...across the room to celebrate....

My primary reason for a trip to Winnipeg this time of the year was not to bask in the freezing temperatures or challenge myself on the ice and snow plastered highways in my rented Ford Escort but rather to help my daughter celebrate her March birthday!  And what a celebration it was!  I think, the best ever!  

We shopped, lunched, and hung out for a few days and then enjoyed being pampered at the beautiful Ten Spa at Winnipeg's historical Hotel Fort Garry.  If you've never stood in a "mint mist" you're not done living!  The place is gorgeous, the atmosphere intoxicatingly relaxing and the treatments are second to none.  I thought of heaven when I was there and I'm not quite sure why.  Was it the thought of being on the top floor of the hotel?  the serenity?  calm?cleanliness?  white surrounding?  Or perhaps it was the feeling of being detached from the rest of the world for a few hours?  Lunching in the hotel lounge after our spa experience was the perfect topping to our mother/daughter birthday celebration.  Later at the house, I just simply couldn't keep myself from enjoying a delicious little nap!  My daughter insisted on cooking her own birthday dinner that night and made a fantastic pasta dish for twenty instead of the six people at the table.  We ate as much as we could and had no trouble making room for this yummy ice cream cake!  Happy Birthday, daughter of mine....I love you! 

....across the room for pregnant guys....

Hey guys!  I hope that got your attention!  Are you sick and tired of hearing women lament that no man will ever know what it feels like to be pregnant and have a baby?  Well guys, here's your chance to find out what that experience is all about.  All you have to do is follow these instructions below and you too can know what women have been yaking about for ever!

By now you've seen the picture and you might be thinking this is all about cravings.  Read on!

Trot down to the kitchen and start the preparations for these babies.  Follow the directions exactly, bake and let them cool down a few minutes before you handle them.  I would suggest having no more that two (twins) or three (triplets) the first time around.  While you allow them to digest you may want to sip on a cup of coffee, tea or your favourite drink.  The gestation period is quite short so don't plan any long trip like checking out the latest model at the nearest car dealership.  By the way, there will be no morning sickness....no time for that!  The first sign of birthing is the feeling of some movement happening somewhere in your abdominal area and this will be followed by audible sounds.  In time these sounds will increase in volume and there will be little if any intervals between the movements mentioned earlier.  In fact, by this time you'll be feeling like there's a football game being played inside your body.  Try lying down and you will most likely see what clearly resembles fists and feet boxing and kicking against your flesh.  And then...the moment you've been waiting for as you race to the washroom shouting over your shoulder "Honey, I think it's time!"  The delivery won't take long I assure you and in no time at all you will be going for seconds!  I hope you enjoy your new experience!

Orange Bran Flax Muffins

1 1/2 Cups Oat Bran

1 Cup Flour

1 Cup Ground Flax Seed

1 Cup Bran

1 Tbsp. Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp. Salt

2 Oranges, washed, quartered

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup Buttermilk

1/2 Cup Canola Oil

2 Eggs

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 1/2 Cups Raisins

Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl.  In blender place brown sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs and oranges.  Blend well.  Pour over dry mixture and stir until blended.  Stir in raisins.  Divide batter among muffin tins (24) and bake 18-20 minutes @ 375F.

...across the room to share my reading.....

BACK TO THE SHEEP.  I read in my book that before they're done grazing for the day sheep often seem to want to have that one last tuft of grass that is hard to reach and they will take their lives in their own hands (hoofs?) to get it.  They might climb down steep cliffs only to slip and fall into the water, or push their way into a maze of wild thorny roses or brambles where they get stuck and have to wait for the shepherd to come pull them out.  I imagine they must leave behind a fair pile of wool getting out of a situation like that.  The author illustrates so well how we as Christians often do the same type of things that simply paralyse us to the point where we cannot even call for help.  He tells us that Jesus, our Shepherd then comes to our rescue:

 

"Many of our jams and impasses are of our own making.  In stubborn, self-willed, self-assertion we keep pushing ourselves into a situation where we cannot extricate ourselves.  Then in tenderness, compassion and care our Shepherd comes to us.  He draws near and in tenderness lifts us by His Spirit out of the difficulty and dilemma.  What patience God has with us!  What long suffering and compassion!  What forgiveness!"

He encourages us to stay near to Christ, the one safe place we have to go.  That way we won't be picked off by the "predator" like those "roamers" in a flock of sheep who are always looking beyond the safety of the shepherd.  Generally attackers like cougars have come and gone before the shepherd is even aware of him and so it is with our enemy, Satan.  His cunning ways snare us unawares leaving lives of men and women in ruin.  But if we stick close to Jesus through a committed relationship with Him, talking with Him, and letting Him talk to us He will protect us.

I'm really enjoying this book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23".  Can you tell?!

...across the room to raise a question.....

THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EPIDEMIC!  No, it's not a physical sickness.  I'm talking about the number of divorces taking place these days.  It just simply breaks my heart.  Not only do I see the sadness of the loss of the dream of being happily married for life in the eyes of the couples involved....there is the sadness of a loss for the immediate and extended family as well.  Why does it affect everyone so intensely?

I have a saying about difficult situations and that is "go back to the beginning" or "go back to the basics".  So let's try going back to the beginning.  Two people meet, fall in love, announce their engagement not only to their family but to friends and most times to anyone reading the local newspaper.  The wedding is planned, and events like showers are organized to honour and support the happy couple.  Some choose to be married at exotic locations but most times have also been "showered" or there might be a get-together to bless them when they return home. Most times family and friends get in on the celebrating one way or another.  It is one of the happiest occasions of our lives and it is a celebration we like to share with those we love.

The question I would like to ask is that when the couple separates and later divorces, why is it that they often think that it is nobody else's business but their own?  Suddenly all the people included in the celebrating are supposed to forget any of it ever happened?  And heaven forbid they should try to help in any way!    Should this be something both families ought to get involved in?  My sons-in-law have been accepted into my family as my very own sons.  I know I would grieve painfully if they should suddenly leave our family.  I have to wonder if there would be fewer divorces if both families got involved to help the couple through the difficulties in their marriage.   It seems to me that if a group of people could successfully see their loved ones through some marriage difficulty everyone involved wins.  The couple would realize what a tremendous support system they have for any future issues and the extended family ties would be stronger than ever.  I just can't help but think there has to be some way of preventing all this sadness that affects so many more people than simply the couple involved.  What do you think?

                   Elayne's Pepper Skillet

The other day I looked at recipes for ingredients I had on hand, namely various types of peppers, chicken, some left over sausage, etc.  Keeping in mind what I had read, I came up with my own concoction that we ended up LOVING!  I didn't write anything down so I will try to remember what I did so perhaps you might enjoy this dish too.

Sprinkle some boneless skinless chicken thighs with salt and pepper and saute in 1 or 2 T. oil

When the chicken is nicely browned shove it off to the side and add 1 chopped onion and 4 cloves garlic.  Saute for approx. 2 min. and then add 2 sliced long red peppers you buy at Costco (haven't seen them anywhere else.  These are not hot peppers but they taste better than regular red peppers); some mushrooms, one cup peas, and 4 chopped tomatoes.  Meanwhile microwave a few new small potatoes (red or white) until almost cooked and add those to the skillet along with the left over sausage in the fridge (this has to be real mennonite sausage!  I guess you could use a few strips bacon instead.) which you've sliced into thin slices, as well as one dried habanero pepper (don't put the seeds in or you'll be sorry!).  When the veggies are almost done add one tablespoon dried parsley and two tablespoons paprika, salt and pepper to taste.  Taste, adjust seasonings and ENJOY!

...across the room to be led....

I am reading a delightful little book by Phillip W. Keller "A shepherd Looks at Psalm 23".    I'ld like to share a bit of today's chapter with you.  I'm going to try to condense the chapter into my own words but may end up quoting the author in places so if you read the book and remember some sentences....that would be the reason!!  This chapter is called "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake".

Did you know that humans are a lot like sheep?   Did you know that sheep will graze the same trails and hills until they are completely ruined and infested with parasites?  A whole flock of sheep can get contaminated, thin, weak and sickly in no time at all because they insist on this destructive behaviour.   The Bible says we are stiff-necked and stubborn, we always want to do our own thing.   We pursue this path of behaviour with what Keller defines as destructive self-determination,  personal pride and self-assertion and we do it repeatedly and to our own disadvantage.   "All we like sheep have gone astray.  We have turned everyone to his own way." Isa. 53:6  Even though we may have seen other lives ruined we will insist on the same habits just because we are determined to do things our own way. 

A good shepherd will not leave his flock on the same ground for long.  He will keep moving his sheep  from pasture to pasture to avoid this erosion of the land and keep the sheep healthy.

Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". Jn. 14:6 and "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". John 10:10

A person who is bent on doing is own thing does not want to come, to follow, or be led.  Those stubborn, self-willed, proud, self-sufficient sheep that persist in pursuing old paths and grazing on polluted ground will end up sick, just as our world is full of sick people, broken homes, broken hearts, twisted personalities because we insist on going our own way, leaving behind a legacy of ruin and remorse.

Jesus says that if we will follow Him we should deny ourselves daily, take up our cross and follow Him.  However, says Keller, we don't want to deny ourselves anything.  We don't want to give up our right to make our own decisions.  To be led by God would mean that we would have to actually do what He asks of us and go where He wants us to go.  This is the point where a Christian decides to "go with God" or "turn back" from following on.

He then lists seven fresh attitudes for progressive forward movements with God.  They are:

1.  Love Christ and others more than myself

2.  Be OK with being set apart, rather than one of the crowd

3.  Forgo my rights in favor of others

4.  Instead of being "boss" be willing to be at the bottom of the heap

5.  Accept the circumstances of life with an attitude of gratitude rather than always asking "Why      me"

6.  Comply with His wishes and His will instead of asserting my own will

7.  Instead of choosing my own way, be willing to choose God's way and do what He asks me to       do.

I think what spoke to me most is number two.  I am still learning to be good with not being part of the crowd.  That sometimes means being the only one in the group to speak against a popular belief or stand and having everyone turn on you.  As long as I know that my source of Truth is the Bible, and therefore God Himself, my little shoulders suddenly grow very large, allowing me to handle the discomfort this brings on.  Actually, standing up for Truth, differentiating between right and wrong, good and bad, is a great feeling if you can get over yourself long enough to realize what you just did!

God wants to keep moving us to "higher ground" so that we can flourish and enjoy that abundant life that He so graciously offers us.

...across the room for coffee with you.....

Time for a little break!  This morning was such a flurry of activity I hardly had time to breathe.  I snapped awake at 6:50 AM, hurried off to the kitchen to put together a yummy bag lunch for my hubby, including the usual peeled, sectioned orange (I can do this with my eyes closed by now!).  As soon as he was out the door I cooked my bowl of delicious oatmeal with a cut up apple and lots of cinnamon in it.  I'm out of maple syrup so I added a little brown sugar.  Not bad but not as good as the syrup.  After that I made sure the kitchen, TV room, and bathroom were

spotless for the photographer who was coming to take pictures for a website for the company that did our house reno.  The sun and a few friends were waiting for me at the park at 9 AM for our one hour walk and after that I made a quick stop (well I thought it would be quick!) at the storage unit to pay our fee.  I rushed home to vacuum the house which left me with twenty minutes to take a shower, do my hair and make-up before the photographer showed up!  By the time he arrived my coffee was brewing and the need to sit was overwhelming!  That brings me to my blog!! 

I don't usually read the NLT version of the Bible but this morning I did and this is the verse I read "Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, and been secretly enticed to worship them?  If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven."  Job 31:26-28

As we walked in the sunshine this morning, the snow sparkling like diamonds, I just couldn't help but thank God for reminding me to worship HIM, the One who created all this awesome beauty we take for granted every day.  What a masterpiece this universe is!

The unwearied sun, from day to day

Does His Creator's power display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty hand.

                                                            Joseph Addison 

Thanks for coffee-ing with me today!!

(The picture is my sisters and I enjoying a good cup of coffee and bonding in Toronto!)