Chocolate Goodness

Oh the decadence. 

White chocolate covered Oreo dipped in my morning java. 

It was a good afternoon treat!

I get lonely in self employment. I needed motivation.

To do lists just weren't cutting it. 

I should be on a plane to Israel today with my father and these two...

  

I will pour over 1 Chronicles (in pursuit of finishing the Bible by the end of the year!!) and conjure up places in my mind that I won't be seeing with my family in the next 10 days.

In honor of dad I am posting my favorite dessert memory of him...

Dad has always loved sweets. 

I remember him fixing this often in a coffee cup. 

When Wendy's came out with the frosty it was very similar but this version has a ice milk crunch that is distinct and oh so nostalgic to me :)

Start with a cup, not a bowl, this is very essential. 

Any ceramic coffee cup will do, or a plastic pooh cup? 

You need some plain chocolate ice cream. 

Scoop it up, as much as you need or keep it moderate...

then pour milk over the ice cream, I don't measure it but if I was guessing I'd say about 1/4 cup.

Obviously the more milk the thinner it'll be, the less milk the thicker your treat will be. 

And whole milk would be more rich but this is what we had.

You can stir it immediately. It will resemble this texture and is oh so delicious. Something magical happens when the milk hits the cold ice cream and little ice crystals form. So simple yet so good.

Please disregard that it's currently 32 degrees in Oklahoma, things this good should not wait for summer. You could always imagine you were in Florida or Hawaii like I am gonna imagine I'm touring Israel or you could dip Oreos in coffee. 

Happy Wednesday!

My Mother, The Saint

Several weeks ago my dear mother went on a mission trip. 

Her job- to make sure these three people didn't blow up things, stayed fed and generally safe while their parents celebrated 15 years of marriage in the pacific northwest. 

Only mothers do these kind of mission trips. 

And they don't get enough credit, thanks or financial and prayer support usually.

After I left I made the comment on facebook, "My mother is a Saint" 

To which my missionary friend in Spain replys, "What were her 3 miracles?" 

He knows about sainthood. 

So here they are, for those who need to know, her 3 miracles she has preformed....

1. She has remained married to this man for 47 years. 

2. She has birthed 4 people which has lead to this.....

 and this was the clincher....

3. When I left for Seattle my microwave was an eco-system in and of itself, I had closed my eyes for months trying to will it away and then when I returned from my trip 

it was miraculously clean and holy again. 

Amen.

Long live Saint Granny.

The Thanksgiving Table

Beauty abounds. 

All around us. 

We bring our bounty and 

 turn to each other 

as family to eat

in HIS presence again. 

Grateful for all HE has done this year. 

It begins with a heart full of thanks. 

Preparation 

Patience.

The art of thanksgiving.

Gathering. 

Partaking. 

Shopping black friday ads :)

Resting, 

Peaceful,

Thankful. 

Table Talk- Where Life Happens

Last Tuesday night we gathered around a table at Cody's parents home to celebrate Charis turning 3. Surrounded by her family including 7 cousins (8 including David, he is a cousin technically) and siblings. 

That's not all that happened around that table. The table itself has no special meaning, Kathy and Roger haven't had more than 2 years. It's the experience- sitting down, eating, looking each other in the eye, talking, laughing, healing, dreaming, knowing, being part of something bigger than yourself, something called family.

We practice manners.

We develop new relationships.

We celebrate.

We learn about each other.

The world becomes smaller around a table.

Is it the table? Is it magical?

Not necessarily. It's the experience.

The Table Experience.

Devi Titus wrote a book about it. I heard her speak 2 weeks ago and will forever remember the truths she presented.

You can click here for the transcript of the presentation I heard.

It all started with God himself. He's all about relationship. He created us with the need to eat. He didn't have to but he did. And he made such a variety of food. Can I get an amen?

Then when he started to reveal himself and design a place of meeting with man (more specifically with the Israelites in the desert) he designed the first table. And we still use a close version of it today, 4000 years later.

The Table Exodus 25

 ²³ "Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. ^[e] 24Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. ²⁵ Also make around it a rim a handbreadth ^[f] wide and put a gold molding on the rim. ²⁶ Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. ²⁷ The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. ²⁸ Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. ²⁹ And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. ³⁰ Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.


The Bible is full of more stories too...


David invites Mephibosheth to his table for the rest of his life. 
Jesus finds Peter after he's denied him- over a prepared meal. 
The last supper before Jesus' death.
The marriage supper when we are united with Jesus again.




So real is this table experience that secular sources are pushing it. 


Websites dedicated to this 


http://www.mealsmatter.org/EatingForHealth/Topics/Healthy-Living-Articles/Family-Meals.aspx

http://family.samhsa.gov/get/mealtime.aspx



http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1200760,00.html


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070901073612.htm


Please don't believe the enemy's lies that you don't have time. MAKE TIME, quit doing so much. It's that important. Titus says those of you living under one roof should share a meal at least 5 times a week together in the home. If you can't do dinner do breakfast. Preparation is the key. Stop eating in front of the tv, in the car and standing up. You can prepare to eat take out. You can prepare to eat sandwiches or frozen food, but make it around a table and do it today! 


I love what Titus said, "The feminist movement told us we'd be happy in the workplace while Martha Stewart became the richest female American telling us home to create a home." Hum. Our hearts are in the home, ladies. We all do what we have to do...but don't neglect the home for lies. 

Missional #3 the family version

Missional #3

Well my sister in law is in New York this week. She is another one of my friends on mission this week. 

Mandy is not only family, she’s a BBF. 

I know she’ll be working with a certain group of Islamic people in  NY this week. 

Mandy and I have been on several trips together, including 2 out of country. 

Since having kids she’s given that up, keeping her focus at home- until now.

I gave her my crib and high chair to sell in a fund raising garage sale. 

Praying for things to happen. 

Here are some pictures from my brother and his family's trip to New Orleans.

I'll let this picture speak for itself, my nephew is over on the far left

A visit with my brother...part 1 (the prayer closet)

I have 2 older brothers, wonderful people.Chris is the oldest, you may remember him from here.  He lives in Texas. He married Rachel in 1997 and they have 2 kiddos. The youngest had a birthday last week and we took the invite (whether we were really invited is up in the air, I believe I invited myself along with my loud children) to come celebrate with them.

Paul is 11, last year we got to be with him on his birthday - they used to live in Florida so we were excited to have the chance to celebrate with them. 

 and the little princess

her hair is wild

And her dimples are too cute.

So this year when I needed to head to the city to get things for the new bathroom and they were going to NRH2O for the birthday I packed up and went that way. Sorda, I left all my clothes at home. And Cady had twice as many because she packed herself and I packed for her. Too bad I don't wear a size 8 kid.


Last year when I walked through their new house before they moved in, I noticed a peculiar closet.It's a safe room actually. Built to get in when a tornado is coming.

I told Rachel she had a prayer closet. Muslims pray 5 times a day and some of them will have a prayer room in their homes. I have always wanted a prayer room. I pray all day- in my sleep, before meals, in need, in praise. I pray A LOT. My prayers are not mandatory they are in response to God drawing me to himself all day long.

Rachel is who she is today because of prayer. She has seen some really hard times the last 5-6 years and the only way we got through them was prayer. Chris, I and every pastor in east Texas. She is passionate. She is persistent. She is inspiring. She is relevant. She is real. She is a changed person. 

She took my suggestion and made that closet into a prayer closet. This visit she invited me in.  The pics were on my phone. Sorry for poor quality.

She hangs pictures of people and ministries she's praying for.

She is an avid reader.

My favorite.

I wish I had a closet or a prayer room, maybe one day. But in that little room is where Rachel finds the ability to put one foot in front of the other in a battle she fights every day with depression, anxiety,  and oppression. She fights on her knees and she's winning. But the enemy hasn't stopped. We didn't "pray a prayer" and suddenly she was healed. Not in this case. But she's come so far and God has used her pain to glorify himself. She will write a book one day. She needs to. She took Jesus at his word and believed him when he said, " The peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives." (John 14:27) When she asked the world for peace of mind they suggested a pill. She said no and kept searching.

Prayer changes things. Sometimes us, sometimes the circumstance. When a believer beckons God's ear in faith after solid obedience to his word he not only listens and perceives, he acts. He promised he would. And when he doesn't act the way we think he should, there is a reason. He is God and we are not, that's reason enough. I have lived long enough to have many prayers not answered. He has always comforted me in the disappointment. And so I keep praying.

For the love of birds...

Some of you may remember this post a month back- (click here) when some birds were trying to make a next in our stroller.

Well I removed the first 2 attempts but they would not be deterred, and made a third next and before I realized it there were eggs in it.

And because it reminds me of my mother I am sharing it with you. My mother loves birds. LOVES the birds.

I can't look at a bird without thinking of her. She was so good at giving us kids an appreciation for all life and nature. So I left the eggs. I bet that momma bird would like to get me! I made her work very hard. I even moved the stroller and that bird still found it and built a next in it.

The Screaming Photos....

Two weeks ago when I was looking through the photo boxes for pictures of our beloved and now deceased dog, Jake, http://deevers.blogspot.com/2010/03/jake.htmlthese pictures started screaming at me.

I should've plugged my ears and walked away but I didn't.

I decided to share them.

They aren't all bad, but they are educational.




This one didn't make the scrapbook for many reasons. Sacrificing Lamb Chop is disturbing. Pretending to do it in odd costumes is even more so. Cody is fourth from the left. Yes he was involved in the sacrifice of lambchop. Please don't tell PETA.



There are some endearing ones, like this one of Silas and Grandma Marie. We lived beside Marie for three years. All of my grandparents died when I was young so I always wanted a grandmother. I loved every minute. Marie left us in 2004. We send her balloons when we have them. Just keeping her up to date. Although I bet she has the internet and perfect skills too.



And this one, I love Roger, he's been a wonderful father-in-law. And lucky for me I'm his favorite daughter in law!!!He and I share a love for fiddles.

Then there's this...



Be prepared most of these are of my siblings- and most are at Christmas.

And sadly we are adults at the time.



Chris gave me the name giggles, it was because he made us all laugh all the time. And he didn't have to do anything to really make us laugh, it was just his way.

Forgive me for posting this one but it was being really loud, it too had been forgotten and left out of the scrapbooks.




My family loves giving gag gifts at Christmas, these were Chris' but Cody was jealous and tried them on.

That same year Cody bellyached about getting nothing but Brut and Old Spice from his grandparents. So my dad bought him 16 bottles of Old Spice for Christmas. It was hilarious seeing him all excited about all those gifts in the pile and then seeing him open them one by one- and my dad chuckling beside him. Priceless.

My uncle Larry used to tell us we came from a long line of fools. The rest of these may prove it.

My brothers have left me with plenty to laugh at.




They took lots of these kind of pictures through the years. Foolishness. I think I can hear Uncle Larry laughing.




This one too was screaming pretty loud, tried to ignore it but it may lend some insight into this...