Thanksgiving in Kentucky

The Engaged Couple

Sisters... Sisters

Thanksgiving is undeniably my favorite Holiday. In reality its about breaking bread with those you Love, opening up your home in hospitality, and sharing your gifts with one another.  I love reflecting on the many Blessings I have to be grateful/thankful for.  Ultimately it should direct our Hearts to Praise the Lord for the many gifts and provision he has given us. As the Psalmist speaks in Psalm 100:4, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name" and Psalm 95:2, "Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!".  I am so grateful for my Savior, my Family, my dear friends, my health, my job, my home, and everything that I have (for ever good and perfect gift is from God).

This Thanksgiving I had the honor of spending it with the Smith's in Bowling Green, Kentucky at my Mammy's house. Hmm you may wonder how many people were present, let me just give you a list: Mammy, Jeff & Sallye (Dad & Mom),  Alyssa & Derrick, Aunt Mona & Uncle Danny, Gabrielle, Danielle, Greggory, Aunt Jane & Uncle Charles, Charlotte, Seth, John, Aunt Julie & Uncle Dale, Matt, Steven, Joey & Jenny, and Josh & Me. The food is always delicious and the day is pretty chill. I always enjoy getting to spend time with my family. I also got time to spend quality time with my Mammy on Saturday morning,  Mammy spoke a lot and I listened; I enjoy taking the opportunity to gain wisdom from her.

 1 Chronicles 16:34 says,"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." I enjoyed every minute of the weekend in Bowling Green. Calm, Chill, Easy, and lots of Fun. I have come to realize that leaving Kentucky to come back to Dallas seemingly gets a little more challenging each time. 

(A special thanks to my Aunt Mona for the pictures)

The Casabella's

Oh those Casabella's

Sawyer Elizabeth Casabella

I am purely Smitten with three things today: The Casabella Family, Miss Sawyer, and lastly my Friend Lang's photography. Check out: http://langthomasphotography.com/ for more enjoyment of all the three things I listed above. I have been eagerly waiting with anticipation the pictures you see posted away.

My best friends Alex and Clint had there first little girl on October 5th and I couldn't be happier to watch my friends enter into a new stage of their lives as parents. I have had the pleasure of being able to see them twice this past month, which makes me so sad to not live in close proximity and to have the opportunity to be present with Alex during this stage. But I will rejoice in the times I do get. Like this past Sunday night, Josh and I stopped by for a visit. Sweet Sawyer just rested on my lap and it was a joy to watch her sweet facial expressions. Check out Alex's blog to see the results: http://thecasabellas.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-days.html

Lunch with Friends

A Cafe Brazil Lunch with Lindsey and Johnna

Mmmm... Coffee

Johnna and Lindsey

Another goal of my blog is to share little blurps about the people in my Life that just make me Smile; here is a taste of that. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving -  I was blessed to have Lunch with Johnna Elliot and Lindsey Brown. A little background on these women and how we all connect. I met Johnna my first Summer in Dallas and always loved my Conversations with her. They were always so Focused on God and just plain enjoyable. Johnna is truly a women who walks by Faith and not by sight, she is dependent on the Lord for her provision and protection.

This past July/August, I reconnected with Johnna she was attending the Watermark Starter Group that I was leading with the goal to meet a group of women to Lead in Community. That's where Miss Mississippi, Lindsey Brown came into the picture. Lindsey was in that group as well and now is in Community with Johnna. Lindsey's journey to Dallas reminds me a lot of my own and its been beautiful to watch her get connected to Watermark and trust the Lord as she waited on a Job and continue to make decisions according to the Lord's Word. I am thankful for my relationship with these two Women.

A Blooming Rose Bush = Patience

 

You may wonder why I am highlighting a rose bush at the end of November, welp because it has  bloomed again. I walked out on my patio before Thanksgiving break and was pleased to see several red blooms. I bought this rose bush in the Summer of 2009 for $10 at Home Depot without a single bud on it (risky investment haha). I would say this rose bush continues to test my patience as it's a perceptual process of blooming, losing all its leaves because of lack of water, and then restoration to producing fruit (blooms). This rose bush reminds me of the Lord's patience with His Children. 2 Peter 3:9 states, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance". Our Lord is patient with us, he pursues a relationship with us, and he offers us the best gift ever - Salvation which we don't deserve. It also reminds me that this Rose Bush can not produce Fruit apart from the Vine, and that Vine needs to be Watered, it needs the Sun, and it needs pruning. Just another test and reminder that as a Child and Servant of the Lord, I must stay connected to the Vine. Like in John 15:5 we are reminded, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing'. So are you in Bloom this Fall.

Kentucky Bound

It's official I am headed back to the Bluegrass state for Thanksgiving at Home. The past two years I was able to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Texas Smiths. I am still amazed that I have officially been in Dallas since September 2008 (time has surely flown by). Happy Travels friends and family.

A Southern Staple - Corn Casserole

A Southern Staple

Are you in need of a Side Dish to take to Thanksgiving? I have the perfect dish for you. This is a "Hit" among my friends and family and it's such an easy dish to fix. You will not go home with leftovers of this Casserole. I believe that I have made this recipe thus far for Family Dinner, Easter with the Williams/Raydo Family, and the 4th of July Weekend at the Shaddock's. I found this Paul Dean recipe last spring and have slightly altered it as I saw fit. I choose to put most of the Cheddar Cheese in the dish verses on top because it created a creamier consistency, and I also found you can substitute buttermilk for sour cream making for a lighter option. I hope this dish becomes a favorite in your Household.

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
• 1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix (recommended: Jiffy)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, cheddar cheese (save a little for the top) and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.

Doug & Alexis are Engaged

So happy for Doug & Alexis

Doug Lantz and Alexis Young got engaged Saturday November 20th and I am so Happy for my Friends. I have really enjoyed watching their Love for each other over this past year. These two met in High School and reconnected Late Summer of 2009. It has been so precious to watch both of them press into the Lord as they have sought Him with the direction of their relationship.  I will never forget the look on Doug's face this past summer when he wanted to tell everyone that "He Loved Miss Alexis". For Doug has found a good thing and has decided to make Alexis his Wife. "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD" Proverbs 18:22. I got to have Lunch with Alexis today and she shared the whole story with me.

Oh Fall = Yummy Pumpkin Bread (P~Loaf)

Oh Fall, how I love the smell of Autumn air, warm cider, and anything Pumpkin (especially Pumpkin Spice Lattes). Fall is characterized by many colors and fragrant aromas that fill our senses. Recently, I took a trip to Lynchburg, VA with JMB and was captivated by the colors of fall as we ventured through Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. It made me really miss the changing trees and the seasons that I miss out on in Texas, however it provided inspiration at making some Pumpkin Bread or P-Loaf as some crazy friend of mine calls it. So I figured that I would provide you with my recipe that I obtained a few years ago from a cookbook of my Gran's. The title of the Cookbook is "The Good Housekeeping All-American Cookbook" circa 1985.

Pumpkin Bread: Ingredients
- 3 Cups all-purpose flour         - 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 Cups sugar                     - 3 Brown Eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon  - 1 16 ounce can pumpkin
- 1 tsp. baking soda                   - 1 Cup canola oil
- 1 tsp. salt                                 - 1 Cup raisins or  chocolate chips
- 1 tsp. Ground Nutmeg             - 1/2 Cup walnuts, chopped
- 3/4 tsp. Ground Cloves
                          
Directions:
1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8 1/2" by 4 1/2" loaf pans. In large bowl, mix first 8 ingredients together.
2. In medium bowl with fork, beat eggs, pumpkin, and oil until blended; stir into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Stir in rasisins or chocolate chips and walnuts. Spoon evenly into loaf pans.
3. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes clean. Cool in pans on rack 10 minutes; remove from pans; cool on rack.

Friday Evening with Maggie

Friday I was blessed to spend an Evening with Miss Maggie Trussell. I have had the honor of seeing her approximately once a Month since she was Born. It is amazing to watch her transition and grow; she is now 3 1/2 months old - full of laughter and smiles. The moments I am able to spend with her remind me even more of God's Sovereign Will and how He knit her together in her Mother's Womb. " I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know them full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, you eyes saw my unformed body. All the day ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139:14-16

Miss Maggie - Photographed by her talented Mother

And I was even more delighted to host her parents, Hannah and Troy in my Home on Friday. I have such sweet memories of Hannah and our first months in Dallas together in the Fall of 2008. She really was the sweet answer to my prayers and just a glimpse of God's provision on my journey in Dallas. And it's been really enjoyable to walk besides Hannah as she went from footloose HP, 40 First Dates & the day Troy arrived to Mrs. Trussell and now into her new Role as Maggie's mother. Even though we live 3 hours apart, it's a Joy to be apart of her Life and Sustain our Friendship despite the distance. God is Good! I love you Trussell's so Much.

Hannah & Troy - October 24, 2009
 

$30 Tory Burch's

$30 Tory Burch Reva Flats 

Every other Wednesday,  I have the privilege of spending quality time with the coolest Junior in High School. Her name is Naomi and she loves Fashion, Design, and Art. The funny thing is I was adamant about getting paired with a Mentee who shared a similar passion with me. The girl who loves basketball just wasn't going to be the Best Match; God knew that Naomi and I would be the perfect Mentor/Mentee because of our shared passion. With that said, We usually venture down to the Bishops Arts District and talk about Life. This time I was captivated by a Vintage Shop. As we meandered through the store, I found a pair of gently used Silver Tory Burch Reva Flats for $30, which traditionally retailed for $220. And folks I was Smitten by the Little Find.

Definition of Smitten

Isn't the Word Smitten so much Fun. I am really enjoying the whole thought and really enamored by all the things I will start sharing that I am Smitten by. Let me the ponder the concept. I have a feeling that I will be Smitten by Fall Leaves, Smitten by Best Friends Babies, Smitten with a Loving Embrace, and totally Smitten by how God reveals His Beauty to me by His Creation. Until then Enjoy the many Definitions of Smitten..

Adj. 1. smitten - (used in combination) affected by something overwhelming; "conscience-smitten"; "awe-struck" struck, stricken combining form - a bound form used only in compounds; "`hemato-' is a combining form in words like `hematology'" affected - acted upon; influenced 2. smitten - marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness; "gaga over the rock group's new album"; "he was infatuated with her" enamored, in love, infatuated, potty, soft on, taken with loving - feeling or showing love and affection; "loving parents"; "loving glances"   Urban Dictionaries Definition of  Smitten:

1. smitten To be really taken or pleased by someone or something. 2. smitten the feeling of total happiness around someone you are falling in love with or, someone you are already in love with. 3. smitten adjective: describes the feeling one receives whenever they think about or are with someone who makes them ridiculously happy. The experience of satisfaction with someone you're falling in love with.

To Be Smitten

It's official ~ My goal is to Follow through with a Blog; to document Life as it happens and to have a creative outlet to share. The title came easy because I take great Joy in being Smitten, in being Captivated, enthralled by the Beauty of Life, and most importantly being Blessed by all those things combined. May this be an avenue to share how I am PURELY SMITTEN.

What does it mean to be SMITTEN? That will come in a Later Post, but for now reflect on what causes you to be Smitten.