Story Time...What It's All About

 

"Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do.  The Bible does have some rules in it.  They show you how life works best.  But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing.  

It's about God and what He has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy.  The Bible does have some heroes in it, but most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all.  They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose).  They get afraid and run away.  At times they are downright mean.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes.  

The Bible is most of all a Story.  

It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back His lost treasure.  

It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves His palace, His throne - everything - to rescue the one He loves. 

It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is - it's true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story.  The Story of how God loves His children and comes to rescue them.
 
It takes the whole Bible to tell this story.  And at the center of the Story, there is a Baby."   

"Every story in the Bible whispers His Name."

  
(From The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones)

Sweet Tooth

Today has turned out to be a special day for our little bud.

We thought he had a hard time going to sleep last night because of all the excitement surrounding the Superbowl...and getting to Skype with Auntie Courtney who's in Indonesia.

But as exciting as the Superbowl was and as fun as talking to Auntie Courtney always is, the real reason, we discovered this morning, was that a teeny tiny sharp little tip of a TOOTH was beginning to break through!

It's here, folks!  It's really here!!  KNOX'S FIRST TOOTH!

Three days away from his six month birthday.

We are so happy and proud.  And we're pretty sure, since he's related to me, that this first one is his "sweet tooth." :)
 
Maybe this whole teething business is why he has been more determined than ever to chew on his toes lately?

Who needs teething rings when you've got these beauties?!

Congratulations, Knox!!  We love you! ♥

Superbowl...Salad?

I know.  Those two words should never really be paired together.

If the Bears had won two weeks ago we would be having the Superbowl feast (and party) of a lifetime.

But they didn't.

And so my husband is getting salad for dinner on Superbowl Sunday. But before you feel too sorry for him (as you lick your hot-wing sauce drenched fingers) it is his favorite salad.  And mine.

This salad is a winner, people, I promise.  Just like the Bears always will be, to me. :)

I got the recipe from my Gourmet cookbook, which I love.

I've changed the actual salad a little bit, because I'm not a big fan of bacon and I have no idea what Roquefort is.  But what makes this salad so special is the dressing.  It's easy to whisk together but has a rich and citrus-y flavor that you just have to try yourself!

Cobb Salad

For Dressing

3 Tbl. red wine vinegar

1 Tbl. fresh lemon juice

2 tsp. Dijon or honey mustard

1 small garlic clove, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Whisk together all ingredients except oil in a bowl.  Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until well blended.  Set aside.

For Salad

Mixed greens or 1 head romaine lettuce

Shredded or chopped chicken, lightly salted

1/2 cup Roquefort (or cheddar if, like me, you had to look that up on Google)

6 bacon slices, and crumbled (I always leave this out...not a big bacon fan)

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped

Fresh corn sliced from the cob (or, if it's not in season, HOMINY)

2 avocados, sliced

Top with crushed tortilla chips, especially if it's Superbowl Sunday!

May the best team win!  And, since we don't really care who wins, may the commercials be truly amazing. :)

Insanity Update (and the mustard yellow pants)

As you may recall, my New Year's resolutions for 2011 were #1 to JOURNAL more and #2 to complete the 60-Day Insanity workout challenge (while cutting back dramatically on refined sugar).

It's February 4th and I'm still going (fairly) strong.  Time for an update!

The journaling is going great, I'm loving it.  My goal is to write every day, and that doesn't usually happen; but I'm journaling a lot more than I did last year so I'm happy with that.  (Plus I'm blogging like crazy so that has to count for something.)

I'm doing okay at the sugar challenge.  I had to rewrite the rules a little bit:  There are now certain exception periods, like when guests are in town or when there is a snow day (or four "snow" days in a row, which I'm pretty sure only happens once in a lifetime). 

Also "one sweet treat" had to be further defined and it means anything that obviously goes together.  For example, brownies and ice cream obviously go together, so they equal one sweet treat.  And a Starbucks frappuccino and a vanilla bean scone obiously go together, so that equals one sweet treat as well. 

Hey, it's my New Year's Resolution so I get to write the rules. :)

Insanity...is tough, but I'm hanging in there.  Week 3 was the hardest, I hit a wall and wanted to give up.  But I didn't! 

Tomorrow I will have completed the "recovery week" (Week 5).  I was hoping recovery week meant stretch out on the couch and twinkle my toes, but no such luck.  It's been a little easier than the regular workouts but still challenging.  I'm scared to death of Monday morning because the hardest, longest workouts begin then.  :0

So far I have only missed one workout in 5 weeks.  That's 29 out of 30 workouts.  Go me!  I've lost three pounds...wish it were 13 but I'll take the 3.  My clothes are definitely fitting a little looser, though, and I can once again button my favorite MUSTARD YELLOW PANTS!  This in itself is worth all that sweat.

I asked for these corduroys two years ago for Christmas.  I'm pretty sure they have gone out of style since Christmas two years ago (I know, some might argue that they weren't even in style back then) :)  but they're still my favorite pants so I'm going to continue wearing them with gusto!

Insanity Challenge: five weeks down, four to go!!

Green Chile Soup with Pork & Snowballs

  

This tasty soup is guaranteed to keep you warm...even when you have this much snow!

(Photo courtesy of my Dad, 2/2/2011) 

I found the recipe a couple of years ago at epicurious.com but have made some changes to it since then.  It's quick and delicious; and a great use for hominy!  (Of which I have an abundant supply, as explained here!)  

On a wintry day like today doesn't the hominy just remind you of...SNOWBALLS?!

I love that you don't have to chop the onions in this recipe.  Just cut them into quarters...

 ...and toss them in the blender.

 

 

 

 

Green Chile Soup with Pork & Snowballs

2 onions, quartered

2 (3 to 4 inch) fresh jalapeno chiles, stemmed and quartered, including seeds*

5 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1/4 cup vegetable oil

8 cups (or 2 boxes) reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 lbs ground pork

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 cans or 4 cups white hominy ("snowballs"), rinsed & drained

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Salt, to taste 

Purée onion, chiles, and garlic with 1/2 cup chicken broth in a blender. 

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown pork, stirring and breaking up clumps with a fork, just until no longer pink. Thoroughly drain fat from meat. 

Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to pot and heat over moderately high heat until hot, then carefully add purée (it will spatter), cumin, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and most of liquid is evaporated, about 10 minutes. 

Add pork, hominy, cilantro, and remaining 1 1/4 cups broth and simmer gently, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.

Serve sprinkled with cheese and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

*This makes the soup quite spicy.  If you prefer a milder soup you can scrape out the seeds or just use one jalapeno.  This time I tried mild canned green chiles instead but we thought the soup wasn't as tasty without the fresh jalapenos; they give flavor as well as kick!

 

A Texas Snow Day

Is there anyone in America not enjoying a snow day today?! 

We're on Day #2 of no classes for Josh and it's been wonderful.

What's a person to do in Dallas on a snow day, you ask?  After all, there's not quite enough snow to build a snowman:

Since the electricity was off and on this morning I crawled back into bed when Knox took his first nap.  That was heavenly.  Then I gazed longingly at everyone's deep snow pictures on Facebook (love them!), cleaned the entire apartment, made up a new verse to "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain" for Knox, and drank a whole pot of tea.

I know you are just dying to know the new verse to "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain," so here it is:

She'll be driving me bananas when she comes!

(ye-haw!)

She'll be driving me bananas when she comes!

(ye-haw!)

She'll be driving me bananas, she'll be driving me bananas, 

She'll be driving me bananas when she comes!

(ye-haw!)

Josh heard me singing it and asked who the song was about.   

The lady who drives the six white horses!  Who else?!


While I was busy Facebooking, cleaning, song-writing and drinking tea, Josh was intent on winning Superhero Husband of the Year Award. 

He cleaned all of my hair out of the bottom of the vacuum cleaner (no more burnt hair smell when we vacuum!) and out of the bathtub drain (no more ankle-deep murky water when we take a shower!).  A-ma-zing man.

I would post a picture but I want you to come back to my blog. :)  Let's just say all those magazine articles aren't lying when they warn you that you'll lose a lot of hair after you have a baby!

Josh can't believe I have any left.


Knox has had a productive day, as well.  He spent some time daydreaming about that time when he made a snow angel:

And wishing he could help his Papa plow some of that snow they're getting in Vermont today.

Since he couldn't do that he played with toys wearing his hot chocolate snow day outfit from Nana.

And perfected a new game called "pull-your-socks-off-faster-than-mommy-can-put-them-back-on."  Yep, that's a sock in his mouth.  Poor cold little toes!

Josh did have to go into work this afternoon, but when he gets back we've already decided it's going to be nothing but Wheel of Fortune on the Wii for the rest of the day.

Happy Snow Day, America!

Impossible Situations

We all, at one time or another, face impossible situations.

Tasks that are too big for us.  Bad habits that can't be conquered.  Employers who hang us out to dry.  Marriages that are filled with pain.  Babies that can't be conceived.  Children who ignore everything we've taught them.   Loneliness that doesn't let up.  Bills that can't be paid.  Depression that suffocates us. Sickness that threatens to destroy.  Goals that can't be met.  Dreams that aren't fulfilled...

When we meet Gideon in Judges 6, Israel was facing a very impossible situation.  The Midianites were in control and continuously ransacking and destroying them.  The Israelites had to leave their homes and hide in caves in the mountains.  Every time they tried to sow crops the Midianites would come and tear up their fields.

This went on for seven long years.  The Israelites were left without food, without safety; and almost without hope.

Almost.

Before they had turned away from God; but now, in desperation, they cried out and cried out to God to save them.  And God heard their cry.

When we are in an impossible situation, and we cry out to God, He hears our cry.

Still, when the Lord appeared to Gideon "under the terebinth tree" He didn't find what we would consider a fiery man of great faith.  God appeared to a broken man: bitter, confused, disappointed, tired and scared.  Gideon was hurt and he was angry with God.  "If the Lord is with us," he asks in 6:13, "why then has all this happened to us?  And where are all the miracles which our fathers told us about?  ...The Lord has forsaken us."


God wants to help us, even when we're struggling with doubt. 

I've been there.  Have you?

God knew the condition of Gideon's heart.  But do you know what God called him?  In verse 12 He declares, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!"

To me that is one of the coolest verses in the whole Bible.  I absolutely love it!  Here is Gideon.  Frustrated, disillusioned Gideon.  By his own recognition from the "weakest clan" and "least" in his father's household.  But God chooses him as His instrument and calls Gideon a mighty man of valor.

God says it again in verse 14, "Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.  Have I not sent you?"  And in verse 16, "Surely, I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

This is grace.

We may feel weak, but the truth is that we are strong.  We are strong because He is with us.

When we are weak and wobbling, God comes down, looks us straight in the eye, and tells us:  Go in this might of yours, you mighty man of valor!  You mighty woman of valor!  You are strong because I AM WITH YOU.  I have heard your cry of despair and I want to turn your story of an impossible situation into a story of victory.

God wants to turn our impossible situation into something beautiful.

But it doesn't always happen right away.  I can only imagine what might have been going through Gideon's mind in chapter 7.

First, God tells Gideon that he has too many people in his army (7:2).  God doesn't want the Israelites to get puffed up and take the glory away from God for this victory.  So He sends 22,000 men packing for home and leaves Gideon with only 10,000.  God makes the impossible situation even more impossible.

Next, God tells Gideon that 10,000 is still too many (7:4)!  Again, He wants it to be clear that this victory is HIS, not theirs.  So God tells him to send another 9,700 men home.  This leaves Gideon with 300 men.  Three hundred men to defeat a huge army of formidable Midianites.

Gideon must have been shaking in his boots.

Sometimes just before God conquers our impossible situations He makes them even more impossible!  He doesn't want us to mistake His power for our own.

The story gets even crazier. God tells them to blow a bunch of trumpets and break some pots and yell.  That was their battle strategy (7:20).  Okay, God, sure.  If you say so...  Here we go!

It worked.

All Gideon's army of 300 did was blow their trumpets, break some pots, and yell.  And God caused the Midianite army to melt into complete chaos and self-destruction.  They fled.

God's answer to our prayer doesn't always look like we expect it to, but He always answers.

Our God is a God of impossible situations.