Turkey for the girls and
Turkey for the boys
My favorite kind of pants
Are corduroys
Gobble gobble goo and
Gobble gobble gickel
I wish turkey
Only cost a nickel
Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving .
– Adam Sandler from “The Thanksgiving Song”
Seriously, I am a blessed girl. And, I am truly thankful for every single one of you.
Happy Thanksgiving from our turkeys to yours.
Love y’all,
Dusty
Filed under gratitude
You can only listen to ONE album for the rest of your life. Only ONE. Which album do you choose?
My pick is Sting’s Ten Summoner’s Tales.
The title is a play on Sting’s given name, Gordon Sumner and a character, “the summoner”, from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Aside from this album being beautifully poetic, Sting’s voice relaxes me like no other.
I’ve seen Sting in concert numerous times. Even caught The Police Reunion Tour. And, while I appreciate his early work with The Police, nothing compares to his career as a solo artist. NOTHING. I finally met this perfect Englishman almost five years ago. He wore this scarf wrapped cleverly around his neck and… Oh, I could go on and on. He made this cute little reference about my name and Dusty Springfield. How beautiful that day was.
If I could only download one song from this album {oh, the humanity}, then it would be “Shape of My Heart.”
Your turn.
ONE album. No more.
And, this is completely Thanksgiving related, because I am ever so thankful that Gordon Sumner was born on October 2, 1951.
Filed under Favorite Things, Randomness
Every Tuesday ‘til Christmas, I’ll be joining my gal pal, Kim, in her 2008 End of the Year FAVORITES Party. She assigns the FAVORITE topic each Tuesday. It is her party, after all. Join the fun. And, hop over to Kim and give her a shout. You will Lu-HUV that girl. I love her for many reasons. But, mostly because she laughs at me. And, I like that in a person.
Today’s FAVORITE assignment is Thanksgiving. Huh. Good call, Kim!
Most of my Thanksgivings have been spent in Georgia. I’ve spent two of my 33 Turkey Days in Oklahoma and will spend my third one here this Thursday. One tradition that I maintain no matter if I am southeast or smack dab in the middle of America is my grandmother’s dressing. As soon as I learned to drive {or never learned according to a few}, I began driving to Callie Mae’s house to help her make the dressing – or manna from heaven. I have acquired her mad dressing makin’ skills. Oh, yes I have.
Side note: Callie Mae is my Grandmother who is also Big Mama to many.
This Thanksgiving Day will not go without Callie Mae’s dressing. I thought I’d share her recipe with you. It’s Southern. It’s mad. It’s go-o-od.
Callie Mae’s Dressing
You need:
cornmeal
8 eggs
salt & pepper
1 can cream of chicken
oil
buttermilk
1 stick of butter (melted)
3 or 4 onions (chopped)
12 saltines (crumbled)
5 pieces of loaf bread
small chicken (cooked)
broth from chicken
turkey juice
Directions:
Make 1 large pan of cornbread. Mix 3 handfuls {gotta love Big Mama] of cornmeal, 1 egg, salt & pepper, and 2 spoons of oil. {Teaspoon? Tablespoon? Nope. Just a regular old spoon.} Add buttermilk and equal parts of water. Add just enough to “make juicy,” Callie Mae says. Pour mixture into large iron skillet. Make sure you cover skillet with 3 SPOONS of vegetable oil. Cook on 450° until brown.
Cut cornbread up into large bowl. Take juice from turkey and mix with cornbread. Add cream of chicken, butter, onions, saltines, bread, broth, chicken, salt & pepper. Whew. I’m tired already. Oh, and let that broth cool before pouring or Callie Mae will go pick a hickory stick. Add remaining eggs, and “make it juicy!”
Mix it all together and throw it into a large, deep glass bowl. Begin baking at 350°. When you start to see some bubblin’ on top, turn up the temp a little at a time until it hits 450°. Cook approximately 1 hour until done.
Hmmm. I hope I didn’t leave anything out. Oh well.
Voila! It’s not for the faint of heart. But, I cannot imagine a Thanksgiving meal without it.
Now, Kim said we could share a favorite Thanksgiving memory, tradition, game, or food. And, I chose tradition. When I told Kris I thought about sharing how Bryan, husband #1…..Wait. Not insinuating that Bryan was like #1 as in Woo-Hoo, you win the prize. Just that he was my first husband. Well, ex-husband. Follow? Back to my story. I thought about sharing how Bryan proposed to me on Thanksgiving Day and how sweet it was. Kris was all like, “Why don’t we stick to the past 5 years.” And, I was all like, “Okay, but it was such a sweet memory.” And, I just dug deeper and deeper. So here ya go. Callie Mae’s Dressing.
What’s one of your favorite Thanksgiving memories, traditions, games or foods?
Filed under Favorite Things, gratitude, Randomness
Sunday was a reasonably productive day. We accomplished many household items that have been awaiting our attention for quite some time. Most of you know the effort it takes to achieve these self-inflicted projects while simultaneously insuring that the little people are occupied. Not so much an issue for little person number one.
But, you know little person number two.
You KNOW little person number two.
Kris thought Anna would best be suited for coloring in our bed while catching some flicks on Noggin. Daddy gave her the supply box.
And, later that evening, Kris discovered her creation.
Oh, I’m sorry. Can’t make out what this is?
Look again.
That would be what’s left of our comforter on our bed.
Kris called me into to see what our artist had crafted. And, suddenly I was ready to chase the Grey Goose instead of the Wild Goose, if you know what I mean. But, only for about a second. Or two.
You know what I did?
I laughed. {I can hardly believe it either.}
I couldn’t help myself. And, I certainly didn’t let Anna see or hear my reaction. Because, if she ever cuts my draperies I’ll be chasing more than Grey Goose.
I still love that girl just as much with my shredded bedding as I did before her encounter with a pair of scissors. The same way our heavenly Father loves us when we shred something He has given us or entrusted us with. He knows we are going to make a mess of things. Again. And, again. But, He keeps on loving us. He keeps on extending mercy. And, He continues to wait with arms wide open for us to run to Him and tell Him how sorry we are. Not because He needs to hear it or because He wants to see our shame. But, because He wants – He longs – to show us His unfailing love.
Later that evening I opened my arms wide to a broken-hearted little girl. And, I made sure she felt my love. I feel certain she did.
But seriously, have you ever seen such craziness?
For real.
Filed under God Stuff, Kid Stuff, Love, Motherhood
Most of you know by now that I am a loyal SuperTarget shopper. Just hearing their new holiday commercial sing “Simply having a wonderful Christmas time” makes me feel all warm inside. And, right at home. I buy most everything there – from groceries to Rachael Ray’s cutsie mixing bowls – it’s all there. Underneath the bullseye.
When my Georgia gals were out celebrating the wonders of the MAC counter with me, Sharon informed me that I was spending way too much on groceries shopping at my home away from home. Apparently, I listeneth not.
So, at my completely envious Bible Study, this gal and this gal, told me the same dang thing.
“CREST!” They exclaimed, as though they were sharing the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Cindy even went as far as to tell me that there was deliverance for me. And, Robin has raised like 29 children, okay 7, so she knows all about saving money. Thank you, Sisters. I have seen the light.
Yesterday, I walked into Crest Foods [Oklahoma owned & operated with self-proclaimed “Rock Bottom Prices.”] The entire experience was nothing less than perfect. Anna was angelic. ANGELIC. The food variety was plentiful. And those prices – oh, those prices – were rock bottom.
I came across the turkeys. Then, just like most days, I called my mom.
“Mom, when do I buy my turkey?”
After she laughed at me, she answered, “Well, if you buy it today, buy it frozen.”
“Mom, I’m shopping at this really great grocery store with really great prices. Turkeys are only 99 cents per pound!”
“Glo-ree!” She shouted.
Not really. She didn’t shout glo-ree. She didn’t even shout. But, I could tell she was proud. Oh, she was so very proud of her money-saving daughter.
I loaded up people. LOADED UP people. Can I get a whoop whoop?
No. Don’t give me that. That is so tacky.
Sean Fields helped me load my groceries in the car. No, no. I don’t know Sean. I just didn’t have any cash to tip him, so I wrote him a check. Classic.
Later in the day, I was talking to Sharon. I told her about my rock bottom prices and how Cindy Beall had told me I was spending way too much money on food at SuperTarget.
“I TOLD YOU THAT ALREADY! BUT, OH, WHEN CINDY BEALL TELLS YOU SOMETHING, YOU’LL BELIEVE HER.” She said, but not in all caps. That’s just me exaggerating to make the story seem bigger than it really is.
Can you imagine me exaggerating to make a story seem grander?
Me either.
I can’t promise I still won’t grab my cute red eco-friendly shopping bags and trek back to my homeland known as SuperTarget. I will. Just like Starbuck’s seasonal Peppermint Hot Chocolate, I gotta have it. But, I will make a better effort in saving the pennies. My grandfather always said (and yours probably did, too): “Take care of those pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.”
For even MORE fabulous deals, my other Bible Study gal, Christi, has a blog ALL ABOUT GREAT DEALS. The girl knows her stuff. And, she can help you save BIG. Get Christi’s 2 cents here.
Have you found any great deals lately?
In what areas do you save money?
Filed under Shopping
Some smart philosopher once said,
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.”
Of all the lessons we teach our children, this is probably numero uno. How we treat people comes up in conversation, in some shape or form, every day with my children {and usually between two siblings}. I try to share Jesus with them, and how He walked out a life of being kind.
As soon as John Henry got into the car the other day, he said, “Mom, there were some kids being mean to Hunter today. So, I went and played with him.”
Oh, how my heart leaped. I could not have been more proud of my son. I can’t imagine how our heavenly Father’s heart leaps every time we are kind to one of His children.
It’s even greater than reading sight words in record time.
Later that evening, I told John Henry again how proud I was of him.
“God is a good friend,” he responded.
I think he’s getting it.
And, motherhood doesn’t get much better than that.
Share a moment when you were proud of your child being kind…..or just doing the right thing.
Filed under Motherhood, parenting
Sometimes, I am a drifter. A God drifter. I didn’t know the name for it until Pastor Craig enlightened me this past Sunday. It’s not that I haven’t prayed. I have. But, for the past few weeks, it’s really been more about me than Him.
Then, I realize. It tends to be about me when I don’t make time for Him. Not a time for me to tug on the proverbial robe for requests. Because, if that’s what this thing is all about it, then brothas and sistas, I have it down.
I’m not sure how you do it. But, I can’t just always sit in silence and wait for God to speak to me. I’m just being honest. I do find that I tend to grow in Him – and spend time with Him – when I read various books by certain authors. Many times, those books lead me to a silence where I hear Him. I just struggle cultivating my own. Read me?
I just picked up Mark Batterson’s book, Wild Goose Chase. The subtitle is what caught my attention: “Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God.” Hmmm. Adventure? I’m game.
“An Geadh-Glas” is name the Celtic Christians gave to the Holy Spirit. Literal translation – “the Wild Goose.” Batterson writes, “much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed.”
He goes onto to explain that the “promptings of the Holy Spirit can sometimes seem pretty pointless, but rest assured, God is working His plan. And if you chase the Wild Goose, He will take you places you never could have imagined going by paths you never knew existed.”
Can I evah relate to this one. How often we struggle with wanting to know His will. It’s as if we think we can put him into the confines our conventional wisdom….of our tiny little minds. {Some, tinier than others.}
Batterson says, “Add Him [Holy Spirit] into the equation of your life, and anything can happen. You never know who you’ll meet, where you’ll go, or what you’ll do. All bets are off.” If we are bored in our walk…ahem, that’s me….then perhaps, Batterson says, I am inviting the Spirit to follow me instead of following the Spirit.
And, that’s the “difference between spiritual boredom and spiritual adventure.”
I think I’m up for the adventure.
You?
Filed under God Stuff, Spiritual Journey
Now that we can text and e-mail “thank you”, “happy birthday”, and “I love you”, do you think the art of the handwritten letter is history?
Three of my Georgia peaches were out visiting a few weeks ago.
And, let me tell you. One of ‘em right now is sittin’ at home saying, “Oh, I can’t believe she chose THIS picture.” All save Kate. She only checks her e-mail once a year. All of this to say (and throw in their picture that they’ve been begging me to post) that we had this exact conversation. No, no. Not about what pictures flatter and which ones add ten pounds. We all know that the camera adds at least that. We talked about the joys of receiving a handwritten letter.
But, here is the thing. I have saved most of the letters written to me since I was sporting the converse high tops in the 7th grade. I have saved very few letters sent via the internet gods. Only in the past year, have I created web folders for these attempts at the human touch.
I’m not pointing fingers. I love the ease and use of typing then pressing “send.” But, when I received Jennifer’s handwritten note card in the mail upon her return to G-Town, I suddenly remembered why this lost art is so special. (Now, Sharon and Kate are scrounging for their stationary.)
As far as thank you notes go, I always try to handwrite every one. I even made Anna sign her name on thank your cards for her recent birthday gifts. I have the feeling I took the “JOY” right out of the “ART” with my obsession on her starting her “A” far enough to the left as to leave room for the “N”, “N”, and “A”. Blessed be the name. No pun intended.
Do you still send handwritten letters?
Do you still have old letters sent to you from your younger years?
(Necessary Note: Bonnie Spencer, your posted picture is coming soon. And, yes. I still have all of your letters.)
Filed under Friendship, Randomness
After last week’s emotional roller coaster of writing, I decided to lighten it up a bit this week….or at least, today.
On that note, here is one of my favorite pictures I’ve taken recently.
This four-legged cutie lives on Kris’ family farm. I’m really not sure why his dad thought goats would be a beneficial addition to the cows and whatnots, but I kind of like them. From a distance.
One day, I’m going to live on a farm, home-school my children, live off the land, and have my own flock of sheep. I will shear the sheep and make shearling slippers. I will sell my slippers and retire.
It could happen.
Or not.
On another note, our weekend was a good one. We went to the 11:30 service on Sunday, and I left heavy hearted. More to come on that one whenever I’m up for it.
What are you going to do one day?
OR…..
What was your weekend highlight?
Filed under Randomness
I know the past few days have been heavy. They’ve been even tougher to write. Writing a story of such magnitude while praying you are honoring a family is no easy task.
I wanted to conclude with a few things I think we can all take away from Andrew’s story.
1. When life knocks you completely flat on your face, get up. Even if it’s slowly, just a bit at a time, get up.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy it.
3. We never have an excuse to say, “No, I can’t.”
4. Savor every moment with the ones you love. No one has been promised tomorrow.
5. Love deeply.
6. Stop focusing on things that don’t matter. Invest your time into things that will matter forever.
7. Hug your children. Every.Single.Day.
In Andrew’s words:
“The only reason I can carry on is I have no guilt – no guilt for the time that they were here, because I gave it everything. At the weekend, my phone was always switched off from work. Have we all got jobs that are so important that it cannot wait until Monday? If I had not done that I would not have the memories I have today. And, those are the only things I have left….
If there is one thing I could tell people, it is never to take your family for granted, never make excuses that you have to work to provide what you think they need. All they really need is your time and that costs nothing. All the toys and presents that I bought have all been thrown away. All I am left with are my memories. And, the only reason I have those is that I spent the time with them.”
I cannot pretend to comprehend Andrew’s loss. But, I can say that his life is a testimony to what it means to invest into your loved ones and what it means to move forward. It is also a reminder to us all that every single second counts. It doesn’t make the pain less. But, perhaps, more bearable. I am humbled by his strength and his permission to tell his story. And, I am proud to call him my friend.
Andrew continues to inspire me from thousands of miles across the Atlantic.
I hope his story has inspired you to live in the moment.
What is keeping you from enjoying today? Are you letting things that have no eternal value rob you of investing into what really matters?
What will you take away from Andrew’s story?
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. Psalm 39:4-5
Filed under disappointment, life, Love
wife, mother, pastor, writer
DustyTakle.com 
