Thursday, November 28, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving 2024


 Thanksgiving at Stillestead was one for the memory books!
Per Nielson Thanksgiving tradition, around noon, 
I served our Thanksgiving "turkey" 
(sourdough bread shaped like a turkey)
with dried fruit, nuts, jams, and an assortment 
of cheeses for our pre-dinner meal.

I baked all day while setting up the table and, of course, listening to
Christmas music.  Is there anything better?
Gigs helped me make the rolls.  I make the dough, and he makes 
them into shapes.  They always end up looking like poop emojis,
but they are our favorite rolls (Thank you, Lindsay).
I told the Nies, mainly Gigs, when they asked what to wear to dinner,
that they should dress according to what they believe the dinner is worth.
 Christian said he would wear his tux,
 while Gigs told me he'd wear his suit.
Awwww. 
 I told them to just look nice, which means,
NO t-shirts and sweats.  Duh.
Dinner:
Roasted Pears with Brussels Sprouts & Arugula
Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow & Pecan topping
Veggie Stuffing
Grandma's Fruit Salad
Lindsay's Rolls 

Pies:
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Chocolate Mud Pie
with clove spiced wassail
Then we talked to Jane and Ollie.
Next year, we hope they'll be sitting around the table with us
as we talk to Gigs, who will be somewhere in the world
on his mission.

I am so thankful for my children, my husband, my cozy home, my body,
my family, my life, and, of course, my Savior,
who makes everything right and good.

Happy Thanksgiving, Stillestead!


Wednesday, November 27, 2024

"Friend"

I did a lot of cooking and was on my feet most of the day. 
I prepared the pies and most of the other dishes, 
so tomorrow, all I have to do is cook them in the oven. 
Needless to say, I was not in the mood to make dinner,
 so we decided to go out instead.
I'm a simple soul, and when Christian says,
 let's go out for dinner tonight,
I feel like it's probably as good as winning the lottery. 

Or close, anyway.

Stillestead is vibrant with color, which will make
for a truly lovely Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Later this evening, while we watched a movie upstairs, 
 Claire lay on my bed like a teenager in love while she
talked on the phone to a "friend."
I hope to meet this "friend" soon
because this "friend" makes Claire very, very happy.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Nailed Down

 
I got serious about my Thanksgiving menu, recipes, and prep this evening.  
I've been so busy this month with Barre3 stuff and 
I haven't really done a very thorough job or planned out stuff yet, 
which is not, well, me. 
I'm usually planning this stuff well in advance.
But I nailed down the menu, including the pies, 
solidified the color schemes and the dishes and tableware.
It's all going to be beautiful!

Meanwhile, Claire and Angus took a nap on the floor.






Monday, November 25, 2024

Lottie's Blessing

 Yesterday evening, Christian and I took Lottie to Apex, where
she received her Patriarchal blessing.
After a rough start to 7th grade and the decision to homeschool,
we seriously discussed receiving her personalized blessings 
and direction from the Lord
because she needed and really wanted it.
Lottie was ready.
She is the youngest of all my children who have received their blessing.
It was amazing and beautiful, and Lottie has a beautiful, bright 
future filled with joy and missionary service.  

I am so grateful for direction from the Lord.
He loves His children- me and you, so much and wants us to succeed
in our personal lives, in our families, in our jobs, and in serving others.




Sunday, November 24, 2024

I'll Be Home For Thanksgiving

After our family emotional resilience discussion tonight,
Christian made everyone a cup of our family's favorite Hyggelit drink,
(Pero with Nutella) when we saw headlights coming down our long 
driveway in the thick blackness.

Who could it be?
Who would come to our house way out here in the 
middle of nowhere at 10:00 at night?
I'll tell you who:
CLAIRE!

She surprised us and left school a day early for Thanksgiving break!  
We were all so excited!!
She will be home for a solid week!

Lottie jumped in Claire's bed where she'll be
snuggled up to her best friend for the next week.





Saturday, November 23, 2024

We All Are!

 

Stillestead is ready for Thanksgiving!
Leaves are falling, but they are still colorful and gorgeous.
I love living here.
It's such a gift every day.

We are in full Christmas music mode.
Last night, Gigs told me he was sick of Christmas music.
How could he say that??!!

This afternoon, Christian, Lottie, and I went to lunch together
and ran a few errands.
Lottie is so excited that Claire will come home for Thanksgiving
on Monday!  Her big sister is returning!
We are all so excited!

Friday, November 22, 2024

VI Day 2 (Yay Me!)

Today, I finished up my 8-hour VI training! Yay, me! I am so relieved it's over! 
 I feel much lighter, more prepared to teach, and more confident!!!  Yay me!
I still have some milestones to hit before becoming a 
certified instructor.  I will push hard for a few more weeks
to finally get there.
It's not been easy pushing myself in this way.
It's super uncomfortable and scary.
But I also love that I am pushing myself in this way.
It's so good for me.
And I'm proud of myself.

I came down from my office to find Christian and Lottie making dinner.
Christian encouraged me to get in a tub, which I did. 
 I deserved it.  Yay me! 
Jane and Claire will both be home for Christmas for almost 3 weeks!!!!
So, we need to do a little bed rearranging.
We took Lottie's queen bed upstairs and bought her a twin.
While I was in my training, her bed came, and she and Christian
put it together.
She's really happy about it.
She wanted a bed without a headboard so she could put
 it up against her windows.
She's sooo like me.


Thursday, November 21, 2024

VI Day 1

 


Day one of VI was today; after the 8-hour training, I cried.

I was overwhelmed and exhausted. 
We had to teach the group several times, and I froze up.
For the past 5 weeks, I've been training with my mentor and working
so hard, and then in this VI, I felt like a huge failure.
It was not good.
Then I was like, 
"Stephanie, girl, what are you doing?  If you struggle
standing up and teaching in front of a Zoom meeting, why 
do you think you can teach in a class setting?!"

I felt so doubtful and so worried.
And it's true, I don't like being the center of attention.
I am uncomfortable with eyes on me. 
So why do I want to be a Barre3 instructor, you ask?
Well, I'm good at it.
I'm pretty friendly, and Barre3 has really helped me in my life and
I want to share that with others.

At dinner, Christian calmed me down, built me up, and 
to I had shake off the doubters in my mind (thanks a lot, Satan, you big idiot).
I'm going in tomorrow with more confidence and bravery.

Also, I'm not going to lie; I feel super old.



Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Claire's Face

 Sometimes, when Lottie is doing school, 
I sit by her and work on my computer or study my scriptures.
But this morning, I worked on my newest painting;
Claire at age 12.  
I'm painting a photo that Justin Hackworth took in 2014.
This is one of my very favorite photos of her.
Her cute freckles, her pink lips, and her dark hair.
I love it.
My goal is to paint all of my Nies around that age.


I am gearing up for my virtual intensive Barre3 training 
for the next two days tomorrow.  I'm kind of nervous.
I've worked really hard to get to this point.

Then I sent my girls this amazing photo of us in 2005
at a gathering picnic of some sort
that I probably dreaded going to and probably hated.
We had a good laugh.


Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Thankful For Jesus

 

Today, I went grocery shopping at Trader Joes. 
In their window, they have a paper tree where patrons can write 
what they are thankful for on sticky notes shaped like leaves.

My personal goal is to say or share Christ's name every day.
I was so happy to put Jesus on a leaf at the top of the tree.

As I walked out with bags full of delicious food to take home 
and prepare with a healthy able body for my 
beautiful family in our cozy home, 
I felt very privileged and immensely thankful.

Thank you, Jesus!

Monday, November 18, 2024

Shake It

 

All that needs to be shared today is that Christian and I
  went to Chick-fil-A because THE PEPPERMINT SHAKE came out
 and to me, it's one of the best things about the holidays.





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