AAAAnd - We're Back.

We just spent the last week at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp. It was Jr. Girls week. And we were the morning missionary speakers. It was incredible!


340 girls were in attendance. Poor, poor Jim. But, through all the high-pitched squeals and non-stop chatter, he survived. In fact, I would say he thrived. He played miniature golf with the girls and let them dress him up as the "preacher" during their "Bridal Showcase" activity. He was an amazing sport! He even let them chase him around during the "Battleship" game!


The BESTEST part of the whole week was that at least 27 girls made professions of faith and trusted in Jesus alone to save them from their sins! What a joy! Not only that, but several girls told me how inspired they were by the missionary stories that they were willing to become missionaries themselves someday. We enjoyed a truly encouraging week! Pictures coming soon!


Here are a few notes I received from 2 of the Jr. Girl campers:

Dear Sarah Engle,

Thank you for the awesome Missionary Stories. I love all of them. I really loved the Mary Slessor one. It's my favorite! Thank you for taking the time to tell us these stories. Everyone loves them. I know I do. I really hope you keep telling stories. You're really good and you put lots of fun in chapel. Thank you so much for telling us these stories.

Sincerely,

Avery

-------------------

Dear Jim and Sarah Engle,

Thank you so much for the cool Missionary Stories. They are so fun and thank you for using your time to teach us about God's word and missionaries. You have shown us kids love. Thank you.

Love,

Melissa

Camp is Coming

On Monday morning Jim and I leave for a week of camp (Jr. Girls) at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp. Pray for us and pray for the girls as we challenge them towards missions. Pray that we would both communicate God's passion for us to be obedient servants of Him.

We'll be the morning Missionary speakers and will be speaking Tues-Fri. I'll be giving a presentation on 3 famous missionaries in history: Amy Carmichael, Mary Slessor & Corrie Ten Boom. Then, on the 4th day, we'll share what God has called us to in Germany and include the application of our personal call to obey God in the area of witnessing and missions. After I share the story, Jim will give a short Bible lesson on a specific characteristic that each missionary has that makes her stand out against others.

We're hoping these missionaries (us included) can serve as a good example to these campers!

Thanks for your prayers!

Brag Blog - Part 4

I know, I know. I could have spread these out a little...maybe posted one per week. But, I was eager to do it. I'm just a daughter-in-law proud of her mom-in-law's creativity and talent.

I really enjoyed this one. And for the record, she placed well with this writing challenge (2nd place in Level 3, as a matter of fact) and also placed 7th for Editor's Choice. Now, she's in the Master's Level. Again, she does all this on FaithWriters.com, where every week they give the writers a challenge based on a given theme or subject. This particular subject was "Family Reunions."

This is the last one I'll post for awhile...so enjoy it!

Change is On the Way
By Deborah Engle

Beans, chopped peppers, beans, chopped onions and more beans all went into the largest bowl she owned. Shaking together the ingredients for the dressing, Sherry realized she was humming and she couldn’t help but smile. It had been so long since she had seen her family, but that was about to change. She covered the finished salad and slid it onto the refrigerator shelf just as Tim walked through the kitchen door.

“Hi, Sweetheart,” she offered. His lack of response caused her to turn and look his way.

“Sherry…” Tim started, then cleared his throat and tried again. “The car broke down on the way home and the mechanic from the garage just dropped me off. They can’t get the parts they need until Monday …so we won’t be able to make it to the reunion tomorrow.”

“We… can’t… go?”

“I’m sorry, Sherry.”

“I… guess I’ll phone my parents.”

Still discouraged the next morning, Sherry was relieved that all the children accepted the change in plans without much fuss. “It’s been so long since we’ve gone home, the kids have forgotten...but I was so looking forward to seeing everyone. Tom and Tammy finally had their first baby, and Jessie just got her degree in music…she was going to critique that song I wrote…”

All morning, Sherry’s thoughts were 50 miles away. “Aunt Martha is so artistic…everything she makes is breathtaking.” “Nobody tells a better story than Uncle Paul.” “Mom’s and Dad’s different ailments have slowed them down, but through it all they’ve kept their sweet spirits.” Dejection tainted every memory.

Realizing the morning was coming to a close, Sherry roused herself from her dreary thoughts. Walking to the shed to collect her gardening tools, she noticed a little figure standing in front of the glider under the oak tree. Six year-old Althea had her stuffed animals lined up on the seat and was teaching them a song.

“You all lithen the firtht time, then you can thing with me, okay? Thith little light of mine…”

A fleeting smile appeared on Sherry’s face. “What a cutie.”

Turning back to her task, she opened the shed door, only to realize that the hoe was missing. While she stood there wondering where it could be, another young voice carried across the yard. Moving around to the backside of the shed, she saw Allen working away in the garden, talking to himself, as usual. “Mom looked so sad cuz we couldn’t go see Gramma. If I do the weedin’, she’ll be happy for sure. I know she’ll start smilin’ again.”

“Ooooh… What other nine year-old boy has a heart like that?”

Then she heard his voice again. “If that doesn’t help, I’ll try telling her that story about the purple dog and the alligator.”

Sherry found herself choking back a laugh that suddenly became a sob. Resentment drained out of her as sudden tears filled her eyes. “Why have I been so upset? I am a blessed woman.”

Humbled, she quietly went back to the house to collect herself. Curled up on the sofa, a spot of color caught her eye. Reaching across the table, she picked up the small ceramic sculpture. It was so delicate, and the colors were so vivid…it still amazed her that Ashley had been only ten when she created it. “Now we can’t keep her out of the clay. She has so much talent, just like Aunt Martha.”

With that thought, Sherry’s heart filled with wonder at a new insight. “I haven’t missed my family reunion at all. They’ve been right here with me all along. All those qualities that make my relatives so unique are showing up in my own children. Aunt Martha’s sitting downstairs at the potter’s wheel, creating a new work of art. I just heard Jessie down by the oak tree, singing to the stuffed animals. My parents are over in the garden, and Uncle Paul was right there with them.”

With a light heart, Sherry determined she would make the rest of the day a happy one for her family. “We can have our own picnic…” Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of several cars turning into the long driveway, horns blasting away. Curiosity drew her outside.

As doors opened, familiar faces started appearing, and as trunks opened, loaded coolers started emerging.

“Surprise! We’ve brought the reunion to you.”

“Mom? Dad? Jessie?”

“We heard you’ve got Three-Bean Salad.”

Sherry laughed. “Boy, do we. I was afraid we’d be eating that for a week.”

Brag Blog - Part 3

I really enjoyed this historical piece...and I think you will, too.

Worth the Sacrifice
By Deborah Engle

With his stiff and aching muscles demanding relief, Liam reluctantly opened his eyes and arose from the hard earth. In the dim light of dawn, he could see that others about him were doing the same. The smell of wood smoke, mingled with the smell of coffee, wafted past, awakening his appetite.

A mere three hours had been allowed for rest and their pursuit of the foe would resume in a short time. Liam pulled on his boots, straightened his roundabout, and brushed off the evidence of his earthy bed. Like every morning, his thoughts were of home, giving him incentive to face what lay ahead. His parents, his wife...he fought for their future, and for the Christian principles that made this country worth fighting for.

He found his tin cup and filled it with coffee. It wasn’t the best, but he was grateful to have anything hot. Back in the old country, Grampa O’Conail had given him and Garrett their first taste of coffee. It hadn’t really appealed to him then, but neither he nor his cousin would have admitted to that. At six years old, they were already determined to gain the approval of the family patriarch. Ah, but that was a lifetime ago, four years before the clan had acknowledged their only real future would be in America. His father and uncle then made the choice to follow their dreams. Liam recalled the difficult farewells, the chaos of the boarding, and the feeble, receding figures of his grandparents as the ship left port. Garrett’s presence was a comfort to him that day, and the long voyage became an adventure as they explored the ship together. Within a week of landing they had said their final good-byes, one family going south to Tennessee, and the other going west to Ohio.

***************************************

Garrett shrugged into the faded, ragged shell jacket. Having nothing else available, he continued to button it on each day, confident such petty sacrifices would soon be rewarded. After four years of conflict, this latest campaign could be the one that clinched the victory.

Walking to the spring, he saw the officers gathered around a fire, finalizing the strategy for today’s advance. The aroma of the chicory coffee in their mugs filled his senses, but he knew there would be none for enlisted men. Instead, he filled his cup with spring water and chewed on a piece of hardtack… a far cry from the soda bread he used to enjoy from the hand of his Gramma O’Conail. How distressed she would be if she could know of the circumstances he faced…but not Grampa. Sean O’Conail would have stood tall to know that his grandson was fighting to preserve the liberties that had drawn his family to this country. Garrett’s loyalty to the cause would never waver, no matter what came. He looked to the heavens, entreating God’s providence on the events of the coming day.

***************************************

General Meade demanded a merciless pace from his regiment, perhaps in part to establish his authority as the new commanding officer. It had also proven to their benefit, as their quarry had finally been spotted. Liam knew in his heart this would not be just another skirmish, for the President himself had directed them here. If Lee succeeded in reaching Philidelphia, the ramifications would be devastating. Ten minutes from now they would be engaged in battle, and Liam took a minute to surrender his life once more to the will of the Father. As he prayed, he recalled Grandpa O’Conail’s farewell words to the family, sanctioning their departure to a land of promise. “Whatever ye do, do it all to the glory of God.” He prayed that he would do just that.

***************************************

Cannons roared, filling the air with thick, pungent smoke. The sound of gunshots, the cries of the wounded, the rumble of horses thundering past all pressed in until he had to remind himself to breathe. Withdrawing into himself, he let his instincts take over. How long had it been? Hours, certainly, for there were dead and dying men as far as he could see. Another surge began and he braced himself, raising his musket, ready to continue the battle.

Abruptly, the fight left him as he stood face to face with another would-be opponent. Two soldiers confronted one another, incapable of aggression or defense. Two weapons fell to the ground, and two faces were unconsciously awash in unfamiliar tears.

"Liam?”

“Garrett?”

Two cousins were reunited.

Brag Blog - Part 2

Charming...that's all I have to say.

For the Love of Loni
By Deborah Engle

“Scruffy’s back!”

“How did you find him?”

“Someone saw our ad in the newspaper and brought him home.”

Alanna and Carrie spent the afternoon celebrating Scruffy’s return. Walking back home, Alanna remembered the happy face of her friend as they watched Scruffy scamper about the yard.

I’m glad Carrie isn’t sad anymore. Alanna knew all about being sad, because she had been sad for a long time. As she neared home the sight of her house brought bittersweet memories of happier times. Last fall she and Daddy had spent a day together planting flower bulbs in the yard. Now, flowers lined the sidewalk, but Daddy wouldn’t see them because he was gone. All the joy of the afternoon was quickly forgotten. Alanna stood and blindly stared at the row of daffodils, but the tears in her eyes would have kept her from seeing them anyway

........................................

Dejected after a difficult day at work, Dave slowly walked to his car. Going back to a lonely apartment was all he had to look forward to. Waiting at a traffic light, his gaze drifted to the remodeled office building across the street. It had been an old, decrepit eyesore for too long, and it was good to see the changes that had been made. Even the landscaping was improved. Spots of bright color drew his attention to clusters of yellow daffodils. The vision brought to mind a scene from the past.

“This hole is just right. Are you ready?”

Seven-year old Alanna’s face reflected her concentration as she asked, “Like this, Daddy? The little roots go down, right?”

Dave grinned at her and answered, “Yep. Set it right down in there, then push the dirt back in. We’ll have some real pretty flowers in the spring.” She followed his instructions, then smiled and pushed her hair back, smearing dirt across her face.

What a precious memory. He could still see the sparkle in her eyes, and now had to blink away the moisture from his own. The pretty yellow daffodils across the street seemed to bow their heads, acknowledging his sorrow.

Too bad fixing families isn’t as easy as fixing buildings. A horn behind him honked and with a start, he realized the light had changed. Just as well! I can’t be dwelling on that. I had good reasons for the choice I made and I’ve got to move on.

Nights like this were hard on him. Once the memories appeared, they lingered until he found relief in sleep, but tonight, sleep didn’t come. Over and over, a little dirt-streaked face smiled up at him. When the alarm finally went off, Dave was more than ready to get up. Wearily going through his usual morning routine, he grabbed a cup of coffee and the morning paper, then braced himself for another demanding day at work

........................................

Alanna hurried into the house after school. After checking every room just to be sure, she settled herself where she could see the front walk. Mommy had tried to discourage her plan, but Alanna was so insistent, she had reluctantly agreed. Uncertain, and concerned for her daughter, she now hovered from the next room. Alanna hardly noticed. She knew this would work. It had to work, because she didn’t want to be sad anymore. All she had to do was wait.

A car drove by, then three boys raced past on their bikes. After a long time, two more cars went by and still, she waited. She stood up and paced back and forth, but her eyes never left the window. Alanna wasn’t going to chance missing anything.

Suddenly, she saw what she had been waiting for. In her excitement she could only stand and watch as her daddy walked up the steps. Seeing her through the window, he hesitantly entered the house, knelt, and reached out to her. As she clung tightly to his neck, he told her, “Daddy’s back, Little Loni. I made a big mistake, and I’m sorry. Nothing is worth losing my little girl over.”

Now aware of his wife’s presence, he stood to speak again. “Sometimes things seem to be in ruins, but with hard work restoration is possible. I want to make that happen for us, if you’re willing.”

Fallen on the floor unnoticed, lay the newspaper, folded open to the classified ads. Set in a border, in bold print, were the words, “Daddy, The yellow flowers bloomed and they’re real pretty. Won’t you come home now? I miss you. Love, Loni”

Brag Blog

I'm going to use the next few posts (starting with this one) to brag on my Mom-in-Law. She's an amazing writer and she gets better with each new article she writes. I'm picking my favorites...and posting them here so you can enjoy her talent, too. I shouldn't keep such a blessing to myself! Most of these stories leave me a little misty-eyed, but what can I say, they touch the heart. Enjoy!

Not Just Another Crock Pot
By Deborah Engle

“There you are! You’re late. I was beginning to think that turning 30 was more than you could handle.” Molly’s best friend Lisa had a way of getting right to the point.

“I’m not late, your watch is just fast.” The two women settled in for a nice visit. “You know, turning thirty is a big deal. I don’t know why, but it is eating at me.”

“Oh, we all go through that-don’t worry about it. I’m sure Phil will have a nice evening planned for you tonight, and once you get past today, you’ll forget all about it.”

“Phil--have a nice evening planned? Wouldn’t that be different. He doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body. Have you forgotten the “New and Improved” food storage system he got me for Christmas?”

“Oh, don’t be so quick to dismiss the idea. He tries, in his own way. Maybe this time will be different.”

“Yeah, well I’m not getting my hopes up.”

However, in spite of herself, Lisa’s words reverberated in her mind the rest of the day. Memories of whispered phone calls and something being quickly shoved into a pocket when she entered the room came back to her mind. By the end of the day, no matter how she tried to dissuade herself, Molly was convinced her quiet, predictable Phil was planning something big.

That evening they sat on the sofa in front of a crackling fire. Phil’s card was the first surprise-it was the loveliest one she had ever received from him, and the verse brought tears to her eyes. Just as she began to read the note he had written, his pager went off.

“I have to check this out. Go ahead and read it. I’ll be right back.”

In the light of the flickering firelight, she read, “We’ve talked about this in the past. Now we’ll be able to experience it--together. With all my love, Phil”

Molly’s mind was awhirl with the uncharacteristically romantic card and mysterious message. Smiling as she waited for Phil to return, she eyed the pretty little package he had set on the table in front of the sofa.

Phil hurried back into the room with his coat on. “Molly, I’m sorry, it’s an emergency. I have to go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Hesitating, he smiled and said, “Go ahead and open your present if you want. We can talk about it later.” And with that, he was gone.

Stunned and disappointed, Molly wasn’t sure what to do. She picked up her card and read the note again, then decided to open her gift.

As the wrapping fell away, Molly’s mouth fell open. “What is this? A copy of “Alaskan Adventures”? The book Phil has read a hundred times since he was a kid? ‘Now we can experience it-together!’ So he thinks I’m going to read it with him? Is he nuts? So much for romance. I should have been content with another kitchen appliance!”

By now, Molly was pacing the floor, angry that she had allowed herself to have any expectations, but hurt that Phil had failed to see her need for some kind of real celebration on this difficult day. Every glance at the book produced another wave of indignation until, in frustration, she threw it into the fire. Then she ran upstairs, fell onto the bed, and wept.

Several hours later, Phil sat on the side of the bed and shook Molly awake. “Honey, what did you think? Were you surprised? I kind of thought you’d call me.”

Molly turned over and glared at her husband. “Are you serious? Why not just give me toaster? At least that would have been useful!”

Phil sat quietly for a minute, looking at her tear-streaked face. “Apparently, you didn’t see everything. Where is the book?”

“By now, it’s nothing but ashes! Now leave me alone, I’m really not in th...”

"What do you mean, ashes? Tell me you’re not serious!” Phil ran to the fireplace and began raking through the residue, but there was nothing to retrieve. In shock, he sat on the sofa, muttering. “So much for my attempt at romance.”

Molly walked into the room as he spoke, and upon hearing him, said, “What romance? There are four copies of that book in this house already.”

Phil looked sadly at his wife. “This one was different. There were two tickets for an Alaskan cruise taped inside the back cover.”

Put in My Place

I just finished reading a blog post of a friend who shared her insight and reflection on The Floods of '08. I was really put in my place. Humbled, you might say. And encouraged to remember what our real need is in this life and how it can be met. I encourage you to read this post. I got goosebumps and a lump in my throat. She's a talented writer, too, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it from that perspective. But, really, in giving credit to whom credit is due - I'd say that God used her writing this to speak to my heart about some things I've been holding on to. Maybe it will be a good eye-opener for you as well. So, here ya have it. Our Deepest Need.

Usually, in Iowa, We're "Up to Our Eyes in Corn"...

Unfortunately, it's not corn that we're up to our eyes in...it's water.

And Cedar Rapids got the worst of it. Check out these pictures (also posted on CNN's iReport) that Jenna has on her website. These pictures basically show you how damaged Cedar Rapids is from the water. I think they can serve as an example of what other parts of town look like, too. It's amazing, and yet it's awful. A good reason to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been affected by the Floods of '08.

Water Under the Bridge (Mostly)

Looks like a good place to start our canoe venture from Colfax to Cambridge. This is the South Skunk River in Colfax...a little high, eh? But lower than it was before...phew.

Not sure if this is a temporary sign as a joke...but, it's right outside of the dentist office where Dr. Hagarty is...I think.

...and this is after a few days of seeing the water recede.

Canoing to Church is a Valid Option...

So, on our way from church yesterday Jim pointed out that the South Skunk River by Cambridge (where we go to church) goes all the way to Colfax (about 5 miles from our house). So, I said, "You mean, it's totally possible to actually canoe to church? Anytime we want? With or without a flood? Legally?"

"Yeah," he answered "We'd have to rent a canoe, but I think it's possible."

"I love it! Let's do it!" My excitement was quite evident.

Then he added, "It would take a long time..."

I finished his thought, "...and we'd have to portage a few miles to get to the church. On the highway."

This is still not such a bad idea. I think I'll be annoying and talk about it all summer til we do it.

New Socks!

Check out the new socks Jim got at our garage sale! Poor, poor guy. Looks like he'll be slathering on the aloe vera...

*sigh* I guess I'll never know what it feels like...

The World Doesn't Revolve Around You

Ok, maybe it was just me, but I heard this saying growing up...well, a lot.

"Sarah, the world doesn't revolve around you..."

Apparently, I was one of the self-centered children who thought that the world did, indeed, revolve around me.

I think, through the years, I have learned my lesson. I don't believe that the world revolves around me, but Wednesday night at church - well, there was an exception.

It's funny the things you do to have fun with kids. JIm and I brought Kayle, Connor and Cole to church on Wednesday night because I spent the latter half of the afternoon baby-sitting them. We showed up about 1 hour early, thinking Cole had a youth group meeting - so we spent that hour thinking of ways to kill time.

One of those ways was to hang out in the temporary nursery (which is WAY bigger than the normal one) and have a "spinning contest."

Connor had his handy-dandy stopwatch and timed us. His record, before falling, was 1 minute and 30 seconds. And his little sister Kayle had him beat by 15 seconds. I don't remember what my time was. After finishing my "spin cycle" the second time, I was forced to the floor while the world really did revolve around me. The room was spinning viciously and I remembered that I wasn't a kid anymore and that I couldn't stomach those kinds of games. The rest of the evening, I felt like losing my lunch.

Jim, on the other hand, is one amazing guy. He came into the nursery and I hired him out to join the spinning contest, while I held the stopwatch. To my surprise, he agreed. (Does this count as ministry?)

Kayle and I watched as Jim and Connor faced off in a one-on-one spinning match. By 3 minutes, we requested that they stop for fear someone would actually lose their lunch. But, being boys, they pressed on. Someone had to give, but no one did. There was a tie - 5 minutes of spinning! How insane!

Both Jim and Connor stopped. Connor wobbled and plopped down in the glider chair. Jim had this look of achievement on his face that I couldn't resist testing.

"Walk over to me, Jim." I said. I'm so devious! I couldn't wait to see the "dizzy walk!"

Much to my dismay and surprise, he did walk over to me and in a completely straight line.

My husband amazes me. I guess he's less selfish - because the world didn't revolve around him, like it did me. Oiy.

Nursery Tidbits

I have to tell you about the most adorable thing that happened in the nursery last night!

I wasn't necessarily scheduled to be in the nursery, but as Jim will tell you, I am known to disappear in the middle of the service and be found playing with the kids in the nursery. I'm not sure what that says about me...

Anyway, so yesterday was a unique time in the nursery. There were babies ALL over the place! Crying babies, crawling babies, babies throwing things and biting things. I think it was a good thing I ended up there last night. I held little Hannah almost the whole time. I think she's teething because she drooled all over me as she sobbed.

Oh, but that's only the introduction. I must get to the point. It's such a funny story.

One of the 7 year old boys was in the nursery last night helping with his two younger sisters. He became our "little helper," identifying exactly who it was that was stinky. He went around smelling little baby bums, to no avail. But, he was completely convinced that someone had messed their pants. In his search, he pointed to a 2 1/2 year old girl.

"She's stinky!" He said.

"I'm not a baby!" She replied. "I have panties!" She pointed her finger at him in disgust. "And they're pony panties!"

Then, she came over to me, sat in my lap, stroked my hair and said, "I like your hair..."

And then I heard the cutest little toot I've ever heard...coming straight from Little Miss Pony Panties herself.

I could NOT help but laugh. This was a truly funny thing to experience!

Wondering?

I've had a few "Are you Under Water?" emails lately, and I thought I would answer via blog.

No, we are not personally using scuba gear to get from our front door to our driveway. We are not in need of a canoe to get to and from work. We are not turning into the underwater City of Atlantis (although they had the luxury of a big dome to stay dry). BUT, there are several people, churches and businesses who are, and they could use your prayers, too!

My friend Jenna has been updating her blog on the happenings in Cedar Rapids, where her family is from. So, you can read that for information...and entertainment. She even posts pictures so you can feel like you're there! Up close and personal with the water, they are!

Thank you all dearly for your concern!

Here is a copy of an email I sent to a caring friend:

We're doing alright in our neck of the woods! Our basement has some water, but we have a sump pump working 24/7 to keep us dry! :) Mingo is basically dry, our river banks are steep, so all the water rising has been fairly well contained, praise the Lord! It's just the saturated ground that is causing a lot of standing water. Our ditches are full, though...and constantly running. It's like we have a little stream in our front yard where the ditch is! One good thing about all this is that I haven't had to water a single plant or flower most of this new spring! Although, the weeds are getting pretty nasty! Our yard is in good shape as well. But, across the street is another story! We are surrounded by lakes...that once were fields. Hopefully, the farmers will still have decent yield after this! Most of the flooding is in Des Moines, though...where they opened the Saylorville Lake flood gates to keep the whole city from going under! So, many of the streets and bridges in the city of Des Moines are closed and Cedar Rapids and Waterloo are really under water. We have a friend that pastors a church there. In fact, we just had a meeting there in April. So, we're hoping to hear good news from them. Also, we have a friend who pastors a church in Des Moines. They had to evacuate the church (files and important things, etc) just in case the levy didn't do it's job when the Des Moines River was getting filled up. Our church in Cambridge suffered some flooding as well. The basement hasn't been useable for a few weeks so classrooms and nurseries have had to be relocated. The town of Cambridge has also seen damage from the water. From what I have heard, people have had significant damage to their homes! As a church, though, we hope to reach out to them during this time.

Here are some pictures from my friend Dan'l, who is a Cambridge resident.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Mmm. These are Delightfully Yummylicious! I've tested these at Jim's workplace and well, let's just say that he brought home an empty tupperware dish! This is another recipe I got from Stacy, who got it from ME Wires, who got it from S.Gutwien. It's made it's rounds...and I think it's safe to say it's been enjoyed on all levels! Now, I'm getting the recipe out there because I LOVE it so much. Jim gave it a 3 1/2 on our scale of 1-5. So, it's another one to make later (or sooner).

Another incredibly EASY cake mix recipe.

Ingredients:

1 Lemon Cake Mix
1/2 Cup of Oil
1 (3 oz) lemon instant pudding mix
1 Cup of Hot Water
4 Eggs
1/4 cup (or less) of Poppy Seeds

Instructions:

Mix all & beat for 4 minutes
Pour into prepared muffin pan/mini-loaf pans
Bake at 350 degrees
50-60 minutes for cake
40 minutes for loaves
25+ minutes for mini-loaves
15 minutes for cupcakes
Insert tootpick to check doneness. If toothpick comes out clean, it's done!

Indulge...and it's a good one to share, too!

Cake Mix Cookies

This recipe is SOOOO easy. In fact, I'm taking a box of Cake Mix to my baby-sitting job today for a fun project to do together and have a treat to reward ourselves for our "hard" work!

YOU will LOVE the simplicity of these cookies - I've already made two batches myself and am tempted to do more for Dad for Father's Day! Oh, and Jim gave these cookies a 3 1/2 on our scale of 1-5. This is how I know whether to make the recipe again or not and 3 1/2 is not bad! I would have given them a 4 1/2, but that's just me! Also, thanks Stacy dear for the recipe - I must give credit to whom credit is due! She's the time-saving cookie-baking genius!

Ingredients:

Any box of cake mix (I like the Devils Food and Funfetti)
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Oil or substitute with Apple Sauce for a healthier alternative
Powdered Sugar (Optional if you're doing the Devils Food Cookies)

Instructions:

Mix all together
Roll dough into balls and place on cookie sheet (dust with powdered sugar for Devils Food Cookies)
Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes

Yup, that's it. Seriously. It's that easy! Have fun & Enjoy!

Meine Vier

Just a little German Lesson for you. I had to ask my a friend from Germany to verify it, but there it is - "My Four" - in German.

Like Jenna, I'm going to post the answers to a set of questions I got in an email.

Meine Vier or My Four:

• Four Family Members: Jim, Me, Jim & Me.
• Four Places that I Go Over & Over: Target, Church, Home, The Library
• Four People who Email Me Regulary: Dani from Creston, Nancy from BMM, KCCI weather, Facebook
• Four of my Favorite Places to Eat: Subway ($5 Footlongs!), Old Chicago (Berry Lemonade!), Georgio's in Colfax (Drew's Pasta!), Jade Garden (Garlic Chicken!)
• Four Places I would Rather be Right Now: at the Zoo with Jim, at a Pool (preferably our own built in - Ha!) with Jim, a Spa (maybe not with Jim this time, poor guy - that would just be torture), Germany with Jim
• Four TV Shows I Watch Over & Over: Currently, we don't watch much TV, but when we were in Michigan and we had cable I watched MythBusters, The Jeff Corwin Experience, Dirty Jobs, SurvivorMan & Man Vs. Wild. ( I know, I know, that was more than 4.)
• Four (or 5, or 6) Movies I Watch Over & Over: Lord of the Rings Trilogy (even though I ALWAYS - well, just twice - fall asleep during the "Battle at Helm's Deep" scene), An Affair to Remember, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice. (you're not alone, Jenna! I enjoy watching these at least once, if not twice a year) Oh...and if I could add one - maybe two more, The Chronicles of Narnia & The Indiana Jones Series (I can't wait to see the new one, even though I do hear of Alien happenings...hmmm.)

Me? A Writer? UPDATE

Yay!

I did it!

After much deliberation, Jim and I decided that enrolling in this class given by the Institute for Children's Literature that will get me on the road to publishing children's literature! If you're wondering what in the world I'm talking about read this and this.

I was pretty much a nervous wreck when I was talking to the lady on the phone...mostly because I was about ready to give her a lot of our money. I've been liking the comma in our bank account figure and I was about to delete it in this one phone call!

But, we've talked about this for a few months now figuring that it's cheaper still than taking a number of classes at the community college and more flexible with our traveling schedule...and in the Sarah Style paraphrase, Jim says it will spark the flame of my writing career and so, I followed through, made the phone call and am now officially enrolled in an online, one-on-one course on getting published in the world of children's literature.

Watch out world...here I come. Well, I'm at least one step closer.

Guilty as Charged

So the other day...I did something totally stupid and totally contradictory to what God wanted me to do. Yeah...I pretty much disobeyed Him-outright. So, now you really know. I AM human!

But, I knew I had to deal with it, so Jim and I talked it through and he reminded me of the vastness of God's forgiveness. And I listened and thought something that is probably very common. "But I don't FEEL any better after having asked God's forgiveness, even though I KNOW He forgave me. I still feel like a big dummyhead."

In my quandry, I decided to go to scripture. The first verse that popped into my head was 1 John 1:9 which we know says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But, for the first time, I think I understood more than that.

I read it in context (vs. 8 & 10) and realized WHY I was feeling so crummy about what I did. Because I was supposed to! That nasty feeling I had about my sin was guilt...and although I didn't like it one bit, it was good. I wouldn't feel bad about my sin, or recognize it as sin either, if I didn't have true remorseful guilt about it. Guilt is a good thing. It keeps me from decieving myself and lying to God, and it keeps me from justifying my sin as a mere character flaw or comparing my sin to someone else's "graver" sin just so I feel better about myself. That guilt, rightly recognized as such, also keeps me in touch with the truth that I do sin and am in constant need of God's grace and forgiveness, even as I am being sanctified day by day. And when I deny that guilt, I make God a liar - as if He was somehow wrong when He tells me in His word that I am a sinner. More than that though, my guilt makes me want to make my relationship right with my Father. Of course, my love for Him, desire to be close to Him and a humble spirit will cause me to restore my relationship with Him, too. But, I've never really thought much about guilt and my conscience and the role it plays in my life and in my relationship to God. I usually tend to want to avoid that guilty feeling that gnaws at me when I've let something simmer too long over the fire of my conscience. Hopefully, now I'll look at guilt as part of the grace of God. It's one way He can always bring me back to Himself.

1 John 1:8-10

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

An Average Thursday Night (Or So We Thought)

• 5:00 pm

Stacy and I put the finishing touches on our Buffalo Wing Chili Mac Casserole (from Rachel Ray) while discussing the unfortunate fact that neither of us had actually tasted the casserole to see how spicy it actually was since we didn't really measure out the hot sauce, but poured it onto the macaroni, liberally.

• 6:00 pm

I announce that there is supposed to be bad weather and Stacy acknowledges the same. We discuss the fact that Tornado's don't ever touch down by our town...and she expresses her fear that one will be in theirs...tonight.

• 6:30 pm

We decide to take some fun pictures of her and Micah.

I know above picture is kind of blurry, but it's SO one of our favorites!

• 7:30 pm
  

I take my Buffalo Wing Chili Mac and drive down the road to watch my handyman hubby install a sink at the Hartog II's just down the street.

• 10:00 pm

Jim & Dr. Hartog are finishing with the sink while the Mrs. and I take a tour of their beautiful yard identifying only a few of their hundreds of tree species!

• 10:30 pm

We get ready to go home, but are immediately reminded by the howling wind and severe thunderstorms, that we're not going anywhere in a hurry and might as well settle in for the night. Mrs. Hartog turns on our faithful Channel 13 and we discover there is a tornado warning for the surrounding area. We hightail it to the basement, turn on the TV and find that Jay Leno has replaced Ed Wilson and the tornado warning is over. We retreat back upstairs, have a fruit smoothie, look at bird books and get to bed by 1:00 am.

• 1:00 am

I think Ed Wilson is the coolest weather dude. I was totally enamored by the weather reports last night...and watched intensly as tornado warning and "hook echoes" venture across Iowa. I realized how God protected us by keeping Jim on the sink project long enough to keep us off the road and out of flooding conditions. The storm system was pretty much on our route home most of the night. And tornado warnings were speckled all over central Iowa...including near our town...and Stacy's. Hmmm.

• 1:30 am

*ring, ring* Ariel calls...Jim is needed at work to help clean up flooding. I go with him.

• 3:30 am

I can't take it anymore! I NEED sleep!

• 3:45 am

I drive through a pond in the Hartog's driveway, run as fast as I can (for fear of the boogie man), insert the key into the keyhole and find that I have NO idea how to work this lock. After what seemed several minutes, Mrs. Hartog comes to my rescue. I drag myself to the guestroom, after washing the nastiness off of my feet of course, and fall into a deep, restful sleep.

• 9:00 am

I'm startled awake by the phone. Stacy was calling to make sure we're ok. We chat. I call Jim. He's STILL working.

• 12:30 pm

*whew* Jim gets to go home to sleep, but not before taking me out to lunch after I post this. He's awesome.

• 12:47 pm

He's nodding off in the chair next to me. It's time to sign off and get my hubby food in his belly and sleep for his heavy eyelids!

Much Ado About Diapers, My Washer, Food (or not), Rain & Gum

• Today was the first day in the history of my life that I purchased diapers. For a baby shower. And they're pricey, but necessary, which is what makes them an awesome baby shower gift.
• My washer danced around the room today because it's off balance and because I'm not sure how to fix it, I stood there, bracing each side of the washer until it was done with the spin cycle.
• I'm not going to tell you what I had for lunch. According to a book title about blogs, you're not interested.
• I'm making Jim's favorite, Lasagna, for dinner. But, shhh. It's a surprise. And it's the easiest, fastest and yummiest lasagna recipe EVER. Not like you care any more about my dinner as you do about my lunch.
• I haven't had to water the flowers or our garden for weeks. Thanks to the abundant supply of rain around here. Some farmers might not see it as such a convenience, though.
• I had my friend Hanna over for lunch yesterday. She brought over a super tasty side dish of potato salad. Another easy, tasty recipe I'm sure to try out myself. Apparently, I can't resist telling you about yesterday's lunch. But, I'm still not telling you about today's.
• Recently, I tried out a new flavor of Orbit Gum. It's the Pomegranate flavored one, and after about 30 chews, it turns to mush. I wouldn't recommend it.

Well, that's about all the nothing I can come up with for now. I'm off! Cheerio!

Look Ma, It's Me!

Jim and I were scheduled to be in the toddler nursery on Sunday. I love serving in the nursery, especially with Jim. The kiddos really take to his goofy ways!

I enjoy drawing (scribbling mostly) with the kids when they are in the mood, and there is always one or two that spend most of the hour with a crayon in hand. I decided to draw a picture of Abram, one of my little buddies. Although I'm not particularly talented when it comes to drawing people pictures (just ask Gina...the last one I drew of her she looked like the missing link...sort of ape-ish), I think I did a decent enough job of making it look like him that he actually recognized it as himself. I think he liked it, too, because I folded it up and put it in his front pocket and he took it out to look at it, then carried it around the rest of the time, clutched tightly in his little, slobbery hand. And, when faced with the decision whether to the toy hammer in his hand or the folded paper, he put down the hammer. GASP! That was a tough choice, for as much as he likes that hammer!

A Heart Melting Moment

We have rhubarb.

I wanted make something rhubarb.

I picked some rhubarb (some of which was pooped on by a bird).

I washed the rhubarb.

I found a rhubarb recipe.

It was called Rhubarb Crisp, which I consistently mis-pronounce as Crips.

It was easy.

I cut the rhubarb into little chunks.

I found a cute heart shaped baking dish.

I wanted to use it to make heart-shaped rhubarb crisp for Jim, because I HEART him.

It was not a glass cake pan.

Or a metal one.

It was a plastic type material.

I lost the instructions for how to use it.

Jim said it might melt.

I said who would make a cake pan that melted.

I filled it with yummy cakey goodness.

And put it in the 375 degree oven and set the timer for 30 minutes.

We went for a walk.

We enjoyed the fireflies.

Upon entering the house, we didn't smell yummy rhubarb crisp.

It smelled like burnt plastic.

I felt like a dork.

I took some pictures...might as well.

It didn't melt onto the oven's bottom...for that, I was glad.

The electricity went out - a frequent occurence in our town.

We cleaned up.

In the dark.

We ate still yummy rhubarb crisp, by candlelight.

It was romantic.

Picture Perfect

This weekend I went out with friends, Issi & Teena on a little picture adventure. My photography skills are merely based on a simple hobby. I don't really know what I'm doing, but I have fun doing it...and the results are generally good and I learn as I go!

These are just a few of my favorites!