Mon.-Catch up day-Doing wash, tidying house, made chicken/rice/broccoli for supper in crock pot. Susan studying Science all day and then had basketball practice in the eve. Guys doing demo work at the Abbey. Alli over to use Internet. We mixed up a batch of Snickerdoodle batter and then chilled it while she went home to work and I worked around here. After I took Susan to meet Ashley, Alli came back over and we made Snickerdoodles and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Snickerdoodles are Alli's cookie of choice and the other is Philip's. (I make a cookie of choice that each person requests.) I froze a container of each for Christmas Day and for holiday sharing and had some left over for the family to sample. Alli and I watched 'Christmas with the Kranks' until the guys got home. Back to the chicken rice casserole. I made it in the crock pot. Instead of using cream of chicken soup, I used a can of coconut milk. It was incredible. I steamed the broccoli, cut up the chicken, added brown rice, added fresh lemon juice, garlic salt, soy sauce, and the coconut milk, and stirred it all together. It's all gone. Leftovers were packed for the guys lunches.
Tues.-Took Susan to homeschool co-op. Ran errands. She went out to Lynchburg with the girl's basketball team for their first game. I had some time with Dianna before coming home and putting groceries away. Weather was in the upper 60's-low 70's. Trying to figure out why my numbers jumped. Average about 20-30 hits a day. About two days ago, it jumped up to over 180. The only thing I wrote about that could explain it would be our experience butchering chickens. Readership is lower again today. I'm okay with that.
Wed.-Susan is a natural at basketball. And April is the world's best coach. Susan played for a little bit in her first game and made a basket. They lost but they played like winners. Today was a productive day. Susan made huge advances in understanding Anatomy and organized a file with anatomy vocabulary words. I made BBQ meatballs-had some for supper, some for the guy's lunches, and froze a container for Christmas day. Also made one of our chickens in the crockpot. I inserted half a lemon in it's belly and put horseradish and garlic salt all over the top. So juicy and tender. Also made gumdrops with applesauce and jello, pecan kisses, lemon cookies, and formed buck eyes. I want to get all of our baking done so I can take cookie platters to gatherings this season. I also want some of everyone's favorites on Christmas Day. Philip and Susan went to CC for evening services. Phil and I hit the sack early. Freeman smoked a little pig in his smoker at work today. The meat fell off the bones and apparently it was delicious. The weather was in the 70's and I had the windows open. Had a nice long talk with Rosalee. Her surgery is on Friday and she is fighting a cold. Also, today I washed the crocheted Last Supper in a gentle cycle and I spread it on our bed over towels and turned on the fan. It dried in a few hours. Now I need to tack it against some dark material and have it framed. It's huge. It basically covered our queen size bed. Thank you, dear late Richard Putt, for giving me this deep and delightful legacy that you crocheted with your own two hands. It is a treasure that our family will cherish until the day we eat the next supper with Him.
Thurs.-Made monster cookies which happen to be gluten-free! Dipped Buck-eyes and Ritz pb crackers in chocolate. Took Susan to meet Ashley and Bethany at Trinity for basketball practice. She loves the sport, her team, and her coach. After practice, she got a ride to New Life for Musical rehearsal.
Phil and I watched a DVD on discovering Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat. I wish he could go to school and become a bonafide archaeologist, for he is one at heart. Shout out to Erin West right here. We at Hertzlerville love you!
My toe is hurting badly today. Hoping it is not infected again. Am thankful for the warmer weather because I can't bear to wear even loose slippers. Flip flops are my winter boots.
I was thinking today about how I used to teach my children how to take a troubling thought and lock in in jail in the name of Jesus and throw away the key. Philip still talks about doing that. Lately, though, I've found that when I am thinking overwhelmingly sorrowful thoughts, that if I think them in front of God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit, they take turns ministering to the pain beneath the surfacing thoughts. They are good and kind and they give me grace to help in my needy time. And, instead of running away from Them when I think thoughts that I think They wouldn't like, I think them in front of Them, and the bad thoughts seem to go away. And sometimes, we even have a good laugh about it. They say things like, "Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm not big enough to handle this." Or, "Have I told you that it's your turn to worry about that?" Between the Three Of Them, there isn't anything They can't handle, but you wouldn't always think I believe that by watching my life. Faith is a process and when I have arrived, I will have arrived. Yippee!
I've been missing my Mother. I've been perusing the Christmas Cookie and candy recipe box that she gave me. I see cut out recipes mounted on cards with XXX written on them, meaning that they are especially good. I see her perfect handwriting on card after card and I see Grandma Landis's handwriting too. I thought that the cloth manger scene that mother gave me was from Africa. But underneath each figurine is glued a paper that says in capital letters, "Y.M.C.A. CENTRE; AQUBAT JABER REFUGEE CAMP; JERICHO-JORDAN." I'm listening to her Christmas CD's. And I am thankful. Thankfulness makes the sorrow sweet. I am thankful that it is not last year at this time.
Fri.-Woke early when Phil did and finished reading another MacDonald book. Wanted to get up but my toe hurt too much so I took a hefty pain pill-took it with some dried fruit and nuts, and feel back into a deep sleep.
I dreamed this dream.
My sister in law, Annie, was here, and she had set up tables in my kitchen where there was no room. Everyone was seated around the table, talking happily. Everyone meaning our whole family plus Annie. And I had nothing prepared to serve them. Freezers were full of food. Cupboards were full of food, and I couldn't get into the places to look for food because someone was sitting there in front of them, blocking the way. No one was upset. They were just waiting, knowing I'd come up with something soon. I woke up before I came up with anything. And I was glad to shake off the mildly disturbing dream.
One is not supposed to attribute great meaning to early morning dreams. But I must think about this dream. What does it mean? I must have things made ahead of time, prepared for a moment's notice. Spiritually. Emotionally. Physically. They must be attainable when the space is crowded. They must be ready to eat out of the jar. Like Peanut butter and jelly. As long as there is bread.
But the dream also showed me what FAITH looks like.
Faith expects.
Patiently waiting.
Cheerfully waiting.
Occupying the time by visiting with others.
Knowing that the answer is coming,
And acting like it's already come.
Bowl in place.
Utensils in place.
Water in place.
Ready to eat the answer.
Oh God, give me faith like this.
That laughs at the delay
even as Alli laughed in my dream.
That helps set the table for the coming Answer
even as did Annie.
That helps me look in the cupboard
even as Freeman did with a good natured grin.
That enjoys one another's company
as did Susan, Michael, and Philip.
While waiting they knew they would not leave hungry.
Holy, holy, God.
Thank you for this early morning dream.
Thank you for filling up my empty plate
with faith for the eating.
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Made kale and bean soup, chicken salad with garbanzo beans, and made half a batch of sugar cookies, ginger snap dough, and froze a huge amount of cinnamon rolls. They will be ready to thaw and rise on Christmas day. Took Alli and Susan out to the musical to get ready and then I braved the rainy night and went out to Walmart. It looked like Christmas on Main Street what with the red tail lights and Green lights reflecting on the road and running into each other. I wanted to take a picture but the roads felt hazardous enough without me endangering others around me. Walmart was full and the clerk said that when it rains, people get depressed, so they spend money, so Walmart becomes crowded. She said it happens every time. I went back to the musical and sat with Betty Gibbs in the front row. It just gets better each time. I want to see it again and again. I love the depth and the simplicity of the plot. Without the search for purpose there would be no story to be sung. How well to remember this same truth in our lives. Without the search for Truth and Purpose-for they must be traveling companions-we would arrive at our destined end without scars and laughter and adventure. There would be no books written; no story to be told. He who is there to welcome us at the end of our search is also our travelling guide and our Friend along the way. Oh, why do we fear, oh, we, of little faith?
When I got home, there was a message on the phone from Jim. Rosalee came through the surgery well. The cancer was on the surface. She will not need radiation. Although weak and nauseated, she should be able to come home by tomorrow eve. I am deeply thankful for this good news in the midst of the bad news of cancer. Thank God for the miracle of surgery.
Charlie Carneal went to heaven this morning at 2:30. I watched his daughter perform with excellence this evening, in honor of her daddy. If he had still been in the hospital, he could never have seen her perform, but from his viewing point, I bet he didn't miss a thing.
Sat.-Made the rest of the sugar cookies, gingersnap cookies dipped in vanilla coating, and a trial leftover pan of cinnamon rolls, and also some sloppy joe mixture made with bear and venison meat. Cleaned the house a little bit. Susan, Alli, and Freeman, went to New Life for two more performances in the musical. Phil is not feeling well nor is Philip. They were working in dusty conditions and they seem to have a full fledged cold and sinus condition. We will skip the Jones/Guild party tonight and not spread this around. Peter and Ivona brought back the big pig grill and are checking our Philip's new pig pens. I've been taste testing everything I've been making and I feel lousy again. Michael went to the musical with some friends and will stop in later. Three more days of school next week and then he'll have a break until about mid January.
I was reading in my Bible Book, Acts, Chapter 13, and read where when John the Baptist was nearing the end of his course, he said, "I am not what you think I am. No, after me comes one whose shoes I am not fit to unfasten." John did not necessarily know that he was nearing the end of his life. I wonder what would happen if we took on his attitude; his character. Instead of thinking that we need to advance, step up, make more, be more, what if, we just did what we were born to do? We may increase in greatness as we do that, but that would not be our goal. What if we could say today and everyday to our families and the world we meet, "I am not what you think I am. But there is One you must know whose shoes I am not fit to unfasten." What if, like the unprofitable servant, we would just do our duty, without looking for a thank you. What if we would want God to increase and other's to increase and ourselves to decrease? What if we were humble and contrite in spirit? Then He would dwell with us in the high and holy place. He would come in and eat with us. and we would glory in knowing Him and not think twice about our works.
This is what I want.
This is what I long for.
To be anonymous in God.
And for God to be my all in all.
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Sun.-Freeman and Alli went to CC to see Abigale and Serena get baptized. It was a sweet time and I was sorry to have missed it. I was challenged this morning to become more like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was one who worshipped the Father in spirit and in truth. Here are a few sentences that I wrote down from Pastor Jerry's sermon: "God wants to birth a miracle through ordinary me in this ordinary town. We miss God's miracle because we are distracted by life's interruptions. The distance between the interruption and the miracle is very small." Mary's life was interrupted by the angel's announcement. The interruption became her miracle. She received the interruption-not completely without question, but with completeness-"Be it unto me according to Your word." Interruptions are not an end in themselves. They are the beginnings of something new. Oh God, give me faith to see. Rather give me faith to believe even when I cannot see. Grant me an humble heart that receives interruptions with the gracious attitude, 'Be it unto me according to Your word.'
After church we went to Tom and Helen's where we celebrated the girl's baptism with a delicious lunch. It's been so long since we've all been together. I needed to be with Helen and the rest of the family again. We came home and watched a movie they loaned us-"No Reservations" and I wanted to cook again. I mean, cook tonight, because generally, I want to cook. Cooking movies just make me want to cook for a living. My mother was the world's greatest cook. We had company meals at every suppertime. And since she was an artist who did not have time to paint, she created beauty with the food she placed on a table. We used to marvel when we'd go out to eat at a restaurant buffet and she would bring her salad bowl back to the table looking like a masterpiece. Our salads looked like a volcano had exploded. Her salad looked like a Rembrandt.
Susan, Freeman, and Alli, had one last musical performance today at 4. They are at the after-party as I write this. It will be fun to hear about the different awards. I'll write a little more after I hear from Susan. Ok. Apparently Freeman saved a lot of lives by knowing their lines too, so they gave him a whole book of lifesavers.
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