Thursday, July 26, 2012

I AM ON VACATION AND WILL POST AGAIN AUGUST 17, 2012

Thank you for checking my blog.  We are off for a couple days with our children at a state park and then leave next week to enjoy a friend’s cabin in Colorado.

Have a blessed day.

Mary

Friday, July 20, 2012

RECIPES

I just finished looking through some Taste of Home magazines before I give them to our daughter. I found some recipes that my taste buds would appreciate. I found more recipes that will never be tried.

Oh, not because they don’t sound great, but because of the ingredients. Fresh cilantro. Multigrain linguine. Smoked salmon or lox.

Let me first say, that I am very thankful we have a grocery store. Did you catch the part about A grocery store? This is a fairly small town with a good store, but it is a basic grocery store with a bit of those unknown food items thrown in.

Tomato Pesto Tart sounds really good but where do I find pine nuts for the pesto sauce? Stuffed Peppers with Andouille confused me until I read that Andouille is a sausage. And I wonder how it would change a recipe if I use the “or you can use” product. Makes it seem like, “Well, I guess this will do if you cannot get the real thing.” There are at least six different cooking wines and the garlic industry must be growing by leaps and bounds. Garlic is used in meat, vegetables and cheesecake, which, I am sure, would be the 11th Commandment: Though shall not use garlic in cheesecake.

Yes, I found scads of recipes for cheesecake - my favorite food. Cheesecake = dessert, right? Well, I guess not. BLT Cheesecake, Herb & Roasted Pepper Cheesecake and Pistachio Cardamom Cheesecake and Kalamata Cheesecake Appetizer. Now why would you ruin a cheesecake by putting olives on it? And I have no idea what Cardamom tastes like.

The instructions are sometimes a bit backwards. Following the recipe for Conga Lime Pork (Did you notice following, like in after you have prepared the dish?) the editor notes: Wear disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers; the oils can burn skin. Avoid touching your face. Do you think that information would have come in handy when you were cutting the chipotle peppers and wiped the back of your hand over your forehead?

Ingredients can be difficult to find and instructions can be difficult to understand. I NEED TO TAKE COOKING 101!

SCRIPTURES

Wisdom’s call: Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Proverbs 8:32-33

Proverb of Solomon: Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20

Sayings of the Wise: Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. Proverbs 22:17-19

RECIPES

Life, like recipes, can be difficult. Sometimes we cannot find what we need (ingredients) and sometimes we do not understand (instructions), but our great God has given us an amazing recipe book (the Bible).

Have a great week. I am off to buy a springform pan for the Chocolate & Peanut Butter Mousse Cheesecake recipe that does not call for garlic.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you listen to advice and accept instruction?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O, Lord, let me open your instructions and read. I pray that I can apply Your instructions to my heart and learn so that I will trust Your wisdom. Amen

Friday, July 13, 2012

OFF INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER

(Follow up to June 15, 2012 blog.)

“Mom, want to go on a cruise with us?” our son asked.

It took me about - maybe - a blink of an eye to say, “YES.”

So, son, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and I made plans for our first cruise. Off we went into the wild blue yonder. And I loved it!

The boarding was easy and my room was a little bit bigger than I thought it would be. The waters were calm and I never had one moment of sea sickness. The food was great and we enjoyed time together and time apart.

Everywhere we went someone was taking pictures. As we boarded. As we went to the island. When we were dressed for our formal night.

FORMAL PIC

I love the formal picture. Don’t we look all spiffy? A fine looking group!

But I like the next picture better. As I was getting off the ship to go into Nassau, Willie (aka son Bill) grabbed me and said, “Growl like a pirate.”

PIRATES

So I did and from then on we were known as the best picture of the cruise. We just didn’t care how we looked. We just growled like pirates. We just had fun!

And isn’t that what vacations are about? Having fun. Leaving cares behind. Not worrying about how you look or standing tall and proper for the camera.

I must admit I had one worry before we left. Although I have been on boat tours, I have never been far away from land. How would it feel to be so far out that I could not see land? Would I be scared?

SCRIPTURES

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:5

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10

OFF INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER

How would it feel to be so far out that I could not see land? Would I be scared?

SILLY ME!

QUESTION OF THE DAY

When have you ever felt scared and then thought, “Silly me.”?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Thank you for opportunities when, for a short time, I can leave my cares behind. Thank you for times when I can just relax and have fun. Thank you for times I can just be me. Thank you for times when I am a bit anxious or scared because those are the times when I know you are there. Those, Lord, are the times I know your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Thank you Lord. Thank you. Amen

Friday, July 06, 2012

A STRONG COUNTRY

When I see the red, white and blue, I see people coming to the shores of a new land. Coming with grateful hearts, willing spirits and dreams. Coming they united cultures and languages. They stepped into the melting pot and came out AMERICANS.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see factories being built and ground being cleared. I see utility lines being raised, one pole at a time. I see highways joining homes into communities. I see children going to school and parents going to work. I see family picnics and county fairs. I see churches.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see fields of corn, tomatoes, beans, wheat and pumpkins. I see cars coming off the assembly line. I see truckers, doctors, teachers, mail carriers and trash collectors. I see people selling cars, hardware and antiques. I see people walking toward their dreams.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see what has made this country strong. Individuals united and proud to say, “I am an American. I am one nation. One nation under God.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

When I see the red, white and blue, I see a nation that is no longer united as one. I see a nation where another country’s name I placed in front of the word American.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see a nation resting on a crumbling foundation. A nation that has lost its pride. A nation that flies its flag out of tradition instead of with respect and honor. I see a nation that is taking away the dignity of its citizens as job after job is sent overseas.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see:

A nation -- no longer strong.

A nation -- no longer respected by other countries.

A nation -- no longer standing true to the principles it was founded on.

A nation -- afraid to say:

WE ARE AMERICANS!

WE ARE ONE NATION!

When I see the red, white and blue, I see:

A nation -- forgetting that we are:

UNDER GOD!

SCRIPTURES

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and man of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113:4-6

QUESTION OF THE DAY

What do you see when you look at the flag of the United States of America?

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICA. PRAY THAT WE BECOME UNITED IN OUR LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY. PRAY THAT WE RETURN TO OUR BELIEF OF ONE NATION UNDER GOD.