I'll Have it my Way

At church we are in the midst of a sermon series entitled Behold Your God

In essence, these messages are challenging us and making us realize that

how we view God will affect how we live. 

Are we more prone to think of God's mercy or His judgment?

In the Bible God reveals His mercy through what He says and what He does.

But we also become very aware of character traits that don't seem to justify His gentleness.

The fact remains that in his holiness and perfectness He cannot forever tolerate sin.

Last Sunday's sermon about King Ahab, told of how God allowed the king to believe a lie because of his continued persistence to do his own thing.

Is that fair?

It is a story in 1.Kings 22 that came to have meaning for today in a whole new way,

pointing us to a God who has given us His Word and the freedom to choose.

 

 

I know the Bible says it’s wrong

But it’s an old book, I say

It was written for another time, I’m sure

As things are different today.

I even asked my peers

They’re Christians too, you know

Four hundred friends cannot be wrong

It feels so right, I can’t let go.

I went to church – I don’t know why

My pastor preached on what is truth.

He’s nice - old school for sure –

He talks about a life that’s pure.

Bible words are so confusing

How am I to understand or face -

Treating unholy the blood that sanctifies

Or insulting the spirit of grace?

 

Didn’t I say he never makes me feel good?

I wanted him to say that God is love.

So I asked God to bless my disobedience

He did. And left me alone in the grief thereof.

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” Hebrews 10: 26
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1. John 1:9

 

Caught in a Jam

 

Recently, as I was scrolling through photos, there was one that brought back a very vivid memory, the story of which, goes back five years ago, to a time when I dared not tell it. I looked at it and wondered if, with time gone by, could I tell it now?

 

We were visiting Julene and family in Indonesia in a remote place where Chris was flying a float plane. She had frozen mango from their mango tree and asked if I'd mind cooking some jam with it. It seemed like the big part of the work was done. Since the fruit was peeled and sliced, all I had to do was give it a quick whirl in the blender to cook it. 

 

Suddenly, about half way through, as I'm pouring pureed fruit into a bowl I see something that does not belong. Truth be told, I can't even explain the horror that I felt as I saw a two to three inch reptile-like tail float amongst the beautiful yellow puree. What happened and how it happened . . . I don't know.

 

Geckos come into the house, they scoot up walls, across the ceilings, quickly hide behind furniture and may be found squished in door jambs. In the kitchen, they  hide in cupboards, sometimes scurrying into an open pot. The only thing that I can think is that there was one in the bottom of the blender hiding under the blades when I turned it on or that it jumped into the blender while I was not looking. Okay?

 

So what to do. What would you do? There was too much to throw out and too little to start again. This was Indonesia, after all . . . a place where neighbors sift through your trash for food. We all had a good laugh and I continued. Good thing any lizard parts were dark and easy to see as I tried to account for the whole body, sifting through the fruit, then cooking it - hard. I poured the sweet goodness into jars and sealed them. Organic jam with a twist.

 

And now that I have confessed, I almost  feel like Minnie Jackson with her chocolate pie.

 

 

PS . . . the photo of the gecko on the other side of the screen was taken in the evening using a flash.

Life in the Slow Lane

 

January has brought with it some days with absolutely nothing on the calendar

and I have selfishly appreciated time for reading, napping and spontaneity,

even though, at the end of the day,

the Mennonite girl in me has a difficult time

with the feeling of not having accomplished something.

Could it be that sometimes it is more about what happens in my heart

than by my hands?

 The other night we dropped in on our little family, now living at the missionary house,

 and I asked Paeton when he wanted to come for breakfast.

Being homeschooled right now, his teacher can be flexible. 

So, on Friday Chris dropped him off at eight in the morning

 and he joined me and Doris on our walk.

 

 

It was a gorgeous morning to be on the trails looping Fishtrap Creek.

 

 

The sun, coming up, created a golden halo over the treetops.

 

Paired up mallards and other ducks . . . the names of which Doris knew . . .

looked like they were enjoying the promise of Spring.

We sighted an eagle perched high on a  poplar,
a heron who took off when he heard us . . .

 

as well as telltale signs of a beaver having been around.

One creature we would have loved to see was the turtle.

I thought that maybe he would appear as a unique gift on this day

. . . just for a boy who loves them.

But . . . I guess he is still in hibernation.

When we got home it was high time for breakfast
and so we made "sugar roll up" pancakes at his request.

He cracked the eggs and used the beater to mix them.

I made a few with  the Dutch apple variation . . . my favorite.

After breakfast, I got out a new book and he read for me.

 

As to the surprise I had waiting for him . . .
it made up for what we missed on our walk.

I enjoyed this morning in the slow lane
and the fact that there is still room for stuffies in his life.

Somehow I get the feeling that this day and this tortoise will travel far!

 

What's in Your Fridge?

One of my friends told of how her grandsons were over for a meal and they commented on how she had everything so fancy!  She wondered what the fancy part was and they told her, "Well, you have napkins on the table." We laughed.

Maybe this is just a reminder of how hard it is for moms to just get a meal on the table, never mind napkins! In the busyness of coming and going places, I was, and still am, always happy to find a meal that extends into another one. In other words, leftovers are welcome here.

 

We hosted  a baked potato bar this week.  Have you ever tried it?  It really is a great way to host a meal for a crowd and an easy way to potluck if you decide to go that route. 

The next day, I got out containers of leftover potatoes and toppings to try a baked potato soup.
 

I made a basic white sauce by melting about 3 Tbsp margarine (or butter) then whisking in 3 Tbsp flour and 4 cups milk, stirring until smooth and bubbly.  (Do they still teach this in Jr High Home Ec Class?) I added one Knorr chicken bouillon cube. I was out of the better than bouillon in the jar, which I prefer to use when I have it.

 

Then I added about 1 1/2 chopped up potatoes,

 

some finely chopped leftover cooked onions,

about 1 1/2 cups (whatever was left) of cooked broccoli and cauliflower

mixed with cheese sauce . . . chopped it up a bit more,

 



 

a cup of leftover cooked corn,

a few Tbsp of bacon bits

 

and soup was done in minutes!
It was surprisingly delicious.
You could add cheese, but it was good without.

 

Another idea to do with baked potatoes is to make potato skins. Simply scoop  out some of the inside to make thick skins. You can brush these with olive oil and pre bake them for about 10 minutes to crisp. I should have, but did not do this step.

 

Top with 1 Tbsp of leftover chili (optional), some cheese and bacon and bake for 15 minutes

or until crispy.

Serve with sour cream and chives.

 

One more idea for baked potatoes is to chop them up for home made hash browns.

Add salt, pepper, garlic powder and chopped parsley. I can't begin to tell you how often my mom would fry potatoes for dinner and I don't remember ever not liking them. She would add a canned salmon salad or cooked spinach with eggs on the side or a light custard pear soup or . . . maybe nothing. I mainly remember the potatoes and we rarely had fries ...

so it was all good.

 

As for the leftover chili - we like using it in soft corn tacos with shredded lettuce, cheese

and tomatoes. This is different way to enjoy chili and makes a small amount go far.

 

 

The Landfill Harmonic Orchestra

In times when we are troubled with poverty and waste pollution, here is a story of hope about a garbage collector, named Nicolas, living near the city of Asuncion, Paraguay, who got together with a local musician, Favio, to make instruments for the children of the slum. There was no money for real instruments so together they started to make instruments from trash – violins and cellos from oil drums, flutes from water pipes and spoons, guitars from packing crates.  A music school was started and it has become the world's most unlikely orchestra.

Maybe this story has a special pull on me because it takes place in the birth country of my H.  Maybe it is because I have been reminded again of how we are made in the image of God and able to express it by creating order and beauty. I'm amazed at how even people surrounded by garbage can be inspired to make something beautiful out of their situation and how, in this case, it took only two men to get together and use what they had at their disposal to make a difference.

Happy Birthday, Kari

On this, your birthday, Kari  . . . I think back to my first memories of you

and can't help but think that, had I known that one day you would become part of our family

I would have paid closer attention to the curly haired girl at group violin lessons

and maybe . . .

in later years I would have taken in the girl's basketball games before the boys played.

I would have smiled, knowing what I know today.

 

But it was not until at least three years after your (and Ben's)

high school grad, when I first heard your name

being spoken in our family room by one of Ben's friends.

He was kind of teasing and I saw Ben did not mind.

 I have to say, I liked the sound of it . . . but as a mom I waited . . . quietly.

 

It was later I learned that Ben had seen you somewhere

and, by the sound of it, he'd fallen in love.

I'm not sure what he all worked out to ask you out

but by Spring 2005 he brought you in to meet us.

Your remember that.

I hugged you because you were the first girl he brought home.

I was nervous and excited . . . and happy.

 

That summer he was proud to introduce you to extended family at the cabin nearby,
and have you experience the beauty of Lake Chelan with all of it's memories.

 

We learned how you love ice cream

 

and enjoyed getting to know the girl who put that big smile on Ben's face.

 

It was in the fall of that year, when he put a ring on your finger

and plans began for a summer wedding.

 

 

The Friesen side hosted a Hawaiian themed shower with an ice cream bar.

You were a great sport!

 

 

On a beautiful day in July 2006, your dad walked you down the aisle,

 

 

wedding vows were exchanged and we witnessed the beauty of two lives being joined.

 

One year we planned a girls trip to Indonesia to visit Julene and family.
You were so brave to come along!

 

It was a trip we will all never forget!

 

 

Another time we all visited Kristal and family for Christmas in Phoenix.

 



At home you became my sounding board with your resourceful ideas.

Your talents, your creativity and love for beauty inspire me.

 

In December 2009 you put your teaching career on hold, as you
waved good bye to your Grade One class

 

and in January of 2010 you became a mom to Lacey Danielle!

 

That summer Chris and Julene flew in via LA from Indonesia, while Shaun and Kristal drove from Colorado, and we all met for a family weekend in Disneyland.

By this time you knew all about being flexible and
packing a suitcase in order to have family time.

 



Then, in February 2012, Tessa Lynn Dior (aka Teddy) joined the family!

Two months later, you and Ben packed up your household onto a big truck

and headed for your own family adventure in Saskatchewan.

It was a hard knock for me, and maybe not easy for you,

but your  love and support as a wife have not gone unnoticed.

Kari, your smile, your tenderness, your love for God, your joy in the moment

and ability to make others laugh have a contagious effect on those around you.

 

We thank God for the joy of calling you our daughter by love!

May He bless you with the desires of your heart

as you continue to trust in Him for all your future.

Happy 30th Birthday!

 

A Special Lunch

 

There is a time to go out and a time to invite in.

Last week (before Ben and Kari left) I saw my opportunity to host a special lunch and

. . . with anticipation and excitement . . . I began to plan.

 

To save time in the morning, I played with table setting options on the night before,

loving an opportunity to add a few extra touches!

 

I also prepared a menu . . .

 

Croissants with West Coast Chicken Salad filling

Roasted Butternut Squash and Orzo Salad on a bed of Kale

Fruit Explosion Muffins

 

 

Part of the morning was spent

chopping vegetables, roasting squash and preparing dressings for the chicken filling and salad.

I took the croissant pastry out of the fridge to do the final rolling out -

 roll them up, let them rise and bake them.

These mini croissants still challenge me a bit,

but I enjoy making them and plan to perfect them yet.

My giant  muffin pans were pulled out for this occasion . . . 

the buttermilk batter mixed . . . and frozen fruit carefully folded in.

When everything was done it went on the table.

 

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with a scatter of glazed pecans

 



West Coast Chicken Salad Sandwiches . . . a few croissants I left unfilled

for anyone wanting to enjoy  them with jam.

 

Fruit Explosion Muffins with a drizzle of icing

 



 

Something for our birthday girl



A few tea lights lit . . . and the doorbell rang.

Because a lunch with my three girls does not happen every year

we will most likely remember this one . . .

 

on days when one will be donning her down coat and pulling a sled

while another will be wiping sweat from her forehead and spraying for ants.

And this is what makes these times special!

 







For Everything a Season

As I've written about  my life over the past five years, I've often been reminded of how life fits into seasons. Like I said when I began writing, I love this season in my life, vibrant with the colors of the changes that have transpired.

 

Having said that, change is not always easy. It is not something I always welcome . . . but it is teaching me to trust in the One who knows well  the beginning and the end of everything.

Tehya, Paeton and Makenna, knowing about their Grammy's blog . . .
gifted me with a handmade book of drawings
illustrating the words in Ecclesiates 3: 1-8

I'll share some pages . . .

Makenna's drawing with mom's pretty printing
 

Paeton's creative imagination makes me smile

and Tehya's wisdom illustrates the beauty of breaking bread and mending a heart

There are phrases in the chapter that hold some questions for me, but the main idea is that God allows a set time for everything that happens in our lives. I'm reminded that the good and the bad in life can be used for eventual wholeness and that even the seed that falls into the ground and dies, holds within it the mystery of life and the promise of more to come.