the flowers (sunflowers, orange dahlias, muddy red-green hydrangea, and this weird stuff with red blossoms - it looked autumnal) for Andy's birthday, take off the apron and "finish" my outfit, do a mic check and read through today's readings for the lectionary all before 10:00. Well, either I am getting faster, or time was moving really slowly, because I got those flowers done by 9:25! I had plenty of time... phew!

After church, I took Mom home and we discussed the menu for Thursday. I am cooking a lot: sweet potatoes, a zucchini appetizer, and spinach salad. (The distribution of labor in a pot luck with only 5 people, two of whom are my kids, and another my father leaves not-so-much distribution after all.) I'm looking forward to it, actually. I'm really enjoying cooking these days.

I planned to take a nap, then didn't. Got busy on the computer and listening to a new CD (Yo Yo Ma & Friends Songs of Joy & Peace - wonderful! FIVE renditions of Dona Nobis Pacem!) forgot to have lunch, and once refueled, returned to the kitchen to make that green veggie chili. It turned out quite nicely, I think - will give it a day or so to mellow out. So much slicing and chopping and dicing! Onions, garlic, three kinds of peppers....

Okay, the peppers. There was a yellow bell, and two others. I forgot that I bought not two, but just one anaheim pepper, and the other was a poblano. They both looked the same. Well, they weren't the same, and I realized this just after I tasted a bit of that poblano. HOT. And then, of course, I also realized my mistake: no gloves when I chopped that sucker up. I shrugged it off - nothing hurt - and commenced with the chopping: zucchini, eggplant, green onion, cilantro. Figured (after I tasted that pepper) that (since nothing hurt) I'd clean off the cutting board after everything was chopped up. Mistake numero dos.

By the time the rest of the stuff was in the pot, my fingers were kind of burning just a bit. And then, suddenly, they were burning quite a lot. Okay, so wash the hands. Which made it worse. Well, I was a girl scout, I knew what to do. I poured a small glass of milk and put my fingers in it. (Lactose acid kills capsicum, supposedly.) Well, it still burned, and I was not expecting that. So I got on line again, one hand still in the milk, to ask facebook for help and to read about home remedies: rubbing alcohol (topical), vodka (internal?), baking soda, vegetable oil, bleach, you-name-it. I tried the baking soda (no difference, but I just dissolved it in milk), oil (maybe this helped?) and then just went back to milk. Three hours later, the chili was cooked and my hand was feeling less so.

My, this is turning into a long (and quite parenthetically heavy) post. With no pictorial evidence.

Another gratuitous photo to take up space in the blog
and make it appear more appealing (if not more interesting to read.)
No ladybugs were harmed in the writing of this post.
All rights reserved, except in places where they aren't reserved, your offer may vary.

Suffice to say: I've been fed - physically, musically, spiritually and socially - and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

And for that, I am truly grateful.

gratitude, day 8 (ish)

Saturday(the true day 8) was so full that I did not have time to pause and write about how very thankful I am for all that occurred. Let's see...

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, my church has a big celebration. It is, for me, one of the best days on the church calendar, and my favorite non-worship event. This has evolved over the years, from being an all-out dinner cooked in the church from soup to nuts (well, from jello salad - with questionable mayonnaise topping, as I recall - to pumpkin pie.) The ladies of the church - and it was always the ladies, of course - got pretty tired, and then they retired, and no one stepped up to take their place in such a monumental endeavor. We didn't want to end the tradition, though, so we adapted (hello, Mr. Darwin!) and now it's a pot luck. The volunteer cooks (and one head chef - hello, Anne!) prepare the turkey, dressing and cranberries. The rest of the meal - mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggies and salads - we bring to the dinner. And oh, what culinary delights! Some folks (moi) bring the same thing every year, and we all look forward to our favorites (hello, Berta's heart-attack-potatoes!)

This year Mom & Dad actually made it home from their annual fall road trip in time to join me at the dinner. I haven't been able to really sit with them to hear stories about their travels, but there were non-family members at the table, so I got to hear about some of their trip. Dad's off-hand comment about "what we'd really like to do next year" nearly made me choke on my turkey. The trip is strenuous, and Dad's health has not been great, I didn't really think they'd go this year! I guess it's good to have something to look forward to... Lord, have mercy!

And then, after dinner, the best part! We have an annual talent show! This, too, has evolved over the years, depending on who is in the congregation. We've had 10-year olds with clarinet solos (hello Ed!), Dana Carvey's "church lady" impressions (hi Geoff!), readings of "Gunga Din", youth club skits, classical music, songwriter's presentations... oh, how I could go on. It's always such a delight, and (current era) always so darned impressive that we have so very many talented people in our congregation!

This year we evolved yet again, and combined the evening with our monthly Open Mic night. We had two guest acts, as well as the slew of Bethany performers, and oh, boy it was so fun. One of the couples did an hilarious rendition of a scene from Oklahoma! and ended up smooching. (In church! the scandal!) I did my annual reading of this delightful writing by Ian Frasier. (It's now in book form, too!) There was a song about hellfire - with a really tight band - and all of the music was just amazing. I came home with a glow, and that didn't wear off for ... oh, hours and hours.

And for these things, I am truly grateful.

gratitude, day 7

(no, not these. these were for Laura Grace, three weeks ago.)
photo courtesy of the Henry family

I am really looking forward to this weekend. With a terrific my favorite event at church (pot luck thanksgiving dinner and open mic talent show!) tomorrow, and

a b s o l u t e l y . n o t h i n g .

scheduled for Sunday, it sounds pretty much perfect. Before all that starts, though, there is grocery shopping, gas-filling (oh, that must be first on the agenda), flowers to buy and arrange (happy birthday, Andy!) and a sweet potato - cranberry dish to fix. Oh, yeah, and at some point I'll be making that veggie green chili.

Whew, I should go to bed.

And for that, I am truly thankful.

gratitude, day 6

Today I got my stitches out. It looks... well, not quite ready yet. One of the steri-strips has already fallen off, so it will be interesting to see what happens. After that, I went to the farmer's market and got some veggies for a recipe that's coming together in my head: a vegetarian green chili. It remains to be seen if that actually gets cooked, but I think I can mostly just throw all the ingredients in the crock pot and let it cook itself. I'd hate to kill all those beautiful veggies.

I came home and wrote for a couple of hours (something I started in May for the blog, but it never came out. Today it came out, but it's not exactly seasonal... so it's still under wraps. Then I got to talk to some friends on line, and then a friend on the phone. It was so lovely to just be home, with the beautiful autumn sunshine streaming in.

Once the sun was down, I took some leftovers (mmm, ricotta and spinach-stuffed shells - but I'd already had them five or six times this week) to Mom and Dad. I visited with Mom for a while. She had been working in the back yard all day long, and looked tired, but not done in. Dad was on his way to go to the pool for his water therapy, so we didn't visit much. I'm glad that they are home, and looking so good.

Dinnertime: It is no secret that I am a fan of Trader Joe's. A lot of their stuff is cheaper, better, more awesome or more original than your typical grocery. Oh, and deeeelicious.

Not every night is gourmet city around here, but I do enjoy a nice meal. Tonight I had one of my favorites: TJ's orange chicken over (TJ's) fresh spinach. While I was heating the sauce in the microwave, I sliced up some red bell peppers and green onions, and threw that in the bowl. When the chicken came out (20 minutes at 400º) it went into the bowl too. A quick toss, and poured it over that big bowl of spinach. It is was so yummy, and - well - not too unhealthy! Yum, yum and yum.

(please note that I am not known for my food photography! eek!)

And for all of these things, I am truly thankful!

gratitude, day 4

(from Google images - isn't it gorgeous?!)

ah, gratitude: it must take practice; this is harder than I thought. I am committed, I think, to seeing this through and to be more consciously thankful on a regular basis. (did someone say "discipline"? whazzat?)

daily blogging is harder than I thought, too. there was to be a larger post today, something a little deeper, but it is late now and that will have to wait for another day. didn't actually make it by midnight, but here goes...

my parents have made it safely home again from their insanely brave, 9-week road trip.

tonight in a church meeting, I openly disagreed with a friend on an issue. all seemed well, but in the parking lot I expressed concern to her ~ there's not usually much dissent in these meetings. she was fine! welcomes the honesty, and returns it!

I (broke down and) had some delicious hot fudge tonight after the meeting.

and for these things, I am truly thankful.

gratitude, day 3

I received a little card in the mail today:

your biopsy showed: No tumor left!

for this, I am truly thankful.

gratitude, day two

Today I am thankful for cinnamon, for the fun of cooking with a friend, and for NPR

a time of thanksgiving

I am going to attempt a discipline in the coming days... to post, as often as possible (I'd like to say "daily", but I am a realist and don't need the pressure) a statement or reflection or muse on gratitude for the rest of the month.

Gratitude - thanksgiving to the One who gives us life - is essential for happiness, isn't it? Certainly, for those of us who believe in the One.

Today, I am grateful for ...

crisp fuji apples
the gathering 'round my friends Andy and Melinda's kitchen table last night...
the hope of an interesting afternoon...
the fact that I currently receive a regular paycheck...
the change in weather and the cool, crisp days...
remembrance day... (here and here, for starters) even if it is a few days late

Okay, more tomorrow - if all goes according to plan...

Veteran's Day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~ World War I Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon with Canada's First Brigade Artillery

cheater!

I've been itchin' to cook lately. Usually I think I want to cook, buy the groceries, and then lose the initiative before I actually get to make the dish(es) I have in mind. Food wasted, produce dies... it's not pretty.

So (another sign of a healthier me) imagine my delight when I managed to put together TWO recipes on Saturday! Well... one of them was chocolate chip cookies, so maybe that doesn't count; except that I never bake just for me, so (again, and caloric content aside) yay me! The other dish was a variation of this one, and oh boy was it tasty! (Thank you, Smitten Kitchen!) Lots of leftovers... at least three day's worth of meals.

Tonight: well, I wasn't really in the mood for cooking at all, but then I read this on Pioneer Woman, and I suddenly really, really needed chicken enchiladas. So... I cheated. And it was really, really good.

Cheater's Chicken Enchiladas
Heat oven to 400º. Place about a dozen frozen, ready to heat chicken taquitos in a shallow baking dish. Cover with canned green enchilada sauce (save the rest for another time - it freezes well in ziplock sandwich bags!) Sprinkle with shredded jack cheese - as much or as little as you like. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and a toasty brown on top. Serve with a little sour cream, chopped green onion, and a nice green salad.

Easy peasy cheater's dinner!

I have a cheater's jambalaya, too, but one culinary delight at a time... ;o)