Meeting a Need

I love tomato soup.

Warm and creamy.

So satisfying.

When we had to go gluten free,

we were at a loss.

No more Campbells tomato soup.

Then when we cut dairy substantially,

well ...

I tried to make it myself,

but to no avail.

Last week in the "sicky" season

and with some cool days,

I decided to try again.

I found one that hubby immediately requested again

and one he believed was better than the "boxed version" that was a special treat due to price.

Roasted Tomato soup

2 lbs tomato

 6 garlic cloves, peeled and whole

1/4 med. red onion

1 jalapeno pepper, halved and seeded

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP balsamic vinegar

2 sprigs oregano

3-4 basil leaves

salt pepper

2 c broth or water

parmesan

Preheat Oven to 375*

Cut tomatoes in half and place in baking dish cut side down.

Add onion, garlic, pepper, oregano and basil to pan

Drizzle veggies with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Season with salt and pepper.

Bake 45 min.

Place roasted vegetables in blender and puree.

Add broth or water until soup has desired consistency.

Garnish with cheese.

16

Indulge me my annual February memories.

Today we celebrate the 16th anniversary of the day that we were introduced.

Latham Bible Baptist Church ... Latham, NY
February 10, 2002 ... following pm church service

 A first grade teacher ... a young Sailor

East meets west

city meets country

We laugh about the differences,

but God has made 2 - 1.

The differences have diminished.

God is good.

Daily I thank him for the gift of a loving husband,

a husband who seeks God daily,

a man with a strong work ethic,

Friday Forum: Entertaining Children

A few weeks ago,

we had the privilege to entertain a family with 4 littles.

While we are comfortable around children,

and our home is "relatively" child-proof,

there are things we wonder.

Do you have a go-to meal for families with children?

If you do not entertain, what meals would your children enjoy?

What makes a visit to someone else's home more comfortable with your children?

An Amazing Body

On this Thankful Thursday,

I am thankful for an amazing body.

No, not shape, not strength, not looks,

but the ability to heal.

Shortly after the post about flu-fighting last week,

hubby got a respiratory bug.

At the end of the week, we spent some quiet days - 

lots of rest, extra sleep, healthy food.

And then yesterday,

I got a large head cold.

So I am spending today with little work

and lots of liquids.

I am so thankful that God created the body to repair and heal itself.

I am thankful for the ability to stop, rest, and recouperate.

I am also thankful for the beautiful sun outside.

It is warming my "sickie" chair.

It is also warming the air enough to have the windows open for a bit today.

Feel Better Soup

There are so many things that make a person feel better.

For me ...

a walk in the sunshine,

sunshine streaming in the windows,

mowing the lawn,

playing in the dirt (weeding and gardening),

doing something nice for someone else.

Today,

I got to enjoy the sun.

I got to play in the dirt.

I buried my winter compost in the garden.

Tonight, I just feel better.

Sometimes,

it might be a bowl of soup.

Soup when you are cold,

soup when you aren't feeling well.

We tried a variation on chicken soup this weekend,

and hubbers wanted me to assure him that it would not be lost.

Korean Chicken Soup

8 cups chicken broth

2 TBSP finely chopped garlic

2 TBSP finely grated fresh ginger

1/2 c rice (I used brown, but it would be faster with white)

1 TSBP soy sauce (or tamari)

1 tsp toasted sesame oil (mine was plain sesame oil)

1-2 tsp hot chile paste or hot chile sauce

1 c shredded chicken (I used 1 lb)

2 green onions finely chopped

1 TBSP sesame seeds (mostly for decoration)

Combine broth, garlic and ginger in soup pot.

Bring to boil over high heat.

Add rice, reduce the heat to med-low and simmer until rice is tender.

Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil; add chili paste or sauce to taste.

Add chicken and heat through.

Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

AAHH! Sight.

About 2 weeks ago,

I got a great big scratch on my glasses.

A very large scratch ... right in my line of vision.

I was not really planning on purchasing another pair of glasses 

since I had only had mine a little over a year and a half.

Now I had no choice.

For the time being, I wore my old glasses and just removed them for reading,

but I sure did miss my progressive lenses.

I just did not like the idea of $350 dollars for glasses.

We had had great success with hubby and an online glasses company called Coastal.

For $19 - he got a great pair of glasses and he loved them.

BUT, I had read that progressives were a little more touchy.

I just had to try.

I went through Zenni.

For a little over $50 - I ordered my glasses -

and I got them today!

not so good at computer selfies

On this Thankful Thursday,

I am thankful that the experiment was a success.

The glasses fit,

the prescription is right,

I am happy to see again and to be able to wear my glasses all day.
And I can't complain about the savings.

The lenses are a little "taller" than my last, but online won't put progressives in anything to small.

I believe that the key is the PD.

I tried the online calculators for this and compared it to the PD that Walmart gave me 1 1/2 years ago.

The PD I got online was off.

So if you decide to go this route,

get your PD from your doctor or your last glasses order.

Oh, and if you are worried about size.

Your store glasses should have 3 size numbers on the frames.

You can search for new frames with those same numbers.

And yes, hubby is studying in the background.

Respiratory problems kept him home today.

January Update

Thank you for holding me accountable.
There is something about putting your goals out and letting others know.
Most of you would not ask probably and are too far away to check up on me,
but you have encouraged me to greater diligence this month.
I am still far from where I want to be, but I am encouraged to see progress.

Personal Goals

Blog at least 3 times a week  (you all can attest to this one)

Develop (and use) a Prayer Journal to be more focused in prayer by February. 
(was encouraged to use 3x5 cards - just put together yesterday and am excited)

Read through the Bible in the year. (On track)

Memorize 24 Psalms (1-24) - 2 per month.  (Psalm 1 and 2)

Review/Rememorize - James, I - II Thessalonians, I-II Peter, II Timothy, Galatians, Jude (1 per month).
(not as far as I wanted, but Galatians 1-2 are reviewed)

Memorize I,II,III John (remaining months after reviewing others).

Exercise 4 days per week.

Meet step goals daily.

Learn Hebrew Using Rosetta Stone program - 4 lessons a week - 2 years.
(I've failed this one in previous years)
(Started strong with 41 lessons done in January)

Read 12 books (1 per month) emphasizing American History and Missionary biographies.
(Read 1 1/2 - One on Encouragement and one on George Washington)

Family Goals

Help encourage, format, and edit hubby's commentary on the book of Isaiah.
(suffered a little, but we are getting our rhythm back)

Walk at least 4 miles together each week.  (sometimes 2-3 times)

Be done with regular housekeeping by the time hubby comes home each day. (Improvement seen)

Ministry Goals

Write 1 card to a college student each week.  (3 cards, 4 happy mails, 14 local Hershey snowmen)

Write one note of thanks or appreciation each week (in the home, at church, in the community).
(4 for the month)

Entertain in our home at least once a month for a meal.  (got in 2)

Find a place of ministry.
(we are seeing how narrow minded we have been in this area - 
right now we are focusing on encouragement for others)

Home Goals

Continue developing a useful meal/recipe book - Reorganize it monthly.  (Failed!)

Work to organize and declutter 5 home areas - 2 under bed areas, 2 closets, and 1 shed.

Nailed It!

The purpose of the visit was to get to know one another better.

We had a family over on Friday night - 

a family with 4 under 4 (or maybe under 3).

That included a little 1 month old little girl - I could have held her all night.

A sweet family considering ministry in Colombia.

Not only in Colombia - but possibly with our nephew and his wife in Columbia.

Small World!

They brought some sweet hostess gifts.

This is the one they nailed.

We have not known each other long, but plants are just AOK in my book.

What cheery daffodils!

and come Spring they will go in the ground and will encourage me year after year.

It was definitely nice to have these pleasant little faces cheering me as I did taxes.

But the taxes are done

and I look forward to next year with no health insurance penalty

and a larger standard deduction!

Avoiding the Flu

It has hit with a vengeance.

The flu is bad this year.

So far, we have avoided it,

but we wonder if it is a matter of time the way numbers are dwindling at work and church.

I did get the flu shot, but only because I had to have it to volunteer at the hospital.

Before getting the shot, I read that the best flu shot is Vitamin D - time in the sun.

Hubby and I have been trying to soak up the sun when it appears.

In addition, we have buckled down on the limiting of sugar.

Oh - That one is hard.

We have "Thieves Oil" diffusing in the house.

We have increased the leafy greens through smoothies.

We also used some sweet potato in one smoothie to increase vitamin A.

Our favorite smoothie this weekend was ...

Green Tea and Grape Smoothie

1 1/2 c green tea (we used matcha powder)

2 c spinach

3 c frozen grapes (preferably white/green grapes)

1 avocado

2 tsp honey

We weren't sure of the combo,

but it was really good.

It was also very filling.

Tonight we went with the fermented foods for combatting sickness.

I have been drinking an occasional kombucha, but hubby won't give in.

So tonight,

Porkchops and Sauerkraut!

I wasn't sure about it,

but it was a childhood favorite for hubby.

Pork chops and Sauerkraut over mashed potatoes

and some heart healthy beets on the side.

Are you staying healthy?

Any suggestions you have to boost immunity?

Winter's Chill

Why be thankful for "winter's chill?"

Of course, the chill of NC is different then many parts of the country,

but ...

I am thankful for winter's chill because...

... my walks outside are less crowded.

... others have to wear more clothing (be more modest).

... it is more comfortable to clean out an outside shed.

... there is nothing like a hot beverage on a chilly morning.

... I love to wear sweaters.

... if I can't wear flip-flops, I love to wear boots.

... it kills the bugs.

... it showcases the warmth of the sunshine.

... it prepares us for greater appreciation of the warmth and beauty of Spring.

... it is soup and chili weather.

... baking doesn't overheat the house.

... I sleep better in a cool/cold house.

Another reminder about perspective.

There is always something to be thankful for.