New Cooking Adventure-Chicken Curry with Barley

I rarely go to the movie theatre but last month when we saw Julie & Julia, amongst the story and laughs in the movie, it did inspire me be a bit to be a little more adventurous in my cooking. I love to cook, hate to bake, but love to cook. But in the last while, I find I've been cooking the same old. All good stuff, but nothing new. So I determined that I would get looking through all my cookbooks and see if I could be adventurous enough to try something new once a week, once every two weeks at the very least. While nothing on the scale as to what Julie took on with cooking through the Julia Child cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, in a year, I thought maybe I could add a few new favorites from my books to my list of meal options. Having a family who is not afraid to try new things enabled me to give it a go.

In particular I was thinking of targeting a couple of really nice cookbooks I've had sitting on my shelf for years and that I've looked through on a regular basis, have drooled on it's glossy color photos but have never actually cooked from: The Encyclopedia of Creative Cooking and Creative International Cooking.

My first attempt at new was met with a huge all thumbs up from all of the Living To Tell household with someone, I can't remember who but I think it might have been Hubby, saying I have to put it on the ole blog. So being the submissive, obediant wifey that I am, ahem, I'm complying.

For my first attempt at this trying new recipes adventure I chose Chicken Curry. The reason I chose this particular recipe was it seemed easy enough, I happened to have all the ingrediants on hand and it used barley. Now that was a twist to me. I'd never heard of Chicken Curry that included barley. And I love barley! I'm so glad I picked this one. It was yummy. Flavorful with being over the top. I did use more of a couple ingrediants as I found it just wasn't enough for us as it was written. I pointed out those things in the recipe. Also the recipe called for just 2 cups of cooked barley so I gave you the recipe that I used to make that cooked barley. I also found that I could have upped that a bit, my family loved the barley part, so next time I will be making more of that in the recipe. And I've got no pictures because everyone dove into it before I could get the camera out. What was that all about. They ought to know better by now. Sheesh.

CHICKEN CURRY with BARLEY

-2 cups cooked barley -ingrediants:
-1 cup pot barley
-3 cups chicken broth or water
-1 Tbsp. butter

-1 frying chicken, cut into serving pieces (I used just over 1 kg [2lbs.] of chicken thighs)
-2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
-2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
- 1 medium onion, minced
-2 cups chicken broth
-salt and pepper to taste (I started with with 1/2 tsp. and ended up using just over 1 tsp. salt)
-2 teaspoons curry powder
-1 tsp. marjoram (I upped it to 1 1/2 tsp.)
-1 cup plain yogurt
-**1 tomato, peeled, seeded & cut into bite size pieces (I used 2 tomatoes)

Preheat oven to 375*. Put uncooked pot barley into 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Heat broth or water to almost boiling and pour over barley. Add butter and stir to melt. Place foil tightly over dish and place lid on top of that if you have a lid. Bake for 1 hour. Note: If using pearl barley reduce cooking time.

Brown chicken pieces in oil and butter in a large skillet. Place cooked barley in the bottome of a dutch oven. Put browned chicken pieces over the top.

Cook onion until transparent in the same skillet in remaining oil and butter. Remove; place on top of the chicken. Pour 1 1/2 cups broth over the chicken and barley. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, curry powder and marjoram. Cover; cook over low heat 30 minutes. Remove cover. Add yogurt, tomato, and 1/2 cup more broth if needed. (I found I didn't need the extra broth). Cook, uncovered, 20 - 30 minutes until chicken is tender.

I served it with peas.

**To peel fresh tomatoes, place tomato into hot water for a couple of minutes and then rinse with cold. You should just be able to rub the skin right off.

Friday's Fave Five #51

Hello everyone! Welcome to Fave Fives where we take a look back at our week and find five favorite things. It's a way of looking for our blessings, those small, and sometimes big, things that have made us smile or uplifted us. If you're new, all the details are here and then you only have to do one thing and that is to just jump right on in and join us!

Ok, here are mine and they are all about rare treats for me this week.

1. A Week off. Better yet, weeks off with nowhere to be and no schedule to follow. I love vacations but I have to say I also love a week off at home. I have no kids here this week for dayhome. It being my maintenance week, where I maintain and clean all things dayhome, I am still "working" but I don't have to get up by a certain time, or follow an snack, lunch or quiet time schedules. The days are mine. It has been so nice.

2. A hubby who buys my favorite pizza so that I don't have to cook on one night of my week "off". I so appreciated this from him. Very thoughtful. Thank you, Sweetie.

3. Mega reading time. What a joy to just read for an hour or two without stopping if that is what I feel like doing. With no interruptions, except to maybe get up and refill my coffee. This does not happen often for me and I have been taking much advantage of it.

4. White chocolate syrup. In my coffee. Seeing it was my vacation at home, I treated myself to a cup of white chocolate mocha each morning. Yummy!

5. Lunch with a friend. My friend treated me to lunch this week and a huge blessing it was. Going for lunch is a very rare treat and the company was awesome. One of the best stress releases I know is to have a couple of hours laughing and sharing with a good friend over good food.

And, my heart be still, I'm breaking my own rule. (And if you know me, that just about kills me, the rule follower). I'm adding number 6. Movie night with a friend. So fun to go over later at night which would have been a work night and not worry about having to get up. Just enjoy the movie, the company and the treats.

What was your favorite things from your week? Let us know in apost and link up so we can come and visit. Don't forget next week is our 52nd week celebration. One whole year of enjoying our favorites.

It Happened to Me!

It happened to me for the first time ever yesterday. Oh yes it did. And without hestitating I turned around and gave it to the person behind me.

Let me back up a bit.

Yesterday I thought I'd treat my Starbuck's treating friend to a quintessential Canadian treat from a quintessential Canadian establishment, Tim Hortons and their Ice Cap. I went through the drive thru, placed my order and then moved forward to the pick up window. When I got there I was told that the car ahead had paid for my order. Really? It's happened to me? How fun and exciting! The pay it back that happens at Tim Horton's drive thru's all across Canada. So what else was there to do but pay for the person behind me who hopefully paid for the person behind them. So fun to have happen.

I believe it started in a very busy drive thru in Calgary a few years ago during the morning rush. The pay it back went for hours and made the news and has now become a Canadian thing to do. So if you're ever in Canada, and you find yourself in a Tim Horton's drive thru and you come to the window only to be told you're order has been paid for, go for the Canadian experience and pay it back!

Does this happen in the States, too?

The Sad Saga of My 1st Tomato

Remember the thing of beauty? Indeed. All the excitement when this baby started turning red last week? All the tender caring? All the tending and watering? Remember all the hope and the starting of the planning on what I how I would eat this, my very first attempt at homegrown tomatoes? All your wonderful suggestions in the comments?

As per the suggestion of some of you wonderful gardeners out there, I picked that beauty before it got too red to avoid worms and other such nasties. My mouth was just watering. But lo and behold, when I turned it over this glared up at me from the bottom of the tomato:

A total nasty! All visions of bacon & tomato sandwiches fizzled in my head. All thoughts of mayo and tomato on texas toast flew from my mind. Taking a huge bite sprinkled with a few grains of salt and fresh ground pepper, juice running down my chin and hand left in a cartoon poof. Bummer. What is wrong with this thing? My mom had seen this flaw on three tomatoes that were still green and made me pick them and throw them away. It almost killed me to do it, but I was an obediant daughter. Because she's an awesome gardener. And because she's my mom.

I didn't see this on the red one until I picked it. But being the stubborn one that I am I couldn't let go of the dream of that first tomato so I let it get good and red on the counter and cut it in half.

Arrgh. Wanna see a grown woman cry? You should have been here at this moment. Durn.

Now all my tomato hopes and dreams on pinned on these guys. Grow babies, grow. Don't let me down now!

Monday Mish Mash

It's 8 a.m. and I'm sitting here with coffee in hand and still in my jammies. I'm off this week on my annual maintenance week. The week wherein I do all the fiddly jobs and chores that concern my dayhome that are next to impossible to do with 6 preschoolers running around. Things like wall washing, carpet cleaning, toy repair, reorganizing, etc., etc. This is also the big week where I take all the toys and dump them into the middle of the playroom and start the big sort. Throw out, 2nd hand store and keep are the names given to the three piles that I will end up with by the end of the day. You wouldn't believe how many toys get accumulated in a year. The same will happen in the craft room. That needs major organization as all sorts of paraphenelia finds it's way in there. When you do crafts with that many preschoolers all sorts of goofy things get kept because you never know when you can use them for a craft. And they all end up in this room. Well, this week that will all be purged and organized too.

It's also the week of maintaining our health around here. Every single day has some kind of doctor, vision or dental appointment lined up for me or the kids. So it's a week off, but definitely not a week of rest. I did manage to squeeze in a fun lunch with a friend though, and if I have anything to say about it, we will not be talking work. LOL. Thank goodness, school supply shopping got finished on the weekend, so we are good to go in that department.

While I'm typing this I've got a blanket thrown over me. It is chilly this morning. This is typical Southern Alberta. After a hot day yesterday, we had a cold front blow through and we woke up to the temperature being 4*C, which 37*F. C-c-c-cold for August. Now you know why I don't run any air conditioning at night around here. But it's supposed to be warm with today at 23*C (73*F) and a few days going into 28*C (82*F) range during the week. Nice and hot. And I know relatively speaking compared to some of you who hit temps of over a hundred, which by the way, I cannot fathom living in, 82 is quite toasty for us. And in truth, I do like that we have some cooler days in there. But this year really has been on the extreme side for weather. Really up and down. Not a lot of really hot, in our definition, weeks strung in a row. Lots of massive thunderstorms rolling through. I know we are going to pay for that in September though, when our Indian Summer gets rolling. We'll have lots of days in the 30's (80'sF) then. Which makes the kids crazy going to school in weather like that. Poor things. ;v)

A fun bit of local area news. Remember last summer we were all caught up in Canadian Idol because the local area fella, Theo Tams, was making a huge splash on the show. And in fact went on to win Canadian Idol? Well, this summer, a local area gal has made the top 20 in So You Think You Can Dance Canada! How exciting! And so much fun watching the local kids talent shine through on a national stage. I guess I better get my dialing fingers warmed up to vote. And a really interesting note, a Canadian Figure Skating champion from the past, Emanuel Sandhu, has also made the top 20. If you are into figure skating you will know who that is. Skating wise, he was very inconsistent, at times brilliant, and at other times totally choking. Should be interesting to see how he does with dance.

So that's about it for my mish mash? How was your weekend?

Friday's Fave Five #50

Sheesh. This is me trying to brush my teeth and comb my hair and get a drink of coffee to wake me up so that I can post this. I am late, late, late and do you know why? I thought it was Thursday. Yup, in my world I am a day behind. So I was lazing around last night thinking I had all the time in the world to get this posted. Ah well.

If you're new, I'm not usually late to my own party, so you can go here for details and then just jump right in.

1. Fridays. Yes my first favorite of the week is Fridays. I am so glad it is Friday today. It's been quite a week. Friday's around here just slow things down a bit. It's more relaxed in the dayhome and we have movie day in the afternoon. We all curl up with popcorn and close the curtains and enjoy a good movie. And of course, while the kids are watchng their movie I get to read a few Faves. Yup, I like Fridays.

2. Basil Nectarine Scented Candle from Yankee Candles. Oh my word I loooove this smell. I have the candle on an end table and if I sit close to it every once in a while I get a nice drift of the smell. So fresh. I don't even have to burn it although it smells wonderful burning too! If Yankee Candles ever reads here, hello, I'm Susanne and I'm willing to review any candles you may want.

3. Eat This, Not That. This is a great little book that helps you to discern between similar products at the grocery store so that you can make the healthier choice. Very easy reading and I've been learning lots. Go on, click on the link and Look Inside.

4. This post over at Brenda's Blog from Paraguay. All about doing some "rebinding" in our lives.

5. Cabbage Rolls. You know I have to have a food item in here somewhere. I wouldn't be a good Hungarian if I didn't love Cabbage Rolls. Covered in luscious sour cream. Yummy. Hungarians make theirs a little different. The cabbage rolls have ground pork in them too. Some do it with just ground pork, no beef. And there tends to be more meat than rice. The rolls lay on a bed of saurkraut in the roaster or pot after the tomato juice is put on some smoked meat like ribs or bacon is laid on top. And the best part? It's served with sour cream. Mmmm, mmm, mmm! So good. I made some last night. While not on par with my mom's at all it was passable. I had to substitute a few things but next time, no substitutions. I'm going for the authentic!

What's your faves from the week? Do up a post and link up to Mr. Linky so that we can come and visit. And thanks for your patience in my silly mix up.

On Life, Erratic Blogging and Institutions That Take One's Money But Don't Deliver The Goods

How's that for a title? But boy, looking back over my spring and summer, my blogging sure has turned a bit erratic. From someone who used to post basically daily, it's all over the board now. I think it's just the nature of the year we are experiencing. My head is filled with lots but nothing really I can blog about extensively. Personally, I'm in a decision making phase concerning my job. After almost 20 years of dayhoming, I'm feeling that that is coming to a close soon. Which is exciting and totally paralyzingly scary at the same time. So my head is a bit taken over with trying not to panic and trust God. But I can only take it one step, one day at a time, right? It's all about God's timing and having the faith to take the steps when they come. I'm the type of person who likes that kind of stuff organized and my ducks all lined up in a row, so uncertanity in this is hard for me. There's so many little nagging issues, mostly of what else I would do for a job, that constantly comes up to harass me. LOL. But it wouldn't be faith if it was never tested. We'd think we have faith but how would we know if we were never in a position to have to trust God in an unknown? Good thing He's a big God and knows my heart better than I know it myself.

Anyway, moving on. Look who came back to visit. I happened to glance out the window and here I see him trucking along the sidewalk and he came right up our lawn. I ran out to say hello while simultaneously yelling to Tia so that she could hear me from inside in her state of unconsciousness sleep. This time our friend had a collar and city license.

After a sleepy Tia got her fill of hugs and petting, I called the city to find the name of the owner. Lo and behold, they can't see that number in their computer. Say what? What is up with that? So the very nice lady tells me she'll phone the pound to see if he was licensed there because sometimes apparently, the pound is a little slow on the uptake and getting them logged in the computer, she says. So we're waiting and waiting. Doggy is getting restless to move on now that he's had a visit, and still no call. Finally the lady phones back to tell me the pound still hasn't called her back. She asked if I would like the pound to come pick up the dog. Well seeing how organized they were I said gave her a resounding "NO!". At which point I had to comment on what was the point of paying the city money to license your dog when at the point of needing them they didn't even have the darn license number in their computer. I am happy to say I kept my tone very polite. She was very nice after all and if it was the pound's fault why get her all defensive. But I felt I did have to comment on it.

In all the waiting our friend just felt the call to keep moving and off he went, the same as last time. Goodbye, Buddy. Thanks for coming by. All the best to ya.

And if you are wondering, it's now been 24 hours and we still haven't gotten a call back with the owner's name from the pound or the city. Arrrgh. Red tape institutions.

Wordless Wednesday

A thing of beauty, indeed.

My very first home grown tomato.

In the excitement I'm having a hard time leaving it on the vine to totally turn red.

I will be strong, I will be strong.

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here

Book Tour ~ Stan Toler Collections

Today is an incredibly busy day but I wanted to pop in quickly and tell you guys about a couple of books I recieved for a book tour. I haven't read them yet as they are fresh out of my mailman's hand but I can hardly wait to get into them. It seems they are just perfect for where I am at right now.

Stan Toler’s Endearing Collections of Encouragement
David C Cook introduces a new generation of readers to Toler’s gift for
finding faith and joy in life’s tough times

Celebrated author of over 70 books, Stan Toler has touched countless hurting people with his timeless stories of hope and encouragement. This summer, a whole new audience of readers will have the opportunity to discover Toler’s best-selling books as David C Cook introduces the updated editions of two of Toler’s most beloved collections—The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With Me Yet and God Has Never Failed Me, But He’s Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times (David C Cook, August 2009).

On the landscape of life, buzzards are inevitable—those challenging events and situations that encircle us, eyeing us as prey and swooping down to cause hurt and heartache. A late-night phone call delivering bad news. Losing a job. Struggling with bankruptcy. No matter what form these buzzards take, the pain is universal.

In The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With Me Yet, Stan Toler takes a lighthearted look at some of life’s more serious subjects. Drawing from his own personal struggles, Toler offers a generous dose of encouragement for the troubled heart, helping readers find hope, joy, and peace, even in the most trying of circumstances. In chapters such as “When the Fountain of Youth Has Rusted” and “I Know I’m Lost, but the Scenery Is Spectacular,” readers will find the strength they need to shoo away any buzzards and face life’s difficulties with the security of knowing

that God is in control.

In God Has Never Failed Me, But He’s Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times, Toler gives a humorous twist to the challenges that place us in faith’s waiting room. Though we know that God’s provision is always on time, we’ve all had close calls waiting for His help. For anyone who has ever felt frazzled, stressed, confused, hurt, angry, undone, or any other emotional response to the difficulties and uncertainties of life, Toler serves up a delightful combination of poignant and hilarious reminders that God is still at work in the world.

Filled with heartwarming stories and humorous anecdotes, this charming collection offers hope and peace for the weary, waiting heart. Toler combines a rich blend of spiritual truths with humorous insights as he reminds God’s children of His unfailing love. Through it all, readers will discover a God who is always faithful, worthy of our trust, and never late with His help.

Author Bio
Stan Toler is senior pastor of Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was recently elected as the 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene. For several years he taught seminars for Dr. John Maxwell’s INJOY Group, a leadership development institute. He also serves as the executive director of the Toler Leadership Center, located on the campus of Mid-America Christian University, and is the co-founder of BGW Forward in Faith. Toler has written over 70 books, including his bestsellers, God Has Never Failed Me, But He’s Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times; The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With Me Yet; God’s Never Late, He’s Seldom Early, He’s Always Right on Time; The Secret Blend; Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry; Total Quality Life; and his popular Minute Motivator series.

Repackaged with a fresh look and design, both books will be available for purchase in August.

davidccook.com

Friday's Fave Five #49

Hello. Welcome. It's time for Friday's Fave Five once more. #49 this week. I think we should have a party at #52. That will mean a whole year of Friday's Fave Five's. And I have to say I've totally loved doing them and reading all of your posts. You guys are all so faithful. I'll have to think on it but maybe a giveaway is in order that everyone who posts that day will be entered in to. Hmmm, that's sounding good.

But before we can party with the 52nd week we have to get to the 49th. If you are new and aren't quite sure what's up, you can go here for details. We'll get started and it won't take you long to catch up.

I nervously laughed when I hit the publish button yesterday, because I was thinking exactly what a few of you said and that was my Thursday post could have been a Fave Five post. Oh, oh. Now what will I post on. LOL.

1. Yesterday's post reciting all the wonderful activities and time we had with my visiting daughter. I won't type it all out again, you can go here to read about some of the fun times we had this last week, which included a great movie, floating down the river and time spent at the lake with family.

2. Cooking for the visiting child. I know it was extra work but it was absolute pleasure to cook up some of her favorites that I know she's not eating. Barbque'd steak, whipped potatoes with creamed garlic spinach, lasagna, bbq'd cheeseburgers, chinese food. Okay I didn't cook the chinese food but we got takeout with her favorite "pineapple chicken". It's really funny, but our city seems to really have a knack for great chinese food. We've had it in lots of other cities while on holidays and it's never quite the same. And that goes the same for the city she's in now too. It's not the same, so we obliged and treated her. But anyway, I can't quite put my finger on why it brought me pleasure to make her her favorites. Maybe it's my way of loving on her, of feeling that I'm still taking care of her in some small way, the pleasure of knowing I've blessed her and made her happy.

3. Reading. I'm particularly enjoying the 2 books I've got on the go right now. And miracle of miracles, not one of them is fiction! Go figure. In fact, when we went to the lake, mentioned in the post yesterday, I almost had a panic attack at the thought that I had forgotten my book. I have never been to the lake without a book. I survived but I can tell you the first thing I did when we got back was to sit and read for a bit. I love when books grab me like that.

4. Frosty glasses of ice water with a squeeze of lemon and lime. So refreshing when you're eating a meal or on a hot day. And not a calorie to be found!

(I have no idea why my pic of the glass is rotating and on it's side when it uploads. Blogger's a little tipsy tonight I guess.)

5. Trying a new recipe. And having it work. I was totally bored all of sudden with cooking the same old, same old. Must have something to do with the movie I saw with the girls, "Julie & Julia". It inspired me to be a touch braver with my cooking. So I pulled a dusty cookbook off my shelf, "Creative Cooking", that I basically used for staring at the great pics and drooling over, but had never actually cooked out of, and chose a really different sounding chicken curry recipe. With barley of all things. And it was good. Really good. Family raving over it good. Now there is no way I am going to be attempting any year long marathon french cooking sessions such as Julie in the film, but it was fun to try something totally new and different. Maybe I can shoot for one new recipe a week. We'll see. But hubby says I should post the recipe, so that'll be coming next week.

What's your favorites from the week? Good old standby's? Something new? Share with us in a post and then sign Mr. Linky so that we can come visit!

Back to Normal. Sort of.

The oldest, she is gone back to her city of schooling and once again there is routine trying to work itself back into my days. Well, as much routine as summer months will allow. As as much as my missing her incredibly will allow. As much as my wanting her back here will allow.

I must say I am exhausted! LOL. Mental note for next year, she and I have to try much harder to work out our holidays so that I can have the time off for when she is here. Between trying to keep dayhome kids fairly quiet and yet amused for a bit longer in the mornings to cooking all her favorite meals to doing extra activities all bunched into a few days to staying up way too late each night trying to cram in every minute of visiting that we could, I am t-i-r-e-d!

Oh but we had some fun. We got her caught up on all the Amazing Race episodes that she has missed. I was reminded how much we enjoyed watching those together. She visited with all the grandparents and got some good time in with them. Friday night, because the boyfriend had come with her, I called a girls night out and took her and her sister to see "Julie and Julia", which was a delightful film, btw, all about food and blogging, no less. It did have the Hollywood requisite of one unforseen f-bomb and a crude joke, which by today's standards for anything coming out of Hollywood is fairly clean. Took me by surprise though as here in Canada it is rated PG. And I hear it is way tamed down in the language compared to the book and the blog from which the story is taken. Meryl Streep was amazing as Julia Child. The film was sweet, and amusing with many, many laugh out loud moments, shows marriage in a wonderful light (for once, thank you Hollywood) and is an inspiring story. My girls enjoyed it too, even though at first they were probably humoring me in going as my oldest is a bit more into the action kind of movies. The fellas went to GI Joe about which they had mixed reviews.

Saturday found us in the middle of the river. In tubes. Yes, me too. None of us had ever done this before and it was quite enjoyable. Lazily floating, being carried with the current, sun shining down on you and once we were past the busy park where we start the ride it was soooo peaceful. Sorry no pics. I didn't want to risk dropping the camera in the river. You'll just have to use your imagination from this pic I took of others enjoying the same activity. Just insert 5 yellow and orange tubes with me and my kids in them into the river on this picture:

The only part of the whole experience that was not quite so enjoyable was the part where I had to get out of the tube. And try to do it with some grace. That was an interesting, and according to my sweet children, laughable amusing moment.

Sunday after church and a lunch of requested bbq'd cheeseburgers, we took off for an afternoon at the lake. What is it about sitting on uncomfortable camp chairs with family, munching junk food, swatting at bugs, while the kids enjoy the lake, that is so darn worth the drive out to a little lake with a pretend beach. I'm not sure but whatever it is I can do it every week over the summer.

After all the fresh air, sunshine, activity and late nights, after she left I'm so glad I was blessed with a super slow day on Wednesday with the dayhome. I actually was able to putz around picking up and cleaning up. The 7 loads of laundry from the week not so much fun, but it is what it is. The family does appreciate clean clothes once in a while. Dinner was super simple. Spaghetti with meatballs. The meatballs I already had in the freezer from when I had smart moment a couple months ago and made a double batch so I could freeze some. I think I may be onto something and am going to start doubling up on some meals. That was just way too convenient and I could pat myself on the back because the meal didn't come out of a cardboard box or come by way of the front door with a stranger requesting much moola before he hands it over.

Today will be more of the same. Recuperating and getting back to normal. Whatever normal is around here. See you tomorrow for Friday's Fave Five.

Wordless Wednesday

Driving off to more adventure
after a 9 day visit home.
I miss her already.

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.

Friday's Fave Five #48

Hi. Welcome to the 48th post of Friday's Fave Five. Wow, you guys are just awesome! I can't believe it's run this long and how much I am still enjoying reading your posts! Keep up the good work guys and I'll keep reading! It's a highlight of the end of my weeks. If you're wanting to join in for the first time, just go here to get up to speed and then just jump right in.

1. My oldest daughter arriving safe and sound for a 10 day visit definitely tops my list of favorite things. She drove herself in the car affectionately known as "the boat" instead of taking the bus, which was a little nerve wracking for me, but she made it. And we're enjoying visiting with her. The weather's been a bummer raining all week and ruining our plans, but we're going with the flow.

2. The Paso Doble from the top 4 show of So You Think You Can Dance. Oh my word, there was good dancing this night of the show and this was the last dance and the icing on the cake. I wish I could link you but I can't find it anywhere at the moment that is letting me embed it. And now So You Think You Can Dance Canada starts next Tuesday. Whoo Hoo. Love this show.

3. Monte Cristo Sandwiches. I haven't had one in years but this week I was blessed with enjoying one at the restaurant that in my opinion makes the best. Yummy. I hear our very own Barb, at A Chelsea Morning, also makes a mean Monte Cristo and she shows us how here. She serves hers with raspberry preserves, but around here they serve them with applesauce.

4. A slow week. After having last week off, it was wonderful to have a slow week with only 3 kids coming. And today there was only two of the 5 year olds so we took our cabin fever out of here and went to Burger King for lunch and play and then to the library for a puppet show. It was wonderful. I did feel like a bit of the old lady there though, with all the young moms that were there with their preschoolers. But that won't dismay me from doing that again the first chance I get.

5. The smell of rain. Love, love, love it. I've had my windows open at least a little bit the whole week it's been raining. It smells so clean and fresh. There is nothing like it to me. Such a simple thing and yet one of my favorite things ever.

What is your five favorite things from your week? Do a post and join on up on Mr. Linky. We'd love to come and visit you!

"The Cross" by Arthur Blessitt

When I first became a Christian in the early '80's, there was a man we heard about who carried a full sized cross across the U.S. and other countries that came up in our conversations often. As new Christians and young people the thought of doing something big for God was very exciting and appealing. We often discussed if we would have the courage to do such a thing if God had called us to that. It lead to many an evening of interesting discussion of what we thought God might require of each of us.

So when I was asked to do a book tour of Arthru Blessitt's "The Cross", his account of 38 years of carrying the cross to every nation and major island group in the world, I definitely said yes. And I'm excited to give you this Q & A with the man who has walked more that 38, 102 miles to bring people the message of God's love.

Question and Answer with Arthur Blessitt, author of "The Cross"

On June 13, 2008, Arthur Blessitt walked his 38,102nd mile in Zanzibar, off of the coast of Tanzania, completing a journey that began in 1969. Arthur started walking with a twelve-foot cross on December 25, 1969, and has successfully carried a large wooden cross into every nation and major island group of the world.

In his new book, The Cross, readers can follow Arthur’s journey from his initial call from God to carry a cross from Hollywood, where he was known as “the minister of Sunset Strip,” across America, and then the world.


Q: Having carried the cross over 38,000 miles, you are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records under “World’s Longest Walk.” In the early days of your ministry, did you ever think you would achieve this kind of recognition?

A: You know, I never did. Though I’d begun preaching at the age of 15, I hadn’t ever been particularly drawn to the cross as a symbol. My first cross walk was down the Sunset Strip and back to His Place, the coffee shop where I preached the gospel to hippies and drug addicts in the late sixties. The cross attracted a crowd, and they followed it back to our little shop. One night in 1969, I heard the voice of the Lord clearly calling me to carry the cross across America, so I did. Once that was finished, I was told to visit Northern Ireland, so I did. Before long, I was off to every sovereign nation…then to every major island group. My journey was never about setting a record. It was about obeying the call to bring the cross to everyone, everywhere.

Q: The cross is an almost universally recognizable icon, but the messages associated with it vary widely from place to place. What does the cross say to you?

A: So many people feel that the cross is against them. They look at the cross and the think the cross is against my sexual orientation or I had an abortion or I drink beer or I smoke cigarettes, so God hates me. I don’t believe that the cross stands for any of those things. The cross is a sign from God that says, “I love you. I care. I came down and got involved in this mess of life. I became flesh and sacrificed myself on this cross to show you this love.”

As I journey around the world, I find the cross to be a symbol of God’s love that can be understood in spite of language and cultural barriers. But in many places—particularly in Muslim countries—the cross has historically been a sign of offense. It has not been a friendly symbol. These people often share the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” I try to counteract these negative attitudes when I walk with the cross. Instead of talking about Christianity, I try to focus on Christ and the love and grace of God. I have had the wonderful privilege of reinterpreting the cross—to walk into Muslim countries and not only to survive, but to be welcomed.

Q: In the summer of 1980, you walked through the war zone of West Beirut, where you were invited to meet with Palestinian Liberation Organization Leader Yasser Arafat. What did you say to him? How did he respond?

A: When I met Arafat face to face, I saw someone whose eyes were alive and sparkling. There we were, two radicals seeking to make men free. One had a cross and the other a gun. As we sat down, I said, “Sir, it’s 2:00 AM. You have had a long day and a long struggle. I’m not here as a politician or a diplomat or a reporter. I’m just a simple man with a cross. And I would like to read you some of the words of Jesus.” I started with the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. “Blessed are the merciful…blessed are the peacemakers.” I read and shared many more Scriptures. Then I took Mr. Arafat’s hand and prayed.

When I finished praying, he spoke softly. “There is no doubt the Bible is more powerful than the gun or the sword. The Romans tried to kill Christians. They beat, imprisoned, and murdered them. But slowly the believers, the Christians, took Rome, and Rome became Christian. They took it by heart. They did with the cross what no army had done.” Arafat did not respond to my offer of salvation or my plea for him to lay down his weapons, but I left with the impression that I had just been with one of the most gentle and kind men I had ever met.

Q: What question do you hear the most as you travel the world?

A: You know, a lot of people are fascinated by the adventure stories. But I’m not a walking story. What moves me is my relationships with people, my encounters with individuals. And the question I hear most from those individuals around the world is: Tell me what you know about God. Why did I walk through war zones? I wasn’t in search of adventure. I was drawn to the people in those places who needed to know about God.

Q: What is one of the most important lessons you have learned through your journey with the cross?

A: One of the most important things I have learned in my journeys around the world with the cross is that I should focus not on if, but rather on how. How do I get the visa I need? How do I get into a country that is difficult to enter? How do I get across that river or up that mountain? Those of us who want to go where Jesus sends us should remove from our vocabulary the small but potentially destructive word if.

I have carried the cross in 315 countries and island groups. In most of these nations I have had great experiences, although 52 of these countries were at war. I have seen beautiful places and wonderful people, but I have also seen horrors and tragedies. I faced a firing squad in Nicaragua; I was almost stoned and beaten in Morocco; I was attacked by police in Spain; a Los Angeles police officer tried to choke me in Hollywood; a man in Birdseye, Indiana, tried to burn the cross; a man in Nigeria broke the cross. I learned this simple lesson long ago: We need to follow God’s call regardless of whether people love us or hate us. God’s call is not conditional. It doesn’t depend on favorable conditions, warm weather, or good moods.

Q: What is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen as you’ve walked around the world with the cross?

A: People! One of the privileges of carrying a cross around the world is meeting all kinds of beautiful people. And just as Jesus related to all people, I have tried to do that myself as I carry his cross. In our world today, it seems few of us desire or are able to relate to various kinds of people. I’ve had encounters with world-famous people like Pope John Paul II, Jimmy Carter, and Yasser Arafat. I’ve also shared meals with the poorest of the poor, the homeless. I’ve slept in remote villages where mine was the first white face any of the people had seen. And always, I have been awed by the beauty and joy of the children. In God’s view (and in mine), all of these people are equally valued and equally loved.

Q: Having carried the cross through Communist, Islamic, and Hindu nations, what can you tell us about the power of the cross in those nations?

A: Christians in the West sometimes talk about nations that are “closed” to the gospel. Though it is true that some governments and people groups are resistant to the good news of Jesus, at least as they perceive it, I think we need to be careful: Focusing on the concept of “closed nations” can send a negative message. Christians often ask me, “When you were in such-and-such nation, didn’t you feel darkness and the power of Satan?” Or, “When you met such-and-such terrorists, didn’t you feel the evil?” My reply is, “No, I felt the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.” The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. I will not concede any place or any person to the Devil.

Q: What keeps people from doing big things for God?

A: Many people have dreams and visions of doing mighty things for God and making an impact on the world. That was my prayer also. And then Jesus said to lay it all down, and let your vision be no bigger than the next person you meet. Following that vision has carried me around the world. The most important thing God will ever tell you to do is the next thing. It’s as simple as that. To follow Him is to live a life of obedience, and not to complain. Many times projects fail to move forward because people don’t take one step at a time. They don’t break things down into small, simple steps. As a result they are soon overcome by the insurmountable challenges that face them, and they give up.

You may never walk around the world carrying a cross. But I know God does have something He would like you to do. And the only way you are going to fulfill this calling is by starting our simple and following His call, step by step by step.


"The Cross" is available here and here.

Wordless Wednesday

The only one in the family who can lay claim to this rare talent.

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.

End of Vaca!

Talk about bleary eyed this morning. First day back to work after a week off and I'm feeling like a zombie. Oy. I stayed up way too late for two nights visiting with my oldest, Kay, who is home for the week. Add to that a major thunder storm that went on for hours last night with a lightening strike that hit directly somewhere in the neighborhood and a book that is hard to put down and well, you can see I have a lethal combination going that fights against sleep. I was so tired I didn't even hear my alarm going off and hubby came in with a half hour before the kids start arriving to inquire whether I was getting up or not. Which made me bound out of bed before my brain woke up so now I feel very heavy headed even more than a hour later.

Welcome back work week. Aargh.

Thank goodness for a hubby who leaves one with a half full pot of coffee!

Monday Mish Mash

Here I am checking in on the later side of the morning afternoon. It's a holiday here today so no work for me. And it's a good thing too because it's been busy since we came home from dropping off the car to Kay, my oldest, last Wednesday. No slowing down around here. But as my friend Linda from 2nd Cup of Coffee said today, "Back Up, Barkus". You so have to click over there and read where this saying came from. And while you're at it grab a coffee and read some of her older posts. She is hilarious. Anyway, I totally think she has started a new phrase in Blogland. Don't you just love that? "Back Up, Barkus!" LOL.

So backing up to last Wednesday, "Back Up, Barkus" seems quite fitting. We weren't even pulled into the driveway 5 minutes before my youngest, Tia, disappears from the unloading of the car job. As I'm muttering under my breath about this phenomenom that seems to occur around here, she shows back up again with this:

"This" is not our dog. "This", in fact, seems to be nobody's dog. No collar, skinny, trucking down the street all by himself.

But boy, oh, boy was he the most gentle, sweet baby horse dog I've ever seen. And believe me once this young lady gets her arms around the likes of a sweet pup like this we have to pry her off. Of course then came the usual calls to the animal shelter to see if anyone had lost him. No luck there and we didn't want them to come get him choosing instead to go with the Humane Society. Long story short, volunteers can't call back until the next night, pup jumps fence, after tucking the dog in, the kids sleep on deck with dog so he doesn't fly the coop again.

Still there in the morning, but then he jumps the fence again so we opened the gate so that he doesn't hurt himself doing that again. He leaves but comes back. Tia is thrilled and thinks this means he should stay forever. Mom says "Uhm, no!". In actuality I think he came back to scarf some more food, make Samson go balistically territorial once more, and soak up some more loving from the cute, young lady. But alas,this time the pup seemed to say "Thanks for the refreshments, the love and a place to crash, but I need to hit the dusty trail once more".

And after posing for one more picture, off he went.

Saturday was a marathon grocery shopping trip. Kay, the oldest was coming home for 10 days and boyfriend was also going to be coming.

I had to stock the fridge and cupboards. I couldn't very well have them starving to death on my watch. They arrived safe and sound yesterday afternoon, so my week, even though I have to work, will be squeezing in every second I can with my girl. The second half of Amazing Race needs to be watched with her, as well as lots of visiting with the Grandma's, and just relaxing with each other is on the agenda. Maybe a trip or two to the lake can be squeezed in if the weather would only co-operate.

What's your week looking like?