The Weekend of Giving Thanks

When Thomas and I got married 7 years ago, we quickly came up with a plan for the holidays and our families. So the plan for Thanksgiving has been that we will always have it at our house. On the years that we do not have Christmas with Thomas' family, they usually come up to us on Thanksgiving. And because we are headed to be with them this year, it means we won't see my family.

Well they decided to come visit us this year. I was so excited! I had never had my family up for Thanksgiving! Well, some of them anyway. With my sisters Stevi and Clara living close to me, it just made sense. So my Mom flew in the the two of them along with Clara's boyfriend Drew, all descended on our home.

Loved every second of it!

Everyone had menu's at Thanksgiving right?

We have collected recipes of different items we love over the years to come up with our favorite Thanksgiving meal ever.

– Menu –

Herb Crusted Turkey, Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing, Green Bean Bundles, Sweet Potatoes, Pomegranate Feta Salad, Fresh Cranberry Relish, Garlic Knots

Hot Cranberry Apple Cider, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie

Everything turned out amazing!

Over the last few years Thomas and I have perfected the Thanksgiving kitchen dance. We have the list of items that need to be prepared the night before and then a time line of when the items need to be prepared day of. Really it is a 3 part preparation for the meal. Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving morning, and then the hour before the 3 pm meal.

I love using my china and silver during the holidays! Even if it is blue.

Everyone loves having a yearly Thanksgiving picture, right? Yes I am that horrible person. 

You have to watch Elf to bring in the Christmas season, right? 

Thomas and I always go get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving so that we have longer to enjoy it. So we all went on an adventure. To McClendons, our local hardware store that has 6-8 ft trees for only $20. Sold.

Lucky Thomas and Drew sitting in the front.

All of us crammed in the back seat! Stevi, Clara, Mom,  and Me. A wee bit early for some. Sorry Mom, not the best picture of you.

We may or may not have needed a jump because I rushed us out the door. And we may or may not have needed another jump because Thomas messed with the lights while driving. The adventures of owning an old car. But we all fit with the tree!

And let the decorating festivities begin!

Ever being the Mom and correcting her kids papers.

There may also be a possibility that we have people over every year so I can get out of decorating the tree. (I do decorate the rest of the house!) 2 years running. I like this tradition!

Decoration time. Thank you Stevi!

Thank you Drew.

You look so festive in your green Thomas!

And Clara with your Christmas sweater! Love it!

And to all a good night.

After a long morning of the car breaking down and decorating, we played lots of games! Who doesn't love Farkle, Settlers of Catan, and Nertz? Well Clara hates Settlers, but not the point!

Definitely a fantastic weekend together. 

And hey! I got a post out a mere 3 weeks after an event took place! 

Perhaps a Christmas miracle?

Stretch goal for next year for sure!

The Next Year of Thankfuls

Many of you  suffered Through an entire month of me posting my "thankfuls". First off, thanks for putting up with that. Second, no I am not going to do that to you again this year. Although Thomas does still have to do it with me every morning. Thanks for putting up with me Thomas!

Over the past year I have heard many good things about the book One Thousand Gifts. I know many people have read it and it is powerful. Although I have not read it yet (I am getting it on Sunday!), I have been reading the author's blog from her website A Holy Experience. I love her passion for gratitude. And I love the printable she made to help you to come up with your own 1000 gifts.

And most of all, I love the reminder to be full of gratitude year round. So this Thanksgiving, not only am I going to write my daily "thankful", I am now going to write 3 "thankfuls" a day and continue it on through the next year.

On top of that, another goal I have is to improve my photography. A friend of mine introduced me to the blog Click It Up A Notch where she is doing a 365 photo challenge. So although I am not doing it with all the gals online, I am doing it with just my friend Laura. Of course I am not going to put you through that either. You're welcome. The whole idea is that by picking up your camera every day, you will become a better photographer simply by focusing on it every day. Hope it works!

And I hope to incorporate the two. Take better pictures of the things I am thankful for... EVERY DAY. Oh man, that seems like a lot, but that is what commitment and improvement in life is all about. Spending time doing it.

Which brings me to my final 365 challenge to myself. Get in the Word. I can honestly say that in the past 29 years, I have never been in God's Word every day for a year. I want that to change. 

So here are the 3 things I hope to do every day between now and Nov 1st, 2014.

1. document my gratitude

2. take a picture

3. get in the Word

My Ultimate Goal:

Month of Thankful's reflections

If I have learned anything  over the past weeks of November leading up to Thanksgiving, it is this. I have so much more to be thankful then just what I wrote down. Although there are so many big things, it is the little things that make me the happiest. The little moments in life where you stop to watch a sunrise, smell a flower, or just spend time with friends. Those are my favorite moments that are hard to capture. I also learned how hard it is to blog every day. I definitely forgot 2 of the 3 Saturdays, which thrills me because it means that I am living life, not spending time on the computer! All in all, I love how much I have to be thankful for in life.

Thankful's (in a nutshell)

1.       Thomas

2.       Parents

3.       Siblings

4.       Children

5.       A beautiful home 
6.    Colored Leaves

7.       Physical health

8.       Good food and Cooking 
9.    Laughter - Healing Joy

10.   Marriage

11.   My Country

12.   A wonderful job/Co-workers

13.   Friends

14.   Technology

15.   Sunrises and sunsets

16.   Creativity

17.   Joy

18.   Photography

19.   Traveling

20.   Flowers

21.   My Business – Calia’s Cottage

22.   My Faith

Day 22 - My Faith

Day 22 - My Faith – last but not least, I love who I am created to be because of who I believe in. Although I can be a crappy person at times, my Jesus is not. He has created me in His perfect sweet image and although I fail on an hourly basis, I am thankful for the forgiveness to start over and over again.

And with my final thankful's post...

Day 21 - Calia's Cottage

Day 21 - My Business – Calia’s Cottage has checked so many different things off of my bucket list. So awesome to create something that others can enjoy. Every time is get a little message that something else was purchased, it makes me grin inside (outside too most of the time). I love that I get to bless so many people with useful crafts.Visit me!

Day 20 - Flowers

Day 20 - Flowers – I love everything about them. The colors. The beauty. The smell. I love them in every color shape and size. They make me happy. So thankful for the beauty all around.

Day 19 - Traveling

Germany 2011

Day 19 - Traveling – I love that I can get to any place in the world in a matter of days. I love to see and experience new places and people. I love the adventure of exploring new cultures and foods. I love going back to places I have been to explore the little cafes and places you did not necessarily find the first time around, but my favorite things is to go explore new places I have never been. And I love exploring with people who have been living or visiting for an extended period so they can show you the best little places. I love travel. Everything about it.

Switzerland 2010

Germany 2010

Ireland 2012

The Blarney Stone Ireland 2012

Day 18 - Photography

Day 18 - Photography – I love the beauty that is created all around me that I can capture on film. Not only the memories, but also the simple beauty that I can portray throughout life. I love how many people love and appreciate photography. On top of that is the memories, family, friends, beauty, and the simple process of capturing the moment. Because life is the memories you make on a daily basis. Beauty and memories through photography. So thankful.

Day 17 - Joy

Day 17 - Joy – the deep deep presence of joy in my life that takes in all the negative and turns it into something to smile about. For that I am thankful.

Day 16 - Creativity

Day 16 - Creativity – I love that I can make so many different things. Some of them are necessary and some of them are not. Through pinterest, life has become so much more creative. And I have even been able to create a business out of it. I love that I can see something and go out and make it. I love being creative and crafty and able to make 95% of what I see out there on my own. Don't get me wrong, I m by no means someone to attempt to come up with my own ideas. I am the queen of copy and paste. I put my little flair into everything I make, but I am always copying the idea from some where. And I am 100% ok with that. 

I mean really? REALLY? I made baby shoes! How cool is that? So thankful for the creative gene.

Day 15 - Sunrises and sunsets

Day 15 - I absolutely love the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. Every time I catch a glimpse of one, it makes me smile. I mean what is not to love about these?

 

I have seen (and taken everyone of these pictures) every one of these sunrises and sunsets and they still make my heart happy looking at the pictures. God really out did himself when He created them.

I am thankful for the eyes to see and the heart to enjoy every sunrise and sunset.

 

Day 14 - Technology

Day 14 - Technology – I love being able to keep in contact with so many amazing people. Between email and facebook it is so easy! I love that if I have a question, I can google an answer immediately. So many questions in life have been answered! I love that when I am working on a shutterfly book on my laptop and it is taking too long to download, I can be on pinterest perusing all the fabulous things I want to make in life. (Stay tune, I think my new years resolution has to do with pinterest. I love photography and how much it has changed since digital cameras have come into play. Instant gratification with seeing pictures is awesome! I know that my generation is all about instant gratification, but in the case of photography, I love it. :) I truly love technology. I may not be up with all the latest and greatest, but I truly love the perks of what I have.

I love being able to capture images like these.

Lavender fields in Squim WA

Beach at Cook Islands

Sunset at Pt Loma, CA