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Dana Rongione 25/01/2023 Dana Rongione 25/01/2023

Chasing Peas

Remember the vegetable soup I told you about the other day? Well, it turns out, after smelling the soup cooking all day, our precious pup, Tess, decided she wanted to partake of it as well. She paced around the kitchen, staring at the crockpot and sniffing the air.

Being the softie I am, I scooped out a spoonful of soup and set it aside to cool. Once it was cooled down, I poured it over a scoop of dry food into her bowl.

Dana Rongione 23/01/2023 Dana Rongione 23/01/2023

The “Souper” Secret Ingredient

On Thursday evening, we had some friends over to celebrate our one-year anniversary in Wales and also to plan out our events for the upcoming year. I decided to make my vegetable beef soup in the crockpot even though that was the meal I prepared for them the last time they were over. They enjoyed it enough the previous time that they had asked for the recipe.

As we enjoyed the hot soup Thursday, our friends confessed that they had tried to replicate it themselves, but theirs wasn’t as good. I told them the lesson my dad had taught me long ago. When making soups or chilis, the secret ingredient is time.

Dana Rongione 18/01/2023 Dana Rongione 18/01/2023

The Battle To Be Real

May I be honest with you? I'm struggling right now. You would think being forced to stay inside and keep still to make sure Tess does the same would be an easy job. After all, I love to stay in, and working from bed isn't a hardship for me. But, the task is more complex than it first seemed. As it turns out, there's a big difference between getting to stay home and do the things you need and want to do around the house and having to stay home and do some of the things you need and want to do while watching the rest of the house fall apart around you.

Dana Rongione 16/01/2023 Dana Rongione 16/01/2023

The Blessing of Boundaries

On Thursday, Tess had surgery to be spayed. It was a necessary procedure, and thankfully, everything went well. When we picked her up after the surgery, the vet gave us the post-op instructions, including a strict command that she was not allowed to run, jump, or display excited behavior in any way for the next ten to fourteen days. Yikes!

It’s only been a couple of days, and we’re struggling to get our precious pooch to understand why she’s suddenly not allowed to jump on the bed or the couch and why she can’t run around the yard. The only way we can keep her subdued is to stay still ourselves.

Dana Rongione 13/01/2023 Dana Rongione 13/01/2023

Steeping in God’s Word

In my last devotion, I told you about Tess’ foray into my tea collection. Well, I’m happy to announce that I’ve ordered some teas to replace those destroyed in one fashion or another. Not only that, the Lord opened my eyes to a tea-based thought in His Word. Don’t you love it when God takes something we view as a mistake and brings about something good?

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. - John 8:31-32

Dana Rongione 11/01/2023 Dana Rongione 11/01/2023

The Tess Tea Party

Tess, our precious terrier, loves people and does not appreciate being left alone. We’ve had a few occasions where she’s gotten into things around the house while we were away at the chapel, but most of the time, she’s an angel. Last Sunday, however, was not one of those times.

As we entered the house Sunday afternoon after our morning church service, we immediately spotted the debris covering the foyer carpet. Destroyed plastic containers dotted the area. Tea bags—some intact, many not—littered the floor. Loose-leaf tea covered the room like fallen leaves on an autumn day. Yes, for some strange reason, our pooch decided to ransack my tea collection. Bad dog! Nobody messes with Mama’s tea!!!

06/01/2023 06/01/2023

The Truth and Nothing But the Truth (Repost)

Have you ever felt alone? Do you feel like no one gets you? Like others don’t or can’t understand what you’re feeling or going through? I’m amazed at how many of us—though surrounded by family and friends—feel alone in our daily struggles and spiritual battles. As I read in my morning devotional, I realized why so many of us are keeping our deep hurts to ourselves and trying to face them alone.

Dana Rongione 04/01/2023 Dana Rongione 04/01/2023

Be Careful What You Ask For

One of the things I love about where we live is that it’s a very safe place. We live in a small community where there is little crime. Wales, as a whole, has very few dangerous animals, so I don’t have to worry about being attacked by a bear or bitten by a snake while out on my daily walks. In short, I feel very comfortable being out and about or even staying home alone.

The only danger I have discovered is living only 45 minutes from the book town of Hay-on-Wye. Yes, a book town is precisely as its name suggests—an entire town dedicated to books.

Dana Rongione 02/01/2023 Dana Rongione 02/01/2023

Something You Can Count On

The unofficial motto for mid-Wales is “We do weather.” Seriously, the weather around here has more mood swings than I do. In a single 3-mile walk, one can experience rain, sleet, hail, wind, sun, and rainbows. It’s crazy!

And the weather forecast is no help at all. Monday, for example, showed a 0% chance of precipitation all day. There were four or five bouts of sleet and several rain showers, and while the sun did make an appearance a couple of times, it was typically raining or sleeting too. This is the only place I’ve ever lived where you have to wipe the falling snow off your sunglasses.

Dana Rongione 22/12/2022 Dana Rongione 22/12/2022

A New Christmas Tradition

Christmas is a time of tradition and familiarity. Seeing the collection of ornaments we’ve collected through the years always brings back fond memories. Gathering together with family to open gifts and play games was always a highlight.

This Christmas will be a bit different. Yes, we were able to bring a few things with us to Wales to make it feel more familiar, but as we grow closer to that holy day, we’re realizing just how many things are new and different for us this year.

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Dana Rongione