The Top Ten of 2010

The other night during FHE, Dad and Laurel and I sat down and composed this list of blessings from last year. What would you like to add? Does it surprise you what the Lord hath done?

2010 Top Ten Forty-Something Blessings in the Galli Family

1. The birth of Ben

2. Ariel’s gracious childbearing

3. Hannah’s new school and skills

4. Micah’s Job

5. Andrew’s Job

6. Andrew’s Graduation

7. Micah’s Graduation

8. Rachel’s pregnancy

9. Rachel’s school

10. Laurel’s friends

11. Book to Helga

12. Dad’s teaching at BYU

13. Laurel and Dadda’s trip to Spain

14. Laurel’s trip to Sweden

15. Mom’s YW calling

16. House Reorganizing

17. Foosball Table

18. Mom’s ipad

19. San Francisco trip M&D

20. San Diego trip M&D

21. Hannah’s photography, new lens

22. Kit’s return

23. Jake’s return

24. Our square foot garden

25. Dad’s Sunday School and YM callings

26. Laurel’s guitar playing

27. Ariel’s joyful mothering and great texts

28. MORE amazing photos from Hannah

29. Abraham’s (2 year-old) reading, writing and drawing

30. Andrew’s Elder’s Quorum calling

31. Rachel and Micah’s mission

32. Grandpa Pete’s Visit for Thanksgiving

33. Amy’s Wedding

34. Liz’s Wedding

35. Jane’s mission

36. Mom’s miraculous arrival before Ben’s birth

37. Mom & Dad’s bedroom comfy fireplace, chair and lamp

38. Laurel and Mom’s SW Utah and AZ road trip

39. Laurel’s first dates

40. Visits from Friends and Relations

41. Mom’s temple attendance

42.More Yoga!

43. Good, filtered water

44. Laurel’s Patriarchal Blessing

45. Hannah’s temple attendance

46. X-pac and other favorite Herbs and tinctures

47. Michael's return

Too many good times to mention!

For a February Day

We've enjoyed this soup a couple of times this winter. Squeeze some fresh lemon on it, and it is a wonderful cold fighter. If you want to be fancy, enjoy it with a little plain Greek yogurt. I'm so thankful for good food! When I presoak the lentils, I reduce the amount of liquid I add. Eight cups is really enough, at least to start with, which makes it perfect for using two one quart boxes of organic chicken or vegetable broth.

Did you see that Rachel and Micah's baby is due in less than 80 days?

Curried Lentil and Spinach Soup

Bon Appetit

February 2003

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped peeled carrots
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon curry powder (preferably Madras-style)
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 9 1/2 cups (or more) water
• 1 16-ounce bag dried lentils (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 1 6-ounce bag baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• Salt
• Pepper

Note: I also add either vegetable or chicken bouillon to taste. This is a dream with a food processor, but can be done the low tech way ;). To ensure that the lentils are soft, you can soak them overnight in cold water, then reduce the amount of water the next day.

Preparation

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add next 4 ingredients; sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in curry powder, ginger, cumin, bay leaf, and dried crushed red pepper. Add 9 1/2 cups water and dried lentils; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until lentils are tender, adding more water by 1/2 cupfuls to thin soup, if desired, about 25 minutes. Add spinach and cilantro; simmer until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill soup uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm soup over medium heat, thinning with water if desired before serving.)

Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with spoonful of yogurt.

Somali Henna with Hisso

Somali Henna with Hisso
Originally uploaded by inneri

A little over a week ago I spent some time with Malas's family while she was at the hospital looking over her husband.

We did Henna and spent time together for about three hours. It was so good to see them again especially when I wasn't there trying to get them to do their homework or the like, just having fun. They were so warm, and we all had a great time.