A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

...makes dinner!

1 Celery stalk chopped

1 large carrot peeled and chopped

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 heaping cup sliced cabbage

1 15 ounce can lentil beans drained and rinsed

2 chicken breasts cooked and diced

2 cups cooked brown rice

2 cups steamed broccoli

1 32 ounce container chicken stock

1 T minced garlic

1 T white vinegar

1 T Flax meal(optional)

2 bay leaves

Salt and pepper(optional)

olive oil

water

Saute celery, carrot, onion and bell pepper in olive oil over med/high heat for approx. 5 minutes or until soft. Add cabbage and garlic along with a splash of stock and olive oil. Lid pot and saute for approx 5 more minutes or until cabbage is softened. Add stock and 1 stock container full of water, bay leaves, rice and beans to pot. Put lid on and bring to a boil and simmer for approx. 10 minutes on low heat. Remove bay leaves. Add chicken, broccoli, vinegar, flax meal and heat through and Voila!  You have a yummy, HEALTHY dinner confined to one pot. Bliss.

Marvelous Moments

nothing new under the sun

Oil's in the cereal for a change, ice cream's made from breastmilk, geography lessons coupled with a dose of reality and perspective in the news, prayers for Japan on our lips, heavy hearts and lifted eyes waiting for the return of our Lord and Savior.

The world is a crazy messed up place full of unsuspecting people pretending to know it all and have everything under control and I have to say I feel a bit like shaking my head in disgust while saying, "yadda, yadda, yadda. Same ol', same ol'."  It seems out-of-"our"-control situations like Tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes among other natural disasters would serve as a warning coupled with a little reality that we are all minute faulty men at the whim of something or some ONE bigger.

Let's start praying to HIM folks, because Jesus' return looms nearer each day this evanescent world turns.
God is our only hope. He IS hope. We cannot place hope in ourselves, other men, in our knowledge, in our abilities or whereabouts. God is in whom I choose to place my trust.  And not just for today or during difficult times, but choosing to walk a consistent life of steadfast hope in Jesus, always and forever and in every situation; He is my hope.

Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 All things are wearisome,

more than one can say.

The eye never has enough of seeing,

nor the ear its fill of hearing.

What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

 1 John 5:19-20 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

1 Corinthians 1:15-17 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Revelation 22:15-22 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

Slow Dance

A couple of weeks ago, before we became house bound with rebounding sickness, we had the awesome experience of visiting a 24 hour old colt and his mother and father. The kids and I were enthralled with the beauty of their love and concern for each other.

Even the colt's daddy would nuzzle up his nose to him through the fence, to make sure he was okay(my five kids and I are quite the frazzling crowd at times).

My in-laws have a few guests staying over indefinitely and one of the sweet ladies brought her horses, goats and dog along with her. She also makes glorious goats milk soap!

We so enjoyed the surprise call to come and visit this newborn colt and appreciate the magnificence of God's creation.

I've captioned the pictures of our little adventure with a poem I believe to have been written by a terminally ill girl, looking at life from the perspective of it's end being close at hand.

It's a good perspective to be reminded of, prompted by and spurred on because of.

Have you ever

watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a

butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the

fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music

won't last.

Do you run through each day

on the fly?

When you ask how are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

do you lie

in your bed

With the next hundred chores

running through

your head?

You'd better

slow down

Don't dance so

fast.

Time is

short..

The music won't

last.

Ever told your

child,

We'll do it

tomorrow?

And in your

haste,

Not see

his

sorrow?

Ever lost

touch,

Let a good

friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say, 'Hi'

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last..

When you run
so fast to get somewhere

You
miss half the fun of getting
there.

When you worry and hurry

through your
day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.


Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.