Perseverance Monday, Oct 26 2009

“The central reality for Christians is the personal, unalterable, persevering commitment God makes to us. Perseverance is not the result of our determination, it is the result of God’s faithfulness. We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous, because God sticks with us. Christian discipleship is a process of paying more and more attention to God’s righteousness and less and less attention to our own; finding the meaning of our lives not by probing our moods and motives and morals but by believing in God’s will and purposes; making a map of the faithfulness of God, not charting the rise and fall of our enthusiasms. It is out of such a reality that we acquire perseverance.”

~ Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

3 Responses »

 

My Favorite Soup Friday, Oct 23 2009

This soup has become one of my favorites since I first tried it almost a year ago. I make it at least once a month, and I usually double it in order to be sure to have plenty of leftovers. (The recipe here is doubled; the link has the original proportions.) I highly recommend it!

Sausage & Spinach Soup

Sausage & Spinach Soup

1 1/4 lbs. mild Italian sausage (or turkey sausage)
1 1/2 cups chopped onion, about 1
3-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup water
2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans chicken broth (about 28 oz, or use a 32-oz carton)
4 cups baby spinach
2 tablespoons chopped basil (or 1-2 tsp. dried)
1 tablespoon chopped oregano (or 1 tsp. dried)
Romano cheese, grated

Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage in a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add onion and garlic to pan; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in water, beans, tomatoes, and broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and cook for 3 minutes or until slightly thick (you can let it simmer for longer than this if you would like). Remove from heat, and stir in spinach, basil, and oregano. Ladle soup into bowls, and sprinkle each serving with Romano cheese.

One Response »

 

Morning Prayer Thursday, Oct 15 2009

Every morning at school, the elementary students gather before heading off to class. We pray this prayer from St. Ignatius:

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve — to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing I am doing Your will. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

I love beginning the school day with that prayer. I often think that I need it more than the students.

2 Responses »

 

Sunday Hymn Sunday, Sep 27 2009

One of my favorite Sovereign Grace songs is “O Great God,” which we sing often at church. This morning’s sermon from I Corinthians 2 was a reminder that it is only the Spirit who gives life and wisdom. And each time we sing this song, the truth of the second verse in particular always stuns me into humility and thankfulness — that it is the Spirit alone who awakens my heart.

O great God of highest heaven,

Occupy my lowly heart;

Own it all and reign supreme,

Conquer every rebel power.

Let no vice or sin remain

That resists Your holy war;

You have loved and purchased me –

Make me Yours forevermore.

I was blinded by my sin,

Had no ears to hear Your voice,

Did not know Your love within,

Had no taste for Heaven’s joys.

Then Your Spirit gave me life,

Opened up Your Word to me;

Through the gospel of Your Son,

Gave me endless hope and peace.

Help me now to live a life

That’s dependent on Your grace,

Keep my heart and guard my soul

From the evils that I face.

You are worthy to be praised

With my every thought and deed –

O great God of highest heaven,

Glorify Your name through me.

3 Responses »

 

Favorite Quote Monday, Sep 14 2009

“If you sweep a house, and tend its fires and fill its stove, and there is love in you all the years you are doing this, then you and that house are married, that house is yours.”

~ Truman Capote

My sister has this quote framed above her kitchen sink. I have always loved it, and today while washing dishes I thought of it again and wanted to share it!

One Response »

 

Outrageous Oatmeal Cookies Wednesday, Aug 12 2009

Starbucks has recently released a couple of their recipes (as part of their move toward being transparent about the ingredients in their food). One recipe is for Outrageous Oatmeal Cookies. I came across the recipe in the Washington Post and have made them twice. I made one change and used white whole wheat flour rather than all-purpose white.

While I’m not sure why they’re “outrageous” (is the addition of cranberries really “outrageous”?), they are very, very good. Probably the best homemade oatmeal raisin cookies I’ve had. This recipe is definitely a keeper.

• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats (do not use quick-cooking or instant)

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1/2 cup dark raisins

• 1/2 cup golden raisins

• 1/4 cup dried cranberries

• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

• 1/4 cup (granulated) sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine the oats, flour, 1/4 cup of the dark raisins and 1/4 cup of the golden raisins, the dried cranberries, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup dark raisins and 1/4 cup golden raisins (for topping) in a separate bowl.

Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held mixer; beat on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the egg, cinnamon and vanilla extract; beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Reduce the speed to low; gradually add the oats mixture, mixing until just combined.

Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls on the baking sheets, spaced 2 inches apart. Place one mounded teaspoon of raisins on top of each portion of dough (flatten the dough slightly to keep the raisins from rolling off). Bake for 12 to 16 minutes, until the cookies are light golden brown yet still soft. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

2 Responses »

 

Recent Reading Friday, Jul 31 2009

On our beach vacation this month, I took along two books, one that I’d been working my way through for two months, and another that I knew would be a lighter read.

I’ve been reading Crime & Punishment for my book club (the selection for June and July), and though I have an English degree and love to read, I must admit that I found this book to be one that I had to push myself to read. It’s the story of man who commits a murder (motivated by a theory he has of great men being excused from the morals that govern the rest of mankind), and who is then tormented by his own mind and yet also redeemed through his suffering as he experiences the consequences of his actions. I felt that it was one of those situations where I needed a great professor to open the brilliance of the novel to me. I’ve had that happen before (the book that stands out is Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises), and I wished as I was reading that I could have had that happen with this one. While I thought that Dostoevsky had insights into human nature, I felt that I remained detached while reading this book. I fully admit that this is my deficiency rather than the book’s. So I’m glad I read it (I haven’t read much of the Russians), but I don’t know that this one will take a treasured spot on my bookcase.

The other book I read was The Importance of Being Kennedy by Laurie Graham. I had come across this one in a bookstore, and since I had read a short biography of the Kennedys this past year as part of the 8th grade curriculum, I was more intrigued by this novel than I might otherwise have been. The novel is narrated by a fictional nanny who works for the Kennedys for many years, entering their lives soon after the birth of the oldest son and remaining connected with them through the second World War and the deaths of two of the grown children. While I found the end to be a bit unsatisfying (it felt like it just puttered to a stop), I really enjoyed this book overall and found it to be perfect beach reading. I felt that the author did a great job with the narrator’s character — she feels like a rounded character, yet mostly remains of secondary interest in the novel as she tells the story of this driven family.

One Response »

 

July 2009 Wednesday, Jul 29 2009

July has been a relaxed month overall. I am enjoying summer vacation from teaching (school begins for me at the end of August). We’ve been able to visit family as well this month. We spent the Fourth of July weekend in Columbus with Jeff’s family and spent last week in Virginia Beach with my family.

At the end of last week’s trip, we made a quick stop in Northern VA/DC to catch our breath before the long drive back to Louisville. We were able to attend Capitol Hill Baptist Church (where we met) on Sunday morning and also fit in a Sunday-afternoon visit to one of our favorite DC spots, the National Cathedral, where Jeff asked me to marry him nearly 3 years ago. I’m happy he asked, and happy I could say “yes!”

September 2006

July 2009

2 Responses »

 

Luis Melendez Monday, Jun 15 2009

I’m visiting my family in Virginia, and on Friday we went to the National Gallery of Art to see an exhibit of still life paintings by Luis Melendez, an 18th-century Spanish artist.  Melendez, who would have preferred to be an official court painter and produce lavish portraits of rulers, was instead asked by a Spanish prince (who later became King Charles IV)  to produce a series of paintings that would reflect ”the four Seasons of the Year, or more properly, the four Elements, with the aim of composing an amusing cabinet with every species of food produced by the Spanish climate.”

The paintings were stunning. While a few featured a landscape background that seemed overly-stylized, most of the paintings were arrangements of common food items on nondescript wooden tables — piles of fruit and vegetables, fish and meat, wedges of cheese, small packets of sweets, small honey pots, heavy white pitchers, wine bottles that catch the light. I found it interesting that this man who was frustrated in his career by his inability to achieve the position he desired had produced these paintings that are much more universal, much more satisfying, than lavish court paintings would ever be.

3 Responses »

 

Small Herb Garden Tuesday, Jun 2 2009

I love having fresh herbs on hand, so I’ve recently planted some in small pots that sit outside my apartment building. I did this last year with just a few herbs in one pot; this year I’ve increased the number of pots and herbs. I have mint, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro, and parsley. I hope they flourish — I love the convenience of stepping outside to clip fresh herbs to use in a recipe!

Oregano, Thyme & Cilantro

Flat-leaf Parsley

Mint

Rosemary & Basil

6 Responses »