Lesson 509: With Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving, Readers!

It is with gratitude I write tonight.

I lost a friend this week

after a battle with a brain tumor.

The experience has left me wordless for a couple of nights,

the glaring white computer screen blank before me,

the keys quiet.

We don't know how long the life we have here will be,

nor are we given our exit date at birth.

How we spend our days between the start and finish

is all up to us. 

Free will is a good thing.

No matter what each day brings you,

you can choose to end your day with gratitude.

I'm grateful for them.

This little turkey

took an interest in cooking this holiday.

He wanted to make a special dessert for Thanksgiving dinner--

homemade chocolates with different hidden surprises inside.

My son is like me.

He enjoys surprises

(and hiding things).

He divided a Christmas plate into three sections

and wrote Thanksgiving messages 

on the product descriptions.

Captain Safety was concerned about nut allergies.

They were delicious.

Sam's team laced up their high tops 

for their first basketball tournament of the year.

We are grateful for an awesome team

and excellent coaches.

They got a little recognition at the HC Alumni game this evening.

A friend of mine is moving out of town

to begin a new chapter of her life.

My team will miss her,

but with gratitude we said goodbye

and "see you again, soon."

I received my 33rd hole punch on my Team Adrenaline 

workout card on Thanksgiving morning

when it was 33 degrees.

There are 33 days from Thanksgiving to Christmas this year,

which got Eloise a-thinking.

Reserve time each day to walk one mile outdoors,

 in honor of the reason for the season, 

Jesus.

He lived 33 years on earth,

so walk one mile a day for each year of his life.

On a whim I posted on facebook my idea,

thinking one or two people may like to do it, too.

The response was much greater,

so I created a facebook group titled 33 Miles

so participants could share posts or pictures from their experiences.

If you are interested,

let me know and I'll add you to the page.

Birds of a feather

really do flock together.

Every time I watch a flock of birds

I try to find myself.

You can guess which one I am.

Here's the thing:

If you are the odd duck,

and vow to walk one mile each day without fail

from Thanksgiving until Christmas

and make your holiday season a bit less stressful 

by spending time each day with gratitude,

others will follow.

When I walk, I usually go alone.

It's often my only peace a quiet of the day.

I load my phone with a Christmas playlist and enjoy 

the songs of the season.

This is one of my favorites,

especially for early in the season.

Heaven Everywhere by Francesca Battistelli.

I leave you tonight with gratitude, Readers.

XOXO,

Eloise

Lesson 508: Ash Kicking

Hello, Readers!

This week we find ourselves staring 

right into the heart of November.

I love the month of November

but this year it really kicked my ash!

On a normal year,

I'd be finishing up the 58 Day Challenge that I complete

with some members of my Team Adrenaline workout group.

For 58 days we ride through the fall

cutting down on 

or saying no to 

lots of the delectable delights of the season.

Everyone throws $50 into a pot

and the winners,

one male and one female,

take all!

The challenge is over the day before Thanksgiving,

and the cash prize in the thousands $$! is delivered that night!

This year I withdrew from the race unsure of

if my surgery would put me at an advantage

or disadvantage to win.

I couldn't have my normal fun 

of spreading the joy of 11th hour temptations 

with posts like these, 

hoping one of my teammates would cave

and I could stand a better chance at emerging 

as the dark horse winner.

They probably would not have bent anyway.

Heck,

here they are at the crack of dawn on a Saturday

for an ash kicking,

in the cold,

workout.

I mentioned the challenge in this blog

because I was surprised how many people who dropped off  food

after my surgery commented,

I know you are on the 58 Day Challenge, but I brought you these anyway....

Know that I had some of everything!

Food delivered in care and love is meant to be eaten,

and I enjoyed every single bite.

I think the 58 Day Challenge should really be called what it is:

58 Days of Learning to Love Vegetables.

Seriously, it's the secret to any diet's success.

Eat.

More.

Vegetables.

And also drink more water.

Eloise has learned that if you do those two, simple things,

your belly doesn't have room for a whole lot more.

Keep that in mind throughout your holiday eating.

I returned to work this week and it kicked my ash!

We did not study this book though.

I think it's censored.

Instead we played some chess

and also this game.

Mrs. Eloise highly recommends it for your holiday gatherings.

Absolutely anyone can play.

We haven't studied Mark Twain yet,

but after finding these ash kicking quotes of his,

maybe I'll work him into my curriculum!

The biggest ash kicking of November 

were our ash trees!

They are getting brittle and broken

eaten away from the inside out

by these little buggers!

Emerald ash borers

Here is your weekend science homework

if you are interested in learning more about this plaguing problem:

More on the ash borer in PA CLICK HERE

If ash trees are going to become a rarity

I figured I may as well make stuff out of the wood while I can.

I'm working on custom fitted

Ash Stools!

Come to the Lamp Post and I'll measure how wide your ash is,

and I'll chip you out a campfire stool for your backyard fires.

I have a variety of sizes.

Let me know if I should set aside a big stump 

or a small stump for your ash.

Eloise always saves the very best for last,

so here is my favorite duo 

in their ash-kicking performances on the Today Show this morning!

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's 

songs and interviews

(there are several on this link)

are really worth the watch.

Today Show link CLICK HERE! Love, Love, Love

I love them 

and admire them

and want nothing more than to 

be their ride-along tour blogger 

during the month of July every year.

I'd mingle with the county fair crowds,

take candids,

and try on all of Tim's clothes.

Dream.

Job.

Happy weekend!

Love,

ELOISE