Monday Memory

This is another piece I wrote, this time back in '06. We were supposed to put ourselves into a story during a church leaders retreat, and this is what poured out into my journal. I had the most *real* sense of Christ twirling me in the air...


Matthew 10:13-17People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.(NIV)

I smell the fragrance of the flowers as I skip through the meadow. I know there is need to hurry, but I stop anyway and make flower jewelry. I find the most beautiful purple flowers which I weave carefully into a necklace.

My mother comes back and scolds me. We can’t miss this, you shouldn’t be wasting time. I can feel a tear trying to make its way to my eye, but I will it back knowing that if my mother sees it there will be more scolding.

We continue walking and I clutch my precious necklace to my chest, inhaling the sweetest of perfumes. This is my new treasure.

When we reach the place I stand in awe looking at all the people. In the middle of the crowd is a man, surrounded by some of the other children from my village. He looks towards me and I can feel the welcoming kindness in his eyes.Suddenly I’m running, not caring anymore if my mother minds. The grass tickles my bare feet as I dance around him, laughing and squealing with delight along with the other children. I can’t remember when I’ve felt so much joy!

Somewhere in the distance of my mind I hear some men who seem irritated at all of us. I’m not really hearing them or paying attention to what they are saying until the kind man says “Stop! Let the children come to me.”

He looks at me tenderly as I gaze back at him. He brushes my hair back from my face and strokes my cheek as he says “I tell you that anyone who doesn’t receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.”

I have no idea what he is talking about, but I can feel the power and love from this kindest of strangers. His eyes twinkle as he looks at me and then he picks me up in his arms and twirls me in the air until I feel as if I am soaring with the eagles. I feel my hair lift and fly in the air as well and I giggle. When he puts me down he again touches my cheek and smiles.

I hardly know what I am doing until I have already lifted my treasure, my beautiful necklace, from around my own neck. It will never fit him, but I place it on his head just like a crown. For just a moment I see something else flash in his eyes—sadness?—but then he hugs me close again and kisses my forehead. I feel something inside that I have never felt before and somehow I know that I will never be the same again.

It has been many years since that day but I often think about Jesus and all the things that happened after that day. Sometimes I think of the next crown he wore and I cry. But I never pass a meadow without stopping and smiling as I remember the most wonderful of days. And when I find some beautiful purple flowers I make another necklace, just because.

Thursday's Ten

Ten Things I Love in December

1. Celebrating Advent
2. The occasional flake of snow (and down here it's a precious and rare commodity)
3. Seeing everyone's beautiful decorations
4. Hearing the holiday music
5. Seeing generosity
6. Christmas specials on tv
7. Decorating
8. Wrapping gifts...I LOVE it
9. Baking
10. Being with those I love

the tree this year (and Emi)

Take the Quiz! What Movie is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

Go here to take the quiz, and please comment with your result!
http://www.blogthings.com/whatmovieisyourchristmasmostlikequiz/>

Thursday's Ten...on Friday Again

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving if I didn't list what I was thankful for this year, right? So...here goes.

1. amazing chosen family and friends who continually astound me with their love and caring
2. opportunities to use my gifts in worship and service to others
3. my amazing boyfriend who continually reflects Christ to me
4. my parents for their surprising support during this odd time in my life
5. small pleasures like sipping chai teas all curled up on the couch
6. this time of loss of employment...it has made me a more empathetic and caring person overall, I think
7. new relationships made throughout this year
8. the gift of honesty and openness...feeling like I'm living with integrity
9. opportunities to seek God in so many different places
10. the promise of an even brighter tomorrow

Recipe of the Week -- Poppyseed Chicken

I know it's Thanksgiving week and the last thing we're gonna want to think about is more food...but this is one of those meals that is always well-received. It's SUPER easy and very tasty. And I bet you could make it with leftover turkey too...although I've certainly never tried it :0)

Poppyseed Chicken

2 lbs chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken
1 8oz jar sour cream
1 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers (I use just one little package/rolls/whatever you call them that comes in the box)
1 stick butter
1 tbsp poppyseeds

Boil chicken
Mix sour cream and cream of chicken soup
Break up chicken into pieces and put in casserole dish.
Pour sour cream and soup mixture over the chicken, mix together.
Melt butter and mix with cracker crumbs and poppyseeds. Sprinkle over chicken mixture.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Monday's Memory

An older piece of writing...I wrote this in March of '07. I guess with thinking of family/home/whatever during this season I thought of digging it up again.

It’s on Wikipedia now. An article entitled “Lower Ohio Valley Tornado Outbreak”.

3 sentences that are supposed to sum up that time in my life.“Petersburg, Indiana was the hardest hit town affected by the outbreak. It was one of two towns in Indiana that were hit by an F4 tornado. Six of the 12 people killed in Indiana were in Petersburg.”

It’s a rather simplistic answer to the questions we all asked in 1990. I was 9. Mercifully, I remember little about those weeks, months, years after the storm hit us. The images I do have in my mind are vivid though, and have not faded with time. My next door neighbor and I crouching underneath her staircase, crying and holding on to each other sure that we were going to die. Walking out of her house after the freight train had sounded and long gone, and seeing the debris that covered our yard—like snow, in June. There was wallpaper from the nursing home that was flattened—we recognized it right away.

We moved slowly through the next few hours—finally getting our power back after 3 days. We couldn’t leave the house for the longest time. My father was a police officer and when we finally left the house on Sunday to go to church, he was going to drive us through the worst-hit part of town on the way back home so we could see. The roadblocks wouldn’t let us through, even with his badge, because I was in the car.

When we finally were allowed to drive through downtown, weeks later, I didn’t recognize it. The historic buildings—gone. Only a very few were left standing, and those were in pretty bad shape.

Slowly, but surely, our town was rebuilt. The Red Cross was a visible presence for months. Construction became a way of life. People cried a lot, but they soon shook off the tears, got on their feet and began trying to put the pieces back together. I watched all of this, baffled. And then I forgot.

But I never did, really.

The next year we moved closer to town and I changed elementary schools. Only this school had been destroyed by the tornado, so the temporary school was a system of portables connected by a covered walkway. I was reminded of the Storm every day at dismissal as we stood on those walkways.And then I went to middle school, and I forgot.

But I never did, really.

A couple of years later we began attending another church. This one was brand new—because the original building had been flattened by the tornado. Every week as I walked through the front doors I saw the sign that said “Dedicated to the glory of God, June 1991” and remembered that it was because in June of 1990 their other church collapsed.And then I went to college, and I forgot.

But I never did, really.

Sunday Sentiment...

I've had 2 people with fabulous jobs tell me this week that they lost them...this week.

I now understand how awful of a feeling that is. I'm at 3 months now. OVER 3 months if we're counting, but I find that too depressing. And while I have complete faith and trust in the One who holds my future, those "something better is up ahead" sentiments are sounding kind of hollow. So as I hugged my friend tight this morning after she gave me the news and said "I'll be praying so hard for you" and she echoed the same...I knew that it was genuine. I don't doubt for a moment that my friends love me and have been praying all this time...but at the same time, there's solidarity in knowing that you really AREN'T alone.

And at the same time, today was a wonderful day of hope as well. A reminded me of that as we were praying together. You see, once a year, our church does this day called Harvest Sunday. The week before we get a shopping list of items for a Thanksgiving meal. We buy the food (about $20 worth), fill a paper double-bag, and bring it forward. At the end of the three services we have hundreds of bags lining the stage. The middle school students (and us lucky middle school lifeguards) sort the bags on Sunday afternoon, and they go to families in the community from now until Thanksgiving

It's a wonderful thing. And even though I have very little money this year, I filled up my bag. A and I went shopping on Tuesday together. It was a sweet time. :0) And for me it was a promise that no matter how bad things get I'll still reach out. I'll still do what I can. And next year, if I am employed (and let's hope!) I will be filling up at least 2 bags in gratitude for what I've been given.

I found this prayer at http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/index.htm. I'm praying it as I copy it to my blog, and I hope you'll pray it for me, my friend M, and my friend G as you read.

Prayer for the Unemployed

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,
You wanted all who are weary
To come to You for support.
Lord, I am worn out
By my inability to find work.

Guide my steps to a righteous path;
Give me the patience
To find opportunities with a future.
Calm my worries and fears
As my financial responsibilities mount.
Strengthen my resolve;
Embolden my heart to open doors;
Open my eyes to see life beyond rejections.
Help me believe in me.

Let me realize other ways
To bring about Your kingdom on earth.
Let me grow as a person
That I may be worthy
For Your greater glory.

In the name of the Father.
Amen.

Thursday's Ten

Ten Things I'm Happy About Lately

1. Gas Prices. I passed a station today near my house--1.97!!
2. Obama's election. I don't think he's the answer to all the problems, but I am happy for change
3. Putting babies down for a nap. There really isn't much sweeter in this world.
4. Opportunities lately to sit down and play the piano. I'd forgotten how wonderful it is--like free therapy! :0)
5. My wonderful boyfriend
6. The return of most of my favorite tv shows...
7. Pumpkin Spice Lattes
8. My amazing church family
9. Becoming more "green"...it really does make me feel good
10. Prospects of a brighter tomorrow

Recipe of the Week -- Greek Meatloaf

I made this tonight for A and I with mashed potatoes and green beans (which I put Greek seasoning in, to fit with the theme). We both loved it--just enough like a regular meatloaf to be familiar, just different enough to be fabulous.

Greek Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs mixed with 1/2 cup milk
4 oz basil-tomato feta cheese, crumbled
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 large onion, chopped (I actually had a really large onion so I only used 1/2)
1 cup shredded carrot
1 tsp Greek seasoning (I put about 3 times that in)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper (I definitely guesstimated on both s&p)

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray a 13x9 inch pan w/nonstick spray (I actually have a meatloaf pan, so that's what I used. Or jelly roll pan, whatever you call it)

2. In a large bowl mix all ingrediants. Form into loaf and place in prepared pan.

3. Bake @ 375 for 1 hour

4. Allow to rest, covered, 10 minutes before slicing

(pictured with mashed potatoes)