Still snowing

A Spring retreat

Last week, I stepped into the brisk morning air to find some flowers on display. I found crocuses, daffodils, hyacinth, and heather all blooming.

The first day of spring:

Today we woke up to snow, yes, lots of snow.

March 20th

March 28th, Friday of Spring Break!

Saturday Lunch Satay

A couple of weeks ago, I found a recipe for Indonesian Satay and decided to put it on our menu. I had not made the recipe before and there were a few ingredients that I would need to buy, but I was sure it would be a cinch. Thursday afternoon, the day for which the meal was planned, I realized that I had forgotten to thaw some chicken. No problem, I would just run to the store and buy some fresh. When I returned home, I reread the recipe and realized that the chicken needed to be marinated for 4 – 24 hours and we were planning to eat in just an hour or two. This meal would have not be ready, so Plan B for Thursday: out to dinner. Friday we already had other plans for dinner, but I began the satay dish by combining ingredients to make the marinade. Saturday, as I began preparing the coconut rice, I realized that I did not have enough jasmine rice. I have begun buying less “white” food items and so mixed some brown rice in with the “white” rice. I think the cooking times were different for the two varieties of rice, but we did like the result. FINALLY, today we grilled the chicken and enjoyed delicious chicken satay for lunch. That goopy looking stuff under the chicken is the coconut rice and, of course, there is peanut sauce drizzled over everything.

Mondays

On Mondays, Bob heads back to work and I have a catch up and clean up day. I don’t work on Mondays and so I try to organize my week. I often have coffee with a friend. I have extra time to read blogs. I do laundry and plan the week’s menu. I find a new recipe to try, pay some bills, run errands and go shopping for groceries. I have more time for personal devotions and usually drink more coffee than other days. Some Mondays I steal away a couple of hours of pleasure reading. One Monday each month, I organize a group of people that fill food boxes at the food bank. These boxes are delivered to shut ins around town. Sometimes I scrap all this getting stuff done, and head into Portland to see friends, family or do some shopping. In the evening, we get to have a conversation with Ben and Libby on the video cam and see our grandson. Ahh, Mondays feel good.

The Shack

I just read a book that challenged some of my preconceptions. I cried, agreed, questioned, felt conviction, and knocked down some walls containing my view of God. The book is fiction, but full of so many truths. I don’t want to write a book report or give away the plot, so decided to share some quotes with you. Maybe these will intrigue you enough to cause you to pick up and read this novel.

“A child is protected because she is loved, not because she has the right to be protected.”

“Tears can be healing waters and a stream of joy. Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak.”

“But your choices are also not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for the ultimate good and the most loving outcome.”

“Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.”

“Rules cannot bring freedom; they only have the power to accuse.”

“We are in a circle of relationship, not a chain of command . . . relationship without any overlay of power. We don’t need power over the other because we are always looking out for the best.”

“You must give up your right to decide what is good and evil on your own terms, choosing to only live in me. To do that you must know me enough to trust me and learn to rest in my inherent goodness.”

“So many believe that it is love that grows, but it is the knowing that grows and love simply expands to contain it.”

“You have judged them worthy of love, even if it cost you everything. That is how Jesus loves. And now you know Papa’s heart, who loves all his children perfectly.”

“I don’t want to be first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything.”

“Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes.”

“live in expectancy”

Here’s the a link to find out more: The Shack

Single Friends

Last night we had an out of town, over night guest who is dating a single friend of ours. This is the second time in as many months that we are a testing ground for new found friendship. Both times, with both friends, our role has been a combination of looking for red flags, checking out how the guy treats our single friend and analyzing, oh, anything about him we choose to explore. This ranges from spiritual gifting and spiritual maturity, to sensitivity to others, listening ability, competitive spirit, and perfectionism. This weekend sure was more relaxed than the other one. I think it was because these two have had quite bit of conversation and are in the process of deepening their relationship. The previous weekend had been an e-harmony connection and the two had only met for coffee one time previous to us meeting him. Long distance relationships can sure be difficult to cultivate!