Thankfulness

Today is a day for giving thanks.

For gathering around the table with the people you love, or the people you've just met, and invited into your home.

For appreciating the people in your life and reflecting on the year that you've had.

I thought about my family and the year we've had. And it was a doozie.

My big sister and her family moved to Texas.

I found out my little sister is also moving 1.5 hours away in January.

My in-laws had a house fire and had to vacate their home.

I lost my job.

And yet, I am so grateful amongst all of these trials that happened this year.

Because, you see, God didn't just stop there.

There was a mountain after the valley.

Last weekend, I went to visit my big sister in Texas, and she loves it there. And I can see her building a beautiful home away from home in Texas.

My little sister is moving 1.5 hours away to follow her dreams of becoming a nurse.

My in-laws got the okay to move back into their upgraded and dazzling RENEWed home, yesterday.

I got a brand new job. And it rocks.

God doesn't just bring a valley into our lives and then walk away. He has a plan. And the plan usually involves a lot of time on our knees, begging. And it involves a lot of people in your life coming together and surrounding you with love. And then we find ourselves, once again, on our knees, in thanks.

I am so thankful life isn't easy.

And that, amidst all the heartache, pain, and trouble in this world, there is beauty. Beauty so grand, that it can only be seen from a mountaintop. A mountaintop that we could only find, on our way up out of the valley.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"In everything give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

All in a Sticky...

So I've been seeing tons of Random Acts of Kindness ideas all over Pinterest lately.

And I've had a stirring in my heart, a desire to do something.

Something random.

Something that shows God's love for someone.

And today, I was inspired by a sticky note.

More specifically by the Love Revolution that is starting over at Live to Love.

My dear sweet sister and blogger had a wonderful idea to post sticky notes on bathroom mirrors, books, anywhere and everywhere, with encouraging words and scripture on them to leave behind for unsuspecting people.

People that might just need to hear what God thinks of them today.

Words of grace. And love. And hope.

I did my first sticky today. And left it on a bathroom mirror at a large Medical Complex.

And it was exhilarating. Trying to leave a sticky and not getting caught. Cause what's the fun in that?

So I challenge you.

Find a sticky note. Write encouraging words on it, and sneak it somewhere anonymously. Somewhere where someone, somewhere, might just need to hear that they are beautiful, loved, and that God cares about them more than they could ever imagine.

Good luck on your sticky note challenge.

Make sure you visit lightoftheearth.tumblr.com and add your pic of your sticky so we can help start this Love Revolution.

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Salted Caramel Brownies

So I decided to take a leap and make some homemade brownies. Yup. I'm not a baker one bit. But I aspire to be, and apparently thats all it takes.

And lately I have been swooning over salted caramel. Who found this amazing discovery and WHY did it take so long?

So I couldn't just make any ol' brownies. I had to have Salted Caramel brownies. Pronto.

And the thing about these ah-mazing brownies is that you have to make the soft, pillowy, chocolatey bottoms first. And then the whole house will smell like brownies. Then, while they are supposed to be cooling so you can make and add the salted caramel on top, your husband will ask "Why aren't we eating the brownies yet."

And then you will try to explain that the good part isn't on them yet. But he will see brownies and he will want. So you will give him a square of plain brownie while the rest are trying to cool. And he will say "They are good, but they are missing something."

It's a little like life. We see and smell the sweet brownies in life and we want them. We don't want to wait for Gods perfect timing, or what he's planning on working on us during the timing. We.want.brownies. And God tells us to wait. He may or may not sneak in an "almost ready brownie" to give you a taste of what's to come, but you will think--there's something more I'm waiting for. And you will be right, because God's provision is SO much bigger than what we can imagine.

And then comes the salted caramel topping in life. And you see the neat little package in front of you, and you decide it IS much prettier, and more perfect, than the "almost ready brownie", and just as the Baker Maker intended. And then you eat it, and love it, and be thankful. And full.

"Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4-5

Salted Caramel Brownies
adapted from Cooking Light Magazine


Brownies:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray

Topping:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons evaporated fat-free milk, divided
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/8 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare brownies: Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (through baking powder) in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. In a separate bowl, Combine 6 tablespoons butter, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add butter mixture to flour mixture. Stir to combine. Scrape batter into a greased 9-inch square baking pan , and bake at 350 for 19 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out with moist crumbs. Cool on wire rack or in fridge.
3. Prepare topping: Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons milk; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and powdered sugar; stir with whisk until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over cooled brownies. Let stand until set.
4. Combine 2 tablespoons milk and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl ; microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds until melted and a silky consistancy. Add to Ziploc bag (carefully), and cut a small hole in one corner. Pipe out chocolate in preferred design. Sprinkle sea salt over chocolate.

Calories:180, Fat:7.2g, Protein:21g, Carb:27.8g; Fiber:0.8g; Sodium:76 mg, Calc: 26mg

When life gives you limes...

I've had one of those weeks. The kind where you wake up, think everything is going to be great, and you go to lunch on a Monday, and then your whole life gets flipped upside down.

The kind where life hands you limes. Not lemons per-se. Limes. Because you see the sweet silver lining, but its still darn tart. 

So with the limes life handed me, I made Guacamole. 

Because I love it and it makes me happy. And life is pretty tart right now and I could use a lot of happy.

This is creamy, zesty and crunchy and will fill your stomach up with sunshine. And happiness. And guacamole.

Guacamole

3 very ripe avocados (press peel with your finger it should give a bit but not go through peel).

2 small tomato, seeded and diced

1/4 Red onion, diced

1 lime, juiced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tbsp Jarred Jalepenos, diced

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Put all ingredients in a bowl. Scoop avocado out of its peel. Using a fork, or potato masher, mash all ingredients, mixing as you mash until it reaches the desired thinness/thickness you want--(I love a thicker guacamole.)

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

All in a Whisper...

I came across a verse this weekend while away on an amazing retreat at The Cove.  It was about Elijah, as he was trying to run away from the Lord. He felt defeated, and alone, and scared. And God came to him.

"The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." 1 Kings 19:11-13

Sometimes when we are looking for God to appear in our lives we look for the earthquakes or strong and mighty winds, BOLD occurances of His mighty existance. There are often times when the Lord can seem absent, and it can be far too quiet and lonely for our liking. And that's when He comes. In a whisper. A gentle whisper, to let us know He has not left us, and that He has a plan for you and me.


May you stop for a moment today and listen for God's whisper to your heart.

Memory Stones

Have you ever started a prayer journal? I did. 3 times. When I have something weighing on my heart and I feel like no other human being on earth can give me the right advice, and no matter how hard I seem to pray I still feel heavy-hearted, I write. It’s my way of handing it over to God.  And these particular heavy-hearted moments have happened to me 3 times, in the last 3 years.

2 weeks ago, I found out my sister is moving semi-cross-country. I opened my journal and wrote. And I turned back the pages to my 2 lonely other entries I had started the 2 years earlier. I had the best intentions. I would write every day, or every week, or at least every month, so that I could see the blessings on paper God has provided me. But time got away with me, God was good, and I skipped a lot of time between the heavy-hearted issues God apparently places in my life about once a year.

And I couldn’t help but notice some of my entries, some of the prayers that had gone “unanswered” for quite some time....

2009, “Dear Lord, please give us patience while we find a house.” We found and LOVE our new home, and managed to do it without pulling our or each other’s hair out.

2009 and 2010, “Dear Lord, please help my father find a job.” –My dad is currently working on a temporary assignment!

2009 and 2010, “Dear Lord, please help my brother-in-law’s company, and please provide provision for their family.”
–Wow. Sometimes God does not answer prayers quite like you think, hope, or could even dream.  God provided an amazing, can’t-say-no-to-this-opportunity to my Brother-in-law and his family. In Texas. 1,398 miles away. And it is sad. 1,398 miles of sad. But its also amazing. God is providing for this family, just as he promised, and I am excited for them, and excited for next year, to look back and laugh at the irony of God, and how he comes through for us in His crazy, God ordained ways.

In the book of Joshua, you may have seen this verse:

"Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day." Joshua 4:9 (NIV)

Joshua explained to the people following him that these stones would be there for years to come, so they could tell their children, and their children’s children of the miracle God had performed that day, and the blessings he poured out among his people.

This is why I want need to write in my prayer journal. So I have a living testament to the miracles and blessings God performs every day. So I don’t miss the PTL (Praise the Lord) moments that he places in my life every day. So I can look back at where I was, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, and laugh. Laugh at God’s irony, and laugh with Joy for the blessings in my life, and the goodness of God.

Praise You in this Storm

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7

So, I had my tonsils taken out. And it has been just as awful, terrible as they say it would be. I actually had a bit of a setback with mine to top it off, where I had severe nausea from the medicine I was on and the little amount of food I could eat, and I ended up dehydrated, and in need of a super-strong nausea medicine that they typically provide to chemo patients. During this 3 hour stint of dehydrated misery, I prayed and I prayed for God to take the pain away. And it didn't disappear. I was yelling (in my head because I can't talk), "God, where ARE you?" And a song popped in my head, Praise You in this Storm, by Casting Crowns. Lyrics:

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

[Chorus:]

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

So, rather than complain about how awful, terrible I have felt the past 2 weeks, and how awful I felt in those 3 hours, I will do just that. I will praise Him.

Praise God for:

1.5 weeks off of work

The fantastic outpouring of love from my dear family and friends

Popsicles and ice cream

Losing 6 lbs in one week

Bonding time with my hubby who has been an AMAZING nurse

Having quiet time to read 2 books

Healing, one day at a time. 

All you who are weary and burdened...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I just wanted to post a verse of encouragement, because I know there are a few people out there who need it today.  God allows there to be crises, stress, hurt, and stumbling blocks in each of our lives to teach us lessons-- and to teach us to come to Him and fall into His arms when we are weary and burdened.  May those who need it today find solace in His arms...

I also wanted to let you know about a new feature on my blog.

Look to the RIGHT and you will see a space that says “SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MCWONDERFUL LIFE BY EMAIL” then enter your email and the secret code, and every time I post a new blog post, it will go straight to your email! Pretty fantastic, huh?