everyonesAwriter

Yum-O

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:25:47 -0800

I was given a bunch of lemons by Marjie McWilly and fam, and decided to make some lemon curd. Yum. It’s in the pressure cooker right now, except for that last half-jar that went straight into the fridge. I have a feeling it will become a late-night snack later on some toast, mixed with my strawberry jam from last summer.

My birthday may be five months away, but if anyone wants to get me, oh say… a “happy Spring!” gift - find me cute jars from a goodwill somewhere. :o) I promise to be just as excited about them as I was about the 3 glass gallon jars that Dani & Mom-ell found me a couple months ago for use in making tons of 8-week sweet pickles this year. Woo-hoo!

Expecting God's Touch

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:31:52 -0800

I have a friend, Maribel, who has been waiting for a kidney. It’s been a long time now. Her attitude is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I mean, who else is on 15 hours a day of dialysis and still goes as a counselor to kids camp?

We’ve been praying for God to complete the work that He has started on her life. And then I got a magnificent e-mail yesterday. On Tuesday, she’s getting a transplant.

Here’s Maribel last year - sharing her testimony in advance. Keep praising while you pray.

My Funny Valentine

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:16:53 -0800

My Funny Valentine

Church doesn’t normally require 3-D glasses, but today our...

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:24:19 -0800

Church doesn’t normally require 3-D glasses, but today our missions service at Mars Hill Community came with a little extra equipment.

My husband has Kennedy hair today. (due to the awesome costal...

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:50:01 -0800

My husband has Kennedy hair today. (due to the awesome costal wind)

Sugar Shock

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:12:17 -0800

Enjoying my first latte in about a month. But seriously—was my grande toffee nut non-fat latte always this sweet? Yikes. I think I’m going to cut back to half the number of pumps it’s supposed to have. I can’t even finish it b/c of the sugar shock.

"In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They..."

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:58:13 -0800

“In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are - dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon.”

- James Hudson Taylor, pioneer missionary

Ben: Look at that sweet frat house.

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:03:59 -0800

Ben: Look at that sweet frat house.
Kathy: That's not a frat house.
Ben: True, they have plants on the porch.

Walking the Race

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:51:15 -0800

At my high school (Panther Pride!) it took 4 and a half laps on the track to make a mile. Just so you know—I haven’t run a mile since … well… Okay, I don’t know if I’ve ever run an entire mile. It’s one of my upcoming goals (thanks to P.Karen).

I digress…

I was a bit of a contrarian back then (understatement on two levels there). So when the P.E. teachers were pushing us to run the straights and then walk the curves, I argued (shocking, right?). Why, if I can walk the entire thing just as fast, if not faster, than kids who were using the run/walk method, did I really need to run at all? I kept a steady pace and always finished within the time allotment for that little red patch that you got for meeting national physical fitness standards (The mile was not my problem - it was those stupid pull-ups. Ugg.).

But regardless of how you “ran” the race… a bunch of sprints followed by dragging steps with side-splitting pain, a brisk walking pace consistent the entire time, a nice jog all the way around… the goal was the same - finish the race. And regardless of your pain or non-pain level, there was nothing like coming around that last curve and seeing Mr. Knight, clipboard in hand, and knowing the end was near. Suddenly it all seemed easier, and this ridiculous energy burst allowed you to speed up towards that finish line.

For our fast, we’ve started to round the last corner. You may be struggling right now, or maybe you’re in a sweet spot. But regardless, take the burst of influence from the Holy Spirit and finish well.

nycaboo: how fantastic are these cases for macbooks?! hi,...

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:32:17 -0800

nycaboo:

how fantastic are these cases for macbooks?!

hi, need.

(via Hither and Tither)

Yeah - I want one too.

Prayer mtg @marshillfamily. Nearing the end of our @awake21...

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:35:38 -0800

Prayer mtg @marshillfamily. Nearing the end of our @awake21 fast.

the weight on your shoulders.

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:11:39 -0800

When you’re fasting, a lot tends to happen in your spiritual life.

I know, I know… understatement.

But here’s the thing - it doesn’t always happen in some gigantic epiphany moment. Sometimes it’s a gradual, softer experience. And one thing that tends to happen over time is a great realization that God is always speaking or working. We’re just not always listening or watching. But when we allow ourselves to be still, to focus more, we can then tune the world out and tune in to the Holy Spirit.

Tonight, I’m here in my office working on Awakening devotional e-mails. As I sit at my desk, I remind myself to sit up straight, as my posture can get pretty horrendous after a few hours at the desk. And I instinctively reach to move the scarf around my deck to a little further back, so it’s not seeming to pull my neck down.

And then I hear Him - what else is pulling you down? It wasn’t an audible voice, it was an internal one. And instantly God teaches me, because I’m ready to learn. Sometimes it might be a necessary, God-assigned thing that you’re carrying on your shoulders, but that doesn’t mean it has to weigh you down. Just push it back a little. Get some perspective. Then the weight is easier to bear.

Finally. Got this baby cranked.

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:57:35 -0800

Finally. Got this baby cranked.

Usually we have our tv on old jazz & swing standards when...

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:58:00 -0800

Usually we have our tv on old jazz & swing standards when we’re home. It’s one genre we can always agree on.

hungry.

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:40:55 -0800

I had the silly FB game Cafe World going on my second monitor today, b/c I was trying to keep my buzz rating up. Why am I in a popularity contest on a game?

Anyway… I got hungry making the food. Had to quit the application. Ugg.