Things I Am Thankful For This Year

Happy Thanksgiving! This year has been a ride, let me tell you! It’s also the first year we are celebrating Thanksgiving as a family of four (four, because Astra counts, silly!). 

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and share a few things I am especially grateful for this year. God has been so good to us - always - and this year is no exception.

Health: Living in the midst of a pandemic and knowing many people who suffered from the effects of COVID-19, I am so grateful for health and protection this past year - especially while being pregnant. I never take health for granted, and the same is true this year. 

Husband: I’m always thankful for my husband, and this year is no exception, but I must say that he really went above and beyond this past year in showing me Jesus and being patient with me. I’m a little crazy, but then again, who isn’t? I’m so thankful to have his support, especially in this new season of parenthood we are experiencing (Also, PTL that he has a job with healthcare that allowed me to take the year off of work and focus on recovering from burnout and growing a tiny human!).

Family: I am so grateful that we could see our family this year, and that our own family has expanded with sweet baby Z.

Opportunity to travel: We were able to find a window of time to travel and see some family this past year, and I’m very thankful for that. We had a long trip and saw a lot of beautiful things and hung out with a lot of amazing people. We got back just in time for restrictions coming back into place and were able to get some of the stir-crazy out of our systems before nesting down. 

Friends: I’m so thankful for friends! It had really been a while since we were able to live close to people we called friends and it’s been really nice this past year to do so. I also am extremely thankful for friends who are further away too! Everyone needs friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I’m currently sitting in my warm living room listening to the cold wind blow to and fro just outside the window, and waiting for the festivities to begin.

Thanksgiving itself never really meant much to me, since I’m Canadian and we never really celebrated it the same way growing up. I do, however, like the idea of having time to reflect and be thankful for all God has done for us throughout the year.

This year has been a wild ride, so I decided to reflect right here in front of the whole world what I am thankful for. ;-)

My husband. Who is incredible beyond words and understands my crazy.

Our home. That we didn’t think we were going to be able to get, but God is good!

Transition. That stretches us in ways we didn’t know we could be stretched, and grows us in amazing ways.

Astra. My favorite black cat child.

Friends. Ones I’ve had for longer, and the new ones I’ve been making lately.

Jesus. The ultimate gift and my ultimate friend.

All of you! Thank you readers, for making Maple Alps possible!

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What are you most thankful for this year?

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15 Bible Verses for Thanksgiving

Lately, I've been adding a gratitude spread to my bullet journal, and even though some days I really have to think hard about what I might be grateful for in a day, it has really helped me be more thankful. There are so many blessings, even when things seem like they're going every which way but well. 

I love how during the last two months of the year, there is quite a bit of emphasis on being thankful and doing good for others, but how awesome if every day of the year were like that? This year, I thought I might just share fifteen of my personal favourite verses on thanksgiving. Number ten is right up there, so stay till at least then ;-) 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
    Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, He is God!
   It is He who made us, and we are His;
   we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
   and His courts with praise!
   Give thanks to Him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
   His steadfast love endures forever,
   and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100, ESV)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17, ESV)

I will praise the name of God with a song;
   I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30, ESV)

Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints,
   and give thanks to His holy name (Psalm 30:4, ESV)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:18-20, ESV)

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
   for His steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:26, ESV)

Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving,
   and the voices of those who celebrate.
I will multiply them, and they shall not be few;
   I will make them honored, and they shall not be small. (Jeremiah 30:19, ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.(Colossians 3:16, ESV)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57,ESV)

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:10-15,ESV)

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13, ESV)

Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving;
   let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! (Psalm 95:2, ESV)

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name;
   make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
   tell of all His wondrous works! (Psalm 105:1-2, ESV)

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14, ESV)

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What are some of your favourite verses about gratitude and giving thanks?

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Vegan Pumpkin Pie (nut-free)

Fall is here, once again, and once again, it's time to consume our favourite seasonal yummies!

It's no secret that pumpkin pie is a craved thing in our household. I do, however, refuse to make it until it gets chilly out. So how perfect that the temperatures have finally dropped! To be honest though, as much as I love Autumn and everything about it, I was sad to see Summer go. Probably because Winter is ahead, and the last Winter was so long and unbearable that I have no heart left to face the upcoming one. But at least there is pie!

I always look forward to picking out my perfect pie pumpkin. If you ask my husband, I love small, round, and cute things, so it's naturally something I love to do. Even though making homemade pumpkin puree is a real chore sometimes, the difference in taste is worth the extra effort. Sure, it's a mess and opening a pumpkin is not as easy as opening a can, but you'll thank yourself when you taste the finished product. 

The best part? It freezes well, so you can use it all year round - if it lasts that long! Anyway, this year, I wanted to try making a pie that was nut-free. I know I use a lot of cashews in my recipes (I just love cashews!), so I wanted to try something new that was more allergy-friendly. Pumpkin pie seemed like a great place to start since it's that time of the year. 

While this pie takes a little longer to get firm than the cashew version, it is still crazy delicious. By the way, if you hop over to that recipe, I give a little rundown as to how to make your pumpkin puree the easy way :)  

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie (Nut Free)

What you ned:

• 2 1/3 cups pumpkin puree

• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/3 cup unsweetened plain non-dairy milk

• 1 TBSP olive oil

• 3 TBSP arrowroot powder

• 1/4 tsp of each: cinnamon, ginger powder, nutmeg, & cardamon

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 pie crust (unbaked)

What to do:

1) Make pumpkin puree by cutting open and cleaning your pumpkin. Drizzle some olive oil on it and bake in the oven until tender. Remove from oven, scoop out the flesh into the food processor, and process until very smooth.

2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3) Prep pie crust.

4) Mix all the ingredients for pie filling and whisk until perfectly blended.

5) Put filling into prepped pie crust and bake for 55-60 minutes.

6) Let cool completely - for a firmer pie filling, put in the fridge for a few hours.

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I like my pie cold and topped with coconut whipped cream. What about you?

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