Autumn Leaf

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Habit of Gratitude

I know that habits are not developed overnight.

Nor in a week.

Or even two.

But I SO want the habit of having a grateful heart to take deep root in my life. I want to live what Madame Blueberry learned. I want The Thankfulness Song to spring from my lips regularly.

Clearly, this is going to take some time.

However, by participating with the Gratitude Community and listing my One Thousand Gifts, I think it will begin to be more present in my thoughts. I've begun a small journal where I can jot down these things throughout the week to post on Mondays. Otherwise, they slip through my memory before I can get to this list.

8. good, close friends

9. free pie at Village Inn

10. John covering my tomatoes each night

11. an awesome chiropractor

12. Kinesio tape

13. shortbread

14. ceiling fans throughout the house

15. a well-running van which can carry many people.

16. short fingernails

17. a postcard for a free Starbucks drink

18. the cat

19. family game night

20. Good Eats & Alton Brown

21. free long distance

22. boys who let me take their pictures - even if they don't want to

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Long and Lean

When he was born, ClayGuy was a good-sized baby, weighing in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. But ever since he moved into toddlerhood, he leaned out. Some of it might be due to his exceeding pickiness in eating. And the fact that he's been known to eat no more than a robin. But finding pants for this kid has been interesting, to say the least.

When he was a toddler, I would have to return sweats because they didn't fit around him when the legs were the right length. As in, they wouldn't be stretched in the least, but they wouldn't touch his middle all the way around. So they could just sort of slide down. Before being potty trained. Go figure.

It got easier when he was a boy. Then I had the slim option. That worked well for a few years.

But about three years ago or so, he moved into man-sized pants. Which seems like it would be a wonderful phase. After all, you get to purchase pants in specific waist-length combinations. Makes total sense, right?

Not so much.

Why in the world do the majority of retail stores think you either have to be short if you have a smaller waist or you need to be heavier if your legs are long? What about the long-legged, slim-waisted young men of our nation? Even the hip young dude department was no help.

I did finally discover that Sears carries a more diverse range of Lee jeans. Slim waists and long legs. So for the past couple of years, that has worked out well.

Now it seems he wants to expand his attire just a bit. Mere jeans won't cut it. Oh sure, he has to have a couple of pairs. Who doesn't? But now he wants some cargo pants. And maybe some Dockers. Goodness.

A couple of weeks ago, Lucy & I were shopping for some new pants for our best-friend-long-legged-slim-waisted boys young men. We made our way to Penney's and they had a WALL FULL OF JEANS. This looked promising. Not entirely sure of the size, as they might have actually grown in the waist at some point when we weren't looking, we were trying to find some 30/34s or 31/34s. (Ironically, I now see that there IS a pair of 30/34s in the pic above! That doesn't go far to prove my point, now, does it?) We somehow managed to locate ONE pair of 30/34s and decided to try a pair of (gasp!) 32/34s. Mainly because ClayGuy's old 30-waist jeans were too tight.

Well, we got home, had the guys try them on and came to a wonderful discovery. Even though both of them are nearly 6' tall, one has a longer torso while the other has longer legs. It turns out that ClayGuy has the longer legs and his waist has grown slightly. He can wear 32/34s. Hallelujah! A size that is actually available on a regular basis!! As for Lucy's son (Pi Guy) - his legs aren't as long, meaning he can go with a 32 length pant. And yes, you can actually find 30/32s quite easily, too.

What an amazingly glorious day it was!

{Even if I didn't get a picture of them standing together in all their tallness. I will though. Count on it.}

I promptly went back to Penney's the next week and got two more pair of jeans for these guys. We still have to get some Dockers or some such thing, but a whole new world has opened up to us in our pants shopping endeavors. Other stores, other styles, other options galore.

And there was much rejoicing!

a miracle

To say my oldest son is picky about food is a major understatement. Getting him to taste anything new is virtually impossible.

Our family loves to watch Good Eats. Where else can you catch a cooking show that shares history and science tidbits along with a big dose of humor? It turns out that not only is it a great show for those reasons, but Alton Brown actually has influence on my very picky son. He's constantly oohing and aahing over food that I can't fathom he'd ever consider tasting. Alton truly makes things appealing.

Yesterday a Penzey's store opened up here and we dropped in to check it out today. It was there that my son discovered the jars of crystalized ginger. Prior to the recent episode on ginger, there is NO WAY he would have tasted anything to do with ginger. Except the time he tried one of my ginger mints. I tricked him with the word mint. Which he did not like.

So back to Penzey's. We're checking out all the spices, herbs, and seasonings when my son decides to purchase his very own jar of crystalized ginger. Not only did he spend his very own money on it, he tasted it. Entirely of his own accord.




And HE LIKED IT!


Will wonders never cease?

Not as long as we can watch Good Eats. As a mom, I am singing your praises, Alton! Keep up the awesome work, my friend.


Well, not that we've met or anything. I don't think he considers me a friend. Especially since he doesn't know me. But he's certainly my friend, given that he's the only person on this entire planet who could convince my son to try something new.

It is truly a miracle.

Foundlings - A Review

Foundlings
Book One of The Peleg Chronicles by Matthew Christian Harding

Although I don’t personally read fantasy fiction these days, when I received Foundlings, and read the cover, it sounded like this could be a refreshingly different story.

“There be dragons. There be giants. And God: our maker, our help, and our righteous judge.” The Warrior’s broad hand rested upon the eager shoulder of a boy. “Does it not stir your soul?”

It was in the days of Peleg, when the world was divided. After the flood of Noah, after the tower of Babel and the dispersion, when men wondered where they were upon the earth, and where their fellows had gone to, when beasts were more numerous than men – predators in the wood, in the water, and in the air. But men struggled and fought, carving their place. And in the process of time they once again began to multiply upon the face of the earth.

Fergus was shield-bearer, sworn protector of his liege Lord. Armed with spear and sword, his purpose, he knew was to defend his master, anticipate danger, and support assault. But keeping up with McDougal’s long legs was difficult, and he trembled with excitement of what might come next.

A human voice screaming, and McDougal exploded down the hillside. A moment later, he leapt upon a rock twenty feet from the bog’s discernable edge and drew back the first arrow. Fergus scrambled up beside him.

On the other side of the marsh, a man of dwarf height, thickset and slightly hunched, staggered from the woods – a mace outstretched above his head. He peered into the high branches of the forest. But the pursuing creature, whatever it was did not emerge from the canopy above. Down at the forest floor, near the base of the great dead tree, a black mouth, imbued with yellowed teeth, hissed and snarled. The dwarf screamed and swung his mace through the air…” (from the back cover)

Peleg is not a very well-known Bible character, but he was the great, great, great grandson of Noah. He was born about 100 years after the flood. While this is a fictional book, Mr. Harding has done quite a bit of research into this timeframe (approximately 2249-2010 B.C.), which he skillfully uses in the story. He holds to a young-earth, creationist view of history. If you’re interested in the more of the historical aspects of the time of Peleg, Mr. Harding shares a timeline on his website, along with biblical references to dragons and giants, and other information.

Personally, it was a little hard getting hooked in the beginning of the story. It did come around and become more interesting and intriguing. I found myself eager to finish the story and learn the outcome for the various characters. I know there are varied opinions regarding magic in fantasy fiction, but this book is promoted as having no magic, evolution, or humanism. Additionally, the truths of God are woven throughout the story. The message comes across pretty heavily, but it wasn’t an issue for either my son or me. We’ll be placing our order for Book Two, Paladins. There will be a third book in the series, Lord willing.

There are some darker portions of the book, though it’s not a gruesome and gory tale. This would be a good book for pre-teens and up, particularly those who are fascinated with fantasy fiction stories. Foundlings and Paladins are published by Zoe & Sozo for $11.95 each, or they can also be ordered through Amazon.


If you'd like more input, you can read more reviews of Foundlings by other members at the TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of Foundlings to review on behalf of the TOS Crew. The opinions stated here are my own.