November 27, 1992–2013 = 21 years!

 

 

 

I am blessed to be loved.  <3

  

Artichoke & Spinach Dip {and why}

One of the reasons you haven't heard from me lately:  I indulged my whim to sort of "cater" a couples' banquet at church.  No, I don't know how my husband or family live with me either...It's been a crazy month of preparations.

 
Abby helped me stuff about 140 manicotti shells.  (Then we decided one shell was a good serving size instead of two...)

  (The cookies were for the kitchen and child care staff... who had no time to eat them!)

Yum, this French baguette recipe from Cooks Illustrated magazine  is soooo good!

 
The flourless 'decadent' chocolate cakes were delish!  After chilling, they have almost the consistency of cheesecake.  But it's just eggs, sugar, butter, and dark chocolate chips.  With raspberry sauce and whipped cream... oh my.

The final day!  Tim did all the chopping of spinach and artichokes for four batches of dip.  Yes, he is my hero!

The Cowgirl sniffed her way through an entire red onion for the salads.

And the really chaotic final hour... which wasn't quite enough time to steam frozen green beans... Tim managed the food warmers and the beans for me!

 Another one of my cheerful volunteers in the kitchen, ready to serve up some salad.  :)

 

We expected up to 33 couples to attend - and were blessed to have 54 adults for a fun evening in a beautifully transformed fellowship hall with some good food and a sweet couple delivering a great message together on love and kisses.

The appetizer served was the following Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip with pita chips (or Almond-Thins for my gf friends).  So far it is the most-requested recipe from the evening.  If you choose to make this, beware not to overindulge!  :)  You have been warned.

Hot Artichoke-Spinach Dip

Combine in saucepan, heating just until butter is melted and spinach is wilted:

¼ cup butter, melted

1 clove garlic, pressed

5-6 oz fresh spinach, chopped

Combine thoroughly in mixing bowl with hand mixer (or use food processor):

8 oz cream cheese, softened

8 oz sour cream (cultured - Daisy Brand preferred)

Aprox ½ cup of shredded aged 4-cheese blend

(aged provolone, parmesan, asiago, romano – Shullsburg/Italia Brand)

¼ tsp salt, optional

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

Drain, rinse, and finely chop one 14 oz can of artichoke hearts.  Combine with all of the above.

Spoon into buttered dish (6 -8 cup size) or dishes.  Top with shredded mozzarella (I use the 3-cheese blend by Stella available at Sam’s – mozzarella, provolone, cheddar).

Bake about 30 min at 350 F. 

Serve warm with pita chips, tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted Italian bread. 

Makes about 18 small servings.

Recipes for the chocolate cake, lemon pound cake, raspberry sauce, spinach-stuffed manicotti, and baguettes will be forthcoming... if or when I can...

Leap Year Day #5 {20 years}

 

 

Leap Year Day of 1992 was a very special day.  It was a Saturday morning when the phone rang…

Twenty years. 

Twenty years ago, I’d made a very casual and distant acquaintance with Tim at church.  I didn’t approach him to speak ever, nor do I recall him approaching me.  Ever.  We did talk to each other when we acted as judges for the married couples’ games after the church’s Valentine’s dinner.   We were the only non-couple adults in attendance.  And while it was fun {when I wasn’t being intimidated by his brother}, it wasn’t the beginnings of any romance.  And I knew better than to hope.

I had no hopes of a relationship with Tim for reasons I’ll not detail ~ except to say I knew he’d heard discouraging things from another man I’d previously dated.  Being the only single woman in a small church with three bachelor members… I had no reason to think any of them were my Mr. Right.

I remember towards the end of the February, praying again that God would continue to work in my heart and life to make me worthy to be the wife of some godly man somewhere.  And to help me to be content to wait. 

And since I have no clue where he’s at,  Lord, You will have to bring him into my life somehow.  Please?

Something else I didn’t know was that Tim had asked our pastor’s opinion of me.  And that Pastor R. had encouraged Tim to date me ~ if he was looking to get married.   Tim was 27 years old and had recently completed his service to the US Navy, but he was not looking for a wife.  Or so he thought.

February 29.  Saturday morning, I was very surprised to find Tim on the phone.  Calling me.  For a date.  Tonight.  {I remember thinking, If you make me wait a whole week until next Saturday, I’ll go crazy!  ha ha  So much for praying for patience.}

So it was that Tim took me out to dinner on Saturday, February 29, 1992, to a great Italian restaurant in Madison near the UW campus ~ Lombardino’s.  On the wall it said, “A meal without wine is like a man without a wife.”  I didn’t point it out to Tim.

We had a great time {Tim seemed to agree} talking, talking, talking.  We sat in his car for a long time still talking.  Which he concluded by telling me he wasn’t looking to get married.  He was thinking about joining a singles’ group at another church, hoping I’d come with him to some of their activities.  If I saw something I wanted to do together, I should let him know.

We met again for a political meeting, saw each other at church.  His dad passed away in April, so I attended the funeral with another woman from our church.  We signed up for a singles’ retreat at a camp where the director asked us to consider the difference between dating and courting.  hmmm?  We were still operating at the friendship level it seemed.  At some point he began to offer me ride if he saw me walking home from church.  Which of course provided more opportunity for conversation.

In May we went out for pizza a couple times and attended an evangelistic meeting at another church.  He still gave me rides home from church with good conversations.

In June I went home to Iowa for a couple weeks.  Tim called once to check on me.  I told my folks I’d found a “keeper.”

In July we shifted gears.  We were out with friends July 3rd most of the night.  Then Tim took me to the church picnic on the 4th.  Our first public appearance at a church function together.  Which lasted through the evening’s fireworks at the park.  Sunday we had dinner with friends newly aware of our relationship.  Out for dinner, protests at an abortion clinic, Sunday afternoon walks, dinner at my apartment with friends, popcorn on my porch, and more.

{by the way, we never did find that singles’ group}

 

October ~ Learning teamwork:  baking a chocolate cake … without a recipe.

 

After agreeing to accompany me home to Iowa for another visit in August, Tim decided I should meet more of his family.  July 31 he took a flying leap down a stairway followed by a refrigerator.  That night I met his mom and sisters before we went bowling.    August 4th found us at Great America with the teens from church.  Riding roller coasters.  Sharing lunch.  Making wedding plans.  While we stood in line for a ride, Tim said, “What would your parents think if I met them one weekend and we got married the next?”  {“Be always sure you’re right, then go ahead,” says Davy Crockett ~ but we didn’t elope.}  The next day we went shopping for rings.  Marianne and I found for a dress for me and cloth for bridesmaids another day.  We met with Pastor W. for our first pre-marital counsel.  And soon we went home to Iowa.  After lunch Tim asked my folks for permission to marry me….

{insert picture of us with Marianne & David and Stacy & Matt in Iowa ~ Why oh why can’t I find it??}

Six months after Leap Year Day ~ Saturday, August 29, 1992 ~ Tim again took me to Lombardino’s in Madison.  And said, “Do I have to ask you again?” 

Another fast three months {and lots of ice cream at Marianne & David’s house}… and it was November 27 when we said our vows:

…until death parts us,

or until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Happy Leap Year Day!

who’s your valentine?

 

And how long has it been since you told him why?

Courtney at Women Living Well has another post in the 25 Day Praise Plan ~ this time it’s about forgiveness and ten ideas for communicating love to your husband.

 

Courtney’s story about reconciling after a fight with her husband reminds me of a story Jen Igarashi wrote… The Hag, the Ogre, and the Chocolate Cake. 

Go on, read it now, I’ll wait.                       

 

 

It can’t just be me since Jen wrote that… but I can so relate to being a Hag more often than I’d like to remember.  I am thankful that God is still working on me, to make me more like Jesus Christ… meek and humble and kind.  Isn’t that amazing?!

 

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:2-3

more than hearts and flowers

25 Day Praise Plan at Women Living Well

Each week the challenge will be the same - to praise, encourage, inspire, admire, build up, thank and appreciate your husband. But each week Courtney will give you different ways to express your praise. Feel free to tweak it for what you think is best for your husband.
Week 1 starts TODAY! began LAST WEEK!
Look for ways to praise your husband verbally. Praise him in front of the kids, friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, tweet it - get praise out anyway you can! Try to mention something noteworthy he has done - in his role as provider, father, husband, lover, or friend. If the thought of trying to come up with one terrifies you, then pray right now that God will give you new eyes to see your husband as God does. Then open your mouth and say something kind and uplifting to your husband today and tomorrow and the next day until Valentine's Day arrives!
(If you want a devotional to go along with this Nancy Leigh DeMoss has an amazing Marriage pdf here)

Week 2 January 26th - This week we will be a little more creative with our praise. I will give you many ideas of fun things you can do to praise your husband such as surprising him with a love message on the mirror, a message packed in his lunch, using sidewalk chalk to write on the driveway, write a poem, making a toast to him at dinner with friends etc. Get creative with your selflessness!

~~~ ♥ ~~~

...And just for the record, THIS really is post #305… I think.  :-)

Status: AWOL

I should like to credit my recent disappearance to Leanne’s daybook, but that sounds like blame-shifting…  Let’s just say I took her hint and found a couple books by Francine Rivers… and proceeded to be consumed by them both over the past five days.  (I actually did a few other things those days … and did most of my reading during normal business hours. Meaning I did not stay up until 3am like Leanne  :-))

Leota’s Garden

Once Leota's garden was a place of beauty, where her flowers bloomed and hoped thrived. It was her refuge from the deep wounds inflicted by a devastating war, her sactuary where she knelt before a loving God and prayed for the children who couldn't understand her silent sacrifices. Now, eighty-four year old Leota Reinhardt is alone, her beloved garden in ruins. All of her efforts to reconcile with her adult children have been fruitless and she voices her despair to a loving Father, her only friend.  Then God brings a wind of change through unlikely means: one, a college student who thinks he has all the answers; the other, the granddaughter Leota never hoped to know. But can the devastation wrought by keeping painful family secrets be repaired before she runs out of time?

 

The Scarlet Thread

The story of two women, centuries apart, who are joined through a tattered journal as they contend with God, husbands  - and even themselves – until they fall into the arms of the one who loves them unconditionally. When Sierra discovers the handcrafted quilt and journal of her ancestor Mary Catherine Murray, she finds that their lives are amazingly similar. Though the women are separated by time and circumstance and Mary Catherine endured the hardships of life on the Oregon Trail, many of the issues and problems they face are remarkably similar.  By following Mary Catherine’s example, Sierra learns to surrender to God's sovereignty and unconditional love.

Credit:  The book descriptions are from Francine Rivers' website linked above.

Note to self:  Purchase a new box of Kleenex.

And these weren’t even the books on Gina’s list that I also brought home from the library.  Uh oh.

when sinners say "I Do"

...is the title of the book we studied this summer in our adult Sunday school class.

Today we were blessed to have Dr. Jeff Newman from Faith Baptist Bible College/Theological Seminary in Ankeny join us to share his conclusions of what we might learn from reading the book, When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey.  I would love to give you a video link to the entire hour of Sunday school, but I don't have one  :-(  Sooo, I'll just give you a highlight or two (or four).  And if you're up for a study of your own, read Philippians 4:1-9 to find how Paul expressed God's view of (and solutions for) conflict in a relationship.  Marriage is the primary relationship that God uses to mold us into the image of Christ, but all of our relationships ought to be seen from God's perspective. 

Interesting side note that we had testimonies today from one who's been married less than 3 months as well as one who's been married more than 35 years ~ both have learned that our selfish bent is very evident in the marriage relationship!  At least one of Dr. Newman's comments stuck in my brain:  God loves us enough to keep us in a place where we know we NEED Him.  Hmmm...  And here's today's outline:

~ Seeing Our Relationships Through the Lens of God's Word ~ 

~ The Sufficiency of the Word of God for My Relationships ~

• The Lens of God's Holy Character and Works:  Who is God?  What is His character?  How does He work?

Whether we realize it or not, our ideas about life, needs, marriage, romance, conflict, and everything else reveal themselves all the time in our words and deeds, inevitably reflecting our view of God.  (p.20)

• The Lens of God's Description of the Relationship:  What does God say in His Word about this relationship?  What words does He use to describe the other people in my relationships?  How does God define my relationship with this person/these people?

Your spouse was a strategic choice made by a wise and loving God.  Selected by him, for you, from the beginning of the world, your spouse is an essential part of God's rescue mission for your life.  (p.71)

• The Lens of God's Evaluation of the Situation (Facts and Interpretation):  What are the facts in this situation/relationship?  How am I interpreting the facts of this situation/relationship?  How do I see God at work in this relationship glorifying Himself and conforming me to the image of His Son?

The sides in this war are not male versus female, husband versus wife, or controller versus enabler.  It is a clash of desires -- desires of the flesh against desires of the Spirit.  It is trench warfare for supremacy of the human heart.  (p.48)

• The Lens of God's Instructions on My Response:  What responsibilities of personal obedience has God entrusted to me in this relationship?  How do I measure success in this relationship?  (Am I measuring success in relationships on the basis of God's instructions to me, or on the basis of some desired outcome of my obedience?)

Mercy doesn't change the need to speak the truth.  It transforms our motivation from a desire to win battles to a desire to represent Christ.

• Mercy Before the Fact: Practice Kindness

• Mercy When Under Attack: Do Unto Others

• Mercy After the Fact: Cover Sin

(p.82-90)

Quotes in italics are examples from the book, When Sinners Say "I Do," with page numbers listed.  Outline is by Dr. Newman.

Today we looked at Philippians 4 to find answers to the questions listed in each bullet point (I'm not giving you the answers ;-)).  We started looking at Romans 12:9-21 for a similar study ~ which is dealing with an enemy! (not your spouse) and found God is the God of vengeance, so we can trust Him to deal justly with our enemies for us.  Other suggested passages were Romans 13 (authority); 2 Corinthians 4; Philippians 2; James 3.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.  

Romans 12:21

And, one last plug for FBBC/TS and Dr. Newman ~ You might look into attending a seminary module on Biblical Counseling held each August (you can audit for just $100 plus books), or find a college/seminary class with Dr. Newman as the sole instructor.  Good stuff in the battle against the idols in our hearts.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

~♥~

a quick request for your 2 cents

...especially for my married friends, but I know well that unmarrieds can have valid opinions about marriage too!  Um, the first time I gave a devotional at a bridal shower, I was a very single woman.  Strange but true ~ that's me!  Remember that, Kari?

What's the best bit of advice or Scriptural admonition you might give a sweet niece at her bridal shower?

...in just a few short weeks.  Thanks!  You can email me, or just leave your tidbit in the comments section to bless all of my other many readers.  And you Lurkers (ie, Vickie)  can come out of the woodwork circuit panels microchips(?)  any time now ~ most comments are approved   :-)