Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful "break from reality", also known as a little holiday/vacation. We had really had no plans, other than a Thanksgiving meal, for the holiday, since all our friends were out of town. Then about a month ago we were invited to spend Thanksgiving with our good friends, Sam & Heather. They were some of our very first friends here in Virginia, and they moved a few years ago, up to the Richmond area. So we set off to enjoy some time with them!

The drive to their new house is 2hrs, door to door, and took less than 1/2 a tank of gas. And we learned our Christmas playlist on the ipod is about 1 song shy of exactly two hours. Pretty painless! As we approached their neighbourhood, we drove by this house, which I am quite certain is visible from space shuttles, and the long lost planet Pluto. I have NEVER in all my life seen an entire house, the surface of the windows, the surface of the doors, the roof...completely covered in lights.

 It was so bright it gave me a headache just looking at it. They must have blackout curtains on the windows to be able to live there!

I did a bunch of instagram pics of our time there. Brian and Sam were back to all their old competitions within moments:-) They have a new puppy Bichon/Poodle mix (a Poochon), Murphy, and the kids adored him! They also loved Shivers, the hamster, and the turtles. Grey really loves animals, so he was sad to go and leave those turtles.

We stayed with them for two nights, and then on Friday afternoon it was off to Williamsburg for phase two of our getaway. A time share. One of Brian's coworkers owns a time share, and there was a "deal" for friends of time share holders ages ago, for a two nights stay for $100. We paid for it (doesn't expire), probably almost 2 yrs ago now. HAH! Finding the time to go...hard to do! We finally set the time for Thanksgiving weekend. I verified with the booking lady - will there be space on a holiday weekend? She assured me they were not booked and had plenty of space.

When we arrived to check in, they informed us at this moment that we'd been bumped to the Best Western Historic. Time share owners get first dibs. Not exactly what we planned on. The time share condos are 2 bdrms, 2 bath, full kitchen. The Best Western is 2 queens, in one room. The kids thought this was AMAZING fun. We thought it was not nearly as fun being quiet until they all fell asleep;-)

One of the houses we saw in Williamsburg, all pretty and decorated

There was a pool though, so that makes up for everything, right?! We enjoyed our day in Williamsburg on Saturday - Dale and Lauren came and joined us for the day, but decided not to stay the second night and just make the 45 min trip home and sleep in our own beds:-)

Sunday, we set up our Christmas tree. It was also about 75 degrees outside, but decided it was high time for a fire in our fireplace. By Sunday night, all the friends previously out of town had returned, so we hosted a Friends-giving, and had some fun.

When you don't live near family, you really come to count on friends in that same way - as if they were family. They sorta seem like it, anyway.

Sawyer & Huck. Our friend Elizabeth took these pics and posted them saying "Bolgers don't play when it comes to Christmas ornaments" :-)

As soon as we set up the tree, the cats claimed it! Mischief makers! All my delicate ornaments are on hiatus this year. They are obsessed with the tree, and sleep in it, fight in it, climb it all the way to the top, and bat at any ornaments they feel like.

We had to clean out the chimney from the roof before we could start our fire.

Here's a little video of the cats:-)
   

and here is a clip from Friends-giving. Have you ever played Mad Gab? One of our friends Josh is the BEST, because he can't hear any of the words and just says the same thing over and over. It's just so funny to know that we all know what he's saying, and even he doesn't know what he's saying:-) Super funny!

Quotes Archive 2014

I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no true love in me...Mother Teresa

I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try. Terry Fox

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

All relational tension is the result of feeling like I need something from this person, and I am not getting it. So if everything I need and long for I already possess in Christ, I am now free to do everything for you, without needing anything from you. Pastor Tullian Tchividjian

Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die. Pierre Trudeau 

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong. Abraham Lincoln

Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century:
Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others;
Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected;
Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it;
Refusing to set aside trivial preferences;
Neglecting development and refinement of the mind;
Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.
Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman statesman 106 B.C. – 43 B.C. 

Lord, make my way prosperous, not that I achieve high station, but that my life be an exhibit to the value of knowing God. Jim Elliot

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried. GK Chesterton

You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. Mary Pickford

As Long As You Are Glorified

In America, we are about to start Thanksgiving "week" - this is a new favourite song of mine. Even if it's not Thanksgiving where you live, it's a good song for life. Our pastor preached today on the life of Job, and wow. I mean, the poor guy, really. Every time I read about/hear about/think about Job I am amazed at the magnitude of his story. As Pastor Daniel was saying today - the problem with Job wasn't that he doubted or had issue with the character of God-- His problem was with the government of God. God had to show him that suffering is ok for His people, and doesn't require an explanation. Job is my hero.

To read about a few of mine, here is a post from last year.

 Enjoy this song and think about all the trials you've experienced, each one, being undertaken by the One who draws you in, and holds you there.

   

As Long As You Are Glorified - by Mark Altrogge

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I'm filled
Are You King only when I'm carefree
And God only when I'm well
You are good when I'm poor and needy
You are true when I'm parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You're still God in the darkest night

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

So quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You

Cheesy Chicken Risotto - Recipe

I tried a new to me recipe this week - I got it awhile back from my sister, and never got around to making it. Big mistake. It is versatile, SIMPLE and delicious. My kids were all kinds of suspicious as I was preparing it, because I told them it was new...

Kenna: I hope this is one of your good recipes {because I always make them terrible food, right? ;-)}
Me: Well, I think it's pretty good, it's Auntie Lauryn's recipe and you like her cooking
Brooks: Is it as good as Uncle Mark's pancakes?
Me: uuuuuhhh, probably not, because there is no syrup involved
Brooks: awww, he makes good pancakes
Kenna: I ate eight!

So it might not stand up against pancakes, but everyone liked it, even Brian:-)

CHEESY CHICKEN RISOTTO BAKE

1 can mushroom soup
3/4 C water
1/2 C milk
1/4 C parmesan cheese
3/4 C white rice, uncooked
2 C spinach, raw leaves (can omit if you don't have any)
1 C red pepper, chopped (or use green, yellow etc)
1 t thyme
3/4 lb cubed chicken, raw (I use 2 large boneless skinless breasts cut up for a double recipe)

1 T parsely (optional as garnish)

- Mix soup, water, milk and cheese in a shallow 2 L casserole dish (bigger if you are doubling of course). A 9X13 works fine

- Add all remaining ingredients, stir and cover

- Bake at 400 F for 35 min (covered)

- Stir, and then bake for 15 min (uncovered) - *or until rice is hot and tender (I find this usually requires an extra 10 minutes or so for a double recipe)

- Sprinkle with parsley

Let stand for 5 min before serving

What makes it easy is that it's all in one dish, chicken can still be semi-frozen (thawed enough to cube up, but not thawed all the way), is definitely an "eye ball it" recipe, as far as chicken and veggies go (add more, or less, and it'll be fine) and it doesn't take forever to cook!

This one is a winner, and perfect for the 'throw together' type of last minute dinner. I don't know about you, but I stock all these ingredients (maybe except the spinach) in my pantry/fridge at all times. Easy Peasy!

Picture Day Prep

Well, picture day came and went...with no pictures! We got all ready for the day with haircuts

Grey: Before

My friend Elizabeth cuts hair - she gave up her salon job, and comes to your house. SOLLLLLD! She does all our hair now, conveniently for me - whenever it suits us:-) 

Grey: After! We got Brooks trimmed up too, from his cut last July

But on the day, it was WAY too cold to get pics taken, without full winter gear on. So we had to postpone. Boooooo. But next weekend the weather will be better:-)

On the way home from soccer, I saw this really picturesque place - and decided I'd like pics here someday! It's on a golf course, I wonder if we can get in! But pretty gorgeous...maybe next year.

Soccer Grey

Saturday was technically the last soccer game...though due to rainouts earlier in the season, they added another game on the end of the season, next week. But kept the trophy the same as it would have been. Grey is confused by this. He was also confused by the fact that I made him wear pants (pictured) over his soccer socks, and his shirt over top of his winter jacket.

It was the fault of a "polar vortex" apparently blowing through...it was COLD. Like 45 for the high of the day, cold.

I was putting his shirt on, over his coat, and this convo occurs:

Brooks: What are you doing?
Mom: Putting his shirt on, so you can see what team he's on
Brooks: Why?
Mom: Because it's freezing out! I used to do this to you when you played, don't you remember?
Brooks: Uh, yah, but I was always really embarrassed
(Grey's face was already like "are we sure this is kosher" and now transitions to "I'm going to die, this is ridiculous")
Mom: Seriously? Why would you say that when you know he obviously has to do it?
SHEESH!

He got his medal!

He looks like Brooks here to me!

Next weekend it should be back in the mid 60's, which is normal for around here this time of year. Whew. Our thin blood can't handle these sudden temperature drops!

Bible Quizzing

Kenna has been asked to join the Bible Quizzing team representing our church at this years Bible Quiz (Jan '15). She is excited...but nervous! She has lots of studying to do, and will be coached once a week with her "teammates". Her version is NKJV,

Brian was also a Bible Quizzer (something I am actually very unfamiliar with, so I am interested to see how this works! I picture something like a mixture between a spelling bee, and Family Fued...only about the Bible, of course;-)

Here is Kenna holding one of Daddy's trophies for inspiration! The trophy says:
Bible Quiz 92/93 - Gospel of Luke
B League - Eastern Section
High Quizzer - Brian Bolger

We enter a new world of word-perfect recitation, and facts, I'd imagine. Hang on to your hats! ;-)