They are lies...

To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.             Isaiah 61:3

I LOVE this verse because I have experienced the Lord pouring out His oil of joy in my life and clothing me with a garment of praise when I really thought those things were permanently gone from my life.  For too long, I fell prey to and believed lies that kept me from joy and praise.  If you do not suffer from depression or chronic illness, this list of lies might seem bizarre to you.  If you do, I'm sure you will be able to relate.  Here's my list of the top ten lies Satan told me while living with illness and depression and some of the Scripture God used to set me free:

1.  God can't use you to help others.  You don't have the physical stamina.  You have nothing to offer.
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

2.  You're going to die soon...perhaps right now!
...and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.  Psalm 139:16  
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

3.  Focus on your pain and any strange sensation that makes you feel like you could pass out or die. Be afraid...be very afraid!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou are with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

4.  This is not fair!  This is proof God doesn't love you!
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He  may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.  I Peter 5:6-7

5.  You are worthless. Look at all the time and money you spend at doctor's offices and the hospital.
For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.  Psalm 139:13-14

6.  No one cares about what you deal with on a daily basis.  You are all by yourself...alone.  Darwinism is true - it's all about survival of the fittest.
...I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

7  This is all God's fault.  He could have kept you from getting sick.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

8.  You are a burden to your family and friends.
Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

9.  Jesus doesn't care about sick people and has no clue how you feel. 
Jesus wept.  John 11:35
Jesus had compassion on them... Matthew 20:34
My (Jesus') soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death...Mark 14:34

10.  Look at how much of your life has been a waste.
 And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.  And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?"  Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.  John 9:1-3

Note:  I am not a professional counselor or doctor.  I am writing from my own experience and from what I have learned from talking to others who live with depression or chronic illness.

I am tempted to become angry when I think of all the years I spent believing these lies.  The truth is that I did believe those lies for a long time and God has miraculously freed me from every one of them so that I can live with joy and am able to praise Him with a glad heart!  Has He freed me from celiac disease or Epstein-Barr?  (I have asked and pleaded...)  Nope!  Has He helped me learn how to live victoriously in spite of disease?  Yep!  Have I been used by God to bring hope and encouragement to others because I understand?  It's very humbling to know that God has used me...

One of the things that I have learned is that the lies cause us to grieve the life we are living and the life we could have had.  Tomorrow we will talk about the five stages of grieving. 

Decor

Our guest room has a large window that lets in lots of light - ok during the day, but not so much at night when the street light shines in through tree branches...tossed around by the wind...

We could have just bit the bullet and spent the big bucks to get plantation shutters made, but after a lot of time was spent searching for an inexpensive solution, I finally figured it out.  My honey cut a piece of 1/4" MDF to fit over the window, then attached it to a 1x4 to make it free-standing.  I painted and stenciled the window cover and it works perfectly.  Doesn't look too bad, either! It actually makes the room look bigger - go figure.

Now I need to paint a faux plantation shutter on the other side of the cover so it will look better from outside and put grommets in the curtains to make them easier to open and close...

Today's Recipe - Smoked Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
Cuisine At Home - Slow Cooker Menus

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 smoked turkey leg, meat removed and shredded (2 cups)
1 cup diced onion
1 cup dry wild rice
1/2 cup each diced carrot and celery
1/4 cup dry sherry (you can probably substitute red wine vinegar or cooking sherry)
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp dried thyme 
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup sliced scallions
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Toasted slivered almonds


Combine broth, turkey, onion, wild rice, carrot, celery, sherry, flour, and thyme in a 3-4 qt. slow cooker.  Cover; cook until rice is tender, on low-heat setting for 4-5 hours.
Stir in milk and scallions just before serving; heat through, about 5 minutes.  Season soup with salt and pepper; garnish each serving with almonds.  Makes 6 servings
 

My encounter with depression...

It's seems like I just woke up depressed one morning, but I'm sure it was a slow slide into that awful summer.  I had noticed that I just didn't find enjoyment in the people and things that normally brought me pleasure.  But the dark cloud seemed to descend on me overnight.  My physical symptoms - traveling pain, joint pain, headaches, inability to sleep or focus, digestive issues, a wacko thyroid and overwhelming fatigue - did continue to worsen until I finally sought help from doctors.  They ran lots of tests and ruled out many illnesses, but still no answers to why I felt so bad.  I was treated for anxiety with an anti-depressant which helped me function.  Towards the end of the summer, a nurse put me on a very strict diet of fruit, vegetables and lean meat with supplements and I felt amazingly better after a couple of weeks.  I was able to quit taking the medication after two months.

I know, now, that all of this was caused by undiagnosed celiac disease.  In fact, if I inadvertently eat some gluten or too much sugar, I will wake up the next morning with depression symptoms which usually take a few days to go away.  I know that there are many more causes of depression, but I have discovered that there are some things that we all can do to feel better.  I have learned not to freak out if I feel depressed, but to reason out the cause with God's help and know that it will subside and I will feel better.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.  Psalm 145:19

This week we will be talking about depression and what I have found that helps tremendously. 

Decor

I went with one of my young friends to Good Will to find some lamps for her living room.  She had seen my daughter's lamps and loved them.  We purchased these "beauties" for $16.

With the help of some spray paint and new drum shades from Lowe's, they ended up looking like this -

They are fabulous in her living room!  So much fun!!

Today's Recipe - Chicken Chili Verde
Cuisine at Home - Slow Cooker Menus

(Bone-in chicken breasts add extra flavor and have less tendency to overcook than boneless breasts.)
3 poblano chile peppers
1 1/2 lbs. tomatillos, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, loosely packed, divided
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp sugar
1 lb bone-in chicken breasts, skin removed, chicken seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
crumbled queso fresco cheese

Roast poblanos over a gas burner (or under a broiler) until blackened.  Transfer poblanos to a bowl; cover with plastic wrap. When poblanos are cool enough to handle, remove skin and seeds.  Chop poblanos.
Layer poblanos, tomatillos, onion, 1/2 cup cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, and sugar in a 4-6 qt slow cooker.  Place chicken on top, meaty side down; add broth.  Cover; cook until chicken is tender, on low-heat setting for 4-5 hours. 
Remove chicken from slow cooker; allow it to cool slightly.  Shred meat, discarding bones.  Add chicken, lime juice, and remaining 1/2 cup cilantro to the slow cooker.  Turn slow cooker to high-heat setting; cook 10 minutes.  Serve chili with crumbled cheese.

The benefits of suffering...

Ok, that's a strange title for a post!  At least that is what I used to think.  When I look back over my life, it's easy to see that I grew the most during the difficult times.  Mary Yerkes says there are five things that suffering does for us:

1.  Suffering produces intimacy with God. 
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.  Psalm 40:1-3

2. Suffering equips us to comfort others.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

3.  Suffering refines us.
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.  Isaiah 48:10

4.  Suffering produces growth and maturity.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-3

5.  Suffering conforms us into Jesus' image.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  Romans 8:28-29

Paul Jackson, a Tucson pastor, watched as his wife suffered with breast cancer before she passed away.  He comments, "If we are willing to sit still and let God work, we will find ourselves being transformed into the image of Jesus.  Through this horrendous experience, God did incredible things.  Her mother accepted Jesus Christ as Savior...God also changed those who cared for her.  Our lives were enriched by suffering.  Simply put, when we seek God through His Word and prayer, we find Jesus.  Remember, Jesus understands our pain because He, too, suffered."

Our suffering can be a testimony to God's glory.  We can be honest and say, "I don't like it.  I don't get it.  But, you have a purpose in this suffering and I am going to trust you, Lord." 


Decorating

I wasn't sure what I was going to put in the tall apothecary jar on the mantle when I emptied it of the Christmas ornaments.  I really didn't want to spend any money so I looked around the house and found nothing that would work.  Hmmm...

Then, my honey and I were walking at a nearby park and discovered these fabulous seed pods that had fallen from some of the trees.  Free decorations!  I may spray them with a glossy clear acrylic to preserve them.

Today's Recipe - Cheeseburger Soup
Cuisine at Home - Slow Cooker Menus

4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 lb. ground beef sirloin
1 cup diced onion
3/4 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrot
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups peeled and diced russet potatoes
2 cups sharp shredded Cheddar cheese
salt and black pepper
ketchup
prepared yellow mustard
chopped dill pickles


Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat.  Add sirloin, cook until meat begins to brown.  Stir in onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and basil; cook 5 minutes.
Add flour, stirring to coat meat; cook 1 minute.  Stir in milk until mixture is smooth.  Bring mixture to a boil; cook 2 minutes.  Transfer soup to a 3-4 quart slow cooker.  
Stir in broth and potatoes.  Cover soup, cook until potatoes are tender, on low-heat setting for 3-4 hours.
Add Cheddar just before serving, stirring until cheese melts.  Season soup with salt and pepper; garnish each serving with ketchup, mustard, and pickles.
 

Someone cares...

When my depression and illness were at their worst, I struggled with the thought that God was treating me unfairly.  I could really relate to this passage from the book of Job (7:13-20)

When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.  I despise my life; I would not live forever.  Let me alone; my days have no meaning.  

What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?  Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?  If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men?  Why have you made me your target?  Have I become a burden to you?

That passage is in the Bible for a reason!  God wants us to acknowledge our struggles and our difficult thoughts and emotions.  But He wants us to bring them to Him like Job did.  He continued to question God and His motives and God brought comfort to him when His purpose for the suffering was accomplished.

I was curious about Jesus' attitude towards suffering, so I did a quick study on his miracles.  I was amazed when I found out that out of the 86 recorded miracles, 80 of them were Jesus healing people and 4 of those were people raised from the dead.  Wow! 

The gospels tell us that Jesus has compassion on the sick.  According to Webster's dictionary, compassion means a sympathetic consciousness of another's distress together with a desire to alleviate it.  He sees and knows when we struggle and He cares.  He cried when His friend, Lazarus, died.  He knew that He was going to bring Lazarus back from the dead, but He felt deeply the sorrow of Lazarus' sisters.  It was also comforting to me that when I read of His crucifixion that He asked, "Why?"  Jesus understands!  He also knows why God allows us to suffer at times.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Tomorrow:  Five things suffering does for us


Decorating

When our oldest daughter was here before Christmas,  we went to Good Will to see if we could find some lamps to spray paint for her bedroom.  We spent $14 and got three lamps - two for her bedroom and one for her living room.  She was even more excited after we spray painted them.  She will purchase new shades for the bedroom lamps.

Before:

After:

She added some colorful ribbon to the lampshade that is in excellent condition.  Ok, those lamps, especially the ones we painted white, were UGLY!  When looking for lamps to spray paint, you have to look for a shape that you like.  The paint makes them look modern and new.


Today's Recipe - Puerto Rican Chicken Stew
Cuisine at Home - Slow Cooker Menus

4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup diced pepperoncinis
1/2 cup chopped pimiento-stuffed green olives
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 Tbsp capers
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground annatto
3 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed, seasoned with kosher salt
1/2 cup dry long-grain rice
Fresh cilantro leaves

Combine broth, tomato sauce, onion, bell pepper, pepperoncinis, olives, garlic, minced cilantro, vinegar, capers, bay leaf, oregano, pepper, paprika, and annatto in a 4-5 qt. slow cooker, place chicken on top.
Cover stew; cook until chicken is tender, on low-heat setting for 3 1/2-4 1/2 hours.
Stir in rice. Cover; cook until rice is tender, on low-heat setting for 20-30 minutes more.
Garnish servings of stew with fresh cilantro leaves. 

 

Meet suffering as a friend...

        If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I wouldn't pass it around.  I wouldn't            be doing anyone a favor. Trouble creates a capacity to handle it...Meet it as            a friend, for you'll see a lot of it and you had better be on speaking terms with          it.                                                 Oliver Wendell Holmes

I sincerely hope yesterday's post didn't bum anyone out, because there is hope.  There is another perspective on suffering that makes it possible to, Consider it pure joy, my brothers (and sisters), whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2-3a).  We will get to that tomorrow!

Most people with depression or chronic illness may look normal and other people can't tell they are suffering.  Because of that, loneliness is a common experience for them.  If you are one of those people, the following statistics may help you realize that you are not alone in your suffering.  If you know one of those people, talk to them about their perceived limitations and frustrations. Then figure out one thing that you can do to encourage them.  A lot of times, just having someone listen and validating your feelings helps tremendously.

FOX News reported:
50% of Americans suffer pain
39% pain interrupted their sleep
43% pain affected their mood
11% have very little control over their pain
33% use over-the-counter drugs daily

I was blown away when I first saw these statistics!  I had gotten so focused on my own suffering that I didn't realize there were so many hurting people around me.  Lord, open our eyes to see them, to hug them, to pray for them, to let them know they are not alone, to help them laugh with joy again.

Tomorrow:  What was Jesus' response to suffering?


Craft - Ladies' Night Out Basket

This fall, we were sitting at my mother-in-law's table visiting when she, a widow, told us that she and some of her friends, also widows, miss going out to a nice dinner.  It's just not in their budget.  Well, that got me to thinking and I talked to my husband and called our kids to pass the idea by them.  They all enthusiastically agreed that a Ladies' Night Out Basket would be our family project gift this Christmas.  So, with their input, a movie to watch on my mother-in-law's new TV, Thomas Kincade coffee mugs for each lady, several bags of goodies to enjoy during the movie and a gift card to Mimi's Cafe were all put into a leather basket with fun tissue paper.  The ladies loved the gift and couldn't believe that we put together a gift just for their enjoyment.  Hee hee!  I love it!

I did a rough put-together of my winter tablescape for the dining room.  It doesn't look quite right, yet.  I may tweak it some...

My honey is going to drill holes in the tops of the aspen logs for votive candles.  A touch of the Rocky Mountains on our table!  The aspen log candle holders go so well with the pine cone candles I found at World Market 50% off.


Today's Recipe - Tortilla Soup w/ Zucchini
My regular tortilla soup just isn't filling enough, so I decided to add zucchini to it.  My husband loved it and didn't feel like he needed as many chips to fill up.

8 oz cooked turkey, shredded or cubed
1 medium zucchini, cut into small cubes
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
10 oz can original Rotel
28 oz can diced tomatoes
14.5 can chicken broth
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp Tony's Creole Seasoning
1/2 tsp cumin
2 dashes Tabasco sauce

Mix ingredients together in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.  Turn heat down and simmer until vegetables are soft.  Serve over tortilla chips.  Makes 4 servings

Living with chronic illness...

I'm going to be brutally honest with you as I write about living with chronic illness and depression.  I've been a follower of Jesus for almost 50 years and have found that being a Christian doesn't protect you from illness and depression.  In fact, in my case, that misconception kept me from accepting that I was depressed and from seeking help sooner. I do have to say that Christian resources and sources, especially the Bible, have provided the most comfort during and since my initial depression and the onset of chronic illness.

Today, I am sharing my story in hopes that others will be comforted and encouraged.  The rest of this week I will write about chronic illness and next week will deal with depression.  I am not a professional counselor or doctor.  I will be writing from my own study and experiences. 

My onset of depression was a result of a stressful teaching job where my character was constantly attacked by gossip, our girls growing up and unexplained illnesses caused by an undiagnosed disease. In 2000, I experienced what I call The Summer From Hell when I had mysterious traveling pains, severe digestive discomfort, a wacko thyroid (it went back and forth from hypo to hyper - I could tell when I woke up by feeling my eyes if I was going to be anxious and nervous or lethargic all day) and female problems.  I couldn't sleep which caused anxiety and panic attacks.  I couldn't focus my eyes to read or even watch TV. And forget remembering anything!  Doctors put me through all kinds of tests with inconclusive results.  I was clinically depressed but thought I was dying.  My family didn't know what to do to help me.  They avoided me because I had turned into an angry person. One of my doctors put me on an anti-depressant just to cope. I praise God that my girls, my husband and I have been able to honestly talk about that time in our lives and God has healed many of those hurts.  Thank you, Beth Moore! (So Long Insecurity...)

As bad as that summer was physically and mentally, the thing I struggled with the most was that I felt like God had abandoned me and was letting me suffer when I had done nothing to deserve it.  The book of Job became my sanity that year.  I could relate to him and the shared emotions and thoughts brought comfort to me.  After a year in Job, I began reading the Psalms with new understanding.  David suffered, too, and his words of hope gave me new perspective. God began drawing me to passages in the Bible which confirmed His love and that He was with me through it all.

My female problems became so severe that I opted for a hysterectomy.  My doctor did pre-op blood work and discovered that I was anemic.  She put me on iron but I remained anemic.  Because my mom had been diagnosed with celiac disease, I was tested and it came back positive.  After two weeks on a gluten-free diet, the anemia went away.  I had the surgery and left my teaching position.  I felt better than I had in years and most of my mysterious symptoms and pain, along with the depression, simply disappeared.

Because I also have Epstein-Barr syndrome from severe mono as a young adult, I have a weakened immune system and if I overdo it, I can be down for several weeks with flu symptoms.  I have learned that eating the right foods and walking really lessen those symptoms and I have days where I feel like a "normal" person...whatever that means, right?! Ha ha! I have also learned that eating even a small amount of gluten can cause those early mysterious symptoms and depression to come back.  I have also discovered coping skills, one being my restored sense of humor, that allow me to find joy while living with chronic illness. 

If any of this sounds familiar to you, I want you to know that you are not alone.  Tomorrow I will share some statistics which may surprise you.

The journey goes on...


Decorating


 The combination of cold weather, eating too many sweets over the holidays, doing too much, saying goodbye to my kids and grandkids and taking down the Christmas decorations usually result in some January days of struggling with depression .  I am learning to include some winter decorations among the Christmas decorations so some of the holiday decorations can stay out through the winter.  It's a small thing, but it helps!  This small wooden snowman was a gift from a student and I really like the pine cone candles I found at World Market.  My honey is making some votive candle holders out of some aspen branches that I will use for a tablescape for the dining room along with some wintery things I already have.  I will post a picture when it is finished. 



Today's Recipe - Cream of Mushroom Soup
Colorado Cache
4 servings

1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup chopped green onions, including tops
2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup half & half
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Saute onions in butter over low heat for 5 minutes or until tender.  Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.  Add flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.  Remove the pan from the heat and add chicken stock and half & half in a steady stream, whisking.  Bring the soup to a boil over moderate heat.  Simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes.  Add salt and pepper and serve.
Note:  better if made ahead and reheated.

Delicious with french bread slices broiled with baby Swiss cheese on top of a thin slice of tomato.

Happy New Year...

Happy New Year from Nanna's Kitchen!  I hope your holiday season provided wonderful memories for you and your family.  Several memories stand out for me this year - a quick 30 hours with our immediate family, the creativity of our daughters and moments with my grandchildren.

Yep!  We only had 30 hours with our moms, kids and grandkids and eight of those hours were spent sleeping.  We all gathered on the 22nd at our middle daughter's home which had been beautifully and practically decorated.  The sleeping quarters all had baskets with mints, water bottles and towels for each person.  She also had prettily presented goodies for us to enjoy.  Before Gramma and Nana arrived, we went to get a family portrait taken.  The little ones cooperated and we got some great pics.  After a supper of jambalaya, we all went to a garden that was uniquely decorated for Christmas with all kinds of lights and items, compliments of Nana.  We all enjoyed warming up with hot cider and family fellowship as the stockings were opened before bedtime.  Our Christmas took place the next morning on the 23rd before we started going separate ways.  I loved our time together, but it was hard to say goodbye after such a short time together.  There were so many things we didn't get to talk about... (more on that tomorrow).

Our daughters were so creative with their "non-gifts".  We had decided to only give gifts for the children, but they had these ideas and since we were all going to be together and it would save on postage, they could be given in person...so, technically, they weren't Christmas presents.  Oh, boy!  We are going to have to figure this out!  Anyway, our oldest daughter who is an artist, illustrated the book our middle daughter had written for her husband and daughter.  She even bound it as a hardback book.  It is difficult to explain how unique and precious the book is without pictures.  I will have to remedy that!  Then our middle daughter gave beautiful pillows that she had made from some of my dad's dress shirts.  There were a few tears shed as the pillows were hugged and the creative stitching was appreciated.  Our youngest daughter, who does photography on the side, gave us all photos she had taken that are priceless.  She has a rare gift for capturing precious moments. My favorites were a picture of the intertwined hands of my husband, me and our grandkids, a portrait of me and my treasure (grandkids) and a photo of my husband kissing the top of our grandson's head. 

Our grandson turned six months old on Christmas Eve and it was wonderful to get to spend two weeks with him.  It warmed my heart when he broke out in smiles of recognition when I walked into the room.  He is a sweet cuddly boy who barely fussed as he cut his first two teeth.  Our nieces and nephews put on a nativity play each year on Christmas Eve at Gramma's house.  Our grandson was perfect for the part of a smiling baby Jesus. So cute!  My favorite Christmas memory of my granddaughter happened when I got to waken her from a nap after we arrived at their house.  I knelt by her bed and gently rubbed her back.  She lifted her head and her eyes widened when she saw me and then those little arms hugged my neck as she said, "Oh, hi Nanna!" several times.  Precious!  (Sigh)  I miss them...

Come back tomorrow as we will begin discussing depression and chronic illness and finding joy in the midst of them throughout January.


Decorating and Crafts

My daughter creatively used this old suitcase in her bathroom.

This is the pillow she made for me from two of my dad's shirts.  It sits on the pink chair in my craft room.

Today's Recipe - Giada's Italian Pot Roast and Cheesy Polenta
I got these recipes from Giada's Family Christmas TV special on the Food Network. 

Italian Pot Roast
5 lb chuck roast
olive oil
2 yellow onions, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup red wine
1 can beef broth
1/2 oz dried porcini mushrooms
1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary leaves
1/2 tsp thyme
salt and pepper

Generously sprinkle salt and pepper on all sides of the roast while heating olive oil in a dutch oven.  Sear all sides of the roast then remove from the pot to a plate.  Add more oil and saute the onion and garlic, adding more salt and pepper, until vegetables are soft.  Add the wine, broth, and mushrooms scraping the little bits up off the bottom of the pan.  Cook until the mushrooms start plumping up.  Add the roast and bring to a boil.  Put the lid on and bake in the oven at 350 for three hours, turning the roast halfway through the cooking time. 
Place the cooked roast on a cutting board and cover with foil.  Blend the liquid in the pot with an immersion blender.  Season with rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper.  Slice the roast and serve with the gravy.

Cheesy Polenta

9 cups water
2 1/2 cups coarse cornmeal
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
10 Tbsp butter, cut into slices
1 head parsley leaves, chopped

Season water with salt and bring to a boil.  Whisk in the cornmeal and continue whisking until the polenta is thickened.  Add milk, cheese and butter and whisk until cheese and butter are melted.  Add the parsley and salt and pepper.  Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with whole parsley leaves.