Saturday, December 20, 2008

Blessed Saturday

It's Saturday morning the world is covered in a blanket of ice but inside our home all is well.
We are closing the shop next week so, even though I never work on Saturdays, today feels like the first day of vacation.
I sit here at the computer while my hair color is processing, thanks to Nice and Easy, with a happy tummy, thanks to Kim's southern biscuits and gravy. REALLY FANTASTIC! (I would add a link to the recipe but don't know how, if interested look at Kim's posting on November 3 and 4). I didn't make homemade sausage but the biscuits were light and tender and the gravy wonderfully savory. Thanks Kim.
Both my boys ate breakfast with us in spite of it being 10 AM on a Saturday morning. Nic, (now 20), makes us chuckle because he can no longer sleep in, he was awake by 7:30! Daniel (still a teenager) had to be dragged out of bed, but he cheered up nicely towards the end of the meal.
In spite of the ice storm, a grim report from my dentist and the poor economy, this past week has been full of blessings.
We were able to pay our bills, eat well and enjoy one another's company. On Thursday I worked very late so that payroll would be ready on Friday and so that I could go to the dentist. My good friend Josefina showed up late afternoon and brought me dinner! Truly this was a blessing from God. She didn't know how wonderful it was to come home late and just pop dinner in the microwave. Now the hymn "make me a blessing to someone today" keeps floating through my mind.
Now to wash the mountain of dishes...

Friday, December 19, 2008

Fourth picture in my picture file







I was photo tagged and will attempt to do this. Obviously this exercise was designed by people who are much more technologically savvy than myself... I spent 10 minutes trying to find my picture folder and the last 20 trying to move the picture to a different location on the page (never did achieve the later).
Here goes...

This is the fourth picture in my picture file. I know ...it's a little strange to have a picture of an earring in your picture file. This picture is of an earring found in Jerusalem and dated 2,000 years ago. Some of you know about my fascination with jewelry design and this just captured my fancy. It is very possible that whoever wore this earring knew Jesus. Somehow it makes me feel connected.

I won't be tagging 4 people because the only bloggers I know personally have already been tagged! I will however, look forward to reading the other tags.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Correct me, Lord

I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own,
it is not for man to direct his steps.
Correct me, Lord, but only with justice, not in your anger
Lest you reduce me to nothing.
Jeremiah 10:23-24

I don't know why but I find this verse tremendously comforting. Maybe because I'd prefer to not be the one in charge of directing my steps and it's lovely to know that in spite of all my sin God will correct me with justice and not with anger.

Correct me, Lord

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Memories

I have spent most of my life blocking out the past. Mostly in order to avoid pain. But now at the ripe old age of almost forty-seven I find myself wanting to return to some of those old memories and savor that which was good.
My oldest friend is Cynthia. We lost touch and haven't seen each other in at least 23 years, (my fault), I don't even remember her married name. Nevertheless I have many memories that stand out like photographs in my mind.
Las Heras, Santa Cruz. I can see myself standing at the door bawling with my mouth wide open because my friend and her family had to go back to Comodoro Rivadavia. I was eight.
Camping at Ventisqueros, Perito Moreno, my ninth (?) birthday. She gave me a box of crayons. We walked through a field where there was a bull, we climbed a glacier and then had to scale a cliff. (Lest you wonder, we were accompanied by our parents). There were wild blueberries at our campsite. Definitely the best birthday ever!
Bahia Blanca, missionary conference. She used to pray that her breasts wouldn't grow... she hated her red curly hair and always covered it with a scarf (to this day I am very partial to little children with red curly hair). Once we went to the zoo and stood very close to the monkey cage, the monkeys reached out and pulled her scarf and then took my glasses and broke them in two.
San Antonio Oeste, Rio Negro. Cream filled pastries, we probably ate 6 a piece and later where horribly sick. I think that was the same night Cynthia's mom made soy bean stew. I have never been able to eat soy since.
I remember camp at General Roca. One year during winter camp we combined our blankets and had such a mountain of bedding on top of us that we couldn't move.
Over the next few years my friend developed quite a fashion sense and I was still sporting the vintage missionary barrell look. That is when I started to allow my insecurity come between us.
I visited her on my honeymoon, and a year or so later went to her wedding. I remember how she looked after she changed into her going-away-on-a-honeymoon outfit.
After all this time I can finally go back to those days and remember. Remember what was good.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Ellie and Esperanza

Don't know what's up with this picture, this is my new niece Ellie Swain. She lives in England. She weighed 13.7 lbs!! Can't wait to meet her!
This is Esperanza Waithira. Her mommy is Mexican and her daddy is Kenyan. I love her.






just practicing adding pictures

Lentils with chicken

I don't know what happened, I had the recipe all written out and it disappeared! so here goes a second attempt and if it doesn't work I may give up blogging completely.
This recipe is easily doubled.

Lentils with chicken
(dedicated to Nicolas and Daniel Hoyt)

1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped (optional but highly recommended as it adds flavor and no discernible heat)
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
chicken or pork, can be boneless breasts, cut in cubes or chicken legs and thighs
1/2 bag lentils
2-4 cups chicken broth
2 limes, juiced
2 packets sazon goya con cilantro y tomate (or whatever seasoning blend you prefer)
chopped cilantro, shaved parmesan or feta, lime wedges

Salt chicken and brown quickly in large saucepan or pot, in small amount of olive oil. (Don't overcook as it will cook more later). Remove from pot and set aside.
If necessary add more olive oil and saute onion and jalapeño until tender. Add garlic and saute a few more minutes over low heat. Add sazon and 1 cup broth, raise heat to high and simmer until slightly reduced (this concentrates the flavors). Add lime juice and lentils. Place chicken pieces on top and add enough broth to cover lentils. Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until lentils are very tender, it may be necessary to add more broth. The end result should be a thick, brothy stew.
Garnish with cilantro and cheese and serve with lime wedges.

Lentils with chicken

I created this recipe many years ago when my boys where little. I'm astounded each time at how much they enjoy this dish, they've been known to eat the leftovers for breakfast! It is both nutritious and inexpensive.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Matthew 11:28-29 (New International Version)


28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.


Oh, how I wish I could figure out how to take hold of this. I am so very weary. This is not a physical exhaustion rather my very soul is exhausted. And yet God has been good.

This week a good friend came to see me. She and her husband have been having problems, she shared her struggles with me. I feel so inadequate with words...

Oh, Lord, protect my sons. Protect them, from Satan's enticements. I feel so inadequate in wisdom...

One of my employees has been consistently resentful towards me. I don't know how to deal with this as I hate conflict in any form. I feel so inadequate in strength...

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord... Come to me... and I will give you rest.
Oh Lord, here I am, hear my prayer. Please give me good words, wisdom and strength. Oh Lord, please give me rest, I don't ask that you remove the burden just that you give me the strength to bear it well.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Pancakes


It is generally acknowledged that I am a good cook. This is not me tooting my own horn, I have the testimony of many requested recipes and the fact that my own boys prefer holiday meals to be at home.



I will however, admit to anyone who is interested, that when it comes to pancakes I am a failure. I have spent some time analyzing why this is and have come to the conclusion that it has to do with my lack of hand-eye coordination (this also explains my miserable years playing volley ball in gym class). In any case, when it comes time to flip the pancake, I find my blood pressure starts climbing. I share this photo as evidence to the truth of my words (the pan was too hot as well, hence the very dark exterior)



Friday, March 14, 2008

First attempt, testing, testing....