Christmas Fruit Cake

Christmas is that wonderful time for family, friends, music, and.....fruitcake? This strange cake that came from ancient traditions is so loathed by Americans. Well, here is my fruit cake recipe. I think it is definately delicious and edible. Try it and see if I'm wrong!

Edible Christmas Fruit Cake Recipe:
1 moist yellow cake mix (any brand)
2/3 cup oil
1 (3 oz.) vanilla pudding mix (instant or cook is fine)
4 eggs
1 large can pineapple chunks
1 cup rum
1 cup sweetened cherries or marachino cherries, drained
1 cup walnuts (or pecans)
Optional: 1 cup of coconut

One day ahead, soak pineapple chunks in rum in fridge.
Mix cake mix, oil, pudding mix and eggs in a large bowl until well-mixed.
Drain pineapple chunks and add to batter. Add cherries and walnuts. Add coconut if using. Batter will be thick.

Grease/flour a bundt pan. Place extra cherries and nuts along the bottom of the pan to make a decorative design. Pour batter over all.

Bake in a greased/floured bundt pan for 1 hour at 325 degrees. Serve warm with whipped cream. This cake is quite dark when it's done.



Here is the history of the fruit cake:
Fruitcakes are holiday and wedding cakes which have a very heavy fruit content. They require special handling and baking to obtain successful results. The name "fruitcake" can be traced back only as far as the Middle Ages. It is formed from a combination of the Latin fructus, and French frui or frug.

The oldest reference that can be found regarding a fruitcake dates back to Roman times. The recipe included pomegranate seeds. Pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash. Honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added during the Middle Ages. Crusaders and hunters were reported to have carried this type of cake to sustain themselves over long periods of time away from home.

1400s - The British began their love affair with fruitcake when dried fruits from the Mediterranean first arrived.

1700s - In Europe, a ceremonial type of fruitcake was baked at the end of the nut harvest and saved and eaten the next year to celebrate the beginning of the next harvest, hoping it will bring them another successful harvest. After the harvest, nuts were mixed and made into a fruitcake that was saved until the following year. At that time, previous year's fruitcakes were consumed in the hope that its symbolism would bring the blessing of another successful harvest

In the early 18th century, fruitcake (called plum cakes) was outlawed entirely throughout Continental Europe. These cakes were considered as "sinfully rich." By the end of the 18th century there were laws restricting the use of plum cake.

Between 1837 and 1901, fruitcake was extremely popular. A Victorian "Tea" would not have been complete without the addition of the fruitcake to the sweet and savory spread. Queen Victoria is said to have waited a year to eat a fruitcake she received for her birthday because she felt it showed restraint, moderation and good taste.

It was the custom in England for unmarried wedding guests to put a slice of the cake, traditionally a dark fruitcake, under their pillow at night so they will dream of the person they will marry.

Advent Candle

Here are some facts about the advent candle. It is a wonderful tradition. Different folks do it in different ways, so there is no "wrong" way to have an advent candle.

The Advent wreath was likely first used in the Middle Ages. The design was borrowed from the customs of pre-Christian (primarily Germanic and Scandinavian) peoples, who used candles and greenery as symbols during the dark and dead winter, often paired together representing light and life. The Advent Wreath is a circular evergreen wreath with four or five candles, three purple, one rose, and (if you use the five-candle model), one white one for Christmas Day. If used, the white candle is placed in the center. Some Protestant traditions have been using 4 blue candles recently. However, Catholics still use the traditional colors because they dually symbolize both royalty and penitence, two important Advent themes.

A wreath may be hand-crafted of real or artificial materials, or may be purchased at craft and candle stores. The candles symbolize the light of Christ coming into the world. The evergreen symbolizes renewal in Christ, the kind of renewal hoped for by those before Christ's first coming, and the ultimate renewal we long for in Christ's second coming. The circular shape symbolizes the completeness of God. It is likely the symbolism came after the actual wreath was conceived of, but that does not detract from the power of the symbols.

The candle colors are derived from the traditional liturgical colors of Advent and Christmas, purple and white respectively. The rose color likely is derived from an old Catholic custom of wearing rose colored vestments on the third Sunday in Advent (and fourth Sunday in Lent), called Gaudete Sunday, i.e. "Rejoice" Sunday. Each candle is first lit on the appropriate Sunday of Advent, and then the candles may be lit each day as a part of the individual or family's daily prayers. Certain candles have been given various names. Some systems name the candle thusly:
1. Hope (purple)
2. Peace (purple)
3. Joy (rose; the corresponding Sunday is "Gaudete Sunday")
4. Love (purple)
5. Christ (white)
Others do it like this:
1. Patriarchs
2. Prophets
3. John the Baptist
4. Mary the mother of Jesus.
5. Christ the light of the world


Since the Advent Wreath is a devotion, there are a variety of ways to make use of it, and we encourage you to develop your own customs and prayers if you wish, based in Scripture and Church Tradition. You may choose to light the wreath only on Sundays, however some families light the wreath daily to more fully celebrate Advent.

Thoughts from Mother Teresa

I'm reading a couple books about Mother Teresa. What a saint. Here are some thoughts and sayings from her:

1. "Without love there can be no happiness in the house, no peace in the world. A work of love is a work of peace".

2. "Be smiling when you visit the poor. Even if you have nothing to give, smile to them; a smile costs nothing".

3. "Whatever misery, whatever suffering you have seen and experienced during the day, never go to bed without the joy of the Risen Christ".

4. Mother Teresa found a man in the gutter, eaten by worms. She took him home and spent 3 hours cleaning his wounds. Just before he died there, he said, "I have lived like an animal in the street, but I'm going die like an angel, loved and cared for".

5. When Mother Teresa was sick once with a high fever she says "I was in delirium; I went to Saint Peter, but he did not let me enter saying, "There are no slums in heaven"....In my anger I said, "Very well, I will fill heaven with slum people and you will be forced to let me in"....

6. "I am a pencil in God's hand".

7. "If I had passed by when I saw and smelt that woman who was eaten by rats ---her face, her legs. But I returned, picked her up and took her to a hospital. If I had not, the Society would have died. Feelings of repugnance are human but if I see the face of Jesus in His most distressing disguise, I will be holy".

8. "A clean heart can see God. And we should see God in each other."

9. "Charity begins today. Today somebody is suffering, today somebody is in the street, today somebody is hungry. Our work is for today, yesterday has gone, tomorrow has not come. We see a need, we go to meet it; at least, we do something about it".

10. "We love not in big things but in small things, with great love".

Christmas gift recipe: Oatmeal

Sugarfree Oatmeal in a Jar
(great Christmas present)

I wanted to make a present for my cousin who is diabetic and eats oatmeal every morning. I couldn't find a recipe on the internet, so I invented this one. It is sweet and delicious! If you want the real sugar, sustitute the Splenda with white or brown sugar.

Mix in a large bowl:

4 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup flaxseed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 TBS sliced almonds
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups dry coffee creamer (I used fat free)
1 cup Splenda sweetner
1/4 cup raisins (or any other dried fruit)

Place in large-mouth jars or in a ziplock storage bag. Tie with ribbons and the following directions:

Stir 1/2 cup boiling water into 1/2 cup of oatmeal. Let sit one minute. ENJOY!

Advent Thoughts

Jesus had to become an earthly child.....so we could become a heavenly child

Jesus lived in a womb of darkness...so we could see the light

Jesus entered the earth through the humble and tramatic event of birth....so that we could easily and graciously recieve new life

Jesus could not speak or take care of himself as an infant.....so that we could have complete freedom in Him

Jesus cried to his mother in his need....so we could cry "Abba, Father" in our need

Jesus entered in a filthy, crowded, noisy, uncaring city....so we might live in a clean brilliant place called Zion

Jesus entered the limits of time.......so that we might taste eternity

Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes.....so that we could wear robes of righteousness

Jesus cared more for us than the glory of heaven......so that we could care for others more than ourselves

Advent is here!

I certainly love the 4 weeks of Advent. I purposefully do all my Christmas shopping and wrapping in October and November so I can just ENJOY December. For the past 6 years I attended a church that did not honor Advent. I really missed it. To spend 4 weeks in humble, quiet, peaceful contemplation of God becoming man is a wonderful experience. Yes, there are times of rejoicing and laughing and enjoying a glass of eggnog, but there needs to be a balance of remembering that our sin is the reason for Christ becoming flesh.


I love what the writer of Hebrews says:
"That is why Christ said, "O God, the blood of bulls and goats cannot satisfy you, so you have made ready this body of mine for me to lay as a sacrifice upon your altar." (Hebrews 10:5)

Advent. Waiting. Expecting. Needing. Receiving. These are all parts of Advent. O come, o come, Emmanuel!

Big Bail Out

In light of you and I personally paying billions and billions of dollars to save companies who have made poor choices over the years, I read an interesting proverb today.


"The world's poorest credit risk is the man who agrees to pay a stranger's debts". Proverbs 27:13


Interesting, huh?

Thanksgiving Blessingsl Mix

Here is a nice treat to give to family and friends. It is also a good reminder of Thanksgiving.

Blessings Mix

Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.

Candy corn: The sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.

Nuts or seeds: Promise of a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.

Dried fruits: Harvest gifts from our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to lead us into a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Giving Thanks

Luke 14:33 "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple".

I've been reading a little book on the Pilgrims. What an interesting group, those "Separatists". They were persecuted by the Church of England and driven to nearby Holland. Seems they enjoyed Holland up to a point; Holland was rich, strong in business, more tolerant of religious folks. But the Separatists left Holland. Why would they leave a place that gave them all the freedoms they wanted? They had it made!

The answer is: HUMANISM. The Separatists, though devout in their worship and in raising their children, were losing those children to the culture around them. Their children were seeing the selfishness, wealth, and comforts of an "open society". They realized that the Christian culture of their church would eventually be lost in one or two generations.

By 1617, Edward Winslow said: 'How hard the country was . . . How grievous to live from under the protection of the State of England. How like we were to lose our language, and our name, of English. How little good we did, or are likely to do, to the Dutch in reforming the Sabbath. How unable to give such education to our children as we ourselves have received.'

Thoughts of the Separatists turned to a 'New England' far across the Atlantic ocean: 'They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations . . . for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.'

(Show that quote to anyone who says our land wasn't founded by Christians.....)


The Separatists realized that in small numbers they were not going to be able to change the Holland culture around them, but they could save their future generations. They saw the promise of hope in a far-off land with many unknown dangers. They thought the risk of animals or nativs lesser than losing their precious children to a worldly, self-centered culture.

WOW.

Sound familiar?


I like those Separatists. They didn't care if everyone else lived a selfish life; they had standards for their families and no one was going to change them. They lived from the extreme of persecution to the extreme of complete freedom. Yet they stayed the course.

Yes, the Pilgrims were not perfect people. They fought so badly on the Mayflower that they had to put some rules down in writing called the "Mayflower Compact". They admittedly stole from the Indians that first winter just to survive. First they took a basket of corn they found in the forest. The stealing grew from there. A few Pilgirms felt guilty about it and promised to repay the natives the following year. They made up for it at the first Thanksgiving dinner. I would suggest that the basket in the forest was from God, but then again, I wasn't there.

Yes, these were real and flawed people. But their faith was incredible. They only had the Bible and their prayer life and each other. No beautiful churches (they met in a fort), no Christian books or DVD Beth Moore series, no Christian bookstores with cute odds and ends, nothing but the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

So simple.

William Bradford was one of these Separatists. A devout Christian, he led the rag-tag team to the new world. He wanted to spread the Christian gospel in some distant part of the world - in truth to be a pilgrim. Having noted that the twelve year truce between Spain and Holland would expire in 1621, William also realised a new war would turn Leyden into a bloody battleground.

He and his wife left their only child behind. When they finally arrived after the horrible 2-month journey, off the coast of Cape Cod, Bradford watched his wife slip off the deck and drown. Right before his eyes. All that way...to lose your soul mate. Did Bradford give up? No, his faith pulled him through. God pulled him through. He rose to be a great leader and created peace between the Pilgrims and the native tribes.

How did he do it without therapy, without Christian counselling? Without Sunday School? Are all the "programs" we have today producing rock-solid people like William Bradford?

That first Thanksgiving has God's fingerprints all over it. He chose to honor a small group of people who refused to let their children be lost to a selfish culture. He allowed them to endure great suffering, sickness, discord, and starvation. Yet all these things perfected their faith. Their struggling is our strength to carry on and to not complain about the little things.

In October, 1621, 50 Pilgrims, 90 natives, Chief Massasoit sat down together. They had fowl, 5 deer, fish, vegetables, and stewed pumpkins. The also ate stewed eels, ducks and geese. Ladies, remember that only 4 married women survived the long winter. So those ladies and the children had a lot of cooking to do!

By remembering, we become thankful.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Day after the Election

A friend of mine sent me this. I thought it was good! In a day when personalities and personas seem so all-important (thanks to TV, media, and Hollywood), it's important for Christians to remember that our true allegience is to the cross of Christ.



The day after the election:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

And.....our home is still in heaven!

New Cat

Welcome, "MAGGIE", our newest kitten. We got her at 2 months old from the "Last Chance" animal hospital. What a blessing to have a baby in the house. She adds a sense of energy, adventure, and curiosity. It's easy to forget how playful cats are when your present two adult cats are so LAZY.

Maggie's full name is "Anna Magnelina Bach", after Bach's musical wife. She does love music and jumps up on my students' laps as they play piano in their lessons.

NO, I am not getting any more cats. Once a person has 4 cats, people start to say, "Crazy cat lady"......I'm not there yet. But don't hold your breath!

Preparing for a trip

I am going to Paris.

Needless to say I am very excited about seeing such a remarkable place. In addition to my husband going, I am taking a dear girlfriend along to enjoy the sights. We hope to see the graves of Chopin and Debussy, and to visit the opera house where the famed "Phantom of the opera" lived once in folklore......

As I prepare for a trip, I google the internet for history and tourist tips. I bought a Paris Guide with maps at Borders. I bought a CD to help me learn basic French phrases so I can ask for a coffee with sugar and not appear to be a too-typical American tourist. I learned that tennis shoes are "out" and to dress up around the town. I learned that French people will be friendly with you as long as you attempt to speak their language.

I even checked out blogs on what souveniers to buy, what to pay at the Louvre for a ticket, and when is the best time to see the Eiffel Tower.

The anticipation and preparing for the trip (in 3 weeks) is just as rewarding as much as being there. Anticipation is such a wonderful thing; it is the "hope" of being somewhere new, the "joy" that something wonderful awaits, and the "knowledge" that I will learn new experiences with people from another place in the world. It's just like Christmas; all the decors, the candles, the cantata practices, the shopping are important to Christmas as the day itself.

As a Christian, I am so thankful that God has given us glimpses of heaven. He allows us to anticipate the trip of death into eternity by letting us know that in His presence there is eternal joy, no death, no sickness, no goodbyes.



The Bible says about Heaven:

(Mat 13:44 NRSV) The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

(Phil 3:20-21 NRSV) But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

(1 Th 4:16 NRSV) For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

(Heb 12:22-23 NRSV) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect

(Rev 21:4 NRSV) he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.


And these are just some of the verses about Heaven. Unlike Paris, in heaven I don't have to worry about the dollar/euro exchange rate, the threat of pickpockets, waiting for Versaille tickets in the rain, or the hard seats of airports.

When God calls his child home, there are no customs, no waiting, no lines. Only an instant reunion with Himself and a beautifully-prepared home to rest in.

Yes, I'll enjoy the anticipation of Paris. But my true anticipation is for heaven!

Just want you to meet our cats, Mia and Edgar Allen Poe. Edgar is named after the dark-side poet as we got him in October. Mia is short for "Miami Dolphins" which is Darren's favorite team. He is a die-hard fan.

Pray without Ceasing

It's amazing how God can prompt someone at any time to pray. I was sitting on stage this morning, in church, listening to the announcements. I am in my choir robe, music in hand, listening dutifully to the pastor. Suddenly I feel this strong sense and the words,

"Pray for Amy".

"What?" I reply in my head.

"Pray for Amy".

I look up at the clock. It says 9:05 a.m. (Our service starts at 8:55 a.m.) "Come on. Amy's church doesn't start till 10:00 a.m. She's probably fine".

"Pray for Amy".

So I did.

Later that afternoon, I called Amy to see how her church service went. (She is music director there).

"Oh, it was quite an adventure....all my doing", she replied. "Seems that around 9:00 I got to the church, unusually early, but realized I had left the praise team's music back at my house! I rumaged through my bags, around the instruments, to no avail. At that point I asked someone what time it was. It was 9:10 a.m. I had JUST enough time to drive back to my house at break-neck speed, grab the music, get back on the 95 and get back to church. I did all that, making nearly all the green lights, and no speeding tickets. Amazingly enough, I sat down at the piano at exactly 10:00 a.m. and started the service with no delay. I saw plenty of cops on the road and worried that I might get a ticket. I know I deserved a ticket, but I couldn't afford the time involved."

Imagine our awe when I told her that I was impressed to pray for her at the very same moment! God even cares for the little things in worship, such as forgotten music. What a comfort that He cares for every detail of our life.

So, when you get the urge to pray for someone, don't delay. Just pray.

No Shoes

On Sunday Amy and I had our spring recital. Close to 30 students performed. What a great night of music. We had candles burning, fresh flowers on stage, and a lovely reception afterwards in the lobby. Everything went great. It did make for a long day as both of us led music in church in the morning, then rushed to set up for the recital.

As we were cleaning up, the sound guy said that he would lock us in so he could go home. We propped the door open with a trash can as we loaded up stuff in my van. Our feet were so sore that we took off our shoes and did it barefoot. The heat index being over 100 degrees, it felt good!

I had just grabbed our purses and some microphone stands. I went out the door and when I released it, it popped the garbage can and the door latched shut. CLICK! So we were locked out, staring at our shoes in the lobby. After calling several church people and getting no help, we decided to leave the mess until the next day. I know one should not drive a vehicle with no shoes, but we had no choice.

We just laughed and laughed...two silly girls in a parking lot with no shoes!

Funny joke about a pastor

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.

Therefore, he took out his business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10."

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

You Never Know...

We have NO food in the house. I needed to get milk, eggs, bread, all the basics. I planned to go to Target after the bank. I leave the bank and think, "I guess I'll go to Walmart". As I'm heading towards the left hand lane to turn into the Walmart lot, the car in front of me is driving strangly. It seems to burst foward, and then stop. As I get closer, I can see a man in the passenger seat struggling with the driver. He punches the person, grabs and pulls the person. I slow down and reach for my cell phone to call 911. Drat! I don't have my cell phone. I start to memorize the license plate number.

As I approach closer, I now see this man CHOKING the driver with both hands. The car is swerving all over the two lanes. I pull up as close as I can and lay on the horn to help startle the guy off the other person. At this point a large cup of soda flies out of the window....the driver door opens and out comes a scared lady, probably in her 40's. She's standing in the middle of the road totally shaken, just beaten and choked. I drive right up to her and say, "Get in the van!" She runs around and jumps in with me. By now the guy has gotten in his car and driven off.

I pull into the Walmart parking lot and try to comfort this woman. By questioning her I learn that this is her husband of 17 years who has beat her all the time. Once she did call the police and he was in jail. They have no children together, her kids are grown, but his 16-year old daughter does live with them. According to her, he treats her badly as well. I told her that if she wanted to call the police that I would be the witness to the whole thing. I could tell that she wasn't going to do that, so she called her son to pick her up. I also learned that he has no job and his unemployment had just run out. They were having money issues. She is paid to take care of her ailing parents.

As we are waiting, I tried to comfort her. I told her that I was a Christian and I asked her if she had ever gone to church. "Oh no, but my husband did one time when I left him. He told me he prayed that I would come back to him". I told him that going to church doesn't make one God's child, much like sitting in a garage doesn't make one a car.

She understood that her husband was trying to manipulate her. She did say that her 16-year old step-daughter did go to church. "May I pray for you right now?" I asked. She said yes. So I put my hands on her and I prayed for her, for her husband, and for her entire family. I asked that God would bring His peace that can only come by knowing His son, Jesus. She wept and shook as I prayed. I prayed that her husband would be convicted of his sin and that he would make peace with God as well. Then I briefly told her my story as I have been a Christian all my life but have not lived perfectly but I have always found forgiveness and strength in the Lord. She seemed to listen and be comforted by this.

I had some CD's in the car. I gave her my CD and a Master's Quartet CD. I told her to listen to these when she is discouraged. I also gave her my card with my phone number and told her that she can call me anytime.

Her son finally arrived and gave me a big hug for helping his mom. At that moment, the phone rang. It was the husband demanding to know where the wife was. That son said some things to that man I've NEVER heard before! He cussed with all the hatred a son could for his hurting mother. He then turned around to me and said, "I'm sorry ma'am, that I said those things in front of you". I said, "It's OK." As he thanked and hugged me, I said, "God placed me at the right time and the right place so I could help your mom. God is watching out for you." He said, "Yeah, my sister goes to church and all that....maybe we should too!" The lady gave me a hug and started to cry. I told her that she was precious and that I was her new friend.

It's pretty hard to shop for milk and eggs after something like that! God knew what was going to happen today, and he placed me in a path to administer grace to a hurting person. I hope I hear from her again as I'd like to speak to her more about the Lord. I hope she listens to the CD's as they contain messages of hope and of salvation. She now knows the message of salvation so I pray that the Holy Spirit would till the seeds that have been sown today.

You never know what's going to happen...even going to Walmart.

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." I Corinthians 16:13 NIV

Jimmy and Mom singing

Memorial Day, 2008

A friend asked me what the difference was between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Good question! I am not an expert so if anyone out there can fill me in, I'd appreciate it.

I think Memorial Day includes those who have died for our country but also is a day to remember loved ones in our family. I remember as a child, going to the cemetary to put flowers on the graves of great-grandparents as well as to see a short program or parade for military people. I don't think people go to the family graveyard as much as they used to, as families live in different states and many people are choosing cremation and thus have no burial plot to for others to visit.

Does anyone else have memories of going to the cemetary on Memorial Day? If so, share them.

I find it interesting that when the Christian church was young, it did not celebrate people's birthdays as this was considered pagan. Rather, Christians celebrated the day that a fellow saint died, as this was the day they entered heaven. To them this day was more important than the day of their earthly birth.

St. Valentine's day is an example of this.

Above is a shot of our porch; I just added window boxes and the flowers are now starting to bloom over the sides.

Fish for Dinner

We are in a raft, on the river on a glorious warm afternoon. We have been fishing for a couple hours now and have caught nothing. The ranger warned Darren beforehand the most people don't catch anything on average. Jimmy, our "wise" 10-year old, has given up on fishing with statements as, "I'll never catch anything!"...."I will never fish again"......"This stinks!"..."I've been out here all day and haven't gotten a thing!"

Darren and I explained to him that when we fish, it is not a guarranteed activity. In fact, you don't choose the fish, the fish chooses you! You just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Jimmy didn't seem to receive this well.

We were almost to the dock, ready to get in the van empty-handed when a tug pulled Jimmy's pole into the water. Out he reeled a 16-inch pike, teeth and all! Jimmy was so excited. As we took the fish off the line, put him on a string, Jimmy's pole dipped into the water again. I grabbed it and started fighting with something on the other end. The line snapped and it was gone. We figure that another pike went for the grub, got snagged and cut the line with his sharp teeth. So, only 1 minute after ultimate defeat, we had a tasty fish for dinner.

I think the disciples had a night like that once out on the boat.....Jesus told them to throw their nets on the other side.."AWE, we've been fishing all night and haven't caught a thing! Lord, don't make us keep doing this! Fishing stinks!" Yet, one more throw of the net, and BINGO.

Planting Seeds

Today I spent some time out tilling and planting seeds in my garden. My garden is not big nor fancy. It's about 10 feet by 20 feet on the side of our back yard. I have a clematis that creeps over the fence. I always plant sunflower seeds so I did dutifully, hoping the squirrels don't find thembefore they sprout. I will add some tomatoes and some hollyhock seeds soon.

I am certainly no master gardener, but gardening is a therapy for me. I'm sure my garden would never make a magazine cover. I believe it is good for every person to plant, tend and enjoy watching something grow. Adam and Eve were placed in a garden. It was God's first home for man. God didn't place us in air-conditioned boxes. That came after the curse. God wants us to deal with the earth, touch it, protect it, and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

How does even a small amount of gardening help us look heavenward?

Here are my top-ten ways:

1) Weeds, bugs, thistles remind us that we live in a cursed world. It reminds us of Adam's curse that work would now be hard, by the "sweat of our brow".

2) Gardening helps us WAIT. Seeds take time to germinate. We can't yell at them and speed up things. It reminds us to take life one day at a time.

3) Gardening involves SEEDS. God calls his Word a seed. ("the seed is the word of God" Luke 8:11.) The Holy Spirit is called a seed ("You have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.) Jesus said, "if a seed does not go in the ground and die, it cannot bear fruit". The parable of the sower and the seed shows us that not all that hear God's message will respond.

4) Gardening keeps us out of the house and out in the fresh air.

5) Gardening keeps us watching for good things to come. When I planted the sunflower seeds, I imagine how tall and bright they will be as flowers. When that day comes, I rejoice! Gardening forces us to HOPE.

6) Gardening shows us that bad things happen to good people. One year I planted pumpkins. I had beautiful green vines, large leaves, the start of pumpkins. Then literally, one morning I awoke and the vine was dead. A worm had burrowed into the vine and killed it (Like Jonah as he overlooked Ninevah!). I was so sad that my hard work was spoiled. It would be another year before I could try again.

7) Gardening keeps us reminded that all life, all goodness, all beauty belongs to God. We can plant the seeds and water them, but only God provides the sunshine and ultimate growth.

8) As we prune our flowers (called dead-heading) we are reminded that God prunes our lives to produce more fruit.

9) Gardening reminds us that all things are temporal. All things have their course and then they die. 'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord abides forever.'

10) Gardening cannot be done long-distance. As we hunch over the flowers, touching them, cutting the fruit, carefully inspecting for worms or bugs, we are reminded that God loves and cares for us "closely", not at a distance. He is the Master Gardener in all parts of our life.

Yes, everyone should grow something. Whether it is a small plot of land, a window box, a simple pot in the window, or a box of dirt on the porch. God wants to encourage you and teach you through gardening. Get out and get growing.

Going camping...the simple way

Camping the simple way...... Tin foil cooking over coals.......

I've spent the day getting ready for our camping trip this weekend. We will spend 4 days/3 nights at a state park. We are renting a cabin but will bring along a tent as well. It always amazes me how MUCH I pack for just a few days of "getting back to the simpler things". Boxes of linens, towels, cooking utensils, fishing poles, sodas, coffee pot, blow-up raft, air pump, bikes, first aid, games, plates, cups, food,bug spray, tables, marshmallow poles, axes, knives, ice, coolers, spices, charcoal, soap, flashlights, batteries and chairs line my list. Most people in this world live for years with less stuff that we use for a weekend of camping. My pioneer ancestors travelled in a covered wagon with less "stuff" and made it from Pennsylvania to California! (How did they do it without ziplock gallon-sized storage bags???????)

I seem to pack what I need and what I "might" need. I actually made a "camping notebook" to save my camping recipes, check lists, great campfire ghost stories, and first aid (which has pictures of poison ivy in spring, summer and fall....that stuff does change its look).

We as contemporary humans have a hard time doing anything "simply". Stores have things, gadgets, coolers, and everything else under the sun to make our lives easier, yet at the same time these things clutter and lose their usefullness over time. Go to any garage sale if you don't believe me.

It amazes me when Jesus sent out disciples and said not to take more than a cloak and the sandals they were wearing. Could I have done that? Could I just "go" in the name of the Lord with no suitcase, no make-up bag, no credit card "just in case", no SECOND SET OF SHOES? I doubt many women were in that group.

By the way, I have found the secret to camping cooking....TIN FOIL. It's the best way to cook! No clean up, no mess, no dishes to do. Everyone fixes what they want, sticks it on the fire, and eats it how they like it. All you need is a large box of Reynolds tin foil, a bottle of Pam cooking spray, a sharpie marker (to mark their names) and you are set to go! Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Breakfast in Tin Foil:

On two layers of foil, place two English muffin halves. Butter and add a layer of cheese, canadian bacon, and crack two eggs on top. Salt and pepper, seal up foil and place on coals. Done in about 10 minutes. You could also add a layer of frozen hash browns instead of the english muffin.

Hobo Dinner in Tin Foil:

On two greased layers of foil, place a hamburger patty. Add onion, seasonings, green pepper, garlic, chopped canned vegetables, or canned sliced potatoes. You can add cheese also if you wish. Seal up foil and place on coals for half an hour.

Upside Down Cakes:

On two greased layers of foil, put a pat of butter and a scoop of brown sugar. Add a sliced pineapple ring. On top of this place a cake doughnut. Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon. Seal foil and place on coals about 7 minutes. This tastes like the real thing. Day-old dougnuts are fine.

Banana Boats:

Place a banana (unpeeled) on foil. Slice open, not cutting all the way through. In the slot add some chocolate chips, sliced marshmallows, and some cinnamon. Wrap in foil and place on coals about 5 minutes.

Ham Dinner:

In foil pockets, put ham (cubed), sweet potatoes (cubed), and a half of a chopped apple. Place on coals until heated through.

Apple Bake:

Take an apple, (don't peel), cut in half and core. Inside each half, stuff butter, raisins, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, etc... place apple back together and double-wrap in foil. Place on coals about 25 minutes.

Campfire potatoes:

Clean and cut up 6-7 large potatoes (don't peel). Place on double layer of foil. Pat with butter or oil, add garlic salt, salt/pepper, and a chopped onion. You could also throw in a couple slices of bacon for flavor. Seal up foil, set on coals for about 30 minutes.

Lost Key

"...or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?" Luke 15:8

A friend of mine called me last night upset as she lost her car key while walking her dog. She was not at home but a public trail and could not get into her car or access her purse, phone and house keys which were locked inside her car. Plus omnious rain was overhead. The situation was definately not good. My husband and I drove to the trail to find her and her dog waiting under the tree. Come to find out the key had fallen out of a hole in her pocket. My husband tried to "break into" her car, as she and I retraced her steps on the trail.

She had gone over that (2-mile) trail 5 times looking for the black and silver key. She and I went back on the trail, hoping that a set of fresh eyes would help. I strained on every inch in front of me, hoping the key would show itself. No luck.

We gave up halfway into the woods and decided to turn back. At this point I said a simple prayer, "Lord help us find that key". No grand words, just simple faith. We started to talk and did not continue our intense search. The key was gone, washed away by some water or picked up by another jogger. We would loan her our truck for the weekend as she ordered a new key to the car.

As we walked, I felt a strange urge to look to the side of me. There, down, just behind my shoulder, was the key, bigger than life, sitting smack dab on the pavement. How could have both of us missed it???? And what possessed me to "happen" to look at just the spot behind me? Well, the Lord did.

Some walkers came by as we rejoiced over the key. We said to them, "We found the key! It was lost but now it's found!" They were courteous but looked at us as if we'd been dipping into the moonshine as we were so giddy about it.

The Lord of the the universe, who keeps planets, stars and galaxies from running into each other, cares about a simple car key. Imagine our joy when we found that key. We were laughing, hugging and jumping like school girls. We imediately thanked the Lord for allowing us to find it.

In the small details and complications of life, don't ever be afraid to give God your issues. He hears, He cares, He answers!