it's been 30 days.

It's the last day of November. While posting daily was a challenge sometimes, I've been grateful for the opportunity to take a deeper look at the daily blessings I enjoy. I'm also grateful so many of you joined me in counting our blessings. It has been fun for me to have a peek into your lives and the things that happen daily to make you smile. I have amazing blogger friends!! Some might say that the time I spend on this particular endeavor is a waste, but I can not concur. I believe that you are inspiring. You make me want to be a better mother. You help me through potential disasters in my kitchen. You assist with my not-so-crafty side and offer practical relationship tips. You have a strong conviction of your God and the sacrifices you make for your family are commendable. I'm grateful to call you my cyber-friends!

Today I'm grateful for aunt harrie, also known as Lindsay. She's coming in two weeks and my kids can hardly wait. She's pretty much the kind of aunt anybody wishes for. I'm grateful for her patience with me as I consistently fight my tendency to be the nosey, bossy older sister. She has passion for others, deep enough to make her do great things to improve their lives. She is smart and hilarious and gorgeous. I basically love her to pieces.

I'm also grateful for socks and jackets. Very seldom can I be found without one or both on my body. I'm not sure why I was born colder than the majority of the human race, but I'm sure grateful for layers so I can hang out with other humans. Katelyn brought me a costco-size pack of footies last week and I have enjoyed a fun new stripey pair every day. My fav jacket has tried to be replaced several times, but nothing fits quite like the old thing. Warmth. I'm grateful for warmth.

Holiday decorations. We pulled ours out today and I am grateful for the magic that surrounds these fun things for my children. I have great decor that I hold dear, most reminding me of my mother as she is the queen of Christmas decorating. It's fun to share these treasures with my little ones, although having it out for a month and having them keeping their little hands off might be quite the feat!

Music. I'm grateful I learned to play Christmas carols on the piano and that Cooper insists on blasting them through the house. It reminds me what my focus should be when I get distracted. I hope I can make this month magical for my family. Tips appreciated!

Repentance. It seems I gave the wrong impression regarding my affection for Jacob Black. I retract my previous statement and replace it with this: I enjoyed the Twilight books and movies thus far. If I were to choose a team, it would be team Jacob. I'm just not a fan of Edward. I am fully aware, however that these are fictional characters and my "leaning" toward the werewolf is based purely on the character, not the actor. In all honesty, they could have chosen way better people for most of the lead roles... but I digress. I am not physically attracted to any of these hypothetical characters. I am fully in love and committed to the guy I married, whose sexiness is not even in the same realm as teenage drama boys. However, if I were to compare... my eternal companion has quite a bit in common with the onscreen werewolf... but we won't go there. So. I apologize for leading any (particular) one astray.

So long, November... it's been a good one!

grateful sunday.

Tonight I'm grateful ...

1. great food. a few favorite recipes are posted below, and more are coming!

2. sunday naps. sister lindsay, you were in my dream. we need to talk before you come watch my children! an ice-cream bucket full of popcorn does not constitute an appropriate dinner for cooper!!

3. denten cooking our turkey today. we're a few days late, but our leftovers will be great this week.

4. being able to make some sort of contact with all of my visiting teaching sisters. this is a breakthrough for me with some of my sisters.

5. a free morning tomorrow to catch up around here. I feel like life has been nonstop for 2 weeks and I need some down time to get back on top of things at home. Here's to hoping for a slow week!

Twice-Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

This one comes from Taisey, as many good recipes do, and is absolutely the only way to eat sweet potatoes. It is my personal guarantee that if you ever adorn yours with brown sugar or marshmallows again that you have lost your mind. Seriously. De.lish.ous.

Twice-Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 8

4 sweet potatoes, unpeeled (can use yellow or dark orange flesh sweet potatoes)
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 Vidalia or other sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small bunch fresh collard greens, stems and ribs removed and leaves torn into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups) *I've left this out before and they taste great or I've also used spinach
2/3 cup chicken stock
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese (I used Gruyere)

Preheat oven to 350º. Using the tines of a fork, pierce the entire surface of each sweet potato several times. Place in the oven and bake until soft, 1-1 ¼ hours. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let cool until they can be handled. Cut each potato in half lengthwise and, using a spoon, carefully scoop out the flesh from each half into a bowl, leaving about a ¼-inch lining of flesh in the skins to form shells with sturdy sides. Set the flesh and the shells aside separately.

In a frying pan over medium-high heat, combine the bacon, onion, and garlic and fry until the bacon is crisp and brown and the onion is soft, 8-10 minutes. Add the collard greens and the chicken stock to the pan, cover, and cook stirring occasionally, until the collards are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the stock has evaporated, 5-7 minutes.

Add the rosemary to the sweet potato flesh and, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until smooth. Add the butter, cream and Parmesan cheese and continue to beat. Season with salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the contents of the frying pan to the mashed potatoes and fold until well combined.

Divide the mixture evenly among the 8 potato shells, mounding it slightly in the center. Place the stuffed potatoes on a ungreased baking sheet and top evenly with the Swiss cheese.

Bake potatoes until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve at once.

Sweet Pork Tacos

This recipe came from Ashlee and was originally called Café Rio Pork. While it is delicious (perhaps better than cafe rio), it doesn't taste exactly the same. But it's super yummy and easy as can be. Throw it all in the crock pot and enjoy a few hours later!

1 ½ cans Coca-cola Classic – do not use substitutes
1 cup sugar
1 (7 oz) can Chipotle chiles in ADOBO sauce
1 heaping tsp dry ground mustard
1 heaping tsp cumin
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 3-5 pound pork loin or roast

Remove the chilies from the can of adobo sauce. (If you like super-spicy foods, leave one or two chilies in. If you want to clean the system, go ahead and use them all…) Add all the ingredients (except the pork, of course) in a blender. Rinse can of adobo sauce with coca-cola to get all the sauce out. Blend until well mixed. Place pork in crock pot and pour sauce over it. Cook on low for 7-9 hours or until pork pulls apart with a fork. Serve in tortillas with grated cheese, avocado, sour cream, salsa, etc.

blessings on saturday.

1. I'm grateful for my family. They were all together for Thanksgiving and I missed them. I love my own little family and we had a great time with friends, but I truly enjoy being with my family and I'm grateful for that.

2. I'm grateful for great baby-sitters. The kind you can leave your kids with and know everything will get done well... naps, dinner, bedtime, and playtime instead of tv. When I have time away from my children, I don't want to be worrying about them the whole time. Good baby-sitters are wonderful blessings.

3. I'm grateful for the peace I feel in my life.

4. I'm grateful for pot stickers. and Asian food in general, but particularly pot stickers tonight.

5. I'm grateful for disposable diapers. With two little bottoms going through multiple daily, there is absolutely zero desire on my part to save the environment through cloth diapers. I'll find other ways to be green... as for the bottoms, pampers cruisers are the only way to go.

Friday

1. a visit from kari ann. girls night out, reminders about what the important things are.

2. a completely quiet house with (almost) everyone asleep for two full hours.

3. peppermint joe joe's from trader joe's.

4. the opportunity to see jacob black on the big screen last night. ah, honey.

5. lunch at the park with dad present. the fact that these people belong with me.

Grateful on Thanksgiving

1. I'm grateful for Denten. He's funny and smart and hot. He's faithful to me and to his Heavenly Father. He's consistent and a wonderful father.

2. I'm grateful for Cooper. He is hilarious and tender. He is smart and kind. He is a lot like me and therefore occasionally aggravating, but I'm sure glad Heavenly Father saw fit to send him to me.

3. I'm grateful for Seneca. She is beautiful and full of life. She is clever and happy. She is emotional and enthusiastic. She both makes me crazy and melts my heart. I thank Heaven every day for the fact that she found her way to our home.

4. I'm grateful for Beckham. He is charming and lovable. He is mellow and squishy. He is developing an opinion yet still often agreeable and easy-going. He is miracle number three and appreciated no less than the first.

5. I'm grateful for my Savior and the sacrifice he made so that I can have the experiences I'm having. I'm grateful for second chances with my children and for a future that will last into eternity. I'm grateful for the covenants I have made with my husband. I'm grateful for my life.