The Absence of Pride in the Christmas Story

 I mentioned that I have enjoyed meditating on the Christmas story a verse or two at a time.

I have noted through the past 3 weeks the incredible humility throughout the story.

Bethlehem ... A small town often looked down upon

Mary ... Acknowledging her own lack of worthiness

God in flesh as an infant

The shame placed on Joseph and Mary which they faced their whole life

Joseph's humble submission to God's plan

The humility of the wise man before the child, Jesus

The humble stable

The lowly shepherds as first guests

God chose humble characters.

He honors humility.

He lived humility before us in the person of Christ (Philippians 2)

The "perfect," family Christmas pictures are pouring in on Christmas cards.

The internet is filled with beautiful homes decorated for the holidays.

There are tables decked with glorious, festive meals.

It can be easy to feel a need to compete,

Or a need to promote ones self,

Or feelings of unworthiness.

When you feel like you are lacking,

When you feel the desire to find something to boast about,

Just remember that you have unique gifts and abilities.

Use them to God's glory and humbly do your best in the other areas.

God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.

In Case You Are Free

One thing we have enjoyed doing this season
is planning a Christmas Eve service at our church.
I learned a little bit of PowerPoint to prepare the carols.
We are decorating tonight with fresh greenery and LED candles galore.
Hopefully, there will even be some crockpot potpourri with a pleasant Christmas smell.

It will be a simple service,
no fancy choirs,
no orchestras,
but there will be Scripture readings,
lots of familiar carols,
and a Bible message.

While most of my readers are in the Eastern time zone,
if you are still up at 7 Pacific (10 Eastern),
you could join us for our service.
It would be a pleasant background for your last minute wrapping or cooking.
It would be a way to prepare your heart for Christmas morning if you have not already had a service
and you are not in great need of sleep.
One of my favorite preachers will be bringing the message
and some of my Sunday School students will sing and play duets.

And here's the link. 

Timing is Everything

 This post has been in my mind since Thanksgiving,
but I can finally sit, breathe, and actually write it ...
and give it a Christmas twist.

Timing is everything,
especially if it is God's timing.

But when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman,
made under the law,
Galatians 4:4

The birth of Jesus seems anything but perfect.
Poverty, stables, shepherds, death plots.
But God knew what He was doing.
He sent His Son at the perfect time.

A year and a half ago,

we uprooted and crossed the country 
knowing that it was what God would have us to do.
But just because we knew it was God's plan did not mean that it was without struggle.

It came with human struggle.
We missed friends in NC.
We were far from our family in the east.
We were "useful" for 6 months of the year
and seemed to wander for the other 6 months.
We were in a liberal state during riots and protests.

The struggle was human.
Because God had told us to go
we should have let His peace reign.
He provided a home,
in a pleasant neighborhood close to town,
with a job not 10 minutes from home,
with "flexible" hours,
and He had made it all happen.

But He, in His grace, chose to show us His perfect timing this fall.
He moved us at the perfect time.
In October, we found out that this was the time we were needed.
Our family in Oregon was now in need of care,
not just a little care, but possibly end of life care.
Cancer and heart disease had struck and hit hard.

God moved us before Covid.
He got us settled before we were thrust into a new world of medical appointments.
There were no months of warning,
there was no time to prepare for a move,
there was no time to quarantine when we were immediately needed.
God knew that.
God set it up.
He could see what we could not.

And now you know where I have been,
and you will excuse any long absence.
For a little while at least, the medical appointments have slowed down.
We are enjoying a simplified Christmas season - 
one that had to cut a lot of the pleasant, but "fluff," elements of the celebration
in favor of our most focused Christmas ever (I think.)
I have enjoyed writing 3 verses of the Christmas story or Christmas prophecy each morning and really dwelling on small pieces instead of the whole story.
I have been more thankful for God (and His timing)
and am, at least for now, remembering to trust His way as best.

Choose Your Hard

 On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays,
I "enjoy" an interval run.
It is far from enjoyment.
It is an exercise in discipline.

I warm up for 5 minutes, run for 3, walk for 2, run for 3, walk for 2, ...
I continue for 35 minutes or 6 cycles.

As I ran last week on a particularly drippy day,
I thought of how much motivation it took to get myself outside.
I do not enjoy this activity ...
... at least until I reach the end,
... until I sleep so well at night,
... until I see the resting heart rate and blood pressure lowering,
... until I feel the accomplishment of beating my 20-year-old self.

There are a lot of hard choices.

I saw a quote that said something like ...

Work is hard, being broke is hard,
Choose your hard.
Exercise is hard, being unfit is hard,
Choose your hard.
Communicating is hard, not communicating is hard,
Choose your hard.
Marriage is hard, divorce is hard,
Choose your hard.

You get the idea.
I run because I want to stay mobile and healthy.
I want to enjoy the life I have.
I want to avoid the doctor when I can.
I value mobility more than I despise the intervals.

So you may face an issue that requires discipline.
It may be a hard choice.
But the alternative may not be easy either.
Make the effort to be disciplined today.

Choose to spend time with the Lord.
Choose to memorize His Word.
Choose to eat right.
Choose to take care of your body.
Choose to speak with grace.
Choose not to react in anger.

Choose the best hard.

Filled to Overflowing

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

 What is filling you?

In so asking, I also ask ... what is flowing out of you?

This week, we have heard much about politics.

It has been an unusual week.

But the question is: Are you filled and overflowing with Scripture?
I was challenged to look at a thanksgiving passage each day this month.
The first verse on the list included this verse.

And I thought, what is filling me?
A life saturated with the Word will spill over into the lives of others.
What is spilling?
Is it profitable?
Nothing is more profitable than God's Word!

As I thought about this, I prepared for church with a specific verse on my tongue.

Habakkuk 2:20
But the LORD is in his holy temple:
let all the earth keep silence before him.  

I want my words to be God's Words and to overflow with life for others.

Are you ready for church tomorrow or for work this week?
Are you saturated with the news?
a book?
a movie?
or with the life-giving Word?

The choice I want is obvious,
but it will take discipline and focus.
But oh, it is worth it!

A Challenge for November

Our church family has been challenged for the month of November.
The challenge is to pray for another family in the church each day of the month - 30 days.
The challenge includes sending them encouragement,
letting them know why they are appreciated.
The challenge can even include gifts of gratitude.

I guess it is kind of a "Secret Santa" or "Secret Sister" type idea.

But doesn't God work in your heart as you focus on others?
Don't you sympathize more and criticize less while you are focusing on the needs of another? 
Isn't there a blessing in looking for the good in others and holding others up?

While our challenge was done so that no family would be left out,
is there someone in your sphere that you would commit to encourage this month?

Just Turn it Over

 Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God.

It seems like there are
cares,
worries,
concerns,
stressors
all around us. 

God already knows my burdens and cares,
but He wants to hear from me ...
every burden,
every care,
every worry.
I can thank Him as I turn every care over to His loving care
knowing that He will deal with the burdens in His will and way.

Lord, forgive me when I have an apathetic approach to prayer.
You want to hear from me.
You want to show yourself strong on my behalf.

Another Month Gone

 I can't believe that another month has gone by.

Hubby is back to teaching for a week or two, 

so I have a couple of extra hours a few evenings of each week to return to the blogosphere.

It has been a month of more changes and of making adaptations.

I determined to be more discipline in my housework.

I did get though the whole house in the month of September.

I am headed back through this month and getting some of the grime left behind by the smoke of the fires.

I determined to get back to running regularly.

Running (or wogging) is a relative term.

Hubby was wogging with me on Saturdays, but

I am now interval walk/jogging 2 other days each week by myself.

It seems to be the best way to get my heart rate in the peak zone to boost my stamina.

It also lowers my resting heart rate.

We have additional family responsibilities again.

It is nice to do what we came here to do,

but it does require additional time - 

especially on the weekends.

I am now teaching weekly.

I continue to have my little friends over to the house

for one hour each week to prepare specials for church.

And I am teaching a Sunday School class each Sunday.

Of course, this prep work has taken time as well.

And then, we always seem continue to adapt our diet 

as we determine what really fuels our bodies and keeps us feeling good.

We have been learning to use many more plant-based meals throughout the week.

I never really imagined that, but here we are.

This too has taken more research and time to find quality meals that provide all the nutrients we need without using meat and dairy all of the time.

And this leads me to the delicious meal that we had tonight.

A delicious Lentil and Quinoa Stew

The recipe called for beef, but also said that it could be left out.

The quinoa and the lentils provided plenty of protein.

And the quinoa has lowered hubby's blood pressure amazingly.

During his time in the military, he was actually hypertensive,

but now he is on the low side of normal!

Ingredients

2 tbsp extra light olive oil

½ cup quinoa (washed and rinsed)

1½ cups dried lentils (washed and rinsed)

½ cup carrots (peeled, chopped)

1 medium onion (chopped)

1 cup butternut squash (diced) 

2 bay leaves

1 tsp ground cumin

1½ tsp Himalayan salt

½ tsp Dried Oregano

½ tsp dried basil

¼ tsp dried rosemary

¼ tsp celery seeds

1 pinch rubbed sage

1 tsp ground black pepper

¼ tsp fennel seeds 

6 cups beef bone broth 

1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

• Heat oil in a deep pot over medium heat.  Add the quinoa and toss to coat. Once coated, add the lentils, onions, carrots, butternut squash and all herbs and spices along with the beef bone broth.
• Bring to a boil before reducing the heat to a low simmer. Cover and allow to simmer for 20-30 minutes until the quinoa and lentils are cooked, adding water (and/or stock) as needed. Gently turn the ingredients occasionally to ensure that they don't stick or burn, and to ensure that there is enough liquid in the pot.
• Once the quinoa and lentils are fully cooked, discard the bay leaves and juniper berries and stir in the coconut oil.
• Turn off the heat and cover the pot for at least 15 minutes to allow the ingredients' flavors to meld together.

It was just so yummy on a cool fall night with some fresh bread.

The fennel seeds really give it a warm, pleasant flavor.

The recipe said it would feed 4,  but the portions were quite large.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

 

... And a thousand thanks.

Thanks to God for sending rain.

Thanks to those who have been praying.

No guarantees that it will permanently clear the air,

But the relief is great today.

I Have An Addiction

 I am going through withdrawals

and they are not easy to deal with.

I am addicted to my almost daily walks

and to fresh air.

The past week and counting have shown me just how addicted I am.

As the air quality has been in the "hazardous" zone, we have stayed in.

It appears that the levels are coming down.

Today we are at the "unhealthy" level.

We are still praying for a good soaking rain or a favorable wind.

It will probably take a while to clear the valley,

also known as "The Valley of Death" because it traps air and allergens.

I have missed my nearly daily walks outside

and walking dates with my hubby.

An addiction to walking is not bad.

In fact, it is what has kept us sane many times in the past year.

Hubby is using a respirator to survive his days at work.

He mentioned possibly getting me one so that we can walk outside again.

We'll see!

Now, if only I could get addicted to broccoli!

WAITING, PATIENCE, BLESSINGS

 It is certainly rare that I write on a Saturday.

Then again, it has been an odd Saturday,

or perhaps an odd week.

On Labor Day evening, the smoke started drifting into our little town.

We have been inside most of the week because the air quality is so poor.

Our yard is full of ashes.

The siding on the house is filthy.

In fact, we tried to carry on with our Burgerville Friday night tradition last night

and they had closed due to the poor conditions (especially for the worker at the pick up window).

Today, we just planned to stay in for the day.

Usually, our Saturdays start with a "wog."

I am not a fast jogger and my jog actually looks like a fast walk,

so I call it a "wog."

We actually interval run together.

We will run for 3 minutes, walk for 2 minutes for 7 cycles - 35 minutes.

When we complete that, we will find a coffee or juice treat in town.

Then we finish our steps for the entire day (13,000) and head home.

Then we have brunch around 11,

clean up,

and then enjoy our Bible study for the day.

We started this schedule about 2 months ago and have really enjoyed it.

I only cook 2 times on Saturday and we enjoy something snacky in between meals or a special treat after dinner.

Today, we were not going to be able to interval run outside.

So we woke up and did a walking video inside.

A good 70 minutes of walking.

While we didn't get all of our steps for the day, it was a good start.

We carried on with our brunch tradition and enjoyed cinnamon raisin french toast.

Then we cleaned up and did our Bible study.

Then it was time for another 30-minute indoor walking video,

followed by a family movie.

How about another 30-minute indoor walk

followed by dinner?

We had a BBQ Salmon BLT salad.

Delicious.

And now we are blogging "together."

Later tonight, we will have a little strawberry shortcake as our treat.

All that to get to my point about waiting.

Right now we are doing a lot of waiting.

Waiting for an evacuation order?

Waiting for rain.

Waiting for the smoke to clear.

Waiting to walk outside again.

Life is full of waiting.

Last week, I thought about this verse because of some different struggles in our life.

Psalm 145:15

The eyes of all wait upon thee;

and thou givest them their meat in due season.

The true Christian life is one of dependence,

is one of patience and waiting, 

is one of trust.

I personally hate waiting.

I hate being patient.

But I have to remind my flesh that God's timing is perfect and His plans and blessings are worth the wait!

I don't necessarily know what "smoke" is hemming you in.

I don't know what you are waiting on.

But I do know that you are waiting.

Everyone is or should be waiting for God's next step in his/her life.

Just remember that it will be worth the wait.

He is waiting to give the blessing "in due season."

Looking for the Little Things

"He enjoys much who is thankful for little."

-Thomas Secker-

We should be thankful for the little things every day,

but some times those little things really become big things.

In Western Oregon, the weather is VERY moderate.

Air Conditioning, while nice, is not really a necessity like it is in some areas.

Because of the poor air quality the past few days, we have had to close the house up completely,

and we have become more thankful for the airconditioning in our little rental home.

It is just another "little" thing that God saw in advance 

and prepared for us and our comfort.

Today, I am thankful for our airconditioning.

Not Later, How About Now?

Two weeks ago, I wrote about some jobs that I have been putting off,

those undesirable jobs that are not weekly, but do need done more than yearly
or more than just when packing to move.😀
Did you check any of the undesirable jobs off of your to-do list?

Funny thing is ... after I mentioned some of those jobs,
I was actually forced to address some of those dreaded jobs.

The day I wrote that blog, hubby came home sick.
So when he recovered, ALL the bedding got washed-
duvet cover, pillows ...
and since he was also in the living room ...
throw pillows and covers and blankets in there as well.

I really liked the not so gentle prod to get moving
and downloaded a phone app that gives me a good list of those infrequent jobs divided by week.
The first week was fairly easy - entryway, dining room, and hallway.
It did include the cobwebs outside the door that needed to be removed.

Last week, the focus was on the kitchen,
so the cupboards got washed,
the dreaded refrigerator cleaned,
and the stove cleaned.

Because of the holiday on Monday,
I haven't started this week's focus rooms,
but it will be the guest room and the 3 bathrooms.
Since I just scoured the bathroom floors,
this shouldn't be too bad.

And once again, I am forced to address some other undesirable jobs.
This actually does have to be put off for at least a day or two.
The Eastern Oregon fires are creating a great mess in our little valley.
The air is thick with ash and there is a silvery dust EVERYWHERE outside.
So the newly formed cobwebs are emphasized and the whole house exterior will need to be washed down.
The sidewalk will need to be washed.
So while it won't be addressed until the air clears,
there is no choice but to get out there and get it done.
Oh, and I guess the car will need a good cleaning as well.

Always

"It is ALWAYS safe to trust the Lord

in times of famine and feasting,

blessing and bondage."

I recently started reading through Genesis again in preparation for my new Sunday School class.

The editors of this Bible had written this quote in the introduction.

They linked it to the generations in Genesis.

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.

They all went through hard times.

They all saw good times and bad.

Sometimes they met the times before them in faith.

Other times they met with self-sufficiency or doubt and fear.

Typically at the end of the trial, they had learned that reliance on God is really the best and only option.

We live in troublous times, don't we?

There is so much around us that in the flesh I want to take care of on my own.

But the right answer is always to trust God,

to be in His Word,

to be following that Word.

Even yesterday on our long walk,

we were mentioning all that God had done for us in the last year.

As we walked by apartment after apartment that was full or that wasn't open as hubby searched,

we recognized that God was in control to put us in a HOUSE that was right for us.
God knew that the apartment fitness center that we were ready to use would be closed for Covid.

He gave us a garage for plenty of workout space!

He knew better than we did the parts of town that were less than desirable because of drug activity.

He put us in a perfect location for work and shopping and walking.

As I mentioned, my flesh wants to take control,

to put everything in its place,

to know the next steps months ahead of time,

but where would the trust be in that?

Perhaps some of our struggles right now

as individuals, as families, as churches, as a nation

are a little reminder to us to just trust and obey.

Just do right.

As Elizabeth Eliot would say,

"Just do the next right thing."

Happy Labor Day!

 To each laborer who is contributing to the wellbeing of our country,

I wish you a very Happy Labor Day!

The laborer in our home had the day off

and we enjoyed a time of "rest."

Well, maybe it wasn't too restful.

We did get some extra rest (of about 2 hours) this morning.

We started with a couples workout or two - 

one for him and one for me.

We enjoyed brunch.

A fried potato and sausage hash, over-easy eggs, and some avocado.

After our Bible study,

we hit the road for a walk - one that lasted about 3 hours.

Our devices told us that we walked for about 140 minutes.

We did stop for a cold drink,

and did wander around a cool Hobby Lobby for a bit.

Then we picnicked for supper.

We grilled some burgers and shared a personal watermelon to celebrate the day and the unofficial end of summer.

We finished all that by about 5:00 and now the restful night begins.

I am enjoying blogging beside hubby tonight.

If you haven't checked out his blog,

check the sidebar for a link.

The Comfort of a Schedule

 Are you a regimented person?
Love it?
Hate it?

I suppose we are all wired differently in this area.

Hubby and I are definitely creatures of habit.
It has come to our attention as we interact with others
that our schedule is not only a framework for us,
but a framework for them as they relate with us.

"Let's get together ... just not Monday or Friday, right?"
"Did you make it on your run yesterday?"
"How was Burgerville last night?  You went, right?"
"You didn't walk yesterday, you run on Saturday mornings"

My mom knows what days I am cleaning and shopping.
The church people know when we interval run mostly because they see me huffing and puffing down the street.
By now many have figured out that USUALLY on Friday night we will be headed to Burgerville
(we will make an exception this week so that we can grill our own burgers on Labor Day).

There is comfort in the structure.
There is an ease of scheduling because I know that everything has a time.
It is fairly easy to make plans because I know when hubby has to study and what nights are free.
I know when I can work on "wife" projects after dinner and when we will have moments as a couple.

1 Corinthians 14:40
Let all things be done decently and in order.

Maybe our schedule is ordered to a fault,

but I do hope you have some type of a frame to hang your days on ...
Not a plan that pushes out spontaneity or ministry opportunities,

but a plan that gives you comfort knowing that you have a plan to accomplish the tasks before you
and maybe a plan that helps other people hold you accountable.

Change of Plans

 So I posted last week's menu plan ...
and it flew out the window.

The men at work decided to share and share some more
and hubby came home sick on Wednesday morning.
So for about 4 days,
it was more nothing or very simple meals that would settle well.
Jello - mashed potatoes and gravy - simple sandwiches - eggs - toast

So this week's menu has quite a few repeats from last week
(though they are not really repeated).

And hubby did bounce back rather quickly.
He was back to work on Friday 
and though we skipped our Saturday interval run, he did join me for a long walk around town.

Sunday
Eggs, Toast, Avocado, Breakfast Sausage
One-Pot Tuscan Chicken Skillet (a McCormick seasoning packet)
Grilled Cheese

Monday
Eggs, Toast, Avocado, Breakfast Sausage
Leftover Tuscan Chicken with a side salad
Southwest Sweet Potato Hash

Tuesday
Yogurt Parfaits
Chef Salad
Crunchy Thai Peanut Quinoa

Wednesday
Smoothie
Leftover Crunchy Thai Peanut Quinoa
Almond flour Pancakes and Fruit

Thursday
Yogurt Parfait
Veggie Egg Salad
Kung Pao Chickpeas

Friday
Quiche
Chicken Burritos
Sweet and Sour Shrimp Rice Bowl

Saturday
BLTs
Panera Salads

Not Now, Maybe Later

I have quite a few of those jobs.

"MAYBE LATER" jobs!

You probably do to.

I accomplished two of those jobs last week.

The first was the linoleum in the kitchen and bathrooms.
While they do get cleaned weekly,
I realized that I had not really scrubbed / scoured them since we moved in.
It is one of those jobs that doesn't yield a dramatic result,
but it needed to be done.
So out came the vinegar and the baking soda.
Out came the rubbing alcohol to shine it all up.
Was it a huge transformation?
No!
But it needed to be done.

The second was the shower curtain liner.
It was brand new when we moved in and then was scrubbed in February,
but it needed to be done again.
Not my favorite job.
Again, only semi-satisfying results.
But it needed to be done.

I have a few more "maybe later" jobs hanging out.

The entry way that gets covered with spider webs and bugs.
Discouraging because within 2 days it will need doing again.
But it needs to be done.

Curtains need to be washed and pressed again.

Pillows need to be washed and dried.

The refrigerator is in need of a good cleaning.

So what are you putting off?

Why not check one of those items off this week?

And as a little side note:
If you are one of my nieces and nephews reading the blog,
why not grab one of those undesirable jobs this week.
I know you can do it.

What's on Your Plate?

 It has been a long time since I posted some ideas of what we are eating this week.

Our Breakfast meals are the same every day except Friday and Saturday.

Lunch is typically leftovers, sandwich, or salad.

Dinner is the variable (unless you are looking at Sunday night, Wednesday night, or Friday night).
Sunday night is a grilled cheese.
Wednesday night is Breakfast for dinner night because it is usually a little easier to digest while sitting in church.
Friday is our night to have burgers at Burgerville (though it is open for Panera or Jimmy Johns as well)

What's going on this week?

Sunday
Eggs, Avocado Toast, Breakfast Sausage, Fruit
Sausage and Pasta
Grilled Cheese

Monday
Eggs, Avocado Toast, Breakfast Sausage, Fruit
Sausage and Pasta (leftover)
Chicken Taquitos and Smoothies

Tuesday
Yogurt Parfaits
Sausage and Pasta (leftover)
Thai Chicken Pizza

Wednesday
Smoothie
Chef Salad
Sweet Potato Hash

Thursday
Yogurt Parfait
Veggie Egg Salad
Burrito Bowls

Friday
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Chicken Burritos
Burgerville

Saturday
Brunch - BLT
Tilapia, Roasted Broccoli, French fries or mac and cheez

Time for a Reset

 While not totally ignorant in the realm of electronics,
there is always a fair amount of frustration that comes when a device does not work as expected.
My beloved Fitbit is often the prime culprit.
It won't sync.
It won't scroll through the screens.
It is just acting peculiar.
And then it is time for the reset button.
Just the simple act gets the device working as designed.
Something had gotten in the way and need to be cleared.

I feel like life recently has put me in the need of a reset.
It is easy to fill "dead" time with amusements (literally without thoughts).
The "shutdown" gave an "excuse"
but there really is no excuse for not using every moment wisely.

God keeps putting his finger on my heart.
Lessons in Colossians about the new "clothes" or traits that I should be wearing.
Lessons from Philippians on forgetting the past and pressing toward things before me.
Communication with a young woman who was conscientiously curbing her screen time.
The desire to be the best example to those around me while watching some bad habits creep in.

I just need to hit reset.
Clear the clutter.
Choose the best.
Focus on things that are eternal, things that will last.
Practice godly disciplines in time, in thoughts, in Bible Study, Bible Memory, and Prayer.

No, the Tuesday Transformation is not a picture from my house.
It is not a change in my physique.
It is prayerfully a change of mind that leads to a change in action
(yeah, that's the definition of repentance and the basis of a true reset).

This Day in History

 Most of my readers (family and friends) were in the same place on this day in history 2002.

It was a warm, humid day in NY - Latham, NY to be exact.

It is the day that I married my sweetheart.

18 YEARS!

It is hard to believe it.

And yet, so much has happened.

So much has changed.
We have changed as individuals and as a couple.
Hubby laughs when I say something bold or act with confidence.
I don't know if it is age or his influence on me, but I am more outspoken then I was back then.
Our first year (ok, our first 5 years of marriage) was spent on the go.
If hubby was not working, we were exploring.
Today, the perfect weekend is a "wog" together, brunch, and peace and quiet.
We are happily "homebodies."
We have made cross country moves 3 times,
lived in 4 states,
lived in apartments, trailers, and duplexes.

And some things haven't changed.
Our home is typically still quiet, just the two of us.
Despite our ideas, the Lord never opened the door for "full-time" ministry.
And we still enjoy being a couple and spending time together.

We celebrated on Saturday.
Yes, there was a "wog."
There was a brunch.
We mini golfed for the first time in years (we think since NY 2003).
We enjoyed cold brew coffee lattes at home.
And I made shrimp scampi and blackberry lemon bars for our celebratory dinner.

The lemon bars are perfect for a summer evening and the blackberries are plentiful right now.

Ingredients

CRUST:

1 cup Gluten-free rolled oats 

½ cup almonds

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil or butter

2-4 tablespoons cold water (start with LESS, add more if needed)

FILLING:

4 eggs

½ cup maple syrup

½  cup lemon juice (fresh is best_

3 tablespoons coconut flour 

1.5 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel

pinch of salt

1½ cup fresh blackberries (blueberries or raspberries can be used instead)

Instructions

CRUST:

Preheat oven to 350F.
To make the crust, combine oats, almonds, sugar, and salt in a food processor.
Blend until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add oil and then add water one tablespoon at a time, blend just until mixture comes together.
It should easily press together, but not be overly wet.
Sometimes it may only take 2-3 tablespoons, so it's important not to add all of the water at once.

Press mixture into the bottom of a well-greased 8x8-inch pan.
Bake in the 350F oven for 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool while you make the lemon filling.

LEMON FILLING:

In a blender or processor, add eggs, honey/maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut flour, lemon peel, and salt.
Blend until smooth.
 Carefully pour mixture over the oat crust and sprinkle berries evenly over the filling.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are golden brown and the filling in the middle has set.
Remove and let cool before placing in the refrigerator.
Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Store remaining bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Things That are Different are Not the Same 6

 Legal Drugs.

It's not the only state that has voted in recreational drugs, 
but it is the first one that we have lived in.

It is common to see the dispensary symbol (a green cross) around the area.

There are at least 5 dispensaries in our little town.

Time Away

 I know,
I returned only to disappear ...
but I had good reason.

Last Friday,
we pulled one of those silly road trips ...
you know, the one where you drive 8 hours
to spend 36 hours
to drive another 8 hours.

That leads me to a "Thankful Thursday" post.
I am thankful for a change of scenery, time away, and time with family.

We spent last weekend in Boise, ID.
We went to see family
including meeting a new nephew-in-law and 2 great-nephews.

We were primarily visiting a hubby's sister who is more like a second mom.
And yes, we were spoiled over the weekend.
She is also gluten and dairy-free, so no real traps to avoid in the food department,
they introduced us to a great flatbread restaurant
and treated us with time on the water.
We hit the water early to avoid a busy waterway (and less than half-dressed people).
It was chilly and the water choppy when we started,
but it calmed down and warmed up before too long.
(The highs in Boise while we were there were 105-110)

All in all - a good trip.

But it did take a bit to catch up from the weekend
plus we are in the process of updating some technology around the house
which also takes so extra time
thus my extended absence.

Not Forgotten

It is a Thankful Thursday!

Yes, even in the midst of Covid-19 and protests and election cycles,

there is always something to be thankful for.

Today, I am thankful for the "rememberers" of others.

We have moved a couple of times

and there are always tears and promises made at the time of separation.

 "We'll keep in touch!"

Often times, within a year, the communication dies off.

There is something to "out of sight, out of mind."

There is a necessity to meeting needs and ministering to those near to you.

But even in the last week,

I have received two cards and multiple texts from North Carolina.

I have had a message from a friend from my "growing up" years.

There is a certain blessing in being remembered

and for that, I wish to be thankful.

I also want to be thankful again for the zucchini given to me.

The muffins mentioned in Monday's post were really good.

I'm Sorry --- I Can't Be Proud of You

How many times do we hear it?

I'm so proud of you!

I'm proud of what I have accomplished!

I'm proud to be an American!

I'm proud of the stands I have taken!

I'm proud of my work!

I'm proud of my children!

But the Bible has nothing good to say about pride.

In fact, God resists the proud.

Perhaps He even gives thorns to help us resist pride.

II Corinthians 12:7

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, 

there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, 

the messenger of Satan to buffet me, 

lest I should be exalted above measure.

Paul easily could have been lifted up in pride.

Indeed, he was a great apostle, writer, teacher of doctrine.

He even listed his titles and accomplishments and were they not impressive?

He felt that His thorn kept Him from being lifted up.

Hubby and I were reading a book the other night about the Spurgeons.

Mr. Spurgeon - "the prince of preachers" - and yet the author relayed an incident in his early preaching ministry that stuck with him the rest of his life and perhaps held his ministry back.

It made us think of Paul's verse about his thorn.

I can think of  MANY areas that I struggle with in the area of pride.

I can also think of "thorns" that help me to keep those areas of pride in check (sometimes😖)

For years, I have excused it as semantics.

I said "proud" but I meant thankful, I meant pleased, I meant ...

but I don't anymore.

All things are supposed to bring glory to God, not me.

Perhaps we should use Bible phrases ...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

 "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

"But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord."

Think about it!

Would it be so bad to erase it from our vocabulary?

Do we really want to be described as proud?

Some Change

Multiple Meanings Ahead

It seems like there is change occurring all around us each day.

New rules, new policies, new stats ...

Right now America is going through a change shortage.

The signs in the store requiring exact change or credit and debit only are odd.

I am still earning some change daily.

If you have been reading long, you know that I love my Fitbit.

They should hire me to be an Ambassador for them.

I love the accountability and the challenge it gives me.

It has helped me to learn about my health and fitness.

Did you know that it tells me when I am getting sick?

Yes, my resting heart rate will skyrocket (at least 5 beats per minute)  a day or so before I go down.

The Fitbit also earns me money!

There is a website that lets you earn money for tracking your steps, your weight, your food, your water.

Whether you use a Fitbit, a Garmin, myfitnesspal, mapmyrun...

you just link it and earn points.

I earn about 500 points a week,

and after I earn 10,000 points,

they deposit $10 into my Paypal account.

Since we have two trackers in the house,

it is a fun little surprise every couple of months.

We have used the Achievement website for over 3 years with no problems.

If you are interested (and comfortable with the sharing of this type of information) and sign up using one of the links below, both of us get 100 points.

http://tinyurl.com/yxquyjfl

http://tinyurl.com/us4whla

And while we are on the topic,

hubby and I updated our trackers earlier in the year.

We have two trackers that are still perfectly usable and with multiple bands for each.

Check them out ... the Alta HR and the Charge HR

If you are interested, just comment or get in touch with me by text or email if you know me personally.

We would be happy to mail them off!

We will send them individually

but would be happy if they helped a couple or a family to challenge each other😀

**UPDATE**
the trackers have been claimed!

Don't mind the excess ...

It is not quite National Zucchini Day,

but it does appear that they are in season in these parts.

"August 8 Zucchini Day

Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor's Porch Day on August 8th offers gardeners a way to rid themselves of extra produce. For some, this day offers a way to rid their garden of an overproducing squash plan."

No one has to sneak it on my porch.
I will make use of it.
In fact, a church friend brought some to share last Wednesday.
And aren't they so much prettier when the boy working in produce has not used it like a baseball bat?

We enjoyed it in our hash on Saturday.
We enjoyed "Faux Crab Cakes" made with zucchini tonight.
And tomorrow I will try a new muffin recipe complete with zucchini, applesauce, dates as the sweetener ...
sounds like a winner.
I am just in zucchini spirits because just writing these ideas makes me long to put some dish with zoodles (zucchini noodles) on the menu this week.

Hope you are enjoying some of the fresh fruits and veggies of the seasons.
The blackberries are just about ready here in town.
In fact, it is a struggle to pass so many as we walk to and from town - I just want to stop and snack! - I just have to find a good place to pick and a good time to do it.  In the PNW, they grow like weeds!  Then it will be time for a pie, I think.

Where have you been? The Conclusion

Well, I think that you, my friends and family,

are all caught up.

The summation of the past 4-5 months has led me to a conclusion.

As I finished this series of posts,

I was reminded of a conversation that I once had with an older woman in NC.

She was discouraged,

she felt as if she had no ministry,

she wanted to do more, to help more.

I remember encouraging her to look outside the normal "ministry" spots.

I encouraged her to try something new.

These posts show a bit of that need to heed my own advice.

Where have I been?

I have been in the school of patience,

in the school of flexibility,

in the school of waiting (sometimes different than patience).

I have been in a school that called for some creativity.

I have been in a school of relying on God alone (and that is a good thing).

God is always good.

There are always ways to serve Him.

There are always people who need you (and me, too).

And two little side notes:

First, thanks to all those who welcomed me back to the blogosphere with a hearty, "We missed you!"

And second, a funny little "I am still learning as a wife" moment.

A friend challenged me to post 7 days of pictures of hubby and me together.

I did a walk down memory lane.

Day one - a dating picture

Day two - wedding day and honeymoon

Day three - NY pics

Day four - WA pics

Day five - NC pics

Day six - OR pics

Then I needed one more pic for the last day.

So I took a picture in the garage before hubby left for work.

His comment:

"I wondered why you brushed your hair before I left."

Guess who has been running a brush through her hair as soon as she wakes up.

Yeah!  Guess I had gotten a little slack.

Have a good weekend, all!