Skating is one of my favourite things

 See those skates, they were on the feet of an aspiring figure skater. One of my favourite feelings in the world is gliding forward with the cold wind against my face

I think this week we will be going skating

#connectingtoJoy

PC: Trina Mosher

Butternut Squash, Cranberry, and Lentil Stuffing pictures and recipe mods

 HAHA!!

TOTALLY FORGOT that I was prepping this for last night's dinner WELL! IT will be ready for today!

Very much a modified version (vegan, grain free, added sugar free version) of a favourite stuffing recipe.

#holidayrecipes #plantbased #alwaysmodifying #vegetarian #makeityourown

The original recipe can be found here Butternut Squash, Cranberry, and Lentil Stuffing

All done! And tastes great 🖒😊 Mods include using sweet potato instead of bread, using more lentils, roasting sweet potatoes and butternut squash seasoned the same as the lentils, sauteed onions and celery seasoned the same as lentils....no chicken broth...coconut oil instead of butter...mixed all together and THEN topped off with frozen cranberries and roasted for 30 min together.

Here is the list of ingredients with my mods

Ingredients

For the lentils

• 1 & 1/2  3 cups dry green lentils
• 2 & 1/4 cups cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced (or 1 teaspoon from a jar)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage*
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme*
• pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, add after lentils are cooked

For the rest

• 3/4 loaf day-old French bread, torn (about 8 cups)*  (used sweet potato instead)
• 2 tablespoons salted butter coconut oil
• 5 cups butternut squash (AND about 2 medium sweet potato), chopped bite size
• 1 large RED onion, chopped
• 2 cups celery, chopped
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt  sea salt
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley*
• 2 teaspoons dried sage*
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 2 4 or 5 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
• 1 & 1/2 cups dried frozen cranberries
• 6 tablespoons salted butter coconut oil
• 3 cups chicken broth

 

Givers and receivers of good gifts

 Good morning!

As I was in the process of pulling "Santa Mode" with the boys (delivering unknown gifts in the wee hours of the morning ...actually I had forgotten about them until this "wee" morning and quickly wrapped them and added them to our little stash), I found myself pondering on the process of receiving and giving.

Many kids are encouraged to make lists of wants and then share them with their parents, family, friends, "Santa", however....I have found it difficult to come up with something to "give" to certain people.

Mainly for the reason of how they react when something is given...they are horrible at receiving! And even now as you read this, if you find it difficult to receive compliments, a smile, gifts, cards, hugs, etc...if you get angry, uncomfortable, cautious, or worse, just know....it is quite painful to watch, and it stifles the process. I LOVE watching that moment for others! Especially with givers that are insistent on people opening up to receive the gift. Over the years, it has reminded me to observe the energy by which the gift is given and receive the connection in the moment. I will admit, I was a TERRIBLE receiver!! Mainly due to past experiences where things weren't given with the right heart or the right intent.

I have spent much time observing these particular people in my life to see where I can fit in that "gift". What things do they enjoy and partake in? What ways do they express that they feel loved? What do they enjoy doing? What are areas in their life that they could use some support in?

And yes, I know it can be difficult to "gift" to me....or at least to know what to gift to me. Over the years, many have met the needs that I have had and I still have those basic items that I keep near. SO there aren't many things that I am necessarily in need of , but I do LOVE spending time with people and I love adventures. This year I got to do both with some special friends and I think that was just AWESOME!!

Even today this morning, I am in ALREADY in "receiving" mode...I am anticipating where a gift may be coming and I can see also that there is a desire to connect, so I and READY to RECEIVE! I am also "readying up" for those unexpected gifts....and again, I see that they are opportunities for connection with others.

It's true that gifts are not high on my love language list, but I love the opportunity for connection that can come THROUGH it.

SO enjoy today...and ALL the gifts, seen and unseen that you are ALREADY receiving, and open up to the flow of sharing in #oneanotherlove that we are designed for

#thankyouGod #WEareGifts #LetsConnect #DivineUnion #inabundance #partoftheflow #OFLife #INjoy #happyHolidays #MerryChristmas

You need to do you because nobody else will

 Good morning!

The ongoing process of reflecting on 2019...one thing stood out for me. People (other than my inner circle of influence) telling me how....

"How" to be a real black woman ....."how" to drink tap water effectively ... "how" I should sleep... "how" I should speak .... "how" I should show up or not, and if I don't then (fill in the blank)..."how" I should not apply the things I have experienced...."how" I should only talk to certain people....

And I realized, I may very well be a stubborn individual LOL I really don't know what it is that people are perceiving and imagining about me...and I kinda don't want to know. "MY" job is to live in MY life, otherwise....no one else is going to be doing it for me....and on a DAILY basis, the process all starts in MY head.

"How am I going to take care of myself better than yesterday?", "What can I contribute to today that makes things better and more effective than the day before?", "what more am I capable of letting go of and sharing with others and what should I hold onto?" ....these are daily thoughts, but there is one thought/statement that comes before it all...."STAY IN YOUR LANE!!"

If I need help with bookkeeping and accounting, I will seek the help of a bookkeper that I can work well with and can wrap their minds around the vision I have for business. If I am looking for business advice, I will look to and contact those who are doing business in a way that I can see is a good fit for what I am doing. If I am looking to transform the tone of my body, I will look to those who have done what I am looking to do with success and in a way that suits me best. If I need help with homeschooling my son, I will talk with our facilitator who has met with me and my child and knows our unique situation.

I already surround myself (and continue to ) with those who can help me to grow and are excited to see growth in my life. They look at the details. They get intimate with my journey. They know what it is I need and when I may need it, and BEST OF ALL, they recognize, celebrate, and nurture my strengths.

They ENCOURAGE me to get out there and share what it is I can do! And they KNOW what it is I can do They love my unique perspective and call on it to be expressed on a daily basis. THIS is my inner circle.

And because of this, I get to consider MY gifts, my strengths, AND my growth on a daily basis.

So thank to those in 2019, who have "contributed" their opinions without knowing the journey and the details. It reminded me to look at the inner workings of other peoples' lives so that I can be a best fit in meeting THEIR needs if I can, or at least be a good support for helping those needs to be met. AND it also reminded me to operate in the arenas I am good at, to be of BEST service to others when the time comes.

#thankyouGod #innercircle #goodinfluences #BeMe #LoveyourNeighbour #Lovefirst #oneanotherlove #honourchoice #getIntimate #knowbetter #growMore #celebrate #2019