thankful thursday #45

Today my car was (over)due for some routine maintenance.

To be precise, my odometer read 97,000 miles and some change, and it was in for its 90,000 mile check-up.

Oops.  Life just got busy.

Anyway, I knew I was going to be spending a nice little chunk of change for that, and although I didn't want to, I was appreciating that my car is solid, gives me no trouble, and so on.

You know, exercising gratitude.

And then I got the call where they've discovered that the front brake pads need replacing pronto, and that the serpentine belt, while not super-urgent, will need to be replaced at my next servicing.

(I can't wait.)

All the sudden, my nice little chunk of change had grown to a slightly larger chunk of change, and let's just be honest, I'm having to dig deep for some thankfulness.

Gotta just be thankful that my brakes are functioning like they should; that I can afford routine maintenance in hopes of avoiding unexpected repairs; that I can drive myself to the football game of the week this weekend with a renewed peace of mind.

Darn you, Thankful Thursdays.  You challenge me so.

Your turn.  Be challenged, and be grateful!

good grief

My gals and I are closing in on the end of the Old Testament.  Can. Not. Believe it.

I thought Leviticus would kill us, but as it turns out, the major prophets have been really hard for me!

I've been happy to meet the minor prophets.  Happy to move away from the "Israel, you continue to disappoint Me" theme, and eagerly toward the "but don't worry, I'm keeping my promise to restore you" theme.

Glory to God.

In particular, Ezra has been such a sweet character study for me.  Here's why:

the set-up
After seventy years of captivity in Babylon, a remnant of Israelites is released by King Cyrus to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

Despite all sorts of opposition, they persist and complete its reconstruction.  A long-awaited celebration ensues!

ezra's mission
Sixty years later, Ezra is sent to Jerusalem, and commissioned to evaluate the people's spiritual state; to appoint godly leadership; and to establish a judicial system to punish the disobedient.

In short, he is working to ensure that God's people are living in alignment with His law.

the sober welcome
When he arrives in Jerusalem, Ezra is greeted with some heartbreaking news:

The people of Israel, including their leaders, had married Canaanite wives, a direct sin against God's command (Deuteronomy 7:1-6).

Go ahead.  Shake your head in disbelief.  I did, too.

ezra's grief & confession
Upon hearing this, Ezra is painfully grieved.  He tears his garments, plucks out his hair and beard (this is serious, folks!), and literally collapses to the ground in devastation.

"At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. And I said: My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens." (Ezra 9:5-6)

the conviction
I just love this story, and I just hate this story.

I love Ezra's heart.

I hate Israel's tragic cycle of sin.

But if I'm honest, can I say that I'd have the same reaction as Ezra?

Would I weep over, and feel ashamed of, these people's (or my) sin?   Doubt it.

Would I have been faithful to pray on their behalf?  Not so likely.

Would I have grieved so deeply for this break in fellowship?  Probably not.

the challenge
The Bible gives us beautiful examples of people who are deeply grieved by their own sin, or the sins of God's people: David, the Apostle Paul, Daniel, Isaiah, and now Ezra.

What's the deal with all the grief?  Why should we feel it so?  Why are we called to it?

When we are growing in Christ, our hearts should be broken in response to sin, because sin is dishonoring to Him, and because it brings about a nasty separation from a holy God.

And then the kicker: if we are truly being molded into the likeness of Christ, our hearts should be responding as His would, and we know that He is grieved over our hardened hearts (Mark 3:5).

And one more for good measure: would we ever really know forgiveness and restoration without knowing brokenness and heartache?

the cry
Holy and Gracious Lord, give me a heart like yours that weeps for the lost; that breaks at the mere thought of separation from you; that shares in Your good and godly grief, so that I might know and understand your forgiveness and faithfulness more fully.

protein-crazy enchiladas

Who knew I'd be finding such fun recipes during my busiest season?

This one is super easy, quite tasty, and it packs a lot of protein punch.

And, because I thought "Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas" was way too boring, I present to you ...

Protein-Crazy Enchiladas

EVOO
1 small onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 lb. chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 small can of green chiles
1/3-1/2 c. of your favorite salsa
4 flour tortillas (I used wheat ones, but any will do)
Monterrey jack and cheddar cheeses, shredded

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
 
2. On medium-high heat, saute onion and garlic in a couple tablespoons of EVOO, about 2 minutes.
 
3. Add chicken and saute about 5-6 minutes.  (It's okay if the chicken isn't all the way done ... you have more cooking to do!)
 
4. Add black beans, green chiles, and salsa.  Reduce heat and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened.  (I used taco sauce here, because that's just what I had on hand, but I'm sure any fun salsa will be tasty and add personality.)
 
5. Divide the chicken mixture among your tortillas, roll them up, and place them seam-side down in a shallow baking dish, coated with cooking spray.  (I should note here that if I'd had more room in my dish, I'd have rolled up a fifth one, because the filling was plentiful.  Your tortillas might be big enough, though, so just roll with it.  No pun intended.)
 
6. Top with cheese (you know me, the more the better), and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is nice and bubbly.

You can top these guys with a little sour cream and fresh chopped cilantro if you want to be fancy.

But either way, the leftovers made for a tasty lunch today!

thankful thursday #44

We're approaching Week 4 in the world of college football, and in the life of a UGA fan, that means we're hopefully approaching our second win of the season.

Boo.

Hard times have fallen on my little hometown of Athens, Georgia.  I could write a book on my disappointment in the fans, and in the direction of college football, and in the idol worship that rears its ugly head during autumns in the South.

But you're in luck: Thankful Thursday is here instead.

My Bulldogs had a little momentum boost last Saturday with a 59-0 shutout.  So what that it was against Coastal Carolina?  We'll take what we can get, and be thankful for the "W."

Carter was shocked when he heard the score ...



Let's face it, his first two games didn't go so well.  He was beside himself to hear that his Dawgs had finally given him a victory!

Here's hoping you have a winning weekend, too!

In the meantime, what're you appreciating?  Go on, be grateful!

parmesan chicken from an ad

After a work Saturday, I love to chill on Sunday afternoon and cook up a new recipe.  I tried two new ones this weekend, and this chicken one is so easy and tasty.

And when I say easy, I mean the recipe was on an advertisement in my Food Network magazine.  You know, those ad recipes are always super simple, usually very boring, and only sometimes worth trying.

But this one is!  I took some creative liberties, so forgive the estimations.  Just feel it as you go.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Mayo
Parmesan cheese, grated
Spices of choice
Bread crumbs of choice

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
 
2. I butterflied those chicken breasts out of the package (they can get too thick, don't you think?), and placed each piece on a foil-lined cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
 
3. In a small bowl, mix up some mayo (about 1 Tbsp. per piece of chicken), the Parm cheese, and your spices.  As for amounts, go with your taste buds, but I used about a 1:4 ratio of Parmesan to mayo, and then a couple of shakes of garlic powder and one dash of cayenne pepper.
 
4. Spoon about a tablespoon of the mayo mixture on each piece of chicken and spread it around to cover the surface area.
 
5. Sprinkle the bread crumbs onto each piece of chicken, to form a little pseudo-crust.  I used panko crumbs, but you can use plain or Italian flavored traditional ones, too.
 
6. Bake those little guys up for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken's done.  The crumbs'll be golden, and the cheese and mayo will be bubbly hot.

I think the deliciousness of this is all in the spices, so choose wisely.

And while my chicken was baking, I roasted some broccoli florets with some EVOO and crushed red pepper.  De-lish.

Happy cooking, y'all!

one year later and the sing-off

Exactly one year ago I posted my first blog entry.

It came on the heels of a call to obedience by the Holy Spirit, prompting me to disconnect my cable.  And so I did.

In retrospect, I can appreciate what those four months did for me.  I don't automatically turn the TV on, only to be sucked in and stripped of hours of my life that I'll never get back.  I'm happy to read in the quiet instead.

I'm content to get the next-day updates on reality shows from everyone else in my office, and have nothing to contribute to the conversations.

I like having only three or four shows that really pique my interest.

So while one year ago I was swearing off my favorite shows, it's only appropriate that one year later, I invite y'all to tune in to one of my current faves.

The Sing-Off?! 

Anyone?

A cappella singing competition.  No back-up singers or bands to fall back on.  Judges who offer constructive criticism and positive reinforcement.  Better yet, judges who have legitimate knowledge, and reference music theory terms like "modulation" and "harmonic progression."

Just crazy, pure talent.

It is good times, people.  Check it out Mondays on NBC, at 8/7c, especially all you music-lovin' family members out there!  The premiere was just last night, so you haven't missed much.

Cheers to "The Sing-Off" ... and to another year of blogging!

file the piles

Does anyone else visualize your life in file folders?

My work production manifests itself in color-coded file folders (labeled in typset, not penmanship, thanks very much), but admittedly my personal life, while highly organized in my brain, sometimes struggles in the physical realm.

My kitchen table was getting crazy with piles for this and that -- recipes; travel documents; to-do lists; bills; blah-di-blah.

But in this organized fantasy world of mine, I envisioned these piles finding a home in this perfect, portable, file-tote-bag-with-the-perfect-strap that I wasn't sure existed anywhere other than in my brain.

And then I got dangerously close to the "I can probably make that" edge, and well, we know that I completed the craft quota for the year back in the spring, so I safely backed away from that tragedy waiting to happen.

So in Target one day, I stumbled into the aisle reserved for Martha Stewart's Real Simple product line, and there was this lovely light gleaming, and the faint sound of an angelic chorus, which in my shopping experience tells me that God's about to reveal Himself by making my vision a reality.

And so it was, and who I am to keep it a secret?



Here's what's great about it:

1. Some starter hanging files
2. Fabric lining with pockets for pens and other tinies
3. Firm base and sides, so that it doesn't tip over in my car

This little gal tags along with me in my car, and so I have my non-work related files with me all the time.  I love her function, and love her style.

The solution was in my mind the whole time.

I just should've known Martha would beat me to it.

thankful thursday #43

Whew, this week!

It's good to settle back into the fall routine, but wowsers, getting to the "settled" place takes it out of me!

Been hitting the gym (and Advil) again.

Choir rehearsals are back.

Weekend travel's in full swing.

Gotta say, I'm feeling a little like this!



Wiped out!

This weekend I happen to be heading to a place that requires a roundtrip flight, and two nights in a hotel.

And it means I have a little down time, away from home.

I'm thankful that other than that little work part of my Saturday (details, details), the rest of it's going to be enjoyable and relaxing.

I won't clean my house (as if I would anyway); I won't run errands; I won't have my car serviced.

I will indulge in the quiet of my hotel room, and be grateful for it.

What about you?  What're you appreciating today?  Go on, be grateful!

homeless

Today, this journey with my tiny little house came to a close, quite literally, when I closed on my house.

I signed the papers.

I passed off the keys.

I wished the new owner well.

I said "good-bye" to land-lording, and "hello" to homelessness!

And so where one chapter ends ...

... one begins.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

ten years later

"Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking."
-- Mahatma Gandhi



Ten years ago, it seemed that every piece of rubble was a piece of America, and of what she used to be.

i remember
the chaos
unspeakable violence
valiant rescues
good-byes of husbands and wives, mamas and daddies
children's tough questions
packed churches

It was a hard rebirth for our country that day.

At some point in the days that followed, we united.  Our generation was given its first real chance to live the the Pledge of Allegiance, not just recite it, like I had done every morning in my classrooms growing up.

One nation under God, indivisible ...

Our unity led to resolve, and resolve evolved into action, and eventually progress.

Time and sacrifice of countless heroes were traded for victories, although bittersweet ones.

And ten years passed.

i celebrate
selfless servicemen and women
the strength of families left behind
brave leadership
courageous acts of ordinary people
fallen heroes

Moving forward, when cynicism begins to creep into hearts, or political divisions paralyze progress, my prayer is that we will have clarity of mind to know the truth, that no progress has ever been made -- no good ever been accomplished -- by critics and nay-sayers.

People are fighting every day for our freedoms, and that's reason enough to be united.

thankful thursday #42

It's one of those Thursdays that, quite frankly, reminds me of the reason I started this whole exercise in gratitude in the first place.

It's a reminder that sometimes, a spirit of appreciation might not seem so easy to dig up ...

... that it takes a little more thought ...

... and that when you have to work a little harder for it ...

... you hope that the extra effort will stretch your capacity to feel grateful, and that thankfulness will be ever quicker to show its happy face.

I started back to the gym this week, after an intentional month-long haitus, post-Providence.

It's ugly.

My muscles are screaming at the mere thought of standing up out of a chair.

Really ugly.

Anyway, I'm rediscovering the awesomeness that is Advil!



So thankful that someone, one day long ago, decided that we could rein in the pain with little tablets of goodness.  Sweet, sweet relief.

When you stretch hard to feel thankful -- when you're just not feelin' it -- what comes to mind?  Go on, be grateful!

going blonde

Not me.  Even subtle highlights make me feel like a wannabe-blonde, which I'm n-o-t.  (Natural brunettes, unite!  Own the brown!)

Anyway, this past holiday weekend was crazy in Birmingham.  This Tropical Storm Lee business has shut us down!  I was without power for almost 24 hours, and call me high-maintenance, but that is 24 hours too many!

Fortunately, despite the torrential rains yesterday, I enjoyed the company of the Little, and although house-bound, we did confirm that these blondies from Cooking Light are everything a blondie should be: soft, chewy, and sweet-enough-but-not-too-sweet.



Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. creamy (or crunchy, if you're wanting some extra spunk) peanut butter
1/4 c. unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
2 Tbsp. 2% milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cooking spray
4 large peanut butter cups (not the minis -- go big or go home), coarsely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, and stir well with a whisk.
3. In a separate bowl, combine peanut butter, butter, milk, vanilla, and eggs, stirring well.  Add peanut butter mixture to flour mixture; stir until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Pour batter into a 9" square baking pan lightly coated with cooking spray, and top with peanut butter cups.
5. Bake for 19 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging.  Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Mm, mm, good.  Try them on your next rainy day.  They'll wipe away those rainy day blues!

thankful thursday #41

For about the eight weeks leading up to college football season, I confess that I dread the start of it all.  It's the end of my weekends, and the beginning of a grueling travel schedule.

While everyone else starts making predictions, talking smack, and advancing the rumor mill, I intentionally turn my radio off of all sports talk and try hard to deny the looming season of insanity.

Like clockwork, though, about two weeks before Labor Day weekend, I get over the dread, and I hang my travel schedule up in my office (a mighty fine Excel matrix, if I do say so myself).  It’s my outward acceptance of the inevitable, and it means I’m ready.

Ready to go.  Ready to start the 14-week countdown to the end!

Today college football kicked off – literally – and I could not be more thankful to get this season underway.

Bring it.

What're you appreciating on this eve of Labor Day weekend?  Go on, be grateful!