Beach-a-roni

What's cooking?  Chicken tonight-one pot!  This is a family favorite around these parts.  Be flexible with what you have on hand, add a little of this or that according to your families taste.  If you are of the vegetarian persuasion then substitute the meat for tofu.

1 medium onion or leek
2 garlic cloves
1 celery stick
2 carrots
2-3 T Olive oil
1 lb. of ground meat
can of beans (whatever is in the pantry)
12 cups chicken or vege stoc
lg can tomato sauce or diced
box of small shaped noodles

S&P

Throw all veges into food processor and blitz. 

In large pot heat and add oil.  Add vege mix and sautee for 5 min. 

While that is sauteing gather the rest of your ingredients

Add meat or tofu.  Cook till brown breaking into tiny pieces. 

Add drained beans, stock, and tomatoes.  Bring to a boil, add pasta and cook for about 15 min.  The liquid will get absorbed by the noodles making it more stew-like than soupish, thus=stewp!  Add S & P for taste.

Cornbread and a salad rounds out the meal.  You can add parmesan cheese for those cow lovers out there!  Oh, and the wine, that's for me ;)

The Dash

Attending my friend's mother's funeral I was asked to read this poem...

I read of a man who stood to speak, at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on this tombstone from beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth and spoke the following with tears. But he said what mattered most of all, was the dash in between those years.
For the dash represents, all the time he spent alive on earth.
And how only those who loved him know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash, what matters most is how we live and love and how we spend our dash… So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough, to consider what is true and real.
And always try to understand, the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,
and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash would you be proud of the things they say and how your spent your dash?


By Linda Ellis

Makes you think and prioritize doesn't it?  A tiny little line, but so so significant!
Have a dashing day!
E.W.

Pockets of Peace

We spent a glorious day romping through the Catoctin Mountains at Cunningham Falls.  It is a 78 foot waterfall, the biggest in Maryland.  After a month of stress and crisis, we have had 2 memorable pockets of peace that have resonated within us.  One was having dinner at a friends; whose backyard is something to behold.  They have a beautiful pond and gardens and little nooks to sit and rest upon.  The second was this outing we took with our dear friends.  You know when you keep pushing and trudging your way through hardship after hardship, the moment you come into contact with a peaceful surrounding it trumps everything.

Sissy and Daddy raced to the top of the rocky cliff.  Daddy was oh so close, but Sissy won!!

Here is a part of the waterfall.  You can climb to the very top.  We saw some people in flip flops climbing-Yikes!

Alas, here is our very own strong man moving through the debris! :)  A day with friends in God's beautiful gift of creation, it warms my soul...

Psalms 85:10 NIV

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Blessings,
E.W.

Enchanted with Musicals

We had the opportunity to see 2 inspiring musicals this weekend.  The Rock and the Rabbi is a story of the powerful friendship between a fisherman and a teacher.  The story begins when Jesus chooses the 12 disciples and journeys all the way to the cross with them. This narrative will ignite your retelling of the gospels in a powerful way.  There is so much energy and emotion in this group of musicians.  The Rock & The Rabbi isn't your ordinary gospel musical. The production is first class all the way. It has interesting dialogue, catchy tunes and a diversity of talent to bring it to life. Simon, renamed Peter by Jesus, conversationally retells his view of Jesus' ministry and miracles. It is a story of friendship and betrayal, forgiveness and reconciliation that touches the heart. The musical has been on tour since 1999 and they have performed all over the country.  This is a great CD to purchase and listen to on your next long trip in the car. 

Part II  is called The Witnesses. It tells the story of Peter and Paul (formally Saul) and the birth of the Church.  The story and songs are breathtaking.  You will be humming them long after you hear the voice of Neal Coomer and Josiah Martin sing. 

My daughter said, "I wish they would tell the whole bible like that!"

Enchanted with Faith

You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings.  You will never need faith other than your time here; heaven doesn't require faith.  Practicing faith comes from hardships, uncertainties, trails, the unknown, and our dreams.  Our faith cannot rest on our wisdom or man's wisdom, but on God's power (1Cor2:5).  Oh how I yearn for God's power to fill me everyday.  What about when my faith is weak?  There's good news; Romans 1:12 says that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.  So when I am down and exhausted I can lean on other's and have their faith splash onto me.  Faith is our shield. Faith extinguishes the flaming arrows of the enemy. So if you are having a hard time holding up your shield, I will help you hold it.
Isn't it hard that faith is something we can't see.  Faith is living in the documented history and testimonies of my life and the world at large to believe in the security of how God has been faithful throughout all generations.  This is how we can 'see' our faith, by looking into the past.

We need to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith; test yourselves the bible says.  2 Cor 13:5 asks, "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?"  There is that power surge again.  By faith, we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.  Faith and hope go hand in hand-they are best friends.  A mustard seed; that is the size of faith God says you need to move a mountain!   Got any mountains to move?  Matthew 17:20 states that, "Nothing will be impossible for you if you have faith the size of a mustard seed."  
Life is messy.  Life is hard.  I am no stranger to hardship.  The weary month of March held a tragic, brutal murder of my sister-in-law, a dear friends mom falling asleep at the wheel-her funeral is next week, and a family member needing admittance into rehab.  If I did not have my faith to lean into God I would be curled up under a blanket somewhere indefinitely! 

Tap into the power that waits to fill you and equip you to endure your present road. 

Blessings,

E.W.