Salsa

Yes, I love to dance, but this post takes place in the kitchen and my garden.  I always thought salsa was one of those mystery foods, like baby food, like some little elves cook up some deliciousness that is beyond my capabilities.  Alas, not only have I come up with my own recipe, but I have actually grown some of the ingredients in my pitiful little garden!!

I have tweaked this till it is just right.  It makes a big container and lasts till the last bit is gone.

2 cans Original Rotel
28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
1 jalapeno pepper (more if you like it hot)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup sugar
bunch of cilantro (about 2 cups)
1 lime

Toss it all in your food processor and blitz till smooth.  You can keep this chunkier if you leave out the diced tomatoes and add them after everything else is mixed.  Leave in fridge for an hour so flavors can mingle (its a salsa thang).  You can garnish it with some fresh cut avocados.

Note Worthy

Today I received a sweet letter in the mail from my friend Deb.  It was a note of encouragement and thanks.  The best part was that it was handwritten from her pen.  What a sacred gift in this day of 'techno' everything.
I have a box of precious notes that date way, way back, I've kept them all over the years; and every now and again I will peruse that letterbox to reflect and remember.  The note encouraged me to pass along the gift of snail mail and I wrote 3 notes today to some gals who the Lord put on my heart that needed a little boost.  God's timing is so perfect!  This week I have had a spirit of discouragement about me and, viola', Deb's note shows up to dispel that posture.  Whom can you write a note to today?  I bet you can think of at least one person who could use a dose of letter love!  Be sure to add a little scripture to your note too!  

Job 16:5

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

2 Thessalonians 2:17

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today

Blessings,
E.W.

Blonde Brownies

Why couldn't the blonde double the recipe?
...because the oven doesn't go to 700 degrees!

Add a little sweetness to you day and try this old family recipe (yes, they taste like the ones in Panera).

Blonde Brownies
2 cups flour
1 tspn baking powder
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 tspn baking soda
1 tspn salt
2/3 cup canola oil
2 tspn vanilla
1/3 cup chopped nuts

optional/in addition too: 1/2 cup butterscotch chips, 1/2 cup toffee bits

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside.  Mix sugar and oil, blend in eggs and vanilla, add flour mixture.  Then add chocolate chips and nuts.
Grease 9x13 pan, bake 350 for 30 minutes.  Try to behave and only eat one!

Echoes of Summer

Amidst all the school prep and shopping I just want to linger in the reality that summer is still upon us.  I have enjoyed this summer of surprises and retreats.  Before I launch into planning for the fall I want to reflect on some of the beauty that has surrounded us...

Our butterfly bush has attracted  many Swallowtails and Monarchs this summer.  I have seen 7 at one time on the fragrant bush.

Even leaves have personality among the rest...looks like a crazy drawing on the leaf, but nature did that all on its own.

Tis my favorite flower, the Gerber Daisy.  This is the first summer that I have kept a flower alive through the summer!

Celebrating J's birthday with good friends at the Japanese Steakhouse, oh so yummy!

The girls with their sweethearts!

An attempt at the world's biggest bubble!

Glinda the good witch and her piano man.

Our annual open house for the 4th of July.

Cascade Lake's water tube, I think he went down 1,000 times!

 My big guy with his buds.

Birthday at the race track.  They never tire of going around and around and around, made me dizzy!

Summer birthdays are the best.  Sissy with some of her favorite treasures.

 Siblings together, capturing the moment!

It's not often to grab a snapshot with family you don't see much because everyone lives in different states.

Maybe one day he will be a lifeguard.  He said he wants to be a pediatrician.

Puddle stomping in the rain.  It inspired me to write a poem....

As the rain patters on the window pane

A hush quiets within my spirit, bidding me to listen and be still.

Listen to the soft rain as it whispers when it falls.

On rainy summer nights I feel the Lord's closeness.

My busy thoughts subdue and that still, small Voice I yearn to hear,

Drifts through the billowing curtains, His peace washes over me

Like the rain washes over the thirsty earth.
So my soul longeth after Thee.

His gentleness guards my heart and mind.

I am drawn to sit and worship; listen and pray.

Be still and know that I am God.

Blessings,

E.W.

I

The Vinedresser

These are no ordinary pears.  Ten years ago we planted two pear trees in our yard.  We (well Hubby) carefully followed the instructions on planting the fruit trees and they grew and grew.  The only problem has been that year after year they never flowered.
No flower = No fruit.  Until this year!  This year we have 5 pears between the two trees.  I could almost make a tart!

I am reminded of the 15th chapter of John that starts with; "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me....for without Me you can do nothing.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

Just like our pear tree that was dormant for a decade we too can find ourselves coasting in our spiritual walk. Notice that God says he is either gonna take away or prune.  I was startled when I read in Psalm 106:15,

"And He gave them their desire, but sent leanness into their soul."

Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!  The fine print at the bottom warns of an empty heart.  Have you ever felt like God can be silent in your life and you are wondering why He isn't showing up and moving in your heart.  I have definitely felt God's extreme absence from my heart.  I have desperately cried out to Him for months and heard not a peep.  Why?  Why can we not find Him when we call sometimes?  Which do I want more, what I want or for my soul to be full?  No question, I want to be phat in that area!    Forget my desires and requests Lord, You always have a better idea or plan for me!  I can do nothing truly worthwhile in my strength, power, or agenda, but when I open my heart and hands to the Lord, abundance fills my soul.  That pruning part can take awhile.  Change takes time.  Things can seem pretty quite while we are growing in new areas of our journey.

My friend Deb recently shared a little about her homeschool journey coming to a screeching halt in the dessert.  What happened?  Wasn't she abiding in God's will by ministering to her children?  Wasn't she in the center of his heart sheperding her quiver?  What do we do when God is silent?

First, I remember that He is a jealous God.

Exodus 34:14 

Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24 

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

He wants us.  He wants 100% of us.  Let that sink in for a moment.  If you are skipping along do'in your thang be sure to check your spiritual barometer and make sure God is right there with ya!  We can find ourselves doing lots of 'good, Christian, servant-minded" actions but unless it is punctuated with God's hand in yours, then it becomes all about you.  

Here is the tricky part, God is very interested in us being still, seeking His face, meditating on His word, fasting, and reflecting on His character.  The second point is that we have to learn to abide in Him.  We want to go and do and God wants us to sit and stay!  Why is that so hard for us?  The devil, for one, LOVES to distract us.  The tyranny of the urgent, the phone, the kids, the to-do list, the.....sigh, you get the point.  What preoccupies your mind?  Lay that before the Lord.  

One last thought is the parable of the persistent widow.  She nagged the judge continually until he gave in to her request.  Jesus tells us to always pray and to not lose heart.  God is long suffering.  Are you really serious about seeking Him?  If you are, you will be relentlous in your quest to know what He wants for you.  Persistence prayer pays!  Why?  Because this jealous God of ours knows then that you are serious about searching for Him with your whole heart.  

I desire for the vinedresser to lavish in my soul.  I want to be clothed & consumed with His love and to align myself with His desires for my life.  Keep pressing on dear one.

Blessings,

E.W.