Inspiration: In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

a grateful heart

Of course being the week of Thanksgiving I have thought a lot about my many blessings. I have tried to cultivate a feeling of gratitude throughout the year. But when times get hard, I don't instinctively think of all the good that is going on; I just allow myself to be miserable and do so by piling on more miserable thoughts through it all including all the things I don't have... 

You guys don't do this right?? I'm just a bad person? 

Anyways, as Thanksgiving approaches I've been reflecting on all the things I'm grateful for in my life and in this past year. I feel like Thanksgiving always comes at a perfect time of the year (well, scheduled) when I need that kick in the rear to spend more time focusing on my blessings instead of the trials from the year. It also is definitely wise to have it before Christmas where we can feel joyful and more satisfied and {hopefully} not get too caught up in what we want. 

So this week for family night we made a little gratitude tree listing some things we are grateful for on each leaf. Adam said he was grateful for teeth (hi, future dentist), Elijah, and books. Elijah said he was grateful for chocolate cake (of course), his big boy bed, Halloween & Christmas, dinner, and crayons. 

At first I was trying to get Elijah to say a little more thoughtful/meaningful things. But Adam encouraged me to let him keep going on with it because even though they are little things they are still things we should be grateful for. I mean, crayons and chocolate cake are important! 

We are all grateful for much more than that (I hope) and after having the lesson I realized how important it was to talk about gratitude more often so Elijah really learns to constantly have a grateful heart, not just the week of Thanksgiving but throughout the year. The first thought I had for teaching this to him was to do so by example. By being more open about my gratitude for the many blessings in my life, including all the little things like dinner & Halloween, I hope Elijah will then see that living a life full of gratitude leads to much greater happiness. 

[A lesson I still have to remind myself.] 

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving tomorrow! 

And I hope we can all remember to have a more grateful heart all year round. 

Thanksgiving Inspiration

Happy Thanksgiving!

Source: Uploaded by user via Nikki on Pinterest

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 

i hope you are all enjoying the holiday with good food, loving family, and grateful hearts.

boom. DIYed it: THANKFUL banner

i was determined to make a banner for each holiday this year
[well, from Halloween on]
and last night at 1am when i realized Thanksgiving was only a day away i decided i better make a banner real quick, even if it's only up for a day or two. 

this was the first time i ever used burlap so i was excited and nervous.
but i think it turned out rather well!
{if you don't look closely at the triangle edges or the ribbon sewn across...}

here's what you will need: 

:: a yard of burlap [though i didn't use it al]

:: a rotary cutter & mat 

:: scissors 

:: stencils [i got mine in the school section of Joann's cause they were cheaper than in the paint section]

:: paint color of your choice 

:: sponge brushes to blot the paint on 

:: ribbon 

:: pennant pattern [i had to make a new one after this pictures cause it was too small, ha] 

{not pictured}

:: sewing machine 

:: mod podge 

steps:

1. trace your pennant pattern onto the burlap & cut out with the rotary cutter (what i found easier). 

i used this tutorial to help me cut in straight lines and minimizing the risk of fraying. 

2. once your pennants are all cut out, it's time to paint on the letters. 

make sure you have something under the burlap since the paint will seep through. 

gently blot the paint onto the burlap with the sponge brushes. 

once you are done painting the letter on, gently lift the stencil off.

for some reason the paint looks light yellow but it's really a cream color.

3. once the paint is dry, you can start to sew the ribbon on. 

i chose to do a creamy white ribbon because i wanted to keep it simple & neutral.
but now i wish i chose a different color. 

i think eventually i will fix it with a different ribbon or fabric when i have more time. 

to sew the ribbon, i first pinned it to the burlap pennants so that they would all be even. 

i then just sewed across the ribbon i the middle with my sewing machine. 

i originally meant to kind of fold the ribbon around the top edges like a sandwich
but i didn't have thick enough or long enough ribbon from my stashes.
and sine i am cheap & was doing this all last minute i didn't want to go out and buy more.
so like i said, i'll probably fix it a little next year or something. 

in the end it will look like this! 

again i don't know why it's looking yellow.... camera phone problems i guess 

 i'm pretty proud of being able to whip it up quickly before festivities tomorrow. 

now we're able to have the reminder of the true meaning of Thanksgiving as we stuff our faces.
:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING (tomorrow)!!!

thankful thursday {on Wednesday}

Source: pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

since tomorrow is THANKSGIVING i wanted to share my thankful list early :)

this week i am thankful for: 

1 :: my mom who knows exactly when i need to talk to someone & understands my feelings,
no matter how ridiculous they may sound 

2 :: my dad who takes the time to remind me he loves me even when he is busy

3 :: my siblings who are always there when i need a friend
{and don't treat me like the little baby anymore :)}

4 :: our cozy little home 

5 :: running water & the way any bad day can be washed away with a morning shower

6 :: personal revelation

7 :: good books & literature

what are you thankful for this week?? 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY! 
and HAPPY THANKSGIVING tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Inspiration

gratitude & love

[Holli & Jacob’s wedding, August 2011] 

i cannot fully express the gratitude that is in my heart for these two sweet boys.
today, as i reflect on all my blessings, these two are at the very top.

there is no way i would be where i am without Adam.
he is my #1 fan & biggest supporter.
it’s because of him that i graduated in the degree that i love,
that i graduated on time,
and that i pursued my biggest dreams.

i thought the day that i kneeled across the alter and covenanted to be his wife was the happiest day of my life.
but i was wrong.
today is the happiest day of my life.
not because we are doing something spectacular,
{though i love Thanksgiving feasts!}
but because we are together.
we have a life together, a home together, & our precious son together.
today & every day i’m with him is the happiest day because of what we have done and what we will do
together!

and on the day that we became man & wife, i couldn’t imagine being able to love him more than i did that day.
and i even thought that adding another family member would make my love spread too thin.
and then Elijah was born
and my love for Adam and Elijah has grown tenfold.

-----------------------------------

being a mother is honestly a lot harder than i expected
yet it is also far more rewarding than i could have ever imagined!

Elijah has made it all completely worth it.
to see him learn & grow makes my heart full.
even after he slaps me in the face & breaks my brand new necklace,
one look into his big, brown eyes with his long, curly eyelashes has me melting all over again.

i live for his kisses.
i long for his cuddles.
to see him so happy & excited to see me in the mornings, even if the day before was rough, gives me hope.

there’s times where my love physically hurts.
it is unbearable to think of losing him,
either to accidents, sickness, or even just natural growing up and moving away.
but i know that no matter what
i am always, ALWAYS his mother!!
no matter what happens.
& it brings me peace.

 

i am so grateful for these two in my life!
i love them more than anything & i cannot imagine life without them

on this Thanksgiving day, i am reminded of all of my many blessings that the Lord has seen fit to bestow upon me.
especially the blessing of my little family.

on this beautiful day,
i wish you and your families a wonderful and happy
Thanksgiving!

pumpkin cream pie

i figured since it was Thanksgiving this week,
{this week!!!!!}
i would share my favorite pumpkin pie recipe

now, i have never been a huge fan of pumpkin pie unless it was completely covered in whip cream.
i mean, i would of course eat it still, but just not my favorite

SO, last year when i decided i wanted to cook my very first Thanksgiving from scratch, i decided i should probably find a good and easy pumpkin pie recipe that i actually enjoyed.

lo and behold, this is it!
and of course it’s a Martha Stewart recipe because she is amazing.

Pumpkin Cream Pie

Ingredients

• 1 Pillsbury pie crust (or other premade crust. or you can make your own but i was too afraid to try)
• 1 can (15 ounces) pure pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for serving
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4-ounce envelope)*
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

*The gelatin part might sound weird, but it helps the homemade whip cream keep its shape. You can’t taste it so no worries!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Press a sheet of aluminum foil onto crust, draping over rim of pie plate. Bake until edge of crust is firm, about 20 minutes. Remove foil; let crust cool completely, and set aside.
2. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Make filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, pie spice, vanilla, and salt; whisk in cream. Pour mixture into cooled crust; place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until filling is set, about 1 hour. Let cool on a wire rack, 1 hour; refrigerate to cool completely, about 2 hours.
3. Make topping: Place 3 tablespoons cold water in a small saucepan; sprinkle with gelatin, and let soften, about 5 minutes. Place pan over very low heat; stir until gelatin dissolves. Let cool slightly. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream and sugar until very soft peaks form. While beating, slowly add gelatin mixture; continue to beat until soft peaks form.
4. With a rubber spatula, mound topping in center of chilled pie. Refrigerate at least 1 hour more (or up to 1 day). Sprinkle with more cinnamon before serving.

ENJOY!

OH! and i also made…. Potted Pumpkin Pies for a take home gift

i also found this really cute idea for a party favor here and had to try it! I used the recipe from above but then just put it in little mason jars for people to take with them.
(note: i didn’t add crust just the pie filling)
it was a hit!

you can find the directions here to make your own!