Thanksgiving

Decorations in the new kitchen.Finger licking good!Enough room for everyone!We put the kitchen to the test and it passed with flying colors! What a Thanksgiving! Jason’s parents and grandparents came in so we could host our first Thanksgiving with the new kitchen. Things ran so smoothly. Between the new appliances, roomy floor plan and extra hands in the kitchen, Thanksgiving was a breeze! (I don’t know why I was nervous!)

We had fried turkey injected with jalapeno butter – spicy!!! Stuffing, rolls, garlic green bean casserole, and scalloped sweet potatoes (a new recipe from my Wyoming cookbook). And of course what is Thanksgiving without dessert? Thanks to Dee we had Jason’s favorite, apple pie. Grandma added some sugar-free apple cobbler, too!

I’m thankful for a wonderful husband with hidden design skills, for a wonderful set of in-laws and extended grandparents, for a warm home, cuddly pets, a cell phone to call home (never mind that it dies randomly), a soft bed to rest my head, good books (we are reading Garrison Keillor’s Life Among the Lutherans) and wonderful friends.

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and moving into the holiday season, time to stop and smell the pine trees. Grandma & Grandpa Sherwood, visiting from Wheatland.

Trey in the kitchen, taking credit for everyone's hard work!Bill slices and dices the turkey to perfection!Jason fights to prep the turkey!Men folk gathering in the kitchen.The dogs enjoyed licking the snow where flavors from the turkey frier must have dripped!

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the Trail

Last week I had a board meeting in Douglas then traveled to Casper to visit my good friends Erin and Alex. Most the visit revolved around food, conversation, crafts and movies. Erin, usually not credited for her abilities in the kitchen, slaved over a hot stove not once, not twice, but three times to make me some amazing meals! Way to go Erin! Grill cheese on rosemary bread, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, tasty oatmeal with honey all paired with great wine and good company.

Alex also worked his magic in the kitchen and made us a WONDERFUL steak salad. Very tasty! Not to mention his talented ability to build a warm, crackling fire. I felt right at home.

Thanks guys for a wonderful weekend! Erin in her new hat. She finished it while I was in town. So cute!!!

A Thank You Letter to Our Church

Back in August Jason and I finished an oral history project for our church's 125th anniversary celebration. The link to the video is below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKshsZuIZ2Q
I'm glad I married such a talented videographer!

In recent news, our church hosted a volunteer week for the local soup kitchen. I helped out for a few hours yesterday and have a shift this Sat. It was a very rewarding experience and I was able to make new friends and learn something about cooking for 40 in a big kitchen. I've got ideas for Thanksgiving! Plus, I was excited to learn that they take donations of game meat.

Tomorrow night I'm filling in for Pastor and teaching the 7th/8th grade confirmation class. Each week is a different experience depending on which students show up and how much candy they've had! I think I learn more from them than they do from me.

What blessings! Even in this time of transition, I'm feeling very warm and fuzzy with so many opportunities for personal growth. I'm thankful to have this time "unemployed" so I can give back and learn more about my community.

Closing with a big AMEN!