Heart of the Matter Monday: The Right Kind of Concern

Food Fact Fridays: Quiona Granola

One of my favorite blogs is InspriedRD.  She has wonderful recipes and a great perspective on life and faith.  She also has monthly contributors speak on fitness and  ethics in the field of dietetics.  It is worth multiple visits to her blog each month, but I couldn't help also bringing over one of her recipes over here.   It is Quionoa (KEEn-WA) granola .  It certainly is different than your regular oatmeal granola and may not be for all people, but I found myself really liking (ok,so I  thought it was delicious and had a hard time with portion control!). For people who are gluten-free and/or who wish to avoid any kind of oatmeal (even the gluten-free kind) this is worthy of trying.  Keep up your healthy, holiday eating goals with this unique recipe!

Cathryn's Variations:
Soak Quiona and walnuts for 2 hours or overnight.  Drain both before using.  Note that this adds ~ 20 minutes to the cook time.  Why soak the grains and walnuts?  Well, it helps to activate the enzymes that take care of a pesky little anti-nutrient in both nuts,seeds and grains called phytic acid.  Phytic acid binds to the vitamins and minerals in your food, inhibiting your own absorption of them.

Crunchy Quinoa Granola

Recipe type: Breakfast, Snack

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  20 mins

Total time:  25 mins

A fun twist on granola. Gluten-free and oat free. Super easy and delicious!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup pre-rinsed quinoa
• 1 cup walnut halves
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• ½ tsp. Celtic sea salt
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup unsweetened dried cherries (I used dried blueberries...yum!)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine quinoa, walnut halves, coconut, salt, coconut oil and maple syrup. Spread quinoa mixture into a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Toss with dried cherries and cool. Store in an airtight container.

Gainfully Employed

Today I kind of feel like a little girl who goes to kindergarten for the first time—the little girl who suddenly feels like a like a “big girl.”  You know the feeling right (Or if you are a homeschool-all-the-way girl like me then you only pretend you know the feeling because you never really had a true first-day-of kindgarten-smile)  The girl-child has all the big girl stuff: the shoes, the lunch box, the piggy tails or French braid. Everything that says “big girl.”   Everything, that is, except for the little feeling of “small girl” that is still inside. I guess this feeling can be just called “the new experience feeling.”

Today I feel a sense of the big girl-little girl feeling because today I start my first job as a Registered Dietitian (RD). 

Scary.  Exciting. Crazy.  The rate at which the whole job-finding and hiring process went truly astonished me.  It once again makes me truly thankful for God’s many kindnesses to me. 

A week after my surgery I started putting out applications for clinical RD jobs.  I wasn’t trying to be overly ambitious (although I was feeling pretty good) I just figured that the job search process was going to take a while so why not start sooner than later?  Three weeks later, I submitted my third job application to a long term care agency.  I never really thought of starting my career in that sort of environment since most of the RDs there are “on their own” and I am a new RD who wouldn’t mind some mentoring relationship with my “superiors.”  Somehow, when I saw the job posting I just thought I would go ahead and give it a shot.  My stomach gave a complete lurch when they called me back the same afternoon I had applied, wanting to know if they could schedule an interview for the next week.  One week and three interviews later, I accepted the full time position. 

Scary.  Exciting. Crazy.

So today I begin a new journey.  I will be working for a company that owns five long term care facilities ranging from 20 to 53 miles from my home.    The Senior RD and I will visit a different facility each day, conducting initial and follow-up nutrition assessments for 700 patients in addition to supervising some of the food service operations in each of the kitchens.  (Note: NOT all 700 patients need assessments each week. There are monthly and quarterly assessments as well as special circumstances that call for them). 

Past experience has taught me that nothing in life is easy.  So my expectations for this job run along those same lines.  I am excited and scared and expect some hard days/seasons (whether it be the > 1 hour commute each day, or co-workers, patients etc) but I also bank on Gods Faithfulness.   

In a time when many I know are having some difficulty with finding suitable jobs, I am thankful that God has provided for me.  Health-wise I am feeling great and in many ways feel as though a page…perhaps a new volume, has been started.  Thank you Lord.  

Thanksgiving Fare: Pumpkin Pie (Allergen-free Style!)

 

 

About a month ago I set to work preparing to reveal a Thanksgiving recipe on my blog.  I wanted to create something easy but original.  Something classic yet unique. Actually, I got started on this project because I wanted to use my new favorite ingredient, flavorless gelatin.  I was mesmerized by the egg-replacing affects it could have on a recipe and decided that I needed to try its mettle in the pumpkin pie...an allergen free pumpkin pie!  No egg, no dairy, no nuts, no soy (and obviously no shellfish...but you probably already assumed that right?)!  This endeavor enabled me to marry classic with unique and easy with original.   The gelatin not only replaces the egg while still offering the  wonderful custard texture, it also means the pie requires no cooking!  Only refrigeration! (ok so you will have to bake the crust but you can do that separately. 

About the crust.  Two less-than-satisfying pie crust experiments lead me to abandon my attempts at creating my own and to grab a promising one off a website so I could focus my efforts on the pie filling.  I must say, that I am very happy with the results!  I think the amounts of sweeteners and seasonings can be fiddled with to meet with the Cook's own preference but if you stick with this recipe you will be off to a great start!  In a video that one of my best friends (who also happens to be an RD!) recorded of me preparing this recipe, I explain in more detail the rationale and nuances behind the allergen-free ingredients.  Unfortunately the video isn't fully edited yet (having problems with the edited software!) but once it is I will try to post it!

 

Whether you have allergies or not...whether you are traveling or staying home...whether you prefer  the light meat over the dark ...

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving everyone! 

 

Recipe Created by Cathryn U, RD

Prep time: < 15 min

Cooling Time: 30 to 45 min (may take longer for a deep dish pie)

Yield: two, 9-inch shallow pie pans OR one 12-inch deep dish pie pan

Ingredients:

1 (16oz) can, Plain Pumpkin (or 2 cups of homemade pumpkin puree)

1 cup Coconut Milk (note, shake can before using)

½ cup, 100% Pure Maple Syrup

1 -2 teaspoons (a “splash”) Vanilla

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

½ teaspoon Ground Cloves

½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Pinch of Sea Salt

1 Tablespoon Unflavored Gelatin (I normally use Knox brand. This is in almost every major grocery store. If using this brand note that 1 packet = 1 Tablespoon

Other Optional Spices: Ginger and/or Allspice.  I would recommend ½ teaspoon each

 

Coconut Whipped Cream (optional):

1 can Coconut Cream, refrigerated overnight

Vanilla, to taste

¼ Cup Granulated sugar OR Maple syrup to taste

 

Pie Filling Procedure

1.       Combine pumpkin puree, maple syrup, coconut milk, spices and salt in a 1 ½ quart saucepan. 

2.       Heat over medium to medium-low heat for 5 minutes until entire mixture is hot (simmering or boiling is NOT necessary).  Stir occasionally. 

3.       Slowly sprinkle in gelatin while stirring continuously so as to avoid the formation of gelatinous lumps.   Continue to heat for another 2 -3 minutes then remove from heat and pour into your favorite allergen-free pie crust/s.  Don’t have one? I used this Flaxseed crust with great success!

4.       Smooth the surface an each pie and place in refrigerator for 30 – 45 minutes for a 9 inch pie.  (Note that this may take longer if you do one deep dish pie).

5.       Serve with whipped cream / ice cream variety of your choice and enjoy! See Coconut cream recipe below for a delightful dairy-free option!

Coconut Cream Procedure:

1.       Place metal bowl and beaters in freezer for 10 minutes.  Using only the solidified cream from the can (there may be a small amount of liquid still in the can) remove desired amount (either the entire can or only a portion of it.  Just note the recommended amount of sugar is for an entire can) and place in chilled bowl. 

2.       Beat on medium to high power for 1 minute.  Add in sugar and vanilla and continue to beat on medium until incorporated (~ 30 seconds).  Taste test and add sugar or vanilla to preference. 

3.       With a large spoon, dollop a small amount of cream on your pumpkin pie (or dessert of choice!). 

4.       Refrain from eating the entire bowl! 

 



Heart of the Matter Monday: Humility & Repentance

Food Fact Friday: Peeling Pomegranates

Admittedly, I have a really average intelligence and yet there are a few instances in which I stumble across a sparkle of common-sense brilliance in a corner of my noggin.  The mess-less pomegranate peeling method described below is one of those moments of brilliance.  I was almost temped to call it "the underwater peeling method" but thought that maybe that would just sound a little too weird.  Regardless of what you would like to call it, it really does work.  Apart form the inevitable splatters made by cutting the fruit in half before the peeling begins, there really is no chance that you will make those blood red splatters that will stain your countertops (and windows panes!) for time and eternity.

How to open a Pomegranate: The (almost) Mess-less Method

1. Place a colander inside a larger bowl so that the colander rest fully IN it (it should not be hovering above the bottom of the bowl... at least not by much). 

2. Place bowl in a sink and fill with water so that the water line fills at least 1/2 to 2/3rds of the inside of the colander.

3. On a cutting board, cut the pomegranate in half and submerge one half under the water with cut-side away from you (in the water).

4.  Remove the seeds with your fingers by using a "rolling/peeling" motion.   It almost feels like you are massageing the seeds out.  The seeds should sink to the bottom of the colander while the white pithy part will float to the top.  Skim off these floating white bits and discard.

5. Lift the collandar out of the bowl.  Shake gentely to drain excess water. If necessary, absorb excess water by placing a paper towel over seeds and pat dry and/or continue to shake colander.   

6. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3 days or serve/ eat immediately.

7. Enjoy the fact that you that you haven't stained anything (hands, counter, sink...anything!)

Food Fact Friday:Fall Salads

 

 Everything orange seems to be the theme of my culinary endeavors and daily meals.  I am discovering that I LOVE the breadth of texture and flavors that the Fall brings.  Persimmons are an ever increasing, soft honey-sweet wonder to me.  I thought they might be a nice addition to a fall salad.  I was right.  Just add in avocados, and it is perfect (only when if you also added onions [green would really be best here]) and you get healthy deliciousness!   

Life's Season Quote

Heart of the Matter Monday: Matthew Henry

"When we have no other answer to the suggestions of grief and fear, we may have recourse to this: I thank Thee, O Father."
- Matthew Henry

Food Fact Friday Flop

Heart of the Mattter Mondays: Who do you Hallow?

"Our Father, Who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name..."

Luke 11: 2

"How do we know whether, deep down, we live to hallow (honor)ourselves or to hallow God?  Imagine you over hear someone whose opinion you value, and whose words are influential.  They say:'I'd never realized, but they are really, really great.'  Would it thrill you more if it turned out they were talking about your or God?  The answer reveals the person who you truly most long to be hallowed"
~Explore. Oct- Dec 2013. Oct, 23. 

OUCH!

Post Surgery Updates!!

It is hard for me to believe that almost three weeks have gone by since I had my surgery.  Here are some long over-due updates… 

Surgery

The surgery went very went, aside from the fact that it was longer than expected.  Thyroidectomys normally take 3 hours but mine pushed over 4 hours.  This was due to the fact that my thyroid was tightly adhered to my trachea (windpipe), necessitating that the Surgeon literally scrape it off!  He said it almost looked like the two were growing together and he had to verify via X-ray during my post-op recovery that my trachea was not perforated.  Praise God it wasn’t! 

Pathology Report

The Wednesday following my surgery, the Surgeon, Dr. T, called to tell me that the pathology report had come back saying that while the 9 mm nodule had indeed been cancerous, it had been contained!  It had not spread and that I was, that I AM, CANCER FREE!  Thank you God, no additional treatments should be necessary!!

While on the phone, the Surgeon said, “I guess I did a good job didn’t I?”  I smiled and shifted the phone in my hand.

 “Yes Dr. T you did and I thank you so much for your skill and care.  But you really have no idea how many people were praying for you!  I knew that my life was ultimately in God’s hands and we were praying that God would have His hands over your own to give you the wisdom and skill you needed to deal with whatever you encountered.  So I am thankful to God for the care and skill He gave me through you.  Thank you for all you have done for me” I finished.  I just couldn’t let the Surgeon claim all the glory.    God had been so kind and faithful and regardless of what the Surgeon’s religious views were he needed to know that.   

Telling my parents that I was cancer-free was more emotional than I thought it would be.  It was as if I could visibly see a burden lift from their shoulders and I know their hearts.  

Recovery

The recovery has gone better than I expected.  I almost feel like I can visibly watch my incision shrink in size as each day passes.  (Sorry, no day by day progress pictures….you will thank me… I am sparing you!).    A week after the surgery, Dr. T told me that I could remove the Durma-bond glue that was holding the incision together (fancy that….no stitches!).  Now all I have is a little 2 inch line with some red around it.  It sort of looks like a scratch from a thorn bush.  Amazing!  My energy levels have been a little up and down but over all they have been better than they were prior to surgery.  The other great thing is that my sleep apnea is GONE!  Hmm, perhaps that tightly adhering thyroid had something to do with it…? (Actually, the scientific literature does say that there is a high number of people who have sleep apnea who also have thyroid disorders and vs versa.  I read all that after the surgery!).   

  I can’t begin to tell you how overwhelmed I have been by the multitude of kindnesses that so many friends, acquaintances even, and family members have shown me!!!  If I didn’t believe in grace or if I thought that we should each get what we deserve I  would say that I truly have not deserved the kindnesses in the form of flowers, kind words, notes,  text messages, prayers, food etc that many people have showered on my family and I.  But as it is, I am a firm believer in God’s grace, and that is the only reason I can account for all these displays of kindness.  Of course I don’t deserve them, but I am thankful God sent them in spite of me. 

Thank you to all who prayed and loved on me and my family.  Your prayers have by far, been the most cherished expressions of kindness.   I am so richly blessed!!!

Next…

I plan on continuing to take it slow for a few more weeks yet. After all, experience has taught me that there is no point in trying to play Super Woman!  And yet as I continue to take it easy, I have started the job search.   I am asking God that while He gave me a distinct grace in the unique season of waiting for surgery that He will give me another washing of grace I need to start and persevere in this next season of life, whatever that looks like.  I have confidence that He will.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Heart of the Matter

"It is not our lack of strength that prevents us from enjoying God's blessings, or stops us worshiping God whole-heartedly; it is our lack of faith in His strength.  When we rely on ourselves, and base our walk with God on our own calculations instead of His promises, we find ourselves making decisions like men of Judah" (in Judges 1:19).

"Does this describe you  in any way at this moment?  What would promise-trusting obedience look like for you?"

~ Excerpt from Explore Biblestudy guide.  Oct- Dec 2013.  Day 2.

My Cup Runneth Over

I almost don’t know where to begin.  Components of this blog post have been half-crafted, set aside, and rearranged countless times in my mind these last six months.  I suppose God wanted me to wait so I could better see and more fully share what He has done and how He has been at work.  There is a lot to tells so I will leave out some of the details and flourishes I would otherwise include (even at that, this is going to be a long post!). 

For years I have struggled with fatigue.  When I say for years   I am talking about 10 years.  And when I say fatigue, I mean mind-numbing, cannot function, almost unsafe to drive, utterly pressing exhaustion.  I mean the kind of tired that makes simple acts of life very difficult.  There were other problems too.  They crept in so slowly that I thought they were just part of what made me uniquely me.  They became my “normal.  It was things like gut discomfort and bloating, intense sugar cravings and hypoglycemia, endocrine irregularities and persistent acne and rosacea.  Weight gain, anxiety issues and strange heart palpitations…some fast, others scarily slow.  There was yellow-orange tinted skin on my hands and feet too.  Amassed in one long list, it appears obvious that something was wrong but as I said, all these things occurred slowly, over time, sometimes with varying dominance of one over the other, some seeming to get better for a time.  For six years I sensed something was “not right” and kept going to the Dr. However, it wasn’t until I was involved in the necessary classes for my nutrition degree and when the symptoms exponentially intensified that I that I became convinced that something was terribly wrong. 

Just a year ago, I started doing my own research and created my list of symptoms, taking them to my Primary Care Physician (PCP).  She unfortunately took me on a bit of a go-around and then refused to even look at the list I clutched in my hands or listen to the story my shaky voice tried to tell.   I found little consideration or time or empathy from her.  So I decided to find a new Dr. (a scary task in and of itself).  In God’s kindness I found one and one who listened well.  A Dr. who empathized.  She did some more comprehensive tests and referred me to a Specialist (Endocrinologist) when she said “red flags.” 

I walked out of my first appointment with the Endocrinologist with both a diagnosis and a mixed bag of emotions.  His intense personality had listened eagerly to my list of concerns.  He heard me and then married what he heard to my lab values and ultrasound results.  “It’s obvious,” he had said.  “You undoubtedly have hypothyroidism caused by the autoimmune disorder Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.”  This diagnosis itself was not a shock since all of my personal research had convinced me that this was what I had but the fact that I was finally heard and diagnosed was a strange feeling.  It felt good to have a name to it, to know I wasn’t just crazy.    I was immediately put on thyroid medication to compensate for the increasingly dysfunctional thyroid tissue that my immune system was attaching and killing. 

Fast-forward three months and there I sat, once again in the Endocrinologist's office, hearing yet another diagnosis—papillary thyroid cancer.  The initial ultrasound of my thyroid had revealed an impalpable 9mm nodule in the right lobe of my thyroid gland with spots of calcification in it.  This partially calcified nodule along with my young age triggered red flags to my Endocrinologist who did a biopsy as “insurance.”  Nothing about the biopsy had frightened me except the needles with which they had pierced my neck.  Non-cancerous nodules are very common in Hashimoto’s patients so I hadn’t been concerned that this really would be cancerous.  It was to my great surprise that I sat there in the Dr.’s office with that big, ugly, smudgy black word of cancer now linked to my name forever. 

There is lots of good news in this story.  Part of that good news is that papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) isn’t the aggressive kind and is not known for being fatal.  The first line of treatment for a person like me who has PTC is a complete thyroidectomy (a complete removal of the thyroid gland).  The other part of the good news is that they can do a one-time radio-active iodine treatment if they find the cancer has spread to the tissue bed in my neck.  They won’t know if I will need this until after full pathology report is run after surgery. 

So that is why I’ve had a longer summer vacation than I expected to have with no discussion about an aggressive job search.  I’ve been a "lady in waiting" for her surgery date.  And I now finally have it—it’s today.  Yes, today, October 7^th, I am having surgery to remove my little inflamed and cancerous thyroid.

There are other good parts to this story as well.  God has been at work.  For years, through the shadow and difficultly of this health condition, God has pushed me towards Himself.  If I hadn’t come to the end of my rope countless times, I might not (indeed I know I would not) have known that God was there at the end of the rope every time.  He had been there all along, and I had needed Him all along, not in just the moments when I had felt desperate.   I also can look back and thank God for His timing.  Admittedly at first, I was a little resentful that the discovery of my condition came after both school and my dietetic internship.  During those years (and especially within this last year) I was starting to become a bit unraveled.  In many ways, while I was gradually getting spiritually stronger, I felt physically weaker and more vulnerable.

 I inwardly moaned to myself, “If I had only known what was wrong (and had not thought I was going crazy) and had been under effect treatment before school or at least before my internship then perhaps things would have been much different.”  Things would have been better   These sorts of “perhaps, if-only, and what if” thoughts are dangerous and teeters one the precipice of spiritual rebellion.  It took a while and I had to do some grieving, but I came to the point where I acknowledged and believed that had God wanted things to be different, He would have made them so.  And the fact that He didn’t make things difference didn’t meant that He was not good.  It is one thing to recognize God’s sovereignty and it is an additional step to state, trust and treasure the fact that He is good in each exercise of His sovereignty even when it is vastly different or directly opposed to what we want or think we need. 

This past summer has given me the chance to heal from a lot of bruised places in my soul and body.  As I wait, God has re-built and refreshed me on many levels.  It has been a time that God has reinforced His amazing, unmerited, extravagant love for me. 

There was on day in particular  last month that I sat on the couch almost sobbing while my sister stared at me wide-eyed (“oh now, what has possessed Cathryn again?!).  “I have been (sniff)…just…(wipe the eyes)… devastated with blessings today” I wailed happily! 

 Truly I can say with the Psalmist, “…my cup runneth over!”

 I can’t even begin to predict what is in store for me in the months ahead (physically, job-wise etc).  Likely it will be full of both bumps and blessings that I couldn’t have expected or anticipated.  And that is ok.  I have learned that living the “victorious Christian life” often looks more life humble, desperate brokenness than personal, heroic, eventually-overcoming strength.    No matter how many valleys of the shadow of death He calls me into and regardless of how many times I break apart, I am confident that He Himself and all of His redeeming grace goes before, with and behind me. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever.” Psalm 23: 6

“Come magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3. 

(Belated) Heart of the Matter Monday: Bravery & Faith

"It is hard to be truly brave without faith in God.  The kind of bravery that does not arise out of faith in God is adventurism or macho heroism, or plain cruelty.  It will be rooted in insecurity, or a desperation to prove oneself, or hopelessness. Only faith-based bravery will keep people from selfishness and thoughtfulness on the one hand, and cowardice and ineffectiveness on the other.

How we choose to live show whether we really trust God:
-What risks do you take because you trust God?
- Are there times you are brave out of a desires to prove yourself?
- Are there times you are ineffective or risk-averse out of a desire to protect yourself?
-What would you do differently in those moments if you had a faith-fueled bravery?"

~ Excerpt from Explore. Oct -Dec 2013 edition. Day 1.

Book Review: In the Land of Blue Burqas by Kate McCord (a protective pseudonym)

 

It is likely that I wouldn’t have picked up the book In The Land of Blue Burqas on my own had it not been for my mom and sister.  Upon their recommendation I gladly launched into its 300 pages and found myself engrossed in an unexpectedly, thought-provoking heart-felt, beautiful story.  It is not a fictionalized story, but a true account of a modern American woman’s five year immersion in the people and culture of Afghanistan while heading up work for a non-government organization.  She draws back the curtain to reveal her experiences for our Western eyes to see, not with her back towards us saying “here , see what it was like” in the same manner  a museum docent describes an artifact, but rather she pushes back the curtain while partly concealed  by it herself, her face towards us beckoning us to at least poke your head in and relive the lessons learned with her.  That is largely what this book is about—lessons learned.

 The cultural and religious variances between the author and her Afghan neighbors taught her many things about people, life and most importantly, about God Himself.  These lessons can be lumped into themes, which the Author has divided into the book’s 16 chapters.  She asks (and in some measure answers) the questions:

 

-          How do we deal with and respond to hatred and insult?

-          What is forgiveness and what allows us to practice it?

-          Who protects us from sin?

-          Who is responsible for judging?

-          How do we please God?

-          What is the purpose and importance of prayer and fasting?

Her answers to these questions are anything but dry.  She recounts her tales in the true voice and spirit of storytelling, to the point your own breath is suppressed with the same stifling heat of the trench coat the Author must wear under the desert sun so neither the leering eyes of the men she passes nor the laws and rules they are bound to keep cause her any trouble.  Your own body relaxes as she sits and leans against the cool wall in the heat of the day, eating almonds and candies with friends.  You experience the same astonished-puzzlement as her neighbor explains the laws and rules found in a holy book they are able to read. 

 The daily encounters with neighbors and co-workers whose religious view are so distinctly and adamantly opposed to her own required her to seek the Bible to answer these question for herself and those who demanded them.  The humility and gentle fortitude of the Author expressed in her daily search of the Scriptures and the piercing questions she asked others impressed me not a little.  Such a gentle spirit paired with a commitment to the truth of Gods’ Word is only a demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s work in her life.   

Perhaps the most notable feature of this book was that with the progression of each chapter, my amazement and awe at the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ grew.  Sometimes the wonder of what you have is dimmed by its familiarity and is only seen once again for what it really is when contrasted with something else.  That is what this book did for me.  It reignited a deep sense of gratitude as I saw once again that all the other religions of the world—no matter how “similar” they are to Christianity nor how many “good and nice” people believe otherwise—none of them has anything to compare to the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!  But not only did this book fan the flame of my love of truth, it also ignited a distinct compassion I had not known before.  It is a compassion resulting from knowing the truth and yearning for others to understand the same, realizing that there is no room or reason for pride in the understanding I possess and that other people are blind to see.  

“I (too) once was lost, but now am found. T’was blind and now I see.” 

In The Land of Blue Burqas is a volume high up on my list of both enjoyable and recommended reads.  If you find yourself desiring to know more about the culture and faith of the Afghan people or to have our own faith challenged and refreshed, may I suggest you turn to this book?

Woodworking Projects #1

As mentioned in this post, I have taken up a little bit of woodworking.  It was instigated almost randomly by my free-time and fueled by Ana White, blogger and  author of a book called The Handbuilt Home.   For Newbies like me who are starting out with no real skills, or ladies possessing some skill but who are desirous of easy-to-understand plans ,this book is a great investment.  I would also recommend Ana's website/blog which contains many of the same plans that are in her book (for free!) in addition to videos and lots of other neat stuff.  One of my favorite features of her blog is that you can search her free plans by skill level or design (cottage vs modern etc).  Very handy!  This book, along with some much appreciated assistance from Dad, has given me the boost I need to create....

...Picture ledges

It was amazingly fun to learn how to cut with a table saw, use the hand sander, drill pilot holes, punch nails beneath the surface of the wood and finalize it all as I swiped my angled paint brush across the wood's buttery surface.  I am now in the process of making yet another shelf that is longer and has a decorative front edge.  I don't need a shelf...I just want to work with wood!  I have two other projects up my sleeves... the fun has just begun!

I also made a fun little sign for my bedroom using "my word" of the year...satisfied.  I absolutely LOVE the look of stained wood!  Using a font in Word that I liked, a green 99 cent folder from Staples, and an exact-o knife, I created my own stencil (as seen in picture).   

Too Industrious to be Bored

As some of you know, I have been “taking September off” from the job search.  Such a move might cause some to wonder, “now what could you be doing with all that free time?  Don’t you get tired of it?”  All this free time  off has indeed prompted me to think about busyness, boredom and industry. 

Granted, I have had moments in which I wondered what I should do but I am blessed to say that I never been “bored.”  Much of this has to do with the rich childhood my parents gave me.  They always thought it was important to cultivate more than mere academics in their kids.  My mom used to say that “bored people are boring people.”  I think there is truth to that.  I think bored people are boring because they are unaware (or worse, apathetic towards) the myriad of interesting and useful pursuits….reading, hiking, sewing, woodworking, bug collecting, gardening, visiting shut-ins, target-practice, photography, pets…the list can be quite endless. 

It seems to me that in many ways boredom is just culturally accepted apathy.  A wonder-less existence.  A world in which a mind is not curious about the unknown nor adventurous enough to dip their toes into it.  I am certain the causes of such ignorance and/or indifference are multi-faceted, with many hypothesis purposed regarding them and about which numerous books have been written.   All of this however, goes beyond the scope of this little blog post.   

I am thankful that my parents encouraged each of us kids to pursue interesting and new industries (aka hobbies).  They didn’t do it to keep us “out of the way.”  On the contrary, some of our hobbyist pursuits may have meant that we were more messy and in the way than had we languished away quietly in boredom.   My parents also did not encourage industry as a way to just keep us “busy.”  In my mind there is a difference between busyness and industriousness (notice how carefully I picked out the title of this blog post… I could have said “too busy to be bored” but I intentionally didn’t).  Busyness to me, implies some degree of fluster; an exertion that may include but perhaps more often does not include purpose, value or edification to anyone. Industriousness on the other hand, signifies activity with purpose, value and edification. 

Fewer things are sadder to me than a “bored” adult.   Because of the heritage of industry planted in me as a child, I am happy to say that as an adult I have reaped some of the delightful harvest of finding many things interesting.  While I may be an “educated” collage graduate in my twenties with extra time on my hands, I am never bored.  On the contrary, my time off has invigorated and enlivened my interests so that I am trying things I never really considered before…like woodworking for example.  (Stay tuned for future posts about these endeavors). 

 Hobbies and industry….

…are a diminishing practice

…cause people to think critically

…may be messy

…take time

…are enriching

…transforms you from the Sad Soul with whom a person can only talk to for a 1 minute at a party into the Flourishing Soul with whom people can willingly talk to for 30 minutes or more- because you interesting

…are moments never wasted!

 What are your thoughts about boredom and hobbies? What do YOU do to be industrious?!

Heart of the Matter Monday: "To be blessed...:

"To be blessed is not to live free of struggle, but to cling to Christ in the midst of the struggle."

~Nancy Guthrie. The Promised One bible study. Pg 223.

Heart of the Matter Monday: Thoughts from St. Augustine

"Nothing is nearer to You (God) than a confessing heart and a life grounded in faith."

~ St Augustine.  Confessions (Book Two)

Wednesday Writing Bits: Woodworking

The following was actually part of a letter I wrote to a friend of mine.  We were discussing the natural disasters events that occur in our lives on a daily basis.  I would like to think that the following sort of story is normal for everyone.  I am sure things like this happen to you too...right?

I have been spending some of my extra “unemployed” hours on learning some woodworking skills (a task that is very foreign to me…which is why I thought I would give it a try).  Today my very proud Self drilled pilot holes successful only to go too far with the countersink bit jabbing a horrendous hole into my wood. Phooey.   Good thing it was on the backside of my project and hip hip hooray for wood-putty (never used it but I know it’s out there).  I applied the wood glue and began screwing in the screws…twist…twist...creak….the boards began to lift apart! Well, silly me didn’t know until later that such a thing was not an emergency and is really quite normal and only requires me to (practically) prostrate myself on the two boards while I screw them together to prevent them from separating.  Smile.  Later (of course after such exertion I had to take a break), I attempted to glue and nail another little board to the front of the project. Well the glue, glued fine but after driving one of the finishing nails into the wood (and after consulting Dad) I realized I should have driven pilot holes in for the nails to make them easier to drive in and prevent splitting. No problem.  Somehow even my pilot hole practice-run  in a piece of scrap board didn’t prevent me from encountering difficultly while working ON my project.  The difficultly was none other than getting the drill bit stuck in the wood.  Smile.  With some intervention from Dad we got it out and I learned that in the future I need to really crank down on the drill chuck in order to ensure a tight union betwixt drill and bit. 

Fortunately nothing else eventful occurred during the project…unless you call bending three nails in the process of punching the finishing nails below the surface of the wood an event.  I certainly wouldn’t count that, would you?  

 

Food Fact Fridays: Yummy Gummies

  I hope you will forgive the long silence on my blog.  I was away on vacation for 14 days and now that I am back home I have been busy with the consuming activities of relaxation and industry.  Blogging has (obviously) not been included in any one of those categories. 

I have been enjoying testing out new recipes (almost 1 or 2 each) and really enjoyed this one from Balanced Bites. com.  I just call them Yummy Gummies, but their original name is Sweet and Sour Gelatin Snacks.  The Author uses grass-fed gelatin instead of well, regular gelatin that comes from cows that are non-grass-fed.   My interest in gelatin has increased as I have learned more about its nutritional benefits which are directly related to gut and digestive health—a topic near and dear to my heart.  I have not gone so far as to use the grass-fed gelatin (partly because of its expense and the fact that it must be mail-ordered).  I just used regular gelatin that I got at Wal-Mart for less than a buck per box.  It worked great.  In fact, these tasted great!!!

As an advocate for “everything in moderation: I am almost ashamed to admit that I ate almost the an entire half of the 8X 8 pan of these Yummy Gummies the first day!  These are very sour but that is partly what I find so cool, refreshing and attractively delicious about them.  If you what them sweeter or feel in the mood to make your own “gummy worms” just cut these in strips instead of squares or cookie cutter shapes and roll them in a little bit of granulated sugar ( my Dietitian conscience is pricking me as  I write the words granulated sugar…so please only do this last bit as an occasional treat!).       

Sweet & Sour Gummy Gelatin Snacks

grain-free • gluten-free • dairy-free • nightshade-free

PREP TIME: 10 minutes COOKING TIME: 5 minutes (CHILL TIME: 60+ minutes)
YIELD: 4 servings

Lemon-lime Version:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
•          1/4 cup  freshly squeezed lime juice
•          1/4 cup water (optional, depending on how sour you like things – without it these are quite sour!)
•         zest from lemons and/or limes as desired
•          1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional, but will be very tart without this)
•          4-5 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin, (orange/red package will gel, the green will not)

Preparation:

• In a small pot over medium-low heat, whisk the lemon juice, lime juice, water (optional), zest, maple syrup, and gelatin together vigorously until the gelatin is well dissolved and the mixture becomes a nice slurry. 
• Pour the mixture into a small glass or ceramic dish, preferably 6×9″ or so. The smaller the pan, the thicker your gummies will be. For thinner gummies (to cut into “worms,” for example), use a larger pan.
• Chill in the refrigerator until completely set, approximately 30 minutes.

Change it up!

·         To make these more fun for the kiddos, cut them out with small cookie or aspic cutters once they’re chilled and fully gelled, or chill them in fun-shaped molds. To remove them from the molds once chilled, set the bottoms of the mold containers in warm water to release them from the pan.

For a sweet-tart blueberry version go HERE ( and scroll to the bottom)