The Need for Rest

 As promised, I have some pictures. They're growing! They're growing! I'm such a proud little gardener. My plants are growing.

Poor lighting this time of year + flash not working = I hope you can see the greens!

The garlic cloves are having a little trouble, and so are the sweet chili peppers our friends the E.L.'s got as a housewarming gift. (I call them the E.L.'s because they're getting married, and once they're married their initials will both be E.L.). But as you can see, the tomatoes are coming in quite nicely! It's almost time to transfer them to a larger pot =) Now I just have to figure out how on earth to harvest these things.

I have also been up to my cooking again, and this meal just looked so good I had to take some photos of it! I was slow-cooking a ginormous ham in the crock-pot and had to cut off a chunk so that it would fit. I baked it that night and we had it for dinner, and put the rest away for easy meals for the rest of the week.

 Mr. Wonderful just couldn't get over this meal! My very own recipe =)

 

Oven-baked garlic ham: (Note: I did not measure anything, please forgive me)
- Hunk of ham, fat side facing down in oven-safe cookware
-Fill less than halfway with water
-Cover entire ham in a sprinkling of crushed garlic
-Sprinkle on some herbs de provence (not enough to overwhelm)
-A pinch of black pepper

Heat oven to 400 F. I cooked my ham for about an hour and a half, turning it halfway through. Cook it until it reads 140 F on a meat thermometer.

Now, in my last mini-post I mentioned hating Black Friday. I know that sounds kind of whiny or judgmental, but I really do. And it's not just because people die by being trampled or because of all the craziness that takes place that day. I think that sales are good, my husband and I hit them up as much as possible. Saving money is important. But I just realize that it's not even a day people go out and buy things they particularly need. For many, it's just a day to go out and buy a bunch of things and feel less guilty about spending money because it was "on sale." Let's be honest, unless you're buying electronics, the sales aren't even that great anyway. Is it really worth leaving your family on Thanksgiving, a day we're supposed to reflect on the things in life we're grateful for, to go buy more stuff to fill our homes with?

My mother, who has a hard time turning down a day of work, went in early Thanksgiving morning to get the store ready, then went home in the afternoon just long enough for dinner, then went back to her store to work at least a twelve hour shift, and came home sick and exhausted. She, and many others, did this just so that consumer America could shop. I just can't understand why stores were allowed to open so early this year. Black Friday should remain on Friday, but it has now infringed on Thursday, which is clearly not Friday, but a holiday that we as Americans should observe. Next year, take a day to reflect, a day to be thankful, a day to rest. I believe rest is important from a Christian standpoint, sure, but whether you're a believer or not, there's a reason God calls us to rest. Plainly put, it's good for you. In a world that says go go go, get get get, just stop and take some time to rest your body and mind, and think of the things you've been taking for granted.

Blog #23, done! May you find rest this week.