Showing posts with label Thankful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankful. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The 4th Year Begins
Yesterday Spencer and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, which is insane to me. It seems literally like only months ago I was anxiously putting on my dress, opening my beautiful Tiffany bracelet, and crying over the longest, most heartfelt letter from my groom. I will never forget the church doors opening, and seeing him waiting for me at the end of the aisle - laughing because my mom, my dad, and I were all crying as we walked down the aisle together. :)
Friday, May 8, 2015
Five Reasons I'm Thankful for My Momma
Mother's Day. A day created with the sole purpose of honoring our mothers and for showing them appreciation for all they have done and continue to do for us.
As I have gotten older, I realize that my mom's role in my life has changed many times. As an infant, her role was to care for my basic needs: food, shelter, clothing. As I grew, those needs continued but more were also added: walking, talking, learning numbers and letters. Yet again, getting older added new responsibilities for her: manners, social skills, life skills.
I look at things that I do each day, and I can see her hand in almost everything. When I make food, I can remember times that she stood with me in the kitchen and taught me to crack an egg, to properly "fold" a mixture together, and how to add just enough flour to dough to keep it from sticking. When I shower, I can think back to the time she taught me to shave my legs (Spencer says thanks!). I drive myself to work with the memories of her teaching me to drive as a teenager, and I interact with people each day and can hear her voice in my head reminding me to say "please," "thank you," and "yes ma'am."
I value her more than she knows, and I certainly do not tell enough just what an impact she has made in my life.
Well, Momma, on this Mother's Day I want to share with you five (of many) reasons that I am so grateful for you.
1. You taught me that "stuff" will not make me happy.
We didn't always get everything we wanted or thought, at the time, that we "needed." At the time, it seemed so unfair. In hindsight, however, I am so glad you did not give in to all of our whims and wishes. It taught me, and my sisters, to be grateful for what we were given, to be content with less, and that using our imaginations could be so much more fun than any store-bought toy. That same imagination now helps me both at work and at home!
2. I learned the value of family.
At a certain age, it seems all teenagers (females in particular) only want to be with their friends. I am sure all three of us were no exception. I am so appreciative, though, that you taught us how valuable our family is in our lives. You have always been close with your family, and have encouraged us to be close with ours, to "hug it out" - as much as we didn't want to - after a fight, and to remember that family is always family - through arguments, hurt feelings, and hard times. And as I get older, I have found that to all be true. My number of close friends has dwindled to a very special handful, and I see now how my family is always there for me, no matter what.
3. Thanks to you, I can manage my home.
As a kid, it wasn't always fun to have to clean my room, to do a load of laundry, to make my bed, or to do the dishes. I even was jealous when I had friends who never had to do any of these things. I would think "that's not fair, I have to do so much and your parents do it all for you!" I couldn't see that it was actually the best thing you could have done for me. I learned to appreciate the things I had, to care for them and to keep them in good condition. I also was able to transition much more easily when the time came for me to leave home. Unlike others I knew, I could do my own laundry, keep my living spaces clean and tidy, and to be discontent if things were dirty. As I've gotten older and bought my first home, I feel that (for the most part) I can keep it running in an orderly fashion without overwhelming myself. Thank you for a lifetime of preparation for this valuable skill.
4. I inherited your love of cooking.
As you know, I love to cook! I always have. Remember when I would watch Julia Childs on TV (having no idea what she was saying) and then wanting to go into the kitchen and use any and every ingredient I could find to make, well, nothing? I know I got that from you. I loved to sit in the kitchen and watch you make meals - lasagna, chicken casserole, chili, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken...even cinnamon toast! The conversations and the smells - it all is so special to me. You've taught me a lot of your recipes, and I especially value the biscuit bowl and cutter you passed down to me. I will never use anything else. Thanks to this love of cooking, I can keep my husband (and future children) well fed, and love doing it!
5. You have inspired me to be a mother just like you.
More than anything, I am grateful that you have instilled in me the desire to be like you. Being the youngest, I was allowed some special years with you alone while my sisters were at school. I probably remember more of that time than you realize. You were always around to make ordinary days special (front porch picnics, playing in the leaves, and having water gun fights), to foster my passions and creativity, to give plenty of hugs, help us make memories, and to allow us to be kids while also teaching us valuable lessons. I hope that one day when I have children of my own, that I can be as great of a mother to them as you have been to us.
Momma, as I've gotten older, I've watched our relationship turn into more of a friendship, and it takes a special mom to be able to let go of her "baby" and accept her as a friend when she grows up. Thank you for allowing me to grow up, and for allowing that process to take place. I hope you know just how much I love you!
Happy Mother's Day!
As I have gotten older, I realize that my mom's role in my life has changed many times. As an infant, her role was to care for my basic needs: food, shelter, clothing. As I grew, those needs continued but more were also added: walking, talking, learning numbers and letters. Yet again, getting older added new responsibilities for her: manners, social skills, life skills.
I look at things that I do each day, and I can see her hand in almost everything. When I make food, I can remember times that she stood with me in the kitchen and taught me to crack an egg, to properly "fold" a mixture together, and how to add just enough flour to dough to keep it from sticking. When I shower, I can think back to the time she taught me to shave my legs (Spencer says thanks!). I drive myself to work with the memories of her teaching me to drive as a teenager, and I interact with people each day and can hear her voice in my head reminding me to say "please," "thank you," and "yes ma'am."
I value her more than she knows, and I certainly do not tell enough just what an impact she has made in my life.
Well, Momma, on this Mother's Day I want to share with you five (of many) reasons that I am so grateful for you.
1. You taught me that "stuff" will not make me happy.
We didn't always get everything we wanted or thought, at the time, that we "needed." At the time, it seemed so unfair. In hindsight, however, I am so glad you did not give in to all of our whims and wishes. It taught me, and my sisters, to be grateful for what we were given, to be content with less, and that using our imaginations could be so much more fun than any store-bought toy. That same imagination now helps me both at work and at home!
2. I learned the value of family.
At a certain age, it seems all teenagers (females in particular) only want to be with their friends. I am sure all three of us were no exception. I am so appreciative, though, that you taught us how valuable our family is in our lives. You have always been close with your family, and have encouraged us to be close with ours, to "hug it out" - as much as we didn't want to - after a fight, and to remember that family is always family - through arguments, hurt feelings, and hard times. And as I get older, I have found that to all be true. My number of close friends has dwindled to a very special handful, and I see now how my family is always there for me, no matter what.
3. Thanks to you, I can manage my home.
As a kid, it wasn't always fun to have to clean my room, to do a load of laundry, to make my bed, or to do the dishes. I even was jealous when I had friends who never had to do any of these things. I would think "that's not fair, I have to do so much and your parents do it all for you!" I couldn't see that it was actually the best thing you could have done for me. I learned to appreciate the things I had, to care for them and to keep them in good condition. I also was able to transition much more easily when the time came for me to leave home. Unlike others I knew, I could do my own laundry, keep my living spaces clean and tidy, and to be discontent if things were dirty. As I've gotten older and bought my first home, I feel that (for the most part) I can keep it running in an orderly fashion without overwhelming myself. Thank you for a lifetime of preparation for this valuable skill.
4. I inherited your love of cooking.
As you know, I love to cook! I always have. Remember when I would watch Julia Childs on TV (having no idea what she was saying) and then wanting to go into the kitchen and use any and every ingredient I could find to make, well, nothing? I know I got that from you. I loved to sit in the kitchen and watch you make meals - lasagna, chicken casserole, chili, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken...even cinnamon toast! The conversations and the smells - it all is so special to me. You've taught me a lot of your recipes, and I especially value the biscuit bowl and cutter you passed down to me. I will never use anything else. Thanks to this love of cooking, I can keep my husband (and future children) well fed, and love doing it!
5. You have inspired me to be a mother just like you.
More than anything, I am grateful that you have instilled in me the desire to be like you. Being the youngest, I was allowed some special years with you alone while my sisters were at school. I probably remember more of that time than you realize. You were always around to make ordinary days special (front porch picnics, playing in the leaves, and having water gun fights), to foster my passions and creativity, to give plenty of hugs, help us make memories, and to allow us to be kids while also teaching us valuable lessons. I hope that one day when I have children of my own, that I can be as great of a mother to them as you have been to us.
Momma, as I've gotten older, I've watched our relationship turn into more of a friendship, and it takes a special mom to be able to let go of her "baby" and accept her as a friend when she grows up. Thank you for allowing me to grow up, and for allowing that process to take place. I hope you know just how much I love you!
Happy Mother's Day!
Monday, February 16, 2015
Our Weekend: For Better or For Worse
Spencer and I spent our Valentine's weekend at the gorgeous, world class Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, NC. We enjoyed many of their amenities, including the golf course, amazing restaurant, and their spa by getting a very enjoyable (and much needed) couple's massage.
I had planned to go into detail about all of the wonderful things we ate and experienced there, but it just does not seem quite appropriate now. When we returned to our room after dinner on Saturday night, I picked up my phone (which I had left in the room) and discovered that my beautiful, amazing Aunt Linda had lost her long battle with breast cancer.
This is how I know I have found the man for me. While we had a bottle of champagne on ice, chocolate covered strawberries, a cheese plate and a bottle of red wine, all set up in a beautiful hotel suite - pretty much the most romantic scene you could imagine on Valentine's Day - all was forgotten in that moment. We sat and cried (well, I cried, he hugged) for what seemed like an eternity. I got mascara and lip gloss all over his clean white dress shirt. He brought me mounds of tissues and rubbed my back while I ugly-cried. He told me to forget where we were and what we had set up, and to just be sad if I wanted to be. He showed me that caring for me and being by my side in hard times, was much more important than our plans and images of romance we had.
That, my friends, is romance. Romance is not candles, bubble baths, champagne and lingerie. Romance is kindness, hugs, and commitment. It's being there for someone when things are great and fun, and also when things are hard. It's letting you cry while reassuring you everything will be ok. Because it will be.
I'll end this post with some pictures. The first pictures are of dinner on Saturday, and the rest I am sharing are of my lovely aunt, who will always be remembered by her friends, family, coworkers, and the entire town where she lived as the fun, cheerful woman who could take on the world with Christ on her side, spreading His love, and now is rejoicing with a healed body in Heaven. One day we all will be reunited again, and what a family reunion that will be!
"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."
- Isaiah 57:1-2
She indeed loved the Lord, and He has taken her from the earth to spare her from evil, and has found rest. These verses are a comfort to me.
Thanks for your kind words and prayers!
Until next time - -
I had planned to go into detail about all of the wonderful things we ate and experienced there, but it just does not seem quite appropriate now. When we returned to our room after dinner on Saturday night, I picked up my phone (which I had left in the room) and discovered that my beautiful, amazing Aunt Linda had lost her long battle with breast cancer.
This is how I know I have found the man for me. While we had a bottle of champagne on ice, chocolate covered strawberries, a cheese plate and a bottle of red wine, all set up in a beautiful hotel suite - pretty much the most romantic scene you could imagine on Valentine's Day - all was forgotten in that moment. We sat and cried (well, I cried, he hugged) for what seemed like an eternity. I got mascara and lip gloss all over his clean white dress shirt. He brought me mounds of tissues and rubbed my back while I ugly-cried. He told me to forget where we were and what we had set up, and to just be sad if I wanted to be. He showed me that caring for me and being by my side in hard times, was much more important than our plans and images of romance we had.
That, my friends, is romance. Romance is not candles, bubble baths, champagne and lingerie. Romance is kindness, hugs, and commitment. It's being there for someone when things are great and fun, and also when things are hard. It's letting you cry while reassuring you everything will be ok. Because it will be.
I'll end this post with some pictures. The first pictures are of dinner on Saturday, and the rest I am sharing are of my lovely aunt, who will always be remembered by her friends, family, coworkers, and the entire town where she lived as the fun, cheerful woman who could take on the world with Christ on her side, spreading His love, and now is rejoicing with a healed body in Heaven. One day we all will be reunited again, and what a family reunion that will be!
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| Delicious surprise in our room! |
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| My Valentine <3 |
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| Hubba hubba! |
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| Spencer's Dinner: Elk |
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| My dinner: Cap Steak |
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| Heart-shaped caramel candies from the chef |
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| Ice cream trio: Brown Sugar, Pistachio, Rocky Road |
"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."
- Isaiah 57:1-2
She indeed loved the Lord, and He has taken her from the earth to spare her from evil, and has found rest. These verses are a comfort to me.
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| Making something delicious, no doubt |
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| Dressed for Walk through Bethlehem, which she founded and ran in her town |
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| With her two beautiful daughters. She loved them more than life. |
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| All of the siblings together. |
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| The Foust girls with their parents, my Mamaw and Papaw |
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| At my sister's wedding, radiating joy |
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| She was, and always has been, truly beautiful, inside and out. |
Thanks for your kind words and prayers!
Until next time - -
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
One Hunk of a Birthday Boy
Today's post is fully dedicated to my main squeeze, and my forever-more Valentine, Spencer. Because...his birthday is tomorrow! Since I don't post on Thursdays, I wanted to take the opportunity today to celebrate him and the 28 years he has under his belt.
Let's enjoy some pictures from the early days, shall we? (I hope when we have children that they are as adorable as this child - so cute!)
Thankfully, he continued on in a great and fun childhood (which I love hearing stories about), with his warm and caring family I am now blessed to be a part of. He graduated high school, went to college to play soccer, and met me along the way. After a few years of back and forth (you can read that story here), we decided to spend our lives together. And that will always be the best decision I've ever made.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
So to you, my love, on your special day:
Thanks for the love that supports me, comforts me, empowers me, strengthens me, and drives me. Thanks for your hugs, your laughs, your time, your effort, your patience, your serving nature, your generosity, your trust, your compassion, your humbleness, your appreciation, and your belief in me.
You truly are my rock and my best friend.
I love you, and always will.
Happy birthday, babe!
Let's enjoy some pictures from the early days, shall we? (I hope when we have children that they are as adorable as this child - so cute!)
Thankfully, he continued on in a great and fun childhood (which I love hearing stories about), with his warm and caring family I am now blessed to be a part of. He graduated high school, went to college to play soccer, and met me along the way. After a few years of back and forth (you can read that story here), we decided to spend our lives together. And that will always be the best decision I've ever made.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
So to you, my love, on your special day:
Thanks for the love that supports me, comforts me, empowers me, strengthens me, and drives me. Thanks for your hugs, your laughs, your time, your effort, your patience, your serving nature, your generosity, your trust, your compassion, your humbleness, your appreciation, and your belief in me.
You truly are my rock and my best friend.
I love you, and always will.
Happy birthday, babe!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas!
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| Source |
Wishing you and yours the Merriest of Christmases! Take the time to connect with loved ones; to hug them, share memories, make new memories, and cherish each second you get to spend with them. I know I will be.
Here's a reminder about why we celebrate this special day:
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
Luke 2:1-20
Friday, November 28, 2014
Our Biltmore Inspired Thanksgiving
I mentioned in a previous post that we were planning a multiple course Biltmore inspired dinner. After much planning, decisions, shopping, more planning, and cooking, we pulled off a wonderful Thanksgiving meal!
I'm excited to share all of our courses with you (all 8 of them). I hope that you ate enough at your Thanksgiving that this doesn't make you hungry! Although, if it does, feel free to prepare your own 8 course meal and invite me over. :)
Here was the final menu (drawn on a large chalkboard by my sis-in-law, Jessica):
On Wednesday night, we got together and made everything we could make (or prepare, like cutting up vegetables and pre-wrapping the scallops), and set the table. We also had to have many stacks of plates so that we didn't have to worry about washing any during the meal. It took a good bit of planning and organization to make sure each course had enough of the correct size plates!
Our tablescape consisted of white, silver and gold. I posted a bit about our table inspiration here. What do you think?
The other part that took a lot of planning? The timing! Though we made what we could ahead of time, we still had to heat food without overcooking. Crock-pots were a lifesaver, as we used them to keep multiple items warm (and thanks to crock-pot liners, didn't have to wash any afterwards! Bonus points!). We also needed to pop a few items in the oven to warm or roast during other courses so that it was hot and ready to be plated in time. I was pleasantly surprised with how well we did! The quail course took a bit longer to get onto the table, but all in all, we did well.
So without further adieu, here are the drool-worthy photos of each course. Feel free to leave any questions you have about any dishes in the comments!
What do you think?
It was nice having small portions of a lot of different foods. Jessica's dad called it "an adventure of the palette," which describes our meal perfectly!
Hope each of you had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends, and that you took some time to reflect on all you have to be thankful for in your life.
Until next time - -
I'm excited to share all of our courses with you (all 8 of them). I hope that you ate enough at your Thanksgiving that this doesn't make you hungry! Although, if it does, feel free to prepare your own 8 course meal and invite me over. :)
Here was the final menu (drawn on a large chalkboard by my sis-in-law, Jessica):
On Wednesday night, we got together and made everything we could make (or prepare, like cutting up vegetables and pre-wrapping the scallops), and set the table. We also had to have many stacks of plates so that we didn't have to worry about washing any during the meal. It took a good bit of planning and organization to make sure each course had enough of the correct size plates!
Our tablescape consisted of white, silver and gold. I posted a bit about our table inspiration here. What do you think?
The other part that took a lot of planning? The timing! Though we made what we could ahead of time, we still had to heat food without overcooking. Crock-pots were a lifesaver, as we used them to keep multiple items warm (and thanks to crock-pot liners, didn't have to wash any afterwards! Bonus points!). We also needed to pop a few items in the oven to warm or roast during other courses so that it was hot and ready to be plated in time. I was pleasantly surprised with how well we did! The quail course took a bit longer to get onto the table, but all in all, we did well.
So without further adieu, here are the drool-worthy photos of each course. Feel free to leave any questions you have about any dishes in the comments!
Course 1: Bacon Wrapped Scallops and Dips (Spinach and Roasted Red Pepper)
Course 2: Butternut Squash Soup (recipe here)
Course 3: Roasted Quail with Lemon Grits and Country Bacon Jus
Course 4: Roasted Asparagus and Parmesan Risotto with Hazelnut Butter
Course 5: Oysters on the Half Shell
Course 6: Nut-Crusted Brie with Cherry Chutney
Course 7: Dessert (Sweet Potato Crunch Pie, Salted Caramel Chocolate Pecan Pie, Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream); Ice Cream Pictured Below
Course 8: Coffee (the Vanderbilts counted it as a course, so we did, too!); Pictured with the Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream
What do you think?
It was nice having small portions of a lot of different foods. Jessica's dad called it "an adventure of the palette," which describes our meal perfectly!
Hope each of you had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends, and that you took some time to reflect on all you have to be thankful for in your life.
Until next time - -
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