I Wanna Be Like This

I heard a quote this weekend at our Women's Conference from Martha Tennison.

She reiterated what so many of us do when responding to those we love... quick to correct or judge or criticize... quick to raise our voice... quick to be short with them over silly things... when we would never dream of treating our neighbor, a guest in our home, or fellow believer in the same manner.

She said... "When it comes to your family, let your compliments be more than your complaints."

Jesus, I want to better myself and watch my tone of voice with my family. They deserve the best of me... not what is left over after a long day... becasue I am tired... or grumpy... or because my focus is inward about my own insecurities.

This is my Goal. My desire. My prayer.

Coming up...

This weekend and later in November, hubby and I will be speaking for two Marriage Retreats. We LOVE marriage retreats... because we love being married and encouraging others to love it as well. Is our marriage perfect... uh... NO... do we bicker... argue... get in each other's face?.... Uh... YEAH... but we work through it... make-up .... (that's the fun part!)... and love more deeply.

Next week we are hosting Church Planter's Bootcamp.

The next weekend is the Women's Fall Conference for our state's Women's Ministries. I am speaking at a workshop on the Internet... facebook... myspace... texting... etc.... how to keep up communication with your kids... protect them online... GET in their... "SPACE" and know what is going on.

I have had mothers say... I don't look at what my family is doing online because I DON'T want to KNOW!

THIS breaks my heart... fires me up... and I probably get a little too feisty about this... because it is OUR JOB TO KNOW... to protect... to guide... to pray.

All the experts agree... the BEST protection is parental involvement and guidance.

So if you think of us this 10 days, please pray for us.

Pray that:

• the LORD would use us to speak into the lives of husbands and wives
  
• that we can give them tools to help them grow in their relationship
• we are able to encourage couples to have fun with one another
  
• we direct them to the ONE who can ... restore marriages... heal the broken hearted and give them the strength... the tenacity to not give up.

Pray for me that I am able to:

• give these women the tools and some 'know how' to get in touch with this crazy technological world
  
• to give them resources to help them protect their kids and grandkids
  
• and bridge communication with the younger generation in their lives
• encourage women that they are not too old to learn this and have fun at it too!

My mom now texts, emails and this week my girl is going to set Gram up with a facebook! She wants to stay relevant to communicate with her grands in a way they relate to. GO MOM!

Mostly... Please pray these ladies realize and know that GOD can heal, forgive, and restore if the filth of the world has invaded their home through the WWW.

If you have a tip... a testimony... or a word of advice I can add to my presentations, please email or post a comment. The best resource to know what works is YOU!

Have a great week!

Happy 86th Birthday, Grandma Curl!

This past weekend we celebrated my Gram's 86th birthday.

Her name is Curl... I call her "MO".

My Gram ROCKS!

*She still tries to walk 2 miles / day... when her knees say it's ok.

*She and her friend Audrey, who is 76, visit the "OLD PEOPLE" in the nursing home every Wednesday and lead a sing-a-long of hymns and songs of their generation.

(here's a picture of Aud and Ruby... a friend in the nursing home.)

*Just last year my Gram took care of some “Old People” who were younger than she is, every weekend for a month or two. She did this regularly until she was like… 84.

*She has always had the gift of hospitality. SO MANY have lived in her home (INCLUDING US when we moved back to Michigan) and became a part of their family over the years.

Here is a picture of Mo jumping rope with Brianna One month before her 81st birthday! Yes…she was jumping and taught Brianna how to double jump!

*When my Pop had dimentia, MO cared from him 24/7 until he went to be with Jesus two weeks before his 89th birthday and a few months before their 66th anniversary.

*Back in the 1940’s my Mo and Pop took their two young daughters, packed all they could in one suitcase, rode the bus from Alabama to Michigan, got OFF the bus with about $20 to their name… and started a new life in Michigan. They lived in the housing projects in their town… immediately were hired with full time jobs… One worked days… the other nights… so someone would always be home with the girls… and they still found time to have another little girl!

Here’s a picture of my Gram, my Aunt Darlene, Mom, Auntie Sue lives in Alabama and couldn’t be there… so we decided to superimpose her beautiful face!



*Most importantly… she has loved and served JESUS and she and Pop were some of the first attendees to a new little church in Adrian called “Bethany Assembly of God"... and my GRAM is still a faithful member of that church.

*I remember Mo telling me that one Sunday the church had a goal of having 100 people… when the people were counted there were only 99…. So my Gram ran out and found a neighbor kid and brought him to church to make it 100!

That’s only the tip of the iceberg of the kind of Gram I have.

*Mo… I love you. You are and have always been the kind of Grandma every one dreams of having.
*Your Cocoa Gravy and Biscuits ROCK. (if you are southern, you know what that is! IF not… your missing out.)
*Your cheesecake is the BEST!
*You’re heart is big.
*You are SO FUN…the life of the party... till Wheel of Fortune comes on... then it's all about the WHEEL! LOL
*YOU… are a blessing from the LORD in my life and in the life of my family… and I know all your kids, grandkids, greatgrands, and great-great grands... are shouting “AMEN!”

Here's a picture of the Grandkids celebrating with MO for her 79th birthday... Eric was unable to be there...



















...but here he is with Mo last Sunday on her birthday.

So, MO, Grandma, Mamo.. from all of us to you…

We Love You!

Thanks for loving us.

Thanks for being YOU!

My LAST blog about Salsa!!!! PROMISE!

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ODE TO LINDA... THE SALSA QUEEN...

When we pastored in Mt. Pleasant, our dear friend, LINDA POHL, would give us some of her homemade salsa every year for Christmas. OF COURSE, with my husband's strong love and desire for HOT THINGS, 12 jars didn't last very long. So he asked if I could learn how to can Salsa and make her awesome RECIPE. (did he REALLY understand what he was asking????)

SO LINDA so PATIENTLY and graciously walked me, the Domestically, Culinarily Challenged, through the process.

I learned ...When I make salsa for my hubby...I have to make it SOOOO HOT... my lips and tongue burn and my lips swell up... He can just pour it down. ... I use 30-35 jalapenos and pablanos per double recipe for him. I use 3-4 for normal people!

I believe he is made of iron from his tongue thru his entire digestive system.

Last summer, at the end of August Steve was gone for about 10 days, so Brianna and I decided to go and spend time with my mom and dad. I figured it was a GREAT time to make my Salsa...especially because Mom had such a great kitchen to work in.

There were a couple of GREAT things about that decision.

#1: My grandma's niece had a garden full of tomatoes...so we went and picked tomatoes, some jalapenos, and green peppers...plus Farmer's Market treasures. Linda taught me "grow your own or know someone who does!!"

#2: Mom, Grandma (MO), my Aunt Darlene and Brianna all helped me...And they are all VERY GIFTED in the kitchen... that offsets my "not very gifted in the kitchen" self.

#3. The Vidalia Chop Wizard - (blogged about it last week)
(This is the one thing I taught LINDA! She bought one last year and loves it!!)

LINDA TAUGHT ME that when you take the jars out of the water after their water bath...and set them on the counter... and you hear the lids start popping.... you say "PRAISE THE LORD"...because every time you hear that wonderful little noise, you KNOW it is sealed properly.

Believe me... popping lids are surely something to Praise GOD for... I have had to redo many jars because of one little speck of stuff on the lip of the jar. I can tell you from much experience, a pop-less jar is quite a depressing silence .

SOOOO...last year I said "praise the LORD" 99 TIMES! (I would have said it 100 times but my salsa making comrades and I ate a jar full when it was warm...right after cooking. It was SOOOO yummy. SO this year I made Steve's mom and dad 40 jars with veges from their little - 1.5 acre - garden.)

A "LINDA'S SALSA CHALLENGE" for the week...

When something goes right... say "Praise the LORD" in thanks and appreciation.

And when things aren't going your way... and you have to redo what you've worked so hard on... decide to Praise the LORD in faith for the great things that are going to happen and THANK HIM for the lessons learned in the prior attempt(s).

SO...that is enough of the domestic diva in me for today. If you come to my house for dinner...GUESS WHAT YOU ARE HAVING?????

You've Gotta Watch...

Last week my family and Becky were blessed with tickets to the Steven Curtis Chapman concert in our area. (thanks Nathan and Heidi!)

When S.C.C. came on stage the first song he sang was "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord".

He shared with us this was the first song that came to him when his 5 year old daughter, Maria, was tragically killed last May when her 17 year old brother, Will Franklin, accidentally ran over her in an SUV.

When S.C.C. started singing the part of the song... "You give and take away.... You give and take away...My heart will choose to say... LORD BLESSED BE YOUR NAME ..." I can tell you there was not one dry eye in the place.

If you have not seen the Chapman family's interview on Larry King Live a couple of weeks ago... go HERE. (be sure to watch all 6 parts.) AND Larry King did a short follow up titled "About Last Night" when he reflects on the interview. Amazing how he was touched.

I also flipped on the Early Show this morning and they were introducing Steven Curtis and his son Caleb singing the song he wrote for his daughters before the death of Maria, Cinderella.

He was also featured in People Magazine June's Issue and an August interview online...

AND on Focus on the Family recently, in a 3 part series talking about the tragedy and the GOD OF COMFORT.

He and his wife, Mary Beth... (Steven and Mary Beth.... funny... WE are Stephen and Mary Beth!!!!) have also been interviewed by Robin Sullivan on Good Morning America. What a platform the LORD has opened for them to share their faith in Christ.

On GMA he said, "We have questions... but that's what faith is all about ... Living with the questions... it doesn't mean you have the answers... that's what faith is ..."

The statement that struck me the most at the concert and on the Larry King interview was this... "We have hit rock bottom ... but in hitting rock bottom we have discovered that the bottom is a solid foundation."

That is the beauty of living for our LORD and having Him in our lives... when we think we can't continue... when we don't understand and ask "WHY"... when we have sunk to a place where we can go no lower... we find...

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK WE STAND!

We can look up and have hope, faith, and blind trust in the ONE on whom we are standing.

If you haven't seen any of these interviews...Watch, listen...Be ready to weep... be ready to be encouraged... be ready to see the GOD OF ALL COMFORT in action with this family...

Our GOD who is also there for YOU... longing to be YOUR SOLID FOUNDATION.

Salsa Recipe

So... thanks to the mass 3 of you who emailed for this recipe! :-D

I take no claim to fame at being a domestic diva...except I DO make yummy salsa, thanks to Linda!

LINDA’S SALSA

* 4 C. finely chopped tomatoes

* 1 C. finely chopped onion

* 1 green Bell pepper finely chopped (around 1 cup)

(USE VIDALIA CHOP WIZARD - see below)



Place chopped veges in a LARGE saucepan.

Combine the following ingredients in food processor or blender.

* 4 – 8 Fresh Jalapenos
( ok… I use 35… count ‘em… 35 for Steve’s Salsa. It is fire hot! You just
have to taste it and go by trial and error for your likes. If you like mild start
with 2 -4.)

* 4 cloves of Garlic

* 1 sm. Can Tomato Paste

* ½ C sugar

* 1 C. White vinegar

* ¼ t. Alum

* ½ t. Cumin

* ½ t. pepper

* 1 TB. Salt

Process until smooth.

Combine with chopped veges in large sauce pan.

Bring to a boil and reduce heat.

Simmer for 45 minutes.

Pour into HOT sterilized jars. ( pint jars) leaving ½ inch head space.

Seal. And process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes.

Makes appx. 3 pints.

IT IS GREAT FRESH AS WELL!

HINTS:

**You can double recipe. One time I tripled it but it easily scorched.

**Jalapeno hints… I do not deseed them because it takes away the HEAT

IF You deseed them wear gloves. I have had two friends rub their faces while deseeding and their faces get red and on fire. If this happens,my allergist says bathe face and hands in milk. It really works.

** If you have never canned before, be sure to use new seal lids and read the directions.

BIGGEST TIME SAVING TIP OF ALL
I found the 2nd Best Time Saver EVER! (what is the 1st? my female family members!)

The VIDALIA CHOP WIZARD.

I saw it in Real Simple listed as a great product. It chops the vegetables so quickly and perfectly. No watery onions or peppers. And even the ripe tomatoes chopped into little perfect squares without being mushed!

It usually takes me a day or more JUST to chop all my vegetables. We did all the onions and peppers in 45 MINUTES!!!!!!

NOW... my mom, father- in- love, sister-in-love, aunt...all have one. Whoever tries it loves it. You can get it at Walgreens, CVS for $20... or with a $5 coupon at Bed, Bath, and Beyond... it's just $15. Cheaper than a good food processor.

Let me know how it goes when you make it!

To Blog or NOT to blog...

THAT is the question!

This summer I have neglected... chosen... not posted any new blogs since....uh... like JUNE! Contemplated giving up blogging for good. Do I have the time... does it really matter... there are SOOO many friends who are awesome bloggers... who I am to try and add anything to this thing we call the blog world. Well, my MOM wants me too... so MOMMA... here goes...

Life has been crazy.... fun.... busy... as we have been across the nation and around the world... well at least STEVE has been around the world.

He went to Africa with his dad and two brothers. Steve was invited to speak at the Commencement ceremonies for the Seminary in Nairobi... and his dad and bros decided to go. What a great memory for all of them. Graduation was great... at 4 hours long... Steve was only 3.5 hours of it (JUUUSSST KIDDING!)

He said their safari was the BEST ever. Steve's dad kicked a monkey out of the vehicle as it tried to come in and score some yummies... we don't want Ebola, you know!

Missionaries Steve and Trina Pennington are the BEST! Steve LOVES being with them. Africa loves my Steve and he loves Africa. When I die, he can move there.

No muggings in Amsterdam this time around.
THANK MY LIVING, PROTECTING, ALMIGHTY GOD!

We were all in Florida for Church planters school. Always a blast. I had fun hanging with my girl, and niece and nephew. SOMEBODY had to sacrifice and watch them out in the sun... in the pool...


















looking out over the ocean... playing in the sand... while all the students, like my hubby and brother-in-law and sis-in-law were in class all day. We surprised some old friends down the beach. More about that later. I also had the joy of doing session for the wives with my friend
Mary Jo Williams ... LOVVVVEEE HER!

While Steve and his male familial tribe were off to Africa, Brianna and I were off to ARKANSAS to stay with my mother-in-LOVE.

I canned the BEST salsa ever with fresh veges from my father-in-love's itty, bitty 1.5 acre garden. I will post the recipe this week.

IF YOU ARE MAKING SALSA... WAIT... EMAIL ME... GET THIS RECIPE. Realize... it is ME here... so take heart.. it is NOT MY recipe... but my gal pal LINDA'S... the wonder of all wonders in the kitchen. It is the BEST SALSA EVER!!!!!



Arkansas was HOT... HUMID... HOTTER... HUMIDER...

I walked at 6:30 - 7 every a.m. and was sweating like an Arkansas Razorback chasing a Texas Longhorn... AND I Was kindof PUT ON THE SPOT to speak in church on Sunday night. The LORD was faithful to help his reluctant servant who is not great 'off the cuff' like her hubby.

Saw my southern family... Jonathan and Tiffany... my sis in law Veronica and Jeremy and Seth... Megan... (last fall's photo... forgot camera... I AM over 40, ya know.)

and AWESOME COUSINS... April & Laura...

Laura was the FLOWER GIRL in our wedding. She was 4! Time flies....

And I accidentally swiped Veronica's black sweater. USUALLY I leave things... this time I added to my wardrobe. Got it in a package, Veronica. GONNA MAIL IT SOON!!!!!!! OR can I just bring it at Christmas!!! :-)

Enough for now...

Will post more later... I know you're sitting at your computer in anticipation...