Food Fact and Fitness Fridays-Holiday Workout

The cookies, caramel corn, fudge, hot cocoa, and numerous other goodies are here. Keep up with all the goodies you eat this season by doing this workout that I started about 6 weeks ago. It is called "4 Workouts to Blast Your Body Fat." It does...blast fat I mean. I don't really care if you think you are in shape (like I did), this workout will challenge you.

Give yourself a little time to get used to it. Test the moves out before you do the "for real" and on the one minute timer. Then turn on then music and do it! I do suggest a little 3 minute warm up (like walking in place, hamstring pulls, fast or slow high-knees etc) before you begin. the movements are polymeric, meaning you so them really fast (high intensity) for as long as you can stand it (sort duration) Personally, I have found this one of the most effective ways to tone up and stay strong. I do this two (three if I can) days a week on the days I do not do cardio. This whole workout--without a warm-up -- will take less than 15 minutes! Very doable! If you so desire and have the time you can follow this workout with a Pilates or stretching routine.

This workout really helped to improve my stamina and strength in my cardio workouts. I haven’t run in months because of the constant problems with shin splints. Yet now I can jog pain free!

Here are some hints ...
- Rearrange the moves as you see fit. This workout is intended to be challenging not uncomfortable or painful. For example, my wrists hurt after following the "Cardio ski Hop" move with the “hand tap." By rearranging and separating these moves, I continued to get the fat blast but relived the discomfort.

- Play music that makes you want to move. It really helps!!

Overall, Active. com (which is where I found this workout) is fabulous way to find new workouts and training programs as well as information regarding different sports and activities.

My personal athletic philosophy is, "being active is not an option, it is mandatory (it just looks different in the different seasons of life). Work with what you have (including your available time and money) and try something new regularly!"

Have a fun and active holiday season!

Seasonal Thoughts...

What does love look like?

God sending Jesus.

What is the definition of love?

Sacrifice.

How do others know what God looks like?

When we love like Jesus.

1 John 4: 7-9

A college student's WORST nightmare...

...is missing the final exam. This was almost the case...with my classmate. Below is our real "text-versation:" Affer relizing that Mallory wasn't at the 7:am final (and she is never late.) and after completing the final I texted her around 8:o5am. The final ended at 9:00am (note: any spelling "mistakes" are left uncorrected)

Me: Where were yu 4 the final
Mallory: oh my gosh ...comimng
Mallory:I slept through two alrams =/ i'm so dead.

Me: Oh dear u serious i wished i had texted u sooner!
Mallory:I have never woke up late for this class =/

Me:It endes at 9. U could still try and so some of it.
Mallory: i'm on my way -/

Me: BTW...Dr, O is still in the room. I told her u were comming...she understood!

Later...

Mallory: ha i finished before 9=D was a easy final! (sic) thank you for texting me! see you noon tomorrow!
Me:U go girl!

A busy College student in a Computer Lab...

You know you are multitasking...when you tell the classmate on the right about the text formatting in your upcoming group power point and when you tell the classmate on your left that you will look on Black Board to find where that group paper (the one that is due within a few hours.) needs to be turned into.

You know you are facing multiple mini crisis when...the classmate on your right tells you that she "can't find" the power point you both spent an hour working on, and when the classmate on your left opens her big blue eyes wide as you both suddenly discover that your 7 page group paper is only supposed to be 5 pages...MAX!

You know God is giving you His special grace when... the classmate on you right fixes the power point without freaking out, cussing out or breaking down, and the classmate on your left reduces the 7 page group essay with in 1 minute.


Did I just hear someone say they were glad to be out of college?!

Wednesday Writing Bits

Looking out of the library window, suspended as it were, from the third story by the sheer engineering of steel, cement, and glass, I look out across my college campus. The grey parking lot, with the little multicolored flecks of reflective metal, the cement path that wiggles it’s way between buildings and trees leading to the 6 story parking structure, the freeway overpass severing the dry hillsides and circumferencing the campus—all this I see. When my eyes simply stare out at this scene, gazing at “nothing” and losing all distinct visual focus, the world seems to be crawling. To be alive. The bobbing heads and steady tread of the college students, the movement and shine of the cars in the lot below, and the flow of traffic in the distance all combine to give the sense that the world is respiring. It inhales, sighs, and twitches. It shrinks and expands. It sweats and craves moisture. It was as if I were inside the body watching it maintain it equilibrium and homeostasis.

Yet as simultaneous and unified as these events appear to be, each entity is separate in its immediate purpose.

I blink and the individual cars, people, hills, and freeway overpasses each come into focus…I am not inside the human body but suspended as it were from the third story by the sheer engineering of steel, cement, and glass. I am looking out across my college campus.

copywrite 2009

All of these funny thoughts, and I haven't even taken physiology yet!

Opperation Lizard

Look at his face. Is endearing the word that comes to mind? For you it probably doesn’t, but for my Country Sis and me, this little guy has a special place in our hearts. The details surrounding Operation Lizard have long been forgotten, but it is a tradition that carries on, bringing much "endearment" with it.

Years ago when my Country Sis was still The Eldest City Sis (whom we teased and called Mother Superior...you know like the head Nun in a convent* smile*) started to "hide" this plastic lizard somewhere in the other sister's "stuff." The goal was to surprise her.

Back and forth, from underwear drawer to shoebox, to makeup cabinet, agent Lizard went. Occasionally he brought a message such as a tender "I love you" or a playful, "Didn't think you'd find me here did ya?" The tactics became more serious and complicated when I mailed Agent Lizard to our friends in Texas so they could hide it in Eldest City Sis's suitcase. I had forgotten to do so before she left.

On my recent trip back from Eldest City Sis's home (now married and whom is fondly renamed Country Sis. Sorry girl-friend but I don’t' think you were cut out to be a nun!) I found Agent lizard in my bag. After years of sabbatical, he was back on the track, with a bow on him!

I don't have Agent Lizard anymore, he has been sent on another mission.--back up with Country Sis. When she came for a October visit, the reptilian Agent accompanied her back home.

Mission Accomplished!!

Anyone else want to share the fun and silly traditions that they have?

Photo of the Week

Photo taken by Beauty of the Lord

copyright 2009

Picture of the Week

Early morning flower...

Late afternoon Sunset ...

Food Fact Fridays

This is a great make-it-ahead, freeze it, on-the-go sort of breakfast shake. You can also divide it in half, freeze and it as a snack.

I also have a quirky variation… to include a little fiber, add several Shredded Wheat pieces (like the boxed cereal you find at the grocery store). This sounds odd but it gives it a little more texture. I actually think that combined with the peanut butter taste and the foaminess from just being blended; the shredded wheat mimics the test of malt in chocolate in milkshakes. I’ll eat a “Peanut butter malted milk shake for breakfast” anyday of the week!

Peanut Butter Split Smoothie

Time 15 minutes or les
Serving size: 1


Ingredients:

1 Ripe banana (both fresh or frozen chunks work equally well)
½ cup nonfat milk
¼ cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 ½ tablespoons creamy natural peanut butter

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.



*Calories per serving: 325
Total fat 12.5 G
Mono 0 G
Poly o G Sat 13.5 G

Protein 13.5
Fiber 4.5 G
Chol: 3 MG

An excellent source of: Calium and Fiber, Protein, Vit B6, and Vit C
A good source of : Manganese, Potassium, Vit A, Vit D

* This calorie amount does not include adding shredded wheat or any other add-in.

Writing Bits

I received some kind compliments regarding my post, “Days Like Threads,” and lest anyone think my writing scraps are 100% deep and brilliant let me show you a silly piece of writing that sailed through my head this morning as I drove to school. The inspiration for this work came from last night when my head was dizzy whenever it was on a vertical plane, my forehead sweaty, and my nose was runny. Did I mention that the final draft of my reaction paper was due in several hours? My dear sister told me to “go lay on the couch” and let her type the rest of my paper up! What a chum. What a dear (and no, she is not up for trading. Yeah, yeah, I am sure your sister is nice too, but I want to keep this one!)

To be sung to Jingle Bells (make sure you sing it with an upbeat before the first line. It begins at the "Dashing through the snow" part).

Anne….

On the 3rd week of Fall school.
I had a paper due.
It needed lots of work
So I gave it then to you.

With patience plentiful
You read, re-read, revised.
You even typed it up for me so I could spare my eyes!!
Ohh…Chorus anyone….?



Reason # 156 why NOT to live in dorm…..because a room-mate would NEVER offer to type your research paper for you the night it was due.

Thank you again Anne a MILLION times over!!

Days Like Threads

Saturday felt like it got started on the wrong foot. The following is an excerpt from my journal.

October 17th, 2009

Do you ever have notion that days are like threads?

Some days are silky smooth.. On these days all the things I had hoped to complete were finished before dinner: the research paper written, the weeds picked, and the car washed.

Other days slip passed the way silk strands glide through my pressed-together fingers. Their passing is almost indiscernible. No disaster, no exquisite joy is felt.

An then there are the days that feel like the thread itself has untwisted and loosened itself, becoming a frazzely, ravelly mess. It is not even the fact that I can’t get the “to dos” on my list done, it is the fact that I can not even find my “to do” list!
My cars keys are lost in the bottom of my purse instead of being found on the hook in the cupboard.
Clean laundry from 2 days past lies crumpled in its basket…on the floor of a bedroom that must be cleaned…only after the sheets are put on the bed and the desk and floor tidied.
The vacuum’s cord unwinds, trailing down the hallway like my nerves—long, stretched, and taut.
The internet threatens to fail and the research articles for my school paper look as though they will run off and elope with my car keys.

And it isn’t just MY day that feels unraveled, my loved ones “mishaps” collide with my own—the same way Mom and I step into each other’s path in the kitchen.

Thus our frazzled ends intertwine and loop into an orb-like webbing; like a yarn ball. We each try our hand plucking away at the confusion, but we just foozle ourselves more.

That is when I turn to the Great Weaver who I have neglected to think about until now. He can re-twist the ends I have splayed. He knows the pattern in which my thread should be woven.

“Behold the handmaiden of the Lord. May it be to me according to your word…my soul magnifies the Lord.”
Luke : 38, 46a

Copyright 2009

My days

I haven’t blogged much (not even to share my vacation pictures from weeks ago. EEK), because I have been one busy girl. School has started, and God has been so gracious in uncountable ways. He has given me strength, wisdom, new aquaintences, and even a new class right when I needed it!

What today looked like…

~6:00 am Rise and Shine (at least I tried anyhow!)
~ 6:40ish am Devotions
~ 7:20 am Bike Ride
~ 10:am Leave for School and Study until Noon
~ Noon eat lunch and attended AG club ice cream social! Yeah baby! Chat with student mentor
~ 1:15- 2:20 pm Study
~3:00pm – 5:00pm Food Safety and Current Events class. (Bum hurts while I sit at desk. Ouch… the reality of my 9.72 mile morning ride sinks in!)
~ 5:30pm dinner with Sis at Panera bread (Fuji Apple salad is my favorite!)
~7:00pm Home at last! Get breakfast/lunch/snack ready for Wed.
~ 7:45 pm Study

A Six-Book Summer

Seeing as this is the first day of Fall (in addition to the fact that the school quarter begins this Thursday), I reckon it is appropriate to take a glance backward at this summer's reading list! Thanks mostly to the Playaways that my library have, I consumed 6 books , totaling up to almost 100 hours of literature! The books I read were:

Anne Of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Vern

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Bleak House by Charles Dickens (This baby was 39.5 hours to listen to and it took me approx. 6 weeks!)

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington.

As you can see, a wide range of genres were represented here. When I read, I want to discover something; it may be from the actual information written in the text, it may be from the writers' style. One thing that I have discovered is that the older I get the more I appreciate books. I guess there is one good thing about getting old, and that is there are more opportunities to read!

My newly acquired maxim...always be reading something!

Juice Em Up!

Last week I worked hard for two hours doing yard work for some friends who have a rather spacious, hilly yard with horse poperty. These friends also happen to have an abundance of oranges that will simply rot if left any longer. When finished with my work I filled 1/3 of a 5 gallon bucket with oranges. So under the spreading orange tree I crawled, hazarding orange thorns and dead twigs left on their branches with the soul propose of impaling my arms and face! I filled 1/3 of a 5 gallon bucket with these very squishy, golden globes! At home I washed, cut and sqeeeeezzzzzed. It was the easiest juice I have ever made! It was pretty too; the blood oranges casting a light, pink lemonade hue.

Just strain and pour...

..and sip! Delish!

Food Fact Fridays--The Goodness of Grains

While I have not yet completely my training as a Registered Dietitian (truthfully I have hardly begun it), I must admit that I have already developed “food Peeves." These peeves are actually related to the misconceptions about certain foods. One such peeve is the low carb diet that mentally stamps the word “BAD” over so many foods that can offer us an important ingredients to good health—whole grains.

In brief some of the benefits of whole grains:

· Fiber (you sooo knew that was comming didn't ya?)There are two kinds; soluble and insoluble. The first actually binds with the bile in our intestines and carries it out with our waste. This means that the cholesterol your body produced to digest the fats you ate will not be reabsorbed from your small intestines. The second kind of fiber, insoluble, simply adds bulk to your stool, giving you the necessary workout that is so vital to colon health.
· Phytochemicals. A bit of a buzz word that simply refers to the disease fighting chemicals inherent in the plant’s chemistry (ie. the red in a tomato’s skin) that pass on their benefit to us.
· Vitamins like E and the B set
· Minerals like copper and iron

How Much Do You Need?
The exact amount of whole grains per days depends on you r daily caloric needs; however, a good estimate is about 3 per day.

So what sorts of changes can you make?
Just changing a few of you purchasing habits can make a huge difference. Ellie Krieger, the Food Network’s official RD stated that experiencing the goodness of grains “is easier than it sounds...[ s]imply switching to 100 percent whole-wheat bread and starting your day with a whole-grain cereal will easily put you in the recommended range of three daily servings. To take it a step further, serve brown rice at dinner, make whole-wheat pasta, try whole-wheat couscous, and explore exotic grains like bulgur and quinoa. Choose corn tortillas and snack on baked corn chips or low-fat popcorn — all are whole grain.”

This is the perfect place to insert a little “buyer-beware” note. There is a difference in “whole wheat bread” and “Multi-Grain bread.” Lorna Sass in her book Whole Grains, Everyday, Every Way (see this post for my review) advices shoppers that although a product like bread may have incorporated more than one kind of flour (multi-grain) , it does not mean it contains either the bran or endosperm, the two primary nutrient powerhouses of wheat (whole grain). An easy way to pick out this difference is by looking for the whole grain stamp, special stamp that many companies use to identify their products that are truly whole grain. The Whole Grain Council developed this stamp and lots of insightful information on their website here.

Also …a special note to those with some sort of gluten intolerance… you can still have whole grains….check this resource out!

In Conclusion
I honestly thought I did ok in the area of whole grains until I did a nutritional analysis on myself earlier this year and found that I consumed 2x as much protein as was recommended and less than half of the desired amount of whole grains. It felt weird at first, but I gradually began to incorporate more whole grains in when I could. This was was a little tricky because my family a very much the meat-eater types, with proteins dominating every meal. So I changed up my breakfast a snack routine to incorporate what I could. Contrary to what the low-carb dieters might think, I did not gain a ton of weight. (In actuality, I have lost 4 pounds partly because of this dietary change and partly because of my new exercise routine.)

So do me a favor and just try to add the goodness of grains into your everyday.

I Am Off...

...to visit my married sister who I like to refer to as Country Sis. Although I have some posts scheduled during my absence, I probably won't be online much while I 'a there, sop the pictures will have to wait until I get back!
I can't tell you what a big girl I feel like--flying by all myself!



My flight gear ( notice the easy-to-remove shoes)



The bags (let's pray that it isn't over 5o lbs!)

Cheerio!

A New Release...The Jesus Story Bible Deluxe Edition

Exciting news in the world of both Believers and books! Coming this October, is the New Jesus Story Bible Deluxe Edition published by Zondervan Press. Many of you may already be familiar with the original edition, but for those of you who aren't let me say that this is a children's Bible unlike any you have read to your little ones or opened when you were a child. Sally Loyd Jones, the author, brilliantly (and by this I mean both ingeniously and vividly) weaves the entire purpose of the Bible into selected stories-- the glory of God in the coming of Christ. I would say that this is a hermeneutical principle that that many Adult Christians don't have much of a grasp on!

The language of the Jesus Story Bible is beautifully simple in a way that is strikingly unlike it's contemporaries. (perhaps it is because Ms. Lloyd Jones speaks and thus writes in the delightful British phraseology)!

For any parent, grandparent, or friend who is looking for a good gift for a 4+ year old, the Jesus Story Bible is a worthwhile investment. Now, with the Deluxe Edition, the book is accompanied with CD's so that kids (and their parents) can listen as well as read! Listen to one of the free audio samples here.

Perhaps I sound like I am being a pushy salesman (or woman!), but I can honestly say that I personally have been blessed by this book. Yes I have read through parts of it and even cried at the clarity of the gospel. God’s Word is beautiful! What better way to pass that on than The Jesus Story Bible?!

Verse(s) of the Month

Here is the verse I am memorizing this month. Just a few more lines to go.....

Psalm One

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That bears fruit in its season,
Whose leaf does not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

But the wicked are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the lord know the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Food Fact and Fitness Fridays--Book Review

Book: “Whole Grains Every day, Every Way”
Author: Lorna Sass

Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way is an informative “how to” for the purchasing, storing, and cooking of over 14 different grains. This book isn’t for the hoity-toity food connoisseur, neither is it exclusively for those who wish to become one. Instead this book was written for the everyday Cook who realizes the importance of whole grains and has the urge for fresh idea and recipes! It is written simply and logically, beginning with a “profile” for each grain that notes it’s origin, method of processing, availability, and nutritional benefits.

The “At A Glance” charts are perhaps the most useful to the Cooker-Reader intending to apply the information. This easy- use format enables the reader to distinguish the particular form of grain they wish to cook (flour, kernel, red, black, hulled etc) and its accompanying traits: description and processing, availability and additional comments. Following this are more than 150 recipes ranging from salads and casseroles, to breakfasts and desserts. (Look out for future posts featuring some!)

The important and tip-bits that Ms. Sass provides are not overwhelming to the reader who is a serious cook or simply curious. She provides her audience with the basics while offering additional resources for more information. I highly suggest seeing if your library has it—that is what I did!

Also check out her website here where you can look at her other books and even order directly from her.

Happy Reading!

Quote of Week

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

*~ Booker T. Washington from Up From Slavery

Jaycee' Return

My heart has been sickened, thoughtful and hopeful all at once this week as the headline story involving Jaycee Dugard broke a few days back . Eighteen years ago Jaycee, age 11, was abducted and, unbeknownst to anyone, remained a captive to her psychopathic abductor. While still in her teens, she bore him two girls who are now 11 and 15.

This story is incredible. What happiness and shock her shattered parents must have experienced at finding her alive at their reunion. Who would have guessed that the release from the grip of this wicked man was possible.

It also makes me shudder that such heinousness exists practically in my own backyard. How could a person live with such “badness” in their heart? How could they be so deceived? As grieved as my heart is over this man’s depravity, the Bible reminds my that any sin, my sin, is just as rebellious and just as offensive to God as Jaycee’s kidnapper’s.

“…[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23

The earthly effects of his sin, kidnapping and assault and say, my smart mouth might be different, but according to God both are equally defiant.

Jaycee’s story also causes me to hope in the power and sovereignty of God. It is difficult to look at such an entanglement of sin as this, to wince at the tortured, hellish lives of Jaycee’s and her 2 daughters and to not wonder at what the outcome of their new lives will be. How can this woman and her family recover from this or their lives return to anything remotely normal? How can anything good come out of this tragedy?
The answer…I honestly do not know how it can be done but I know that it can. To say that is couldn’t be done would be to put limits on God. God is real and at work. His sovereignty and authority are perfect. He sees all. God knows what happened to Jaycee and her family; and not only does He possess all knowledge, He contains all wisdom and power. This means He knows what can be done for Jaycee. It’s called redemption.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that is cannot save; nor His ear heavy that is cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1
There is hope for Jaycee and her family in the cross of Christ. They can find forgiveness for their sins against God as well as the ones committed against them because of Jesus. It is my sincerest prayer that they find that Hope.

Food Fact and Fitness Fridays--Basic Drop Cookies

I absolutely MUST share this cookie recipe with you all. My Mom (Plain Ole Vanilla) took it from the King Arthur Flour blog and shared this on her own this past March but…it simply must be shared again!

This cookie is a staple in our house. I make it every Monday so that my dad can have his customary two cookies included in his bagged lunch and so that my Mom can treat herself to one at every afternoon coffee break. I love these cookies for their simplicity and versatility. (I should state that they aren't my favorite cookie because of their taste, but because of the ease of the whole process.)

My blog readers know that I like to play with my food before I cook it, experimenting and tampering until I get the ingredients to behave my way. Naturally, it should come as no surprise that each time I make this recipe I have endeavored to make it a new way, every time. Time number one I made them “plain” according to the recipe. Or at least I thought I did, although I accidentally left out the brown sugar and produced a flatter cookie (leave in the brown sugar people). I guess that counts as an adaptation despite the fact that is was unintentional. The following Monday I threw in coconut and slivered almonds. Yummy. The third cookie-day I felt an unexplainable desire to satisfy my inner poet by combining coffee grounds (decaf) with toffee bits to produce a “Coffee-Toffee” cookie (which unfortunately did not live up to the desired coffee flavor but was good all the same). When babysitting two weeks ago the Oldest Boy and I made this recipe, leaving out the vanilla and adding a splash of oatmeal. It wasn’t too good of a combo. Oatmeal cookies need to be more oaty and less floury. The lift in this cookie is too much and seems out of place with an oatmeal cookie. But I digress. Fourthly, I tried a maple pecan version buy substituting maple extract for the vanilla and throwing in a handful of chopped pecans. (By now you would think our family would be obese. I assure you we are not). This was delish and one of the best adaptations so far!!

My most recent experiment needs to be christened a name that speaks of the power…something like “Chocolate Explosion.” No, really. It contains pulverized chocolate chips (thanks to the Cuisine Art), whole chocolate chips , and toffee bits! Yeah baby!!! I’ll admit I went a little far and added too much of the chocolate chip dust (1 1/4 Cup), but on the whole, the effect was nice. (Dad said he would eat it again so that’s good)

Whatever you decide to do, to play it safe or mess around, try this cookie. Try it with my “add-ins” suggestions or dream up some of your own. I can’t give you any exact measurements for the “add-ins.” I cook by feel and I expect you to embrace your freedom and do the same!

Dream on~ Bake on~ Eat on



Basic Drop Cookies


1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar, light or dark, packed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

2 tablespoons milk, optional

2 cups chips, nuts, and/or dried fruit, optional

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets, or line with parchment.

2) Beat together the butter, sugars, salt, vanilla, baking soda, and baking powder till well combined.

3) Add the egg, beating till smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl, and beat again till smooth.

4) Add the flour, mixing it in completely.

5) If you're making cookies using chips, nuts, etc, beat in the milk, then the add-ins.

6) If you're making plain cookies, without add-ins, omit the milk.

7) Drop the cookies by the traditional "tablespoonful" (actually about 2 measuring tablespoons) onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2" apart. A tablespoon cookie scoop works well here.

8) Bake the cookies for 14 to 16 minutes, until they're a light golden brown, and a bit darker around the edges.

(I would highly suggest checking your cookies at 1o minutes. I've seen several blog comments saying the 14-16 minute window was too long. I must admit that I never get my timming perfect on my cookies. I have baked them to 14 and they have survived.)

9) Remove them from the oven, and cool right on the baking sheets.

Neighborhood Chicken Nuggets….(Almost)

A story fresh from the Housesitter Files...

I’ve had some excitement in my neck of the woods lately! Excitement, I have come to realize, is inevitable when you are house-sitting for a friend. Last time is was the mysterious person that knocked on the front door at 10:300 at night. (Ever heard knuckles on panels of glass? Sounds very thin, very rattle-y, and very unprotecting!). Thank goodness that hasn’t happened again. No, this bit of excitement involved the pet chickens I am watching along with the house, dog and plants. The two chickens ,Tootsie and Spot who are domesticated, friendly and are very cherished by their two young owners, like to “free range” around the small backyard. Any “free-ranging” must be done under supervision of course (Gumbo and Sweet Home don’t you laugh at that line. The importance of it will be seen momentarily). On Tuesday morning, I decided that I could…what do you call it “chicken sit” or “range watch” the chickens as I had my morning devotions. I was sitting in the living room, comfortably nestled on the leather couch, sipping orange spice tea with my Bible on my lap, when a cacophony of terrified chicken “ba-kahs” erupted from the backyard. Turning, I saw a commotion of feathers and wings, and what appeared to be one of the chickens flying into the backyard of the house behind! I ran outside, faintly wondering how I was going locate the correct house and introduce myself at the door:

“Hi, my name is Cathryn. Would you please do me a favor and see if you have a chicken in your backyard?”

Really.

Very unhappy and unsettled chicken noices were proceeding out of some bushes so I stuck my head between the thick branches and saw to my surprise, not one, but two chickens. Two? But I had witnessed one of them fly over the fence. I looked up and my eyes met the disappointed glare of Copper’s Hawk sitting atop the patio covering of the backyard neighbors. So that is what is was! The hawk had been trying to get the chickens!

It took a while to get the chickens back into their coop, but when it was accomplished the thought crossed my mind, wow, that would have been an awkward phone conversation…

“Hi Mrs. P. I hope your vacation is going well. Just thought I ‘d let you know that Tootsie was eaten by a Cooper’s hawk!”

Really.

Credits:
As much as I would like to claim the authorship of the cool title picture, I can't. I got is off of http://www.letsposephotography.com/storage/chichens.jpg

Monday's To Dos

I love making "to do" lists. Actually, I like crossing them off! Since school has adjourned for the summer I have not made my regular lists of either the musts, mights, or can waits for tomorrow. Last night, however I made such a list and have had such pleasure if crossing things off this morning that, well… I simply had to share! Most mornings are slow for me, but today I:

*Ate breakfast of course! (First things first!)
*Made bread
*Hardboiled eggs for Dad's lunches
* Started homemade yogurt
*Made maple pecan cookie dough for Dad's cookies (Yes, we take good care of that man! He deserves it too!)
*Emailed College professor
*Talked to the Registrars offices,
*Attempted to swap my college classes (rather unsuccessfully I might add)

All this before 9:00AM!

While it’s certainly not wrong to feel a sense of accomplishment when crossing off the “to dos, ”life isn’t all about getting everything done on your to do list. The ultimate “success” of one’s day should never be measured by such a manmade measuring stick. True accomplishment in life is found in listening to the Lord; in trusting, resting and obeying. I sin when I let the frustration of “not getting things marked off my list” grow into anger (which is normally targeted at the person who hindered our progress).

The main point…Lists are meant to be helpful if they help me to live purposely, with a quiet heart. That’s a success!

35 Reasons Not to Sin

I was looking at the areas of tempation and sin that I have dealt with during the course of this week, when I came across (Providentially directed rather) this wonderful post from the Rebelution blog. It lists 35 Reasons Not to Sin. Take the time to read it, and give it the serious attention it demands! I would highly suggest doing something similar to what I have done; copy it into Word, highlight the reasons of that really strike you, print them out, and meditate on them. Sin --even for the redeemed child of God--is a very serious issue which we cannot afford to take lightly.

It is good for the Believer to shudder and weep over their sin, yet such a time must end int looking to Christ's work on the cross which gives us freedom. Guilt is the full, dead-weight of sin of our shoulders. Conviction is the dead-weight of sin being lifted from our shoulders by our precious Savior. In the latter, we have felt the burden of our sin, but we have also found our hope in the work of Christ. May you be convicted as you read on...

35 REASONS NOT TO SIN
From the Rebelution Blog; Aug 8th 2009

Because a little sin leads to more sin.

Because my sin invites the discipline of God.

Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.

Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.

Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.

Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.

Because I am doing what I do not have to do.

Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.

Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.

Because my sin saddens the godly.

Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.

Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.

Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.

Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.

Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.

Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.

Because my sin may influence others to sin.

Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.

Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.

Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.

Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.

Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.

Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.

Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.

Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.

Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.

Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.

Because my sin is adultery with the world.

Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.

Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.

Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.

Because to sin is not to love Christ.

Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.

Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it’s own.

Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

Vacation in Review--part 5 Friends and Fun

Friends

Meet my friends, the goats. I came love these two, four-legged critters. They call to you, eat (anything!) out of your hand. Tthey frolic and run with (and after) you.

I really came to have a a deep affection for these little guys. I think of them often when I am weeding or cutting out strawberry hulls. I could feed my goat-buddies with these I think. Maybe one day I'll be able to have some, but for now their memory will live on in pictures.

Fun

One of these happy vacation days was spent swimming in a river (not the one in the in-laws backyard, a different one). We jumped and dove off of rocks as well as those overpass cement post thingys (never in a million years would I have thought of jumping off of the actual overpass! EEK!)! I later took County Sis's dog's example and took an nap in the delicious sunshine using Callie-dog herself as my pillow (honestly, you didn't expect me to use a rock for a pillow do you? I hear it gives you weird dreams and strange visions. Just ask Jacob of the Bible.)

Sigh...the whole day was wonderful....what relaxation!

Vacation in Reveiw--Part 4 Harvesting

“I’m a God-fearing hardworking combine driver
Hogging up the road with my p-p-p-plower
Chug-a-lug-alugin 5 miles an hours
On my International Harvester”

Such are the words to the country song written by songwriter Craig Morgan. I always thought this upbeat tune a fun one when I heard it played on the radio; however, the humor became much more real as I got a taste of real combine work.

To continue yesterdays’ narrative…after we finished with the blueberry pie filling, The Lady and her brother Wrestler Man had to go to their Combining job with a local farmer. Were we (Curly-Q and myself) up to ride along with them? Were we ever! It was between one and two O clock in the afternoon when we left for the fields. Because of the recent rainy and damp weather, their work day began later so as to give the cut rye grass a chance to dry out.

The cab of a Combine is not designed for two females of feminine proportions to fit spaciously into; however, The Lady and I squeezed in (good thing we know each other and are friends!) so we wouldn’t have to endure the dusty conditions resulting from an open cab door. Yes, you can keep the door open when you Combine without any fear of being sucked out at the incredibly high speed of 5.7 miles an hour! Round and round, The Lady and I went, chit-chatting while the monstrously large machine “ate” at the fallen grass that lay before it. With rye grass, The Lady told me, you have to come at it a certain way. The grass has to be facing the Combine (the rye heads forward) so it will be collected, sifted, and separated all properly. I even got to drive for a while, having to pay a little more attention than I did last year when I “helped” (if you can call 30 minutes of driving “help”) combine wheat grass.

I felt almost special knowing that I was helping make food for other people. It was one of the highlights of my trip.

I still think the song by Craig Morgan is funny, perhaps even more so now that I can identify with it a little more. I sure didn’t “hog up the road with my p-p-p-plower” but I sure “chug-a-luga-luged 5 miles an hour!”

Vacation In Review--part 3 Blueberries For Gals

A note of explanation… before I begin my narrative let me explain the “names” I use:
Country Sis is my eldest sister whom my family was visiting
Curly-Q is my middle sister
The Lady is Country Sis’s sister in law who lives across the road. When I call her “ The Lady” I am meaning it with all kindness and seriousness (and certainly not an austerity) . She is indeed a lady in the best and noblest of ways.

It was 7:00AM when we got the call from Country Sis that The Lady was going a-blueberry picking. Did we want to come? Did we ever! 45 minutes later Curly-Q, the Lady, and I were dragging the drift boat to the river bank that bordered the in-laws yard. After almost getting our heads and hands spun off by the incredibly fast whirling crank/reel that releases the boat from the trailer in to the water, we piled in and enjoyed a rather surreal ride to the opposite bank where the “U-Pick” blueberry field awaited us. There, up atop the incline, was the field owner’s house surrounded by trees, from which hung decapitated milk cartons with twine threaded through their handles. Following The Lady’s example, we made little “blueberry baskets” by tying the headless milk cartons around our waists with the twine. (This, I learned, was standard procedure for any passerby wishing to pick berries. One never had to bother the owners until it was time to pay.) Away we went to the farthest end of the blueberry rows and “plink, plink, plink,” we picked, picked, picked. Between mouthfuls of blueberries we discussed the whys and wherefores of our favorite books and movies, until we came the end of our 4th row and realized we had collected a grand total of 8 gallons! As we rowed back home through the deliciously cool water that sparkled with the summer sunshine, I felt like a thief, having paid only five dollars per gallon!

Once home we continued in domestic busyness by making 14 jars of blueberry pie filling as well as one (each) fresh blueberry and rhubarb pie. The fun and industry didn’t end here for almost as soon as we had finished the pie The Lady…but if I told that, it would make this post terribly long. No, that story must wait for tomorrow!

Vacation In Review--Part 2

Don't sunflowers just make you smile?! This was the little beauty that graced the table of four of us ladies: Mom, L, A, and myself. We went a little town and eat lunch, and window shop, and simply enjoy the little chance we had at "girl time." This happy little table decoration reminds me of the joy it was to sit and discuss, take pictures (mostly of our food), and goof off.

Vacation In Review--part 1

I could write numerous excuses for why I haven't been posting much lately (ok, at all) , but here is one of them...I was on vacation! We went to visit my dear sister and her husband and his family in their house in the woods. Sigh...It was such a wonderful time.

This picture shows a bit of "dead" amongst the profusion of "green" It was taken on a morning walk with Mom in the clear (unpolluted) woodsy air!

It was the first of several walks that Mom and I took together. This particular ramble through the woods was sweet to me because, as Mom and I came to the medal green gate that stopped us from going further, we took the opportunity to sit on a stump, hold hands, and pray. As the birds twittered, and sun's fingers reached in past the tree tips that moved in thelight breeze, we talked with Jesus, told Him our fears and asked Him to be with the ones we love so dearly. It was a sweet time. One of the many of our trip. Stay tuned!!

He who has an ear...

" The comprehensiveness of your contentment is another measure whereby we may judge whether we really know God."

J.I Packer in Knowing God (pg 32)

I just finished a 360

360. I'm not talking about the degrees of a circle. Quite the contrary, my reference to this three-digit number implies a mostly linear action--sitting straight, looking ahead at a professor and the whiteboard he/she stands before. Yes, 360 are the number of hours I spent in these last 17 weeks behind a desk in a college classroom. Five papers, six speeches. 40 philosophy vocabulary words, and 182 history flashcards later...I AM FINISHED with spring semester '09! 17 units are behind me!

After my last final this morning, I walked around my little community college campus and indulged in some silly sentiment. I almost felt sad. My mom once said that she experienced a certain gloominess when all three of us girls (I suppose that would mean me specifically since I am the youngest!) became potty-trained. No more diapers. No more rashes. No more baby wipe odors that clearly identified her as a mommy of little munchkins. Of course, Mom really was glad that her "diaper duty days” were over. Yet this milestone also meant that her little baby girls were growing up. They would never return to the diaper stage (at least for another 80-90 years! We’ll see). While I certainly felt no sadness at leaving the Huggies behind, today I did feel a twinge of dolefulness stemming from the fact that I will never go backward.

The General Education units I have whittled away at over that last 2 1/2 years only mean that I am closer to earning my bachelors degree. Only two more years to go! But don't "big girls" earn degrees? Don't adults graduate and get jobs? Naturally, there is much more to being a mature adult than graduating with a piece of paper from a college; however, I have been working, studying, and praying to be a woman with a heart after God for years and now I find myself in the very shoes of the first nd in the process of the second.

God is so very good. I don’t know what shape the future will take, but I know God is there!

Happy Summer!

These are a few of my favorite things....!

They say you are the kiss of death

but I mind you not oh Garlic Breath!

Comming Soon...

A view from my bike!

Sweet Home Tagged me!

What is my current obsession? Planning all the things I’ll do when school gets out (Like looking for a job…anybody?!!)

Which item of clothing do you wear most often? My newly resurrected jeans (the ones I couldn’t fit into for over a year—until now. Yeah!) and my yellow baby-doll top!


What's for dinner? Leftovers…Reheated beef stew and homemade bread.

What are you listening to? Classical music. Particularly the best of Hyden. Ahhh so calming!

Say something about the one that tagged you. My sweet, sweet sister who I appreciate more now than ever for her trust in God, her love for others and her courage.

Guilty Pleasure? M&Ms and ice cream (I was going to say Golden Spoon, but I am SO not guilty about that!)!

Favorite vacation spots? Colorado and Montana. Actually, Oregon ain’t so bad either!

What am I reading right now? Knowing God and The One Year of Christian History

Four words to describe myself. Busy, Enjoying-God, Loves-to-laugh, very-curious.

First Spring thing to do? Clean my room and my car. Oh, and shopping at on apen-air farmers' market!

What do I look forward to? Time and energy not claimed by school that I can spend on reading my own books and writing my own thoughts.

Let's see I'll tag:
~*~Leighways
~*~ Our Adoption Blog (if you can. I know you are busy as your adoption is soon to go through)

It's Her B-Earth Day!

Today is a very special day. It has to do with life and a mother but nothing to do with "Earth Day" (although I thought I would slip it in the title just because *smile*). Today is Plain Ol' Vanilla 's birthday!! The happiest of Birthdays to my precious mom!!

Photos of the Week

Yes, it is Spring here. The buds can't help but happily welcome the world (and my camera lens) with their colors, shades and textures. I took these on my "all things flowers" photography walk (though I did slip the tree in there)!

Easter Series Part 5--He is Risen Indeed!

… How could this happen? Wasn’t Jesus the Rescuer? The kind God had promised? It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
Yes, whoever said anything about the end?
Just before sunrise, on the third day, God sent an earthquake—and an angel from heaven. When the guards (who had been guarding the tomb in which Jesus’ body lay) saw the angel, they fell down in fright. The angle rolled the huge stone away, sat on top of it and waited.

At the first glimmer of dawn, Mary Magdalene and other women head to the tomb to wash Jesus’ body. The early morning sun slanted through the ancient olive tress, drops of dew glittering on the leaves and grasses—little tear everywhere. The friends walked quietly along the hilly path, through the groves, until they reached the tomb. Immediately noticed something odd—it was wide open.
They peered though the opening gin to the dark tomb. But wait Jesus’ body was gone!
And something else: a shining man was there, with clothes made from lighting.
“Don’t be scared,” the angel said…”Jesus isn’t dead anymore … He is alive again!”

…The other women rushed home, but Mary stayed behind. How could it be true? Jesus was definitely dead—how could he be alive? Just them Mary hear someone else in the garden. Perhaps it’s the gardener, she thought. He’ll know where Jesus’ body is.
“I don’t know where Jesus is!” Mary said urgently. “I can’t find him.”
But it was all right. Jesus knew where she was. And he had found her.

Days later, after showing himself to many of his friends when he was talking with his disciples... Something amazing happened. Jesus rose up into the bright air higher and higher. They shaded their eyes and watched him go, until a cloud hid Jesus so they couldn’t see him anymore. They stood looking up in to the sky like that for a long time
Suddenly two shining men appeared. "What are you doing?" they asked. "Jesus has gone to heaven. But one day he will come back. In the same way you saw him leave. From heaven. And from the sky. "

Jesus' friends went back to Jerusalem with a strnge gladness inside their hearts. And something Jesus said stuck in their minds: "Even though you won't be able to see me anymore, I will never leave you. No! Not ever I will be with you. Yes! Always and forever!"

And it is all true. Every last word of it!

Easter Series Part 4--The Sun Stops Shinning

“So you are a king are you?” the Roman soldiers jeered…. They gave Jesus a crown made out of thorns. And put a purple robe on him. And pretended to bow down to him.
Then they whipped him. And spat on him. They didn’t understand that this was the Prince of Life, the Kind of heaven and earth, who had come to rescue them…They walked up a hill outside the city. Jesus carried the cross on his back. Jesus had never done anything wrong. But they were going to kill him the way criminal were killed.

They nailed Jesus to the cross.
“Father, forgive them.” Jesus gasped. “They don’t understand what they’re doing.”
“You say you’ve come to rescue us!” people shouted.
“But you can’t even rescue yourself!”
But they were wrong. Jesus could have rescued himself. A legion of angels would have flown to his side—if he’d called.
“If you were really the Don of God, you could just climb down off that cross!” they said.
And of course they were right. Jesus could have just said a word and make it all stop. Like when he healed that little girl. And stilled the storm. And fed the 5,000 people.
But Jesus stayed.
You see, they didn’t understand. It wasn’t the nails that kept Jesus there. It was love.
“Papa?” Jesus cried, frantically searching the sky. “Papa, where are you? Don’t leave me!”
And for the very first time—and the last—when he spoke, nothing happened. Just a horrible, endless silence. God didn’t answer. He turned away form his Boy. Tears rolled down Jesus’ face. The face of the one who would wipe away every tear from every eye.

Even though it was midday, a dreadful darkness covered the face of the world. The sun would not shine. The earth trembled and quaked. The great mountains shook. Rocks split in two. Until it seemed that the whole work would break. That creation itself would tear apart.

The full force of the storm of God’s fierce anger at sin was coming down. On his own Son. Instead of his people. It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were filled with sin.
Then Jesus shouted in a loud voice, “It is finished!”
And it was. He had done it. Jesus had rescued the whole world.
“Father !” Jesus cried. “I give you my life.” And with a great sigh he let himself die.

Easter Series Part 3--All things...for Gods Plan

Suddenly, through the trees, a glitter of starlight flashed off steel…. Jesus stood up. He woke his friends. “Now is the time,” he said. “Everything written about me—what God has been telling his people all through the long years—it’s now coming true.”
And into the night, with burning torches and lanterns, with swords and clubs and armor, they came—an army to arrest him…
The guards marched Jesus off and took him to the Leaders.
The Leaders put Jesus on trial. “Are you the Son of God?’ they asked.
“I am” Jesus said.
“Who do you think you are? To call yourself God. You must die for calling yourself the Son of God!”
Only the Romans were allowed to kill prisioners, so the Leaders made a plan "We'll tell the Romans, 'This man wants to be our king!' and then they will have to crudivy him!"
But it would be alright. It ws God's Plan.
“It was for this reason that I was born into the world,” Jesus said.

Easter Series Part 2-- A Dark Night in the Garden

… Jesus walked ahead alone, into the dark. He needed to talk to his heavenly Father.
He knew it was time for him to die. They had planned it long ago, he and his Father. Jesus was going to take the punishment for all the wrong things anybody had ever done, or ever would do.
“Papa! Father!” Jesus cried. And he fell to the ground.
“Is there any other way to get your children back? To heal their hearts? To get rid of the poison?”
But Jesus knew—there was no other way. Al the poison of sin was going to have to go into his own heart.
God was going to pour into Jesus’ heart all of the sadness and brokenness iun peoples’ hearts. He was going to pour into Jesus’ body all the sickness in peoples’ bodies. God was going to have to blame his son for everything that had gone wrong. It would crush Jesus.

But there was something else, something even more horrible. When People ran away from God, they lost God...not being close to God was like a punishment. Jesus was going to take that punishment.
Jesus knew what that meant. He was going to lose his Father—and that, Jesus knew, would break his heart in two.
Violent sobs shook Jesus’ whole body.
Then Jesus was quiet. Like a lamb. "I trust you, Papa,” he said. “Whatever you say, I will do.”

Easter Series Part One--My Life Will Break

Easter is a time for us Christains to savor the extravegant love and redemption of our Servant-King, Jesus Christ. Over the course of this weekend I will be posting exerpts come from the amazing childrens book The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. I have added my own emphasis with italics and bolding, while quoting Ms. Lloyd-Jones exactly. Have a wonderful weekend marveling at the foot of the cross!

"It was Passover, the time when God’s people remembered how God had rescued them from being slaves in Egypt. Every year they killed a lamb and ate it. 'The lamb died instead of us” they would say."'
But this Passover, God was getting ready for an even Greater Rescue…
Now, one of Jesus' friends had made a bad plan. No one else knew what the bad plan was. But Jesus knew—and so did Judas. Judas was going to help the Leaders capture Jesus—for 30 pieces of silver.
'Go on, Judas' Jesus said. And Judas got up from the meal, left the room, and walked out into the night.

Then Jesus picked up some bread and broke it. He gave it to his friends. He picked up a cup of wine and thanked God for it. He poured it out and shared it.
'My body is like this bread. It will break.” Jesus told them. “This cup of wine is like my blood. It will pour out.'
'But this is how God will rescue the whole world. My life will break and God’s broken world will mend. My heart will tear apart—and your hearts will heal. Just as the Passover lamb died, so now I will die instead of you. My blood will wash away all of your sins. And you’ll be clean on the inside—in your hearts.'
'So whenever you eat and drink, remember,' Jesus said, 'I’ve rescued you!'
Jesus knew it was nearly time for him to leave the world and to go back to God.
'I won’t be with you long,' he said. 'You are going to be a very sad. But God’s Helper will come. And then you’ll be filled up with a Forever Happiness that won’t ever leave. So don’t be afraid. You are my friends and I love you.”'

Then they sang their favorite song. And walked up to their favorite place, an olive garden... "

Photo Of the Week

Who knew that a sparrows' liter box could look so cool?

Verse of the Month Challenge

I have always been aware that knowing God's Word was important.; however, it wasn't until this past New Years that I decided to do something about it. My resolution? To memorize at least one new verse a month. So far I have actually memorized about four and I am currently working on number five (so I am a little bit ahead of my goal!). This months verse comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18…

"Rejoice always,
Pray without ceasing,
In everything give thanks for this is the will of Christ Jesus for you all."

For me, this is one of those truths God uses to "hedge" in my thoughts and attitudes. Lately when I have caught myself unsettled by a disquietude of heart, I ask myself, is this thought/attitude causing me to rejoice and give thanks for what God is doing? Is it prompting me to submit myself to Him? If the answer is “no,” then I must immediately discard it for it is not God’s will for me.

God’s Word is indeed sharper than any two-edged sword and He is making it effective in my life as I get His truth into my heart, month by month, one verse at a time.

Any one else with me in the one verse a month challenge? Use my suggested verses or find your own—just do it.

James 1: 27...On Film

This film clip from Youtube is a extremely powerful and moving picture of what is we as Americans do not often see. I have seen it three times and I cried every single time. No, cry isn't the right word...I wept every time. On each occasion my heart was convicted over my own shallow, selfishness as well as the hope of the Gospel. How much do I complain in the space of one days time when not only do I have salvation, (the greatest gift of all) I have an excess of temporal blessings and enjoyments. Yet despite these blessings, I regularly crave for more and become upset when my desires are not met. How much I have to learn about giving like our Lord Jesus gave.

Like I said, this film is moving. The only question is, what will it move us to do?

Happy Celebrate Marriage Day!

Many of you may not know, but this is the true meaning of Saint Valentine's day. Years ago (in a land far, far away) a king was having trouble with a war he was waging on another country. In an attempt to make his army as efficacious as possible, he forbade the ceremony of marriage in his kingdom. By tearing away the distractions of wife and children from his soldiers, he was giving them new focus and clarity. Or so he thought.

An unknown, yet courageous priest whom we now know as Saint Valentine, refused to comply with the kings ungodly command. Not only did he continue to marry couples, he opening promoted it. Eventually, this wicked kind rescinded his decree.

Although this story took place 100 plus years ago, its message echoes through time and speaks to our generation. The value and sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman continues to be an issue of vital importance.

Take time to celebrate your marriage today. If you are single, let your married friends know that you value the covenant they have made before God and men.

Photo of the Week

Have you ever seen such a cute it-really-shouldn't-be-showing pic?!

A Small Matter of No Real consequence

In Monday's philosophy reading of the Apology by Plato, I came across a certain line that upturned my scholarly-set mouth into a smile. I am probably one of the only people I know of who would say that it was funny...and then blog it.


"..[P]oets do not compose their poems with knowledge, but by some inborn talent and by inspiration..."

Paint is as you will.

Give dark meanings to the plain vision.

I do believe, my dear Plato, that this is called intuition.

What My Camera Has Been Look'n At

Food Fact Of the Week

- Did you know that milk is the best way to meet your daily calcium requirements? This is because our bodies absorb calcium best in the the presence of both vitamin D and lactose! (a)

- "The human body contains more calcium than any other mineral. For the average 130 lbs, adult about....3 lb...of the body is calcium." (b)

Sources:

(a) K. London. Nutrition Professor

(b) Complete Food and Nutrition Guide 3rd Edition. by Roberta Larson Duyff

Note: I did NOT take the awesome milk picture. Oh how I wish...!

Have You Been to the Writing Center Before?

As some of you know, I was a tutor in the Writing Center at the college I attend. This free service assists college students with English composition, was quite a promising as well as an intimidating challenge! It was one of those tasks that you simply must plunge right into. Forget the dipping your toe in to feel the temp! There was a certain weight of responsibility with so much inexperience! I recall one occasion when a fellow student thanked me for helping him. he ended his remark with, " so how long have you been working here?" Gulp! How could I tell them that I had only been working for three days!

I truly loved this job of encouraging students with their writing. An added bonus was that my own love of the writing process was exercised and strengthened. As part of my training, I wrote journals reflecting on the various sessions that I tutored. Here is a a small taste of one of those journals. This was the seventh, written about half way through the semester. (Disclaimer: this journal has not been edited since it was written. Not surprisingly it has some boo-boos. No, I regret to say that writing tutors are not perfect!)

This week was such an encouraging week of tutoring! This is primarily because of how I have been able to apply the grammar principles that we have discussed with Mrs. Portman. With the knowledge I gained in class, I have addressed errors such as comma splices and run on sentences in almost every ESL paper I looked over. At last, I have been able to give tutees tools that they can “take home.” Now that I have a little more confidence (and capability) in this particular area of grammar, I am bolder in my attempts to explain grammar in general. For example, one ESL student, Adam, had some difficulty properly using of the articles “a” and “the.” I had never before explained the difference between the two so I took several moments to think about a good approach. I didn’t want to just tell Adam the answer. I wanted him to discover it so he would be able to self-correct later. So I asked him, “what is the difference between the sentence ‘I want to look at a dog’ and the sentence ‘I want to look at the dog?’” Adam processed my question out loud. “I guess when you say ‘I want to look at a dog’ you are talking about any dog. When you say ‘I want to see the dog you are talking about a specific dog!” It was an extremely simple exercise but Adam totally experienced the “light bulb effect! ”

I am definitely going to look for more opportunities to show a student how grammar or an idea works by using an example instead of just telling them.