Another Book Report. Please Don't Fall Asleep.

I have finished reading Sacred Thirst by M. Craig Barnes. Finally. It was a very thought provoking book. I hope that by writing some things out here that struck me I will remember what I read. (I wrote another "report" on this book here.)

In the last chapter of the book, the author was talking about making choices in life and how we try so hard to discern God's will. He quoted a verse from Ecclesiastes 9:7.

Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do.

And he goes on to say:

This wonderful, but typically overlooked, verse ought to be remembered when we are begging God for direction but hearing nary a word from Him. Maybe He has already approved our choices.

The author talks about people coming to him to talk about some momentous choice they are facing and make it clear they are seeking God's will. He says:

After we finish praying, there is usually still no burning bush or burning conviction. As these folks leave my office, I often wonder if perhaps God hasn't put His hands in His pockets, shrugged His shoulders and said, "It really doesn't matter either way, because I love you."

If God wants us to get to a certain place in life or have a certain companion along the way, we won't be able to miss it. Remember, though, God is a lot more concerned about WHO we are than WHERE we get to, or even who our companions are along the way. His invitation to us is to spend a lot more time praying to know His heart than His will. Of course, as we draw close to His passionate love for us, we are changed - which is after all, always His will. Everything else is a free expression of gratitude.

It doesn't matter where we work, or with whom we establish a relationship, or how we try to package our lives - it all belongs to the Father anyway. It still gives Him enormous joy when we eat our food with joy and drink our wine with a merry heart, simply because He delights in our delight.

When we have become convinced that we are the beloved of the Father, the whole world opens up to us as an opportunity to express our gratitude. Our many choices about jobs, relationships, and ministries are never more than ways of selecting wrapping paper for the life we present as a surprising gift to God. It just doesn't matter much how we choose to make the gift. What matters is the identity of the person making the gift.

Have you embraced your identity as the beloved - the Father's gift to you? That's what matters. That's the "will of God." And it is the only thing that will satisfy your thirst.

I recently watched some home movies from 11 years ago. It was the Christmas my kids were 7 and 10. Both of them had made me presents. Megan had drawn pictures (or as she wrote: pickturs) and made the pages into a book. Caleb had woven something in art class at school. It didn't really matter to me that the gifts were not perfectly made. What thrilled me as a mother was the excitement in the kids' eyes as they presented their surprises to me. Their hearts were wanting to please me. I "delighted in their delight."

I remember 25 years ago this month a wonderful man I was in love with asked me to marry him. I remember laying in bed that night, praying, "God is this your will?" And I heard, "Whatever your heart desires, my child." This was God speaking Psalm 37:4 to me! I am so humbled that my great, powerful God sees me as His beloved. The gift of Pete to me is far beyond what I expected.

Cookie Recipe

I thought I would post my very favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. But I must give some credit to Alton Brown. I got the recipe from one of his DVDs and then tweaked it a bit. They are soft and chewy and have oatmeal in them. Sometimes I add pecans. Yum.

So, start with these things:

And yes, I am a bit obsessed with the Tupperware. Or at least I was in the '80s & '90s.

Then you use one of these Mixers of Awesomeness to mix it all together. (Don't worry, the list of ingredients is below) My sweet husband gave me one of these mixers last year and I Love It!

Next, use a BIG cookie scoop. Alton also introduced me to the wonders of parchment paper. I am a fan. So easy, and no more washing of a bunch of cookie sheets!


After baking ..... YUMMY! Caleb says these cookies are addictive. I must agree.

Here's the recipe:

2 sticks (8 oz. each) unsalted butter

2 1/4 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons milk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups oatmeal

Melt the butter. (If you don't use unsalted butter, cut back on the salt.) Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. (The bread flour makes a difference because of the gluten level in it.)

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, egg yolk, milk and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and oatmeal.

Chill the dough. Bake ate 375 degrees for 14 minutes or until golden brown.

The recipe was without the oatmeal, but I just added it and it turned out great! I'm sure you could add nuts too.

Enjoy!

My Son the Reporter

My son is working on a degree in Journalism. Here's the picture that's on his college paper's website: And here is the link to his page. There you can find more links to the articles that he has written:

http://www.kansan.com/staff/caleb_sommerville/

He is a good writer and I always enjoy reading his stuff.

The Other Side of My Family

And here are pictures of on Pete's side of the family:

The Whole Gang

Front Row: niece Hannah, niece Aimee, mother-in-law Charlotte, husband Peter, daughter Megan, niece Nicole.
Back Row: sister-in-law Kathy, brother-in-law John (Pete's brother), father-in-law Jim, me, son Caleb, sister-in-law Susan (Pete's sister), brother-in-law Dave




Sister-in-law Susan

A painting we had done for my in-laws' 50th anniversary. It's of their beautiful backyard garden that my father-in-law labors on every summer.




Cousins! Nicole and Megan




Father-in-law Jim, mother-in-law Charlotte. This is from last summer when we celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary

Brother-in-law Dave, father-in-law Jim

World's Easiest Quiz

(Passing requires 4 correct answers)

1) How long did the Hundred Years' War last?

2) Which country makes Panama hats?

3) From which animal do we get cat gut?

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

7) What was King George VI's first name?

8) What color is a purple finch?

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?


Remember, you need 4 correct answers to pass.

Check your answers below .

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ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years

2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador

3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? Dogs

7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert

8) What colour is a purple finch? Crimson

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand

10) What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange (of course)


Let me know how you did! (What do you mean, you failed?)

Family

Here are some pictures of family (on my side) that I thought I would post:My nephew Alex

My cousin Peggy

My mom Verlee and her great-granddaughter Madison

Rebecca and Joel my nephew and his wife


This is sweet Madison (my great-niece) and my niece Julia (cousin to Maddie's mommy)

All my nieces and nephews.

My mom Verlee and my brother Paul

My sister Pam and brother-in-law JD

My sister Beth and brother-in-law Mark

My niece Karena and her husband Jon


Me and my hubby

My kids Caleb and Megan

My dad and mom Clair and Verlee

Dancing Those Chains Right Off -- or the thrill of being free in Christ

I thought I would share some links to a couple of songs that really move my heart.

Shackles: Mary Mary This one just makes me want to get up and dance! I actually made it my ring tone on my cell phone! :)

Amazing Grace (May Chains are Gone) Chris Tomlin I used to sing this hymn to my kids starting when they were babies. To this day I get tears in my eyes when I remember them singing it with me. Amazing Grace is one of my favorite hymns ever. Joined with the chorus of -- My chains are gone. I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy rains. Unending love, amazing grace -- just brings it to another level for me.

There seems to be a theme of being set free from chains (shackles) and being free in Christ! Ain't no better thing!!!!

(I know these are just links and not videos, Zach. You know it took me forever to figure out how to upload pictures on here -- let alone good quality ones! You should be happy that I at least know how to do links. Someday I'll figure out how to get videos on here...)

God's Great Compassion and Love

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord....
Though He brings grief,
He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.
For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

--Lamentations 3:19-26, 32-33

Tropical Beauty

Birthdays

We are headed into the birthday months in this family. We have them for four months in a row. Mine gets to be first! And today is my birthday!!! There was a beautiful snowfall this morning to greet me! Yay God!

I am humbled and thankful for my life. I don't think I could have always said that over the years. But now I feel honored that God chose to give me life so I could honor Him. There are so many things and people He has blessed me with.

Even after all these years I still get goofy and excited about my birthday. I have self-appointed rules of no housework and no cooking. I'm trying to decide where I want to take myself out to lunch today. I may just watch episodes of The Office all day... But the most exciting part of the day is that tonight I and three of my most favorite people are going to see this:


We are going to a dinner theater in the Big City!!! I am so excited. Megan helped me shop for a new outfit last weekend and I am looking forward to dressing up.

YAY FOR BIRTHDAYS!!! :)

(And for the presents sitting on the coffee table that I get to look at all day!!)

Pictures from Hawaii

This is what our town looked like a few days before we left for Hawaii. It was beautiful, but cold.

We went from frost on the trees to PALM TREES! This is of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. It was nice and warm that day!


Here is the view out our hotel window. This is Diamond Head. Wow! It was stunning.

The main thing I wanted to do in Honolulu was see Pearl Harbor. This is a picture of the memorial over the USS Arizona. Below is a shot of part of the ship above water and a view back into Pearl Harbor. I love seeing things in real life that I have only seen in pictures. It was moving to see this knowing what a big piece of history this is for our country.

Caleb & Megan playing in the Pacific Ocean on Waikiki Beach on Christmas Eve Eve.

Our cruise ship "The Pride of Hawaii"



Our stateroom. The balcony was great to sit on and see the wonderful scenery. The first night we were on the ship I went outside on it and saw the almost full moon reflecting off the ocean. It was so beautiful it made me gasp in awe.


The top deck of the ship.



Megan and her cousin Julia and their matching Luau dresses.


Caleb and Megan with their "tattoos" (really just an ink stamp) at the Luau.



Pete and me at the Luau. Like our leis?

Christmas Vacation

I have had the privilege of having a few really great Christmas breaks. The first one was in 1999 when we went to New Zealand for 10 days. That was an amazing trip. It is wonderful to see different parts of the world and see what God has made. That trip we got to go whale watching, see hot sulphur springs, see amazingly beautiful sheep covered mountains and ocean in one view, and worship in a church with New Zealanders on Christmas morning.

The next Christmas was in 2000 in NE Australia. That was complete with snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef on Christmas Eve. What an imagination our great God has with all those beautiful tropical fish! We saw rain forests, koalas, brightly colored birds in the wild (parrots I think), we had steaks on the BBQ by the pool on Christmas Day, and got to celebrate New Years Eve with some good friends and watch fireworks (on TV) on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

This Christmas we had the privilege of going to HAWAII!!! We flew to Honolulu and then cruised around the islands from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve. Here is a preview. We got to see volcanoes (no hot lava though), a HUGE banyan tree (it filled up a city block), experience life on a cruise ship for a week, eat cruise food (yummy), and we got to get a tan in the middle of winter!

I will add some pictures in the next few days. I need to get some laundry done, put Christmas stuff away, and clean my terribly messy house. But other than that I have so much free time... Haha.

I am excited to think about where another Christmas break may be spent. In some ways I think doing something different to celebrate Christmas makes me stop and think a bit harder about the real meaning of Christmas.