I usually don't get so excited about such things, but today I received not one, but TWO seed catalogs. Beautiful catalogs with gorgeous pictures of all the stuff I could grow if I only had a back yard.

Perusing seed catalogs would be so much more enjoyable, however, snuggled up with a blanket, a kitty in my lap, and a cracking fire in the grate. A steaming mug of hot cocoa in my hands would complete this magical picture. But, alas, that will never happen as it is 80 degrees here today. *sigh*

My favorite catalog comes with the most delightful descriptions of the vegetable seeds they sell. Each one sounds precious and like a priceless work of art. I can imagine myself picking the most earthy-flavored beans, or harvesting the crispest lettuce, or pulling up the most succulent carrots. Each of these would be prepared in the most delicious way and served outside on my back terrace with jazz music and red wine. Okay a girl can dream a little can't she? :-)

I know I'm romanticizing gardening just a wee bit, as I leave out all the hard work. Scanning the catalogs and picking out seeds is just a sliver of the work involved in growing your own food. I look forward to this opportunity someday, but for now I am content to dream.

Above is a picture of my sad little tomato plant

Our pastor was planning on beginning a series on Joseph (of "coat of many colors" fame) but ended up being out sick, so we had a guest pastor in his place. So I will just have to wait a week before I can blog on that series.

During the service we usually will have a series of call-and-responses or a catechism question in which the congregation will give the answer in liturgical fashion. Growing up, I never understood the reason for liturgy, and so I found it rather dull and meaningless. I've grown to appreciate it more, however. In today's service we responded to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism. How wonderful it is to raise up one voice as the body of Christ in speaking this biblical truth:

Q. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A. That I belong--body and soul, in life and in death--not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

It's been a very lazy day here and I can't think of anything remarkable to say other than it's warm outside and my kitties are cuddley and way too cute. You can never speak too much about kitties.

I'll be returning to more thoughtful fare with a "Sunday Ponderings" post tomorrow.

When one is in a overwhelming cooking slump?

Anyone who knows me knows just how much I love to cook, but this unwillingness to get into the kitchen is beyond me. I think I have only cooked a meal 5 times in the last month, and those only grudgingly. I've got steaks, chicken breasts, pork chops, and a turkey in my freezer, but I have yet to come up with a plan on how to use them.

Any thoughts on overcoming the cooking blues or any recipes for those I-just-don't-want -to-cook days would be most appreciated!

This past year I have more or less participated in A Year of Abundance, sponsored by A Gracious Home. The basic premise was to enjoy the abundance that God has already bestowed upon us, instead of seeking more and more things. The Depression era motto "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without" were words I strove to live by this past year, although not always successfully.

I hoped to spend less money on things such as new clothing, craft supplies, gifts, and the like and use or wear out what I already owned. I also hoped to spend less money on things such as eating out and food. I started with good intentions like always, and I think I did fairly well with cutting back on my desires for things in the former group. I found several creative ways to use up items instead of purchasing new. My favorite was the quilt I made a friend who was expecting a baby. Towards the end of the year, I did spend money for new projects instead of concentrating on the old, and so I do still have many crafts to work on.

Budgeting for food and eating out was way more difficult than I had originally thought. It was very hard to try to give it up, and I don't think it worked out very successfully. It is something that my husband and I both really enjoy, so it just didn't happen this year.

For me, the Year of Abundance was not just cutting back on things in a legalistic way, just to see how little I could spend. It wasn't about depriving myself, but about learning that I don't need things in order to be content and developing a mindset wherein I am more aware of the blessings that I do have and the Lord who has given me all these things. I was surprised by just how easy it was for me to let go of some things, like new clothes, but not others, like dinner out. I'm hoping that the knowledge that I have gained will become a way of life for me in the years to come. This next year I am hoping to direct my focus more outwards by concentrating less on my own needs and more on the other people around me. I plan on leaving up the Year of Abundance tag on the sidebar to remind me of this in 2008, even if it is officially over.

I'm typing this in our big comfy easy chair with a kitty cuddling in my lap and football on TV. It's wonderful to be home to relax after a busy holiday season visiting family and friends on both sides. Now that I have the chance to wind down, I have had more time to reflect and realize just how truly blessed my year has been.

In January, we adopted a brand new kitten. Lucy has been an absolute joy to have in our home! (Even if she does like to rip up carpet!) Stuart started his third year of medical school and rotations. I got to be a bridesmaid in a wedding this past summer for my younger sister. I'm so happy for Julie and my new brother-in-law, Tyler. I received a promotion at work this past fall, and we also decided to adopt another kitten. We love our Lily, who is such a cuddler! Over Thanksgiving, I was able to see old friends and get back in touch with one I hadn't seen in a while. Christmas brought more good times with family and my cousin's wedding.

But more than all this, it has been wonderful to know how much the Lord cares for us. Along with the good, we have also experienced the bad, but I know that the Lord is faithful. I'm excited to see what He has in store for the coming year.

Never, ever, ever under any circumstance fly to Chicago in the middle of winter. You might end up in St. Louis instead. That is all.