*Simply Happy*

Which King Are You?

I was in the company of someone who self professed to be Saul the other day.  I said back, “You’re in your 30's.  You’re not dead.  Change it.  Given that the best case scenario is you have 40 more years to bring effective change to anything and everything you do, why are you settling for such a label?”  We’ll see what comes next out of this person.  It’s funny, how much I care about this person and what comes next.  David thought it was all a little bit funny, too.  I’m not David, don’t misinterpret, I just think God’s reveal of His plan is always laced with a bit of comedy. 

If given the character line up in the book A Tale of Three Kings, by Gene Edwards, who would you self profess to be?  And why?  And is that the end of your story?

Searching to define grace

 Casey Anthony has been found innocent.  Culture and society at large have found her guilty.  Is it possible that both are true?  She is guilty but it could not be proven in a court of law?  The uproar is that she should not get to walk away when it seems so obvious that she was involved in the crime.  Do you think she has been able to walk away?  The prison that society believes she deserves has been constructed around her despite the court of laws; yet the peer group that was her jury, a judge and attorneys that have a formal education reached the conclusion together.  Did these simple to complex people get it wrong?  Is it possible for simple and complex people to get it wrong? 

I think we get it wrong every day.  Here is the stinging truth; it’s not up to us.  We are called to continually extend the boundaries of the lines of God’s love, not our own.  This is a wise thought I had to learn from my friend Kyle, because he understands grace better than I do. 

“30 days before you called the police?!?!?!”, I screamed the first time I heard about Casey.  I am a mother; I cannot even imagine having one day go by, let alone 30.  Do you think my automatic guilty flare went off in my brain instantaneously?  Yep. 

But here is the deconstruction of my paradigm- God is consistent and I choose to amazingly and radically trust Him over myself.  I am a person of a thousand second chances, most of which I’ve never picked up because I didn’t think I deserved them.  Casey has been given a second chance and society is preaching she doesn’t deserve it.  But then let me ask you this.

What do you think of when you hear the name Peter from the bible?  Disciple, the one who got out of the boat, the one who walked on water, the rock & the one who denied Christ three times, the one who sank in faithlessness, the one who questioned.  Is it possible to even understand why Christ told him he would deny Him? Christ told him it would happen knowing He has already forgiven him, knowing it would be fear that drive him to be a coward.  Christ told him it would happen because He wanted it to be so clearly understood that it is by grace that we are saved, it is by grace that we are given a second chance, it is by grace that we are able to put the gospel on display.  It is because of Christ and not ourselves.

I pick up my second chances now.  I give away second chances a little more often too.  Not always, and not without being reminding of who God is and who I am not.  But it is because of my second chances, it is because of my understanding of grace, in which Casey may be guilty but I believe she deserves a second chance.

  

to do something that matters.

We all want to be known.  I want to be known.  I don’t have the words yet, but someday I will.  Until then I will attempt to express myself best through those that have their words. 

This link is a set of words I pray God would take me to. Someday. (Soon, if I can be so bold.) 

These are words that inspire.  To read this is to know me. 

to do something that matters

Hanging with my Friends at Staff Retreat!

    

Last week was Staff Retreat at camp...so fun!!  We did the confidence course (ropes, log & wall climbing, archery, leap frog - fun but kind of crazy).  We had great devo's, great worship, great porch time.  MOst of all I had a blast with the women from children's ministry playing rounds and rounds of cards.  My roomies were super cool, lots of talking & very little sleeping.  All in all a great couple of days to remember!

Thai Chicken Meatballs - OMGoodness Good!

1 lb ground chicken
1/3 brown onion, grated
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
couple shakes of garlic powder
s&p
Squish all together with hands.  Make 1 inch balls & put them on a plate.
In a non-stick, heat on medium, a thin bottom layer of peanut oil.  Place the meatballs in the oil and brown on all sides, for 2-3 minutes on each side until all sides are browned.  Remove to a paper towel.  While they are drip drying oil...
1 large scoop of peanut butter in a microwave dish and nuke for 30 seconds.  Add a few shakes of light soy, a smidge of toasted sesame oil and stir.
Plate meatball, spoon drizzle sauce, garnish with peanuts.   Very rich, so very good!

Shrimp for Him and Her

 

Shrimp Yumminess

1 lb of medium shrimp, de-veined at the store
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp olive oil
couple of shakes of old bay
s&p
Put these ingredients in a bowl in the morning and put in the fridge in the morning.  Fire of the grill and grill them when you get home in the evening.  When they come off the grill, pull the tails off.
While they are cooking, chop a head of romaine lettuce, cube up an avocado, stir together equal parts sour cream & salsa.

I made taco's for husbie with flower tortillas and a salad for me.  So yummy, filling but light.  And I just love fresh shrimp!!

The 1/2 Cup Fajita Salad

1 head of red leaf lettuce
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup fine chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheddarella
2 handfuls of corn chips, crushed in your hand
1 skirt steak, marinaded with s&p, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and olive oil.  Grilled for 6 minutes on each side (thank you husbie)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup of medium pace picante sauce

Chop lettuce, sprinkle corn, sprinkle beans, sprinkle bell pepper, crush chips, lay sliced steak, spoon drizzle sour cream/salsa mixture.  Toss.  Eat.  Yum.

Semi-Homemade Strawberry Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box mix of Pillsbury Strawberry Cake - make the cake mix according to the directions, adding a smidge of vanilla extract when you add the water.  Add one box of slow cooking chocolate jello pudding mix to the mixer and let mix an additional 2 minutes.

Bake in paper cups for time/temp that is your altitude and such.  Let cool completely.

1 Can of Chocolate Fudge Frosting with the sprinkles in the lid.  Put all of the can of frosting in a sandwich baggie and zip it closed.  Snip one of the corners with a 1/4 inch opening.  Then pipe and squeeze the frosting in a circular motion.  Let the kiddo's do the sprinkles.

 

Father's Day Fun and Food: Dad Dogs and Banana Split Pie

Blair's Mom gifted him with a grill for his birthday back in March and Father's Day seemed like a great day to go get it and assemble.  He worked on it in the back while Sally and I made Father Food in the kitchen.  First we made Dad Dogs and then I made a Banana Split Pie.  Both were delicious!

Dad Dogs

1 pkg of hot dogs
1 pkg of buns
Katsup
Chili: 1 Can turkey w/ beans chili, 1 Can Texas Ranch beans with jalapeno (whole jalapenos removed), 1 Can Black beans, 1 Chili spice packet.
1/2 diced brown onion
1 cup shredded cheese
1 strip of crispy turkey bacon per bun for dog
Sour cream

Start chili first.  Put each can of chili stuff in a pot & the chili packet.  Stir all together and let simmer over very very low heat as long as you like.  Boil or grill hot dogs.  Chop the onion and bacon while chili is simmering.  Shred cheese.  Assembly: Bun, microwaved 14 seconds for warm and softness; katsup on bun; dog on top katsup; scoop of chili on dog; sprinkle of onion, cheese & bacon, small scoop of sour cream. Serve hot and with knife and fork. 

Banana Split Pie

1 Graham Cracker Crust
2 Cups Strawberry Ice Cream
1 Banana
1 Small can of crushed pineapple, drained and squeezed liquid out
1 Tub cool whip
Chocolate fudge ice cream topping
Carmel ice cream topping
1 tbsp chopped almonds
Maraschino Cherries

I used a store bought crust, but you could make it if you wanted to.  Slice banana in 1/4 in coins.  Place one complete layer on the bottom of the crust.  Cover with strawberry ice cream, about 1 inch thick.  Sprinkle the pineapple around on this layer.  Top with cool whip from top to edge.  Place in freezer for 2 hours.  Remove from freeze, slice piece of pie.  Then drizzle with chocolate and carmel.  Sprinkle with nuts and place a cherry on top!  Enjoy!

Loaf Cake Yumminess

Loaf Cake Yumminess

1 Entimenns Butter Cake
2 Banana's
1 Tub of Cool Whip
Couple of handfuls of chocolate chips

Slice the butter cake into thirds, length wise.  Place the bottom on a plate.  Slice first banana in 1/4 inch slices and place on the layer of cake.  Sprinkle in some chocolate chips.  Cover with a couple of large scoops of cool whip.  Place middle layer of cake.  Repeat banana, chocolate chips and cool whip step.  Place top of cake on and sprinkles the rest of chocolate chips on top and on the plate.  Serve right away or place in fridge until you want to eat.  Super easy, could use any kind of fruit you like, totally delicious!