Cincinnati or not Cincinnati?

It's been over a year now. We have settled into our life here. We expanded our family. We have a good apartment which is very convenient to work. We love our ward. And we have made really great friends! The time we've have spent here has been everything we have hoped for. We have grown closer because of it. We are grateful for all of the experiences we have had and people we have met. If you sense there is a but coming....here it is.

It is at times like Thanksgiving where I miss home. As Thanksgiving approaches memories of past Thanksgivings fill my head. And they have always involved family, even last year we were able to spend it with my brother. I have memories of mom's turkey, football on the TV, a competitive family game, and the delicious munchies that fill you up all day. That is my idea of Thanksgiving. This year's T-day is setting up to be something different, not bad different, just different.

Even though I might miss out on mom's turkey, I am grateful for my wonderful family here in Cincinnati. I get to spend it with, my husband and my sweet baby. I am grateful for the friends that invited us over. I am grateful for the turkey that we will eat. I am grateful for the family I have at home. I am grateful that I get to spend Christmas with them (which will be here before I know it). I guess it is just one of the challenges of living away from family. It would be hard to give up the good to be back in Seattle.

Welcome to the good life!!

In this turbulent world we might start to think that the good life has past us by. With the economy in the crapper and the unknown before us the ocean of life seems to hit us with storm after storm. I would like to say that even in the waves the good life is all around us. I would like to welcome everyone to the good life.

Everyday there is something that energizes us. These may be goals or dreams or just coming home. Having things to look forward to gives life meaning so the good life contains a lot of that. Two scoops of meaning give the good life all the flavor it needs.

The good life isn't about going overboard. It isn't about having things. I think about what people live without and how I have so much. I have never seen so much good life as I saw amongst the have nots. There is a scripture that states. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." Being content is a big part of the good life.

Having someone to share things with rounds out what the good life is all about. So everyone is invited to "go on a livin' spree" and welcome to the good life...

Is the good life Pierogies?

Some times in life you have brilliant ideas. I might have had one of those a couple nights ago when I decided to make pierogies. My grandma always made them and I have been thinking about her lately.

As soon as I got it into my head to make those delicious pieces of dough and potato we were off to Costco. Costco is like a store only better, because it is a store where you can find everything you need. If I was ever in an earthquake I would either like to be in REI (I am not going to lie there is everything you need to survive there) or Costco.

I didn't have flour or potatoes or a mixer, all necessary ingredients and tools. Some people might think that purchasing a KitchenAid for the sole purpose of making delicious dumplings might be a little extreme, but I like to live on the edge.

All good things take time. I can't think of something that is good that doesn't. Grandma used to take days to make pierogies. That is why they taste so good, because you have to wait for the love to fill them up, and everyone knows that love tastes good.

After midnight love usually speeds up which is good because we were tired. My first solo batch of pierogies were in the pot. They weren't as good as Grandma's but they weren't bad for a first attempt. I think they could have used a couple more cups of love, and maybe I should have covered the dough with a damp cloth so that it doesn't dry out. I don't know.

The good life... thinking about others, following your whims, and making/reliving memories. Maybe the good life is a pierogi.