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.

More Snow

Although our snow has all melted, Katherine made a batch of lemon snowballs.

And our book baskets are still full of fun picture books, some old favorites mixed in with some new-to-us books.

This Place in the Snow by Rebecca Bond (such cheerful illustrations)

Snowed In by Barbara M. Lucas (set in 1915)

Snowed In With Grandmother Silk by Carol Fenner (a very short, sweet chapter book)

Houston had an unprecedented snowfall from Winter Storm Enzo, and we got a sweet picture from Hannah and Benjamin, who were soaking up every minute.

Active and Purposeful Waiting

"Qavah is a word filled with action and purpose....You could think of qavah as looking with hope in the tension of life....These passages [Ps. 27:13-14; Ps 40:1; Is 33:2; Is 40:31] help us to see that Biblical waiting is active and intentional, especially when life gets twisted and complicated. I don't know about you, but that's not how I've typically thought about waiting. It feels more like empty space. It seems to be entirely passive, something happening to me. Qavah helps us to see waiting as purposeful, even productive."  ~Mark Vroegop, "Waiting Isn't a Waste"

On a recent road trip, the hubby and I had many hours together to share our hearts and to talk about what God is doing in each of us as we wait. The entry in Strong's Dictionary is H6960: "probably originally twist, then of tension of enduring, waiting". That's exactly what we're feeling these days as we feel the tension of many things out of our control and seek wisdom to know where we should be exercising agency. In the midst of that twisting and pulling, sometimes gratitude can feel like panning for gold. I think I have learned to expect the waiting when we are overseas, but somehow, waiting on this side of the globe still surprises me.

While we actively wait, I notice God's provision all around me. Love letters written in the snow by my faithful husband.

A trustworthy repairman from Hudson Appliance. We are beginning to see him way too often, but we're thankful for his knowledge and willingness. And for our budget line for home repairs.

A beautiful wedding celebration. Fun fact: we've known Daniel, the groom, and his family for ten years, but one day in my lymphedema appointment, I realized my specialist, Sabrina, was dating Daniel. So many fun connections and a joy to come alongside these two as they begin their new life together. 

Snow

The weather forecast wasn't lying. In fact, we got close to 10 inches of snow last week!

Before it got dark, we took a family walk around the block and marveled at the beauty of this unusual gift of slowing down.

"The perfect blend of coffee can't cultivate true contentment. There's no flannel blanket big enough to cover deep soul ache. A long walk in the woods won't change a life for the long haul. Reshaping an atmosphere can never permanently reshape a heart. But it can help, especially when paired with the hope of Jesus." ~Jamie Erickson, "Holy Hygge"

Aaron and I lingered over coffee and dove into the Greek in Paul's letter to Philemon. He is slowly introducing me to the tools included in Blue Letter Bible.

Katherine slipped on her coat and walked around the house. She looked like a cardinal in the snow. The joys of working and schooling at home include never getting a day off, but we kept a slower pace while the snow blanketed our little hometown.

Katherine and I worked out with Body Pump online. She wanted to exercise on the porch, so we moved our bodies and stayed warm and probably got some funny looks from people walking their dogs.

Later I walked to my parents' house to check on them and get some nephew snuggles.

When the snow quit falling and the sun came out, my creative hubby built a snowman modeled after The Thinker.

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.

A Snowball's Chance

Snowballs don't stand a chance around here.  Either real ones in our mild southern winters, or snowballs made of cream cheese that disappear just as quickly into our mouths.  But both kinds are fun to celebrate with picture books.

New-to-us picture books about snow:

It's Snowing!  It's Snowing!  by Jack Prelutsky

Snow Dance by Lezlie Evans 

Snow Sounds:  An Onomatopoeic Story by David A. Johnson

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle

Snowy Day Stories and Poems by Caroline Feller Bauer

Snow by Manya Stojic

New-to-us books about winter:

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart

Warm in Winter by Erica Silverman

No by Claudia Rueda

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer

Old Winter by Judith Benet Richardson

Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer

Letter to the Lake by Susan Marie Swanson (great for contrasting summer and winter)

No Two Alike by Keith Baker 

National Popcorn Day

Maybe it's because we eat a ton of popcorn when we are in the village, but we haven't celebrated National Popcorn Day in way too long.  Three years ago, we were in midst of packing to go back to the Solomons on National Popcorn Day, and I find it a little funny that Aaron and I are sorting and packing in the frigid attic today in hopes of heading back overseas.

  

While the unexpected and beautiful snow flew outside, inside we were warm and cozy making popcorn cake.

1 (16 oz.) bag of marshmallows

1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter

2/3 cup raw popcorn, popped

1 (16 oz.) bag of plain M&Ms (we used peanut butter M&Ms this time, just because we can do that sort of thing in America)

1 (16 oz.) container of roasted peanuts

Melt butter and marshmallows over low heat.  Pour over popped popcorn (our family prefers the taste of popcorn made with coconut oil), M&Ms, and peanuts in a large bowl.  Stir quickly to coat.  Press into buttered bundt pan.  Set 1 1/2 hours in the fridge.

The girls danced and played and reveled in the snow.  Nothing is sticking because the ground is way too warm, but huge, wet flakes have been falling for hours.  For girls raised in the tropics (and for this mama raised in Arkansas), snow is a treat to be enjoyed.

It's a good time to make some hot chocolate or some coffee and raid the book basket while we eat our yummy popcorn cake.  I don't have affiliate links, so click away and enjoy adding to your book stash!

The Popcorn Dragon by Jane Thayer

The Huckabuck Family and How They Raised Popcorn in Nebraska and Quit and Came Back by Carl Sandburg

Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo

The Popcorn Astronauts and Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddell (with beautiful illustrations)

Popcorn - poems by James Stevenson

Popcorn! by Elaine Landau (very punny nonfiction) 

Sing a Song of Popcorn:  Every Child's Book of Poems (beautifully illustrated by nine Caldecott Medal artists)

Arrival of the Popcorn Astronauts

The daring popcorn astronauts

are brave beyond compare --

they scramble into puffy suits

and hurtle through the air.

And when they land, we say hooray

and crowd around the spot 

to salt the little astronauts

and eat them while they're hot.

The Snowy Day

I just discovered a lovely book perfect for this time of year!  Andrea Davis Pinkney is one of our favorite authors, and she wrote "A Poem for Peter", a picture book history of Ezra Jack Keat's "The Snowy Day".  And what better snack to accompany those books than snowflake shortbread?!?

Snowflake Shortbread

(from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook 1989)

serves 16

1 1/4 all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a mixing bowl combine flour and sugar.  Cut in butter till mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling.  Stir pecans into the mixture, then sprinkle with vanilla and mix again.  Press dough into shortbread pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until firm and lightly brown. Let cool slightly, then invert pan on a cutting board and bang hard until it comes out.

White Thanksgiving?

 

Saturday, we celebrated Thanksgiving again with Aaron's mom.

 

 

No turkey made an appearance, but the soup was hot and delicious and perfect for the cold and rainy day outside.

 

 

While parts of the country were experiencing ice and snow from Winter Storm Cara, we were making our own snow inside.

 

Snow Days

Tuesday morning, Aaron and I woke up to sleet hitting the window.  Soon, snow replaced the sleet, and we woke up the kids a little early so they could watch. 

 

We got enough snow to make this tiny snowman (I thought it looked like a snow duck with a carrot beak). 

 

 

We had already been pretending it was snowy inside.

Katherine liked writing her spelling words in shaving cream "snow".

 



 

Every year we have fun making our own snow with these delicious snowballs.

 

In addition to our old favorites, we've found some new books on my mom's bookshelf and at the library that help us celebrate the cold.

Books like "The Missing Mitten Mystery" by Steven Kellogg, "Axle Annie" by Robin Pulver, and especially the sweet "Now It Is Winter" by Eileen Spinelli may have to find their way into our crate headed back to the Solomon Islands.

Lemon Snowballs

 

Cookie Dough:

2 sticks butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp lemon extract

2 cups flour

 

Coating:

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp Kool-Aid lemonade

(mix these together in a bowl)

 

 

Cream butter, sugar and flavorings.  Add flour and mix until a dough forms.  Roll into 1" balls and bake 1" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  They will not be brown on top.  While cookies are warm, toss them in the lemon powdered sugar mixture and place them on a plate to cool. 

 

Makes about three dozen cookies.

 

Note from a bloggy friend, where I originally found this recipe years ago:

I place the cookies on a cookie rack after they've been tossed in the sugar mix.  I then use a sifter to cover them once or twice more with the sugar mix.  It makes them a little more "snowy." :-)

 

Pretending again...

As in years past, we're pretending it's cold and wintry outside. So while we sip hot chocolate underneath the ceiling fans, we're enjoying some of our favorite snow books:

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan

The Hat by Jan Brett

Missing Mittens by Stuart J. Murphy

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt

White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt

Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

Winter Poems selected by Barbara Rogasky

Snow by Roy McKie and P.D. Eastman

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner

The Blizzard by Betty Ren Wright

Winter by Gerda Muller

The Jacket I wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

Nate the Great and the Snowy Trail by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

Snow Day!

We're making our own snow here this weekend...

Snow Day

 

We have received so much fun snow stuff in the mail (thanks, Mama) that we had to celebrate!

 

 

We made "snowcakes" to share with the SITAG kids and staff.

 

SNOW!!!

It started last night while the kids were asleep...

"He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow."

Psalm 147:15-18

The kids were asleep, and we were disappointed that they would miss the snow show. But then Benjamin wet the bed, so he was able to enjoy the beauty of God's creation last night. This morning, we still had a little dusting (those of you in Kansas and Minnesota, don't laugh at our excitment!) so the kids went out and played before breakfast.

What a treat to be able to play in the snow with friends one more time before we move!

The finished product: