The Frozen Tundra is Baked

This summer in The Frozen Tundra has been unusual. We went from a very rainy spring right into the blistering heat of summer. Temperatures have been near 100 with a heat index nearing 120. The heat is one thing but we also get humidity. Those of us with any sort of curl in our hair have been experiencing new hairstyles on a daily basis. One day my hair wants to curl without the gel and then when the humidity starts to drop, I get flat hair.


I heard on the radio that the humidity was nearing similar levels to those found in the Brazilian rain forests. Maybe instead of trying to have flower beds that seem to be wilting these days, I need to investigate what types of plants do well in the rain forest. For two to three weeks every summer I could try to grow those plants!

Yesterday there was a welcome, cool breeze. The Husband and I turned off the air conditioner and opened the windows to get fresh air in our home. The silence was almost deafening. We had become so used to the hum of the air conditioner that silence seemed to shout at us.

Going to bed with the house cooling off was oh so appreciated. In the middle of the night, Kidlet Three yelled out in his sleep so I got up to check on him. His blood sugar was low! And oh how sticky, clammy he was, not just from the low blood sugar, but from the humidity that had crept back into the house. I gave Kidlet Three juice and some crackers and crawled back to my bed. Because of the low sugar, I set the alarm to go off in another hour so I could check him. By this time, however, I realized how hot and sticky I was, too, and that the breeze had left. Mr. Sandman was allowing me to fall back to sleep despite the sticky conditions. I’m grateful for that. After the second blood sugar check (which was good), I was able to slip back into my bed and fall back to sleep. Honestly, I was too tired to start going through the house and closing the windows.

This morning a light rain is falling. I’m wondering if any of that rain will be able to penetrate the baked Tundra. I know the plants must love this soft, refreshing liquid.

Aren't there times when our hearts and minds become like The Baked Tundra.  We set ourselves to not like something or someone, or to make judgments that we aren't going to budge from.  If we stay in that state, we become like the baked ground.  Because of His unending, passionate love for us, God will always, always, always send refreshing rain to soften us.  If we allow it too.  I believe we have a choice.

May God's love rain down on you today and soften any areas that have become like the Baked Tundra.  In His own amazing way, He wants to soften the ground called our heart and mind.

Treat Both Conditions with Worship

I've mentioned before that we have a devotion-for-the-day calendar in the bathroom.  You read that correctly.  In the bathroom where each member of the family is going to visit each and every day and can read these thought-provoking entries.

The name of the collection is Grace For The Moment, inspirational thoughts for each day of the year by Max Lucado.

The July 23 entry stopped me in my tracks.  This was an excerpt from Max's book, Cure For The Common Life.  The entry is as follows:

"You who fear the Lord, praise Him!  Psalm 22:23

Worship humbles the smug and lifts the deflated.  Worship adjusts us, lowering the chin of the haughty, straightening the back of the burdened.  Worship properly positions the worshiper.  And oh how we need it!  We walk through life so bent out of shape.  Five-talent folks swaggering:  "I bet God's glad to have me."  Two-talent folks struggling:  "I bet God's sick of putting up with me."  So sold on ourselves that we think someone died and made us ruler.  Or so down on ourselves that we think everyone died and just left us.  Treat both conditions with worship".

Worship.  There is that word again.  Every time I turn around it seems I encounter that word.  Worship is more than the words coming from my mouth, giving praise to my Lord and Savior.  Worship is the attitude of my heart and the thoughts going through my mind.  If any of these are not in alignment (my attitude or my thoughts), I need to start worshipping.  I need to focus On The One that deserves attention more than myself.

If I focus on myself, as Max states, I'm tempted to get haughty or too-self-inspecting.  And God doesn't want that for me.  I don't want that either but oh, the temptation is there.

Treat both conditions with worship.

Those are good, challenging words.  No matter where you are at today, choose worship.  If the kids are screaming, worship.  If the boss seems too demanding, worship.  If your "to do list" is overwhelming, worship.  If loneliness has trapped you, worship.  In all things, choose to worship God, who is absolutely crazy in love with you.

Treat all conditions with worship.

Mushroom, Bacon and Fontina Pizza

Two posts in a row about food.  I do love my food! 

This pizza is from D'Amico & Sons.  It is the Mushroom, Bacon and Fontina pizza.  We got our food "to go" so I'm resting the box on my lap as I shot these pictures.

We were in The Big City about a month ago and needed to use up a gift card from this restaurant.  The Husband and Kidlet Three got cheese pizza but I splurged and tried this heavenly choice.

It was a very enjoyable ride home.  For the first 20 minutes after getting our pizzas, the only thing that could be heard in the car were statements like:  "oh my, this is the best pizza I've ever tasted", "I'm so glad no one else in the car likes mushrooms so I can have this whole pizza to myself", and then "wow, this is filling pizza, there is enough left for lunch tomorrow".

All three of us enjoyed our Supper-On-The-Go.  Maybe I'll try to make this pizza at home sometime in the future.  It was amazing!

Priceless Friends

Last night we met some friends at the restaurant called Noodles.  This was a first-time visit to Noodles for The Husband and I. 

I guess we've been missing out.  The line to get into the restaurant was outside the door at 7 pm, when we arrived.  The place was packed and we were fortunate to find a table outside.  The evening temperature was slightly humid and slightly-uncomfortable-warm but we made the best of it.  It was quieter outside with the busy hustle and bustle inside.

This was what I chose for my meal.  It was fabulous.  Anything with cilantro I love and this I will definitely order again.  I did have them add chicken to it, also.  Each bite of this meal was delightful and I found myself feeling cheated that we hadn't eaten there before!

I'm spending too much time talking about the food.  The best part of the evening was sitting and looking around the table at really important people in my life.   I saw two couples that have we have been friends with for 20 some years.  We've laughed, prayed, worked, confided, and cried together with these friends.  And they have done the same with us. 

Good friends are priceless. 

We spent time last night being honest with each other.  The patio had cleared out and we had the outside eating area to ourselves.  We went around the table and gave an update as to what was going on in our lives.  Each person shared in honesty.

I almost felt like pinching myself because these people were being so "real".  It seems many relationships are "surface" but these people aren't.  And that blesses me because I can trust them with what I want to share.

Last night we laughed, ate, listened, encouraged, and we actually prayed together on that patio at Noodles.  It was a fun evening.  We met at 7 pm and we closed up the restaurant after 10 pm.  And I know we could have gone longer.  Oh, and we did sing a song together on that patio with the stars overhead. 

They are amazing, priceless friends.  I hope you have friends in your lives like this.

A Famous Author

Living next door to me for the past three years is a future Famous Author.  Jack was two when he moved in with his parents.  He has been such a joy to get to know.

I first introduced Jack to you in this Christmas Baking Post.  What fun it was to bake cookies with him.  As we baked he a taught me about trains.

Neighbor Jack has taught us about trains, sprinklers, firetrucks and ceiling fans.  He is so intelligent and has what I think, a super-genius memory.

After our Christmas cookie day, he sent me a thank you note.  In fact, the note still is displayed on our refrigerator.  Here is it.

He cut out the hearts and wrote me a personal thank you note.  I love this!

This spring Neighbor Jack moved away to Another-Big-City because of a job change for his parents.  He and New-Baby-Brother Charlie, along with their Best-Neighbors-Ever parents are missed already by us.  Before he moved, Neighbor Jack wrote and illustrated a book for me.  One day as I stepped off the City Bus after a day at work, Neighbor Jack was waiting for me on the sidewalk.  He was holding a gift for me.  His first book for Someone-Other-Than-His-Mom. 

He wrote fives pages about his life and our family.  In the story it was specifically noted that Our Dog was not included in the story.  See, Neighbor Jack and Our Dog didn't have a love-love relationship at first.

The story was illustrated also with very detailed pictures.  There is talent in this young man and I just know he is going to be published in the future.

His Neighbor Daddy took this picture of the both of us.  This could be a famous picture someday.  When Neighbor Jack is A Famous Author!

Neighbor Jack, who isn't my neighbor any longer, is one awesome, young man. 

A Good Road Map

We all need a good road map.  I'm not talking about MapQuest or the GPS system in your vehicle. 

I'm talking about someone or something that leads us, personally, forward. 

Because of my personal relationship (and those aren't just buzz words...I have a personal relationship) with God, He is my road map.

It seems that whenever I have questions or need direction, I can turn to my favorite verses in the Bible and find the answer or path that I need for that very moment.

My favorite verses are Proverbs 3:5-6.  I'm going to list those verses here in several different translations for you to be blessed by them.

Contemporary English Version
With all your heart
you must trust the LORD
and not your own judgment.
Always let him lead you,
and he will clear the road
for you to follow

King James Version
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths

The Message
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.

New Living Translation
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take

If you've never used God's Word as a road map, check it out.  Maybe these verses will show you there is "good direction" in the Bible.
 
His love for you and me is amazing!

Soft American-Style White Bread

The aroma of freshly baked bread is heavy in the air.

I find myself breathing in, very deeply, to get that scent into my very soul.

Newborn babies, spring rain, freshly washed hair and baking bread are smells that I absolutely love. 

If you close your eyes, can you smell the bread?

Seriously, I have fallen in love with this website.  I purchased their Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day cookbook and am enjoying each loaf.

Over the weekend I made Soft American-Style White Bread dough.  Last night I baked the first loaf.  First, the smell of baking bread was perfect.  The waiting to cut into that loaf was torture (the recipe states to wait until the bread is thoroughly cooled to make slicing easier).  But the wait was worth it.  The Husband, Kidlet Three and I stood at the kitchen counter with our slices of freshly baked and heavily buttered bread.  I think we all talked with our mouth full saying "oh my gosh this is good" and "this is the best homemade bread ever" and "I just have to have another slice."

The loaf rises in the bread pan for 1 hour and 40 minutes.  There is no kneading at all for any of their bread recipes.

And is baked for about 40 minutes.

It is too bad this picture is blurry.  I think I was shaking from excitement when I tried to take the picture.   During the picture taking I had a slice of the bread in the toaster.  I was waiting to slather that slice with my homemade raspberry jam for a bedtime snack!

I really want to give the authors of this book a big SHOUT of praise.  And to honor them and the work they've done, I'm not going to give you their recipe.  If you like bread, rolls, bagels, and pita bread, there are recipes of all of these in the cookbook I purchased.  Amazon.com had a great deal on the book right now so check it out!

If you are a carb-lover like I am....you will be amazed!