First Bloom

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 181: Today, I am grateful for the first bloom. 

Yes! From seed to bloom, it has finally happened. With the cooler weather in early spring, I feel like the zinnias are taking a little longer this year. Perhaps, it is my human impatience. It is in the backyard and not in the front where I always expect the seeds to bloom first. 

It is pink! A wonderful reminder of all of the color that is to follow. From dead things like seeds can come new life. Just add the right amounts of water and sun. 

I harvested the first tomato last night, too. The wonder of it all is never lost on me. A little yellow flower becomes the fruit that we treat as a vegetable in so many of our meals. The cherry tomatoes are coming soon. 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." -Psalm 19:1

Today, I am grateful for the first bloom. 

Food Art

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 180: Today, I am grateful for food art. 

I enjoy the Pinterest boards that show food art. It is amazing what can be made with fruits, vegetables and meat. As the charcuterie craze has grown in the USA, the opportunity for food art is born. This iguana is too pretty to eat. 

When Chase and Walker were little, the Leanders were always with us. Ryan and Blake were like bonus cousins. Jill and I swapped childcare one day a week. There was a short season when Chase and Ryan were in school Walker was a baby, and Blake was my primary lunch guest. 

Blake had a limited diet of approved foods. He did eat peanut butter. Peanut butter has to be Jiff in our house. I believe it was in Jill's, too. One day she called to question me about Blake eating peanut butter. I assured her he did for me. The conversation went like this:

Jill: "Blake eats peanut butter sandwiches at your house, right?"
Valerie: "Yes."
Jill: "He won't eat them here." 
Valerie: "Is it Jiff peanut butter?"
Jill: "Yes." 
Valerie: "Do you slice it diagonally and flip the triangles to make a butterfly out of the sandwich?"
Jill: "No."
Valerie: "Try that." 

A traditional American snack is peanut butter in celery with raisins. It is called "ants on a log." Nutritional and cute. We once had a turkey veggie tray brought to our Big Bess Thanksgiving. It took time for the creator, but brought great delight at meal time. 

This passage reminds us to give thanks for the food before us. 

“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11

Honestly, there is some guilt in the knowledge that we have such abundance that we can be creative and literally "play with our food." The very thing we were told not to do as children has become culinary art. 

Today, I am grateful for food art. 

Examples of Patience

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 179: Today, I am grateful for examples of patience. 

Nature does not rush. It reflects the beauty of God's design. The older we get, the more aware we are of how swiftly time passes. We have the same 24 hours in a day, but the sands of time seem to be falling faster in the hourglass. 

Hurry and worry steal so much joy from our days. To intentionally pause and take in the beauty around us brings richness to any day. Look for the uniqueness in ordinary things. Seashells, turtle shells, and flower blooms are not all the same. The wonder of it all can easily be lost because we do not take the time to observe the ordinary. I am 100% guilty of this! 

I am reminded of God's patience with us. His mercy and grace fall like rain on us daily. Do we extend the same to those around us? Do pause to testify of the goodness He brings to our ordinary days? 

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." -2 Peter 3:9

Today, I am grateful for examples of patience. 

Recipe Memories

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 178: Today, I am grateful for recipe memories.

I saw this image for strawberry pretzel salad and smiled. This was Jill's go-to recipe for gatherings. It is so good. I have never made it, because she always did. I think it might have originally come from Donna Eigsti Roth. I am not 100% sure but it is delicious. (It is best the same day; there are rarely leftovers.)

Summer family gatherings and potlucks bring out our best recipes. The kaleidoscope of colors on the table is appealing. The lines move swiftly and the plates are always full. There is always plenty of laughter and conversation. The recipe exchange is part of the fellowship. 

The recipes from loved ones who are no longer with us are true treasures. Pride of Iowa will always make me think of Grandma Opal Maxine. Mama had a pineapple pie recipe that Uncle Lee loved. She never missed an opportunity to treat her brother. I need to look for it in her recipe box. I do not believe I have made it. 

My Turtle Brownies are a recipe I am often asked to bring. Turtle Brownies are expected at big family gatherings. What's not to love about a dark chocolate cake mix, butter, caramel, evaporated milk, chocolate chips, and pecans? Uncle Bob, Cousin Jim, niece in our hearts Kinga, and our dear friend, Gerald look for them. I am grateful that Jennifer has pans big enough for double batches and a double oven. 

Writing this post is making me smile. It is more about the love that goes into the food, more than any one recipe. And, it is about the way it is received with joy and anticipation. 

This scripture reminds me of God's desire to feed, protect, and bless his children: 

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." -Psalm 23:5

Today, I am grateful for recipe memories.

Discernment

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 177: Today, I am grateful for discernment. 

This image is from a social media bulletin board. I sparked many thoughts this morning. Discernment is not something we talk about enough in a world full of deception. 

In an era dominated by AI, discernment has become both rarer and more critical. Algorithmically fueled division spreads without restraint, making it easy to forget that the truth rarely occupies the extremes. A wise perspective holds that "there are two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle." But this raises a deeper paradox: can something be truthful, yet still inaccurate? Absolutely. And it is precisely in that nuance where true discernment lives.

"The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" is associated with the oath taken before testifying in a courtroom, historically with a hand on the Bible. It is a bold statement. Not just before the judge and jury, but God. A Bible is not required, but it makes a statement. Commandment number nine states, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).

"Deception is present and discernment is required at every click of the remote control or turn of the radio knob. It reminds me of the old Paul Harvey broadcast that warned against the potential danger of bringing televisions into our homes. Imagine what he would think of our world today. Every answer—or at least an engineered answer—is at our fingertips.

'And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light' (2 Corinthians 11:14).

I love to learn. I love discovering new things. Knowledge itself is not evil; it is how we use it. But when knowledge takes God's place in our lives and in our hearts, it becomes the altar where we worship. This thirst for knowledge is not new. It began in a garden where the temptation was to know what God knew… to be God's equal. They had only known the good, until their eyes were opened and they were introduced to evil. As Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, pride goes before a fall. The battleground hasn't changed; it has just moved to our screens."

Today, I am grateful for discernment. 

Traveling Light

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 176: Today, I am grateful for the challenge of traveling light. 

First born and "just in case" are in my genetics. It makes traveling light a challenge. It is so hard for me to keep it simple and basic when we travel. Randy has learned great patience over the past 42 years as a couple. 

This quote reminded me of the value in traveling light, although it is not referring to luggage. 

"Bring love wherever you go. Shine light wherever it's dark. Leave blessings wherever you've been. Be kind wherever you are." - Mary Davis

It is great advice and an excellent way to travel through life. We can make a splash or we can make a difference. A few can do both. 

Love, light , blessings, and kindness weigh little to nothing, but they have the power to change a home, a community, and a culture. 

"Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road." -Luke 10:4

The instruction was to travel light to keep the purpose in focus. "Greet no one" was to stay mission focused, not an instruction to be unfriendly. Traveling light allowed freedom to be truly present in sharing the good news of Christ. 

Obviously, in our culture today we need money, a bag, and shoes to travel. How can we travel light, be the light, and lighten the load of others as we share the heart of Jesus? 

Today, I am grateful for the challenge of traveling light. 

Modern Miracles

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 175: Today, I am grateful for modern miracles. 

It is a day for medicine and miracles. 

If you have heard me go on and on about "The Longbranch" restaurant back home in L'Erable , IL, I will make no apology. It is worth the 2 hour drive and I am blessed it is not far from Matt and Jennifer's house. They catered Ciara and Kenzie's weddings. It is our favorite place to eat when we are home. "Nick and Lindsay" are a part of many conversations, from the magic they make in the kitchen to a "Cheers" like welcome when you walk in the door of the restaurant. It is the epitome of what is great about living in small towns an hour from Chicago. 

A year ago, Nick got sick. Honestly, I do not think I've met Nick. Lindsay is the one out front when we are there with family and friends. Ultimately, it was kidney disease and it was stage 5. 

Kidney disease is a part of our Bess-Watson (St. John) family story. Grandma Opal Maxine died of kidney disease. Many have prayed with us for my cousin Tara Jo in recent years. Tara Jo has been blessed with the miracle of two kidneys. 

My Bess side of the family is big and the cousins are many. I was in college when they were born in their toddler/childhood years. In the pack, a group of three cousins formed a fierce closeness. They had no sisters. Tara-Jo (a brother), Crystal (an only child), and Molly (one oldest brother and four more... she was the only girl in the middle of identical twin boys). When Tara-Jo needed a kidney, Molly was tested but not even the same blood type. She promised herself that if she could ever give the gift of life... she would. 

Who would have ever dreamed that Molly would match Nick? Seriously, you can't make up that kind of miracle. And, they did not know each other, even being in neighboring towns. It feels like hope and a God-wink. 

In a few hours, the team at Rush will begin the work of harvesting Molly's gift and placing her kidney in Nick. I believe Crystal and Tara Jo are with her, if they can be. Her husband, Brian, loves her deeply and will be her rock as she heals. Her girls have witnessed how "loving your neighbor" looks in a big and beautiful way. Who knew it would be literally... a community neighbor? God did! 

"The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health." -Psalm 41:3

Today, I am grateful for modern miracles.