Hello, from the mountains of Kentucky. The leaves have fallen, the mountains are bare, now void of their glorious fall attire. I tend to get a bit emotional this time of year as the vibrant colors of summer and fall disappear. This year more so than ever before. I have fallen into the yearly routine of Christmas shopping for our family, preparing to end another semester, while preparing for a new one. Life has been hectic, which helps me deal with the many emotions that flood my mind and fill my heart. I have found that a little quiet time with Jesus, a good cup of chamomile tea, and a spiritual read helps calm my racing mind and allows peace and precious memories to ease the pain.

Even still a busy week faces us on the homestead. It will be busy both inside and outside our home. As I prepare for our Thanksgiving dinner with family, I find myself reflecting on the empty spot in my life. I find myself missing my mom more each day. I look around my home and I see small reminders of her everywhere. From her delicate teacup that I cherish, to her favorite lamps that now adorn my nightstand and fireplace. From her favorite blanket, to her beloved Afghan. From the plant sent from friends in her remembrance, to her favored china cabinet that holds her favorite dishes, now in my living room. From her Bible on my shelf, to the handwritten notes she journaled daily. From the pictures she left behind, to her smile in the memories I will forever cherish in my heart. However hard it is to deal with loss, just as the peace lilly thrives and blooms, so must we.

As the cold weather approaches, we are also busying ourself outside with cutting the last of the lavender, to be used in homemade body butter, as sachets, for tea, and for lavender cookies. Vegan Lavender Butter: A Sweet Herbal Treat From the Mountains… Extra sprigs of rosemary are cut for rosemary oil, cooking, and for shampoos. We are zipping up the covers on the raised herb beds to ensure the lavender, rosemary, and other perennial herbs last as long as possible this winter, while also ensuring their return next year. We had hoped to leave the ferns on the porch through Thanksgiving, but bitter cold temperatures are on the horizon, so they will make their usual journey to the basement for their winter stay. The ferns do well in the basement through the winter. I water them a little about once a month and bring them out in the spring. I usually give them a quick trim, and before long they are thriving and full of life.

With my mind occupied with memories with our mom, I find it difficult to grasp just how quickly time passes. I feel as though we were planting a garden a short time ago. It seems as only a couple months ago we were taking down Christmas decorations, and now here we are preparing to put the Christmas tree up. Where does the time go? In the Bible, life is compared to a vapor on water. It’s true. Life has a way of vanishing right before our eyes. As I pondered the gift of time, the Lord impressed upon my heart that time was a mystery to His children. I was reminded that His time is not our time and our time is not His time. I know He has a plan for our future and His plan is perfect and we must trust His time, not our own. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to perfect His plan due to lack of understanding. My prayer is to acknowledge His plans, trust His Will, press forward, embrace each day, love deeply, reflect on the wonderful memories of my mom that I cherish in my heart, and live each day embracing life as my mom would want me to, for I know He has a plan. We must keep pressing forward.

As I am preparing the dough for our weekly bread, I find myself reflecting on days gone by when I helped my mom bake cookies for Christmas. I think I was five years old when we baked cookies for everyone, or so it seemed to a wide eyed five year old with visions of Christmas morning growing closer. Mommy always had a way of making the holidays special every year. As the years passed and our mother aged, she wasn’t able to cook and host big dinners any longer. Then a new tradition was birthed. She would take turns going from one siblings house to the other on Thanksgiving. It was a full day for her, but one that allowed her spend time with each of her children and their family. The day came when she was no longer able to drive and visit as much as she wanted to or had before. It was time, yet again, for a new tradition that lasted for more almost ten years. We would take Thanksgiving to her. She never went without, my sister, brother, and myself always brought her a smorgasbord of food from each of our dinners. We would visit and usually have a cup of coffee and reminisce with her while she ate her fill of her favorites. She always had had enough leftovers to last over the course of the next week. I laugh as I recall how she would run out of desserts first. She definitely had a sweet tooth.

Yes, Thanksgiving will be different this year. I will miss her as I prepare the dishes, adding extra love to ensure the sweet potato casserole is prepared just the way she liked it. As I scour my recipe books for a new and tasty dessert that she would have enjoyed. I will miss going to visit her. It will not be same not enjoying a cup of coffee while she enjoyed the dressing and the dark meat from the turkey. Dessert will not taste the same knowing she will not share it with me. But, just as the working of the dough brings life to the yeast, so must we keep working and looking up to Him. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread: Homemade Crusty Vegan Bread He is our high tower, or refuge, and our all.

Even though the loss and void in my heart are vast, I am thankful that our mom is no longer sick. I have the confidence knowing that she made it home to be with Jesus, and that we will see her again where we will live for eternity in Heaven where sickness does not exist. Even still, my heart aches for her each day. For now, I’ll cherish the memories of days gone by and keep working for the days to come. They say that time takes care of the pain. I haven’t found that to be true yet. But, I do know that my time is not God’s time and His timing is perfect, just as His plan for us is perfect.

God bless from the Mountains of Kentucky. This post is dedicated to the memory of our precious mother. We love and miss you, mommy. I pray that each of you have a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving.