Finding Joy in My Kitchen

One of the blogs in my favorites is entitled "Finding Joy in My Kitchen"...well, this past weekend that's exactly what happened to me...

I found Joy in my kitchen - my daughter, Joy!










Last Saturday was the day of a brunch that for months and months I've been thinking on, and planning, picking gifts up for, planning, thinking ...get the picture?  I so wanted to make the ladies of First Baptist feel special and blessed and challenged! The theme changed, the format changed, but one thing remained the same, I wanted Joy to come to demonstrate and to speak.

Here's the sign-up table in our church foyer...

We finally settled on "A Woman's Armor" and used an apron to represent that armor. My daughter-in-love, Sara, helped me set up this display (she's so talented!).



Joy is a very busy young wife and mother.  But after a hard day of work, she loaded up and drove 3 hours to my house and we began cooking and laughing and cooking and laughing.  (There is always much laughter when any Weavers get together.)  It was a late night due to the goofy mix-ups we made and an early morning on Saturday, to get everything ready and in place before the ladies arrived.  She even made Spiced Pecans that we bagged up as favors for each special lady who would come.

Joy has never done this type of thing before, but I just knew she "had it in her" and I knew she would pray and seek what God would have her to say.  Although nervous - she was exactly the right person and God knew that.

40 ladies came!  I was so busy and scattered, my camera stayed in my purse until it was over and I remembered it, but Shantele was gracious enough to share these photos she took with her phone.

Our menu was:

                       Bacon and Spinach Quiche

                       Blueberry Scones

                       Fruit K-bobs

                       Sunshine Punch, Coffee and Tea

God was so good to help me find door prizes, which I think the ladies loved.  We gave away aprons,  candles, coasters (made by Sara), and the 3 dishes Joy prepared in demonstration time - fun, fun! 

First, Joy demonstrated 4 easy recipes for everyone, whether you cook or not and spoke about using our

homes to minister and reach out to others.  After brunch, she spoke about our armor as women:

                

                A meek and quiet spirit and what that really means...

                            A servant's heart

                                       Holiness

Even amid power outages (no A/C, no sound system) - everyone was patient and gracious and God was there. We were so blessed!

Thanks so much to everyone who helped me - thank you FB Ladies for embracing the idea and coming and Thank you, Joy!  Most of all, Thank You, Lord - for every good gift You give us and for meeting with us whenever we gather in Your name!

Labor Day 2010 ... in the books

Labor Day 2010 has come and gone.  It was different for us, or it seemed different.  We didn't go anywhere or do anything.  We certainly didn't labor.  Very quiet.  Working on music, choir, Living Bethlehem, and the
Ladies Brunch coming up.

I decided to caramelize some onions and peppers, intending to add beef in some way - either meatballs or patties...and saw some chicken I'd thawed.  So, we had chicken fajitas.  Yummy. 

And for dessert...

Baked Apple Dessert






I don't remember the real name.  It's from a Diabetic Living magazine that Joy brought to me.
It was delicious...and healthy!  Of course, anyone who knows me knows...I had piecrust,
so I used it rather than making the biscuit crust in the recipe (next time I'll made the crust)...
and I don't own a custard cup, so I used the smallest jelly jar I have in the middle.

It's an amazing thing.  You can't tell in this picture, but you bake it with the custard cup (or jar)
in the center and the crust on top.  After it cools, you invert it...and all the sauce will be in the
cup.  I know!  I didn't believe it either...but it happens!  Amazing.  I'm sure my sons can tell
me why this happens, but I choose to believe in miracles.

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

Most will not have any recollection of Penelope, nor the many perils she faced - since she was a cartoon character of the late 60's.

Doesn't she look just like me? 

Every episode, Penelope faced a new "peril"...most usually involving this guy...

The Hidden Claw!  I don't remember why this guy was always after her, but he
was relentless. Do you recognize him?  I see a strong resemblance between him...
and my enemy (Satan).

While Penelope and her enemy were make-believe...I am a real person and my
enemy is very real as well.  And while I've not yet been tied in a chair, or tied to
the railroad tracks...my "perils" are spiritual and often feel as confining and they
are definitely as desperately dangerous.

I know whenever we make any decision to follow God in any way,
to be obedient, to get out of the boat and walk on the water with Jesus...
the enemy comes...and like the Hidden Claw - he is relentless!

Jesus said Satan comes to steal, and kill and destroy.  In 1 Peter 5 we're told
to be serious and vigilant...why? 

• Because our enemy is like a roaring lion...roaring - to paralyze his victims
  with fear.  Have you ever felt fear?  If not, I  am pretty sure you haven't
  stepped out in faith to follow the Lord's calling.
• Because he's roaming about seeking those he can destroy.  If I'm not on
  guard...if I'm not alert...vigilant - he will destroy me in any way he can.

There's more to this story.  Penelope had a group of goofy dwarf-like guys who
would always come to her rescue. 
But I have...

•  Jesus Christ - the Creator of the universe, My Savior
• The Holy Spirit - my Comforter and my Power
• The Word of God, which exposes Satan's lies and tricks.

If I take the warning of God's Word seriously, if I am vigilant, if I am on guard,
if I am prayed up and studying The word daily -

I do not have to cower in fear when Satan roars.
I do not have to be deceived by his lies.
I do not have to be destroyed by his tricks.

And just like Penelope (who came out the victor in every episode)...

I can be victorious through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Praise God!

On Hiatus

That's the only explanation I have.  On hiatus.  No heart for blogging.

Girls

My pastor's wife friend and former co-worker, Jeannie, asked me to speak at
a retreat for her ladies.  That was months ago.  The day finally arrived
this past Friday and I was on my way.

I had prayed and God had told me to share...

• About women
• About what He's been doing in me
• A challenge

On the way there, I began to second guess myself... "I don't know these girls - maybe
this is not what I should share!"..."Lord! Give me something - a verse, anything!".  But
of course, I got nothing (He had already given it to me.).  I finally thought - this is what
I have and this is what I'm sharing.

I arrived and supper was almost on the table.  We sat down and began to visit and eat,
share and eat, laugh and eat...(did I mention eat?). 

After supper, we did the Lawnmower Song...just to work off our healthy meal
and have fun!

The time came for me to share my heart.

It's an amazing thing to share God's Word and His principles...how the Holy Spirit brings
things to mind that you haven't planned: verses, stories, illustrations.  And these girls, had
already become my friends.







That's another amazing thing.  Girls can share things with each other that they can't
share with men, not even their husbands, simply because we're girls.  God made us that
way.  He instructed the older girls to teach the younger girls.  It just works.

I got to share about the calling God has given to me...and what He's been up to in
my life and my heart.  What a privilege to be a co-laborer together with Him!

And then...I was able to challenge them to find God's calling for themselves...and to seek
Him with all their hearts...to listen and hear Him.

Amazing.

Raindrops on roses...

These are a few of my favorite things...  so the song goes.

I am sharing my newest favorite things first...

Last night we came home with this!

Yes, it's a Yamaha! 

But it is not a mower, or a 4-wheeler, or a motorbike, or one of the

gazillion other things they manufacture...

It's a....

Keyboard!
88 keys!
Yay!!!!!







(and yes - it is on my counter in the kitchen at present, but I do have a stand,
see it in the background?)

The first thing I did this morning?  Yep, you got it...played the keyboard.  Last
thing last night..oh, yeah...played the keyboard.  I do love it.  It is going to
greatly enhance my service to my Lord!

Next, please!

                                                               

My dear friend, Kellie, gave me this!
She did my life verse, for which this blog is
entitled, in calligraphy and framed it.
It's beautiful...it's perfect...I love it.
I hope to use it in my blog header in the very
near future.






And my last favorite thing for this episode...

Handpainted cabinet knobs...with leopard
accents to complement my leopard shower
curtain (which I love but did not photograph.)







Oops!  I found more!

This is my mom's living room, newly painted -

Color?  Bleached wheat - she loves it.


And now, a new recipe...

Lemon Shortbread
(secret ingredient - cornmeal!)






The end.

Blessings!

Exactly What We Need

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind for me.  God has been giving me a new assignment - one that challenges me to my very core...one that allows me to use my giftedness in a new way...one that forces me to lean on Him completely. 

It's been a wonderful, terrifying, anxious, joyous, roller coaster ride.  When God calls us to something...Satan begin his attacks - to discourage us and make us doubt.  He uses unsuspecting people...good people...even God's people to do his dirty work.

Where am I going with this?  To this wonderful, amazing truth...God knows exactly what we need.

Everytime I've desperately needed direction...God has given it.
Everytime I've needed affirmation and encouragement...God has supplied it.
Everytime I've been tempted to quit...God has reminded me of His calling and promise to be with me.

This past week for 3 days I got to keep these 2 precious grandbabies...

Millie Elizabeth...8 months

                                                            

Jackson Luke - 2 years 7 months

God knew that is what I needed.  I really doubted my ability to take care of these two - at my age? It's been so long...can I do this?  But before bedtime the first day...I was back in "mom" mode and everything was under control.  It was a needed break from things that were beyond my control...things that were filling me with anxiety.  It was busy...full of laughter and kisses and hugs and dirty diapers and potty training and a new appreciation for Jello (Jackson's new favorite thing).  I got to build my relationship with two of my grandchildren - precious! It was wonderfully tiring - and I was so glad we were able to help Cary and Sara have a little time away and alone.

They went home last night and it was very quiet here.  And you know what?  All the challenges and anxieties came back in full force.  Today, I've been oppressed and heavy in spirit and nauseated in body.  I've read scripture and I've prayed...

And on my way home from work...God gave me the answer.

When I got home...God sent me encouragement and afffirmation through a most unexpected source.

He reminded me AGAIN of His call on my life and His ability!

And then God gave me this week's resources...done! 

It reminds me of a Brooklyn Tabernacle song entitled How Many Times...

How many times must I prove how much I love you?

How many ways must my love for you I show.
How many times must I rescue you from trouble,
For to know just how much I love you?


How many days must I build a fence all around you?
How many nights must I wipe your tears away.
How many storms must I bring you safely through
For you to know just how much I love you?

Didn't I wake you up this morning,
clothed in your right mind?
When you walked up on a problem,
Didn't I step right in on time.
When you were weak along life's journey,
My angels carried you,
So you would know just how much I love you.

Didn't I put food on your table,
Show up when the bills were due?
When the pains were wracking your body,
Didn't I send healing down to you?
When you were lost in sin and sorrow,
I died to set you free.
So you would know just how much I love you.
 
God always knows exactly what we need and He is SO able and willing to supply -
Praise His Holy Name!
 
Blessings!