~Looking Up~

There have been a lot of wind storms here this past week. Lots of branches on the sidewalks, the roads, around homes.
And then, there are the constant storms that whip into life. So large and so constant lately, you get to that point when you can only laugh because- 'why not that, too'? The Husband has an affair, leaves the family, and now looses his job in the bargain. No income on his end and none on mine. Nadda.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do in the middle of severe trials and storms is to look up and face the raging wind. When we look directly into it, it can sting our faces, whip our hair in all directions and cause our eyes to tear up. Sometimes objects picked up by the storm become projectiles aimed right at you.
But you have to keep looking up, right up through those tears.

Sometimes when you look up, you see exactly what you were afraid to see. It really is there.

Except, wait . . . look a little harder. There it is. But do you feel that? What is that exactly? - relief?
You just exhaled. Because there it is; there's no more dreading or dodging or distracting yourself. What you were so afraid to face, it's face is rather shadowy isn't it? As in a translucent thing that looses more shape the longer you look up into it. Do you see how it's really just a vapor. And that is all- there's nothing more there to see.
Fear is really just a lie. Because you turned yourself around to stare right into it- you called it's bluff.

And then when you look up and what you were afraid to see has been seen, something else does come in to view. It's not a vapor or a shadow.
At first glance, you can't say for sure it's really even there. But just as you begin that argument it expands out in all directions. Do you see the sky now? It was there the entire time. The wind can't really hide it; in fact, it ended up blowing all those clouds away.
And that sky isn't just run-of-the-mill blue! It's pinks and oranges and reds that dip down to touch the silent horizon that is spread out forever in all directions . . . it just keeps going on and on. It's limitless. Where the sky touches the earth the expanse just gapes open. And there lies your path. It heads into the sunrise.

He always brings a sunrise. We just have to wait for it.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me" ~psalm 23:4

"My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, 

more than watchmen wait for the morning."~ psalm 130:6

Cheers!

~A Weekend Winter Walk~

Saturday was incredibly sunny and mild.

And fortunately the Saturday morning cartoons were re-runs, 

so it wasn't hard to convince anyone that a winter walk was in order.

So we packed up and headed to a local trail.

We wound our way through some woods and came out into the sun.

And across a field:

a cozy home in among the trees

The silhouette of the trees only made the sky bluer. . .

. . . and the creek was rushing swiftly.

How nice to not be in a hurry.

A local was enjoying a mid-morning snack.

He came over to welcome us.

He was polite, but I believe he thought us rude for coming around without anything to contribute other than pats of affection.

 Sometimes lovin' just ain't enough.

On our way back, the Oldest needed some adventure.

 I call solitude a rewarding adventure indeed

We finished our winter walk Laughing and Alive.

Cheers!

~A Weekend of Winter Whites~

~May your weekend be full of serenity and peace~

Cheers!

~Welcoming February~

First day of February, and what did we awake to this morning? Warm yet pale light poured out from a somewhat familiar orb in the sky- just reaching in and gently pressing through the curtains to cast shadows around the living room.

And the sky! I had forgotten that on occasion it's blue. Can you see it peeking in from the window above the built-ins?

Of course, here it is in the middle of the afternoon, and light and blue are already a distant memory. Still- we rejoice in the moment, right?

Things have been busy around here for us- last week the Younger had his violin concert and then the following evening a dress rehearsal and the evening after that, his school play. Then Friday evening we were off to Seattle to visit my grandparents for the weekend. 

It was a restful and blessed visit, but simply not long enough. The best part was just being away- away from all the pain and memories that my own home is holding at the moment, and back to the one place left that doesn't hold only reminders of my current sorrow. For a little while you just feel safe and cared for and free. 

It was like God gently proving Himself- "You will not always carry the pain- it can be a bruise instead of a gaping wound- just leave it in my hands. I'm in control completely"

I think the reality is that I am already safe and cared for and free. I just don't readily have the eyes to see it- I get so preoccupied with pain control. 

But it's true and it's there and every hour I have the choice to believe it's true or believe there is only pain I'm helpless to control.

One reminds me that God is beyond-imaging-big and the other just calculates completely without him.

Cheers!

~Upheld~

"you whom I've upheld since your birth...I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you"

 (Is 46:3-4)

~Heaven Broke Through~

"All that is sweet, delightful, and amiable in the world, in the serenity of the air, the fineness of seasons, the joy of light, the melody of sounds, the beauty of colors, the fragrancy of smells, the splendor of precious stones, is nothing else but Heaven breaking through the veil of this world."

-William Law

~ Winter's Perfect Soup ~

The boys and I enjoyed this fantastic French Lentil Soup over the weekend.

It is the most perfect soup for several reasons: 

a). It's inexpensive 

b). It's quick 

c). A double batch makes a ton 

d). When you make a ton, it freezes like a dream and simply reheats with the beep beep beep of the microwave  

e). It's healthy and very filling

f). It's simply delicious- as in I've had it for three days in a row and I'm still ready for more!

Okay- that was more than several, but I think you get the idea- it's good.

French Lentil Soup

(from my aunt- not sure where she found it)

Here's what you need:

3 tbsp Olive Oil

2 Cups onion, diced

1 Cup celery, diced

1 Cup Carrots, diced

2-4 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed

4 Cups vegetable broth (highly recommend using Better Than Bouillon)

1 1/4 french green lentils, picked through and rinsed (make sure there the french for the right consistency)

15 oz can diced tomatoes

Spices are optional and to taste:

(I like to use them all because I like flavor!)

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 - 1 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp curry powder

1/4 - 1/2 tsp chili powder 

1/4 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

Here's what you do:

You heat oil in a heavy sauce pan (single recipe fits a 3 quart pan) 

Over med. heat saute' onions, celery, carrots and garlic until they begin to brown- about 15 min.

Note: I like to buy Trader Joe's 'Mirepoix' - all the onion, celery and carrot diced and ready to go! 

Then you add the broth, lentils, tomatoes with the juice and the spices.

Stir and bring to a boil.

Cover the pan and reduce heat to a med-low simmer until the lentils are tender- about 35 min.

Once the lentils are tender, transfer two cups of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth.

Then return the puree to the soup in the pan.

This step gives it a nice, thicker texture.

But it you like it 'soupier' just thin with a little more broth after the puree.

And that's it!

Note: If you want to double this recipe, be sure to puree twice as much soup as well!

We enjoyed our soup with slices of homemade bread and butter.

Just perfect for a winter's evening!

Cheers!