As a belated valentine's gift to my husband, I made his favorite meal on Saturday, pulled pork bbq. It was an eight hour process that included a crock pot and much coughing as I heated up a vinegar-based sauce and the cayenne pepper mixture evaporated into the air.
It lacked the smokey flavor of pulled pork bbq, but it was still quite delicious.
Monday, February 21, 2011
36-5
He had theologically redefined the Christian life as something active, not reactive. It had nothing to do with avoiding sin or with merely talking or teaching or believing theological notions or principles or rules or tenets. It had everything to do with living one's life in obedience to God's call through action. It did not merely require a mind, but a body too. It was God's call to be fully human, to live as human beings obedient to the one who made us, which was the fulfillment of our destiny. It was not a cramped, compromised, circumspect life, but a life lived in a kind of wild, joyful, full-throated freedom--that was what it was to obey God.
-Eric Metaxes on Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I am still learning what it means to live in that "wild, joyful, full-throated freedom." Bonhoeffer himself speaks of the daily joy as that feeling that you get when you are headed home. The build up of excitement when you know that you are almost there. I'm still learning that the presence of joy does not mean a lack of sorrow. But something similar to this: "I think my happiness is so deeply, firmly rooted that sorrow simply can't reach that far, however immense it may sometimes seem."[Maria von Wedemeyer]
-Eric Metaxes on Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I am still learning what it means to live in that "wild, joyful, full-throated freedom." Bonhoeffer himself speaks of the daily joy as that feeling that you get when you are headed home. The build up of excitement when you know that you are almost there. I'm still learning that the presence of joy does not mean a lack of sorrow. But something similar to this: "I think my happiness is so deeply, firmly rooted that sorrow simply can't reach that far, however immense it may sometimes seem."[Maria von Wedemeyer]
Sunday, February 20, 2011
35-4
Today, after finishing an episode of 30 Rock with my husband, I had extra Chai to drink before bed and settled on catching up on the blogs that I read. Justin Taylor has a post about a man who may be put to death very soon in Afghanistan for his Christian faith. My light heart turned heavy.
I read about people such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer who lost their lives because they believed that they were following God's call. This man refuses to denounce his faith, even with his body beaten and his life threatened. My heart and prayers go out to him.
Post on your twitter:
Mr. President, speak wisely and boldly, in private if necessary, for Said Musa, imprisoned in Kabul. http://dsr.gd/ezR3jW @BarackObama
Mr. President, please persuade the Afghan govt. not to execute our brother Said Musa. http://bit.ly/bQ5RLQ @BarackObama Prov. 24:10-12
I read about people such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer who lost their lives because they believed that they were following God's call. This man refuses to denounce his faith, even with his body beaten and his life threatened. My heart and prayers go out to him.
Post on your twitter:
Mr. President, speak wisely and boldly, in private if necessary, for Said Musa, imprisoned in Kabul. http://dsr.gd/ezR3jW @BarackObama
Mr. President, please persuade the Afghan govt. not to execute our brother Said Musa. http://bit.ly/bQ5RLQ @BarackObama Prov. 24:10-12
If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
-Proverbs 24:10-12
Thursday, February 17, 2011
34-3
Tip of My Tongue is a tool that I discovered. It is supposed to help you find those words and phrases that you can't think of, but you know exist. I've yet to use it, but I think that it will be a great tool.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
33-2
I closed my bank account the other day. And drove with a check of the money from my savings and checking to a different bank, depositing it into our accounts. It is silly that such a thing brings a lightness and joy to my heart.
One time, early in our marriage I had received a great deal of backlash for things that were perceived about my beliefs. It hurt deeply and I was afraid to face the people that had said and done those things. I'll never forget my husband taking my hand and telling me that I no longer had to walk alone. My "what if" scenarios were met with, "I will stand by you" and I think from that moment on our marriage has been centered around those words. We have walked through much together and there is more coming. Luckily when one of us is broken, the other somehow remains strong.
I guess the money, for me, was a small statement of that commitment.
One time, early in our marriage I had received a great deal of backlash for things that were perceived about my beliefs. It hurt deeply and I was afraid to face the people that had said and done those things. I'll never forget my husband taking my hand and telling me that I no longer had to walk alone. My "what if" scenarios were met with, "I will stand by you" and I think from that moment on our marriage has been centered around those words. We have walked through much together and there is more coming. Luckily when one of us is broken, the other somehow remains strong.
I guess the money, for me, was a small statement of that commitment.
32-1
All you need is a sunrise
Just a moment of dawn
If you're lost in the twilight
Close your eyes and move on
When you're tired in the waiting
Even though it's gonna take you
A little more time
Just a little more time the sun's gonna find you
If you're lost in the twilight
Close your eyes and move on
When you're tired in the waiting
Even though it's gonna take you
A little more time
Just a little more time the sun's gonna find you
- Sunrise by Brandon Heath
I go to the gym when my husband goes to training in the morning. The past few days the sun has started to rise just as we're heading back home in the car. It used to be a special occasion when I woke up early enough to see the sunrise. I look forward to it becoming routine.
31
- kids grow out of their shoes quickly. Do they have programs to give consistently to the same children?
- I barely walked in these shoes compared to kids who walk miles to school every morning. Do they replace holey shoes? I guess holey shoes are better than no shoes.
It made me wonder about programs that I get sucked into purchasing from. I feel as though I should ask more questions and do more research. Not discounting Toms Shoes in the least. They have a great cause and do great things for children and it looks like from what I read on their website, their program is pretty sound. I'm sure someone asked these questions before. I'm sure they have answers.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
30
"Where could darkness as dark as this have come from,
too far to see but we know we can sense that it exists,
and how can I do anything but run from
the will to fight a fight for which I feel so ill-equipped..."
- Relient K "What can I do?" from the Freedom CD
Last spring, I gave a statement of calling. I guess it was supposed to be a statement of me announcing my calling and what the year had taught me about such things, but as I stared at a blank page I realized how ill-equipped I was to speak about the calling in my own life.
I opened with a photo of a pile of puzzle pieces on a table. I said about my calling, "I’ve got separate pieces that I think are important enough to be in the puzzle, but I don’t know how they’ll work together or what the picture is going to look like."
My pieces: Writing, Graphic Design, and Women
Lately, I've been thinking about that last piece. I've been ignoring it, mostly because I feel unqualified to do what I want. But this piece is so critical. I couldn't explain in a few words the depths I've come out of and the many times that I've been at the end of myself only to be pulled through. In the end, it isn't about qualifications. It's about not leaving others alone in the darkness.
I've been blessed with a day off in the middle of the week. I hope to put it to use.
"...If this didn't horrify me I'd be heartless,
but every night I lay here paralyzed.
No, I won't be consumed with all this darkness.
Instead, I'll find surprise within the light..."
too far to see but we know we can sense that it exists,
and how can I do anything but run from
the will to fight a fight for which I feel so ill-equipped..."
- Relient K "What can I do?" from the Freedom CD
Last spring, I gave a statement of calling. I guess it was supposed to be a statement of me announcing my calling and what the year had taught me about such things, but as I stared at a blank page I realized how ill-equipped I was to speak about the calling in my own life.
I opened with a photo of a pile of puzzle pieces on a table. I said about my calling, "I’ve got separate pieces that I think are important enough to be in the puzzle, but I don’t know how they’ll work together or what the picture is going to look like."
My pieces: Writing, Graphic Design, and Women
Lately, I've been thinking about that last piece. I've been ignoring it, mostly because I feel unqualified to do what I want. But this piece is so critical. I couldn't explain in a few words the depths I've come out of and the many times that I've been at the end of myself only to be pulled through. In the end, it isn't about qualifications. It's about not leaving others alone in the darkness.
I've been blessed with a day off in the middle of the week. I hope to put it to use.
"...If this didn't horrify me I'd be heartless,
but every night I lay here paralyzed.
No, I won't be consumed with all this darkness.
Instead, I'll find surprise within the light..."
29
Homemade Applesauce.
I don't remember why I started making homemade applesauce. I think that I thought it would be cheaper for some reason, definitely healthier [and a great way to use my leftover apples from Panera before they go bad]. I will say that one of my favorite things for breakfast is non-sweetened Greek yogurt with homemade applesauce mixed in. And get this. I make it in the microwave.
Recipe
I don't remember why I started making homemade applesauce. I think that I thought it would be cheaper for some reason, definitely healthier [and a great way to use my leftover apples from Panera before they go bad]. I will say that one of my favorite things for breakfast is non-sweetened Greek yogurt with homemade applesauce mixed in. And get this. I make it in the microwave.
Recipe
- 4-6 apples quickly peeled [some skin adds crunch] and cubed [I usually buy red ones because they are sweet enough that I don't have to add a great deal of sugar]
- 1/2-1 TBS brown sugar [dependent on your sweet tooth and type of apples.]
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- sprinkle of nutmeg
- 1/8 cup water
- 1 TBS lemon juice [if fresh, I usually use juice and rind from 1/2 a lemon]
Stir together in large microwave bowl. Heat in microwave 8-10 minutes. Mash to desired consistency. [Try it warm, it's delicious!]
28
The internet has been iffy for a while. Today, I read an article at Microsoft.com [Woah, totally tried to put the link to the article here, clicked the link button and it automatically linked to Microsoft's Homepage. The second link is the article.] about Wireless Frequencies. Now it is up and running smoothly and I am stuck playing catch-up.
27
“If you’re going to risk and maybe fail, fail at something that matters. Fail gloriously so that even in failure, lives change.”
Failure is a silly thing. [My husband makes fun of me for calling things silly. He has started to tell me that I should write notes that announce the silliness I point out daily and leave them for people to read, usually the perpetrators of the silliness.]
It is a silly thing and yet the fear of it can be paralyzing. The grasp that it has over so many people [myself included] is so sad, especially before it [failure] even occurs.
A girl in my small group told me in the car on Sunday that a study showed that if a woman is convinced that she is going to fail, her performance drops dramatically. [Apparently, men perform the same.] [I tried to look this article up, but Google only showed articles on heart failure.]
I found this quote today and this month it will be my motto. [Maybe next month, too. We'll see.]
Failure is a silly thing. [My husband makes fun of me for calling things silly. He has started to tell me that I should write notes that announce the silliness I point out daily and leave them for people to read, usually the perpetrators of the silliness.]
It is a silly thing and yet the fear of it can be paralyzing. The grasp that it has over so many people [myself included] is so sad, especially before it [failure] even occurs.
A girl in my small group told me in the car on Sunday that a study showed that if a woman is convinced that she is going to fail, her performance drops dramatically. [Apparently, men perform the same.] [I tried to look this article up, but Google only showed articles on heart failure.]
I found this quote today and this month it will be my motto. [Maybe next month, too. We'll see.]
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