November?

Pinch me. We are going into our second week of November. While this is not a recent picture of my sweet Cora, the weather around here is supposed to be cold and rainy. The opposite is true. It continues to be sunny and warm, considering the month. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the calendar. We are in November!

The Christmas music is playing around here, however. Mainly because I am a piano teacher, and in order for the students to be ready to play their songs for their family gatherings, I have to get them prepped and ready this month. Secondly, we are playing Christmas music around here because my daughter has a band and an orchestra concert in the month of December; both of which are Christmas themed.

I just love to hear my daughter play her flute. Now I appreciate why my mom always asked me to play the piano while she cooked dinner or cleaned up after dinner. I am finding myself doing the same to my girl with her flute. It adds a sparkle to the kitchen chore.

Last night, while my husband and son were at a friend's house watching sports, my daughter and I took the opportunity of a quiet house to play music together. I was playing the piano and she was playing her flute. I must say - we sounded great together. It was very, very fun and I am so proud of her taking control of her flute learning.

So, it is November and we have Christmas music via piano and flute going on around here. Rumor has it that we are in for a record breaking wicked winter, regardless of the warm sun blazing through my windows this first week. I wonder which will be true; warmer than average, or colder than average.

I am slightly voting towards colder than average. The kids and Cora look pretty sweet against the snow.

Promiseland

It's been two full months now of teaching Promiseland (traditionally known as Sunday School) at my church to a group of second graders. There are two teachers, but we each have an assigned group of kids that we receive weekly. Of the seven on my list, about four come consistently, and I have about one visitor every week. The most fun is when that one time visitor turns into a frequent visitor. The hope is that they will turn into regular attendees or members.

I have been very hesitant over the years about this leadership role; that of a Promiseland Teacher. First thing that comes to mind is Pressure. Pressure to do it right. Pressure to have a good attitude every-single-Sunday of the school year. Pressure to have an agenda that lasts the entire time allotment. Pressure to remember the kids' names and their ins and outs about their life that they bring to the Promiseland small group table. The list continues under the title Pressure.

But I have found the opposite to be true. I find that preparing for Promiseland is a fun part of my week. Mixing in creativity to spark the interests of my girls, and a game that captures the attention of my boys. I have found that waking up and getting ready for Church to be enjoyable. No longer a "must do" but a "want to" attitude. I enjoy the early Church service hour (that we never used to attend) in order to get myself fed by my Pastor's wisdom and teaching of the Bible, before heading to the Promiseland wing to be a leader of second grade boys and girls. I am finding that ... I like it.

Because how could I not when the mother of J*(who comes every Sunday) tells me during pickup, "Did J* tell you that he has asked to be baptized at the Thanksgiving Eve Service?"  Melt. Speechless. Giving Praise to God for speaking to and opening J*'s heart throughout the years of attending church to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Amen!

That makes every Promiseland gathering joyful.

Comfort Food

We have a go-to recipe around here. It is extremely simple, the kids will eat it, and it is filled with protein. In fact, my mom would say it is a complete protein. Because, when I was growing up, my mom drilled this into our heads that Rice and Beans are a complete protein and we should eat. it. a. lot.

Now as a parent, looking at raising healthy children on a budget, complete protein or not, I am all for our go-to meal of Rice and Beans.

Here's the recipe. You won't even need to write it down it is simple. Fix white rice according to package directions for the number of servings you need. Then, open up a can of Kidney Beans, Black Beans, and Corn, rinse well in a colander, and shake dry.

Heat the beans and corn until warmed through, but not burned. Mix together the rice with the bean mixture. Serve on plates. In our house, we've been known to add either cheese, salt, or salsa to individual plates that want it. I personally like it plain, but have been known to dip in a Blue Corn Chip like a spoon and eat it that way too.

Either way, it is a complete protein and a perfect go-to recipe on a cold day when comfort food is just the thing to do. Enjoy!

31 Bits

I went to the country today to support my friend who was having a 31 Bits party. The 31 Bits company was started by five, fun college gals in Southern California that traveled to Uganda, and saw a need to help a specific group of six women. Through the process of learning from both groups of women, 31 Bits was developed as a marketing tool for the Ugandan women to sell their jewelry, enabling for them to make a better life for their families. 

The 31 Bits showcase was shipped to my friend, who then opened her house with yummy homemade pastries and coffee, and invited a group of friends over to shop and gab. The jewelry that was not sold will then get shipped back to 31 Bits. Simple, yet helpful to the women of Uganda that made the beautiful jewelry and whom are able to make an income. All the necklaces and bracelets are made from recycled paper. No two are alike, and the colors combinations are rather extensive.

You can read more about 31 Bits and shop online here. I chose a great necklace that will help my Fall Wardrobe.  While I wear a lot of black and white throughout the year, November finds me in colors of burnt yellow, light brown, chocolate, and rusty orange. This necklace will spice up my wardrobe perfectly! Yea!

My friend has a fantastic house in the country. Her property is gorgeous and with so much room to breath and enjoy. I found myself longing for the country on my trek to her house. The wide open spaces, the animals you pass, the loonnnnng country roads, the lack of stop lights and strip malls, the unique farm houses rather than the same-same-same-same cookie cutter type of developments. Someday, I long for country living. 

31 Bits - check it out. 

Warm Fall Thursday

Our November started with a downpour of rain on Monday. Like "better get the Ark built" kinda rain! It was crazy, but thankfully I was inside teaching piano and just had to view from the window rather than from under the raindrops.

Yesterday and today, however, have been record breaking highs of the mid to upper 60's. I believe we are traditionally in the 40's this time of year. It feels wonderful. And having never experienced such warm weather with Gorgeous leaves falling about in their Autumn colors, I am finding it to be so beautiful and breathtaking.

I walked to the Arboretum with my son's fourth grade class today. We were to be gone for one hour. We were late in returning by forty five minutes because the class, teacher, and two parent volunteers were having a grand time in the warmth of the sun among the leaves. It was so. much. fun!

The kids got to fully explore the forest, literally, the teacher is amazing like that. She does not have fear and just knew that her class would gather up when she blew the whistle. She was right. The kids were so well behaved, probably more so since they had the freedom. Nobody had to test boundaries - there were none. Surprisingly, and thankfully, it worked perfectly.

Now, my husband and I are venturing to the Eye Glass Store. Yep, my husband needs glasses. Granted, it is only for computer use (for now), but glasses are glasses. But the experience of choosing glasses will be entertaining. My husband knows style, he will admit he is picky, but he's not into spending a whole lot of money. We'll see how much is covered via insurance, and how much he is willing to pay out of pocket. This should be fun.  I know he will keep his totally handsome look.

Enjoying the warm fall Thursday before the clouds and rain return for the weekend.

AS IF!

My mom picks up my children every Monday from school and drives them to her house. There, they spend time together with my dad doing homework, or just messing around. Okay, really, my kids teach my mom everything they are learning in school. They call it "school" and my kids totally role play the position of Teacher. I am not kidding. This has been going on for years ...

Anyway, every Monday after feeding them dinner, she drives them back to our house. At about the time my last piano student is walking out the door, my children are walking in. It is a magnificent set up; a win-win for everyone. I get a quiet house to teach lessons in, and I don't have to worry about a crock-pot dinner for the kids. My kids get quality time with their Grandparents, and my parents get quality time with two of their Grandchildren. And my husband, well, it is the one day that he commutes into the office all week, so he too gets a day break from me.

My son forgot something in my mom's car this week so I jetted over to their house between my errands today. My mom and I have an annual shopping date that is quickly approaching. And "as if" we would run out of things to say on our date, we have "stopped" chatting.  You bet that our 12 hour shopping extravaganza that is happening on the 13th will be jammed packed with chatter between all the stuff we aren't saying now, plus everything else that is shared and talked about when two BFF's get together.

Funny, right?!

When I arrived today we agreed on ONE topic to discuss, and then it was mums-the-word on everything else. My dad was there, he kept us pretty honest on our one-topic-agreement. But then I got side tracked, and next thing you know, we are all sucked-into a story, and there goes an hour, and I totally cheated!!! But it was so much fun!

We aren't worried, however, as our shopping power hours will be spent jabbering all over again. We're good about that. As if we'd ever run out of things to talk about!!!

Candy for a cause

This was the first year that my girl decided not to Trick or Treat. She wanted to dress up and hand out candy to the Trick or Treaters that came to our door. Unfortunately, there were not many Treaters at all and she found the night to be less than exciting. Growing up can be disappointing.

But she looked adorable as a Tropical Bird from her Modern Dance costume from last June's production of Peter Pan.

Our son, however, gathered lots of candy! For fun, he positioned two Halloween buckets for his costume. One bucket for David Letterman, and one bucket for the little boy. Surprisingly folks put candy in both buckets the majority of the time! He came home with candy overload.

He donated the candy to the local dentist that pays $2 per pound of candy. The dentist then donates the same amount per turn-in to our local Children's Hospital. Last year the dentist donated over $2,500 to the hospital and spread out that same amount to the local kiddos that dumped their candy in his garbage can. Love this dentist and this great win-win-idea!

My son turned in 8 pounds of candy and received $16. Typically my son enjoys buying something for himself with his candy-money. But this year, he has been solid in his choice to donate all of his candy-money to Sole Hope. His choice and his heart melts me.

So, ASHER, get ready for a Sole Hope donation from my son!!
Can't beat Candy for a Cause!