Rest

"Rest is a vital activity in all of creation, including us. When we forgo rest, we are not only running ourselves to exhaustion but forfeiting one of God's primary provisions for us. As part of God's original, perfect creation, rest was meant to meet us with peace and clarity. It keeps us from dialing up our lives to an unsustainable pace. It transfers us out of a domain of chaos and frenzy and centers us in God's presence, where we remember what matters most and where God would have us invest our time and energy." 

~Eryn Lynum, "The Nature of Rest"

The recent snow and ice forced us to slow down and gave us space to spend time with people we love doing things we don't normally have time and energy to do. 

Like a spontaneous afternoon of drinking coffee and playing Azul with my cousin, Luke. The slower pace and the laughter created a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Friday Favorite Five

"Dependency means no longer being afraid of exposure, because I really do believe that there is nothing that could be known, exposed, or revealed about me that has not already been addressed by the person and work of Jesus. It means living as if I really do believe that isolated, individualized, independent Christianity never produces good fruit." ~Paul David Tripp, "Lead"

1) Social connection and its link to longevity and physical health are near and dear to my heart. Much research, particularly about dementia and inflammation and how social circles support longevity, has reinforced what I experienced during my cancer treatments and what I see at CARTI each week when I volunteer. My home church recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. What a treasure to see friends who grew up together, two Joannas and two Kristens. People filled the expo center to celebrate so many years of God's faithfulness and to rehearse His goodness.

2) Fun coffee socks. My days of the week socks were full of holes after years and years of enjoying them, so I bought a new set of socks celebrating all things coffee. These cozy and colorful socks bring me so much joy!

3) Fresh watermelon from the farmers' market. I'm learning about so many different kinds of melons! This one was a "blacktail mountain" melon. I also bought some "moon and stars" melons. The teenaged vendor, Jackson, quizzed me on the types I've been buying in the last few weeks to make sure I remembered :)

4) Puzzles. We recently finished "The World of Charles Dickens" puzzle, and now we've begun to piece together "The World of Shakespeare". So many great books represented in these puzzles!

5) Accountability. I agree with Paul David Tripp that "isolated, individualized, independent Christianity never produces good fruit", but I think we need people in every area of our lives. Including how we steward our bodies. I'm so grateful for the teenagers who accompany and encourage me. They keep me smiling even when we are working hard.

Old Friends

The Brigglers are special friends. The kind of friends that we don't get to see often enough, but when we do, it's easy to go deep quickly. And authencity comes easily. They make family a priority, so almost every summer the Brigglers come to Arkansas, and we are beneficiaries.

We drove up to Longpool Falls together on a Sunday afternoon. The last time we were there for my birthday, the water was high. Not in July! The creek bed was dry, and the waterfall was only a little dribble. But the fellowship was sweet, and the hike was still beautiful. 

 

The following Tuesday, these precious friends joined us for Taco Tuesday and games. No pictures, but lots of tacos and Goat Lords and ping pong in the garage and laughter and puzzling on our current Dickens jigsaw puzzle.

Easter

Easter was smaller than usual this year. Sarah brought one of her housemates to visit, and we instantly fell in love with Ruth. Saturday was full of baking coconut cake and strawberry trifle in preparation for Sunday's guests, but we found time to play Rails and Sails. It was one of the things Aaron brought back from the Solomon Islands.

The highlight of the weekend was introducing Ruth to Resurrection Cookies. 

We've been making them and sharing them for close to twenty-five years.

Sunday after church, our house quickly filled with loved ones from both sides of the family. 

Grandma didn't feel up to coming, and I keenly felt the hole of her absence. We fed fourteen this year and enjoyed the fellowship as we celebrated Christ's resurrection.

Soup

When I checked out snow books, this little gem of a book showed up. "Everybody Serves Soup" checked all of the boxes. The author took my favorite topics, food and community, and wrapped them up into a snow filled story. (Our library doesn't have her other books, "Everybody Brings Noodles", "Everybody Bakes Bread", and "Everybody Cooks Rice", but I can't wait to read them, too!)

We're eating a lot of soups and stews these days. The Indian curried cauliflower and lentil soup is on repeat. White chicken chili is another favorite, and it's a great recipe to have available for our friends who have alpha-gal syndrome. One of my favorite things to do is to host people for chili and games (like Goat Lords), then serve both a red meat chili and the white chili with all the toppings.

Choate Chili

Adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

1/2 lb ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped bell pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 16 oz can of petite diced tomatoes

1 1/2 cups dark red kidney beans

6 oz tomato paste

6 oz water (just fill the tomato paste can)

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp garlic salt

In a large saucepan, cook ground beef, onion, green pepper, and garlic till meat is brown. Stir in tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, chili powder, basil, and garlic salt. Dump it all in a slow cooker, turn it on high for 3-4 hours.

Fredagshygge

"Fredagshygge, or Friday family nights, is one intentional way the Danes have learned to build familial bonds with others and to quiet the chaos and noise of cultural distractions. During Fredagshygge, Danes forgo elaborate plans and choose instead to enjoy simple pleasures like playing a board game or watching a movie together. In saying yes to hygge they grant themselves permission to say no to work, worries, and mental stress." ~Jamie Erickson, "Holy Hygge"

Even before we knew we would have several inches of snow, we had invited our next door neighbors over for chili and games. My thoughtful husband shoveled a path from their back door to ours. Our neighbors brought Blank Slate, this easy game was a good way to get to know them a little bit better, and it provided lots of laughter after we licked our chili bowls clean.

 I feel like I'm just waking up from the chaos that cancer and the treatments caused in my body, but one of the things I'm looking forward to doing more is offering hospitality. Opening our home or providing meals or just being available to help. The last couple of weeks have given us several opportunities to do those things, and I'm so grateful.

New Year's Eve

The day Sarah left, a bonus son arrived. Schwane was a groomsman in Benjamin and Hannah's wedding, and we count him as one of our own.

Hannah switched our Sarah for my gym buddy, and we noticed that our kettlebells matched our shirts :)

On New Year's Eve, we scarfed down broccoli and bread dipped in cheese fondue

then we shifted to chocolate fondue for dessert,

before playing Seven Wonders. Aaron and the exuberant young adults stayed up till midnight, I made it all the way to 9:00, which is still late for me!

 

Weekend after Christmas

The weekend after Christmas, we enjoyed an "open house" with many people coming and going. Many of my mom's relatives joined us, so we had to get a group pic!

For several hours, we snacked and snuggled and caught up with friends and extended family.

Sunday, our pew at church was filled from end to end. I love hearing everyone sing together!

Then we arrived home to the aroma of a pork roast from the half hog we recently purchased from Shaky K Farms. Olivia and Connor had to leave after lunch, but we had plenty of time to take more walks and play more games with the rest of the family.

Dutch Blitz, an old family favorite, made its way to the table, freshly wiped off after lunch. (My current favorite cleaner is Mrs. Meyers Peppermint All-Purpose Spray.) 

Christmas Day, Transferred

Our family "Christmas Day" was actually several days after Christmas this year, but the day we chose was sweet and slow. When we are in the village, the feast days are often "transferred" to another, more appropriate day, and we have learned to have the same flexibility with our family gatherings.

Some of us gathered fresh greenery for the mantle, and some of us worked out at the gym, and some of us worked on gingerbread waffles.

We feasted and laughed and enjoyed my great-grandmother's compote dish to hold the fruit salad.

We gave a few gifts,

went for walks around the neighborhood,

and learned new games like Azul. The perfect way to celebrate Jesus's birthday and the gift of family.

 

Christmas Day

As our family grows, we have to plan farther and farther ahead for the times when we all gather. We knew that the #meatcheato "Christmas Day" wouldn't be on the 25th of December this year. As long as we can find time for all of us to be together, it doesn't matter to us which day it is!

On the morning of December 25th, Sarah was the only one of our young adults at our house, so she joined me at the gym. Spending time with her is always a joy! I'm still trying to regain my strength, and I'll take all the accountability I can get.

A former orchestra student has a food truck, and she was making tamales on Christmas Day, so I ordered two dozen to be picked up for lunch. I think we have begun a new tradition!

Our wreath keeps adding candles all the way to Epiphany. I love the end of the day when we all gather round, often in our pajamas, and listen while Aaron reads and the candles flicker.

Hannah and Benjamin arrived in time to play Catan History - Settlers of America, one of our family's favorite games. I still can't stay up as late as the rest of the family, but I sure do enjoy them being in our home.

 

Happy Birthday, Katherine!

All Katherine requested for her birthday was for the Gebauer girls to come spend the weekend and attend the inaugural Arkansas Renaissance Festival together.

Early Saturday morning, we piled into the van and drove north.

The location was lovely and well laid out.

We watched knights jousting,

and Claire and Aaron did some combat of their own.

At the end of the unseasonably warm day, we arrived home, sweaty and tired. So we cleaned up, grabbed a bite to eat, and played Seven Wonders. What a treat to spend time with these ladies again!

Katherine's birthday was a few days after her friends left. We strongly believe in eating birthday cake even if you have already received your gift. Voila! A mouth-watering apple torte to celebrate the last of our teenagers.