Spare The Anger Not The Rod

Several months ago I had a motherhood meltdown. Fisher had woke up with a bad, I-don't-care attitude and it made me mad. My morning was ruined because of the disrespect on his part and the yelling on mine. We were late for school, the little ones were whining and I had all I could handle. I yelled, screamed and went through the house on a rampage. No rear end was safe. I spanked for talking back, I spanked for disobeying and I spanked because it-has-just-been-too-long-and-you're-due-one. In the aftermath of tears and frustration I began to feel guilty and unworthy of rearing the blessings God had entrusted in my care. I had completely stepped out of line and allowed my anger to dictate the disciplining of my children. After dropping Fisher off at school I drove home feeling horrible and like a failure as a mom. When I got home I sat down and opened my Bible to Proverbs 29. The entire passage was appropriate for what I was feeling but six particular verses jumped off the pages at me:

vs. 3 "A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father."

My thoughts: "Yes Lord! That's right! I need to teach my kids to love wisdom to bring joy to ME oh, and to you, of course..."

vs. 8 "Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger."

My thoughts: "Oooo, anger...I didn't turn away from my anger today..."

vs. 11 "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."

My thoughts: "Ouch. The anger thing again. And self-control? Oops."

vs. 15 "The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother."

My thoughts: "Yeah! I imparted some wisdom, and that's right...disgraces his mother!"

vs. 17 "Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul."

My thoughts: "Somehow, I think this discipline is different than the discipline I just did."

vs. 22 "An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins."

My thoughts: "Ok, I get it and boy did I screw it up this morning. I'm supposed to discipline my children, they need the guidance and boundaries, but the disciplining I do out of anger and frustration is WRONG. I need to control myself, my reactions and my anger when disciplining my children."

So after digesting all that I had read I thanked the Lord for "imparting wisdom" to me by reprimanding me for my lack of self-control and for encouraging me to continue to discipline my children but in a better, more patient and loving way. Priscilla Shrier said in her One In A Million Bible study that, "the way we learn to utilize the fruits of the spirit is by being put in situations where we have to use them." In other words, God puts us in situations that require patience, self-control, kindness...so that we learn to be patient, self-controlled, kind... I never thought of it that way. Every time I have prayed for the Lord to help me be more patient or self-controlled, he has answered me in the form of potty training, temper tantrums and a child waking up with a bad attitude.

For dinner tonight not much patience is required since pita pizzas only take 10 minutes to make and enjoy!

Pita Pizzas
2 (6 loaf) bags of pita bread
1 jar pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (3 oz) bag pepperoni
onions, mushrooms, green peppers or any other preferred pizza toppings

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using the pita bread as pizza crust, top each one with sauce, cheese, pepperoni and other toppings. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into quarters and serve with a tossed salad.

Pruning

I've always disliked the word "pruning." Not only does it make me think of waterlogged fingers and toes, it makes me think of pain and loss. I never enjoyed the sermons preached on John 15: "I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful..." I didn't want to be pruned or to even think about being pruned. Yeah, you might bear more fruit in the end, but the "cutting off" part hurts!

Several years ago when we still lived in Jacksonville we had three crepe myrtle trees in our front yard. There was nothing spectacular about these glorified shrubs so I took it upon myself to "prune" them in hopes they would turn into mighty trees heavy with blossoms every spring and summer. I had seen some crepe myrtle trees that had been pruned and figured I would give it a shot. I didn't know if I was pruning them in the right season, in the right spots or even in the right amount, I just started hacking away. When I was done there was nothing but three groups of spare twigs poking up from the ground. I had gotten carried away. I hoped when Eric got home he wouldn't notice my handiwork but low and behold he did. Get my haircut and he doesn't notice for weeks. Cut a few (ok, a lot of) limbs off, even hide the evidence, and he notices instantly! I nonchalantly told him they needed pruning and was confident I had not killed them.

For six long months we stared at the twigs. It was a constant reminder of my impulsive decision to make something better that I felt needed improvement. Then finally green buds started to appear and before we knew it our crepe myrtle trees had blossomed. Whew! The Lord had come through yet again and in the form of little white and pink clusters of flowers.

As much as I don't like to think about it, I need to be pruned. I need those useless areas to be cut off. Those self-indulgent things that only bring temporary satisfaction. The wasteful times spent watching television instead of spending quality time with the Lord or my family. Thankfully the Lord does know the season, the area and the amount of pruning we need and He never just hacks away. He carefully, though sometimes painfully, snips off the areas that aren't bearing fruit, applies salve to the open wounds then sits back and watches us bloom for Him.

Somewhere, someone took the time to prune an apple tree that provided the fruit I'm using for dinner tonight...Roasted Chicken with Apples and Cream Sauce.

Roasted Chicken with Apples and Cream Sauce
1 (3-4 lb) whole chicken
Juice and peel from 1 lemon
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 small onion, quartered
salt and pepper
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tbsp vegetable oil
6 medium apples, (2 quartered and 4 peeled, cored and sliced)
2/3 cup apple juice
1 cup half and half
ground nutmeg
1 tbsp each chopped fresh chives and parsley (optional)

Place lemon peel, cinnamon stick, onion, and quartered apples into cavity of chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a Dutch oven (or large oven-safe sauce/soup pan) melt 1/4 cup of the butter and the oil. Add whole chicken and brown on all sides (a little tricky, just plop that sucker in and toss it around). Add lemon juice then one peeled and sliced apple to pan. Next add the apple juice and bring to a boil. Cover and place in oven to cook for 1 to 1.5 hours. When chicken begins to pull away from bone (gross I know) it's done. Remove from pan and place on serving platter. In same pan, add remaining butter and sliced apples and cook just until apples are tender. Pour apples over chicken. Add half and half to the pan. Stir well then simmer to reduce slightly. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg then pour over chicken as well. Sprinkle chicken with fresh herbs and serve with rice pilaf and steamed broccoli.

A Grievance Glorified

No one gets excited over the trials in life. No one prays for heartaches or hardships. No one goes through life seeking the sad, the crushing or the terminal. No one wants to make themselves available for oppressive times but maybe we should. Maybe as we are trying to make the right choices and live according to God's will we should let it be known to Him that while we are praying for His will and protection we are willing to sacrifice comfort and security so that He may be glorified in any and all situations.

Psalm 50:15 says, "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me."

Glorify. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary "glorify" means:

1 a : to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration b : to elevate to celestial glory 2 : to light up brilliantly 3 a : to represent as glorious

That sounds easy enough but what if "to glorify" really means to allow the heartaches, the burdens, the sorrow? Strong's Hebrew Dictionary explains "glorify" this way:

kabad or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) to make weighty, abounding with, more grievously afflict, be chargeable, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily...

Not so appealing anymore, huh? "To be heavy, in a bad sense or burdensome, grievous..." not exactly how I want to define my life as a Christian but as the saying goes, "no guts, no glory", where is the glory in the easy, the light or the fun? It's not that the Lord wants us to go through life afflicted and downcast, He rejoices with us in our victories, He just knows that in order for us to really "get it", sometimes we have to go through things that are heavy and grievous before we can really understand what it means to glorify Him. To know that we can not survive without Him, to call for His help, to feel His mercy and grace as He holds us and carries us through the storms we experience and then to praise Him for allowing us to 'weather the storm' is what it means to glorify God.

Thank you Lord for the clear skies today, help me to be prepared for the storms that may come and teach me to never be afraid to get out of the boat, even when the waves are crashing all around me, and walk toward you.

Here's a recipe for a no grievance dinner:

French Toast Ham and Cheese Sandwiches with Honey Mustard
8 slices of thick bread
1/2 lb. thin sliced smoked deli ham
4 slices cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp butter
4 tbsp Dijon mustard
4 tsp honey

Preheat electric griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. In a shallow baking dish mix eggs, milk and nutmeg. Make 4 sandwiches using the bread, ham and cheese. Melt butter on griddle then dip each sandwich (both sides) in egg mixture. Cook until golden brown on each side. In small bowl mix mustard and honey and serve with sandwiches along with fruit salad and sweet potato chips (thin sliced sweet potatoes, tossed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt baked at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes). Enjoy.

THE Mountain

Just about this time every year I get the urge to travel north to the mountains. Probably because, though it is technically fall, it still feels like the 4th of July is right around the corner and while all the non-Floridian moms are baking pumpkin spice muffins, picking apples and raking leaves, we are still sporting cotton t-shirts, Bermuda shorts and white shoes. Don't get me wrong, the mild winters and beautiful summer nights in Florida are priceless but when Halloween rolls around and people are handing out water bottles and sunscreen instead of candy, something inside of you just yearns for the postcard images of mountains covered in orange, red and yellow colored trees.

So, as I'm thinking, we need to plan a trip to the mountains, I open my Bible and read in Psalm 125, "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore." God could not have given me a more perfect or timely verse to read. How incredible to think those same mountains that would literally provide relief from a hot, tropical climate, would also figuratively provide relief from a life of fear and worry. To know that my God surrounds me just like the majestic and unmovable mountains that I am longing for is amazing! The clean, crisp and invigorating air of the mountains in the fall is nothing compared to the power, strength and majesty of my God who is a mighty fortress, a chain of mountains that tower over and protect me! What an awesome God!

Oooo, is that fall I smell in the air?? Nah, just the cinnamon broom I bought at Publix. But we are breaking out the caramels this weekend and making candy apples! We'll just have to eat them fast before the caramel melts off.

A hot Florida specialty is what's for dinner tonight! Wild caught shrimp with creamy risotto and roasted asparagus.

Pan Seared Shrimp
1 lb large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Heat saute pan over high heat. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add oil to hot pan then immediately add shrimp. Cook on each side for about 1-2 minutes or until pink and golden brown on edge.

Creamy Risotto
4 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1/2 cup white wine or sherry
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Heat chicken stock in a medium sauce pan and simmer. In large skillet melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Add arborio rice and sauteed until light brown. Add wine and allow it to reduce (1 to 2 minutes). Add hot stock two ladles at a time every 3 to 5 minutes or until the liquid has absorbed before adding more. Stir the rice each time you add the stock. After 20 minutes stir in the cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Rice should be creamy and have a rice pudding like texture.

Roasted Asparagus
1 to 2 lbs of fresh asparagus
2 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 lemon, juiced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse asparagus and snap off bottoms (the square end). Place the asparagus in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Add minced garlic and salt and pepper and toss. Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes or until bright green and tender. Cut into thirds, toss with lemon juice and serve with risotto and shrimp.

The Little Things

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord cares about even the littlest things. The "let all the lights be green," "let there be enough gas to get home," and the "please send my son a friend" requests are all heard and not ignored by God.

I can't tell you how many times we have driven to church without having to constantly stop for red lights even though our route has us driving through no less than 50 intersections. He cares about us having a clear path to church.

Last week I was on empty, far from home and without a penny in my wallet (as if a penny would have helped). I prayed with sweaty palms that I would just make it home. After making a quick stop I wondered if there were enough fumes left for the car to start after being turned off. Not only did my car start, as I drove I watched the gas gauge rise so high the "need gas" light went off! Before I had stopped the gauge was below the "E" and the screen above my steering wheel kept warning, "Fuel Range: Low". Needless to say, I made it home.

Then about a month ago, after moving into our new home and not noticing any children in the neighborhood, I said a prayer that God would send Fisher a friend. I was specific too. I prayed for a boy, the same age and in the same grade as Fisher. One who came from a Christian family who had similar values as we did. One who would not knock on our door at 7:30 in the morning on Saturdays and one that would not stay past 8:00pm on weekdays. And just last week, while out riding his bike alone, Fisher met Michael. A little boy, the same age, in the same grade, at the same school, with the same interests and church background as Fisher and he lives three houses down. What a blessing. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize God had remembered and answered my prayer until last night. Fisher had been out smashing rocks with Michael (see, a perfect match) when Fisher was called in to get ready for Awanas. He asked if he could invite Michael and after pausing for a second I told him he could. He was out the door in a flash of bald head and freckles running down to Michael's house. Fisher came back less than five minutes later smiling and reporting that he had pulled Michael's dad aside to ask him in private if Michael could join us at church (he's learning the "don't ask in front of..." lesson). He also told Michael's dad to feed him dinner, have him take a shower and be ready to go by 5:45pm. All things I had instructed Fisher, himself, to do. Michael had participated in the Awana program at his other church and was excited to be going with us. On the way home as the kids were laughing, yelling and having so much fun I realized God had answered a mom's simple prayer for her child. He is so good.

Keep praying, even for the littlest things, because our God isn't too big to care. And something not too big on calories is what we're having for dinner tonight! Greek style chicken and salad with pita bread.

Greek Salad with Chicken and Pitas
1 1/2 lb chicken tenders
salt and pepper to taste
8 pita breads
1 lemon
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 hearts of romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
8 oz crumbled feta cheese
2 vine-ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped cucumber (European cucumbers are best)
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Preheat grill over high heat. Place chicken in shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to medium heat, wrap pitas in foil then warm in oven. Zest the lemon then squeeze the juice into a small bowl. Add the vinegar then whisk in oil. Add oregano and garlic and whisk again to combine well. Pour half of dressing over chicken and toss. Combine salad ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss well with remaining dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste then place on a platter. Grill tenders 4 to 5 minutes on each side then transfer them to the salad once done. Stuff the warm pitas with the salad and chicken tenders. Enjoy.

Closed Doors

Our front door is made of glass. Not the kind with palm trees or flamingos etched into it, but just a framed piece of solid, clear glass with no design or tint to askew one's view inside or out. At one time there were blinds attached to our door but our neurotic-squirrel-obsessed dog shredded them in her attempts to claw through to get to the furry, teasing creatures outside. So, as you can imagine, there is no hiding behind our door. No peeking through the peep hole before deciding to open it or not and no warnings of the solicitors, Jehovah Witnesses or UPS guys that show up unannounced. It's there for the world to see that we, in our pajamas and messy hair at 1:00 in the afternoon, have not had a productive morning. But on the other hand, in the mornings our glass door allows beautiful sunrises to come shining through and brightens the front room and hallway. It's a great door.

I often pray for doors. I'm either praying, "Lord, open the doors you want me to walk through..." or "Lord, if this isn't the door you want me to go through, please close it." I rarely picture the the doors I'm praying for as clear, glass doors though. They are usually solid steel and either wide open or closed and locked. And when I come upon a door that has been opened I usually hesitate before going through. Even though I may have prayed for the door to open, I still find myself looking around for someone to go through first, to see what will happen, before I attempt to go through. I ask myself, "Is this door really open? Am I really supposed to go through it?" Then on the other hand, when a door closes, I find myself trying to pry it open and as I call for Eric to bring me a crow bar, it flings open only to reveal that it's not the door I wanted to go through after all.

Lots of times the Lord has clearly closed doors on me but in my stubbornness or in my lack of faith I have still tried numerous "keys" to get the doors to unlock and open. These are times when I believe MY will is better than HIS. I have never been right. Oh that the Lord would always provide clear glass doors so that we could "see" what lies ahead. To see what we are or are not missing out on. Why doesn't he? Why doesn't he make it easy for us? Why must we wait? Why doesn't he do what we think he should do? Because there is no faith required or miracle remembered in the quick, the easy or the "clear". Thank you Lord for giving me closed doors, help me to retire from my locksmith career.

If you were to stop by my house and peer through our glass door you would not only come face-to-face with our drooling dog, but would probably catch a glimpse of me in an apron splattered with spaghetti sauce since we are having meatball subs for dinner tonight!

Meatball Subs
4 hoagie buns
1 lb lean ground beef
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 slices Provolone cheese
1 (26 oz) jar of spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl combine the beef and next 6 ingredients. Mix well the form into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until juices run clear. Pour spaghetti sauce in a medium size sauce pan and warm over medium heat. Add meatballs and simmer 30 minutes. Open hoagie buns and place meatballs with sauce inside, top with provolone cheese. Serve with salad and enjoy.

Tidbits

It's late so I thought I would just share some "tidbits" from the Davis family:

Fisher: "My friend went to the high school football game and brought $20 in case he wanted to buy something from the 'confession' stand."

Easton: "I can get out of bed to go pee pee because the Bible says so."

Yesterday Finley sang a beautiful rendition of "Jesus Loves Me" and ended the song with a loud burp. Can you tell she has brothers?

There are many, many, more but I am tired and ready for bed so here's what was for dinner tonight:

Teriyaki Marinated Pork Chops
1/2 bottle of teriyaki marinade (Lawry's)
1/4 cup soy sauce
4-6 center cut boneless pork chops

Mix teriyaki and soy sauce in large plastic bag. Add chops and marinade 2 hours or over night. Grill until cooked through. Serve with steamed broccoli, cinnamon apples and pasta.

Cinnamon Apples
3 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
3 tbsp butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Melt butter in medium saucepan then add apples, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and cook over medium heat until apples are tender.

Tri-Color Pasta with Garlic Butter
1/2 box of tri-color pasta
3 tbsp butter
Garlic salt and pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions. Add butter to sauce pan then return pasta to pan with butter. Season with garlic salt and pepper to taste.

Going deeper still...

What an incredible weekend! I was fortunate to attend the Deeper Still Women's conference in Orlando, this past weekend and had a wonderful time. I definitely felt the Lord's presence through laughter, tears and worship. Some of the key points from each speaker were the following:

Kay Arthur
To live by faith we must:
-not harden our hearts
-draw or shrink back from the will of God
-know God's word

Priscilla Shrier
7 Principles from Ephesians 3:20-21
1. TIME-now is the time to start living and believing that God is able!
2. TURN UNTO HIM-focus on God and not the things that distract or discourage us.
3. TRUTH- God does not "have" power but IS THE POWER.
4. TRANSCENDENCE-God can do/go beyond, beyond our expectations.
5. TOTALITY-every detail of our lives is known and covered by God.
6. TURBO POWER-the Holy Spirit put to work.
7. TRIBUTE-thanking and honoring God

Beth Moore
4 questions to ask ourselves when we "sense" something negative about someone or something:
1. Am I a critical or suspicious person by nature?
2. Am I jealous or do I feel threatened?
3. Do I have anything selfish to gain from this outcome?
4. Are my emotions clouding my discernment?

Overall I walked away from the weekend encouraged, inspired and determined to seek the Lord everyday and in everything. It is amazing how much a weekend with the Lord and friends can rejuvenate!

Tonight leftovers were served but here's a recipe I'm trying for dinner tomorrow. Good night.

Fiesta Chicken Casserole
1 pkg. (15 oz) refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
1 (16 oz) jar salsa
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg (24 oz) frozen whole kernel corn
1 lb cooked and shredded chicken (or 2-9.75 oz cans of chunk chicken breast in water, drained)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Let pie crusts stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or until easy to handle. Stir salsa, soup, sour cream, cheese, corn, chicken and beans in large bowl. Spoon chicken mixture into a 13x9x2 baking dish. Unfold the pie crusts on a lightly floured surface. Lay the crusts side by side so that they overlap by about 3 inches in the center. Press the seam to seal. Roll the pie crust into a 14x10 inch rectangle. Place pie crust over the chicken mixture. Trim excess crust from the edge. Cut several slits in the crust. Bake for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Family

I can't really pinpoint what it was yesterday that made me feel so sentimental but several times I found myself thinking about family and traditions. Earlier in the day, Eric and I had decided to make lists of core values we hoped to develop within our family that we would share with each other that night. We discussed our hopes, plans and mission for our marriage and for our children and what we were and were not willing to compromise to meet those goals. It was really neat to have similar things on our lists and to be on the same page. We are still working on a "family verse" to claim but I am so thankful God has provided a great foundation for our family. Eric and I are very fortunate to have parents that are still married as well as grandparents whose marriages were only separated by death. We have had many people walk ahead of us setting examples of how to make marriages work. No, they weren't perfect, but they made the choice to keep on choosing each other and to work through the tough times that surely came their way.

My paternal grandparents were married for over 60 years when my grandfather passed away. My grandmother made dinner just about every night for my grandfather and served it to him in his favorite reclining chair. She never complained, never ordered his help in the kitchen, never told him he was "on your own tonight, buddy" and never made him a meal he didn't enjoy. I thought of my grandma a lot yesterday and think my love for cooking came from her. Her house always has the wonderful aroma of home style cooking. Whether she's making chicken and rice, Swedish apple pies, potted pork chops, or my favorite, her Motor Home Pineapple Cake (yeah, there's a story behind it) she is always making something with love, probably why everything always tastes so good.

Maybe that's why I was feeling so sentimental yesterday. Starting with making a list of hopes and dreams for my family, reflecting back on the memories I had as a child and being thankful for a family legacy of marriages that have stood the test of time. The fact that my house smelled a little bit like grandma's probably helped too. For dinner last night we had her recipe of potted pork chops with egg noodles, green beans and mashed sweet potatoes. Here's to memories and a great smelling house. Why not serve your husband dinner tonight in his favorite chair?

(If only you could see this recipe written in her beautiful handwriting...)
Potted Pork Chops
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter
4 pork chops
1 pkg. McCormick Brown Gravy mix
8 oz large egg noodles

Cook noodles according to package directions. Brown onions in butter in a large pan. Add pork chops and brown on both sides. Add three cups water and brown gravy mix. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour until meat is tender. Serve over noodles with steamed green beans and mashed sweet potatoes (just like my grandma does).

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
4 medium size sweet potatoes
4 tbsp butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
Dash of salt

Poke potatoes several times with a fork then bake (unwrapped) in 400 degree oven for an hour or until a knife slides in and out easily. Peel skins off potatoes and place in a large bowl with butter, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Combine well and serve.

He's Perfect For Me

Believe it or not Eric and I do not have a perfect marriage and occasionally we have our, "disagreements." This morning we had one of those "disagreements" and I was feeling pretty upset about it when Easton (out of the blue) said, "Mom, Daddy loves you." He wasn't aware of any rifts between Eric and I because we had not disagreed in front of him but I believe the Lord prompted him to say that to serve as a reminder that though Eric is not always my Prince Charming, he is a wonderful husband and loves me so much that even our 3 1/2-year-old son notices it. What a blessing to have a Christian husband that makes wrongs, right and is easy to forgive. Doesn't hurt that he is pretty darn funny and I can't stay mad at him for long.

A trip to Thailand is the theme for dinner tonight...

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
1 lb Chicken tenders
Teriyaki marinade (I use Lawry's)
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup peanut butter (any kind/type will do)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon curry paste (more if you like it hot)
wooden skewers


Place chicken in plastic bag, add Teriyaki marinade and let sit in fridge for at least 2 hours or over night. Soak wood skewers in water 30 minutes before grilling.


Place chicken on skewers and grill on each side about 3-5 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl and heat in microwave for one minute or until warm. Serve with chicken, brown rice and steamed broccoli.

Yes or No, Lord?

Do you ever wonder why God doesn't speak to us like he did in Bible times? Why he doesn't send angels with messages, write on the walls or whisper to us in the night as we lay wide awake wondering what he wants us to do. There have been so many times, especially in the past year, that I have asked God to just give me a sign, a yes or a no, so that I can make the right choice. Sometimes I already know the answer, I'm just too stubborn or am too rebellious to accept it. Other times I really don't know what to do and don't know if the choices I'm making are the right ones. But as I sit here and type I'm realizing that even if God did speak to us in grandiose ways we would more than likely still doubt his answers and choices for us. We would still wonder, "Is this really what God wanted/meant?" After all Moses and the Egyptians walked through a parted sea then still wondered if God had wanted them to really leave Egypt. Blessed are those who have not seen and still believe, right?

One thing is certain, if I seek the Lord in all that I do, I will be making the right choices. It may not be the quickest or easiest way to get an answer but it will always be the surest.

"Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)

Not a tough choice for dinner tonight! Patty melts with fries and chocolate shakes. Enjoy.

Patty Melts
1 lb ground Sirloin
8 slices Rye bread (I use the seedless kind)
1 medium onion, sliced
4 slices American cheese
Butter
Grill Steak Seasoning to taste

In large bowl combine meat with seasoning. Divide meat into four patties pressing them to 1/2-inch thickness. Pan fry meat over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and place on plate. Add sliced onions to pan and cook until tender. To make sandwiches, take two pieces of bread and butter the outsides (like a grilled cheese sandwich) then place one slice butter side down on a griddle. Top with meat, onions, cheese and other slice of bread, butter side up. Cook until toasted and light brown on each side. Serve with fries and homemade chocolate shakes.

7/11 Remembered...9/11

On my walk yesterday morning, the morning of 9/11, I noticed the flag on the giant flagpole at our corner 7 Eleven was at half-mast. As I stared at the huge flag waving in the wind I wondered who's death 7 Eleven was honoring when it dawned on me that it was the 8th anniversary of the attacks on our country. A wave of emotion washed over me and I was touched by the simple remembrance that this store chose to display. At that moment I developed a new appreciation for 7 Eleven.

As a child I would beg my parents to allow me to ride my bike to our local 7 Eleven store. For my generation, I suppose, the 7 Eleven stores were equivalent to the 5 and Dime stores our parents would frequent as children to purchase their Bit O Honeys and Charleston Chews. I remember the first time I was allowed to make the five minute bike ride to the store to purchase, no doubt a slurpee along with, a candy bar. The feelings of independence and freedom were incredible. I rode my blue and silver Jetta (the brand) sitting tall and with a huge grin on my face. Wind blowing in my hair and excitement running through my veins, I peddled with an urgency that only nine-year-old legs could endure. Then pulling up to the store and propping my bike on it's kick stand I walked proudly inside to be greeted by that wonderful 7 Eleven candy isle smell. It was utopia. Walking down the isle with row after row of candy just beckoning me. Sugar Daddies (the big daddy ones that take three hours to finish), Snickers, Twizzlers, Bubbalicious, Gummy Bears, Butterfingers, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups...all there within my reach.

My life was never the same after that. I was now a woman-child. Capable of anything. I had successfully rode my bike to 7 Eleven, chose candy, counted out the money for the purchase then rode my bike single handedly home to enjoy the spoils of my journey. So you see, I already had a healthy appreciation for 7 Eleven convenient stores and while the free slurpies given on July 11th added to the nostalgic feelings, it was this act of honoring those who died on 9/11 that have made 7 Eleven all the more special to me.

Here's something to feed your Sugar Daddy and Babies for dinner:

Baked Italian Heros
6 sub or hoagie rolls, split
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/2 lb sliced deli salami
1/2 lb sliced deli turkey
1/2 lb sliced deli ham
1/2 lb sliced deli provolone cheese
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 of a medium onion, thinly sliced

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush the cut sides of the rolls with the Italian dressing. Layer the bottom halves of the rolls with the salami, turkey, ham, tomato, onion and cheese. Replace the tops of the rolls and wrap each sandwich tightly with a piece of aluminum foil. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Serve with fresh fruit and (baked) chips. Enjoy.

Princess Effect

Tonight Finley and I went to the Disney Princesses on Ice and as I sat there watching the princesses skate across the ice I was struck with the obsession we (women) have with princesses. The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast...all inspired names for little girls and chances are we know an Ariel, Jasmine or Belle. Is it coincidental or is our desire to be a princess so strong that we name our daughters after imaginary characters from the creative minds of Disney employees? Don't get me wrong, I definitely had my share of princess dreams and still get excited when Cinderella gets the makeover of a lifetime, but the "Princess Effect" has also caused me a lot of heartache and frustration.

For example, there is no "Prince Charming." There was only one perfect man and we're not married to him however, we still find ourselves with these unrealistic expectations for the men in our lives. Expectations for them to always know what to say and when to say it, for them to have that magical kiss or for them to always be perfectly dressed and polished. How many relationships have ended because we were expecting a make-believe prince from the realistic pauper? And to be completely fair, we aren't the princesses we think ourselves to be. More often than not our characteristics are more similar to the wicked step sisters or the evil witches than the princesses in the fairy tales we fantasize about.

BUT there is good news for all of us. We are indeed royalty. For the Bible clearly states we serve the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace and once we are born into his family we become heirs to his throne which makes us, you guessed it, PRINCESSES! So the next time you read a fairy tale to your little princess, be sure to remind her that she is one of God's special and most beautiful princesses and that HE is the only perfect one that can and will meet all her needs and love her unconditionally, forever.

So, I slacked on dinner tonight and fed the family frozen pizza. It was on sale and I was pressed for time but here's what's for dinner next week:

Baked Italian Subs with chips and fresh fruit
Patty melts with fries and chocolate shakes
Homemade chicken nuggets with a variety of dipping sauces, pasta salad and broccoli
Pork chops with egg noodles and brown gravy, green beans and candied yams
Chicken satay with salad and vegetable risotto
Italian sausages with peppers, onions and provolone cheese served on a bun

Alright, the clock is about to strike so off to bed I go...goodnight.

Oh nine oh nine oh nine

It is time for bed but here's what was for dinner:

(Carrie's) Carbonara

8 oz Angel hair or vermicelli pasta
1 green pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 lb bacon
1 (28oz) can of diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
splash of white wine
1 egg, beaten


Cut bacon into bite size pieces and cook in large pan until crispy. Remove bacon and place on a paper-towel lined plate. Drain all but 2 tbsp of the drippings. In same pan add green pepper and onion and saute until tender. Add wine (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) to deglaze pan. Add tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes. Add bacon, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook pasta according to package directions then drain. Place pasta in a large bowl and add egg. Toss to completely coat pasta then add pasta to the tomato mixture. The longer the pasta soaks up the sauce the better. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, tossed salad and garlic bread.

To Fear or Not To Fear

This morning during my quiet time I read two passages from two different books of the Bible and was struck by the coincidence of the 13th verses found in each one. I opened my Bible to Proverbs chapter 8 (since today was the 8th day of the month-deep, I know) and read all 36 verses stopping to underline verse 13: "To fear the Lord is to hate evil..." I mulled the verse over in my head a while as I tried to grasp the concept of fearing the Lord equalling hating evil. The whole "fear the Lord" phrase has always been a tough one for me. How are we to fear a God that is so loving and full of mercy and grace? I fear snakes, spiders, something terrible happening to my children, but God? Then after not being totally satisfied with reading just one chapter I flipped over to Isaiah 8 (again the day of the month thing) to see what I would find. After all, the last few times I read anything in Isaiah I was greatly encouraged.

I started reading Isaiah chapter 8 without much conviction and not really understanding what was going on or who was even telling the story when I came upon verse 13: "The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear..." There it was again! The whole "fear the Lord" thing. This is when I had a revelation: Fearing the Lord is NOT about being afraid of him or of being harmed by him, it is about being afraid of not being in his will. Not because he has his finger hovering over a "smite" button waiting for the second you screw up or step out of line to mash it, but because his will is the most eternally secure place to be. It's about being afraid of disappointing him and seeing his saddened face over the poor choices we make. It's about loving him so much you're afraid to go a single day without seeking him. It's about fearing what HE thinks of us, instead of what people think of us.

And now as I glance at the clock and see it is 8:13 pm I am reminded that the only thing for me to truly fear is being outside of where God wants me to be, because that is a scary place indeed. And how ironic that God used the number "13" to speak to me today...

Fear not, dinner is here.

Crock Pot Pork Roast
1 (3-4 lb) Boston Butt Pork roast
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 sprigs of fresh Thyme
Salt and Pepper

Rub roast with salt and pepper. Place veggies in bottom of crock pot and place roast on top. Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water (just enough to cover veggies) careful not to rinse off salt and pepper from pork. Add thyme. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Gravy
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups of liquid from crock pot

Melt butter in a small sauce pan then add flour to make a roux. Cook until light brown. Add liquid from crock pot and whisk until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
1 lb red creamer potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
4 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes AND garlic cloves until potatoes are tender. Drain then return potatoes and garlic to pan. Add butter, milk, salt and pepper and blend until creamy adding more butter and milk as needed.

Sauteed Fresh Asparagus
Simmer about 1 inch of salted water in large pan. Add asparagus and cook until bright green and slightly tender. Drain then return to pan with 2 tbsp butter and garlic salt. Saute for 3 minutes then serve.

Enjoy and goodnight.

Are you busy Friday night?

It is so important for married couples to date. Whether you've been married for a year or for what seems like an eternity, you need to spend time alone together reconnecting and regrouping. As a parents of three young children we often find it difficult to schedule date nights. Either the budget has been wiped out on new shoes for the kids, no babysitter is to be found or sleep is higher on the agenda. We often find ourselves sitting at home on Friday nights flipping through the television channels, half asleep, before one of us says, "Alright, I'm done. I'm going to bed." To which the other out of guilt or obligation says, "Okay, me too." And off to bed we go. BUT on the nights we do have a date scheduled we find ourselves rejuvenated even after a long week of work and with an almost giddy attitude. It's amazing the transformation that comes over us. We shower and dress and primp and do all the little things to impress each other that we did before we got married and it's so much fun!

This past Friday was one of those nights. All the things needed for us to go out on a date lined up: babysitter-check, extra money in our pockets-check, reservations-check, movie times checked-check, coupon for restaurant-check. And what a great time we had! The evening started at a fondue restaurant for dinner (due to a craving, confirmed by a coupon) then was followed by a movie with friends. We got to the restaurant to discover our coupon had been misprinted (one of those too good to be true things) however, the restaurant would still honor it! We enjoyed an intimate four-course fondue meal tucked away in a corner with a great view of the outside courtyard. The food was great and the company even better. We were able talk uninterrupted and enjoy eating without cutting meat for anyone but ourselves, cleaning up spilled drinks or reminding those gathered around the table that eating dinner was not a race.

After our bellies were full with cheese, salad, lobster, steak and chocolate covered strawberries, cheesecake, brownies, pound cake, well, you get the point...we left for the movie theater. At the theater we met some of our friends for a movie that we all agreed was hilarious and not just a "chick flick." As we walked out of the theater, hand in hand, we were a little saddened to acknowledge the night was over but thankful for the time we got to spend as a couple, not just a mom and a dad or a man and a woman but as a couple. Husband and wife. That night the moon was a little brighter, the air smelled a little sweeter and our marriage a little stronger.

What's for dinner? Banana Cake. Yeah, I know, but we had a late lunch (Eric's awesome burgers) and the kids didn't complain.

Banana Cake

Cake
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened
3/4 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar
1 (3oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp margarine or butter, softened
1 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 8x8 inch square baking pan. In large bowl, beat sugar and 1/3 cup margarine until light and fluffy. Add bananas, buttermilk, vanilla and egg; mix well. Add remaining ingredients except nuts; mix well. Stir in nuts. Spread batter in pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.

In medium bowl, combine all frosting ingredients; beat until smooth and creamy. Spread over cooled cake. Store in refrigerator. Enjoy.

Baby On Board

I am now completely convinced that God gives us children to make us better drivers. That first drive home from the hospital with the "Baby On Board" sign proudly displayed in the rear window is just the beginning. I remember sitting in the back seat of our compact car as we drove home from the hospital with Fisher in the pouring rain. I was hunched over his car seat the entire drive as if to provide a maternal airbag over my precious newborn son. I kept asking Eric to slow down, surely he was trying to set a new record, when he informed me he was only going 40mph in a 60mph zone. We survived that car ride and as time has gone by and the children multiplied I have learned it's not just the "sign" that makes us better drivers it's the little voices coming from the back that remind us to drive as if our high school driver's ed teacher was sitting in the seat beside us, pen and clipboard in hand.

For example, about three years ago, Fisher and I were driving down Highway 19 when I decided to stop last minute for a red light. From the back seat, and the four-year-old mouth of Fisher, came the sound of screeching brakes. I glanced in the rear view mirror, raised my eyebrows and made eye contact with the baby that I had so selflessly protected with my very own body during his first car ride. He sat there smiling and quite proud of himself. Now, if anyone knows Highway 19, they know how frustrating it is to just be getting up to speed then having to stop AGAIN for ANOTHER yellowish-red light. Little did I know my preschool aged backseat driver had been paying attention all along. Then today on our way to the beach, backseat driver number two, my darling Easton, innocently asked, "Mom, why did you slow down? The light was yellow?" Busted...again.

Finally, the texting while driving thing is a crime that should be punished by at least a month of having your hands tied behind your back while your phone beeps incessantly with incoming texts that you are not allowed to check. Maybe then the offenders will learn they indeed can wait five more minutes until they reach their destinations to check the text that probably just says, "what r u doin?" I will admit I have texted while driving in the past, but am now a reformed texter. After hearing about so many wrecks (not accidents) taking place because of people texting while driving I am a stickler to the "wait until you stop" texting rule.

So, Pinellas county drivers, rest assured. There is now one safer driver cruising the roadways below the speed limits, who is buckled up, has her cell phone put away and is no longer a yellow light runner. Now what's for dinner...

Smoked Sausage with Red Beans and Rice and Biscuits
1 lb. smoked sausage
1 green pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 (8 oz) pkg Vigo Red Beans and Rice
1 can of refrigerated biscuit dough

Slice sausage in half length wise then into bite size half moons. Saute in 1 tbsp olive oil until lightly browned. Remove from pan and add peppers and onions and saute until tender. Meanwhile cook beans and rice according to package directions and bake biscuits. Serve sausage mixed with beans and rice or on the side with steamed broccoli. Enjoy.

She Works Hard For No Money

Training a child in the way he (and she) should go is not easy. The constant reminding to share, be nice, be thankful, be obedient, be polite...is exhausting and the moment you slack off they (the children) loot you for what you're worth. BUT in those rare moments when you see or hear your children getting it, when you see them share a cherished toy without be asked to do so, when you hear them comfort each other and when they express genuine gratitude, it is all worth it.

Tonight on the way home from Wednesday night church, Easton and Finley were carrying on a conversation about their time in church. Finley told Easton about the marshmallows (cotton balls) that she had stuck on paper and Easton demonstrated how his paper bag puppet came to life. They spoke about the moon and the stars then Easton gently corrected Finley when what she thought was a helicopter, was indeed an airplane in the night sky. She told him, again, about the freshly painted "pogga gots" (polka dots) in her room and he said he liked them too. Then out of the blue Easton said, "Thanks for bringing us to church tonight, Mom." And of course, his echo repeated, "Danks for bwringing us to turch, Mom." How sweet were those words to a tired mom's heart. After a long and rainy day home with three kids, when all I really wanted to do was slip on my pjs open my book and relax, I loaded the two little (and healthy) ones up in the car and drove them to church. What a blessing I received. I think they're getting it.

What's for dinner, you ask? Pork Spare Ribs, Corn on the cob and Coleslaw. Pass the floss please.

Pork Spare Ribs (thanks Mimi for the cooking directions--they were delicious!)
I thawed the ribs in the fridge three days before cooking then covered the ribs, both sides, in a rub of garlic salt, pepper and creole seasoning. I wrapped the ribs in foil and left them in the fridge for two days prior to cooking. I place the ribs, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for an hour then covered them and continued to cook them for two more hours checking them every 30-45 minutes. When they were fork tender and the meat started pulling away from the bone they were ready. The last 15 minutes I uncovered them and spread bbq sauce over the top. Tender, juicy and fall-off-the-bone-finger-lickin good! Enjoy and goodnight.

Swearing Mothers, Swine Flu and Shiny Lips

As I rounded a corner on my walk this morning I was feeling pretty self-righteous as I heard a mother yelling from her car to her middle school aged son. The boy had been standing in front of his mother's black sports car patiently waiting for her to back the car up. Apparently the boy's father and assumedly the mother's husband, had parked a little too close to the sports car the night before and the woman was not happy about it. As the boy opened the car door we (and anyone within a mile radius) got an earful. The woman was yelling, "I don't know why your 'beep' dad has to hog the entire 'beep' driveway!" Yikes. I wasn't sure if I should salute her (because clearly she had spent some time aboard a ship) or pick up my pace and run home. All I could think was poor kid and that I would NEVER speak to my children like that, for I was a much better mother than she! I walked off with my nose in the air feeling quiet good about myself when I was given a gentle reminder that though I may not curse at or in front of my children, the tone I sometimes use with them is just as foul. I lowered my head and asked the Lord to help me be a more patient and kind mother because in all honesty, I saw myself in that flustered mother and it wasn't pretty. I also said a quick prayer for the unsuspecting drive-way hogger.

Well, day one of recovering from 'Influenza A' (also known as the swine flu) has been like any other day at home during a school break. Fisher has been acting completely normal and I've wondered several times if the doctor mixed up his test results. Regardless, we (all five of us) will continue to faithfully take our prescribed Tamiflu to minimize symptoms and expedite recoveries. If this is the extent of our flu troubles, we'll take it. I'm believing God has spared us from a more severe case.

Finally, as I laid my precious, darling, daughter down for her beauty rest and kissed her sweet face...I had no idea she was planning on taking the term "beauty rest" literally. I had been down stairs for several minutes when I was overwhelmed with the urge to go and check on her. Maybe it was swine flu paranoia, maybe mother's intuition or maybe just the smell of Strawberry Fizz lip gloss wafting down the stairs that encouraged me to go back upstairs for a peek. I was greeted with a wet, shiny, and slightly-pink-tinted-huge grin and three words that confirmed my suspicions, "whip goss, mommy!" Yes, she had found a hidden stash of lip gloss and enjoyed the feeling of it so much on her "whips" that she continued to smear it all over her arms and legs and hair. She was so proud of herself that I had a difficult time reprimanding her and of course I had the black-sports-car-driving-sailor-swearing-mother still in the back of my mind so I did the only logical thing. I told her she looked beautiful. Then I picked her up and proceeded to the tub where we washed about $5 worth of lip gloss down the drain. And I must warn you, lip gloss does not easily come off. Think glue, mixed with Vaseline, mixed with used car oil. What is in this stuff anyhow and do I really want to be putting it on my mouth??

Well, it's time for bed so I will leave you with tonight's dinner menu, enjoy.

Egg-Noodle Lasagna
8 oz wide egg noodles
1 lb ground beef
1 (26 oz) jar of spaghetti sauce
6 green onions, sliced
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 (8 oz) container cream cheese
1 cup of sour cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Boil noodles as directed. Brown beef, onions, garlic and salt. Drain then add spaghetti sauce and simmer for five minutes. In large bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream and Parmesan cheese then add cooked noodles. Place half of noodle mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 2-quart casserole dish then top with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers then top with Mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serve with salad and garlic bread.