Dinner Plan!

So I came up with a dinner plan that didn't include apple crisp, wrote out a meal plan for the next 2 weeks, made a grocery list, and had dinner on the table with only seconds to spare before my Darling came through the door. 15 minutes later he was back out the door, and two empty plates sat on our coffee table. 

We had skillet-cooked steak, twice baked potatoes (or, depending on how you were raised, stuffed potato skins. But what's the dif?) and our favorite dinner side salad. The potatoes were sooo good. I prebaked them in the microwave, then gutted them into a bowl.

 

Added Colby Jack, Cream Cheese, Parmesan, chopped red onions, Fresh Bacon Bits, Pepper, Salt, Parsley, Butter and Milk. Mashed it (Mixed it, Mushed it...whatever you wanna call it) all together, Rolled the skins in melted butter and seasoned salt, filled them and stuck them in the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. 

 

  The entire process took less than a half hour and they were soooo yummy! You really can throw anything you like into twice baked potatoes though, so don't be picky! I personally love them with cheddar and boiled broccoli. :D

Salad Salad Salad

Quinn and I love salad, and our favorite side salad works with any meal at any time. The combination of the fresh ground pepper, Parmesan cheese and ranch dressing is something to die for. This amount would do 4 side salads in a normal setting, but we like to split it into two half-plate salads.  It's also about right for a massive lunch salad if you throw some fresh crumbled bacon and chopped chicken breast on it.

And let's be clear. I am NOT a ranch eater. I used to gag at the mere smell of it, but one taste of this combination and I was sold. I've now graduated to the level of ranch eater that will dip her chicken tenders in it, though I still won't use it as a straight veggie dip or on a normal salad.

1 Romaine Heart

2 cups Fresh Baby Spinach

1 Roma Tomato

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan

Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Ranch Dressing

So simple, but absolutely unbeatable. I like to dice my tomatoes pretty small so as to be sure to get them in every bite. Chicken, bacon, even cold roast beef, eggs, mozzerella, black olives, feta...all of them are wonderful additions if you want to turn it into a complete meal, and the parmesan, pepper and ranch will prove themselves over and over again.

When All Thy Mercies

When all Thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed
Before my infant heart could know
From whom those comforts flowed

When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou,
With health renewed my face,
And when in sins and sorrows bowed,
Revived my soul with grace.

Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue,
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

Apple crisp for dinner last night. Apple crisp for breakfast this morning. Don't have a dinner plan...

But I love apple crisp.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Yesterday Quinn had a dentists appointment following class from 9am-1pm, so even though he blew in for a fast lunch and even though I rode along with him to the dentist, our "off" day together didn't really start until almost 4pm.

Makes for a really short day, even if you do stretch your evening into the wee hours of the morning.

This morning I woke up at 8:30 to see him out the door by 9. I crashed back in bed for 2 hours, got up and watched Rachael Ray make turkey burgers on english muffins with cranberry relish that looked completely disgusting, washed dishes and fried a couple (beef) burgers for lunch. Q got in at 12:20 and was off to work by 12:50. He'll be home around 10.

Tomorrow will be a repeat of today, 'cept he doesn't have to leave until 10am, and we'll have close to an hour together after class and before work. Friday I'll leave with him before 8:45 so I can spend the morning teaching/accompanying the homeschool orchestra (which needs a website very badly) and, aside from our 40 minutes together for lunch, won't see him until his 15 minutes home for dinner break, then home by 10.

Saturday we're getting lunch with his Dad and brother to celebrate the brothers' birthdays! Q's brother Tim is turning 16 today and Quinn is turning 25 on Sunday. It'll be very fun, but by 1 Quinn will be back and work until 10...

I'm not trying to gripe. It's just facts. You can do the numbers... it's gonna be an insane semester. On top of the 9 credit hours and 40 hours a week of school, we'll be trying to fit OB appointments, chiropractors, dentists, church, family events, friends and etc into our lives and still come up with some time to spend together. It's proving to be slightly difficult. When we actually are together we tend to do very nearly nothing. Lots of snuggling on the couch watching mindless tv, lots of me sleeping with my head in his lap while he studies, lots of talking long after we've turned the lights out...

For now we're just trying to surf it out. It's honestly been kinda fun. The mad dash to get everything done, the way we both seem to do our best to absorb every moment we get to be together. The effort we put into making every minute count. Makes me wonder if it isn't how we're supposed to live. If it isn't how we should take our times with the Lord. When we go to His word, or get to take time to do nothing but pray, shouldn't we treasure each second, knowing that life is going to whisk us on to the next thing?  To go to Him with a sense that each precious moment with Him, whether we're simply laying our head against Him to rest in His presence, or trying to tell Him all the things we want Him to know, or hanging on every word He speaks, to do so with the perpetual realization that life doesn't always allow us to have that. To speak to Him knowing that the next day may have us running from dawn to dusk, for hours on end, without a quiet moment to just be with Him.

I have this tendency to beg my poor husband into studying in bed when it gets late.  No, it's not sensible, but I can't stand to be in a different room then he is, even when I'm just gonna go to sleep. When he's there I tend to sleep leaned up against him, or holding on to his arm, or with my head in his lap, always wanting to know that he's right there. He'll come help me wash dishes and I'll find myself leaning my head against his back while he stands at the sink.

Don't you think Christ would be enthralled if we were forever reaching for Him? Don't you think it would thrill the heart of the Bridegroom if we couldn't bear to go through the most menial of labors without touching Him from time to time, without laying our head against Him, or pausing to look at Him and tell Him we love Him?

Do we not owe Him such a love?

Every day my relationship with Quinn shows me more where my heart ought to be towards Christ, and I see how I'm failing as a lover to the Beloved Lamb Of God. Every little thing he does for me thrills my heart, be it taking out the trash, or folding the blankets on the couch, or making the bed.

But do I take note of the things Christ does for me? 

Do I bother to thank Him for the endless mercies He bestows on me?

Do I cling to Him, begging Him to never let go of me, never step away, never be so far that I can't hear His very breath?

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness; 

False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

A Dispensation of Mercy

Lord, you see me
Through your mercy
I am guilty, still you love me
In your kindness
There is justice
Through your goodness you have brought me

Here where truth and mercy meet
You triumph over me
Your love has won my heart again
And still I am so amazed
My guilt is washed away
Before your cross of peace
Where truth and mercy meet

King of Glory, Lord of Mercy
Risen Savior, Perfect Wonder
Through your kindness
You have drawn me
By your suffering you have saved me

Here where truth and mercy meet
You triumph over me
Your love has won my heart again
And still I am so amazed
My guilt is washed away
Before your cross of peace
Where truth and mercy meet

This week I took on a very short Bible study on the "fear of God."  I was given a very long list of verses, nearly 20 of which where from the Psalms and Proverbs, including "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom" and so on. The Hebrew definition of every one of these was "dread, awe, great fearfulness." 

There were also three from the New Testament. These were Hebrews10:31, 1 Peter 2:18 and Revelations 14:7.

Hebrews 10 is in the context of having "boldness to enter into the holiest of holies." The "falling into the hands of a living God" is for those who"sin willfully after we have received the knowledge." I don't believe we should allow fear to be a motivation in our New Testament relationships with Christ Jesus. God "has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power..." we are "joint heirs" with Christ. We are His "bride". We are His lovers, His friends, His companions. It is a "reasonable service" of love to live our lives in accordance to His will, and while those who intentionally allow themselves to become a detriment to His testimony ought to fear for their earthly well being, even they can have confidence in the forgiveness and everlasting love of the Father in eternity, and the perfect and instantaneous restoration of fellowship with Him when the choose to return to Him.

1 Peter 2:18 and Rev 14:7 in the Greek denote reverence and awe as much as dread. The character of the one who is called the "Lover Of Our Souls" is one of impeccable righteousness. Because of this we ought to walk in awe of Him, but Christ has done away with the dreading fear. He, as wholly man and wholly God, is the mediator, causing "mercy to rejoice against judgment." (Jude)

If it were not so then we could not enjoy the life He has given us, because every man falls, and no man is perfect, save Christ. Fear and fear alone would dominate our relationship, but our transgressions are forgiven. We can walk in joy, and peace.

So often I find that fear rules the relationships of the Christians around us. People throw around catch phrases like "fear God or fall into sin" and so on, but as redeemed children of God we fall into a dispensation that banishes fear and is ruled by mercy and love. The veil in the temple was there to protect God's people from His awful presence because they had no medium to come before Him with. Theirs was purely a relationship of reverence and fear. Christ rent the veil. Christ stands between the justice of God and our sinful hearts and His blood covers us with mercy.

I'm home sick this morning. A nasty cold and cough has me here and Quinn in church, so I listened to Adrian Rogers message that was posted on the Love Worth Finding website. "The Chemistry of the Cross" is set on Romans 8:28. The promise that, for Christians, all things work together for good. God's mercy allows consequences and circumstances that we don't understand, but it is His eternal love that brings every single instance around into something that is good for us.  This promise, the promise of Love, should spur us on to good works, onto a life that is holy and sanctified, but it ought not be fear that keeps us; it must be love or Christ's death was in vain, for the people who knew God before Christ walked in fear, but Christ, the embodiment of Perfect Love, has cast out fear and brought peace.

Fear God. Trust God. Love God. Know that God is merciful and gracious. Rest in the knowledge that He forgives before He judges, and that all things work together for good to them that love Him, because here is where truth and mercy meet, and love triumphs over all. 

“If any promise of God should fail, the heavens would clothe themselves in sackcloth; the sun, the moon and the stars would reel from their courses; the universe would rock, and a hollow wind would moan through a ruined creation the awful fact that God can lie.” -FB Meyer

A Perfect Morning

How can you describe a perfect day? The description in and of itself takes away from the beauty of the moments that fell into a melodious succession of peaceful joy, but how can one be given such a gift and not shout out what a beautiful Savior is mine?

School this semester has Quinn out the door before 9am almost every morning, and work keeps him out until almost 10 every night, (Except Thursdays, when he works an hour later) so a morning when we can relax and be together until 10:30 is kinda a big deal.

Like this morning.

I woke up around 9 am to a soft kiss on the forehead and the sounds of sparrows and mourning doves outside our bedroom window. There was a soft rain falling and the blinds were open just enough that I could see the doves perched in groups of 2 and 3 in our tree. They were ignoring the sparrows, who were flocking back and forth from the tree and the yard. I snuggled in closer to my husband and let my eyes close again. I knew it was gonna be a good day.

An hour later we were sitting in the living room munching toast and hot oatmeal. His coffee was infusing the house with it's perfume and it wasn't long before he kissed me goodbye and headed off to class for the next couple hours. I cleared the dishes from our coffee table, turned on some Scarlatti piano sonatas and snuggled up on the couch with my Bible and my sorely neglected zebra-print journal. The doves where still in the tree, our birdie was trying to keep up with Andras Schiff's talented fingers and giving herself a dry throat in the process and every cry of my heart was being heard and soothed by an Almighty God who has stooped to become my dearest and most trusted Friend. Several pages, many prayers and a couple chapters later I laid my head down and was almost instantly asleep.

I woke up to my phone ringing quite obnoxiously by my head. The cd had run out and the doves had left the tree for the day, and my Beloved was calling to tell me that he was on his way home to change for work and eat lunch.

Chili dogs were done and chocolate chip cookies were in the oven when he got home 20 minutes later. We ate, and for 15 minutes we stretched out on the couch and he played with my hair while we rested in silence. Those are some of my favorite times. It's a practice that's very normal here... just resting together. Not talking, not moving, just being.

Now there's bread kneading in my machine. I adjusted Mom's recipe to work for one 2 pound loaf instead of the five loaves she generally makes, so I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, but I'm excited to see. I've got a lovely little beef roast that I'm going to turn into a fail-proof stew as soon as I finish writing here, and a pile of apples waiting to be turned into a pie with french crumble topping for late this evening when Quinn gets off work.

Life is so good.

But what makes this a perfect day? First an foremost, the presence of God. The peace and joy and rest that there is in knowing that He is here, in the security of His embrace and the knowledge that He will continue to guide and bless just as He has for generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Secondly, the comfort and pure happiness that comes from being loved and guarded by a man who I admire and trust. The overwhelming satisfaction of having him look into my eyes and tell me that he loves me. The energy and strength that courses into me when his fingers lock with mine. The aching fullness of my heart when his lips touch the back of my neck and his breath falls on my ear with the terms of endearment that are so precious to me.

Third, my beautiful world. The little bubble that I live in that's full of soft blankets and beautiful skies and inspiring music. A juicy, crisp apple, the yeasty smell of rising bread, the mild pallet of grays, browns and soft greens that paint the trees and birds and sky, the feel of a warm mug and the scent of hot tea, the poetic motion of the steam as it rises and dissipates, even the unseemly bulge at my waist that's testimony of a life yet unseen, but so beautiful.

Yes. I'm feeling sentimental and talkative, but my Jesus has overwhelmed me with Himself, and I can't help but pour some of His joy and some of the gratitude I feel into a place where someone may read it and see that our God is an awesome, wonderful, loving God.

And now, hallelujah! the rest of my days
Shall gladly be spent in promoting His praise
Who opened His bosom to pour out this sea
Of boundless salvation, of boundless salvation,
Of boundless salvation for you and for me.

oops.

I did it again. I don't know why I've gotten so terrible about blogging, but I have. I'm only writing now because I've been guilted into it by the fact that my husband and sister-n-law both updated.

So, since October, when I last posted, we've been through a slew of holidays, my sister-in-law Tyana delivered a healthy baby boy, (!!) I got hired at Hallmark as seasonal help and loved it for about 6 weeks, then quit because a certain little somebody (!!!) was making it impossible for me to be at work on time. Quitting was followed by 5 weeks on the couch, and I'm finally feeling good enough to accomplish a few things now. This afternoon we're going out to the family cabin to spend a few hours on the river, soak in the jacuzzi and grill steaks and burgers.

Quinn started school again last week. It's gonna be a long semester full of weeks wherein he's absent 60-70 hours, but it's something I know we can do and a decision we're confident in. He's got his application in at Cox College for the fall semester and we're praying it all gets through in time. If things work out then we'll have a helter-skelter summer full of moving, (2 bedrooms are about to be essential) bringing home our sweet somebody, a trip to Dallas for Ashley and Danny's wedding, and so-on-so-forth... I'm looking forward to it. Very much.

Honestly, I don't have much more to say. When one lives on cottage cheese and hot pockets one loses brain cells. I'm sure of it. But I'll try to keep updated nonetheless. You'll at least hear from me in March, when Quinn's sister delivers their baby girl and I have pictures of my newest niece to share.

I have been thinking about starting a blog called "Apathetic Nation," based on a quote by Einstein that I saw on a bumper sticker and can't find anywhere. The main reason for its existence would be to spare my poor husband the endless rants I come up with concerning things like massive expenditures on movie productions by people who claim to be humanitarians, animal rights movements that save and support pigs for 5x the amount needed to support multiple orphans all over the world, and etc.

But... We'll see if the brain cells can handle that kind of effort sometime when I don't feel like stretching out in the sunshine and sleeping my afternoon away.

Until then- God bless and keep you,

Joanna

sewing class

Posted by Gaylord Campbell

My grandmother called me yesterday raving about a sewing class at Hancock Fabrics that I just had to go to. Although I love my grandmother to death and I love sewing, I don’t think either one understands the demands on a working mother of two. When in the world would I have time to sit for 3 hours at a place 45 minutes away and listen to how to do my favorite past time that I don’t have time for. It would be like Chinese water torture. Here’s how to (fill in the blank). And with this you can (fill in the blank). I’d leave the place spilling over with ideas that I’d never have time to do. At least with the TV programs that I’ve DVR’ed. I haven’t lost any travel time, and I can do the dishes while I watch, leaving me with a little less of the guilt factor and a little more of here is reality. I just looked up sewing and crafting channels onhttp://www.direct.tv/, and found a “class” that I could handle without having to travel to the fantasy land of those who don’t work outside the home.