Thrifting

Today's wonderful thrifting adventure was courtesy of the local department store being out of stock during their shoe sale! 

Many weeks ago, when the department store didn't have my shoes in stock, I ended up searching online for the shoes I was looking for.  The website with the best price was offering free shipping, plus I could make returns at a store 30 miles away, so I ordered a couple different styles, knowing I could return them easily.

I could have mailed them back, saving gas money, but a trip 30 miles in that direction (a direction I rarely go) would take me across the street from the best Goodwill store in the nation!

I walked out of Goodwill with:

• some books (no surprise there!), 
• a Little Dipper for $1.96 (just yesterday I was gifted with some potpourri which is supposed to boil in a pot you don't use for cooking; this is the type of extra pot I can afford!), 
• a  Columbia Bugaboo jacket (sans fleece),
• a Talbot's embroidered cardigan,
• a swanky little black dress,
• a Laura Ashley top,
• a Pendleton wool skirt,
• and a basic turtleneck (never worn).

I may have to change the town where I do my groceries and start visiting Goodwill Town!

What's your best thrifting find?

1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #44

451.  clear blue skies and crisp fall days!

452.  a Sunday afternoon at a state park - hiking and reading on a blanket on a grassy river bank

453.  two autumn teas with various friends and family

454.  a spur-of-the-moment visit which generated much encouragement

455.  watching another being sustained by God's grace through the prayers of many

456.  extra time to spend with the nieces

457.  the Deuteronomy 6.6-9 - type discipling that takes place in our times together

458.  making some progress on the (never-ending) organizational front

459.  successfully cooking my first steak ever (!)

460.  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

A fall tea

It was the perfect day for a fall tea!  Well, in actuality, there were several reasons that it wasn't that great of a day for a celebration, but we soldiered on!  Because, no matter your circumstances, it's always a good time to sit with friends, relax, sip tea, and have pleasant conversation.

The tablecloth provided a cozy backdrop. The bonds of family ties and friendship warmed our hearts.  A simple pair of floating leaf candles surrounded by a garland of fall leaves set the scene. 

Setting the scene

Our menu for our 12 noon tea was:

• teapot-shaped cucumber sandwiches
• turkey & cranberry wraps
• acorn-shaped caramel apple swirl bread (with one edge spread with peanut butter and dipped in chopped nuts) spread with peanut butter and topped with thin slices of Granny Smith apples
• fresh fruit with a fruit dip
• currant scones with mock devonshire cream
• pumpkin mini-muffins, and of course 
• TEA!

Remains of the tea

After many rounds of conversation starters, some of the guests left.  I had the privilege of spending the rest of the afternoon with the younger guests, who occupied themselves with melting chocolate and pouring it into various molds. 

Afternoon activity - molded chocolate teapots on a stick

This stair-step pumpkin patch welcomed my guests as they arrived.

The pumpkin patch on our stairs

This tea was brought to you by various thrift stores in a 30-mile radius. :)

1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #43

441.  the yellow carpet of fallen leaves on the lawns lining Main Street in our little village

442.  new opportunities to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice

443.  new opportunities for God's sanctifying work when we don't feel like rejoicing with those who rejoice

444.  the numerous ways, small and LARGE, that my husband serves me

445.  God's grace to give me a thankful heart for those many acts of service

446.  being present to watch newborns grow into active tikes and hopefully youth and adulthood

447.  being present to support and give dignity and pray for and encourage saints as their outer self wastes away

448.  how graciously God is weaning us from summer ... with a few cold days, then a few warm days, and back and forth

449.  a week of much activity ~ and all the rich relational time

450.  a season of less activity ~ and needing that, knowing I need it, and being encouraged by Jim to pursue it

Comfort Food ~ Lentils & Rice

This is such a simple recipe, I'm almost embarrassed to call it one.  But, Betty Crocker includes it in her book, so it's not so simple as to never be published.

I used to follow a complicated recipe in More with Less, which required an oven, lots of chopping, adding more ingredients after so many minutes of baking, etc.

Now, I just use this recipe, though it's never the same!  Depending on what vegetables I have on hand, it's different every time!  And sometimes I sprinkle in Italian seasoning (or another kind).  In my single days, it was my go-to meal.  Pair it with a tossed salad (or with my favorite side) and you have a delicious, balanced homemade meal.

You can make a pot and keep it in the fridge and eat from it over several days. Or you can double (or triple) the recipe and watch it disappear when you serve it to a table-full of boys who grew up in a country that eats lentils and rice!

Do you have a favorite recipe using lentils?

God provides

My mother's uncle was a mountain missionary and lived "by faith," a la Hudson Taylor and George Mueller.  I'm not sure what his proof text of living by faith was, but I always assumed it was Habakkuk 2.4 or Hebrews 10.38: "The just shall live by faith."

My understanding of his principle was that he never asked for funds, but asked God in prayer and then told people afterwards of the ways in which God provided.  Since that was pretty much the opposite of my fund-raising experience as a missionary, I've pondered it quite a bit.

Two thoughts:  One, I tend to think that living by faith in those two verses has very little to do with money but everything to do with trusting God that the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross covers my not-so-nice words spoken to my husband this morning (along with a host of other sins of both omission and commission!).  Two, whether one is a mountain missionary depending on God to supply one's every financial provision or one is a missionary who engages in active fund-raising or even if one has a steady job with a good employer, ALL of God's people are actually dependent on God for ALL that we have - our life, our breath, AND our finances.

My mother's uncle periodically published little booklets that recounted the details of God's provision.  Most of the entries went like this:

A bill for $10.38 was due Tuesday. We prayed and prayed. In the mail Tuesday morning we received three checks that totaled $10.38 and we were able to pay the bill.

That is an amazing story of God's perfect provision, to be sure, but I am afraid that sometimes we who do not live that lifestyle forget that God is doing just the same for us, as His child.  He is providing so that we can pay our bills, too, maybe not in as dramatic a fashion. But He still deserves glory and praise for caring for our every need.

For most of us, most of the time, He provides by a regular paycheck, so the amount doesn't really surprise us or even alert us to His provision.  Farmers do not receive a weekly or even monthly paycheck, so I have the privilege of being on higher alert to His provision.

Recently we had a seven-month long exchange with Jim's insurance company, in which we appealed their decision not to cover a certain claim.  On the very day in early September that I learned I would be having surgery a few days later, Jim's insurance company called to say that they had approved our appeal and would be covering the claim.  The amount of Jim's claim should equal almost exactly our portion of my surgery bill!  

He provides!   He cares!   He takes care of our every need!

   ... he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 

Holy Land Tour

Have you ever wanted to visit the Holy Land? A recent e-mail advertisement enticed me to fill my online shopping cart with DVDs of a virtual Holy Land tour.  And then I noticed where one can watch these online for free.  

Enjoy your tour!


Beersheba - A Place of Surrender

Capernaum - City of Skeptics

Day of Atonement: Yom Kippur

Hebron: City of Promise

Jerusalem: Mount of Peace

Jerusalem: Walls of Remembrance

Jordan: Doorway to the Promised Land

Judea: The Land & Story of the Bible, Part 1

Judea: The Land & Story of the Bible, Part 2

Nazareth: The Silent Years of Jesus

Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles

The Land and Story of the Bible: Gateway to Galilee, Part 1
The Land and Story of the Bible: Lower Galilee, Part 2
The Land and Story of the Bible: Sea of Galilee, Part 3
The Land and Story of the Bible: Upper Galilee, Part 4

Underground Jerusalem: City of the Past

1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #42

431.  a morning with Gracia Burnham {... and 300 other ladies}

432.  including my mother-in-law and sister-in-law

433.  the Weight Watchers 8 weeks to Thanksgiving Challenge & encouragement along the way

434.  a fall tablecloth that feels warm and home-y

435.  two Bible studies that are speaking to my heart and deepening bonds of friendship with my Christian sisters:  1&2 Thessalonians and true woman 101: divine design (check out some of the reviews on Amazon)

436.  feeling helpful (and needed) in second grade during my weekly hour

437.  the trees in our town ablaze with God's handiwork as the chlorophyll disappears

438.  an overnight getaway ... time with family (albeit at a funeral), adding a new state to my "States Visited" list, and being surprised by my husband's reservation at a circa-1852 B&B!

439.  date night ... at a fundraising banquet ... including time with extended family ... and a stirring challenge from Jim Cymbala on not letting the thief steal our first love

440. finding this biblically based post-a-day series on supporting a spouse with chronic pain

Comfort Food - Muffins & Mix-ins

It really wasn't good timing for me to leaf through the newspaper insert and see a real-life photo of three delicious-looking muffins staring back at me!

I'm in the midst of an 8-week challenge, counting down to Thanksgiving, trying to watch what I eat ... decreasing my intake, increasing my fiber and water, and only eating what I need, not just all that my eyes say I want.

So, I'll file this away for a later date, and when I make them, I'll look for ways to make them healthier, simple tweaks like using half whole wheat flour and applesauce instead of oil, etc.

If you get the Sunday paper, you might have seen this on page 18 of Parade, the Oct. 7th edition.  I found it online at the two links below.  I'm more of a paper person, and this one page is chock-full of information (and the aforementioned pictorial hint of yumminess!).  The recipe plus eight mix-in options and four make-ahead tips are all on one easy-to-reference page, the type of page you'd find in your mom's collection of recipes cut out from newspapers and magazines before anyone had ever heard of home computers, much less the internet.

What's your favorite muffin recipe?


Basic Breakfast Muffins


Breakfast Muffin Mix-ins

Memorizing in the rat race

"But I don't have time!" is a common reason excuse for not memorizing.

Last week I spent several thirty minute periods in the car, driving from here to there and back again.

How I long for a simple train ride, so I can redeem that time between here and there!  I can't very well read my memory verse cards while I'm driving.

But, I can plug in my iPod and put Revelation 21 on constant repeat.  In a 30 minute drive, I can hear the whole chapter six times. 

I try saying the words just a split second before the man on the recording says them.  When I get to parts I don't know, I repeat phrases after him.  And, voila!, during my hour of driving, I reviewed/worked on my memory work twelve times.

You can learn about downloading any of a number of audio Bibles for free here. 

How do you fit Scripture memory into your busy schedule?

Lovely memories

Today, in the beautiful Adirondack mountains, family will gather to remember a special lady.  I'm remembering her here on my blog.

Graduation Teacup

Aunt Jennie is one of my honorary aunts and uncles.  Whenever I start to tell a story about her or other honorary aunts/uncles, my friends stop me and ask, "Is she your real aunt?"  There's no blood that relates us; but, yes, she is my real aunt.  A real aunt loves her niece unconditionally, is always happy to see her, remembers special occasions, sends love in her letters and cards, is generous, and wants the very best for her niece. 

I mentioned to Jim that this is the first Halloween in my memory (since 1974 I assume) that I won't receive a Halloween card from Aunt Jennie.  He asked how often she sent me cards, and I started listing the occasions - Halloween, Christmas, birthday, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day - and he was amazed.  Yes, it is amazing, and though it might be unusual for any other person to always remember to send cards (with the envelopes adorned with appropriate stickers), it was not unusual for Aunt Jennie to do so. 

Sweater

Aunt Jennie gave me her time, too. How long does it take to knit a sweater? or an afghan? When I was 5 or 6 years old, I received a package in the mail. I remember going to A&W, very excited to be wearing my sweater that Aunt Jennie had made me! 

One year for Christmas my sisters and I all had big, soft packages under the tree - four unique afghans from Aunt Jennie! My afghan kept me warm in the old farmhouse for many winters, but the warmth of Aunt Jennie's love continues to warm my heart. Over the years I added more Aunt Jennie creations to my collection - an award-winning rose afghan won as a door prize at a family reunion and a beautiful-in-its-simplicity afghan received at the time of our wedding.

clockwise from top right: door prize, wedding afghan, childhood afghan

For many years, I lived far away from my own nieces (and, later on, my nephew).  I delighted in being an aunt to the children of my missionary colleagues, hopefully mirroring in a small way so much of what I learned from Aunt Jennie about being an aunt!  Now that I live near three of my husband's nieces, I get to be an aunt close-by.  Recently, our nieces and their mother and I had a tea party.  One of the teacups used (by our 5 year old niece) is a very special teacup Aunt Jennie gave me for my high school graduation. 

Graduation teacup at our tea party

Here's to many more tea parties with nieces and others, remembering the love and "aunt-ing" of my Aunt Jennie!

1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #41

421.  an entire horizon of sunbeams coming down through ~ and diffusing ~ the heavy blanket of clouds

422.  after several days of rain and clouds, driving home from the city and seeing the horizon dotted with plumes of dust ... here a combine, there a combine, everywhere a combine!

423.  an email out of the blue from an old friend in Japan

424.  the work and creativity and memories as I thought and wrote in Japanese in order to write her back

425.  a good medical report

426.  the spontaneous teaching opportunities in 5th grade girls' Sunday School

427.  catching a few unadvertised sales

428.  the Spirit's prompting to pray specifically as I set out to research an item on our shopping list ~ and seeing God answer above and beyond all I could ask or imagine

429.  the honking of geese on their way south for the winter

430.  waking up in an insulated home when it's 43* outside - bliss!

Comfort food ~ banana bread

I've been on a banana bread kick the past few months, maybe because bananas don't last as long in summer.  Betty Crocker is my go-to banana bread.  And for the sake of sharing, I'm glad the recipe is online!

I change the 2 1/2 cups flour to:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup wheat germ (Kretschmer's original toasted, in a jar in the cereal aisle)

I like to bake it in mini-loaves in my stoneware pan.   My mom recently made it as muffins.  For the international student welcome & orientation I made it in bulk in mini-muffins, so they would be bite-size and (hopefully) crumb-free.

What is your go-to baked goods comfort food? 

A Missionary's Money ~ and my heart

When I make a commitment to the Lord of the harvest to support a missionary once a month, and mail my check to their mission agency, whose money does that become?

     In the eyes of the IRS, the money belongs to the mission agency.

          In my eyes, the money belongs to my missionary friend.

               In reality, the money belongs to the Lord.

Unfortunately, sometimes when I give a gift, I still feel like I own it and that I have a say in how it is appreciated or how it is used, and so I can end up feeling justified when I critique the ways I see my missionary friend spending money (see part 1 here). 

"He shouldn't spend his money frivolously going out to eat!  He could eat several meals at home for the cost of what he paid at that restaurant."

"Their family should know better than to order drinks at a restaurant!  Don't they know water is cheaper? It's the Lord's money they're spending!"

And that is the clincher.  It's the Lord's money they're spending.  And it was the Lord's money when it was in my checking account before I wrote a check.  

"It's the Lord's money, so he shouldn't spend it frivolously," I said as I criticized him.  So, do I critique my own spending as well?

Do I really believe that my money, time, possessions, and abilities are the Lord's just as much as I believe that my missionary friend's money, time, possessions and abilities are the Lord's?
How is that a game changer?

Does the Lord care if I order water or a drink at a restaurant?

How do I filter my own purchasing habits through the lens of "It's the Lord's money. How does He want me to spend it?"

Where is my heart when I criticize the spending habits of a missionary? Am I open to having someone else critique my spending habits?

The bottom line is ~ Am I letting God's Word and His Spirit examine my heart and the ways I make decisions regarding the Lord's money that has been entrusted to me?

(Please know that I do not mean to imply we should always drink water.  The water example provides a simple illustration for the bigger principle, which is that we each live our lives ~ and make decisions great and small ~ before God.)