Wind-Chills

You may know or you may not know, but I bought my sister a 365 Journal and gave her the 365 Journal Prompts and told her to get after it! I am such a bully! I also asked her when she wanted to share something here on this blog that has a whopping eleven followers to send it to me and she could be my second Guest Blogger! If you are wondering who was the first guest blogger that would be my chatty son Jayden. If you are interested in that blog you can read it here.

Without further ado, I present to you my sister’s first blog entry "Wind-Chills" on Whatever Wednesday Writings.

When I picked Alexis up after school yesterday she was in tears. I asked her what was wrong and her reply was. "The kids in the gym said there's a wind-chill!" I asked her if she knew what a wind-chill was. But of course she didn't. I explained to her what it was and she calmed down for a bit. And then proceeded to tell me about the fire drill they had at school and also being in her class in the dark. This conversation lasted the whole way to the doctor's office to meet her Mom.

After I dropped her off I received a phone call from her teacher who told me all about Alexis being scared during the lock-down drill and then the fire drill. I'm thankful for a teacher who cares enough for her kids to let parents/grandparents know about things like that.

After returning home from the doctor Katy was able to talk to her about wind-chills, fire drills and lock-downs. We learned that she thought wind chills were tornadoes.

It got me to thinking about all the children that were effected directly and indirectly by the May 20 & 31 tornadoes. With springtime coming up the schools are practicing for tornado season and I'm sure we'll be dealing with many frightened children.  Will you join me in praying for the children and teachers?

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 4:6-7 AMP

Whatever Wednesday Writings - Schizo Sah-weet Potato Feast

Have you ever had one of those nights where one kid is raptly begging you to take them to a favorite restaurant; while the other kid is on the couch just wanting saltine crackers and to feel better; then the husband is following you around like a puppy wondering what is for dinner? Or is it just my family?

This is one of those guilt-don’t waste - search Pinterest - be grateful for what you have type of concoctions. So I found something that had the main ingredient I was trying not to waste by letting it go to Rottville…Sah-weet Potatoes and even though the recipe was only four ingredients, I pinned it, thanks to menopause. The recipe was named “Baked Sweet Potato with Salsa, Avocado & Fried Egg”, but I renamed it. Can you believe no one gave it a like or even re-pinned it? Probably because it looks and sounds so appetizing huh? Poor, lonely sweet potatoes who have been branded and confined to the holidays.

When you read the ingredient list it sounds like it came out of a diabetic magazine. Just for the record I like those recipes, but my mom, who happens to be a diabetic, is convinced that the entire diabetic eating plan is created by people who are high (yes, she said that), so it probably originated in Colorado, just sayin.

So with the four ingredients in mind I dragged myself into the kitchen, with husband following, pulled out the sweet potatoes I got for a good deal at Aldi’s and begin to wash and prepare them to bake in the oven. I don’t know too many people who like sweet potatoes outside of the holidays. Grant it sweet potatoes are ugly and often crooked but did you know they pack a serious punch of Vitamin A? They truly are nutritional Superstars! One sweet potato provides about two and a half (2 ½) times the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) of vitamin A, plus fiber (and who doesn’t need more fiber in their diet?), potassium and vitamin C. See? Superstar! By the way every time I say the word Superstar, I say it like Mary Katherine Gallagher. See! All good things we need that God created and provided for us to enjoy and we get snooty and act like they are only for the special holiday meals, shame on us!

While the potatoes were baking I went to the store to get saltine crackers for the sick kid and when I returned my sweet crooked babies were baked and ready, see how I am warming up to these Superstars? The beggar child and her stalking dad went to church; so I asked my sickly child, would you like some saltine crackers or pigs in a blanket? My trick to see if my children are really sick is to offer them food I know they like, devious I know! I prefer to think of it as Momma’s Sickness Gauge and mind you it did not take hundreds of thousands of government dollars to research its effectiveness. The reply?  Pigs in a blanket.  Really? After I got out in the cold and trekked to the store in misty rain for the saltines? So pigs it was for my piglet because I am short order cook in case you didn’t know. So here is my variation of the four ingredients Sweet Potato recipe from Pinterest along with its new name.

Schizo Sah-weet Potato

1 Medium Sweet Potato, baked

¼ cup of black beans, rinsed

2 oz of egg substitute (or you can live dangerously and use one real egg, yolk and all), fried

¼ cup of reduced fat shredded cheese (your favorite kind – I used WeightWatchers Mexican Style Blend)

¼ of an avocado

2 Tablespoons of Salsa (I like the HOT kind)

Pinch of Cumin

Pinch of Chili Powder

Pinch of Cayenne Pepper (told you I like it HOT)

Salt and Pepper if desired

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash your sweet potato, pierce it several times with a fork (great therapy) and wrap in aluminum foil (or not) and bake for 50 minutes or until you can insert a fork in the middle and it is soft.   Once baked (take off the aluminum foil if you used it) and put on a plate, slice it open and mashed it up like you do a baked potato. Then put in a pinch of cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper and mix in to the potato.  Next, top the potato with ¼ cup of black beans and cheese. Then spray your skillet with cooking spray and once heated, fry your egg or egg substitute, salt and pepper if you like. Once the egg is fried, flop it on top of your potato that has the beans/cheese on it. Then top that with salsa and avocado and enjoy!

I put it with a side of nothing because it was just that good! This concoction is one of the best unsuspected food combinations known to man and my life seriously went from a mundane evening to glories untold as I sank my teeth in to all that God had made. I may have heard singing it was that good. Eating sweet potatoes out of their natural territory of Thanksgiving and Christmas meals required me to take a risk and see things differently and it paid off! My tummy and eyes thanked me. Nobody else did though. I made it the next evening for Darryl; but after the first bite I can tell if he thinks it is good or not because the first bite is followed by a Mmmmmmmm, well this time it wasn't. Sweet Potato Snob!

I am so glad I took the risk to see something differently. I vote for Sah-weet Potatoes Year Around!

Whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corin 10:31

Whatever Wednesday Writings - Can people change?

This post is the beginning of my Whatever Wednesday Writing Challenge to learn more, read about the challenge visit here.

Can people change? It is only three simple words, but it is a loaded question. Being the start of a New Year change in the form of New Year’s resolution is being discussed, considered and promised a lot right now. And since we are the first week of the New Year, many of those resolutions have already gone out the window landing flat smack on the ground in a pile of good intents. In fact, Forbes magazine reports only 8% of people will achieve their New Year’s Resolutions. Wow, we are a bunch of failures and/or proof that change is hard. As you know, most people don’t like change unless you are a baby with a poopy diaper; but change is a big part of our lives.

We change jobs, homes, cars, brand names, insurance companies, providers, friends, our minds, Facebook accounts, the list is really endless. So the answer is YES people can change. However, some things are unchangeable, for example, I could not change the structure of my DNA or blood type; but I do believe for the most part people can change. If I didn’t believe this I would not have become a Health Educator. Behavioral change is one of the most difficult things to achieve and it really boils down to an individual’s choice. We can’t make people do anything they don’t want to do. I can’t make anyone quit smoking. I can’t make anyone exercise regularly. I can’t make anyone eat healthy. Those desires for change must come from within the individual. Once the individual gets past the roadblocks to change in their lives and minds and takes on the Rocky Balboa attitude and believes “I can do this!” then change is possible. Not easy, but possible.

Surprisingly, Rocky Balboa had some pretty good quotes.

One of my favorite TV shows is the Biggest Loser. I love watching severely obese people sweat, puke and cry almost to the point of death; I am joking. One reason I love to watch the (unrealistic as it may be) TV show is the encouragement I gain to live a healthier life. If they can get through a workout that was probably designed by “Hannibal King”, by gosh, I CAN TOO! If they can listen to trainers yelling at them to press through the workout, by gosh, I CAN TOO! If they can prepare and eat healthy meals, by gosh, I CAN TOO! See my motivation?

I know how to set smart goals, identify barriers and obstacles, find solutions, but the piece of the change puzzle that I wished I knew how to produce in individuals is how to get people out of the Eeyore outlook of “I don’t feel like changing”; “I don’t want to change” to the side of empowerment where they live and yell out “I am ready to do this!”.

Last night I saw on someone’s Facebook page a quote by Maya Angelou that said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” I really like that! Another favorite of mine that I often say to myself is “Attitude determines actions and outlook determines outcomes.” That came from one of my favorite authors Warren Wiersbe. There will be times in our lives that change will be necessary and unwelcomed; but if we go forth with a good attitude and outlook, our actions will follow and the outcome will be better. I like to try and focus on the cans and not the cant’s.

 

Finally, I can’t write about change without talking about the biggest change in my life, no I am not speaking of menopause; it actually was a change that took place in my heart. A change that has kept me from going down the “ugly attitude road” and living on “Bitterness Avenue”. The change is a change I had no control over or any part in, it was a GIFT  given to me with no strings attached,  no requirements, just given out of love. A gift that will never be taken away from me, because it is just that…A  GIFT! It is when Jesus found me. You see I didn’t find Him, He wasn’t lost. I was. Lost. Without hope. In shame. And completely blinded of the messed up state I was in by the god of this world, I was unable to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (see 2 Corin 4:4); but God who is rich in mercy made me alive with Christ even when I was blinded and dead in my sins, it is of GRACE that I have been saved (see Eph 2:4-5). And now that I am His, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (see Phil 4:13).

Introducing...Whatever Wednesday Writings

New year. New challenge. As if I didn’t have anything else better to do. For 2014 (MMXIV) I am going to TRY to pick either one of my pictures from the current week that I submit to the Fat Mum Slim Picture of the Day – or - one topic from the current week of my 365 Question journal and blog it on Wednesdays, since the first of January was on a Wednesday.

It’s a trap I am setting for myself, but I will call it a challenge and I am dragging my sister in to the challenge with me. She doesn't have to post anything, only if she wants to, but she is going to journal with me. Years ago she used to like to journal/write and I’ve declared it’s time to hear her voice! So with a new journal and a year of writing prompts in hand I delivered them to her house today just like UPS with a speedy stop, drop and go!

I am Red (Go Sooners). Gaye is Blue (Go Thunder).

And since I plan on posting on Wednesdays (I hope), I had to find a W word to go with Wednesday, it’s a blog thing rule you know? The first W word that came to mind was Weeny, doesn’t that word make you laugh? It does me and when I told Gaye she laughed to, we're weird I know. Weeny dogs, itsy-bitsy-teenie-weeny spiders, the word weeny could fit since our journal entries may be weeny. Well-worded...uh-NO! Whew Wednesday could be good because of the relief of sticking to a writing challenge. Wholesome Wednesday sounds nice because it just sounds so healthy. How about Woman Wednesday…Hear Us Roar…only if there is chocolate or our home team is playing. Whoop! Here it is Wednesday to honor the Thunder. However, Wipeout, Willy Nilly or Wishy Washy Wednesday are probably more like it, but we’ve decided on Whatever Wednesday Writings. We just had to get fancy and throw in an extra W word, don’t expect fancy all the time, ya hear?

So tomorrow we start Whatever Wednesday Writing.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think (or write) about such things." Philippians 4:8 (emphasis mine)

"What is One Thing You Feel You Can't Say in the Church?"

I just finished Permission to Speak Freely, Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace by Anne Jackson. This book was recommended by a young lady almost two years ago and I just finished reading it. To my credit, I just purchased it about a month ago; plus being sick this past week allowed me time to read it and I am glad I did.

The young lady who recommended this book and I use to attend the same church. She posted on Facebook that it was a good book and every person especially those who attend church should read the book. I was intrigued because I struggle with fear and confession and here the title said I have permission to speak freely, but will I? Only God knows.

Some might not be able to read this style of writing but honestly I found it an easy read. Anne herself confessed that she had to arm-wrestle her editor to break the rules of a typical book structure with her self described "messy combination of art and story and Scripture", yes she used the word and two times instead of comas, I like her.

Anne is a Bible Belt Baptist PK (Pastor's Kid) and she openly shares and talks about the frustration with the church wanting to keep the appearance of everything being fine, when everything isn't fine, we are messed up people, broken. She ventured out on her blog and asked a simple question "What is one thing you feel you can't say in the church?" and hundreds of people responded. The book has some of those confessions and to me they were not shocking because we all are broken, messed up people.

Within the book she talks about the Gift of Going Second, where one person's confession can lead and open the door for others to confess because they learn they are not the only one. They are not alone. The enemy loves to keep us singled out and feeling alone. He hates when we open up and confess, he would prefer to keep us locked up in our world of secrecy where he can shame us out, beat us up and keep us living in fear of what people will think, say and how they will treat us if they knew our struggles, our past, of who we are and what we've done. On the other hand confession removes the chains of fear and allows us to live in victory. When we live in shame, we hide and act like everything is fine - we focus on our inadequacy, when we confess and bring to light and expose our sins/inadequacies those sins lose their power and we highlight the adequacy of the Holy Spirit to live a life of righteousness. As Christians we have to stop hiding our sins and pretending life is perfect and we have to stop labeling and categorizing sins as bad, worse, and the worst - sin is sin. Truth (Jesus Christ) came to set us free.

I was humbled by this book. I was challenged, but mostly, I was moved to worship as I pondered the amazing grace of the cross of Christ. It is my prayer for myself that this year I will be fully obedient to Christ. That I will choose to trust Him daily in all He brings in my life. That I will remember who I am and Whose I am. That when trials and temptations come I won't become overwhelmed, losing site, but I will fix my eyes and focus on Christ and become overwhelmed with Him. That my first response to life will be not run to my husband, family or a friend, but to pray. Finally, that I will be prepared in season and out of season to give an answer for the Hope that lives within me.

Bring on 2014, may the LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel.

"But now entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us." - Malachi 1:9

Temporary Fudge Cake, Eternal Life

It’s been almost two years now…plain and simple…Dad is still missed with every day that passes. Today would have been his 72nd birthday and as my brother posted on FB, they would have been golfing today. Of course they would because it turned out to be a beautiful day, not that the cold, snow or wind ever stopped us from golfing. Did you know you can golf for free on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day? We did!


Dad in his patriotic hat ready to hit the greens

Golfing has always been a big part of my dad’s life and he passed on his love of the game to all of us, even Señor Harjo, however Gaye was never impressed with the sport and/or was probably too busy hanging out with Marty in church parking lots, it’s a weird thing they did.

See Mom's matching sweats and ear muffs...you know it was cold!

For many years golf is what we did, all weekend, every weekend, often times 36 holes in one day. Dad and mom planned vacations around golf courses. Mom has all kinds of cute golf shoes/sandals, earrings, clothes, visors – all that match. We played tournaments, scrambles, even glow in the dark golf in Pawnee! Together, as a couple, they made golfing their life, their bond, their “thing” to go do.

Dad and I at Mescalero, New Mexico Golf Tournament

Summer day, some where in a sea of green. Way to keep your head down Buster!

Golf is not the same now, there is a missing piece,  a missing person...my dad; but at the same time golf brings this familiar peace and comfort of dad. Our family not only plays golf but we watch it on TV; and as we get ready to watch the 2^nd Master’s Tournament without Dad here, we all can envision his remarks about the shots, the players and the commentators.

Isn’t that how life here goes? Change. Adjustments. New seasons.


Dad's outward baptism of what had taken place within his heart; the old was gone and the new had come.

A hole in One here...Dad is now Whole in One in heaven with the real Master.

Yes, we mourn, but we don't mourn without hope. One day, sooner than we know, we will be reunited with our Dad, but more than that we will be reunited with the One who made eternity possible.

Happy Birthday Dad, I know you are in the presence of Jesus and I am pretty sure you are eating chocolate cake; so in memory of you, we too will eat your favorite dessert meal, Braum's Fudge Cake. Although the cake is temporary, our memories of you remain and even more so your soul is eternally with our Father in heaven. We don't lose heart dad, love and miss you!

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18