family life

Thanksgiving 2011

November 27, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 34 Comments

Thanksgiving in the new house was perfect in every way! The weather was mild enough that the young adults sat on the porch to eat and then enjoyed the fireplace afterwards. Caiti was a huge help this year and did lots of cooking and helping! (Thank you sissy)

I have the most wonderful family and am truly so blessed by them all!

Enjoy a few photos……
Grannie’s always in the kitchen cleaning up my mess!

We broke out the Thanksgiving ads after dinner but I totally wimped out on the midnight shopping run. My sister, on the other hand, is made of steel and shopped all night long. I’ve never been much of a black Friday shopper. I think I’ve been twice—both with my Iron Man sister—and I do love to go and drink coffee and people watch. But at midnight? At the Walmarts? That’d be enough to push me right over the edge on which I’m always dangerously teetering. We’re all better off if I sleep and then properly caffeinate before I’m allowed in public.

I did no shopping to speak of and no Christmas decorating. We’re trying to embrace the church’s calendar more and more every year and today is the first day of Advent. I posted on our Advent traditions here. We will slowly begin our decorating this week although I can’t find a spot in my living room anywhere to put a tree?! I have, however, found a perfect spot on the screen porch!

On Saturday, I took the girls to the Moscow Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. Since they are performing in our local Nutcracker the week before Christmas (and my little Emme was chosen to play ‘Clara’), they literally sat on the edge of their seats and took in every detail. We had so much fun 🙂
And I close with this. In lieu of post Thanksgiving regrets and new resolutions for working out, I propose we all embrace the poncho. It’s the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” garment of fashion.

For all you know I had carrot sticks and water for Thanksgiving.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Hope your weekend was full to the brim!
xo,
edie

Give Thanks

November 22, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 44 Comments

So, how long have you and I been going steady? Like 3 years, I think?
Well, except for that time you broke up with me when I posted about Loretta Lynn.
And okay, the mullet made you a little uncomfortable. And the bluegrass.

But all and all, we’re pretty solid, you and I. I would totally hold your hair back in a crisis. I adore you. I do.

So, I wanted to say thank you. For meeting me here so faithfully after all this time, through all these trials and all this joy.
For rescuing me from despair when my life fell apart.
I am so humbled that you come. And that you make it okay for us to be who we are.
You are like family to me. I couldn’t be more blessed by having you in my life.
A few goodies and links to say thank you!
I made this banner 2 Thanksgivings and 2 kitchens ago and hope to make time to print it out again this year. Link up in the comments if you print it and post about it!

The pdf files for the letter are here for you to download and print.
G in Give
I in Give
V in Give
E in Give

T in Thanks
H in Thanks
A in Thanks
N in Thanks
K in THanks
S in THanks

Here are some links of food I’m making, in case you need a few last minute ideas.

Obviously, this list isn’t complete. At least my family hopes not.

But these were easy to find and I hope all your dishes are wonderful and tasty!

Chocolate Banana Cream Pie by Emeril—don’t make it until Thursday, it doesn’t ‘keep’ well.

Green Bean Casserole–-Alton Brown (an alternative to the cream of mushroom version)

Red Velvet Cake—Cuisine at Home (I’m making the one from Cuisine at Home, which has no online link but it’s close to the one I linked to. It’s made in 2 8×8 pans and then the cakes are sliced in half to make a 4 layer cake. The sides aren’t frosted so you can see the red—it looks amazing! I made the cakes already and froze them and will ice them on Thursday.)

Parker House Rolls—Martha Stewart (I make these every year and they are amazing!) Make on Thursday.

Vicki’s Olive Salsa—appetizer (Stevie LOVES olives and thinks it’s a downright disgrace not to have olives on the Thanksgiving table.)

Crab Rangoon Dip—appy (new for me this year)

Oyster Dressing-–Pioneer Woman (I make sausage dressing too but I LOVE oyster dressing and so does Grannie. And I think we’re the only two but try it and lemme know!)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins—I already need to make another batch! They disappear so fast and are perfect for a lazy after-Holiday breakfast!

And here’s my fail proof turkey method—–LOW and SLOW. We don’t eat until 6 pm so my timing is based on that. If you plan to eat at noon, you need to put that baby in the oven at 2 or 3 am.

I start with a 20-22 pound turkey and soak it in a salt water/apple juice brine either overnight or at least for a few hours. (about a half handful of salt and one container of apple juice and then submerse in your sink by filling the rest with water. At 6 am, I turn the oven on 300 while I prepare the turkey. I pat the turkey dry and stuff it with sausage stuffing. I them rub softened butter over the outside skin. Put into the oven and leave at 300 for an hour and a half. Then reduce the temperature to 250 and cook for several hours. At around noon, I check it to see how we’re progressing. If it seems to be cooking along very well, I often turn the oven down to 200 and leave it for the rest of the afternoon. Sometimes, I turn it down to 200 but after checking it at 3 pm, if it’s not starting to fall apart, I increase the temp back up to 250. There has never been in the history of the world a juicier turkey.

LOW and SLOW.

It’s the key to all of life.

******************

I leave you with this prayer for the home!

Lord God, our home is among the most precious gifts we receive in this life.

We realize this all the more as we remember our Lord Jesus. He set aside home and family. Having no place to lay His head throughout His ministry, he chose to sojourn among those He came to save. We prayerfully invite Him to dwell in our earthly abode even as He continually invites us by Word and Sacrament to dwell forever in our heavenly home, which He prepares for us.

Make us ever grateful for this shelter from life’s storms.

Keep this house always the home of comfort, joy, peace, and forgiveness.

According to Your will, protect this home from the spiritual assaults of Satan, but likewise make our home a fortress against the calamities of nature and the wickedness of sinful man.

Grant us the virtue of hospitality, the joy of harmonious living, and the blessing of gathering around Your Word and bringing our families’ prayers before You.

May all who dwell in our home be blessed by Your presence and Your peace,

and may all who go forth give thanks for the grace they receive from You, through us, Your dear children

We receive Your loving kindness in our home as a reminder of the eternal home we inherit through Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.
{prayer taken from the Lutheran prayer book which can be purchased at Concordia Publishing House.}

Sweet blessings on your home this Thanksgiving season.

Goodbye and God Bless::The Verity’s Last Show

August 12, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 15 Comments

My son Taylor, who is now 21 and entering his 3rd year of college has been the singer/songwriter for the band The Verity for the past few years.

This band has defined him in many ways and has given us all a host of precious memories.

I miss the sound of his guitar in my house so much.

His decision to do pre-med and the bands’ scattering after high school have made it difficult to remain together.

They will have their final show this Saturday night at Cherokee Park Amphitheater.

Those of you who’ve followed this blog for a long time have been so supportive of Taylor—and we thank you!

I will miss the part of his life. The closing of another chapter. I will miss those boys who have been dear friends to him and like sons to me.

Goodbye Verity and God bless you all as you carry His word and His songs in your hearts.

I love you Tay!

{Their music is available on iTunes}

From Vacation

August 11, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 20 Comments

I’m so woefully behind in editing and posting photos. I still haven’t finished the girls’ dance recital pics from May.
But before the time gets away and I forget altogether, I wanted to post a few North Woods family vacation photos.

We love going to Minnesota every summer. It’s so relaxing and was a much needed break this year from the building project.

The cousins are all growing up and having babies. We could have stayed all summer and been the designated babysitters. Emme especially. She always had a little one on her hip.

We got to try the paddle board. It’s like a very stable surf board that you paddle around on for a great workout. Stevie may need to get me one of those!

The guys always catch enough fish for us to have a fish fry. This year they kept going out on the boat for hours (with full coolers) and returning with very few fish (and empty coolers).

We did finally get enough for a few appetizers, including a huge northern pike. I’m sure Stevie and brother Jeff had plenty of topics to discuss while out on the boat but I don’t think fishing was one of them!

And then there was the yearly attempt to flip the raft. Every year the boys get on the raft and try to tip it over. I don’t know why really except that it seems like such a guy thing to do.

Finally, this year they tipped it over. (Perhaps this is like the Minnesota version of cow tipping?)

We were all stunned. Now what?

So they figured out a way to muscle it back over.

The whole thing was quite entertaining!

The week flew by and despite the fact that Stevie and I were sleeping in bunk beds, we were sad to not be staying longer.

Added Bonus–the adult kids came to visit for a few days! It was so good to spend time with family. I could so live in MN in the summer.

Too quickly we were back to the grind of paint colors and decking and concrete finishing and tile ordering.
Anyone wanna wager on when this house is gonna be done? I’m praying for the middle of September but that may or may not involve a small miracle.
**************
BTW, thanks so much for all your encouraging comments and emails about the last two posts.
I hope to answer your questions this weekend.
Homeschooling and faith are both difficult to write about in the public forum. I appreciate your grace.
And I agonize that sometimes the words can be misunderstood.
I write about those things from a place of joy and humility and I can only pray that they are received in that spirit.
I beg you to forgive my shortcomings which are many.
xoxo,
edie

Weekend Adventures on the Lake

June 13, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 33 Comments

We had a lake-swimming

watermelon-eating

house gazing

sea-doo riding

cliff-jumping

belly-laughing

kind of a weekend.

******

I’m gonna need a week to recover.

Hope yours was fun too!

I’m off to Dollywood again tomorrow

so say a little prayer.

I don’t do well when mixing

funnel cakes, 90 degree weather and the dizzy discs.

I’d much rather sit in the shade in a rocker and

sing old country songs.

Maybe I’ll set up a collection tin and take requests.

And then if you’re lucky (or tragically unlucky)

someone will have a recording device.

Happy Monday!!!!

‘My Little Mother’ and thoughts on mothering

June 1, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 36 Comments

The girls and I are almost finished with book 2 (Anne of Avonlea) of the Anne of Green Gables series. It’s got to be one of my favorite book series of all time. Lucy Maud Montgomery was such a phenomenal writer and was able to craft a character that will forever live in the hearts of many girls. Anne (with an ‘e’) is definitely one of my favorites. In book two, Anne becomes a teacher her favorite student always refers to his deceased mother as ‘my little mother’. Well, I’ve now coined that phrase for my momma too. If you haven’t read these books, they are a must read for summer! The most common phrase in my household the last month or two, “Mom, pleeeeeeease read Anne.” You will not be disappointed!

And two more things.

1. My church is encouraging it’s members, kids and adults, to read the New Testament through this summer so I thought you might want to join us. The pastor will go over the scheduled reading each Sunday and I’ll give you the highlights. The girls and I plan to read it together in the mornings—it will usually end up being 2-3 chapters a day. Here’s the reading schedule if you’re interested.

2. Also, I’m doing two guest posts this week about mothering. I’m always humbled and somewhat hesistant to write about raising children because I fail often to “love my neighbor as myself”. It seems as if we’re constantly asking for and granting forgiveness in this house. Mostly, my prayer is that God fills in the gap—-that He does for them what I, in my fallen condition, can not.
In the midst of obvious failures, it always warms my heart to find small evidences of His grace in them.
I found these notes by their bed this morning and I got a little teary eyed.

I’m saving these for when they’re 16 and fighting over who’s driving.

Join me at my friend Ruth’s blog today for a guest post on “Raising Kids You Like”.

Don’t leave though before you watch this video of ‘my little mother’ line dancing. She’s apparently done this a time or two. She’s normally the one at parties that you never see, serving food, washing dishes, making sure everyone has what they need. She came out of nowhere when the line dancing started and showed us all how it’s done. She’s so darn cute that I can’t take my eyes off her in this video! I thank her immensely for her unconditional love and grace over the years. Apparently, she passed on her line dancing skills too, at least to my sister.

Happy June 1st!
p.s. I have a fully shingled roof and windows!!!!