We've Been Duped!

This morning I made blueberry muffins from scratch.  They were amazing!  And honestly, they did not take any more time to make than if I had used a mix.  We have gotten so used to using boxes of mix to make food items, that we have come to think that it is the only way to cook.  It has been long enough that most of us don't even know how to make things from scratch.  Real food is cheaper, it tastes better, and it is so much healthier!  So how do we get back to cooking?  We need to try some real recipes and cook from scratch.  We need to teach our kids to do it.  I thought I would post links here to some "from scratch" recipes that I like to use.  Give it a whirl and let me know what you think!

Blueberry Muffins--Tip, use frozen blueberries and roll them in flour before adding them to the batter.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/To-Die-For-Blueberry-Muffins/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=blueberry%20muffins&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page


Pancakes--I added a little bit of vanilla.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fluffy-Pancakes-2/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=pancakes&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe

Brownies--
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Brownies/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=brownies&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe

Once A Month Cooking--Christmas Cookie Style

My food posts are always the most popular!  A couple of weeks ago my cooking gals got together and made TONS of cookies and candies.  We each paid about $20 and we took home loads...So here you will find the grocery list, the recipes, and pictures.  

Grocery List:

Baking Supplies

Beverages

Cereals

Dairy, Eggs and Milk

Herbs and Spices

Snacks and Sweets

We added melting chocolate aka almond bark in both milk chocolate and white chocolate and pretzels to our list.

Recipes:

Buckeyes   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buckeyes-i/detail.aspx

Sugar Cookies  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/detail.aspx
Oatmeal Scotchies   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/oatmeal-butterscotch-cookies/detail.aspx
Peanut Butter Fudge  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easiest-peanut-butter-fudge/detail.aspx

Peppermint Bark    I change this to use the melting chocolate (white) instead of the chocolate chips....  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/holiday-peppermint-bark/detail.aspx

Chocolate Chip Cookies   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/original-nestle-toll-house-chocolate-chip-cookies/detail.aspx

Toffee  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-toffee-ever---super-easy/detail.aspx
Glazed Pecans   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/texas-glazed-pecans/detail.aspx

Chocolate Covered Pretzels  Melting chocolate, dip pretzels in and then sprinkle with peppermint or sprinkles

Let me know how your cookies turn out!  

Tonight I went to Prison...

Well, tonight I entered a place that I never thought I would go.  PRISON.  Yep, you read that right.  I went in, took off my shoes, jacket, jewelry, etc.  I emptied my pockets and got waved over with a wand, patted down, and then went through the metal detecting machine.  And then, I got locked inside the big wire fence.  You are probably wondering why I would do this....I did not commit a crime.  I did this voluntarily...so why...why...why would I go to prison.  Well, for my son.  My son did something really stupid this summer and landed himself in trouble.  One of the consequences of this trouble was that we had to attend a program called "From the horse's mouth."  It is a program where the kids who are in trouble and their parents go to a prison.  There are inmates there who talk to the kids.  They share their story and they make the kids tell them why they are there.  On the night we went, our two inmates were both convicted of murder.  My son sat next to one of them who had been in prison for 20 years.  I cannot tell you how hard it was to be there as a mom.  Who would ever imagine a scenario where a mother would voluntarily sit her child next to a murderer?  Well, I would do it again in a minute.  The man who spoke to the kids killed someone when he was fifteen--just two years older than Alex and exactly the age of Emma.  He had been in and out of juvenile detention many times.  He was convicted as an adult at 15 and put in the harshest prison in the state.  He described what that was like and showed the kids pictures of what the prison really looks like inside and all sorts of injuries--bites, stab wounds, cuts, beat up faces, etc.  I was impressed with this guy.  He was articulate and he didn't really sugar coat it.  But, during his time in prison, he has gotten his GED, an associates degree, and a bachelor's degree.   He has about 7 years left.  The other man, who also murdered someone, didn't have as much to say.  He did really tell the kids that prison was not somewhere they wanted to be.  Anyway, it was actually a really good program.  It was very intimidating for me as an adult and probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but it was also very interesting and thought provoking.  Currently, most kids that are on probation of involved with probation or court in Putnam County and Brazil.  They just started offering this for parents to take their kids on their own without it being required by court.  I highly recommend this program.  If you are a parent and your kid is giving you trouble or is getting out of control, this is a great wake up call.  If you don't live in Indiana, I would bet that there is a program like this somewhere near you.  You could call the local probation department or prison or State Police to find out more.  If you are in Indy and you want more info, send me a note and I will get you the info.

Patience of Job? Maybe not....

So, recently I have been reading and thinking about Job.  You know, the guy in the Bible.  He is the one who God said would remain faithful no matter what Satan did to him.  God let Satan take everything from Job...his money, his family, his reputation, everything.  Satan wanted him to curse God, but Job did not.  So people talk about having the patience of Job...putting the credit on Job...But, I think I have a different take on the whole situation.  Now, when we hear / read the story it tells how Job lost everything.  And it talks about how Job remained faithful to God.  And it talks about how Job got rewarded greatly for his faithfulness later in his life.  But, here's the thing.  I don't think it was Job...I mean, kind of it was...but really I think it was God.  I think God had made himself known to Job....REAL to Job.  I think God had spent time with Job and let him see who he really is.  And, the thing is that no matter what Satan took from Job or did to Job, he could not take that "realness" from him.  Maybe Satan himself did not even realize that.  So, then the next question comes---does God reveal himself to us today?  Does he show US his "realness"?  I believe that he does...but I also believe that many of us just miss it somehow....I am not sure why that is--if it is us or him.  I know that for me personally God has made himself very real.  I have seen miracles--not just one, but multiple times.  I have heard his voice--not actually a voice, but more like a thought in my head that is somehow different but very clear.  That has happened several times and each time it has been very clear, but very unusual.  Which leads me to my next thought....a few people have mentioned Job to me in recent months because of the various trials that I have been through.  They (trials) have come in waves and seem to be relentless.  I can kind of relate to Job....I get angry at times and weepy at times.  Other times I feel confused or scared.  But, through all of this stuff...I am not sure I have ever felt closer to God....It is difficult to explain or understand, but there is no doubt in my mind that he is real or that he is present.   There is no doubt in my mind that he loves me and my family.  I can feel his presence in the middle of all this and am often reminded of his blessings and care of me even during the drama.  I have no doubt that these troubles will end and I know that somehow all of this makes sense in his plan.  I know that he has good plans for me and for everyone who believes.  So, going back to Job....I am guessing he felt the same way.  But, I bet if you asked him what he thought of people saying they have the "patience of Job" he would say that they are putting too much emphasis and faith in him and not enough in God.  I bet he would say that God was so real to him that he never doubted him and that he knew somehow it would all make sense someday.  So, where are you in this walk?  Are you noticing all of the signs God is leaving for you?  Are you giving him the time and attention to let him reveal himself to you?  Are you open to the idea that he is real and is a God who absolutely adores you?  Ask him to open your eyes and mind to his presence.  I have no doubt that he will reveal himself to you and become so real that nothing can make you ever doubt his presence and love for you.

Betrayal

Unfortunately, one of the parts of this life is that friends will betray us at times.  Obviously not all, but some.  It has happened to all of us from time to time.  I recently had this happen.  I had a very close friend...we had been best friends for a long time and we both know all of the ins and outs of each others lives.  We have shared very intimate details of our lives with each other.  Well, something happened and she shared some of those things with another person.  It should not have happened and it broke my heart....but it reminds me of a lesson I taught at church camp this past winter.  We should trust God even when people betray us.    That was the title of my lesson and the story was the tale of Judas.  I am guessing most of you know this story, but just in case you don't--here it is.  Judas was one of Jesus' disciples.  He was in Jesus' inner circle of friends and people he trusted.  Judas got jealous and greedy and decided to betray Jesus by handing him over to the Roman guard.  He took a few silver pieces in return for this.  He told the soldiers which one was Jesus by kissing him on the cheek, which was a sign of affection between two very close friends.  This was the ultimate betrayal.  Ultimately, it led to Jesus being crucified on the cross...but it also led to the gift of salvation being made available to all people.  So, here is the thing....Jesus knew that Judas would do this before he chose him to be a disciple....before he was born even.  He knew.  And, still he chose him.  He trusted him.   He shared with him and taught him.  He loved him.  Even though he knew how it would end...he still chose him.  And, Judas realized that he messed up shortly after it happened.  He actually ended up taking his own life.  Now here is the other crazy thing....What Judas should have done was repent and ask for forgiveness....his eternal future probably would have ended up differently.  But, he didn't.  I believe that Jesus would have forgiven him.  I believe Jesus used this betrayal for good.  So, even though it hurts deeply when we are betrayed, it is best to forgive and to love and trust people even though they might hurt us.  I plan to keep living that way.

Life's little detours....

A couple weeks ago I went on a trip and followed the directions given by the gps.  I figured it would get me where I needed to go....so I was driving and the interstate that I was on turned into a regular road and then ended.  The GPS then put me on a long (very long) back country road that weaved around and around in the mountains with multiple one car bridges and little bitty roads.  At one point there were actually port-a-potties along the route and portable stop lights.  It was a little weird at times and seemed like we would be "lost" forever.  But, the GPS did eventually get us where we were going and guided us along the way.  It reminded me of life in a way.  So often, life comes at us and we end up on some path that seems random and does not make sense.  We hit potholes and wander seemingly lost.  We have twists and turns and bumps in the roads.  It is funny to me how we handle these crazy routes.  Some of us freak out and cannot handle it.  Some of us just kind of roll with it.  And, I think most of us are somewhere in the middle.  Which one are you?  I think that I tend to roll with it and know that I will end up where I am supposed to be, but I also grumble and worry a bit along the way.  I also think that I find a way to laugh and find the humor in it.  Maybe this would be an interesting people study....I think eventually I want to be the kind of person who doesn't worry at all and completely trusts God.  I think I am getting closer to that and I think he has really been working on me a lot for the past couple of years.  I feel like maybe I am closer to being that way than I am to not being that way if that makes sense.  I have not really enjoyed the whole process of letting go, but I do think it is important and worthy of doing!

Proverbs 3:5-6

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
    Do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways remember him.
    Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.

Heart of Glass

Walls

You say that I have too many walls
Surrounding this heart of glass
You need to understand that they are there for a reason
Without them I could not be safe
Without them I would be too fragile
But, they are not permanent fixtures
They can come down
You just have to show me that you are safe
And that you won’t smash my heart if given the chance
You will have to take those bricks down one by one
Slowly
Just as they were put up one by one
There is so much in there that I would love to share
But I don’t find too many who are worthy
Or patient enough to find the real me
Will you be the one to carefully remove each brick?
Do you really care what’s in there?
You say, “Yes, of course!”
That is not enough….
Show me

I wrote this in 1986!  Crazy to think how long ago that was...and crazy to think how much this still applies today....