this past thursday there was no celebration of thanksgiving whatsoever, no turkey, no sweet potato casserole, no classrooms dressing up like pilgrims and indians, no long weekend, no black friday shopping lunatics, for this is strictly an american holiday. i'm not even sure you can buy a whole turkey in sweden. it's just not as common as buying riendeer and moose, ya know? however, that does not mean i didn't live vicariously through my friend's facebook status' about going home for the break and decorating for christmas. i have to be honest i was little sad about missing it and that special time with my family, because i look forward to this part of our holiday season every year. november might possibly be my favorite month of the year, besisdes july and august. i did, however, have a splendid skype date with my entire family (all 5 of us, lol) who are currently living in 3 different countries. like always, we spent most of the time laughing and sharing stories. praise jesus for technology! although i was caught up in the busy-ness of my life as an au pair while all of my fellow americans were stuffing the faces with leftovers, i couldn't help but be reminded of all that i am thankful for here and there. so i've made a list, just i've done since the first grade:
what i am thankful for:
my personal relationship with jesus christ: amen and glory to him forever and ever because i would be nowhere without his love, his word, and grace. i have learned so much about our relationship and he has been my strength when i could not stand. he has also blessed me immensely with the following people in my life and i owe him all the thanksgiving in my heart. i could go on and on and on about how thankful i am, but what better way that to quote his word:
psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
amen.
my amazing family: there are five of us and i am stuck in the middle of two of the best brothers a girl could ask for. my dad is one of the most honorable and admirable men i know, and i have loved every single second of being the "daddy's girl" and seeing the way he loves me like jesus loves his children. he is a great example of leader in our family and has always pointed us to truth when he didn't know the answers himself. also, he's a beast runner and athlete and taught me how to play volleyball and love baseball. thanks daddy! my mom is the most free spirited and adventurous person i know. she can do pretty much everything and is never afraid to try anything new. she's taught me so many little life lessons along the way, and i am so thankful that she is always available to listen, even when i'm not interested in saying anything at all. she has been a great encouragement to me pursuing my dreams and i know she will always support the tough decisions. she's also an amazing cook and i can't wait to make christmas dinner with her! samuel/sammy is my older brother who i look up to more than he will ever know. he is a genius and wise beyond his 24 years. his patience with me as a younger sister is admiring, because i know how annoying and naive i can be, yet he would totally be there for me if i was ever in trouble. he's always looked out for me, even when he's been in other countries traveleing the whole world. he's inspired me to do things without thinking too much about it, especially when it comes to exploring what else the world has to offer. he's also full of great advice when i need it, just like a big brother should be like. luke/lukas-quite the goober, but my life would not be complete without him. he's just so cool, and i'm so thankful i have the role as his big sister, even though he's a lot bigger than me in hieght. we used to fight all the time when we were younger, but i thank him especially, because i'm pretty tough having grown up with those two boys. he is the best at making anyone laugh and has a personality that makes all the ladies fall in love. i adore him for his talent in art and in making drinks. i always know who to call for a laugh or a good story. precious.
friendships: there are almost way too many close friendships to even begin how grateful and blessed i am. honestly, my heart is so full by just knowing these amazing men and women (there are too many to be named and i don't want to leave anyone out). i don't know if i'll ever meet anyone greater and love anyone more than i love the people in my life right now, including my sweet friends in sweden. every single one of these treasures mean the world to me and i can't thank god enough for how they've ended up in my life. i have been away from my friends in the states for about 10 months, but i still have the encouragement and love from them when i see them on skype or when just recieving an "i miss you." knowing that i have these strong frienships to return to keeps me going. whether they have helped me or i them, whether it's been 10 months or years without having seen them, or whether i see them everyday and need a break from them, i can not be more filled with joy with the friendhsips i know and hope i will have for life. ecclesiastes says "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." i can't count how many times i have experienced this verse in so many different ways, for every single one of my close friendships are so unique but lovely all the same. it is amazing the community we were created for as believers, and the ability to form different kinds of friendships, even with those who do not choose to believe in christ. for me personally, i have a lot of love to give, and will give it all away to let my sweet friends know how much they mean to me and how grateful i am for them!
my kids: i can't actually call myself a mom yet, but i sure do have a lot of kids that i consider my own. from camden: will & matthew, and mary-caston, from greenville: caleb, phoebe, & webb, and sarah & amelia, and now in sweden: erik, emma, & elias. i have spent so much time with each and every one of these little joys, and it is never enough. i have always loved kids, but these ones are going to have a special role in my life forever. they are so close to my heart and i miss them so much when i am away and can't go to guitar recitals, baseball and soccer games, and dance recitals...oh and don't forget the CHRISTMAS plays!! it's so exciting to be a role model to these youngin's no matter how far away i am from them. if you just spend one day with a kid in general, you find you can enjoy the smallest things in life and become a kid again yourself. talking to them just to see what they will say can also have you laughing until you cry. my best dates have been with my kids (including holding hands and skipping stones...dead serious) and i have so many great stories. it seems my life is constantly surrounded by these little ones i love so much, and you wonder why i want to be a teacher. they are honestly the greatest gifts in the world, and i mean that. i am thankful for them always.
opportunities: i can not be more grateful for the opportunities that have been placed in my life thus far. i have had the greatest encouragers and supporters to push me to do all that i love and take on life at warp speed. there are many things i have accomplished that i would not be able to do without the right timing and opportunities. one for sure is being able to come to sweden as an au pair, something i never thought would happen to me. but it did, with a couple of contacts i made at the cliffs communities... ba-da-bing ba-da-boom and here i am. there has not been a time in my life where i have been stopped from doing something that gives me joy or has stretched and challenged me to make me a stronger person than i thought i'd be. some of the opportunities are just for fun, like being able to road trip through europe, meeting someone with connections to a great job, or a chance to babysit in panama city beach and meet new lifetime friends. other opportunities, i may not be as grateful for them until i realize that jesus was trying to teach me something, or use me to reach someone else. whatever the case, i am eternally grateful and blessed.
i am finding it hard to conclude this post on a solid note, for it to have been so sweet and sappy above. so i suppose i'll end it with what i started with: "ain't even need a turkey for it to be thanksgiving..."and i surely didn't even think about the fact that we came over on the mayflower. woops. maybe next year i'll include the history part.
Happy Holiday Season!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
"people say i'm a dreamer, but i'm not the only one"
this is me. i am a dreamer. and i will forever love coldplay. the end.
paradise-coldplay
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach so
She ran away in her sleep
and dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
and the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly
and dreams of
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
And so lying underneath those stormy skies
She'd say, "oh, ohohohoh I know the sun must set to rise"
This could be
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
paradise-coldplay
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach so
She ran away in her sleep
and dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
and the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly
and dreams of
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
And so lying underneath those stormy skies
She'd say, "oh, ohohohoh I know the sun must set to rise"
This could be
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Friday, November 18, 2011
if i only had a brain
being an au pair is not in any way glamourous. for example, sometimes you don't think the disappointment of the 7 year old (not making it to karate practice on time because the au pair got a little misguided) will ever go away. or that is what i felt like last night. i was given the responsibility to get erik (7 year old) to karate last night because grandpa, who usually takes him, had plans and the mom had to work late. i was the last resort, and that also meant that the little ones would be coming with us. no big deal, right? EXCEPT, i really didn't have a clue where i was taking him, for i had actually only been there twice, but had never driven there myself. i mean, i had a general idea of where the place was located (in fact it's an old regiment that looks like a castle...how do you miss a castle?!). however, the GPS sucks, we got stuck in rush hour traffic (why we had to leave an hour early to drive 6 miles), it was dark so i didn't recognize the buildings that well, i hate swedish highway signs, and i had two kids in the back who were thirsty and i couldn't reach their juice boxes (yes, i thought i was ahead of the game by bringing them snacks and drinks so they could have them while we were waiting for erik to finish practice). well, we ended up at liseberg (only about 3 miles away at this point) while waiting in traffic and got to see a TON of christmas lights, which was definitely the only highlight of the misguided adventure, however, we only had to 4 minutes left to make it on time. i'm stressing the whole time. erik was so angry at me and we got there 15 minutes late. i told him to rush in and we would be waiting for him after practice (practice is an hour long), but when i got the little ones shoes off and settled, i found him in the administrators office sobbing. we forgot his karate card...heavy sigh...dangit. i am the worst au pair ever! i tried to explain to the administrator that i got turned around and there was traffic and the gps is not updateed...she didn't really understand me, what's new? he was so embarrassed he just wanted to go home, of which i can understand.
i have to say i was really nervous about the ride home and getting a lecture from a 7 year old about how he never wants me to take him to karate again and how i should know where i was going. i was right, i got an earful of a tearful swedish lecture. i started apologizing in my best swedish, which consisted of, "i'm so sorry your american au pair is an idiot." he seemed to like that and concluded that i didn't have a brain. i tried to make a funny and said, "you know what, the scarecrow in the wizard of oz sings a song called "if i only had a brain..." dangit, he didn't laugh. oops, bad timing, again. i tried to explain that i really did try my best but erik was right, my brain just ceased to exist for an hour. hey, it happens, maybe more frequently than i'd like, but eventually the kids had a little more understanding. eventually i had them laughing at their crazy american nanny again. emma, my little angel in the backseat, concluded with "it's okay to be dumb sometimes" with elias backing her up,"yeah, ok be dumb sometimes." (i promise this is so much funnier in swedish) gee, thanks guys hahaha even though i was more upset at myself for my misguidedness, i had to laugh. i just love kids. they are so quick to forgive and forget. even a scarecrow like me.
whew, anybody want to be an au pair? contact me before you do.
i have to say i was really nervous about the ride home and getting a lecture from a 7 year old about how he never wants me to take him to karate again and how i should know where i was going. i was right, i got an earful of a tearful swedish lecture. i started apologizing in my best swedish, which consisted of, "i'm so sorry your american au pair is an idiot." he seemed to like that and concluded that i didn't have a brain. i tried to make a funny and said, "you know what, the scarecrow in the wizard of oz sings a song called "if i only had a brain..." dangit, he didn't laugh. oops, bad timing, again. i tried to explain that i really did try my best but erik was right, my brain just ceased to exist for an hour. hey, it happens, maybe more frequently than i'd like, but eventually the kids had a little more understanding. eventually i had them laughing at their crazy american nanny again. emma, my little angel in the backseat, concluded with "it's okay to be dumb sometimes" with elias backing her up,"yeah, ok be dumb sometimes." (i promise this is so much funnier in swedish) gee, thanks guys hahaha even though i was more upset at myself for my misguidedness, i had to laugh. i just love kids. they are so quick to forgive and forget. even a scarecrow like me.
whew, anybody want to be an au pair? contact me before you do.
"Keep Your Eyes Open" needtobreathe
If you could soldier on, headstrong into the storm
I'll be here waiting on the other side don't
Look back the road is long, the first days of the war are gone
Take back your former throne and turn the tide
'Cus if you never leave home, never let go
You'll never make it to the great unknown
Till you keep your eyes... open my love
So tell me you're strong, tell me you see
I need to hear it, can you promise me
To keep your eyes... open my love
Just past the circumstance, the first light a second chance
No child could ever dance the way you do oh
Tear down the prison walls, don't stop the curtain calls
Your chains will never fall until you do
'Cus if you never leave home, never let go
You'll never make it to the great unknown
Till you keep your eyes... open my love
So show me your fire, show me your heart
You know I'll never let you fall apart
If you keep your eyes... open my love
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up your eyes, the weight is unbroken
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up your eyes (keep your eyes open)
Don't let the night become the day
Don't take the darkness to the grave
I know pain is just a place
The will has been broken
Don't let the fear become the hate
Don't take the sadness to the grave
I know the fight is on the way
When the sides have been choosen
Cus' if you never leave home, never let go
You'll never make it to the great unkown
Open up your eyes, keep your eyes open
Tell me you're strong, tell me you see
I need to hear it, can you promise me
To keep your eyes... open my love
So show me your fire, show me your heart
You know I'll never let you fall apart
If you keep your eyes... open love my love
Keep your eyes... (keep your eyes open)
I'll be here waiting on the other side don't
Look back the road is long, the first days of the war are gone
Take back your former throne and turn the tide
'Cus if you never leave home, never let go
You'll never make it to the great unknown
Till you keep your eyes... open my love
So tell me you're strong, tell me you see
I need to hear it, can you promise me
To keep your eyes... open my love
Just past the circumstance, the first light a second chance
No child could ever dance the way you do oh
Tear down the prison walls, don't stop the curtain calls
Your chains will never fall until you do
'Cus if you never leave home, never let go
You'll never make it to the great unknown
Till you keep your eyes... open my love
So show me your fire, show me your heart
You know I'll never let you fall apart
If you keep your eyes... open my love
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up your eyes, the weight is unbroken
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up
Ohhh open up your eyes (keep your eyes open)
Don't let the night become the day
Don't take the darkness to the grave
I know pain is just a place
The will has been broken
Don't let the fear become the hate
Don't take the sadness to the grave
I know the fight is on the way
When the sides have been choosen
Cus' if you never leave home, never let go
You'll never make it to the great unkown
Open up your eyes, keep your eyes open
Tell me you're strong, tell me you see
I need to hear it, can you promise me
To keep your eyes... open my love
So show me your fire, show me your heart
You know I'll never let you fall apart
If you keep your eyes... open love my love
Keep your eyes... (keep your eyes open)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
when mr. clapton says it best
okay, so there's this guy...that i seriously can't forget about! he is a guy that broke my heart (a year and some ago now) and never said he was sorry. i should despise him, but i can't because he's actually turned out to be an awesome guy, not that he wasn't before (clearly, because that's why i fell for him the first place). there have been many times while here in sweden where i had to dig really deep and be okay with the fact that it was a bad time for both of us, and that we aren't going to be together. after a little time of not thinking about him, he flippin shows in my dreams!! (p.s. i'm a huge believer in fairy tales, but i'm not a fan of the phrase, "a dream is a wish your heart makes"...not this time anyways) it's so stupid and i'm so tired of this. i have to repeat over and over again in my head that i am over it, but a month later, my current love interest, sends me an article about him!! REALLY?!! why? i just don't understand. p.s. this "old love" is probably going to be famous (hence, the article) within the next year or two, ugh. my sweet lord knows i need to get him out of my heart completely before he starts blowing up sportscenter. maybe i'm never going to be able to forget him as someone i loved, but i pray that he is only recognized as "old love" so i can move on. this song came on my blues playlist, and it is nothing more that what i want to say. so thank you eric clapton for understanding. play, baby, play.
Old Love
Eric Clapton
also, john mayer does a cover...ya killin' me john. ya really killin' me.
Monday, November 14, 2011
never too late
first of all i just have to say praise and bless the lord, for he is the greatest father and teacher i will ever know in my life. just today, he has proved once again that he is in control (psalm 54:4), and when i am weak, he gives me strength, which is what i specifically asked him to give me today.
background story: i hate confrontation. i hate sharing emotions that are anything other than happy or lovely. i hate complaining. i especially HATE that if i am ever frustrated or angry about something, i do not let it be known and typically just shrug it off and let it go. i hate that about myself because it becomes a problem when i allow the little things to build up into a huge thing, suffocating my own heart. eventually, it comes out, though always a little too late, to where i explode, whether through tears, or surprise attack. i am the queen of bad timing, and everytime i put off some kind of confrontation about something i'm angry, stressed, or struggling with (which is pretty rare for me), the timing is always wrong, because i should have said something or reached out for help a lot sooner. most of this stems from being a people pleaser and not knowing where to draw the line. i think today, though, i have finally realized that it's better late than never.
just like in past experiences where i have found myself at breaking point over something i, myself, sara giffin, have let build up, i finally realized that i just can't do it anymore. i need to just let this thing go. so i am up in my little hideaway in my room, and i had to ask god for strength and courage to make it through the day and an opportunity for this weight to be lifted off my shoulders. this "thing" to which i am referring to is the challenge i face everyday as an au pair living with a swedish family of a soldier in afghanistan. i will not go into to detail on what specifically caused anxiety to take over in my heart, and i'm not even sure how long it's been creeping up on me. any time i wanted to say something about this issue, i thought it was just too late, and i would jut have to deal with it for my last 30 days here. BUT then (gasp! a moment where you hear a heavenly choir), then an opportunity for confrontation stood right in front of me, and the lord guided me through it with grace and ease. turns out, both parties have a hard time with confrontational communication skills, and we both had to set pride aside, and let it go. that feels so good. a fresh start and strong finish for the last 30 days of one of the most challenging 10 months of my life. finally, i feel like i can breathe again! now, if i can just keep myself from running into this wall again, that would be great. i've already added it to my 2012 new years resolutions-let my heart show fully, even when it's frustrated and anxious...face the fear of confrontation.
i have to thank my godly parents and older brother for their prayers and encouragement, but more important, i am overjoyed with thanksgiving to the lord for this little victory. i asked him for strength, and he gave it to me, literally, no more than 2 hours after being on my face in tears. he does say in his word, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24. oh, is my joy full right now, knowing that god intricately cares for my heart, and lifts me up when i've fallen to my knees. glory, glory, hallelujah!
Psalm 30
1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
6 Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD;
And to the LORD I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me;
LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
amen.
background story: i hate confrontation. i hate sharing emotions that are anything other than happy or lovely. i hate complaining. i especially HATE that if i am ever frustrated or angry about something, i do not let it be known and typically just shrug it off and let it go. i hate that about myself because it becomes a problem when i allow the little things to build up into a huge thing, suffocating my own heart. eventually, it comes out, though always a little too late, to where i explode, whether through tears, or surprise attack. i am the queen of bad timing, and everytime i put off some kind of confrontation about something i'm angry, stressed, or struggling with (which is pretty rare for me), the timing is always wrong, because i should have said something or reached out for help a lot sooner. most of this stems from being a people pleaser and not knowing where to draw the line. i think today, though, i have finally realized that it's better late than never.
just like in past experiences where i have found myself at breaking point over something i, myself, sara giffin, have let build up, i finally realized that i just can't do it anymore. i need to just let this thing go. so i am up in my little hideaway in my room, and i had to ask god for strength and courage to make it through the day and an opportunity for this weight to be lifted off my shoulders. this "thing" to which i am referring to is the challenge i face everyday as an au pair living with a swedish family of a soldier in afghanistan. i will not go into to detail on what specifically caused anxiety to take over in my heart, and i'm not even sure how long it's been creeping up on me. any time i wanted to say something about this issue, i thought it was just too late, and i would jut have to deal with it for my last 30 days here. BUT then (gasp! a moment where you hear a heavenly choir), then an opportunity for confrontation stood right in front of me, and the lord guided me through it with grace and ease. turns out, both parties have a hard time with confrontational communication skills, and we both had to set pride aside, and let it go. that feels so good. a fresh start and strong finish for the last 30 days of one of the most challenging 10 months of my life. finally, i feel like i can breathe again! now, if i can just keep myself from running into this wall again, that would be great. i've already added it to my 2012 new years resolutions-let my heart show fully, even when it's frustrated and anxious...face the fear of confrontation.
i have to thank my godly parents and older brother for their prayers and encouragement, but more important, i am overjoyed with thanksgiving to the lord for this little victory. i asked him for strength, and he gave it to me, literally, no more than 2 hours after being on my face in tears. he does say in his word, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24. oh, is my joy full right now, knowing that god intricately cares for my heart, and lifts me up when i've fallen to my knees. glory, glory, hallelujah!
Psalm 30
1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
6 Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD;
And to the LORD I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me;
LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
amen.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Butternut Squash Soup
this is hands down one of my favorite soups of all time, especially in the fall! if you have never tried it, you are missing out. it is perfect on it's own with a baguette, or as an appetizer. you can basically make it any way you like it, but here's the way i've made it that tasted best so far (i plan on trying it many different ways):
what you need:
1 butternut squash (duh) diced
1 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp butter
chicken stock
fresh nutmeg
kardumum
salt and pepper to taste
what you do:
melt the butter in your large cooking pot and add onions and minced garlic. allow the onions to cook until transparent, then dump your butternut squash. pour the chicken stock over the squash, just enough to cover the butternut squash. put the lid on, reduce the heat 2 notches, and let the squash cook in the stock until soft. when the squash is soft, use a slotted spoon to transfer the squash into another bowl, where you will puree the butternut squash until smooth without any chunks remaining. pour the pureed squash back into the pot. stir until creamy and "soup-like." take the nutmeg and grate about 1 tsp over the soup. add your kardumum, then salt and pepper to taste.
a perfect rainy day or fall recipe from my kitchen to yours.
p.s. my mom makes hers with fresh lavender...a MUST
what you need:
1 butternut squash (duh) diced
1 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp butter
chicken stock
fresh nutmeg
kardumum
salt and pepper to taste
what you do:
melt the butter in your large cooking pot and add onions and minced garlic. allow the onions to cook until transparent, then dump your butternut squash. pour the chicken stock over the squash, just enough to cover the butternut squash. put the lid on, reduce the heat 2 notches, and let the squash cook in the stock until soft. when the squash is soft, use a slotted spoon to transfer the squash into another bowl, where you will puree the butternut squash until smooth without any chunks remaining. pour the pureed squash back into the pot. stir until creamy and "soup-like." take the nutmeg and grate about 1 tsp over the soup. add your kardumum, then salt and pepper to taste.
a perfect rainy day or fall recipe from my kitchen to yours.
p.s. my mom makes hers with fresh lavender...a MUST
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