View from the Prairie Box

I’m not good at slowing down. I resist it or feel like it must be a selfish move to sit and read quietly in the morning. I confess this out loud because it’s a wrongheaded way to look at life. I think of how, not so long ago, people would sit and read a newspaper with a cup of coffee in the morning. Folks who kept the home might always be prepared to entertain a neighbor with hot tea and a slice of cake from the fridge. This notion of hurryhurryhurry is absurd, and perhaps it’s a tiny act of rebellion against such thoughts to read a book after the kid is dropped off at school, or look at the Christmas tree for several minutes alone and enjoy the lights. I rush and rush, if not physically then for sure mentally, but the fast-paced lifestyle is not truly what I want.

I wish Advent felt like a really relaxing season of life for me, but it never does. It’s a piling of more expectations upon normal life, and oftentimes I’ll find my soul feeling incredibly stifled by this reality. So again, can a cup of hot tea be a rebellion? Can a moment with God in scripture be a pushing back against this norm I’ve chosen for myself? I think so.

I don’t expect to overcome all my old patterns and tendencies because I’ve written this blog post. But I can at least attempt to search for boundaries and broaden the margins of my December existence. Here’s to slowing down and noticing. Here’s to enjoying the beauty around us. Lord, give us eyes to see it and a heart that desires you.

There’s just nothing like dragging a tripod out front to get a shot of yourself shoveling snow! I made sure to attempt it after my neighbors had left for work. #dpp2018

Let me tell you how easy this DPP will be. None easy, that’s how much.

It’s one thing to hold up a little phone and snap shots of yourself in interesting locations, but self-portraiture is going to challenge me. And that might be an understatement. First thing, I’m already flinching at looking at more pictures of myself. This is totally a mental game! Who knew?! But second, there’s a lot of technicalities involved in taking self portraits with a professional camera—and so I’m going to learn a lot this month I believe.

Day 2, done. Only 23 more days to go. Guess who I’m shooting tomorrow? Me. And the day after? Also me. I totally understand if you quit following along…

Last thing to point out, I attempted a smiling photo today for my mother and all the others in her generation who think to themselves, “Now, why doesn’t that lovely girl smile instead of looking all moody?” So here’s the smiling shot. But… it’s hard to smile for myself. Especially on the 82nd shot. And then the critical inner voice while editing is a BEAST. Whoa. So while this particular DPP challenge may at first glance seem unreasonably vain, I assure you, I’m not doing this because I like my face. In fact, I’m going to try to keep liking myself in spite of this challenge. Hoo boy.

Here’s to growing through challenges! Happy December, everyone.

Guess what’s happening this Saturday? The December Photo Project!

TO SIGN UP follow those links above.
TO LEARN WHAT THE DPP IS follow those links above.
Just follow the links…

She gets in the car and is ready to write. No one is telling her what to do or where to do. No obligations anymore, no bells signaling changing classes, no need to do homework, no places to go. Just an exhale of breath and the ability to choose, and what she chooses is to write. She writes and writes and writes. Her voice coming through the walls quietly, spaces in between for silent editing. How did I get so lucky to be her mama? Why did God give me a writer? What a joy.

Koselig Cooking is back!

Read all about the Norwegian word “koselig” here and work with me to celebrate all that is warm and good and cozy about these days where it’s hard to get outside and find sunshine. Note that the word “koselig” is pronounced koo-su-lee. Who knew?! Also, states the article, it’s important to quit our kvetching about the terribleness of the weather (I’m the #1 offender in this) and start enjoying the good things the weather allows us to do.

So here’s a good thing: when it’s rainy outdoors for days on end and it’s chilly and I have to turn the heat on, I also want to make dishes that are comforting and tasty. What follows is a recipe I found online for Best Creamy Parm Tomato Soup, which I have renamed.

After making it I learned that my daughter likes the pasta part and I like the soup part. Three-quarters into our meal Monday night we switched bowls. My leftover pot of soup is now largely a pot of pasta—very tasty pasta—but I’m a soup girl. So next time I’ll probably make something without tortellini in it. Tortellini is definitely one of those ingredients for a special day… It’s high in carbs (important for me to know as a type 1 diabetic) and it’s more expensive. Lastly, I did spent extra money on good canned tomatoes and chicken broth—and it was worth it.

Jump over to our recipe blog, Needs More Butter, to grab the recipe for Creamy Tortellini Tomato Soup! You can also find recipes for Ultimate Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Chicken Tortilla Soup, two recipes I was encourage to make due to our current rainy weather.

Shi-lawnie the Cotonie. Shiloh-loh-loh. The Woochest with the Moochest. This dog is a bundle of excited energy + long nap times + family adoration. He’s both the biggest goofball and the sweetest dog I’ve ever met. I like to think God gave us dogs as proof of undeserved grace upon mankind. I love my silly Shiloh (who is a Coton de Tulear, thus the title).