Did you see?

I'm a semi-closeted Grey's fan. And thanks to the wonders of DVR, I was able to watch the two-hour season opener yesterday afternoon. Did you all see the first few minutes? I won't be a spoiler, but can I just say my heart almost stopped! Outrage, sadness....real tears (granted I was going on maybe 3 hours of sleep). I think I cry during every single episode.

In Weakness

I got to thinking about friendship this evening. One of my dearest friends and I had a great evening together catching up on all the stuff that you can't really discuss in a larger group setting. As we were talking I realized that I don't count her as a dear friend because she is shiny happy or because she's got it together, but rather because she doesn't.

In fact the friends who are truest, most trustworthy, my real go-to friends, are the ones who aren't afraid to let it all hang out. Maybe I am intimidated by those who've got their stuff together. Maybe I don't believe it is possible and my fake-o-meter starts spinning round.

I met my best friend in high school only because of her dorky vulnerability. She was walking around asking everyone to "be my friend." How can you say no to that?

It is much the same with Christ. In our weakness, he is strong. Isn't that wonderful! I certainly have plenty of weakness. I believe though, we must show some of that same vulnerability. Jesus save me. Be my friend. I need YOU.

Baby Reece

Please note the new link on my blog list. This is an amazing family I have come to be acquainted with through my friend Stacie. I won't try to explain their story, but please check out their blog and send your prayers as they face daily challenges most of us can't even imagine.

What does it mean?

How do you know the difference between a trial and a call to quit. In recent years I've been more willing to face trials because I have seen first hand how they help develop perseverance in my life. But this time things are harder, much harder.

Is God telling me to give up? I mean, He's the one who put me here in the first place. Did He intend it only for a season? God has still been faithful to meet the most critical of needs as they arise, but the big picture is looking more and more bleak. Maybe this the "big one." You know, that once in a lifetime trial that results in a passion for Christ beyond your wildest imagination.

I can't believe anymore that things just happen. God is the master orchestrator of life. He knew at the creation of the universe that today, September 22 at 11:36 am I would be wrestling with this AND he knew I would be chewing wintermint gum. HE KNOWS. He knows I am struggling with this. He knows I want answers. I know I'll get them...I just don't know when!

Found Her

Day 3 of 5...I'm on track so far! This, by the way, was my inspiration for catching up. I found Susan. In all honesty, she found me. For all the cyber-bullying, child-stalking and pornographic nonsence that is perpetuated on Facebook and MySpace, I will tell you this: These sites have made me a better person. Ok, that was too extreme. They have allowed me to be more like the person I want to be.

I've said it before. I want to be a good friend. I just get really lazy. These sites keep me in contact with my friends through status updates, birthday reminders, and just little notes(comments) here and there about what is going on. Very few people have the time to do 16 phone calls (or even emails) a week to say, "I'm feeling mopey." But through the wonders of social networking I can share that with people I know and they can respond as they are able. No pressure, no guilt.

So, Susan, thanks for adding me as your friend. This is how excited that made me--I've already told everyone I've been in contact with since Wednesday (including my students) how excited I am to know you again. Cheesy? Well, you already knew that about me.

High School Students

I love high school students. I love their energy and enthusiasm. I love the malleability and I enjoy being someone who they can talk to like they should be talking with their parents, but there is no way they will. I am one of the few who came through high school unscathed by the "coming of age" phenomenon. I like being able to proclaim--yes you can get through high school without smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, and all that other crap that is so attractive to that age group.

So when I noticed God guiding and then eventually shoving me towards High School Ministry again, I was happy to respond. Then I was handed the application. I've filled out many a ministry application before. Different from a job application it asks questions like "Briefly describe how you came to know Jesus as you Savior." (Typo was intentional on my part, probably not on the part of whoever created the application). Then there are three and one-half lines on which to write the answer. How do you answer a question like that in 3 lines?

If that wasn't enough it is followed by a checklist of youth-related leadership roles you are supposed to check and explain your involvement in. OK--I've done youth ministry since I was 14 and now I'm a teacher. Hmmm. Let's see if I can fit over half my life onto...wait for it...2 1/2 lines.

Then we get to fun questions. "List any general skills, natural talents, spiritual gifts, or special abilities you possess." ARGHHH "What do you consider your strengths?" "What do you consider your weaknesses?" These I find much easier to answer briefly; I prefer not to answer at all! I find it difficult to naturally answer these questions without sounding cocky or artificially humble.

"Briefly explain why you desire to be a part of the youth staff at TRF." "Explain your preference for the age group you are interested in working with." OK--weeding out crazy people. I get it.

"Briefly summarize how you came to know Jesus Christ as your savior and what your faith means to you." Followed shortly by "How do you maintain a growing relationship with the Lord?" Again 3 lines per question!

One's faith is difficult to summarize. On Tuesday, I watched as the first "tour" of Focus on the Family's "Truth Project" spent over one hour just to say Truth=God. But it truly takes time to explain the why and the how of my faith journey and what that looks like and how that may have changed in the past weeks, months, years... If it is such a struggle for me to briefly answer these fundamental questions about my faith which I have lived by virtually all my life, it is no wonder that people struggle to comprehend and accept the truth after a short conversation on a plane.

Procrastination

Maybe you do this too. Oftentimes, I wake up and get the kids going in time to have some time to myself. I think "Oh, I should write that blog entry I was thinking about yesterday." Inevitably that's when the cereal spills or the crisis call from work happens and of course blogging is WAY down on the priority list, so it gets put off.

That's all well and good, but now that I have some uninterupted computer time I have lots that I want to share. So (because when I get behind in anything the only way I can catch up is if I have a system) I am going to attempt to catch up in chronological order. One entry a day for the next 5 days. I just ask that you limit any judgement if I fail, which I probably will.

First--the chicken recipe.

Our family ate at the Bella a few weeks back and one of the specials was called "Chicken Frescada." (I think). I ordered it and enjoyed it greatly. However my mother's genes reared their head and screamed into my mind "YOU CAN MAKE THIS AT HOME FOR SO MUCH LESS MONEY." We didn't eat out much as kids with the exception of occasional Taco Bell, Chinese Food on billing days and KFC when mom was sick.

So I made it at home. My garden is overflowing with tomatoes and basil, so most everything I am cooking right now has a bit of each. AND in case you haven't heard. Plant your basil and tomatoes right next to eachother. The basil wards off bugs. My tomatoes are completely pest free this year, which is more than I can say for the squash.

Chicken Frescada

Boneless skinless chicken (I like chicken tenders instead of breasts--thinner so quicker to cook)
Flour
Various Italian Seasonings
Olive Oil

Garlic
Diced Tomatoes (canned or peeled and seeded fresh)
Fresh chopped basil
Sliced Olives
Mozzarella
Pasta (For this I like penne)

Heat olive oil in pan over med-high heat. Mix flour and your favorite dried Italian Seasonings (I like 2 parts basil, 1 part marjorim, 1 pt oregano). Coat and shake off chicken and brown in pan. Set aside.

Crush and saute garlic in more olive oil then add tomatoes and basil. (And salt to taste if you use it). Cook just until basil is well wilted. Add olives and heat through.

To serve layer the pasta, chicken and tomato mixture. Top with sliced mozzarella and melt cheese briefly under broiler.

This could just as easily be served without the pasta. Very easy.

Another picture of Madeline!

Chocolate Cake

When I was first starting to blog, I was much more methodical about the process. I would jot down ideas and occasionally even start to develop them. One that didn't quite make the cut was about the Betty Crocker microwavable "warm-delight" cakes. I started it, but it quickly degenerated into women's issues with food (kinda boring) so I'll just summarize my point--Yum.

So today when I got the following email, I was reminded of this entry that never came to fruition and just decided to pass this recipe on in blog format instead of another email forward (not that I have a problem with that).

DANGEROUS CHOCOLATE CAKE-IN-A-MUG

1 coffee mug
4 Tbsp. cake flour (plain, not self-rising)
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil
Small splash of vanilla
3 Tbsp. chocolate chips, optional

Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well with a fork.
Add egg, mix thoroughly.
Pour in milk and oil and vanilla, mix well.
Add chips, if using.
Put mug in microwave, and cook for three minutes on 1000 watts.
Cake will rise over top of mug--do not be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little; tip onto a plate if desired.
Eat!
(This can serve two if you want to feel slightly more virtuous.)
***And WHY is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only five minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!!!***

Haven't actually tried it yet--if any of you get to this before me, let me know.