I always have a candle burning in my kitchen.
I am drawn to kitchen-y smells.
Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, pumpkin, and banana nut bread are some of my favorites.
My ultimate favorite scent is one called: Country Store, which seems to be a mix of those smells.

There is a store in Lancaster County where I buy my candles.
Even though I know that I can get the candles online, I like to actually go to the store.
I like to see if there is a new scent.
However nothing can compare to Country Store.

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It had rained during the night.
That is not a problem unless the temperatures are below freezing.
Rain that falls so gently against the roof turns into a treacherous mess at daybreak.
Not having children in the school district anymore, I do not listen for school numbers.

However, having a daughter and her husband who are both teachers, I do have a connection.
Sometimes I may get a text from my daughter that simply says: Two hour delay.
Informational on some level; however, it also suggests that she can go back to bed for a bit.
No text came this morning, so I assumed the rain did not cause a problem.

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We all know people who seem to go through life with boxing gloves on.
They are ready to fight at any given instant.
They are ready to fight about anything and everything.
The temperature of their food, the loss of a parking space, or the long lines in a checkout.

It is the anger of George Bailey when he lashes out at Zuzu’s teacher.
His own insecurity and feeling that he did not measure up, overflowed to her.
He blamed Mrs. Welch for Zuzu’s cold, since she came home with her coat unzipped.
When Mr. Welch got on the phone to defend his wife, George Bailey lashed out at him, too.

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The bad cold my husband had, the one I kept at bay, was only a temporary reprieve for me.
A full fledged head cold is underway.
Watery eyes, sneezing, and a box of tissues close by my side.
My voice does not sound at all like me.

I don’t have to teach Bible study this week so that is a blessing.
I don’t have to speak in front of any woman’s groups in the near future.
It is just my husband at home and he was already sick.
There is nothing pressing that cannot wait until I feel better.

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My aunt was the giver of good gifts.
They were not expensive gifts.
They were often found at the Dollar Store.
My children loved them.

I remember the baby doll that my aunt bought for my oldest daughter.
I was ready to deliver our second child.
My aunt wanted our oldest daughter to have a baby of her own.
The baby doll came with her own bathtub, washcloth, pretend soap, and bottle.

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He was pushing one of those small shopping carts.
I glanced in the cart and saw a few items.
No fruit or vegetables.
Inside the cart were things that would make a quick meal.

The man never looked up as he passed me.
I continued down the aisle.
I was putting the things in my cart that I knew we needed.
The man passed me again going the other direction.

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I looked at Billy Bob Junior.
That is the name of the chef that sits on my kitchen counter.
He is the chef with a chalkboard in his hands.
The chalkboard told my family what we were having for dinner each night.

With five children and a husband, I was asked the question six times.
What are we having for dinner?
I love questions but there had to be an easier way.
It was in the window of a store that I never shopped in before that I found him.

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This time of year, right before Thanksgiving, Christmas Open Houses are everywhere.
Many local artists have exhibits of projects they have been working on all year.
Craft shows are abundant as handmade ornaments are on display.
I enjoy window shopping you might say.

Sometimes I get ideas that I can do myself.
Sometimes I find something interesting to add to our collection.
Sometimes I find things for my children who are beginning their own traditions.
Mostly, I just enjoy this time of year and all the festivities that go along with it.

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Each day, in the late afternoon, I have a cup of tea.
It is a time to sit and put my feet up.
It is a time that falls after the busyness of the morning and before I prepare dinner.
During this election cycle, I found myself watching the news as I had my tea.

Many days, that was not a wise thing to do.
The news and the political commercials were antithetical to my peaceful cup of tea.
I would often turn the news off but the damage was already done.
Until one day right before the election.

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The first part of this blog post was originally published on June 28, 2012.
I happened to think about this when I found myself sighing this morning.
I smiled because one of my daughters always asks me if I’m alright whenever I sigh.
Just like a good stretch feels so wonderful to our body, so does a good, deep sigh.

A sigh is cleansing.
A sigh releases whatever it is that is bottled up inside us.
We may not even be able to pinpoint what is causing us to sigh.
A sigh comes from deep within us.

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