eye2eye

ANTS speak.

2010-08-28T15:20:00.005-05:00

ANTS speak. Spiritually, speaking. :)

The day after our water heater, air conditioning, & washer were all fixed, guess who came to "visit". Uninvited. Unwanted. Unliked.

ANTS. They may be your favorite insect, or friend, or maybe foe &/or annoying pests.. Either way, my eyes witnessed 100's and 100's of these little guys marching and trailing inside my home. Around the sink, Around my coffee makers, Around the stove, Around the kitchen & den floors.

After a few days of waking up to "new ants", I realized that there was more to this than killing them w/spray & being exposed to poison, myself.

"esplain, Lisi!" (hehe.. had to put that in there.. i am cuban, and the saying, 'esplain, lucy' always reminds me of me)

Well.... I have discovered a few times in my life, recently being a bit more annoying... That someone close to me has spoken things that are poisonous to others. We are all entitled to our own opinions/observations about others in our lives, but we should try to speak encouraging words or truthful thoughts of them, rather than the opposite. destruction & "doo doo". haha! :) you know what i mean..

Okay.. so, the ANTS represent those words spoken of those that "share". The poison are those sharing words. So I decided to go for the ROOT of the problem. Thought it through. Got some pest COMBAT that attracts the ANTS, and they take the "goods" to their cultivating nest, and WHAM! they are destroyed.

The interesting thing is the ANTS are searching for WATER. They are parched, perhaps. Thirsty? If they could communicate better w/us human kind, I would have gladly put out a bucket of cold WATER for them. yep. I sure would. :)

If you notice, the ANTS destroy themselves, pretty much. They don't know how to make the connection, because their main interest is their NEED. Their WANT.

Alright. I am trying not to share too much in analogies, but they seem to bombard my life, my mind, my soul. So, I go with it. Maybe you can relate w/me a bit.

The conclusion... I don't see ANTS around the same place ever. They are really clever! They forge themselves into the cracks & crevices of other places. But I am alert. Not too upset anymore. They will come. They will go. It is life. The REAL life.

I have more COMBAT if they decide to invade again... But I will continue cooking, and going about my business here @in my own Cole Casita. And i see the ANTS outside, & smile. They belong outside.

small but significant

2010-08-17T18:53:00.005-05:00

right now, i'm sipping one of my favorite hot teas, (http://www.yogiproducts.com/products/details/relaxed-mind/) and eating small bites @a time, of a blueberry scone. (http://www.immaculatebaking.com/product.php?id=24)

i'm sharing which brand link because you may want to know :) nothing else..

so, this is not about food or what to drink or eat. it's about a unique observation that took me a few days to *get*. i was cooking salmon and had a jar of stewed tomatoes open next to the sink. i was concerned about how long those tomatoes had been in the fridge. i was thinking out loud and thought to taste the juice. it was okay. no problem. minutes passed, and i turned quickly to get something and my elbow knocked the jar onto the wood floor. ahhh! funny, i just stood there. just waited. it's been a chaotic and frustrating season for me, and this was a word picture of my insides. they were coming out. they were tired of being inside. being kept in the fridge. (so to speak, obviously)

i started to clean up the mess, and wondered if i had just placed it somewhere else, or kept the jar sealed... etc... my mind was racing. simple thoughts, deep thinking.. yes. i do that. :)

i was on my knees. i was not frustrated. i had another can of tomatoes. i was hungry. i got busy. finished cleaning & cooking, then sat to eat. each bite was tasty, and i thought some more about my life season i was in, was facing. alone.

2 out of the 5 air units in the house were out. it is summer in texas. hot! then ironically, the water heater goes out a few days later. in the meantime, no washing machine. both are broken! but, i actually dig going to the laudromat. haha! :) many machines @once is awesome! quicker and you meet interesting people. that was significant for me. the idea of talking to adults during the day. face to face. i love that. being @home all day, not working outside of home, etc.. you get it.

i was finishing my last bite of salmon, and started to put the pieces together. my dot-to-dot of the small stuff going on in my life. the everyday things. life was happening, but it was *speaking* to my spirit.

my outside, physical going throughs have been parallel to the inside going throughs. i know, that sounds like it should always be that way. but, that's not the case for me. for many many years. for different reasons. too many to share, but this time...it was pretty much identical.

these things in my physical house were falling apart. you get the picture.

a lot of people have been through hell and back. literally. this was truly 'nothing', comparatively, but it went deeper. to my core. my spirit, my soul, my mind, all the insides, were falling apart and coming out.

all the while, i was looking outward @the clouds, sunsets/sunrises, trees, moon, sky.... the most beautiful creations! i love them all. oh, and food, too. :)

it took my eyes off of the broken, the problems, the great concerns. just a few examples....my son and his learning disabilities, my marriage, my health, my daughter less than 3 years of being an adult, a toddler that communicates like a monkey @times!! hehe. i am grateful for humor. that is the key to my sanity. ha! no, really.

now, i wanted to clarify... the tomato mess, reminded me of how many times i don't reach out to seek help or keep things nestled deep inside my soul. i felt freer. weird. but true. after i spilled the jar, i saw that 'someone' was cleaning it up w/me. others that love me. god, especially.

and for the other broken things, i have to call for help. call for assistance. those that are experts or at least know how to fix these items. to make it better for me. for my family. for my *home*.

i'm done eating my scone and sipping my tea now. i think i'll go chase the sweet summer sunset w/my monkeys. i mean, amazing, unique sons. love and thanks, lis

trusting

2009-10-02T01:01:00.004-05:00

i just want to bring myself to this place.. the blog! ha!

i'm about to venture off to bed, dream, sleep, rest, lie down, take a snooze... you get the picture.

but i needed to get some words out and feel satisfied, if you know what i mean. thanks...

many people are going through some difficult seasons. i wanted to declare, as the heavens are speaking and we are responding, because we can hear heaven, right?! :-)

...... can you hear our cries? our requests made known? i know YOU hear and have heard. my heart is longing for hope in the healings and my mind is settling on the unknown, but faith lifts up and carries me and shows me that i'm not alone. the body of believers are standing firm. they are listening to the battle cry! we are one with the Holy of Holies and we are needing His armor, His voice, His hands, His truth, His visions, His spirit, His reigning, His desires, His EVERYTHING to encompass His bride, at this hour, for this time.. Your will be done, Your heart chooses.. you, alone are God, sovereign... trusting, your daughter... lisi

what already is

2009-04-01T23:26:00.005-05:00

writing a few songs to add to the 'getting over myself' theme... :-)

reading and listening lately to some cool insight from different places...

friends, authors, wisdom from Job, doubting thomases, joy in the unexpected places, like severe thunderstorms, and my children, my husband, the weight of wilderness stories from close friends.... just a few, but soooo rich and i'm gaining! gain of hope, faith, joy, love.. the fruit of god's spirit i'm learning more about through all of these and more~

here's a start to the first verse..

looking left and right
but it's right here
in front of you.
tired of putting up a fight
so alone-and you wonder
where to go, what to do
yet all along,
as you strive for more,
what you need the most is this...

not something new
just knowing what already is

dream on!

2009-02-27T17:44:00.007-06:00

i still can hear my friend, emma's voice, and see that beautiful smile on her face as she spoke these encouraging words for girls of all ages to hear~

"no dream is too big, no dream is too small..." she shared/spoke that for a simple dvd i was grateful to produce for women to encourage them to pursue their dreams, no matter how young and no matter how mature in age they are; no matter the circumstances, no matter what the stronghold may be.. God hears the voices and He knows how to speak to the desires and builds us strong and stronger in our spirits, in our minds, and in our hearts, so that we can pursue those callings, those dreams that He has created for us, before the foundations of the earth were put into place! wooooohoooo!

here is my dream:

to visit and to be with young girls and young women and older ones in india that have been through and are going through difficult trials such as being forced into a life that is degrading and horrific, to say the least.. i want to be jesus there, with the skin he gave me and reach out with love, that he gives me, to bridge them over to the throne of grace, the arms of mercy, the spirit of perfect love from heaven! (this bookmark i found recently found at barnes.. it reminds me of these beauty people!)

what's your dream? i'll be praying for you~

love, lisi

trade your troubles for truffles!

2009-02-18T19:19:00.004-06:00

hehehehehe...... just thought that sounded pretty great!! ";-)
no, really! for love day saturday, my chriser gave me some truffles.. man! we shared them; i bit into one, and he ate the other half... almost ritually, we were one in the truffle kingdom! as we are becoming one in papa's kingdom!! woohoo!!!
i think we should trade all of life's troubles for the truffles!!
that's my thought, and i'm sticking to it! literally!!! haha!!
lover boy was for budster from me, and my girl for laur, and te amo for chriser~

i'm giddy.. :-) (note to self: eat them gradually, as in, not all at once next time!!)

love machine

2009-02-18T18:47:00.004-06:00

thanks mami! the boys LOVE this 'machine'!! hehehehehahaha! the song is very memorable!! muah!!

lauren is 14!

2009-02-17T21:31:00.009-06:00

this is laur's 'golden' b-day/or 'star birthday'!

i love this! she celebrated her age with her birth day!

2/14/95, so this year is her golden! 14 on the 14th!!!!

"the very happy-our-daughter was born" couple!!!

dada-daughter moment.. him giving her a purity ring/
she wanted the one that focus-on-the-family sells.. http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=5012827&netp_id=601274&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

she is our star and god's light shines in her smile! we love you bg! our valentine bg!

revolve for valentines!

2009-02-17T20:37:00.004-06:00

we sure enjoyed our time together in houston this past weekend. revolve tour was really neat and the girls loved it!! gan said, "my chest is still palpitating!!" (from the very loud and fun music!! hehehe) but, she's kidding! she had a really great time! the four of us were blessed! :-)

oh! and lauren had her 14th birthday on valentines.. she's our love bg! (babygirl)

1 peter 4:8

2009-02-17T11:54:00.004-06:00

"love covers over a multitude of sins"

just read these few sentences in the prologue of the book, 'practicing the presence of people; how we learn to love' by mike mason....

wanted to share~

'.....pondering the verse, i think of a gentleman taking off his coat and laying it over a mud puddle so that a beautiful lady in dainty shoes may walk across. in this parable, the gentleman is Jesus, the coat is His blood, the beautiful lady is you and i, and the love is the bridge across which we walk into one another's arms.' (pg. 6)

i love you Jesus... thinking sooo much of you this tuesday~ love, lis

wilderness love

2009-02-10T18:46:00.008-06:00

i was spurred on by my dear sally friendship this week... something about knowing, being in, talking about the wilderness.. (actually, the holy spirit moved on my spirit through my amiga....) frederick buechner writes on love in the book, 'a room called remember'.. amazing writer!
i am reading a book about wilderness now, so it was truly cool to read once again the words of buechner... i first read this sermon in the book, 'secrets in the dark/a life in sermons', last fall..
i thought i had not read it, for some reason, when i spoke to my friend.. i went home and saw that i had, and man! i had underlined a lot!!
i was inspired to re-read it and remember.. so grateful i did.. thanks sally! :-)
here are some passages that speak so well, i think:

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (he quotes the scripture)
................hear, o Israel! only more often than not we hear nothing because we live in a wilderness where more often than not there is nothing of god to hear. and of course it was in just such a wilderness that the great words of moses were trumpeted forth in the first place, and the people who first heard them were in the wilderness with him, as wandering and lost as we are, with nothing to keep them going but the hope of a promised land, which much of the time seemed a promise so remote and improbable that even the bondage they had left behind them in Egypt looked hopeful by comparison. ....................even in the wilderness-especially in the wilderness-you shall love him.
.....................the final secret, i think, is this: that the words "you shall love the lord your god" become in the end less a command than a promise. and the promise is that, yes, on the weary feet of faith and fragile wings of hope, we will come to love him at last as from the first he has loved us-loved us even in the wilderness, especially in the wilderness, because he has been in the wilderness with us. he has been in the wilderness for us. he has been acquainted with our grief. and, loving him, we will come at last to love each other too so that, in the end, the name taped on every door will be the name of the one we love.
............."and these words which i command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."........
and rise we shall, out of the wilderness, every last one of us, even as out of the wilderness Christ rose before us. that is the promise and the greatest of all promises.

are you in a wilderness love? i'm in the wilderness of love and it's a manna journey and a blessed sweet joy, with surprises and unexpected moments of care, trust, faith, comfort, laughter!(my favorite!), and so many other emotions, and fruits of the holy spirit of the LIVING GOD!
i will choose this day.. and the next, and the next, with his hand leading... to love the lord god with all my my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my might. woohoo!! :-)

after i finished typing some of the sermon, i was looking for a picture for this post... i ran across this dvd/movie that is based on a true story.. thought it was appropriate to share since it's the same 'subject' of leaving the 'one we love and promised to', and returning to the promised love in the end... the real god is our covenant god! i haven't watched the movie, so sorry if it's not good production wise, etc.. but the summary is good, i thought~

Summary

Inspired by a true story, the made-for-TV Personally Yours stars Valerie Bertinelli as the recently divorced Susannah Stanton. Shed of her husband Jesse (Jeffrey Nordling), an Alaskan rancher, Susannah strikes a blow for independence by opening up her own restaurant in Anchorage. Still, there is something lacking in Susannah's life, and her three children think they know what it is. Placing a classified personal in the local newspaper, the enterprising kids advertise for a perfect father, knowing full well that their specifications match one man and one man only -- their own dad Jesse. An engaging illustration of the old saw that "love is lovelier the second time around,"

happy day to you this friday!! love, lis

kung-fu fighting party and spiritual warfare destiny!

2009-02-10T14:31:00.006-06:00

we decided to wait until our friend, georgie, a karate instructor, was in town last saturday to celebrate bud's 9th b-day with his close friends and family.. man! i wish i had pinata pictures! we had a great kung-fu fighting time!! woohoo!!

wanted to share some of the pics here!

have a really nice and totally spiritual fighting day today! i feel the heavens are in warfare and i know that we are positioned with our heavenly father, our savior/brother and power-filled spirit of the LIVING god! (the trinity! the true warriors and the only way to 'fight' in battle is with TRUTH!!!) i LOVE that so much.. and need that so!!

the battle is the LORD's! along with these fun pictures, i am posting just a few of god's promising words on this subject of battle!

blessings are yours, with ten-thousand behind!! wooooooooooooohhoooooooooo!!! and AMEN!

Judges 3

1 These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): 3 the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo [a] Hamath. 4 They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the

LORD's commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses.
5 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 6 They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
Othniel 7 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. 8 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, [b] to whom the Israelites

were subject for eight years. 9 But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. 10 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge [c] and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. 11 So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Ehud 12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. 13 Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. [d] 14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.
15 Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half [e] long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it. 19 At the idols [f] near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him.
20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace [g] and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch [h] ; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house." 25 They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their Lord fallen to the floor, dead.
26 While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.
28 "Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped. 30 That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.
Shamgar 31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

Isaiah 27
Deliverance of Israel 1 In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
2 In that day— "Sing about a fruitful vineyard:
3 I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.
4 I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me! I would march against them in battle; I would set them all on fire.
5 Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me."
6 In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.
7 Has the LORD struck her as he struck down those who struck her? Has she been killed as those were killed who killed her?
8 By warfare [a] and exile you contend with her—with his fierce blast he drives her out, as on a day the east wind blows.
9 By this, then, will Jacob's guilt be atoned for, and this will be the full fruitage of the removal of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones to be like chalk stones crushed to pieces, no Asherah poles [b] or incense altars will be left standing.
10 The fortified city stands desolate, an abandoned settlement, forsaken like the desert; there the calves graze, there they lie down; they strip its branches bare.
11 When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
12 In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates [c] to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, O Israelites, will be gathered up one by one. 13 And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Ephesians 4:10-20

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

25 minus 15

2009-02-09T20:40:00.004-06:00

here are 10 things to know about myself.. (i couldn't think of more for now!) thanks, debs! made me think and giggle and cry.. love you.. :-)

1. i am a first-born american; my parents were born in cuba.
2. i was a gymnast when i was young, and wanted to be in the olympics! i developed osgood schlatters disease (left knee) .. that put the kibosh on that!
3. i love reading fortunes in the fortune cookie, not eating them.. i give them to my son! :-)
(last one, sunday eve: your love of music will be an important part of your life... i ignore the lucky numbers, and love the chinese word(s) they print on the other side with the translation!; Quench One's Thirst.. (jie, ke.. short vowel sounds on the e's) :-)
4. love to read! especially frederick buechner, paula rinehart, mike mason... authors are amazing people on this planet!!
5. i am sometimes called/labeled the bag lady.. not because i live on the street, or carry a bag around.. just because i love to drop off goodies and finds on friend(s) and family's porches, benches, etc... hehehe.. more for me, i really get a happy face doing this, and love to share the yummies! ;-)
6. i have 2 boys, one girl. 2007, 1999, 1995.. good years!
7. i dream of visiting india to see and be with the children.. in the red light district(s) and be apart of a team that will 'set them free'.....
8. i LOVE hot teas.. i am sipping st. john's wort's tea now.. really need! hehehe ;-)
9. i secretly like to watch kid's shows with my children.. hehehe.. no, really! especially peep, and electric company...
10. i really do LOVE grocery shopping.. makes me smile big.. (my mom thinks that is truly bizarre!)

jaxy

2009-02-06T12:28:00.003-06:00

this little red-headed boy is jaxon isaac cole. so happy that you were given to us 4, on february 5, 2007!!
i love you jaxy... muah! momma

better not to know

2009-02-05T13:17:00.006-06:00

this post is from an amy grant blog post, jan. 28th of this year.. i was curious to see when her next musica would be out, so i went on over to her site.. http://www.amygrant.com/

i have always like her music/lyric, her soul... she inspires me~

i told laur that man! i am jealous of cindy and amy!! i would LOVE to write with those 2 amazing gals!!! "well, for sure, in heaven i will write and spend time with them!! hehehehe", i said to laur.. "momma! you and 59 million others!!!", she exclaimed.. hehehe

so true, muy verdad!

we were being silly, but in all sincerity, one of my dreams/desires, is to co-write with a seasoned writer and that their hearts would be like-minded...

i just yelled at my bud, "please stop playing with your cheek, son!" he likes to 'pop' his face with his fingers and then the red rash appears and well.. who cares! hehehe that interrupts my thoughts, and that's all for now..

oh! this song reminds me of sooooo much; one thought i can muster: some things are truly to be left at the 'altar' of our sacrifice place, our life-giving place, our hearts, our souls, our minds, before god's sacred and safe throne...

back when i was worshipping with a community of friends/believers in 1998, i was in a season like this one that these 2 women are writing about... with much learning and much growing, i too, remember that much could have been done, if not for choices that others made, my choices, or just life: the things that happen... maybe.. better not to know~

bless you today!!

on a cool note!!!!!

my 3rd little babe, jaxon, is 2 years old today... i remember that day and thank papagod for his birth.. so blessed, so blessed... thanks, jill, for your song, "all the good things".. i relate so so so so much!!!

hugs~ lis

amy's blog: http://www.amygrant.com/agblog.htm

Today is day 8 in the studio. We're working on a song called "Better Not to Know" that Cindy Morgan and I wrote. My Grandmother Grant died in the spring of 1988 when my first child was 5 months old. We planted a field of fruit trees in her memory....little leafless sticks with promising root balls. I lived on that farm another ten years... Had two more children there, and then life took a few unexpected turns. When I left the farm I left behind the shade of those 75 trees that had grown into a thick canopy over our heads They never had any fruit.Eventually, the farm was sold. Then this past summer I got a phone call. The current owner of the property had had the surviving fruit trees pruned, the farm next door had started keeping bees. My grandmother's trees were loaded down with peaches and pears and apples.

When Cindy came to my house last fall, I had just made my first batch of pear preserves. We talked and ate and wrote this song:

We sowed our seeds

Watered with tears

Waiting for signs of growth

Took months of days And then took years.

We took our steps

We took our falls

Somewhere along the way

We just got lost

And we lost it all.

Nothing ventured nothing gained

The risk of living is the pain

And what will be will be anyway
Oh, it's better not to know

The way it's gonna go

What will die and what will grow

It's better not to know
Those tiny stems became these trees

With dirt and storms

And sun and air to breathe

Like you and me

And some fell down And some grew tall

And those surviving twenty winter thaws

Have the sweetest fruit of all

But innocence and planting day

Are both long gone

So much has changed

And if we got to do it all again ...
Oh it's better not to know...

henry poole is here!

2009-02-01T14:08:00.005-06:00

truly moving picture awarded, 'henry poole is here' is a fun and real picture of how miracles happen, and how attitudes can change... takes time!

Plot

Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) had a comfortable life and a beautiful fiancée. But just when it seemed that the future couldn't look any brighter , a visit to the doctor's office casts a dark cloud over his sunny outlook. Shattered, Henry wants nothing more in life than to simply vanish into his surroundings, and what better way to accomplish that feat than to purchase a cookie-cutter house in a working-class suburb and spend his final days awaiting the inevitable in peaceful solitude? Unfortunately for Henry, his new neighbours aren't about to let the handsome neighbourhood newcomer spend his days sulking.
The first to stop by and welcome Henry to his new home is local yenta Esperanza (Adriana Barraza), who comes knocking on his door with a fresh plate of homemade tamales and laundry list of questions.
Later, after taking notice of sad-eyed divorcée Dawn (Radha Mitchell) and her taciturn eight-year-old daughter, Millie (Morgan Lily), who hasn't spoken a word since her father left, Henry finds his self-imposed exile shattered when Esperanza notices a stain on his stucco wall that seems to possess miraculous powers. Before Henry can say "Hail Mary," Esperanza is leading pilgrimages to the "holy site" in his backyard and inviting Father Salizar (George Lopez) to give his blessings to the sacrosanct blemish. As sceptical as Henry may be about the healing powers of the curious apparition, however, his growing friendship with young Millie not only brings him closer to Dawn, but also proves to him that there's no escaping the power of hope.

enjoy.. :-)

knol it!!

2009-01-31T17:13:00.003-06:00

just found this... many know sooooo much! interesting to read and look around.. :-)

have a beauty saturday, sunday time!!!!!!!!!!

http://knol.google.com/k/

A knol is an authoritative article about a specific topic.

a unit of knowledge....

women vs. wild!

2009-01-31T16:25:00.004-06:00

i bought 2 books on january 1 this year.. i wrote in the inside page, "for me; happy 1st day of 2009!!!"
i shared one of the books last week in a blog post, and now this book, 'wilderness skills for women; how to survive heartbreak and other full-blown meltdowns', by marion jordan (a houstonian who has insight for us girls, and shares her personal story beautifully...)

one of the parts i'd like to share here from her book: ch. 3, the wilderness of temptation, pg. 66....
'in the bible, worship is not primarily about singing songs or acts of devotion. it is about one thing: offering a sacrifice. something is placed on the altar and dies. when job, in the midst of his suffering, falls to the ground and worships, he offers god a sacrifice. what is this sacrifice? after carefully and prayerfully reading his story, i believe the sacrifice made by job that fateful day was this: the expectation to have life on his terms.'

marion writes with beauty about life and the real struggles, the ones that she's walked and heard and seen during her last 10 years of knowing christ..
i know of many women, all ages, that are going through a 'wilderness', and that need to choose, to decide, what survival skills to take, to receive.... i want to garner wisdom and be a part of the story of redemption that so many are in, including this young woman... glory is god's! woohoo!!

marion's website: http://www.redeemedgirl.org/
marion's blog: http://redeemedgirl.blogspot.com/
marion's vision: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_O56buH42c
youtube for the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvh2Gvcq2Q

joy journey

2009-01-27T16:42:00.007-06:00

mike mason, one of my favorite authors, wrote a simple book, or more like a personal devotional, about rediscovering god's gift of joy. 'champagne for the soul' is a 90 day joy journey. i started reading it while on a trip last week to tennessee. 2 page reading a day, and man! it fills you up, so to speak!! ;-)

my dear mom-in-law, ma, as i call her, would re-read the ones i had read, aloud, while i drove. as we started down the road to kentucky, to see her aunt evelyn, who i now call my aunt evelyn, ma would read, and we'd cry, say, "thank you father.." etc..

i so desire to express joy, but i first have to acquire, obtain, find, get, pursue, grab hold of....this precious, priceless gift. joy. so cheers!! to champagne for our souls, true joy!

(here's a 'day' that i loved reading; hehehe, i skipped around a bit! it's day 25! soooo good~and i may add my 'thoughts' in parenthesis's) oh! and the day i read this, was the day that we all went to the tennessee aquarium; the butterfly display, was a beautiful inside temp. controlled room, with butterflies EVERYWHERE! and they were gorgeous! and i kept looking for them, and looking for them, and it never got old, or boring! joy came...... indeedy it did!

STANDING OVATION

let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. PSALM 107:22

when it it a sacrifice to offer thanks? when i don't feel like it. this marks the difference between thanksgiving and gratitude. gratitude is an attitude of heart, whereas thanksgiving is an act. if the act of giving thanks is not performed, gratitude will not develop.

years ago, realizing i needed to develop gratitude, i began the practice of saying thanks to god for five things every night before bed. i still do this whenever i feel the least bit low. looking for reasons to be thankful, instead of focusing on worries or fears, is like putting on a new pair of glasses. life looks different through the lens of thanks. (i love that!!!!)

if you are so low that you have only one prayer to offer, let it be a prayer of thanks. it's the easiest way to pray and often the most powerful. moreover there's an intimate connection between thanksgiving and joy. in some circumstances thanksgiving, like forgiveness, is both the quickest and the only route to joy. prayers of thanks, offered from the heart, always draw one closer to the light and therefore to the fire of joy. (woop!!)

giving thanks is a way of gathering joy. imagine yourself in a meadow chasing butterflies with a net. though the meadow is full of spiders, you don't notice these; neither are you concerned with weeds or scraps of letter. you aren't collecting spiders or weeds or litter. you're collecting butterflies, and your sole focus is on capturing those brightly colored flecks of beauty.

joy requires single-mindedness. the world is full of reasons to be sad or distressed, but beauty and goodness also abound. which to look at? what you see is what you get. (man! that speaks!!)

now imagine yourself in a meadow gathering wildflowers-violets, let's say. there are other flowers in the meadow, but you have eyes only for the purple violets. when you're finished, do you have a fistful of stones or twigs or grasses? no, you have a bouquet of violets.

every day joy waits to be gathered. will you take the trouble to fine it, cherish it, be grateful? joy is like a stranger standing on you doorstep, and gratitude is the host who opens the door and says, "do come in and make yourself at home." without gratitude, joy stands forever just outside the heart, making gestures that go unnoticed. (i had to re-read that line, over and over..... )

a joyful experience isn't really ours until we call it to mind and give thanks for it. how many such experiences are lost on us every day because, living without reflection, we never take time to pray them through our door? (wowza!!)

is god less good to us on our bad days? no, he doesn't change. he's always awesome and loving. doesn't he deserve for for us to be happy? isn't he worth celebrating? he tips the sky like a goblet of light over our heads; he dresses the continents in the satiny robes of the seas. (beauty, and i'm tearing up!) if he'd done nothing else, wouldn't these feats alone be worth a continuous clap of joy?

joy glorifies god. when we fell good, god looks good. don't be half-hearted for god; give him a standing ovation every day. it's what he's waiting for. it's what you're waiting for too. your whole being waits to erupt into thunderous and unending praise. you won't be happy until you do. you won't be happy until your first waking thought is of the glory of being alive. you won't be happy until like a little child you can hardly wait to get out of bed and tiptoe downstairs to see what magic awaits you. you won't be happy until you forget your problems long enough to look up to heaven and be stunned into heartfelt thanks for a life overflowing with goodness. (amen!)

(pg. 49-50, champagne for the the soul; rediscovering god's gift of joy by mike mason)

to blog or not to blog!

2009-01-12T12:50:00.006-06:00

hey! i was thinking in the shower this weekend about my blog.. why i have one, what i share, etc... :-)
friends/family may read this blog, but that's not why i'm writing on 17 diamonds, so just others can read or comment, or share.
it's a bit more needy on my part/i don't like to admit, maybe a lil' selfish, for me! :-D

blogging sort of reminds me... of a church, a place of truth, a place of finding, seeking, knowing, hoping. a 'safe' place, and a quiet place. doesn't matter the time or the day/i'm a night owl! 24/7; if i'm sick or not, with make-up, or not! come as you are~

so, as i was talking out loud and scrubbing my scalp, hehehehe, i said, "lord, this is a 'place' for me to share my thoughts, my ideas, my heart, my soul, sometimes intimate vulnerable places for me, songs, family pictures, friends/relationships, times with you, papa... i love sharing, and connecting; reading and seeing other friends/people share and connect and live, laugh and love!! ;-) that's my favorite part, lord.. just good ol' fashioned encouragement, and joy, and at times, crying with someone else, trying a new fabulous recipe/yum!!!, 'hearing' a heart, relating with a women in a 'going through', learning something new and different, remembering the past, living in the present and hoping for the future, reading about your hand, papa.... it humbles me, it lifts me, makes me smile, makes me want to reach out, reach in, fill up more with you, and be apart of your creation...

thank you, lord, for the blogworld! ha! bless the sharers and the ones that are in need today, and please allow your people, the fruit of YOUR spirit to go forth in them, to be multiplied in the readers, the listeners, the ones wanting to blog/to share and perhaps be healed, or begin the journey of your truth, today! for this is the day YOU have made! you designed it just for us, god.. your 'blog' is beautiful!! i love you.. "

yep.. it was a longer shower than usual, and i was cleansed in a really cool way, and that is all for now~ here's 2 links to 2 of jill phillips' songs, 'a lot like me'. really great tune, and i love the lyric. http://jillphillips.com/albums/good-things-2008/10/lot-me and 'nobody's got it all together' http://jillphillips.com/albums/nobody039s-got-it-all-together-2006/1/nobodys-got-it-all-together (thanks, jill!)

here is a christmas picture that makes me smile and feel really good!! i love my family~

may you receive the shunshine from the SON this beauty monday day~

love, lisi

christopher turns 9!

2008-12-16T22:21:00.008-06:00

i'm so glad that my son, ivan christopher II, was born december 15th, 1999!

wanted to share a few pictures from his day.. ;-)

bud had lunch with his dada and pop! and we celebrated at home with dada making spaghetti supper and a delicious lemon cake! ;-)mmm...

we think his most favorite gift was his howdy doody dummy! he is really happy!!!! he told gran that now he can begin his dream: becoming a ventriloquist! woohoo!!! go son! :-D

oh! and we started a little bday/christmas tradition in honor of the budster: december 15th= family get the christmas tree!

i've been cleaning the ol' casita this week! wowza.. it's been a while! hehehehe

i hope to bake and have fun soon! and we are planning a little christmas cole concert!! wooo!

we decorated the tree tonight.. ahh.. loverly!
will take pictures of our christmas tree soon! and very soon!

happy 10 days until christmas! oh yea... hope you and your loved ones are enjoying these special days.. and dreaming of the beauty eve that the baby jesus was born! what a night...

deliver christ!

2008-12-14T23:54:00.016-06:00

my family and i watched casting crowns christmas special on the gospel channel
last week. we were so glad we did!

max lucado has insight, and man! did he share a simple message, that i personally, have not heard quite like that.. i tried finding a 'live' viewing or even the script or sermon of what he shared that night.. can't find it, but! here's he's link... maybe it will show up, or i just didn't find/see this beautiful message there.... http://www.maxlucado.com/

but, i found this when i checked out the site just now.. max can sure 'deliver' a message to the body of christ/and to the world in great need.. http://maxlucado.com/pdf/upwords.heavenly.exchange.pdf

http://www.maxlucado.com/christmas/ it may be here? but i couldn't listen to all of these great messages... ;-)
this series looks amazing.. okay.. i better stop 'browsing!!' ;-) http://maxlucado.com/fearless/
bless mr. lucado and his family papa!

Deliver Christ to the World

Grace for the Moment: Volume 2 by Max Lucado

“I work…using Christ’s great strength that works so powerfully in me.”
Colossians 1:29
The virgin birth is more, much more, than a Christmas story; it is a
picture of how close Christ will come to you. The first stop on his
itinerary was a womb. Where will God go to touch the world? Look deep
within Mary for an answer.
Better still, look deep within yourself. What he did with Mary, he
offers to us! He issues a Mary-level invitation to all his children. “If
you’ll let me, I’ll move in!”…
What is the mystery of the gospel? “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
(Col. 1:27 NIV)…
Christ grew in Mary until he had to come out. Christ will grow in you
until the same occurs. He will come out in your speech, in your actions,
in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Christmas. You, like
Mary, will deliver Christ into the world.
from
Next Door Savior
-=- by Max Lucado -=-

jammin' jamaican jaxon!!

2008-12-14T13:52:00.005-06:00

i just had to share these pictures of our jax!

he was with laur and bud playing friday night in laur's room, and he found the mickey mouse (ears) jamaican hat! we love that hat! bought it at disneyworld when i was preg with the jaxster! (2006/after christmas vacation with the in-laws)

i'm enjoying this windy sunday at home, but hope to get out later/75 degrees outside! but tonight.. the 30's are coming.. hehehe

so maybe rain late tonight and tomorrow and tuesday with cold winds... so! i will play today! and clean and cook tomorrow!! yeayeayea! ;-)

the 12 days of christmas started today at midnight!.. i wonder what christmas 'spirit' will be found for us coles!! ;-) soon to come... hohoho!! joyjoyjoy!! merrymerrymerry!!

love song for a savior

2008-12-12T20:16:00.005-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su42dX0JO_M

i love this song.. jars of clay recorded and wrote it~

love song for a savior

in open fields of wild flowers

she breathes the air and flies away

she thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses

in no simple language

someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens

as close a heartbeat or a song on her lips

someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him

someday He'll call her and she will come running

and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray

i want to fall in love with You

sitting silent wearing sunday best

the sermon echoes through the walls

a great salvation through it calls to the people

who stare into nowhere, and can't feel the chains on their souls

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens

as close a heartbeat or a song on our lips

someday we'll trust Him and learn how to see Him

someday He'll call us and we will come running

and fall in his arms and the tears will fall down and we'll pray

i want to fall in love with You

it seems too easy to call You "Savior"not close enough to call You "God"

so as i sit and think of words i can mention

to show my devotion

i want to fall in love with You
my heart beats for You

sing, from sally, and sweets from sandra

2008-12-12T18:13:00.007-06:00

just this week.. i've been wowed! and really glad to receive..

gifts, and goodies! a beauty necklace, that says, sing! the reason behind the gift really touched me to the core.. thanks for being so sensitive dear friend/you know me!....

and the amazing baked goods! wow! the cranberry oatmeal rocked! and the honey ginger bites.. :-) we loved them all!!!!!!!!!! thank you gf!!

i wanted to share because, well.. just cuz! :-) makes me happy!

i love these ladies, and wish that everyone knew them, like i do. the love and hope they bring to me and my family!

papa, bless my amigas~

with love, lisi

prayer of hope~

2008-12-12T14:14:00.005-06:00

i'm a vulnerable lady, and love to share... :-)

sometimes i have to think through what is getting going in my head and my heart. i need, i want, i desire, i hope, i dream... so many things!

lately, i've been drawn, not by accident, but as i've observed and been drawn to experience, gentle-wise holy spirit wooing me to understand and 'taste' and 'see' some things..

long story, short:

i've always had a strong desire to see the young girls and women in the red-light district (in india) be free. i had an opportunity to give (very little $) to an organization that natalie grant started back a few years ago. (http://www.thehomefoundation.net/index.html)

i was drawn to these beautiful souls..

anyway... i would like to share this on the blog, because lately i've been posting a lot of india spice recipes, that i have enjoyed.. the recipes have 'fallen in my lap', and i was not looking for them, or even the wanting to learn about any new spices!

the queen of spices, as 'she' is known, is cardamom. the more i looked into this spice and other spices from way over there!, i realized that i was being led to ask, seek, knock, for these beautiful people, and for mercy, fear of the lord/wisdom, love, grace, peace... to fill them, their homes! not just with the essence of unique aromas of long long ago, but with HIS fragrance, with HIS aroma.. penetrating their souls, their minds, their everythings!!! :-)

as my precious friend, emma, says, so.. yeah~

that's where i'm journeying, and pressing on these days. really is a tender and sobering season for me personally, and hopeful and joyful all together too!!! http://www.globalangels.org/pages/4368/Prayer_of_Hope.htm

i chilled out with christopher and garfield and chai~

2008-12-10T01:36:00.008-06:00

tonight i made christopher hot cocoa and i sipped on the hot chai with milk. mmm.. love this night~ 15 days until christmas! cheers to you!

oh! and christopher loves garfield/he has my garf (in the picture) i collected garfield's when i was in high school!! haha! he chose the garf mug for his cocoa and then proceded to get the G and his pal pooky. :-) i love this boy!

chai means tea.. and i love tea! i looked up chai tonight and wanted to share.. hehehe

Health Benefits for Chai Drinkers
By: Rachel Medlock
What is Chai Tea?
“Chai” actually means “tea” in Hindi, so calling “chai” “chai tea” is actually rather redundant. However, marketers in the western world thought that “chai tea” would help them sell the “new” product to the western market. Chai is actually centuries old, with its origins in India. Generally, it is a milky, spiced tea made with black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, pepper, and various other spices. It is usually sweetened – most commonly with sugar, but some drinkers prefer honey. There is not a universal recipe for chai, as different drinkers like it different ways, so the spice list can change depending on who’s making it.
It is most likely this list of ingredients not often found in western beverages that makes chai seem “exotic” to westerners. But in India, chai is as common as tea is in Britain and coffee is in the United States. In fact, it’s so common that in many Indian households, the first thing a host offers a guest is a cup of chai.

Potential Health Benefits of Chai
Some tea companies tout the health benefits of drinking their chai product – but buyer beware. While chai is certainly better for the body than a drink such as coffee, because not all chai is made with the same ingredients, it’s not really possible to state that chai is universally beneficial. And it’s also more likely to benefit the drinker when the drinker has brewed his/her own chai, rather than buying boxed chai or chai in tea bag form. Why? Simply because the spices and herbs being used are much fresher. Here is a list of some of the benefits of the different ingredients in most chai recipes:
1) Cinnamon: In a recent study by the US Agricultural Research Service, cinnamon has been shown to benefit diabetics because the cells are less likely to let insulin in. In lab rats with Type 2 diabetes, cinnamon helped lower blood pressure and prevented cell damage. Cinnamon’s oils also help to stop the growth of certain bacteria and yeasts.
2) Ginger: In the Far East, ginger has been used for over two millennia to treat upset stomach, diarrhea, arthritis, and heart disease. Recent research by western scientists also suggests that ginger may help lower the risk of colon cancer.
3) Cardamom: Like ginger, cardamom is often used to soothe digestion problems. But it is also used to treat respiratory problems such as asthma or people suffering from other kinds of respiratory spasms. Further, in Saudi Arabia, animal studies have shown cardamom to have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing muscle spasms.
4) Cloves: Used in Ayurvedic medicine as an analgesic, cloves are most often used to soothe toothaches and remedy halitosis. It also has antiseptic qualities, and can be used to kill intestinal parasites, fungi, and bacteria. These latter qualities have also led cloves to be used for treating diarrhea and similar digestive ailments.
5) Pepper: Most chai recipes do not usually contain enough black pepper for it to be of significant benefit to its drinkers. However, black pepper does reduce intestinal gas and works as an antioxidant.
Just remember: The best way to ensure that your regular cup of chai provides you with the health benefits you’re looking for is to brew it yourself. Then you can select the herbs and spices that benefit your specific health condition.
About The Author
Rachel Medlock is a connoisseur of hot drinks, including chai. She also operates the informational website http://www.mychaiteas.com/.

so.. i looked up this recipe that i found in the delicious living mag/dec. 2008; woohoo! i gave a few friends some of the spices combined here with some black tea along with the cardamom carrot cake, tonight... it's easy peasy chaieasy!

Spicy chai tea, called masala chai in its native India, is a
simple blend of black tea, milk, sugar, and spices. You can buy it in many guises (loose leaf, powdered, and concentrate), but making your own is easy, too. This warm, aromatic brew — which is full of antioxidants that help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke — makes a wonderful afternoon pick-me-up.
½ cup whole or reduced-fat (2 percent) milk
1 cup water
2 teaspoons natural cane sugar
2 teaspoons black tea, such as Darjeeling
¼ teaspoon spice mix (equal parts ground ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, star anise)
1. Place milk, water, and sugar in a medium pot. Boil for 30 seconds, and add black tea and spice mix. Turn off heat. Steep for 5 minutes and strain.
PER SERVING: 77 cal, 15% fat cal, 1g fat, 1g sat fat, 6mg chol, 4g protein, 12g carb, 0g fiber, 59mg sodium

cole christmas cardamom carrot cake!

2008-12-09T19:03:00.006-06:00

hey...... and yey!!

i'm really glad to have made this concoction!! we are enjoying this season of cardamom!

not to overdo it, but really.. when you are on a roll.. just keep rolling until the 'ball' stops.. well. there ya have it!

here is the recipe/got this one on-line, but the idea from a cardamom blogger!! oh yeah! thanks ccc!

http://www.chow.com/recipes/12198

i made coconut-cardamom kheer on sunday.. it's gone, and i didn't have any.. so!

momma will make more this night or manana! it's easy and amazing! basmati rice.. oh yeah! very fragrant! :-)

if you want to see this recipe.http://deliciouslivingmag.com/food/recipes/desserts/1201-coconut-cardamom-kheer/ i pick up free copies of nutritional magazines at a health food store.. this one is from 'delicious living'/december 2008, pg. 37.. it's just an indian rice pudding, basically! woohoo!! enjoy...

i made them!! ;-)

2008-12-08T17:50:00.006-06:00

okay... i made them!

they were a hit over here!! woohoo!!!!!

2 friends and my hubby said, "yum!"... so another cardamom add to the christmas (cardamom) cole cookies!! hehehehe ;-0

i'm enjoying this spice, and i'm glad to share... oh.. and i found an amazing tea (india spice chai, by celestial seasonings)/under $3, to sip on with your 'delights'! mmmm... i'm craving it now!! ;-)
mucho amor from this texas kitchen tonight!

i'm off to start supper for the babes, and to bake some more!! thank you http://chocolatecardamomcappuccino.blogspot.com/ !

do something good everyday!

2008-12-06T15:33:00.005-06:00

hey hey hey!!!

i saw this on the window of a starbucks last week... thought i'd post this and ask others to 'pose' in front of their starbucks (sb) with this cool thought!

WOOHOO!! and then...

go inside and treat someone, or even a stranger? hehehehehe! to a cup of hot cocoa or java! or special treats to share with a sweet friend, or your spouse!

i love this time of year, and i'm thankful for the cooler weather and the beauty that others show during this christmas season~

joy to you and your family and to your heart this first december weekend!! and 'do something good every day'....

carda MOM

2008-12-05T16:16:00.005-06:00

ok... i'm on an india kick!! the spices of india, that is!! seems like lately, i'm running across lots of different recipes that have curry, cumin, chile peppers, cilantro, cardamom... you get my spice drift! hehehe :-)

my friend, sally, just emailed saying: let's get our spices together/share, since some are so costly! amen to that sista!

i checked out a few nights ago at the local grocery, HEB.. got home, all excited about my new spice! (ground cardamom).. and behold.. $13.97!! wowza wowzee! oopsy.. oh well..

now.. i'm on a little hunt to find the best and yummmmm recipes/any! that can use this spice..

i found a blog, even, that rocks!!!!! check it out!! woohoo!

http://chocolatecardamomcappuccino.blogspot.com/2008/11/chocolate-dipped-cardamom-pistachio.html i am trying these out this weekend!!! oh yeah!!!

and this woman!! she is very cool and cardamommy!! hehehe, couldn't resist!

http://cardamomaddict.blogspot.com/

and i found this recently.. thought it was neat~

Cardamom Spice Blend - Use this mixture in a warm carrot or squash soup.

I N G R E D I E N T S

2 tablespoons ground cardamom, preferably freshly ground

1 tablespoon ground turmeric

1 tablespoon ancho chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

I N S T R U C T I O N S Combine all the spices in a dry medium skillet over medium heat and heat, shaking the pan continuously to prevent burning, until the spices are fragrant and just beginning to smoke, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the spices to a bowl to cool. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.

here's a cool link for info: http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/cardamom.html

but! go texas gal!!!!!! woop!!

found this one from one of my fav chocolates!!!!! green and black's! http://www.greenandblacks.com/us/recipes/chocolate-challenge-recipes/lemon-cardamom-andamp-white-chocolate-fool-with-raspberries.html this is the one i hope to try soon!!

they have a cookbook!!! oh santa.. hehehe! ;-) http://www.greenandblacks.com/us/recipes/recipe-book.html

will post the ' delish-results', soon.. i hope!

ciao, for now! i'm off to the store.. my amiga sandra told me: you CAN find lemon curd at HEB! so i'm off like a dirty shirt!!!

cole cardamom cookies!!! here we come!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!

love and more love.. i'm smiling and thinking: COOK was one of christopher's spelling words this week!! love it!!

momma cole's mulligatawny!

2008-12-02T19:49:00.008-06:00

okay.. this will set your sinus cavity on fire! hot, spicy and delish!! well.. i think so!
i went to an irish pub months ago with my friend, and loved the irish soda bread, the irish yummy bread pudding.. and the TADA!.. irish mulligatawny! it rocked! i had it without meat.. barley in the middle, and veggies floating everywhere in this amazing soup/stew!
i couldn't find the recipe/or at least the irish version.. because.. yep.. it's not a traditional irish dish! it's an indian recipe! means 'pepper water'.. i dunno why i'm intrigued with this soup.. but i am! i shared it last night with my sweet sally, and peg.. i was filled with happy smiles on my mission mulli-monday.. hehehehe ;-)
anyway.. here is my version of
MOMMA COLE'S MULLIGATAWNY!!!

2 Tbsp of virgin olive oil in at least a 6 quart stock/cooking pot
cut the veggies you want! i put: celery, (peeled and diced) carrots, (peeled and cut)potatoes/2, (peeled and cut) sweet potato/1, broccoli, (diced) onion, (crushed) garlic/lots!, fire-roasted tomatoes/from a can, (cut smaller) fresh cut green beans-haricots verts, fresh-cut cilantro, one jalapeno (diced/no seeds), and a little bit of left-over butternut squash (diced)..
heat the oil, and put the veggies in a bit at a time.. let it cook over med.low heat.. mmm.. smells and looks divine!!
each time you put some more veggies in the pot, add a bit of the 1 Tbsp of curry powder...
add some mace/about 1 tsp. and shake some crushed red pepper flakes while the veggies are cooking, and about 1 tsp. of cumin

chicken stock/vegetable stock

http://www.kitchenbasics.net/VegetableStock.htm

time to start sprinkling in the ground pepper and salt/to your taste.. and the cayenne pepper! i just sprinkled a bit.. hehehe, and just a dash of turmeric

now it's smelling mulligatawnish!!! :-)

keep stirring and smiling.. and sniffling!
i was really happy after i tasted the broth.. nice.. reminded me of that neat night out at the pub!!okay.. almost done! get barley/usually small health markets have this in the grains section/to pour out into a plastic bag; however much you need.. i bought half a bag full
boil 2 cups of water, and put 1 cup of barley in.. stir
it cooks just like oats.. mmmmm...
let it sit out for a few minutes..
then serve the soup in a nice, soup bowl and scoop the barley right in the center of the soup
i made buttermilk cornbread! oh yeah.. that's a nice add!! here's the link for that one: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2383

स्वादिष्ट खाना (Svādiṣṭ khānā) (hindi for bon appetit!)woohoo!!

peace and tea

2008-12-02T18:29:00.006-06:00

i LOVE hot tea! love it! wanted to share my favorites.. maybe you have some that i can try! your own favorite tea~ thanks!

one of my fav green teas in the morning time: http://www.yogitea.com/Pages/OurTeas/GreenTeas/GT_Kombucha.html

this one is comforting to me.. doesn't stop my eating! but slows me down a bit.. ;-)

http://www.yogitea.com/Pages/OurTeas/BodyTeas/Fasting.html

when i need an extra good nighty night rest... ohyeah.....

http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/?id=32&pid=38

when i'm needing healing for my noseyposey...

http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/?id=28&pid=3

oh! this one is for when you have a bambino cookin'! it rocks! something in this one makes me giddy!!! well.. more gidday! hehehe

http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/?id=30&pid=17

when i need an uplift internally!!! really calms me.. ahhh... that with a bath.....

http://www.yogitea.com/Pages/OurTeas/MindTeas/StJohnsWort.html

you can try the free samples! http://www.yogitea.com/Pages/FreeSamples.html

any yogi tea is yummy.. i think! and good for ju! :-) traditional medicinals are terrifico too!

oh.. and here is our new advent calendar! family christian bookstore had it on sale through sunday for $10! woohoo! what a deal.. hehehehehe ;-) i'm a sucker for veggies!! ha!

much joy, peace and love to you this first week of the last month.. one of my special times of the year, for more reasons, than one~

don't spill your tea when watching this fun little diddy.. heha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wArQTetzqgA and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7yE5ivrA-U
love, lis

thankful for friends and family

2008-11-26T09:48:00.013-06:00

i'm really blessed to know people that love, bless, encourage and hold on to hope and faith for their lives and for me and my family.
bless them papagod, and help me to be there and love them like i desire to, and you need me to..

hoping for the happiest of thanksgiving!

my thanksgiving countdown of who and what i'm thankful for~

2008-11-24T13:39:00.003-06:00

god is my portion.. jesus is salvation to me and so much more~

the holy spirit reveals and restores and fills me every day.. my companion~

i'm thankful for my heavenly trinity that truly loves me, no matter what!

my thanksgiving countdown of who and what i'm thankful for~

2008-11-22T12:52:00.009-06:00

i love my familia!!!!!!!! oh yeah!!!!!!!! thank you papagod for my family!

the incredibles!!!! chris, lauren, christopher and jaxon... :-)

i am a blessed momma!!

bookworms?!

2008-11-21T12:25:00.006-06:00

my dear friend, amy, just tagged me!! woohoo!!

hope you join in on this different and neat opportunity to see what your friends are reading, and what the happenstance page will say! mine was out of the love dare book..

"defending your rights and opinions is a foundational part of your nature and make-up. it's detrimental, though, inside a marriage relationship, and it steals away time and productivity. it can also cause great frustration for both of you. "

(this love dare on pg 56 was: love lets the other win/do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. -philippians 2:4)

The rules for this award:

Pass this on to 5 blogging friends.

Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56.

Write the 5th sentence, as well as two to five sentences following that.

hope your friday is blessed with joy, peace and rest..

here's the folks that get the tag from me:

eva: http://closer-than-your-heartbeat.blogspot.com/

cousin ryan: http://getinthenet.blogspot.com/

debs: http://lifenchaos.blogspot.com/

pati: http://patipakulis.blogspot.com/

noelle: http://noellemonteith.blogspot.com/

amy joy!

2008-11-18T14:00:00.000-06:00

my friend amy... i met her on-line through a christian songwriters contest and then LIVE this summer, with my family!! her kids and hubby are so neat! really precious to me, because they are serving christ and seeking him daily.. she inspires me and brings me hope! blesses me...

she loves her god, her family, her friends.. she is real and gives love to so many.. i've known her a little over a year now, and am so looking forward to many years of friendship with her and her family~ so grateful that we met!

amy has a birthday today! she is my special dear friend, and i want to honor her today with a birthday song!!

love you amy! you send joy to my life... you have an amazing papa!!! ;-) thank you for our friendship!

so HAPPY you were born today!! love ya!!!!

soul thinking

2008-11-18T13:30:00.000-06:00

i receive devotionals from alicia's website, and this one was truly a blessing.. thought i'd share~ ;-)

I wouldn't have written it this way

from alicia's book, Sitting in God's Sunshine

I wouldn't have written the script of my life this way Father God.
What would you have changed Child?

I would have deleted unnecessary pain.
What kind of pain is that?

Senseless misunderstandings, incurable illnesses, and undeserved injustice. These produce nothing but tears in my heart and aches in my soul. I could have done without them Father.

I too could have done without sin's shadows and pain's piercings. But because of choices made long ago and choices re-made every moment I myself had a choice to make: turn my back on sin's shadows or personally embrace pain's piercings.

What did You choose Father?
I chose the path of what you call unnecessary pain.

Why? How?
Actually, You helped me. Before you were born Child, I saw you and My love for you was greater than Life. Through sweat and blood I measured my love for you and its passion fixed My Life willingly to a cross. By embracing pain, I robbed sin of its power to crush you.

Then the shadows will not destroy me! But there are still tears in my heart and aches in my soul.
Yes Child. In Mine as well. But even there you can find a treasure if you allow the tears in your heart and aches in your soul to grow dependence upon Me in your spirit.

Reflection Questions

This tender dialogue between Father and Child reflects on soul-bruises. If we think of our lives as a movie, all of us have scenes we wish could have been deleted or edited. These are the bruising memories that cause us to wince, to ache, to question, to move faster. Consider the following thoughts as you reflect on this week's devotion.

One ~ In your memories of the more painful moments of your life, where is God? Do you picture Him watching? Sleeping? Helping? Absent? Protecting? Distracted? Critiquing? Where is Father God in your painful memories? Take a few moments to consider the truth that God was and is as near to you as a mother is to the child in her womb.

Two ~ In this story, the Father speaks of how His love for Child fastened His life to the cross. As a child, my daddy would ask me, "Do you know how much I love you?" Then he would stretch out his arms as far as he could and say, this much.
Ask God how much He loves you. Hear Him whisper, "This much child," as he stretches His arms out wide, upon the cross. Know that His intense love for you strengthened Him to endure pain so that you could embrace freedom: For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16

Three ~ I call dependence a 'treasure.' How can dependence be valuable when we live in a culture that applauds independence? Choosing to be dependant upon God is not a vote for passivity or weakness. Choosing to be dependant upon God is a vote for active reliance by dependence we intentionally immerse ourselves in God's strength.
Remind yourself often in the coming days that even in pain you can find treasures if you avoid the path of bitterness and choose the path of dependence.

http://www.truthportraits.com/
© alicia britt chole ~ onewholeworld, inc. ~

love dare

2008-11-17T13:59:00.005-06:00

we are all 4 learning about love.. the love dare!

i bought the book a few months ago.. left it sitting there, glancing at the words on some of the pages. challenged, and fully charged, i dated the first dare, so i could look back years from now (ha!) and remember when.. ;-) but, instead of going on with each 'dare', i thought it would be really cool and a blessing to share with laur and bud and chris! (adapting it slightly with the kids/and having the marriage part for chris and i) so we started last week.

first dare: LOVE IS PATIENT

here are some really neat lines we liked and boy! are we submitting to papa to help us all!!!!!

and to allow his holy spirit to guide us and to change our way of thinking, even, when we start serving out cold love to each other, and to strangers, and friends/family.. and to Him....

we are born with a lifelong thirst for love.

love changes our motivation for living.

love is built on 2 pillars that best define what it is.

those pillars are patience and kindness.

patience brings an internal calm during an external storm.

patience is where love meets wisdom.

patience helps you give your spouse/friend,etc.. permission to be human.

it gives you the ability to hold on during the tough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under the pressure.

what would the tone and volume of your home be like if you tried this biblical approach: "see that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another" (1 thessalonians 5:15)

http://thelovedarebook.com/

father.. thank you for filling our hearts with your love, and we seek you, you alone! lead us, lead our families to love each other, so that people will know you!

i want to speak these words you spoke, today, for us, that we may be transformed and washed by your holy words and that you, jesus, will lead us to love.. no matter what! "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35 (The Message)

i love you lord~

HER CAUSE

2008-11-14T13:57:00.010-06:00

i was thinking of my friend, debs, in arizona this morning... she is walking for a special reason this weekend. her love for life and her caring spirit reaches out and demonstrates strength and courage for women with breast cancer. besides being so involved with her 2 beautiful teen girls and husband and church, she's reaching out and standing with many other folks this weekend to keep on keeping on and to believe for a cure for this enemy, cancer.

U GO GIRL!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! (debbie, noelle, and tricia kellogg)

here's debs website: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/ArizonaEvent?px=1314658&pg=personal&fr_id=1180&et=kTMivmbP003diCBBF11haQ..&s_tafId=1322

i found several 'finds on debs' and her cause today when i was looking up articles and info on the walk! (since i'm over in texas, i can't be there.. boohoo! so i'm trying to find pictures and anything on this special moment)

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/101066 (i copied/pasted the part where they quoted my friend!) :-) coolness!!
One woman, Debbie Evans, got involved because she met women with breast cancer and her children.
“It’s so hard for me to imagine, because I have young daughters, what it is like for these women to know that they may not be around to watch their daughters grow up and to protect them,” Evans said. “I’m walking for those women, and their children.”
Evans had a shirt made for the walk with the pictures of women who sponsored her, and said she wants them to be with her as she walks in some way, since she they can not walk themselves.

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/calendar/articles/2008/07/31/20080731sr-arts0801taste.html (back in july this year)
SCOTTSDALE - Under different circumstances, Noel Monteith might participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk across Arizona.
Monteith is a 38-year-old woman who loves life.
But she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Chemotherapy days exhaust her.
So two of her friends, Debbie Evans and Tricia Kellogg, are making her a "virtual partner" when they join the walk Nov. 14-16.
But first, on Saturday, they're hosting A Taste for a Cure, a wine tasting at the WineStyles wine and gift boutique in Scottsdale to raise money for Monteith's entry fee and a $2,200 pledge.
All proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer 3-Day.
"Noel was a woman full of life," Evans said of her longtime friend who was diagnosed in March. Both are members of Grace Chapel of Scottsdale. "Now she's had to put her life on hold."
Monteith also has put her job on hold as she undergoes cancer treatment. She is not married and has no children. Evans and Kellogg wanted to show their friend she has a support system.
They and other friends have become her family.
"It's been a very rough road for her," Evans said. "I want her to know people are praying for her across the country."
Evans will carry a pair of Monteith's walking shoes during November's walk and hopes to bring them to closing ceremonies.
When WineStyles owner Kara Lewis heard Evans' story, she was eager to help.
"I thought that was really cute, so we're hosting the wine tasting," she said.
Among wines being sampled are a Two Brothers syrah and a riesling, and a Mewsling riesling in a cat-shaped bottle.
Dozens of prizes also have been donated for a raffle and silent auction, including items from all of Arizona's sports teams.
"Everybody has stepped up to he plate," Evans said.
WineStyles will provide appetizers.
"We want people to donate and feel they're coming out with something," Evans said. "They're not just giving money."

thank you debs! i am grateful that i met you through your little sister, amy (a beauty dear friend of mine!!) you inspire me and you bless me! i am thankful that you are with my abuela delma today! (on your shirt!hehehe) thanks... i'm tearing up a bit, and just remembering her today. bless you for carrying HOPE for so many women! love you~

thank you!

2008-11-11T18:40:00.003-06:00

veteran:

an experienced person who has been through many battles; someone who has given long service.

thanks be to GOD for so many americans that gave their service to this amazing country.

thank you, thank you, thank you!

abe and andrew

2008-11-10T11:02:00.008-06:00

abe and andrew were two amazing united states presidents, according to christopher and lauren!

tuesday night we enjoyed the presidential projects, and watched the election coverage on tv for the next president.

they each presented their choice (one of the 43 presidents from our past u.s. history), to be the 44th, the next president, commander and chief of the united states of AMERICA!!

my kids chose these men: abraham lincoln (14th), and andrew jackson (7th)

christopher presented his in a bob-the-builder 'tent' and pop held the buzz lightyear flashlight as the spotlight!! hehehehehe it was pretty entertaining!

lauren read to us about mr. jackson.. what an interesting man, and how he chose to serve.

abe on the penny and andy on the twenty!!! hehehehehe (my corny rhymes!!)

it was fun, and i enjoyed having my in-laws there as well.. we ate turkey chili and cornbread together.. ahhh.. the joy of just being. just loving. just because.. :-)

i loved this memory.

i know that we have had presidents that have made good choices and sometimes not-so-good. but overall, we celebrated the real blessings of living here in the U.S.A. and how god is our real president.. in our hearts, souls and minds!! thanks be to HIM for this country, AMERICA~

GOD BLESS AND FILL AMERICA WITH THE REAL LIVING HOLY SPIRIT!

His promise

2008-11-05T17:31:00.005-06:00

this picture may seem a little corny in that it's just a picture.. but it's true.. i read a lyric from sara grove's new christmas cd.. 'it's true' is the tune.. made me think of how REAL it was when he first arrived and how amazing it will be to ride with my king someday, for real! the one true GOD, and the only savior! woohoo! revelation 22:20 says.. he who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" amen! come, lord jesus!

i would like to share what i thinking and reading today... god has given me, all of us, many many promises.. when he speaks, i try, we all try, to listen, and hear; when i read his words, hear others teach/preach/share, and just his spirit in my soul and mind, i am hopeful, encouraged, blessed and so much more ... his promises are true!

in john 16 i read again about hope of his holy spirit, his name, his desire, HIS hope to have relationship again with us, his creation!! wow.. i'm very humbled and very grateful.

John 16
“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.
The Work of the Holy Spirit 5 “But now I am going away to the One who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy 16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

frederick buechner writes: ...."the whole life and ministry and death of jesus is in a way a figure of speech for god, a metaphor for the love that was in him; and what jesus is telling the disciples is that up until now they have seen only the metaphor.... but the time will come when they will see the god in him plainly. the time will come when they will see plainly for themselves his love itself..... shadows, echoes, dreams, odd moments in our lives that speak at best ambiguously and brokenly of him-they are the most we have seen of jesus." (from a room called remember-a little while)

It's True
by Sara Groves

In your heart you know it’s true, though you hold no expectation

in the deepest part of you

there’s an open hesitation
but it’s true

kingdoms and crowns

a God who came down to find you

it’s true

Angels on high sing through the night alleluya

heard it told you think

it’s odd the whole thing fraught with complication

the play begins with baby God

and all His blessed implications
but it’s true

kingdoms and crowns

a God who came down

to find you

it’s true

Angels on high

sing through the night alleluia
alleluia, alleluia
Oh it’s true

kingdoms and crowns

a God who came down to find you

it’s trueAngels on high

sing through the night allelu

while many voices speak to us about promises, my heart leaps!! because i KNOW his promise(s) are true!! thanks be to god!

ELECTION CELEBRATION!

2008-11-04T11:49:00.003-06:00

well... we like food! what can we say.. yeahoo!
i found this recipe after i bought the lucini plum tomatoes last week.. yummmmy! looking forward to this tonight along with the cornbread.. ;-)

our 2 older kiddos are presenting their president projects tonight! for the family, including pop and gan! woohoo! they each chose a president (from the 43 past presidents), that they thought would make a great president for this election, for this time in history, for our nation, under GOD...
more to come on this, i hope!!

Domenica's Savory Turkey Chili

2 tablespoons Lucini Italia Organics™ extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 to 3 teaspoons red chili flakes
3 tablespoons fresh garlic, chopped
1 lb. ground turkey breast
1 tablespoon organic soy sauce1 jar Lucini Italia Organics™ plum tomatoes (whole or diced)
2 15 oz. cans organic black beans
2 15 oz. cans of organic kidney beans
1/4 to 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth
Optional: Jack or cheddar cheese, chopped fresh onion or sour cream for topping

In a heavy-bottomed pot, sauté onion, cumin, and pepper over medium heat with extra virgin olive oil. Do not let onions brown. As onions become soft, about five minutes, add garlic and cook about two minutes. Add ground turkey. Stir and smash up turkey. Add soy sauce. Add tomatoes (if using whole rough chop into quarters). Add beans and water or broth. Bring to a boil, turn down to medium heat and cook for 10 minutes. Serve with grated sharp cheddar or Jack cheese, chopped fresh onion and sour cream

Best Cornbread Recipe

1 cup pastry flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 egg
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup milk
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mix the flour, cornmeal and baking powder together in a medium sized bowl until the mixture has a yellowish tint to it.
2. In a seperate bowl of the same size, stir the egg, oil, honey, and milk until fluffy. Scoop the flour out of the first bowl into the bowl with the liquids.
3. Mix the flour in thoroughly until no flour chunks are visible and the mixture is light and fluffy. Oil a cake or brownie pan and pour the mixture in. Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. When the cornbread is done it should be golden brown and when you peirce it in the middle with a fork if the fork comes clean then it’s done. If the fork comes out with dough on it, then it still needs to cook longer.

taken from on-line:
http://www.lucini.com/seasonalrecipe.php?sec=recipes&rcat=17&recipe=70 (chili)
http://www.easybakingtips.com/index.htm (cornbread)

thankful

2008-11-02T21:12:00.008-06:00

november is really my favorite fall month! love the changes, and the beauty that our creator chose for this glorious season.

thankful for this time, i thought about what was spoken this morning in worship, about what malachi, a prophet, spoke to the people back in about 430 b.c. long time ago! whew! ;-) but still relevant today...
he was the last of the old testament prophets.

the first line in the book.. "i have loved you deeply," says the lord. (malachi 1:1)

i am pretty sure this gave those people at that time, a message of hope; and for all people in every year after, and through every season they go through.

this is such a 'short-read' for an OT book! but wowza! what meat it truly brings to the table!

as i listened to the teaching, i was reminded of ALL that god has done for us all. he did and still does everything WELL. he gives his BEST. do i? this can be: challenging? convicting? redeeming? loving? oh yeah! and soo much more, i believe.

towards the end of this book, the lord says in ch. 4, v. 2.. "but for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. and you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. " that picture is amazing to me!! :-)

as i read the notes in my life application study bible.. they apply to this 4th chapter..

'these last verses of the OT are filled with hope. regardless of how life looks now. god controls the future, and everything will be made right. we who have loved and served god look forward to a joyful celebration. this hope for the future becomes ours when we trust god with our lives.'

as god helps me evaluate and look closely to my committment to him, to the body of christ, his body.. and in my sincerity and heart of my worship, and then.. the direction or purpose of my life, i pray and ask him to heal and continue restoring my spirit and my relationship with him and others on a consistent basis.. and like malachi shared with those people, god is still using that 'voice' then, to speak into our hearts and minds today.

i am thankful for god's LOVE and Forgiveness.. thanks be to HIM!! forever and ever!!!

i have this song on my playlist. thought it was cool for this entry..

bless you!! god is SO fond of you!!!

"Thankful"

Somedays we forget

To look around us

Somedays we can't see

The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves

We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be.

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see.

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves

There's so much sorrow

It's way too late to say

I'll cry tomorrow

Each of us must find our truth

It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And every day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences

There is a place we're all connected

Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for

(here's the connection for some info/teaching on malachi/that i heard today: http://www.theoaksonline.org/members--attenders/red-oak-fellowship/)

Pumpkin goodies!!

2008-10-31T13:03:00.024-05:00

i love making these yummy cookies! the kids enjoy helping...
(licking bowls, spoons!!haha!) we usually make these for our christmas cookies/goodies gifts for neighbors and friends, but! since they are pumpkin.. here we go!!! my friend, sally, specifically requested.. hehehe (hi sally!) i'm putting together pumpkin party packages to deliver to friends i want to thank.. just 'cause!!
i hope to get those done before sunday!! woohoo!! i like to take the small cute pumpkins and write a little message on them... my kids like to name their little friend! bob was last year's orange friend, this year it's fred!! but he bit the dust too soon.. alas! bud decided to 'play' with fred and dress him up, then fred did the humpty dumpty! ;-( and all the cole peoples could NOT put fred together again~ the saga continues next october!

pumpkin white chocolate drops

2 cups butter softened
2 cups sugar
1 can (16 ounces) solid pack pumpkin
2 eggs
4 cups flour
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 bag (12 ounces) vanilla baking chips
at least 18 ounces of cream cheese frosting
1/4 and about 2 Tbsp. cup brown sugar
preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
grease cookie sheets
beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.
add pumpkin and eggs.
beat until smooth

add flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and baking soda.

beat just until well blended.

stir in chips

drop dough by tsp. about 2 in. apart onto cookie sheets.

bake about 16 minutes or until set and bottoms are brown

cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.

remove from cookie sheets to wire rack to cool.

combine frosting and brown sugar in bowl.

spread on warm cookies!

makes about 6 dozen cookies!! woohoo!! really amazing when they are nice and toasty warm! oh yeah! make some hot cocoa and 'chill'!! ;-)

(taken from best-loved cookies)

cream cheese frosting
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy.
Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar.
taken from an on-line recipe

PUMPKIN PARTY!!

2008-10-30T13:01:00.008-05:00

WOOHOO!! it's that time of year.. oh yeah!!
i have a few friends that i want to thank... they bless me and chris and have been dear and cool amigos* for years! (*friends in espanol!)
so.. i told them to get ready for a pumpkin party!! actually... just for me to deliver the 'party' to them!! :-)

here's the bread recipe and a few pics i took.. btw! the kitchen smells really pumpkiny! :-)
taken from taste of home magazine, dec./jan./1998 (i've been baking this one every year since this issue was delivered to our home on williams street... good memories!)

delicious pumpkin bread

5 eggs
1-1/4 vegetable oil (i like canola oil)
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 packages (3 ounces each of cook-n-serve vanilla pudding mix) i like to use Dr. Oetker Organic Vanilla Pudding... yum!
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (i use less sea salt; it 'rocks'!! heheehee)

beat the eggs in a mixing bowl.
add oil and pumplkin
beat until smooth...

combine remaining ingredients
gradually beat into pumpkin mixture
pour batter into greased loaf pans (5 small, or 3 big... or, i like to do 4 small/not so full, and 1 big loaf, the 8inx4inx2in)
bake at 325 degrees, for 50 -55 minutes or until a toothpick/sharp knife inserted near the center comes out clean
cool

it is sooooo yummy! i know that lots of pumpkin dishes aren't very popular perhaps with kids... ? but this one is a real winner! Yea!

happy pumpkin day!!!

more HOPE givers!

2008-10-29T13:39:00.006-05:00

i just 'met' this gal, pati, from phoenix, arizona recently. not face to face, but blog to blog!! hehehehe

she is an amazing photographer! i am really glad that she is pursuing all that god has for her and her beautiful family. she has 3 gorgeous children, and a handsome husband! she adds to the beauty!! and she inspires, and gives many HOPE! from the true HOPE source..

i think of her and how her family is facing cancer. this is not a journey i have personally experienced, but i believe that we all have 'cancer's' that come into our lives.. i have made choices that have brought that malignancy, into my life/and others. i have repented and i have made better decisions, but in the end.. there are scars.. i call them 'good scars'. the ones that keep me humble, alert, prepared for battle, free, aware of the love that saved me, and... since those cancer's in our lives may not be permanent, they can be washed in the divine healing waters, cleansed in the pure sacrificial blood of our saving god! thanks be to god!!!!

i'm blessed to know this woman, and many others that have brought HOPE and have been vulnerable enough to share their story(ies)..

and through our pain or our past situations.. we can now choose to be the wounded healers, like christ.. the ones that use those tender moments/memories with the father of life, to be producers of HOPE and be perhaps the catalysts to 'heal' those same cancers in others; whether strangers, or close friends, or family.. or us, once more.

i wrote a song over 10 years ago during some of those moments for me, personally~

You Are

jesus, jesus

please hear my cry

a voice you've heard many times

spirit of the risen king

pour yourself on me

chorus

you are my healer

you are my release

savior, you know my needs, you are

you are my comfort

you are my peace

jesus, you meet my needs

you are, you are

jesus, jesus

please use this cry

to heal a soul like mine

spirit of the living king

pour yourself on me

chorus

jesus, you are

pati's website and blog.. you will be blessed!! with HOPE and more~

http://www.patipakulis.com/

http://www.patipakulis.blogspot.com/

producers of HOPE

2008-10-27T13:59:00.016-05:00

i was thinking a lot about hope this weekend. i looked up the defintion just now..

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life.
Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
To hope is to wish for something with the expectation of the wish being fulfilled, a key condition in unrequited love.
Hopefulness is somewhat different from optimism in that hope is an emotional state, whereas optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern that leads to a positive attitude.
When used in a religious context, hope carries a connotation of being aware of spiritual truth.

so... i'd like to share 3 people (i don't know them, but they are known by many people in the world) that have blessed me with HOPE. producers of hope, if you will~ first, a man who is inspired by his faith in god to write beautiful pieces of truth for us; second, a woman i just met, whose life has already given me more HOPE , and third, a musician/singer, songwriter, that always blesses my life with truth and HOPE.
there are many many others. friends, family that pour out so much of the father's hope to me. i may share more this week, as my heart reflects on divine HOPE.

GOD is my one true HOPE!

i just read a sermon outloud with chris on the way home from the train
depot saturday; 'a room called remember' by frederick buechner. his writings, teachings.. man.. i can't get enough of the insight and truth that is so eloquent, so god-led and driven; it shakes my brain up! ha! no, really.. my heart is more full of papagod each time.. grateful.
chris loves his works, and what god does to our hearts to challenge us with his real truth. and that truth often, actually always, penetrates our souls to bring us freedom.. and so so much more!
thanks be to the living god!

anne beiler founder of annie's pretzels, came to speak during a worship service sunday and she shared her heart and soul about her life, her past. what held her, and how her past strangled her freedom.. she was hopeless...

i really appreciated her candidness, but more.. how she chose to keep perservering through her mess, her secrets..

i bought her book, 'twist of faith', after she spoke, and she signed the inside page, "Free Indeed!". her and jonas, her hubby, had a vision years ago to help and encourage many to seek out hope.. the HOPE giver. http://www.gapfamilycenter.org/index.php
oh! btw.. she spoke at the republican convention in september this year.. blessed me! http://www.youtube.com/watchv=wSsWIOH3544

sara groves, a singer/songwriter, wrote this song, "it might be hope".
i instantly thought of friends, family and situations that this song could 'speak' to.

here are the words to the song..
i have in on my playlist here on my blog as the starting tune~

You do your work the best that you can
you put one foot in front of the other
life comes in waves and makes its demands
you hold on as well as you're able
You've been here
for a long long time

(chorus)

but Hope has a way of turning its face to you just when you least expect it
walk in a room you look out a window and something there leaves you breathless
you say to yourself
it's been a while since I felt this
but it feels like it might be hope

It's hard to recall what blew out the flame
it's been dark since you can remember
you talk it all through to find it a name
as days go on by without number
You've been here for a long long time

chorus

here are some parts of that sermon that mr. buechner wrote, that i mentioned earlier..

........'then hope. then at last we see what hope is and where it comes from, hope as the driving power and outermost edge of faith. hope stands up to its knees in the past and keeps its eyes on the future. there has never been a time past when god wasn't with us as the strength beyond our strength, the wisdom beyond our wisdom, as whatever it is in our hearts-whether we believe in god or not-that keeps us human enough at least to get by despite everything in our lives that tends to wither the heart and make us less than human. to remember the past is to see that we are here today by grace, that we have survived as a gift.'

......'remember those moments in our lives when christ came to us in countless disguises through people who one way or another strengthened us, comforted us, healed us, judged us, by the power of christ alive within them. all that is the past. all that is what there is to remember. and because that is the past, because we remember, we have this high and holy hope: that what he has done, he will continue to do, that what he has begun in us and our world, he will in unimaginable ways bring to fullness and fruition.'

(taken from: 'a room called remember', uncollected pieces)

info on these authors/writers, and scriptures:

john 8:31, 32 (nlt)
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

hebrews 4:12 (nlt)
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

http://www.annbeiler.com/
http://www.frederickbuechner.com/ (coming soon!)
http://www.buechnerinstitute.org/
http://www.saragroves.com/

thomas train time!

2008-10-26T15:41:00.006-05:00

A DAY OUT WITH THOMAS!!!!! woooooowoooooo!!!! chooo choooooooo.. ALL ABOARD!!
my 2 sons LOVE LOVE LOVE the train world! especially thomas the tank engine! :-)
so, we took off saturday to the texas state railroad in rusk, texas; about 120 miles from home. DAY OUT WITH THOMAS. jax loved the train ride and enjoyed playing outside with his big bro and sis!
we had a nice afternoon.. really was special to see kids enjoying time with family/friends, and the noise of laughter and music, and the smell of funnel cakes and the taste of freshly squeezed lemonade... i love this memory, and am very grateful we came on this adventure~

DADA AND SONS
CHRISTOPHER THE ENGINEER!!

SIS AND JAXY!

SIR TOPHAM HATT!!

SIPPY TIME.. MMM....

BUD AND THE TRAIN CONDUCTOR

I LOVE THIS TRAIN GUY!!! ;-)

if you like trains, too, you can check out if thomas is choochooing over to your part of the country!! :-) http://www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/parents/dowt.html

and at christmas time.. we've enjoyed the polar express train ride.. really fun and very special~

http://www.polarexpressride.com/schedules.html

so glad you were born!

2008-10-24T13:35:00.027-05:00

GABRIELA RAE GAMA

today, october 24th is a day to celebrate gabriela's 4th, and sofia's 5th year to be alive!
i love their smiles, and i celebrate today with them, even though me and my family can't be with these precious girls. we love them!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :-) blow out your candles and smile! your future is in god's hands! te queremos mucho!! besitos...

SOFIA ISABEL SANFORD

well.... on this day, another beauty was born, 220 years ago!! woohoo!
another gal that added a page to history with god's touch for us to remember and be blessed with today! ;-) thanks be to HIM!!

Sarah Beull unrolled her brother's gift to her. Horatio had given her a homemade diploma. "Mistress of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, Horatio Gates Beull College," it read.

Probably Sarah laughed. All through Horatio's years at Dartmouth College, he had brought home his Latin, Mathematics and philosophy books and shared everything he learned with Sarah, who was doing all she could to gain an education, despite the restrictions that kept her from attending college. She was such a devoted scholar that Horatio felt she, too, should be honored.

Born on this day, October 24, 1788, in Newport, New Hampshire, Sarah overcame the disadvantage of discrimination against women to become an internationally respected author, editor and promoter of good causes. She married.

Almost every American child is familiar with one bit of Sarah's work. She wrote the kindergarten song, "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Sarah was just thirty-five when her lawyer husband, David Hale, died of pneumonia. She had four children under seven years of age and a fifth on the way. How was she to support herself? David's colleagues equipped her with what she needed to engage in a sewing business. They also paid for the publication of a book of her poems. The poems sold well enough that Sarah was able to leave off her sewing long enough to write a novel.

Northwood dealt with the issue of slavery and was set against a backdrop of the increasing tension between the northern and southern states. It sold well and established Sarah's name. Her book is considered the first important American novel by a woman. No doubt it helped blaze the trail for Harriet Beecher Stowe's even more famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Sarah was offered an editor's job in Boston. It meant she had to leave her children with other family members, but she accepted the offer. To the end of her life, she would edit women's magazines, including Godey's Lady's Book. She broke new ground by featuring the work of American authors, especially women, rather than European authors. In her magazines, Sarah argued strongly that a woman's proper sphere was in the home; however, she championed women's colleges and urged that women be given the chance to teach in them. She supported Elizabeth Blackwell's determination to become a physician and argued that single women should be allowed to become missionaries. Sarah did her part for missions, too, serving as an officer in the Women's Union Missionary Society and the Ladies' Medical Missionary Society of Philadelphia.

But Sarah's greatest achievement was to make Thanksgiving a holiday in the United States. She used her popular magazines as a forum to advocate this national day of gratitude to God. Sarah worked tirelessly towards this goal for over fifteen years before Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation in August, 1863. Not a bad track record for a girl educated at home, largely by her own efforts.

She retired when she was ninety, writing "I must bid farewell to my countrywomen, with the hope that this work of half a century may be blessed to the furtherance of their happiness and usefulness in their Divinely-appointed sphere."

(info on sarah, copied from: http://chi.gospelcom.net/)

WOMEN OF BEAUTY

2008-10-23T13:37:00.008-05:00

in new york city, 25,000-33,000 women marched on fifth avenue to advocate their right to vote. it was a pre-election parade for women suffrage in NYC. wow! i love this... back on october 23, 1915, women were trying to 'convince' the government, an assembly of men, that they were equal and should be able to have a 'voice' too. to vote!

woohoo!!!!! you did it gals!!! :-)
Finally, the long battle for the vote for women was won on august 26, 1920, when a young legislator voted as his mother urged him to vote.

Charlotte Woodward was the only participant in the 1848 Convention who was still alive to cast her vote. Eighty-one years old, she cast her vote proudly. Finally, the long battle for the vote for women was won when a young legislator voted as his mother urged him to vote.

Women in ancient Israel:
Women's status and freedoms were severely limited, by Jewish law and custom in ancient Israel. Generally speaking:

they were restricted to roles of little or no authority,

they were largely confined to their father's or husband's home,

they were considered to be inferior to men, and under the authority of men -- either their father before marriage, or their husband afterwards.

From the Second Temple period, women were not allowed to testify in court trials. They could not go out in public, or talk to strangers. When outside of their homes, they were to be doubly veiled. "They had become second-class Jews, excluded from the worship and teaching of God, with status scarcely above that of slaves." Their position in society was defined in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the interpretation of those scriptures. Their status was not unlike that of women in Afghanistan during the recent Taliban dictatorship.

very humbling....

what triggered this blog about women, ironically, as today was a day that had this event, was an article, 4 Women Astronauts Talk About Space Exploration, in reader's digest that i read to my daughter just last night! (november 2008 issue)
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/4-women-astronauts-talk-about-space-exploration/article102220.html

and of course... today.. we have Mrs. Sarah Palin running for vp! yeah!!

WE HAVE COME A LOOOONG WAY BABY!! blessings come from the father in heaven, who made us women in HIS image! thanks be to GOD!

i looked up some passages in the bible to read what He shared...

genesis 1:26, 27

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

galatians 3:28

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

i wrote a song 10 years ago, "we are", that makes me think of what heaven, the trinity, longs for in the body.. HIS bride~

"we are"

we are building a place
where we can stand
in spirit and truth
relying on god's hand

unite us, lord
in one accord!

(chorus)
we are, coming together
we are reaching in
we are, called to his purpose
to love as a friend
we are joined to him
we belong to him
we are, we are

we are searching for those
who have no home
the wayward soul,
for those who cry alone

unite us, lord
in one accord!

(chorus)

we will seek GOD'S FACE
and love with his grace

(chorus)
we are, we are

UNITY

2008-10-21T15:51:00.007-05:00

unity is really quite a chore, huh?!! :-)

i wondered about that today.. 458 years ago, mr. bucer tried to submit to the king, the 'authority' of the land, what was on his mind, his heart. i like this guy! gutsy.. and someone that we can remember and be grateful for. maybe, just maybe, he helped others understand, and perhaps the 'seed' of god's truth, was planted then, and continues to grow and bless us today. thank you martin!!

oh! btw.. he wasn't perfect.. hehehehe... no-one is~

he was soooo zealous, but in his weakness to 'see truth' he compromised at times. a lesson for us today. truth stands on it's own. with or without our 'help'. our passion should never lead us to compromise or to gain what we want or what we think we need or want. our lives need to demonstrate god's love as best as we can, as HE fills our souls, daily..

the trinity is our model of true unity. i'm trying to understand this, and hold it inside my heart and learn what i can to love; even when there are disagreements and difficult times.

here's a scripture from matthew that makes me think... forgive us, lord, for sometimes, we truly don't know what we're doing.. but with your mercy, grace, perfect love.. you bring us through! i can be at peace with you and others~

matthew 24

4...Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you,

5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.

8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.

11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

Unity of the church is an eminently desirable thing. To compromise for the sake of unity leads not to unity, but to further trouble. Bucer made important contributions to the Reformation; but his zeal for unity remains an abiding warning against compromise of the truth of the gospel for purposes of attaining mere outward unity.

When Reformer Martin Bucer handed his book, The Kingdom of Christ, to John Cheke on this day, October 21, 1550, he was sure that England's King Edward VI would see it. The boy-king was under the supervision of men who were in sympathy with the Reformation. One of them was the royal tutor, John Cheke.

Luther, Calvin, Melanchthon, and Zwingli are names from the Reformation that almost everyone recognizes. Martin Bucer's name is not. And yet he was among the five or six most prominent reformers, and was the author of many scriptural commentaries. John Calvin was deeply influenced by his thought.

Martin Bucer began his religious career as a Dominican, but converted to Protestant views in 1521 after reading works of Luther and Erasmus. Excommunicated by the Roman Catholic church in 1522, he moved to Strasbourg where he became a Protestant leader.

With the success of Protestantism, a new problem arose: Whose Protestantism? Each leader interpreted the Bible differently. For example, Lutherans and Zwinglians could not agree on the exact nature of the Eucharist (Lord's Supper). Bucer labored to bring the two sides together, proposing formulas that he thought might be acceptable to everyone. His attempts met with distrust on every side. Luther scornfully said to him, "It is better for you to have your enemies than to set up a fictitious fellowship."

Bucer himself thought that "Those who do not make a whole-hearted effort to do the things that are pleasing to the Heavenly Father" should not "declare themselves citizens and members of the kingdom of Christ." In 1548 he refused to sign a faulty peace agreement and had to leave Strasbourg. Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, invited him to England and made him a professor at Cambridge University.

Bucer's sharp eye quickly saw the needs of his adopted country. Friends urged him to write a practical proposal for reform. He called it De regno Christi (The Kingdom of Christ). "It would seem fitting to write for Your Majesty a little about the fuller acceptance and reestablishment of the Kingdom of Christ in your realm," Bucer said in the preface. He defined the kingdom of Christ as God's total administration by which saints are saved and preserved.

Did the book make any difference? Edward died young and had little influence on England's future. However, when the young king wrote an essay on reforms, it echoed Bucer's ideas, listing the same abuses Bucer had named (including wastefulness, and official corruption); and suggested remedies that could have come straight out of Bucer's work. The Kingdom of Christ championed education and other topics. Edward also became a champion of schools.

Bucer died in 1551; but his story didn't end there. After Edward's death, the Catholic queen, Mary Tudor, considered even the memory of Bucer so dangerous that she had his bones dug up and burned. His tomb was destroyed. When Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, she promptly reversed Mary and had Cambridge restore Bucer's honors.

(copied from: http://chi.gospelcom.net/)

LAUGHTER

2008-10-19T23:18:00.009-05:00

"THE MOST WASTED OF ALL DAYS IS THAT DURING WHICH ONE HAS NOT LAUGHED."

-NICOLAS DE CHAMFORT

a good friend recently gave me a beautiful birthday gift... precious charm and necklace from james avery. she started off by sharing how she was inspired to have a theme for the presents: laughter! i was really tickled.. hehehehehhehehe ;-)

but really.. the gifts were so special. each was about laughter. such a gift, within this 'gift'.

here is a fun quote from the book she gave, 'laugh yourself healthy'.

-the older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have become good friends.

;-)

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

proverbs 17:22

HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION

2008-10-17T14:04:00.012-05:00

October 17, 538 B.C.:
King Cyrus of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost 70 years of exile and making the first Human Rights Declaration.

over 2500 years ago~

WOWZA!!! when i read that, i kept looking up information of that day. it gives me so much hope today, that this nation can too be saved..... God is for us!

here ya go... :-)

starting with the king, himself... CYRUS of Persia

i found this in the scriptures. this part of the bible is probably one of the coolest beginnings where God is offering SALVATION!! i love this... ;-)

this is the only place in the bible where a gentile ruler is said to be "anointed." cyrus would allow god's city, jerusalem, to be rebuilt, and he would set the exiles free without expecting anything in return. few kings of israel or judah had done as much for god's people as cyrus would.. woohoo!! (taken from life application study bible)

Isaiah 45
Cyrus, the Lord’s Chosen One

1 This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never to shut again.

2 This is what the Lord says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
4 “And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.

5 I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me,

6 so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.
8 “Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them.
9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, How clumsy can you be?’

10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?’ or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’”
11 This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

12 I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.

13 I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions. He will restore my city and free my captive people—without seeking a reward! I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Chronicles 22-23

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return

22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:
23 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are the Lord’s people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ezra 1
Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return

1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:
2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!

4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”
5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.

6 And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.
7 King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods.

8 Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.

9 This is a list of the items that were returned:
gold basins — 30

silver basins — 1,000

silver incense burners — 29

10. gold bowls — 30

silver bowls — 410

other items — 1,000
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of these along when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.

NOAH WEBSTER

2008-10-16T14:36:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday, Noah Webster!

If only this man were still around.. it's very humbling to read about people like mr. webster from long ago. He believed in his convictions and applied God's truth in everything, even government. wow! so different compared to some 'leader's' belief's in this day and age~

Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758, in the West Division of Hartford (Connecticut). Noah's was an average colonial family. His father farmed and worked as a weaver. His mother worked at home. Noah and his two brothers, Charles and Abraham, helped their father with the farm work. Noah's sisters, Mercy and Jerusha, worked with their mother to keep house and to make food and clothing for the family.
So began the life of Noah Webster, the man often called "the father of the American dictionary."
Webster began writing his dictionary at the age of 43.

It took him more than 27 years to write it.

In this first "American" dictionary, Webster introduced distinctively American words such as "skunk" and "hickory" and "chowder." In addition, he introduced American spellings such as "color" and "music," derivations of the English spellings "colour" and "musick."

But not all Webster spellings from that first dictionary stuck! For example, "tung" (tongue) and "wimmen" (women) aren't used today -- even if they are more true to their pronunciation.

Webster married Rebecca Greenleaf (1766-1847) on October 26, 1789, in New Haven, Connecticut. They had eight children: Emily Schotten (1790-1861), who married William W. Ellsworth, named by Webster as an executor of his will[1][2]; Frances Julianna (1793-1869); Harriet (1797-1844); Mary (1799-1819); William Greenleaf (1801-1869); Eliza (1803-1888); Henry (1806-1807); and Louisa (b. 1808).

Webster liked to carry raisins and candies in his pocket for his children to enjoy!

Webster was a devout Christian. His speller was very moralistic, and his first lesson began "Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor for your body, what ye shall put on ; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things."

His 1828 American Dictionary contained the greatest number of Biblical definitions given in any reference volume. Webster considered education "useless without the Bible". Webster learned 20 different languages in finding definitions for which a particular word is used.

[Preface to the 1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language]

'In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.'

Webster released his own edition of the Bible in 1833, called the Common Version. He used the King James Version as a base, and consulted the Hebrew and Greek along with various other versions and commentaries. Webster molded the KJV to correct grammar, replaced words that were no longer used, and did away with words and phrases that could be seen as offensive.
All editions of Webster's Dictionary published in 1913 and earlier, along with the Webster Bible, and Dissertation on the English Language are available in the public domain.

The facts above are available in brief bios of Noah Webster that you can explore online on your own. Check out A Short Summary of Noah Webster's Life on the site connected to the Noah Webster House Museum in West Hartford, Connecticut, and Noah Webster and America's First Dictionary on the Merriam-Webster Online site. You'll find some historical information about Noah Webster's "Blue-Backed" Speller, the best-seller he wrote before his dictionary, on the Blackwell History of Education Research Museum site.

rotisserie chicken

2008-10-11T12:39:00.004-05:00

lovers of luscious leftover are going to be in for a yummy treat! :-)
found this in the same magazine as the ground turkey recipes.
(better nutrition, sept. 2008, pg. 44)
enjoy.. i know i will soon!!

MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP

place 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken plus 1 breast or leg bone in saucepan with 1/2 cup frozen corn, 3 Tbs. white rice, and 1 tsp. minced garlic.

cover with 3 cups fat-free chicken broth and 2 cups water, and bring to a boil.

reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes, or until rice is very soft.
remove bone, and ladle soup into bowls.
top each serving with chopped tomatoes, diced avocado, and chopped cilantro.

CHICKEN GYRO

combine 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt with 1/4 cup green onions, 2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, and 1 tsp. minced garlic.
season with salt and pepper.
spread generously on insides of 2 warmed whole-wheat pitas.
fill each pita with 1/4 cup warmed shredded rotisserie chicken, and sprinkle with pinch dried oregano.
top with shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes.

CHICKEN AND PESTO FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

toss 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken with 1/4 cup prepared pesto.
spread 1/2 baguette halved lengthwise with marinara sauce, and top with chicken.
sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese, and broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.

tex-mex salmon fillets

2008-10-10T20:42:00.005-05:00

tex-mex salmon fillets
serves 4
(better nutrition, sept. 2008, pg. 45)

3 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
4 boneless, skinless salmon fillets (5 to 6 oz.)
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
8 green onions, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 lime, thinly sliced, for garnish.. ;-)

preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
combine lime juice, olive oil, and garlic in small bowl.
set aside.
place 4 foil squares on work surface.
set salmon fillets in centers of foil squares, and brush with lime juice mixture, making sure each fillet is coated with garlic and all the mixture is used.
sprinkle fillets with cumin and chili powder, and season with salt and pepper.
sprinkle with green onions, and lay lime slices on top.
fold foil into an airtight packet, and bake 15 minutes.
carefully open packets and serve.

PER SERVING: 310 CAL; 34 G PROT; 18 G TOTAL FAT (3 G SAT FAT); 2 G CARB; 94 MG CHOL; 225 MG SOD; 0 G FIBER; 1 G SUGARS

FOR SALMON PATTIES (SERVES 2):

flake 1 tex-mex salmon fillet into bowl.
add any juice and green onions from packet, and stir in 3 Tbs. reduced-fat mayonnaise, 2 Tbs. lemon or lime juice, and 2 Tbs. breadcrumbs.
season with salt and pepper, and shape into 4 patties.
coat skillet with cooking spray, and heat over low heat.
cook patties 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
serve with prepared salsa.

FOR SALMON SALAD (SERVES 2)

toss 4 cups arugula (or spring greens), 1 cup quartered tomatoes/or just slice them!, and 1 cup sliced cucumber with 3 Tbs. lime vinaigrette (try: newman's own lighten up light lime vinaigrette).
divide between 2 serving plates, and flake salmon into large chunks over top.
drizzle each serving with 1 tsp. vinaigrette, if you wanna.. ;-)

YUM!!!!!!!!

life's little instructions

2008-10-08T19:49:00.009-05:00

my good friend's momma gave me 'the complete life's little instruction book' last christmas. i was drinking some celestial seasonings tea last night and noticed on the side of the small box was 'the wisdom of daily life', with 8 different instructions from the same author of my little book...
i smiled thinking of each one as i sipped the hot wellness tea. thought i'd share a few that i read from the book she gave me.. thanks h.j.b. jr. for your insight~ (more to come later....) :-)

be the first to say, "hello."

learn three clean jokes.

make new friends but cherish the old ones.

make the best of bad situations.

always accept an outstretched hand.

hug children after you discipline them.

slow dance.

never give up on what you really want to do. the person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.

don't major in minor things.

never go grocery shopping when you're hungry. you'll buy too much. (soooooo true!! hehe)

when someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.

don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. it's there for your convenience, not the caller's.

seek out the good in people.

lie on your back and look at the stars.

live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.

compliment even small improvements.

read to your children.

sing to your children.

listen to your children.

use a favorite picture of a loved one as a bookmark.

remember that the more you know, the less you fear.

be happy with what you have while working for what you want.

she's a butterfly

2008-10-07T20:38:00.002-05:00

i love this song.. a few years ago driving down a texas highway, i saw a huge beautiful american flag high up on a flag pole... the wind was strong that afternoon, and i had martina's song playing in the background.. my mind began racing, and i saw this picture of that amazing flag, and put the 2 together/the song meant, to me, that 'she', AMERICA, was the butterfly and she was blessed! i loved that.. now everytime i hear, or play that tune, i pray and think of this amazing country and thank god, really... for her~ god bless the butterfly, give her the strength to fly, never let her wings touch the ground~
----------------------------------------
she's a butterfly (written by kenny big and john rich)

She remembers when she first got her wings
And how she opened up that day she learned to sing
Then the colors came, erased the black and white
And her whole world changed when she realized

[Chorus:]She's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down
And everywhere she goes
Everybody knows she's so glad to be alive
She's a butterfly

Like the purest light in a darkened world
So much hope inside such a lovely girl
You should see her fly, it's almost magical
It makes you wanna cry, she's so beautiful

[Chorus]

God bless the butterfly,give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
God bless the butterfly,give her strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground

[Chorus]

God bless the butterfly,give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
God bless the butterfly,give her the strenght to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground

daring to change

2008-10-07T14:53:00.004-05:00

"the teenager stares down at her ratty bell-bottoms as she describes being raped by a group of boys. dr. randy christensen listens attentively and hands her a kleenex to wipe away her tears. then, as he glances down at her medical file, he exclaims, "hey, today's your birthday, isn't it?" she is slightly startled. "yeah," she stammers. "i'm 18 today." two minutes later, christensen two nurses and another pediatrician hug the teen and serenade her with "happy birthday" as her face breaks into a smile. "you've made my day," she says. "you're the only one who knows."
(taken from people magazine, october 13, 2008, by johnny dodd)
-------------
i was reading this on pg. 81 in people magazine this week. i put my hand on the picture of the smiling doctor and just stood there... taking just a few moments to reflect and picture what these physicians/team are doing there. i like to read about people/heroes among us.. these articles are the reason i buy it occasionally, and usually they are the best 'people' in the mag! ;-)
i'm inspired each time. this week is about dr. randy christensen in phoenix. i am blessed to have read this. bless dr. randy, lord and this team! woohoo!!
(i got this article, crews'n healthmobile after i googled him/here's the link: http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/ways-of-giving/dr-randy-christensen-named.html) man! i love that name for this mobile health clinic! :-)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crews'n Healthmobile

Thousands of youth live on the streets of Phoenix, many in desperate need of medical treatment. They are at an increased risk of illness, injury, and depression due to the hardships they face. Most lack health insurance and don't have access to appropriate health care.

In the fall of 2000 an innovative partnership was formed between Phoenix Children's, Children's Health Fund and HomeBase Youth Services. The result was the birth of the Crews'n Healthmobile, a 35-foot Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) that brings comprehensive medical help directly to this special population. And in October 2007, the Crews'n Healthmobile II hit the streets, outfitted with the latest technology.

Led by Randy Christensen, MD, The mobile unit is staffed with medical practitioners from Phoenix Children's and case managers from HomeBase. Services include the full spectrum of a "medical home," such as:
full examinations and well child care
immunizations
dispensing of medications
treatment for sexually transmitted illnesses
minor surgical procedures
health education
referrals to sub-specialists if needed

The staff also educates and counsels youth on:
sexually transmitted infections
abstinence
HIV
Hepatitis
depression, anxiety, and mood disorders
suicide risk
substance abuse
pregnancy
smoking cessation
nutrition
relationships
safety issues
self care

The unit operates Monday through Thursday at numerous sites in the Valley. The Crews'n Healthmobile parks at HomeBase Youth Services Outreach Center several days a week. The rest of the time the MMU is making its way around the Valley where homeless and at-risk children, adolescents, and young adults are known to gather.

Crews'n Healthmobile in the news
The new Crews'n Healthmobile II - Download the press release - or - watch the news segment from Fox 10 News from October 2007.
Watch the Premier Cares Award feature.
Watch Dr. Christensen in action, in a segment aired on Fox 10 News in December 2007.

Contact:
602-651-1840

Support the Crews'n Healthmobile:

change

2008-10-05T22:16:00.004-05:00

a lot of people like the fall. i do too.. but, i thought about it a bit today.
change. lots and lots of it. leaves, weather, elected officials, food, smells, flowers, style/clothes, my children (growing).. just to name a few...
change is a noun but it's also a verb.
this season is about change for me, spiritually... day by day in this fall time, i'm reminded of this simple word. change. it's inevitable and it can be mysteriously altering, inspiring, and moving.
i read numbers 10 and 11 in the bible.. i long to be uprooted of any 'wilderness complaining ways' as my hungry, changing heart asks, seeks and knocks at His door daily.. stability does not mean lack of change, but moving with God in every circumstance. (life application study bible)
God's presence helps me handle change, and it's comforting to know that HE never changes. yea!!