Steward of a Dream

I had so many plans for this December.
Things, good things, that I wanted to do, orchestrate, create for family and friends.
I've already cut back in so many areas; saying "no" more often so that I can say "yes"
to some specific things that God has put on my heart. And yet, even those things seem
to be falling from my hands, spinning out of my control, and getting cozy on the back burner.

"YOU ARE THE STEWARD OF A DREAM!"
words from Jeff Goins, shared at The Influence Network conference this past fall that
still ring in my ears every second of every day.

I don't doubt that God wants me to answer the knocks at my door, but it is the time frame,
the fashion, and details of getting to the door, opening it up, and stepping out into the adventure
that are the issue. My issue, my plans running up against God's. Release, Brittany. Let go. Trust Him.

release. let go. trust Him.

At the end of November I landed myself in the ER with a severe infection that won me a round
trip, all antibiotics included, for two weeks. It was the answer, the right answer to fix the problem,
but antibiotics always leave me with a mighty host of other problems that make the first problem
not seem so bad after all. It feels like I lose either way.

And yet the beauty in it all is that I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN.
Silver lining, wonderful. So cliche. So comforting.

I've spent many hours cuddling with my kids this week. Reading books, watching movies,
playing games. My mind is effected by detoxing; concentration is a joke. I feel so small,
so child-like... processing things very slowly, waiting for toxins to pass. Helpless really.
Surrendered to something so much bigger than me.

Those words of Jeff Goins come to me in a different way today.
"HE is the MASTER of the dream..." and I am the steward. One who is appointed,
subject to a greater plan from the Higher Up. And so I release with J O Y...

soaking up the extra time, that the Master has called for, with my family
as we travel to Bethlehem in our hearts once again this Advent season.

release. let go. trust Him.

((( our Thanksgiving )))

For What is Given

I shamelessly grasp for the next.
Rushing, rushing like wind over sand; moving fast enough to
make a difference, but not slow enough to remember or relish the change.
My name is Brittany, and I am the epitome of a bull in a china shop.



"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me.
I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken
and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing... Through all that haste
I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away." - G.K. Chesterton

Age has changed me.
With each collected decade, I find that time is not the enemy standing in the way,
but the promise of refuge in the beauty of the moment - begging me to just STAY.
I don't always ignore the invitation, as children have also changed me,
but I wish I accepted the invite "so very promptly" more often.





"Wherever you are, be all there." - Julian of Norwich

This Thanksgiving I am giving thanks for what I have, right now.

I am thanking God for the children He has given me, and surrendering my hope for more.
I am thanking God for my husband, my Psalm 37:4 and beyond.
I am thanking God for
new friends, and old alike
family always present, engaged
community of tender hearts
the pain of change that brings new, refreshed beauty
moments of trial that lead to deeper trust
God hidden, but mysteriously present in so many ways

I am thanking God for what He gives today, this very second, stopping to focus
on the gift that's been given and not future ones anticipated.

Today. We are only promised today. Don't miss it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
from our hearts to yours

Project: The Thanksgiving Tree

Tap, tap, tapping on my shoulder...
"Mom! Mom! Moooooooom!" coming from a little boy with eyes wide open,
and a slightly contorted face. I couldn't tell if we were doing the potty dance
or if Thomas the Train was at our front door.

Whatever he had to report seemed of imminent importance.
My inner monologue: "Please don't tell me your brother has disassembled the vaporizer
and is soaking the carpet for the 3,398 time this week."

"I want to go to heaven." Beautiful wish, baby. Glad it's not the vaporizer.
Apparently my response didn't satisfy his excitement and so he persisted,
"No, I want to go to heaven NOW, mom! Aaaand and and I want YOU to come with me.
Right now. Let's go, mom." Send us a fiery chariot, Lord!



Not sure how to explain the logistics of "getting to heaven" to a 3 year old,
I asked him WHY he wanted to go so soon. "To see Bogie... I've got to see Bogie
and the new wings (not fins) that Jesus gave him so he can swim in heaven."
(Bogie was his pet betta fish that he got for his birthday this summer.)

The lights went on, and my heart ached for my son's breaking heart.
It was just a fish, but it was important to him. Something he was attached to,
and T H A N K F U L for - even though he couldn't express that to us.

I told him it is GOOD that he wants to see Bogie again,
that it is GOOD he wants to go to heaven...

but that we have to be SO happy and give thanksgiving for what God
is giving us TODAY. "He gives and takes away... blessed be His name."
All things are working for our good.

That same day I had planned to do a Thanksgiving tree with the kids.
It was as if God had put the inspiration to create this moment for my kids on my heart -
in order to be a healing outlet for Isaiah.

We ate puppy chow, colored, and hung the happiness in our hearts on those branches.
(Which are just spray painted sticks from the yard!)
We thanked Jesus for the life of Bogie the betta fish, and Zay let go.

To be very honest, there was also a lot of arguing, shoving, stealing of markers,
throwing of puppy chow, and a grand finale of melt-down momma... but we got it all
hung on that Thanksgiving tree!



What are you most T H A N K F U L for this year?

I hope you are finding beauty today; in all of its forms.
And if you are having trouble, like we all do, throughout the seasons of
giving and taking away, I pray you find peace and can hang it all on the greatest
Thanksgiving tree - the cross.

Pumpkin Pie + Handling Food Allergies during the Holidays

You've got a couple dozen, hungry guests gathering around your table at various points this season,
and as easy as Ina Garten makes it look, truth is... most of us are sweating bullets, asking Google
for answers, and checking-in on Facebook to make sure that someone else's sweet potato casserole
doesn't look better than ours!

The holidays are like the tango; beautiful and intense with a dash of stressful,
tinsel and lights,
fa-la-la-la-la... love it!

Laughter, tears, filling hearts and stomachs to the brim...
tis the season for tender moments met with tinkling glasses of champagne,
happy reunions in the glow of the Christmas tree, and memorizing all the details
of such happy memories being made as you savor every bite of pie.

Honestly, I get a little anxious with all the festivities and gatherings during the holidays.
I'm that relative, a guest who wants to RSVP with complete abandonment to the culinary adventure
the host has planned, but reality is - WE HAVE ALLERGIES.

How does one tackle the topic of allergies with family and friends?

I'm not claiming to be a professional dinner guest by any means - but I've done a lot of hosting
and I know that I like to know AHEAD OF TIME if there are any allergies/preferences.
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, here's a bottle of Benadryl!

I now make a habit of ASKING my guests, before they arrive, how we can best serve their needs.
Mainly because I know how awkward it can be to step up and address the situation.

If you have real allergies - just speak up! Do it with grace, thanks, and love...
and I know the host will understand and most likely be so willing to accommodate!
When a host does not ask, saying something along the lines of...

"We are so thankful for the invite! Looking forward to coming over. Don't know if you have heard, but
our family is allergic to *name your poison* and have to avoid it all together. Is there something we can
bring to "fill in" the meal you already have planned?" Don't want you to stress, so please let us help!

...can be a good place to start! And if all else fails, make pie.

PUMPKIN PIE
I found my filling recipe HERE //

2 large eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 (15-oz) can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/4 cups Silk vanilla soy, almond or coconut milk

I used 1 tsp. cinnamon + a dash of cloves and nutmeg instead of pumpkin pie spice.
And we went with vanilla almond milk - works like a charm!

Mix all together and set aside.


Namaste Biscuit, Piecrust, and More gluten-free blend is my secret weapon right now.
This is their crust recipe // more great recipes HERE.

(Makes two 9" crusts - freeze half the dough for later use,
double the filling recipe, or halve it like I do!)

2 1/3 C. Namaste Biscuit, Piecrust, and More gluten-free blend
1/2 C. butter or non-dairy substitute
1 egg
3-5 tbls of COLD water

Cut the butter into flour blend before adding egg and water.
Add more water if needed to pull the dough into a solid, but not sticky ball.
I also add a dash of salt to my crust because I like it that way.

TIP: Working with gluten-free dough can be hellish. Refrigerating the dough for
at least one hour before rolling out will save your sanity. Also, rolling the dough out between
two pieces of wax paper or seran wrap is highly recommended.




Peel off one side of seran wrap to lay and press the dough in your pie pan - with the remaining
seran wrap side UP. Slowly pull off the remaining seran wrap before filling with pumpkin mix.
It's just best not to touch gluten-free dough. If you touch it, you'll understand.

Fill with pumpkin mix and cover the exposed edges of crust with thin strips of aluminum foil.
This will help to keep the crust golden and not burned. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes - and
then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for another 40-45 minutes.
You can pull aluminum foil off for the last 10-15 minutes of the baking time if you want.
Let sit for 4-6 hours before serving for best results!




I hope you feel warm and fuzzy inside right now. Because I do.