Names Have Meaning

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful, 

Counsellor, 

The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, 

The Prince of Peace. 

The children will be singing the words of this verse in the Christmas Eve Service tonight.

I have thought much as I taught the song of how the different names of Christ are a blessing at different times in my life.

This year, I have seen all of the names and traits so clearly.

Wonderful - a mystery inspiring awe - God worked to have us in Oregon at just the right time.

Counsellor - Only God can direct and give the best guidance as we navigate another move

and has given direction in helping mom finish her race here on earth.

Mighty God - Wow - the number of miracles that we have seen this year -

often in the timing of events and circumstances

but also in using us in others lives or using others in our life.

Everlasting Father - this year we are far from ALL family, but God is still there (and always will be)

The Prince of Peace - This "Type A - Planner" wants the future all neatly wrapped in a bow,

but where is the faith in that - 

and in the "wait" - He gives peace

You may be enjoying a loud, full Christmas season,

or you may be having a quiet season,

but regardless the same Christ is the reason for the celebrations.

As you celebrate, remember His life, His sacrifice, and His gifts.

And once again, if you are awake at 7 pm PST,

you are welcome to try to join us via live stream.

It didn't work last year, but if you are up and about,

it just might be worth a try,

Still A No Go

 Well, you are quite curious, aren't you?

How was the TOFU?

Well, I did try...

and hubby gratefully ate a good serving ...

but it was not good.

The good news was that a Chipotle restaurant had opened in our town just 2 days before :)

And it was a good opportunity to visit for the first time

(though the first few days of a restaurant opening are usually a zoo).

The tofu was a nice idea, but there is a texture thing going on.

I thought that by baking the tofu, it would be more crispy,

but alas, it was not.

So I will at least take a month off before trying that ingredient again.

This week ...

Saturday:  Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Sunday:  Potluck at church ...  Cranberry Meatballs, Scalloped Potatoes, Cranberry Waldorf Salad

Monday:  Salmon (a Christmas gift), sesame lime cabbage salad, fried potatoes

Tuesday:  Red Lentil Soup

Wednesday:  Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas

Thursday:  Chicken Tacos

Friday:  Breakfast for Dinner (Church Christmas Eve Service)

Saturday:  Smoked Salmon Chowder

Short Days

 Is anyone else feeling the effects of the shorter daylight hours?

With the shorter days and the grey skies, I surely am!

It was a cold damp weekend and today there was even some "slush" in the air.

I looked ahead and right now they are even predicting "slush" on Christmas day.

I don't know if that adds to the festivity or is just depressing 😀

With the presents all purchased and shipped,

I have a few cards to finish up tomorrow 

and then it is time to focus on Christmas Eve.

We get very excited about doing some special things for our church friends

and making a night that celebrated the true meaning of Christmas

and allows folks to just take a breath.

The children's choir is ready for a few special pieces,

the primary church pianist may be well enough to "duet" with me,

and there may be a few student piano pieces.

And now for the week's menu.

I have 4 new recipes this week.

That is a little unusual, but I guess I was feeling a little tired of the same old same old.

We tried 2 on Saturday - 

one was a hit and one was a miss.

I attribute the "miss" to the fact that you have to develop a taste for nutritional yeast.

I may come back to it someday and may try to add a little more spices to complement the odd flavor.

So, if you are interested in following the adventure ...

Here is this week's menu:

Saturday:  Brown Rice Casserole (not a hit)

Jackfruit, Chickpea, Root Vegetable Soup (a surprising hit)

(would also be good without jackfruit)

Sunday:  Leftover Soup

Monday:  Singapore Noodles and Egg Rolls (freezer section)

Tuesday:  Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa and Lentil Soup

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Sticky Orange Sesame Tofu

Friday:  Salad and Fries

As for the tofu - well that is a definite experiment.

I have used it in smoothies, but not as a main dish.

I have typically avoided it and will probably only try it about once a month.

Tofu is a high source of plant protein,

but it also can affect hormones,

so I am taking it easy on this one.

$2000

 The nighttime blogging has not been very effective,

so I will try a morning edition.

Hubby is off to work,

lunch made,

breakfast dishes washed,

a load of wash is started,

a batch of chocolate beet muffins is in the oven,

and I am in front of my computer with a coconut chai latte.

Does that sound like a good start to the day?

God is all we need, all the time.

I know that and truly try to practice that.

But self-reliance and pride often cause me to develop a "just in case God fails me" plan.

Now, don't act like you have never done that as well.

There are seasons when I can't even develop a plan B, when I can't rely on anyone or anything else.

I feel like every time we move, we are reminded that He is all we need.

We are reminded that vain is the help of man.

We are reminded that our strength is not in horses or chariots.

There is much to be thankful for this week.

First, if you have been praying about the cost of a move ...

Yesterday, the cost went down $2000 on all trucks!

(And those prices didn't go down 30 minutes north of us).

God is definitely answering specific prayers.

While we still don't have enough specifics to reserve it,

that is encouraging!

And we wanted to thank you for praying specifically for that.

You can keep praying if you'd like.😀

On Monday, when hubby came home a little early from work, 

he reached out to 3 companies that might provide possible employment.

And ... he received 3 positive responses.

I can't give specifics, 

but one company even brought up a different line of work which had hubby VERY excited.

While that was all very encouraging,

one company reached out to his current employer ...

... just a tad early (like 4 months!)

His current employer is known to cut people loose as soon as notice is given.

And we prayed ...

and yesterday, hubby was assured that he had a job as long as he needed it.

God took a burden off that we took on unnecessarily.

Two of the job locations got us looking at housing in a slightly different area

which was putting rents and/or purchase prices more in line with what we were comfortable with.

That was another help in continuing on the path that God had put us on.

And what path is that ...

why a church, of course.

A church that would put us within a reasonable drive of family.

We have tried to focus our decision this time on a church home.

There are so many churches in this country,

so we went on recommendations and what we could listen to online.

We trust we have found it and are praying that we are a fit for each other.

And it is about 4 hours from the nearest family - not too bad, I would say!

End of Day

 It is just about time to wrap it up for the day.

In typical Monday fashion, the house got a thorough cleaning.

I worked in "Zone 3" today.

That included focusing on the guest room and 3 bathrooms.

Primarily I worked on wiping down walls,

washing shower curtains,

and using a little extra baking soda on the shower walls.

I still need to go through the bathroom cabinets, but that will wait for tomorrow.

Hubby had only a half-day today.

We are both fighting a little something.

I feel like our immune systems are working well,

we have not succumbed to it,

but whatever is attacking is wearing us down a little.

I just took a batch of peanut butter white bean cupcakes out of the oven

and then returned supper to the oven so it would be a little softer for leftovers.

Yes, we ate some slightly crispy scalloped potatoes because we were ready to eat and it wasn't.

Tomorrow is a change of pace for both of us.

Hubby has jury duty.

I was excused from mine earlier this fall,

but he at least has some time tomorrow.

I have a zoom interview for a survey company.

These are my favorite because the remuneration is the best.

This one is on TISSUES!

And now for the Week Menu

Sunday:  Biscuits and Cauliflower Sausage Gravy

Monday: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Tuesday: White Bean and Potato Soup

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday: Spanish Rice and Refried Beans Skillet Burritos

Friday:  Salad and French Fries

After a slight reprieve from the gray skies last week,

we are definitely back into it today - just cold and rainy.

Now it is time to curl up with a tea and a good book!

Stressors

 You can tell that this week did not yield much writing.

I think it is the stress of an upcoming move.

There are so many intricate parts,

there are so many questions,

there are so many uncertainties.

There is a peace in the midst of the storm.

We know that God will provide.

We know that God already knows the path He has for us,

but sometimes, my mind and emotions run ahead of what I know to be true.

I spent a lot of time walking this week.

Walking is one of the ways I think

and also a form of stress relief.

$10,000!

Remember that number.

There was a question of if I even owned that much stuff.

Maybe it would be better to just leave everything in Oregon!

But, we had to think of the mechanic's tools that make up hubby's livelihood.

And there are some things that are irreplaceable - like handmade furniture.

We did need a truck, but could we shrink that truck?

This week, we decided that we would cut the Penske bill nearly in half by opting for the 16' truck.

We know it is the right decision,

but there is stress in that too.

It is hard to leave stuff behind,

to sell belongings that you enjoy,

to take a loss in the sale.

We moved from WA to NC nearly 20 years ago in a 16' truck.

Can we do it again?

We decided that it would be wise to sell off all the large furniture - 

couch, recliner, two beds, dining furniture, tray tables, washer, dryer, fridge.

I added up their new value and it was $4000 - less than the amount that we will save on the smaller truck.

And I hope that we can at least get 1/2 of their value out of them in the sale.

Then I can start fresh in a new location.

Not only do we save money on the rental,

but the smaller truck is more comfortable to ride in (bucket seats rather than a bench)

The smaller truck is easier to get in and out of places along the way allowing for more convenient stopping.

The smaller truck will actually fit in the driveway of our small culdesac while packing.

The purging may help if we need to rent something small until we can find more permanent lodging.

So, if you are praying for moving prices to go down,

keep it up, please!

And could you also pray that when we are ready to sell things off,

that God would bring the right buyers with the right price.

Done!

 This has got to be a personal record for me.

There are those who complete all of their Christmas shopping in November,

but I am not that person.

I am the person who may just thrive on a little pressure.

But this year, with the promise of difficulty in shipping,

I promised hubby that I would finish early.

On top of that, I heard that my last possible day to ship is December 15.

And today, I finished the shopping.

Hubby will help me get the gifts together this weekend and then out they will go.

I am pleased with the outcome this year.

I did add a few decorations this week in amongst everything else,

but there is still a little more decorating to do as well.

We are enjoying the sights and sounds of the Christmas season,

I thing we may even be taking a walk tonight to see some of the neighborhood lights.

Back to the Schedule

 I do hope that you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday.

We had a lovely praise service on Tuesday night at church.

It was a small group, but everyone participated.

On Wednesday, I prepped food for Thursday.

Thursday, we had a lovely fellowship with our friends.

It was the loudest Thanksgiving that we have had in many years,

but we enjoyed the company ... and too much food.

Of course, all that food meant plenty of leftovers,

so on Friday and Saturday, we had a simple breakfast, leftovers, and then a simple supper.

I enjoyed having someone in the house all day with me for 4 days!

There is always a letdown after vacation with hubby,

but there is also much work waiting after taking some time off.

Our Thanksgiving did include our personal Turkey Trot.

We did our traditional walk/run in the morning and on the walk home enjoyed chatting with family.

We also walked after Thanksgiving dinner with our host family.

On Friday night, we dug out the Christmas decorations.

Only the tree is up, but I am thinking of some other trimmings.

I threw away some staples last year because they had just served their purpose,

but that does leave a hole ... and this year is not the year for purchasing new decorations.

In fact, even the Christmas tree is telling us that it does not want to move again - 

its wire limbs have folded in and out so many times that 3-4 broke off in setup this year.

Because we used a lot of leftovers last week,

I will make it through this week with more simple meals.

You will see some repeats from last week that we just didn't get to.

I should only have to walk to the store for fresh foods like salad greens, spinach, and bananas.

Using pantry items and not doing a large Walmart run will be a budget boost this week.

Menu Plan for the Week:

Sunday:  Power Bowls (no chicken)

Monday:  Leftover Pot Pie Soup

Tuesday:  Spanish Rice (Substitute black beans for ground meat)

Wednesday:  Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:  Salmon Cakes 

Friday:  Green Salad and French Fries

Saturday:  Miners Minestrone 

(a mix my sister-in-law bought me when we delivered a car to her)

Just a Little Tip

 I would never tout myself as a great cook - 

but I do have a few recipes that get shared a lot.

One is Italian Pork:

It is simply a pork roast sprinkled with an Italian dressing seasoning mix and then slow cooked until it falls apart.

The other is simple guacamole:

One avocado, sprinkle of garlic salt, a splash of lime juice.

Long time readers will recall my post about wedding reception guacamole

and the task of getting 50 good avocados at one time.

Just about the time we left NC, a church member gave me this tip,

and I have used it many times.

It is more of a blessing as prices continue to rise on EVERYTHING!

No one wants to throw out an 80 cent avocado!

To prolong the life of an avocado ...

Ripen avocado on the counter, but watch carefully.

When it is ready to use (and you are not ready to use it)

wrap in tin foil and place in refrigerator.

I have gotten another week out of avocados by practicing this method.

Of course, you still have to be aware of what is happening on your counter so that you do not miss that window of opportunity.

I keep about 3 squares of tin foil for this purpose and reuse them as necessary.

The Gentle Rebuke

 This morning, I mentioned that yesterday had been a tough day.

We were flying high - very high - over the weekend.

We had planned a survey trip for hubby to our possible new location.

All systems go!

The church seems good (dare I say great), 

4 possible job locations within an hour of the church,

and the thoughts of finally purchasing a home.

This might even be our final move.

And then ...

I started researching moving truck prices!

Yes, that was the stinger - the derailer.

$10,000 to rent a truck between OR and TN?

Yet only $3,000 to take one from TN to OR?

Do you see the difficulty?

I actually went to a few sites thinking that the first one had a glitch in the online calculator.

It seems that we are not the only ones wanting to leave the liberal west coast.😀

The flesh immediately wanted to get mad,

to cry,

to ask why.

I am going through the Minor Prophets with my Sunday School Class.

I felt like the prophets.

Why was I being punished for moving to OR to do right?

I moved 3 years ago on Biblical principle

and truly believe that we are moving again in God's plan.

So why the hurdles?

(Should have just thought on Amos in which God promises not to forget works of any type - good or bad)

And then God, as He does, brought the gentle rebuke ... in the funniest ways.

We had bought 2 books that came recommended to us.

Neither one turned out to be what we expected, 

but we opened the book that we were reading together last night ...

This is the chapter title that greeted us ...

Trust God to Deliver in His Own Unique Way

And as we finished that chapter, the next chapter title screamed ...

View Your Current Crisis as a Faith Builder for the Future

And then, in the devotional book that I was reading,

I awoke this morning to this Proverb ...

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10

Yes, God, I get it.

Another reminder that Sandra is not in control.

Another reminder that I don't have to understand.

Another reminder to just rest.

Another reminder that His ways are not our ways.

And as I stand back,

I can see that maybe God wants me to hire a moving company for less than it would cost me to DIY

and thus give me a more comfortable drive across the country.

I can see that maybe God will keep asking me to trust and drop prices in the final hour.

I can see that He doesn't need my money or my wisdom.

I can see that I still have a long way to go in the area of trust and faith.

And one more gentle rebuke ...

Sandra, you are helping to plan a Praise Service for TONIGHT!

You are presenting Psalm 103 in song.

Bless the LORD, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

He has always been faithful and will continue to be!

I don't know what may try to steal your joy today,

but listen to your gentle rebukes.

And if you can't hear yours ...

at least listen to the ones that God sent me.