I Never Win Anything

I recently entered a blog give-away of a friend and group member and just assumed that would be the end of it, because as I said I never win anything! Well to my utter astonishment I got an email telling me I'd actually won! Oh my gosh that was something in and of itself but it got even better! The awesome give-away items were two gorgeous pot holders all sewn up and embroidered by the blog hostess!!

There's something to be said for things put together by someone who not only knows what they're doing, but LOVE what they're doing as well. The potholders arrived and I was just dumbstruck at how absolutely stunningly beautiful they were! The wonderful fall colors of the fabric combined with the beautiful embroidery work just put them over the top on the scale of professional workmanship!

I can't think of an occasion that one of her pieces of work would not be a welcomed gift whether it's Christmas, a birthday, a shower, a wedding and the list can just go on and on. She's got quilts, totes, table runners, wallets etc. There isn't anyone who wouldn't just love to get one of her pieces of work as a gift I can guarantee you!

Thank you Nora not only for having a great blog but for also having fantastic give-away items created with professionalism and class! Checkout Nora's Etsy shop for sale information as well as all the locations you can find here at! http://www.etsy.com/shop/creationsbynoramarie?section_id+6235092
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With a Grateful Heart

"Gratitude is of the very essence of worship...When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives." Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."

---Gordan B. Hinckley, "With a Grateful Heart", Liahona, Aug 1999, 25

Two Principles for Any Economy

"Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life, my dear brethren, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents. When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer-no matter how eloquent the oration. President Thomas S. Monson put it this way: "It's in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals, If we constantly put our goals off, we will never see them fulfilled."

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy", Ensign, Nov 2009, pgs 55-58

Our Thanksgiving

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving and I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming I've made a few small changes.

Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.

Once inside our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful autumn leaves from the front yard, The mud was entirely their clever idea.

The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy, china, or crystal goblets. If possible we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork.

Since this IS Thanksgiving we will refrain form using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas. Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me that it is a turkey.

We will be dining on fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I've made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hot line. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sound suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.

We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds please gather around the table and sit wherever you'd like.

In the spirit of harmony we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next door.

Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not under any circumstances enter the kitchen to laugh at me.

Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress either. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do we will eat. I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in the head with a warm tasty bread.

Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice: take it or leave it!

Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either. I am thankful.