Lovely lunch

A healthy lunch of cream cheese, salmon, avocado on a corn thin with a few capers and good grinding of pepper. Sublime.

To be satisfied

This is what my quiet spot looks out at every morning as the sky changes and my heart changes before the day rushes in.

I was reflecting on part of Psalm 63 this morning... I used it as a prayer.

"O God, You are my God (mine... personal and intimate). Early will I seek You, my soul longs for You (we cannot run on empty, we need to seek the Giver of good, joy, peace, holiness, righteousness...) my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land (we have flesh and blood needs), where there is no water (no person or earthly comfort can fill us, we need the fountain of living water) I looked for You... to see Your power and Your glory (nothing can compare) Your love is better (for He so loved that He gave and keeps on giving... I am undone by His love) than life... my lips shall praise You (how can we be silent)... my soul shall be satisfied..."

Amen.

Oh, I pray that we will declare together, I am satisfied in Him. When we have been touched by His love and grace, our own touch is different... to Him be the Glory!

Pantry Plan

It can be creative when there are limited resources to work with and you have to scrounge around in the pantry shelves and fridge...and in a short while you are serving spaghetti with bacon, tomato and a splash of cream. If the table is set with crisp linen napkins and nice silverware you have the makings of a thrifty but beautiful evening.

At the appointed time

One of my desires this year is to be at any given place before or on time. This has been a marriage-long thorn in my husband's side.

He is punctual, punctual, punctual - example: seated at 3 pm. I am ish, ish, ish - example: arriving at 3ish pm. So finally after many years together, it dawned on me that I was causing avoidable anxiety to him. Yes, I'm slow to catch on.

I prayed for ways to resolve this and some of them are actually working. Does it always work? No. Am I really trying, everyday, yes.

I read this by William Shakespeare (and could just as easily have been spoken by my man) this morning which reminded me of my commitment...
"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late"

Pampering

I got a little pampering... already in our pajamas. Trying to delay bedtime I think but lovely all the same.

Knysna

A few days away... in a most picturesque part of the country.



Enjoyed lots of walking, eating, reading, talking. All good!

Scent of a woman

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place"
2 Cor 2.14

As we walk in the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen we bestow the fragrance of His kingdom.



This humble slender sprig of Fennel reminded me of these verses. From far, its a unassuming display but as you approach, it's aniseed scent was delicate and captivating.

I took to reading near it. May our fragrance be as pleasing.

Run with endurance

I usually meditate and mutter out my memory verses while I run...

my current two are so appropriate... the irony...

I love to run and reflect on this one.

"Let us lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross"
Hebrews 12. 1+2

but last night while running, I turned mid stride to check a noise behind me and I twisted my ankle... frustrating...

When I got home my other scripture came to mind. I reflected on it with an ice pack on my foot.

"have you not known, have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall BUT those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint"
Isaiah 40.28-31

So the rest of this week I will hold onto his promise to run on the road of life, running and not be weary, while my foot rests.

Easiest biscuits

Weekends are for something sweeter but I don't really want to run an extra 10 km due to my snack, so I made these.

Easy and healthy to boot, with a nice chewy texture. Kinda like a macaroon recipe. We had it with a glass of cold milk. Simply delicious.

Baby Coco-choc Biscuits

3 egg whites
1/2 cup xylitol
1 and 1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup good cocoa powder

Whisk egg whites. Slowly add the xylitol, whisking. Fold in the rest of the ingredients. Place teaspoon's of mixture onto on a greased baking tray. Bake for 22-25 minutes in a preheated oven set at 160 deg Cel.



For a oaty version... (on the right of picture)

2 egg whites
just under 1/2 cup xylitol
1/2 cup oats, somewhat heaped
1/2 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Prepare and bake as above.

End of summer

We have been enjoying the balmy nights and delicious summer fruit... with autumn around the corner, we have been relishing the last of our peaches and plums!

A black cap

She loves her new cap... she looks so grown up with it!



This child just wrecks me... I love her.

A new week of opportunities

"never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard seed germinates and roots itself"
Florence Nightingale


Though it may seem a humble Monday my friends, may this week be a practical seed planting week...

Stirfry style

I think its the novel utensils but when we have a Chinese style meal, I get no comments on the amount or type of vegetable. I can basically throw anything in there and it all gets gobbled up.

Grace, really!!

My hands are swollen from all the washing,
My heart is wrung out from all the failing,
My head aches from all the thinking...

I work and I consider my bit of mess.
Shouldn't this be easier by now?
Obedience takes a lifetime of learning.

'Father... may I not be always learning but never coming to knowledge'

"Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need"
Hebrews 4.16

I come to Him, burdened... holding empty... again.
I see Grace.
Gentleness.
Patience.
Completely undeserved. Unmerited. Radical.

"Most of the grand truths of God have to be learned by trouble; they must be burned into us with the hot iron of affliction, otherwise we shall not truly receive them"
Charles Spurgeon




"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful"
Hebrews 10.23

Thank You.
Yes... let us hold fast. Leaning into Him. Through the hot affliction. He is faithful.

The art of writing

Cursive comes from the Latin word 'flowing'. She says it makes her feel grown up.
I remember the feeling when I practiced, seems like yesterday.

The joining of the letters into a graceful flowing tune. A 'write' of passage. An art.

A gentle answer

This is true.
When you sense the mounting fury.
Before the arrows take flight.
Like a release valve alleviating the torrent.

"a gentle answer turns away wrath"

This is also true.
If I forget.
If I allow indignation to swell.
Like a spurt of oil into the heart of a fire.

"but a harsh word stirs up anger"



Yes, 'the way of the lazy man creates a hedge of thorns'. Lazy words build walls.

I remember that every day I am building something, maybe invisible for now. A treasure chest of memories. Of truth. It's not perfect... this teaching what is right. It will be made visible later...



When tomorrow becomes today and she must give her own response... hopefully a gentle answer to life's swell.

For today her hard set was slackened by a whisper to gentleness.
May the truth of that remain... placed into her treasure chest.

Going French

My friend Anthea bought me the Julia Child's movie... it makes you want to spend time in the kitchen. Couple that with the fact that I have just finished reading 'Tarte Tatin', Susan Loomis's second book on her life in France.... with produce being purchased from the farmer, cheese and eggs procured from the local outdoor markets. Nothing as delicious as home made with fresh ingredients.

So inspired by the Julia Child's recipe...



Provencal Tomatoes

4 ripe tomatoes
3 tablespoons corn crumbs / breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons oat flour
1 teaspoon dried parsley
good sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves
about a quarter of a large onion, grated (or spring onions, finely chopped)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
about 3 tablespoons grated Gruyere cheese

Preheat oven to 180 deg Celsius. Cut the top off the tomato and remove the inner seeds and juice with sharp knife (don't cut into skin). Chop the fleshy middle heart of the tomato, which has just been removed (but not the seeds and juice parts). Place this tomato flesh into a bowl with the balance of the ingredients. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Fill cavities well with this mixture. Pour a few drops of olive oil into each tomato.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Beyond delicious!!