The Plunge Down Under

The Day Before Thanksgiving

It's that time of year when Americans count their blessings.  Last week I faced the challenge of telling a group of moms the single thing for which I was most grateful in the previous year.  I was unable to comply and instead mumbled something about all six of us moving back from Australia, starting new lives, and still being on speaking terms with one another.  It didn't come out right, and I don't think I have the right words to put together today either.

What I do know is that the list of things for which I am grateful is a long one.  In fact the practice of giving thanks (as opposed to feeling thanks) has been a goal of this blog from the very start, even before I read Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts.   Christians are encouraged, even commanded, to give thanks in every single circumstance.  This, of course, is easier at some times in our lives than others.  What I have discovered over the past four and a half years is that the practice of gratitude never fails to bless the one who is giving thanks, even when that giving comes with a struggle.  It turns our focus from ourselves to others, or from something painful to something beautiful, and in so doing carries with it tremendous benefit.  

Autumn Ramble at McConnells Mill

What is your favorite thing to do when you feel overwhelmed?  I have had more days than I care to count lately that have left me feeling beaten down.  My preferred response is to get outside and exercise.  Walking, or more rarely for me, jogging, doesn't change my situation but it does seem to change something within inside of me for the better.  Usually those walks happen in our neighborhood, or at a local park, but twice this fall I have hopped in the car and headed north to McConnells Mill State Park.

Preparing for Winter

View from our driveway in February 2010, the month we decided to move to Australia

Thursday last week marked six months to the day that we landed in Pittsburgh.  It's appropriate, I suppose, that we were treated to our first snowfall of the season.  There may have been a flurry or two before, but Thursday was the first occasion that I couldn't pretend the snowflakes were something else.  If the frozen white stuff wasn't convincing on its own, one step outside into the bitter wind was all it took to remind me that winter takes itself seriously in this part of the world.

We may not be happy about it (the boys excepted), but we are prepared.  R spent several hours last weekend buying supplies such as deer netting, snow shovels, ice melt, windshield wiper fluid, and scrapers for removing ice and snow from car windows.  I spent several hours (and more than several dollars) outfitting the family with the necessary gear.  After hunting in the attic for long-forgotten boxes of winter coats, boots, hats and mittens, I took an inventory and headed off to Kohl's to fill in the missing gaps.  The lady who checked me out felt sorry enough for me to offer me an additional 15% off.  I thanked her with my warmest smile and left the store in a happier frame of mind than I had entered.

I'm Just an Englisher

"What do you mean I'm not Australian?!?"  My eight-year-old glared at his older sister from the back seat.  "Of course I'm Australian.  I lived there most of my life!"  

I decided that I had better intervene in what I knew could become an ugly argument.  "Your sister is correct, son.  You weren't born in Australia, your father and I are not Australian, and so you are technically not Australian.  You are American."

He thought about this for a few moments.  "Well, I don't feel American!" 

Grateful for Color

Expat Blog Challenge:  November

"Something I'm Particularly Grateful For"

When November's expat blog challenge appeared in my inbox, I knew immediately what I wanted the subject of my post to be.  This year the fall season has been a challenging one for our family.  In the midst of the anxiety, I am thankful for the autumns colors that have surrounded us in our local neighborhood, parklands, and roadways. I haven't always had my camera along when I have spotted pleasing color combinations, nor has it always been possible to pull over and attempt to capture the moment, but I have managed to collect a handful of photos for my library.  Here are a few of them.

Pumpkin Madness

Photo credit: This gourd display was put together and photographed by my friend Jen from Texas.

A few weeks ago I met a friend for lunch at a nearby cafe.  It was one of the first cool days of the season, and so I scanned the chalkboard for soup options.  "Pumpkin bisque!"  I exclaimed.  "I'm surprised to see it on the menu."  I explained that pumpkin soup had become a favorite of mine while we lived in Melbourne.  "I think you'll find that pumpkin has experienced a popularity boost here while you've been away," she replied.

It didn't take very many more days for me to realize that she spoke the truth.  Pumpkin has always been a part of the American fall menu, particularly around Thanksgiving time where it takes front stage on the dessert table in the form of pie.  Sometime during the past few years, however, pumpkin started popping up everywhere, from Starbucks lattes to ice cream and oreos.  Never mind that the items on offer often don't contain any actual pumpkin. As long as they are sweet and contain some combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and/or allspice, they seem to be a hit.