Prayers for a Woman I Haven't Met

Yesterday, I wrote about the book I am reading and now re-reading.  Later in the day, I was reading another blog and saw something about "Praying for Joanne" with a picture of a woman who looked to me like the author of this book, Joanne Heim. I clicked on the link and was thrilled to find a link to her blog "The Simple Wife" (http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/).  Then I was deeply saddened to see that in January of this year, she suffered a stroke at age 38. 

I only had time to read for a second yesterday and just had time to read a bit more, but my heart aches for this family! To have been reading about her active life with her family these past few weeks, I feel like I've gotten to know her.  To read all they are now going through is so sobering.  A recent post written by her father--probably around my own father's age--talks about all the accomplishments to be thankful for these past six months (from waking from a coma, to breathing on her own, to talking...) and her next set of goals as she re-enters rehab (http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/the_simple_wife/2011/07/papas-post.html).   I can't imagine how hard this is for a father to watch his daughter endure this tremendous life change.

Her goals include some of the most basic daily routines, some we even grumble about (going to the grocery store, cleaning the house, driving, typing, not to mention walking unassisted and showering).

I am teary today. And I'm prayerful.  And I'm wanting to be more present and more alert and more grateful, savoring each moment.

I am thankful to see how God is working in this beautiful family, how He is binding them together even through suffering.  I am thankful to be allowed to witness His faithfulness.

Honoring the Sabbath

I just finished reading a simple but inspiring book that my sister-in-law gave me a few months ago: Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim.  I just finished reading it; and I just started re-reading it.

It is such a refreshing look at how we live and how we could live.  The whole book talks about intentionally choosing a simpler life in the face of a culture constantly screaming that we need more--more stuff, more money, more activities, more trips, more nights out, more, more, more.  This message is one I need repeated.

One chapter talks about the Sabbath and how our culture has begun to treat Sunday as a regular day full of errands and activities.  Heim remembers coming home from church as a child and smelling the pot roast supper her mother had prepared. Her mom had set the dining room table with china the night before and had done the prep work on the meal to make it easy for Sunday.  When the family got home from church, they brought another family or couple with them to share the meal.  Heim asks what has happened to this tradition?

I thought this was worth bringing up to my family. So, Saturday night at dinner, I told my husband and the big kids about what I'd been reading. We talked about why Sunday should be set apart as a special day and wondered what we could do to make it special.  Everyone was excited!

Two suggestions that Heim makes about thinking through a Sabbath are--stay flexible and plan ahead.  She knows that for her, family time and being restful are a part of honoring the Lord's day, so she doesn't want to be scurrying around all day.

Sunday, I put a whole chicken in the crockpot before church, made scalloped potatoes that afternoon (which was super time-consuming, not necessarily restful!), made a cake with the kids and put it in the oven as the potatoes came out and we made the salad. We set the dining room table and lit the candles.  We brought in the children's Bible to read a story and talk about while we were eating.  It was such a special meal, and we really all enjoyed treating Sunday as a special day.  We want to incorporate asking other people to dinner in the future!

How do other families honor Sundays?

**(By the way, if you didn't see Rachel's comment from the last post, please look because I want to know a recipe idea like that, too! Please add your own comment with any last-minute recipe ideas!)

Feeding Masses with Loaves and Fish

"'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?'" (John 6:9)

Twice this summer I have invited over friends for lunch only to realize once they had arrived that we were low on provisions. Hmmm... the whole swim class and moms and siblings? How did I miss that all our sandwich bread had dwindled to only half a loaf?  Tuna salad for my friend and me while our kids ate their sandwiches? Oops. Good thing I had half an apple and some sweet pickles to add to my measly can of tuna. I always have extra tuna in the pantry. Where did it go?

The good news? Everyone was fed. Everyone was satisfied.

I am glad to learn this lesson of creative stretching, of opening doors before realizing maybe I "shouldn't."

I need to extend this to more areas of my life. I try to take control instead of letting the Lord work in His way, in His time.  I want to get my ducks in a row.  I want to know how everything will turn out, and if I can't see how, I need a plan! And a backup plan.  It gets exhausting.

I love the little boy in this passage of Jesus's feeding the 5000. He is earnest and trusting.  He does what he's told and is generous, but he's bold and courageous, too.  I tend to be more like Andrew, the disciple reporting to Jesus about the boy's offering; I tend to doubt that such a little portion could actually pan out into a miracle of provision.

And not only does Jesus provide; he gave them each as much as they wanted. And there were leftovers.

Our God is an awesome God.

Ranch-style Cooking

While my family is on vacation, I have been doing a lot of reading. One of the books is Don Strange of Texas: His Life and Recipes.  I have been curled up in the leather armchair in the great room at my grandparents' ranch, reading fabulous recipes and interesting biographical tidbits about this famed Texas caterer.

I have especially loved reading it here because he catered our wedding at this very ranch.  Each recipe brought back the delectable tasting menu we sampled at his Don Strange Ranch outside of San Antonio.  Genius. And so Texan.

Prickly Pear Margaritas, Caprese Skewers, Mango, Brie and Avocado Quesadillas--these are just a few of the clever takes on Texas cooking.

My favorite part of the book, however, was reading about Strange's own history, from working in his parents' grocery store to becoming a premier foodie all with guts and bravado that can only come from Texas.  For example, I love the story of his trips to San Franciso and New York with his wife to learn about "gourmet cooking" and broaden his horizon.  The director of the McNay Museum in San Antonio, for whom Strange catered many events, sent them to a famed New York restaurant with a sommalier.  They did not even order wine they were so intimidated, and his wife ordered a whisky sour because it's all she'd heard of. 

Another great story was his invitation to do a barbecue for the NFL commissioner at his New York estate.   When local New York butchers couldn't provide as much beef as Strange required, he had to freeze the side of beef in Texas and take it on the plane with him to New York.

The personal anecdotes combined with the brilliant recipes make this a fantastic and fun read.
Don Strange of Texas: His Life and Recipes

Listening Daily

"Blessed is the man who listens to me [wisdom], watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.   For whoever finds me finds life"  (Proverbs 8:34-5).

I want to take more time to pause and be still during each day.  I want to make sure that, at some point, I take a moment to withdraw from the hectic pace, turn off the background noise, shut my eyes to the visual chaos... even if it means locking myself in the bathroom for a few minutes.

For me, the daily discipline of being still and listening to wisdom is even harder in the summer.  Not being on a schedule and not having the rhythms of the school day make me very loosey goosey.  I'm on vacation! We all are!

But there are times during summer's action-packed days when I crave time to be dreamy.  I want to be alone. 

I loved the reminder in the verse above that daily watching, waiting, and listening for wisdom is a blessing and brings life. 

The fact that this listening brings life is why I start craving the stillness. I know my time has been busy with travel and fun and togetherness, but I also need to make sure I'm taking time to be still.

How do you watch, wait, and listen during summer?

How to Create a Sense of Occasion

My mom has a knack for making a holiday seem special.  She goes all out on decorations, and she makes sure that all the details of the gathering point back to the reason we're celebrating.

This 4th of July was a perfect example.

At the bay house my parents share with my brother's family, we all gathered to celebrate.  When we arrived, we were immediately in the spirit of the weekend.

And throughout the weekend, we had to appreciate all the details and effort.  Who knew a simple flag or two could add such a sense of occasion?

Besides decorations, games and paper goods added to the festive air.

On special occasions, I appreciate that my mom has always added her own touch to the holiday.  It has inspired me to want to do that for my own family, to create memories and treasure significant moments in our lives.  It takes time.  It takes effort.  It often takes advanced planning. But it is so worth it.

How do you create a sense of occasion?

Playing with Pea Gravel

Our old house had a section of pea gravel in the backyard.  It was perfect for the swingset, and it was perfect for toy dump trucks and shovels and wheel barrows.  (Our dog also thought is was perfect as a sort of kitty litter-type spot for him to do his business.)

When we moved, we no longer had pea gravel. Just grass and dirt.  I had no problem with this and did not even really notice, but after a few weeks, my 6-year-old brought it up.

"Mom, I need dad to go to Home Depot to get some pea gravel," he declared.  "And I need to go with him because there are different types of pea gravel, and he might get the wrong size."

"OK, honey," I said, "but why do you need pea gravel?"

"For my trucks. We used to have it, and I need it for my dump trucks and digger trucks."

Well, there you have it.  They came home with a tub full, and he and his sister had a great time digging.  You never know what will make kids smile.

Does anyone else have easy summer backyard ideas for kids?

What Season Is it?

I read a passage from Ecclesiastes this morning that I hadn't read in ages.  The writing is beautiful, the words simple; but it really got me thinking.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."  (Ecc. 3:1-8).

What season are you in right now?