TODAY IS December 1, 2025
AROUND ME there has been some putting away of autumn decor, a bit of baking, preparations for a Thanksgiving meal, and some crocheting and reading time.
I AM PONDERING how quickly this year of 2025 has gone by.
AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS enjoying a lunch out with a cousin who became a widow this year. Such a special time of fellowship and catching up.
BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY READING Made for More by Hannah Anderson and The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by Sinclair Ferguson (an Advent devotional).
I AM THANKFUL FOR my parents. Even though they have both been gone from us for many years, they are still with me. Christmas was my mother's favorite time of year. I love it, too, and so I carry on the traditions that she loved so much. My dad loved all of the holidays. I've been thinking about both of them a lot these last couple of weeks.
FROM THE KITCHEN
SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK
TO DO LIST FOR TODAY early morning eye appointment, a bit of baking, and a bit of cleaning.
"So teach us to number our days,
so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom"
Psalm 90:12
Good luck at the doctor appt! I have a white cactus...a double, just like yours! So pretty.
ReplyDeleteI printed out the recipe! Thanks...
hugs
Donna
Thanks, Donna. The appointment went well. I hope you will enjoy the soup recipe. xx
DeleteSuch a sweet blessing of having lunch with a dear cousin. Hope you both have the best visit. This soup looks so good. I am definitely a soup lover and there is not a single soup that I would turn down. You have a full "to do" list and prayers sent for a healthy eye appointment.
ReplyDeleteWe really did have a wonderful visit, Shug....three hours' worth over lunch. :) My husband asked me if the restaurant charged us rent. lol I ended up not doing my full to do list today. Having my eyes dilated takes me a bit to get over. But that's okay. The appointment went well. Thank you for the prayers, friend. xx
DeleteYes, the year has flown by.
ReplyDeleteI really love that quote, so much wisdom there. I wish I could print the scripture verse to post here.
Yum - the soup looks good!
The soup really was tasty. I'm trying a new soup recipe tomorrow...salmon chowder. It sounds really good.
DeleteI have one flower on my cactus and it is glorious!!
ReplyDeleteI have a white cactus that has one bud on it and it is beginning to swell up, so I am hoping to have it bloom within the week.
DeleteIt's interesting, I've thought of my mother so much as I decorated my tree this year. She loved color coordinated trees, especially blue lights and blue and silver decorations. The Marry Me chicken looks very good! I'm glad you had such a nice visit with your cousin. Have a blessed week.
ReplyDeleteThat's neat about how your mother enjoyed color coordinated trees. When we were growing up, we had all different colors of lights on the tree, but as Mother got older, she chose to go the pre-lit trees with the white lights, and the majority of her ornaments were gold in color or very neutral colors. That soup was very good. The longer it lasted the more flavor it had. I'm going to try something new tomorrow...salmon chowder.
DeleteGreat quote from Spurgeon. Keep our hearts and minds on you, dear LORD! Yum, that soup looks satisfying. Have a beautiful first day of December, Dianna.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated that quote, Ellen. The soup was very satisfying. Enjoy your new month of December, my friend. xx
DeleteI'm glad you had a nice visit with your cousin. I have enjoyed all of Hannah Anderson's books that I have read.
ReplyDeleteThis December 10 will be twenty years since my mom passed away. She loved Christmas, too.
Thank you, Barbara. This will be her first Christmas without my cousin. I, too, have enjoyed all of Hannah Anderson's books that I have read.
DeleteMy dad passed away in 1982. My mom in 2017. It's a different world without them in it, but I am thankful that they both know the Lord.
I hope the eye appointment went well. The Marry Me Chicken soup made me smile!!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't cook at all when we got married so no soup. 62 years later we're still
together💖 Thank you for the anniversary wishes.
Thank you, GM. The eye appointment did go well. I had to chuckle about you not being able to cook when you and your husband got married. I couldn't either...my husband was still in his junior year in college and had a job, and I worked also. I knew how to fix hot dogs, spaghetti and lots of Hamburger Helper! But over the 53 (almost 54) years, I have enlarged my ability to cook a bit more. :) xx
DeleteSo had to believe the end of the year is approaching.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote.
I know, Karen. It seems like we were just starting out in 2025 and here we are so very close to the end.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed Spurgeon's quote. xx
I hope your early morning eye appointment went well.
ReplyDeleteThe 'Marry Me Chicken Soup' looks delicious.
Good wishes for the new month of December.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. The eye appointment did go well. I'm good for another year. Thank you for your encouragement with the soup. It really was a good recipe...one that I wouldn't hesitate to make again. Tomorrow, Lord willing, I plan to try a recipe for salmon chowder. The picture makes it look delicious, so I hope it will be. :)
DeleteHappy December, my friend. xx
I am pondering your something learned here. I am trying to teach myself (my old, rather set her ways self) more about the beauty and the joy to be found in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is wonderful to be repeating the sweetness you mom brought to the holidays. They were hard for my mom (although she tried really hard and few really knew) but I don't want to keep that "legacy" going. Thank you for a tender reminder. And what a beautiful bloom!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jennifer, for your kind words. For me, it's focusing on Jesus that makes the days leading up to Christmas special. It's the reason I do the Advent devotions because it puts my focus where it needs to be first thing in the morning.
Delete