To my American readers, I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving! My mom took the above photo on the first of the month, which beautifully captures the changing of fall to winter. Here's Watt's been up with me this month.
READING: Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend and Dust by Kara Swanson.
LISTENING: For free on Libby, I listened to the following audiobooks in their entirety: Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear by Jinger Duggar Vuolo, The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig by Kate DiCamillo, Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo, and Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I just started listening to The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield. Dad read The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien aloud to me, and now I'm listening to him read the next book, The Return of the King.
You'll notice that many of the books that I listened to our children's books, but in my defense, I must quote C.S. Lewis, “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”
LEARNING: I'm learning to pair listening to audiobooks to tasks that are mostly mindless like exercising, cleaning, and cooking! I'm still learning how to drive, and I'm scheduled to take my test next month!
ENJOYING: I attended a baby shower for one of my cousins this month, and I got to hold and play with another cousin's baby. That was fun!
ORGANIZING: Christmas caroling at a nursing home at 6 PM on Sunday, December 10th–if you are local, sign up here! I also organized a Christmas card exchange for my writing group.
PRAYING: I’m studying 1 Thessalonians with my mom and a friend from church, and I have been reminded how important it is to pray for the church. In 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, Paul prays to be present with the church of the Thessalonians, that their love would increase, and that they would be strengthened. I think that is a good prayer model to follow!
DECORATING: In early November, we hung our outdoor Christmas lights while the weather was warmer but waited to turn the lights on until the night of Thanksgiving. We're planning to put up our Christmas tree tomorrow.
MAKING: A crochet baby blanket with Bernat Blanket Yarn. A crochet lovey. Paper crane ornaments. Crochet hats. Christmas gifts that I can’t show pictures of here. ;) My mom and I hosted a craft night, and I baked muffins for that. It was fun to work on our crafts with other ladies. For Thanksgiving dinner, I also prepared cornbread, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and oatmeal bars. I didn't get a picture of the pumpkin pie, but it turned out really well! I used this recipe for the crust and adapted this recipe for the filling by leaving out the boiling water. My mom said that it was the best gluten and dairy free pumpkin pie that she has had.
DECLUTTERING: One of my goals is to use materials I already have for my craft projects, and I’ve been pretty successful with that. I’ve also been giving a lot of my projects away, which completes the decluttering process.
EATING: Anything I want! At a recent church fellowship lunch, I ate a meatball sandwich on a wheat containing bun. I had no fear and no reaction. That’s amazing progress!
WRITING: I participated in The King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp this month and finished several projects. I also guest posted on my friend Katerina’s blog about creativity during chronic illness.
BUYING: A new protective screen for my phone since the old one was cracked–thankfully, the phone’s actual screen was fine! I also bought some books.
Watt have you been up to this month? Have you read any of the same books as me?
4 comments
Mrs. Dean, yes, you are right about Mom cooking in the garage. Eventually, I couldn’t even tolerate that, and my family had to cook outside. So yes, it is a big thing that I can eat whatever I want!
I’m glad you enjoy children’s books, too. There are some that are real gems.
Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers!
Sweet Lauren, you continue to amaze me. What a joy it was to read that you enjoyed a meatball hoagie on a wheat bun!!!!!! The journey of your ability to eat has been remarkable. I think there was a period when your mom had to cook in the garage because you couldn’t even tolerate the smell of food.
And I also LOVE children’s books. I’m so glad to have that quote, because well-written children’s books are treasures.
I’m super impressed with all you’re reading and all you’re doing.
You are an amazing young woman and an example of what living a prayerful and faithful life looks like.
Love and prayers,
Mrs. Dean
Mrs. Dutko, this is such a sweet, encouraging comment! Thank you!
A few notes about the pumpkin pie: I chilled the crust while I was preparing the filling and then put the filling in the crust and baked them both at the same time. The pie needed refrigerated afterwards to make the pie filling stand/make it firmer. I prepared the oat flour for the crust by grinding gluten-free oats in a coffee grinder. Also, we put coconut whipped topping on the pie when we served it. :)
I have done a little sewing in years past and would like to get into it again at some point.
Lauren, God must be so very delighted in you! You accomplish so much in little time while educating w books and other.
Please tell your mom that I was without words at her beautiful photo. I believe that is one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen.
I, too, struggle with boundaries, so I am going to look up that book reference.
You did an excellent job on the baby blanket! It is beautiful! I learned how to use a sewing machine in high school but never learned to crochet or knit. I did a little crewel. I am sure your gift will be treasured.
God has a plan for you, and I pray you will marry and have your own family.
I appreciate your thoughts on praying for my church in the ways the Bible and you suggest. We need it, and I will do it. I will suggest to other church members.
I’m going to try your pumpkin pie recipe. It sounds great! The photo show very appealing food.
Good luck next month on achieving a driver’s license!
You have waited so long for your time in the Sun. Enjoy, sweet Child of God, enjoy everything!
P.S. Your emails bring life to my dead bones. Thank you.