a girl with wings

Living Advice: Just Start

2012-02-10T12:36:00.000-06:00

How do you craft a compelling life-story? You start by just writing.

Open Book, Blank Pages, a photo by DougitDesign.com / Doug Aghassi on Flickr.

Muffin Monday: Nut-Bran Muffins

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

Nothing like a dollop of cream cheese to make a yummy muffin even yumm-um-um-ier.

I know, it's been a while. But Muffin Monday is back! Maybe the rest of you aren't muffin maniacs like me, but I think that everyone could use a fluffy, sweet/savory baked good every now and then :)

A couple days ago I tried my hand at making a muffin that includes a few of my favorite things: cinnamon, sugar, dates, and butter. How could this go wrong? The recipe is altered from one that comes from Gregg R. Gillespie's book 501 Muffins (Plus Biscuits, Doughnuts, Popovers, Fritters, Scones, and Other Quick Breads).

You'll find the recipe below, but use this link to download a printer-friendly PDF version.

I just got a new camera, so I've gone crazy with the pictures!

<----- Here are my ingredients, delicately arranged

Mixing the gooey gunk together ----->

These muffins come out pretty dry; you can't say I didn't warn you.

I will be forever indebted to Mr. Alton Brown for informing me of the use of a cookie-baller for apportioning muffin batter.

Yield one dozen muffins

INGREDIENTS:

Topping:

· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used extra in the muffins)

· 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Muffins:

· 1 cup whole wheat flour

· 1 cup bran flakes

· 1 tablespoon baking powder

· 1/4 cup granulated sugar

· 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

· 1/4 cup chopped pitted dates (hard to have too many of these)

· 1/2 teaspoon salt

· 1 large egg

· 1/4 cup milk

· 1/3 cup melted butter

METHOD:

Put the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin. Mix up your yummy-sweet topping in a small bowl or ramekin and set aside.
In a large bowl, blend together the flour, bran flakes, baking powder, 1/4 cup sugar, walnuts, dates, and salt. In a medium bowl beat the egg until foamy. Gradually beat in the milk and melted butter. Combine the two mixtures, blending until the dry ingredients are just moistened.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups (a cookie-baller works really well for this). Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the topping mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes (or burn your mouth by taking a bite right now). Serve warm, or invert onto a clean tea towel to cool completely.

Pain of Change

2012-02-03T13:06:00.000-06:00

Today I was thinking about exercise--one of the few things I come close to loathing. Some people seem to get a strange high out of beating up their bodies and sweating and smelling and aching. I don't. I've been looking into the BodyRock.tv "home workout movement" (something that a friend of mine is passionate about), and found myself wishing for an exercise program that wasn't so hard and so long, and that didn't hurt so much.

Guess what: nothing is going to change if it doesn't hurt.

The reason exercise hurts is because it's changing something inside your body. If I want to change the size of my biceps or the shape of my abs or the look of my legs, I've got to hurt first. If you're not hurting, you're not changing. Maybe exercise doesn't hurt you, but something has to (self-discipline, prioritization, donating time, sticking it out, growing).

One more thought, "We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing" (Henry Cloud). What do you want to change in your life, and how will it hurt to do that?

AmbassadorSummit_1372, a photo by lululemon athletica on Flickr.

Every Day, A Gift

2012-02-02T10:54:00.000-06:00

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I giveto you; not s the world gives do I give to you. do not let your heart betroubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.(Philippians 4:13)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts outfear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfectedin love. (1 John 4:18)
A psychedelic shadow pattern
The grain of humor and pleasure from my brother's off-keysinging
The fine lines of my Grandmother's hands, brought out bya sprinkling of flour
Soaring vultures, which look strangely picturesque
Our amazing camping trip in October, doing daring things!
Mr. Byron's hands, crinkled and spotted with memories
The wrinkled pages of my book, which remind me that I don'tneed to be perfect

The plan for my day out, written on a folded sheet ofpaper and unfolded to reveal a day of adventure
Someone to listen when I need to be heard
Someone to bear the burdens I can't possibly bear
Someone who knows my end from my beginning
Smoky blue clouds that provide the backdrop for a fierysunset
Peanut M&Ms. Which I can resist.
Compassion's presentation materials, which bring hope andlove to so many
Wonderful books from the library
Tiny birds nests, beautifully constructed from slendertwigs
A love of learning inherited from my dad
Fleeting frost, soundlessly transforming the world andleaving unnoticed
Soft jeans that hug your curves just right
The ghostly beam of searchlights sweeping over a lowcloudy sky

Friends who will listen and understand.
Friends who will wipe away worry with laughter and fun.
Friends who encourage and strengthen and inspire.
"Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" on the treadmill
Mom's whispered encouragements
Afternoon sun dripping gold all over the fields

Why Am I Not Better?

2012-01-31T10:24:00.000-06:00

Click the photo to view larger:

Photo edited from play, a photo by gagilas on Flickr.

Text edited from Heart to Heart with Holley, Why We Don't Have to Try So Hard

NMS Covenant: Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish Oatmeal

2012-01-28T17:00:00.002-06:00

All of you boys and girls out there who are sick of lunch-meat and cheese sandwiches: this is for you.

The No More Sandwich Covenant

As part of my dedication to the NMS Covenant, I decidedto post about a delicious new recipe I discovered via the brilliant website,FoodPair.com. I wanted to make something quick and delicious that involvedcream cheese and oatmeal, and lo and behold, I discovered an amazing new way to eat oatmeal! The recipe is from a chef on Food.com.

All you need is

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup cottage cheese

2 tablespoons cream cheese

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon sugar (I used some Splenda as well as brown sugar)

These Instagram-like photos were edited on the awesome website,pixlr.com

Place the water, lemon juice, Splenda/sugar and blueberries in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer until the blueberries form a nice syrup consistency; remember to keep stirring so it doesn't burn!

Stir in the oats, cinnamon and cream cheese until combined.

Lastly, stir in the cottage cheese and mix just until the curds start to melt. Enjoy this deliciously warm and creamy treat!

I wonder what this would taste like with other fruits: strawberries, mangoes, pineapple.... I'll bet it would be good! What's the weirdest thing that you've ever put in oatmeal?

Abigail's Day Out

2012-01-25T23:34:00.000-06:00

Don't self-portraits always look a little funny?

Today I did something completely unprecedented: I spent the whole day (9:30 AM-7:30 PM) in town by myself! This is wild and crazy, let me tell you. The fact that I've never done this and I'm 19 years old should tell you that I don't get out on my own very often. As I just finished my first college semester, I decided that I needed a treat. This was a "grand adventure" for me--a chance to spread my wings and get outside my comfort zone, proving to my family and myself that I am capable of driving, eating, touring, and navigating without creating a five-car pileup, being robbed blind, or taking a wrong turn and ending up in Albuquerque.

My first stop was to see an elderly friend of mine who is suffering greatly in a nursing home. It's a very sad story, but the long and short of it is that she has lost all physical and most mental power to control her own life, and everything must be done for her by others--which is her worst nightmare. This might seem like a weird way to start a "girl's day out", but it was good for me, making the subsequent pleasures of adventure and novelty all the more poignant and precious.

Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel--you'd think they could have come up with
a more romantic name....

Just a short drive away from the nursing home there is a gorgeous little chapel that I had never taken the time to see. It's a small, arching structure of wood and glass, tucked away in a quiet wood, which looks like it's in the middle of nowhere despite the fact that the highway is less than five minutes away. It's popular for weddings, and probably funerals, but when I went there it was completely empty, warm, and quiet, with natural light streaming in through the windows and muted piano music playing in the background. I took photos and spent a few minutes drinking in my surroundings, marveling at this precious little gem so close to home, and thinking about my visit with my friend. Then I packed up the camera and headed out to my main destination.

A diorama of Crystal Bridges as it will look when finished.

Perhaps you've heard of Crystal Bridges, the world-class museum of American art that was just opened last November (11/11/11) in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is a complex of concrete and glass buildings with curved roofs of copper ribbing (which looks like a huddle of armadillos), designed to blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. This is all built in, around, and over a stream which has been manipulated into a large pool, and the buildings jut into and across it like bridges. It's an amazing place and I'm privileged to have it right out my back door, so to speak. Thanks to Walmart, admission is completely free, so it is the perfect place to drop by and spend some time marveling at the fantastic architecture and beautiful works of art. I parked in the parking garage (first time!) and went inside, checked my coat, picked up an audioguide, and set off!

I had visited the museum once before, but it had been a somewhat hurried tour and I wanted to spend a little more time looking at some things I hadn't been able to fully "absorb". I leisurely passed through works from pre-Constitution America (they own an original portrait of George Washington), down through the Impressionist movement, around to Norman Rockwell (I got to see the "Rosie the Riveter" painting), and down to the incomprehensible modernist works. I chatted with the little people with badges who stand around the rooms and tell people not to touch the walls, and followed a couple of groups through their private tours. I took even more photos, then decided that I needed an Eleven Burger.

The Eleven Burger was developed by the museum's restaurant, and features a "perfectly grilled burger covered in local Havarti cheese, pink peppercorn mayo, crisp lettuce, and sun ripened tomato." You see why I could not resist. I did something slightly odd and ordered it to-go, striking off onto one of the many nature paths marked out around the museum to eat my meal in the open air. This is when I got hopelessly turned around (despite having a map and asking three people for directions), took the wrong path and ended up in a place I'd never been before. It was serendipitous, however, as I discovered a lovely "shelter" on the top of a wooded hill, fitted out with a long bench that seemed perfect for picnicking. This is where I devoured my burger and fruit, in relative peace despite the sound of pickaxes in the distance (parts of the museum are still under construction) and a few startled trail-walkers.

Mmmm...mmmm...mmmm....

The Tulip Trail Shelter, in all its afternoon glory.

"Yield", a sculpture located at the museum's entrance.

This just about ended my museum adventure, and it was time to head off to another local wonder--Pinnacle Promenade. While not famous at all, this is a great collection of quirky little shops and restaurants that constitutes what I consider to be the best shopping in Northwest Arkansas. I had a lot of fun browsing, avoiding earnest salespeople, and doing crazy things like jaywalking, throwing $0.13 in a wishing fountain, and running down the "up" escalator! This last extravagance was prompted by the saying, "Do one thing every day that scares you," and I realized that I hadn't done that yet. I was afraid of someone stopping me and reprimanding my foolhardiness, or enduring the mild censure of a few alarmed shoppers, but no such misfortunes befell me. I couldn't stop smiling and giggling to myself for several minutes afterwards, and must have looked incredibly silly. What a thrilling life I lead!

I finished off the evening at Barnes and Noble, browsing the bookshelves, sipping a raspberry mocha, and reading a chapter of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

It was a beautiful day, a day in which I proved that I am capable--at least to a certain extent--of doing something completely out of the ordinary.

When was the last time you did something out of the ordinary? Do you think that you need a day like this, or does it actually sound selfish?

One Thousand Gifts

2012-01-19T09:25:00.000-06:00

How thankful are you? No, really. How many times do you purposefully put a stop to whatever you're doing and give thanks for the beautiful things in your life, or even just pause a moment to take in the joy of everything that is around you? I know that I've been unforgivably ungrateful for far too long, and 2012 is the time to change that.

Enter Ann Voskamp. She's an amazing woman who has written the New York Times Bestselling book One Thousand Gifts (she also blogs over at www.aholyexperience.com), which is "a dare to live fully right where you are." It's a book about the gifts that God gives us every day--too many to count--but she's trying to count some (1,000 per year, to be exact), and she's got a few thousand people doing it with her. I'm doing it too.

She has recommendations for what to look for every day (download her creative ideas here), and if you follow her plan you're going to "collect" 1,000 gifts in a year's time. I got started late, but I've committed to writing down the gifts I'm given on a daily basis. Here's what I have so far:

Three things about myself that I'm grateful for: I have a great metabolism. I can spell very well. I can write creatively.

Something inside: My ginormous window seat. Something outside: Horses frolicking in the pasture. Something on a plate: A very creative meal when there was no food in the house

Lines I Overheard That Were Graces: "I love you, Abby." -Aaron; "Thank God for work." -Rod

A gift in my hand: Mrs. Joyce's camera. A gift I walked by: This apple pie. A gift I sat with: My laptop

Something sour: a bright orange tangerine that pops with flavor on my tongue. Something sweet: a conversation with Mr. Byron. Something Just. Right.: A bright green pine tree drooping over the road, covered in pine cones

3 Things That Strike Me As Fresh Mercy--Yellow sunlight: lighting up the dark parts of our world and bringing joy. Reflective yellow lines on the road: the promise that God will guide us through the night. A yellow microfiber cloth: God will wipe away our yesterdays and prepare us for tomorrow.

A gift above me: My brother and a friend having fun upstairs. A gift below me: A light dusting of snow like powdered sugar on the ground outside. A gift beside me: My darling mamage!

3 sounds I hear-- Singing over the vacuum cleaner. Pandora radio. Laughter at 1:30 in the morning

The Startling Grace of God: Having the love and respect of my family. The resting of winter. The tiny details of creation.

One thing I wore: My beautiful coat. One thing I shared: A word of encouragement with Mary

Three ways I witnessed happiness: Hank bounding through the fields like he was going to explode. A horse neighing in greeting. Pictures of happy pregnant women.

One gift that made me laugh: Little Kaitlin cavorting around the room. One gift that made me pray: Red streaks of morning sunlight staining the tips of the trees. One gift that made me quiet: A delicious cob of corn.

Will you join me in my adventure?

Apple Pie Adventures

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Before we get started, I've discovered from my reader survey (thanks to all who have filled it out so far!) that the majority of you love cooking. So look forward to more food posts in the future!

If you've ever visited Smitten Kitchen or The Pioneer Woman Cooks you will be familiar with mouth-watering recipes, meticulous step-by-step instructions, and gorgeous food photography--in other words nothing like what you'll see in this post. Just kidding, I am trying! These amazing cooks inspire me to take food and photography to new heights, and I am determined to improve both my cooking skills and my artistic abilities.

I had to take some more pictures for my college photography course, so I decided to use my lovely grandmother as the subject and show her making a rustic skillet apple pie. The recipe is quite simple, but the result oh so delicious! Believe me, guys, it's enough to blow all your New Year's resolutions to kingdom come.

First you peel the apples, the old fashioned way. Then cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Don't get carried away in your pie-zeal and forget to preheat oven to 350º.

Cut the apples into wedges and toss with cinnamon and 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Then lick your fingers :)

Melt a stick of butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, then add a cup of brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and it's a gooey, syrupy, decadent mess.

Remove from heat, and place 1 piecrust in the skillet over your gooey brown sugar mixture (strange, I know, bear with me).

Spoon apple mixture over piecrust...

...and top with remaining piecrust.

Whisk egg white until foamy. Brush top of piecrust with egg white; sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar. Cut 4 or 5 slits in top for steam to escape.

And,voilà, you have a beautiful, delectalicious skillet full of pie. Now what on earth are you going to do with that?

Southern Living's Easy Skillet Apple Pie

HANDS-ON: 20 Minutes

TOTAL:1 Hour, 50 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 pounds Granny Smith apples
2 pounds Braeburn apples
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (A measly teaspoon?! I think not.)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 (14.1-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts
1 egg white
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Butter-pecan ice cream

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350º. Peel apples, and cut into1/2-inch-thick wedges. Toss apples with cinnamon and 3/4 cup granulated sugar.
Melt butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over mediumheat; add brown sugar, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or untilsugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and place 1 piecrust in skillet overbrown sugar mixture. Spoon apple mixture over piecrust, and top with remainingpiecrust. Whisk egg white until foamy. Brush top of piecrust with egg white;sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar. Cut 4 or 5 slits in top for steam toescape.
Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes oruntil golden brown and bubbly, shielding with aluminum foil during last 10minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Cool on a wire rack 30minutes before serving. Serve with butter-pecan ice cream.

Bon Appétit!

Photography 101

2012-01-14T17:23:00.000-06:00

My college philosophy is this: I'm getting a bachelor's of arts degree in English because I'm sure that my future career (whatever that is) will have something to do with writing; I want to take classes that will be enjoyable and help me reach my life goals.

If you're familiar with my bucket list, then you know that one of my life goals is to become a semi-professional photographer. I don't intend to make a living off of it, but I do want to hone my craft and learn to manipulate camera settings, lighting, setting, etc., to create enviable works of art. When I saw that my college offered a beginner's course in photography I couldn't resist signing up, and I'm so glad that I did! My professor is absolutely amazing--the kind of enthusiastic, talented, encouraging guy that you would love to have as a friend. He has challenged, inspired, and pushed me to give my best since I started taking the class in November, and I have improved so much since then! Here is a sampling of my best recent photography, I hope you enjoy it and leave a few comments :)

This cute little chipmunk was sculpted by a friend of mine--now 98 years old.

I titled this photo "The Things We Leave Behind." These childhood toys are
being abandoned by the figure in the distance.

I've always wanted to take a "silky water" shot!

Fun with finger paints!

These are my beloved Granddaddy's hands--and no, he didn't chop off
his fingers with a table saw :)

A serendipitous shot of my daddy and mamage

This is the road that leads to my great-grandparents' farm, way out in the
wilds of rural Tennessee.

My brother was so reluctant to get out into the cold and take this photo....

Skullbone, Tennessee--the middle of nowhere.

This one was taken on a whim with a pashmina shawl, heart locket, and a candle.

My awesome friend, Aubrey, with her adorable bunny!

This cross is on top of a little footbridge in our city park.

Attitude Can Make All the Difference

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-06:00

I was recently contacted by a reader who is passionate about helping people, and she wanted to know if she could guest-write on my blog. Her name is Melanie Bowen and she is a contributor at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog, helping people work through their serious illnesses. If anyone out there is struggling with their health, or just wants to get serious about starting a journal or making goals, read on!

Within the beginning of the new year, many people arethinking toward the future and changes they want to make in the next twelvemonths. For people with chronic andlife-changing illness, looking to the future is an important part of staying ashealthy as possible. In a reportpublished on e!Science Newsit was stated that researchers have discovered that patient attitude can make adifference in how well patients tolerate treatment and their overallrecovery. With this in mind, it isimportant to think about setting goals for the future and what you want toaccomplish this year, not only in terms of your health, but also in terms ofyour overall life plan.

Benefits of Using a Journal or Blog

One of the best ways to begin to work out what you want foryourself is to start writing thoughts and ideas down. Many psychotherapists recommend using ajournal as a way of working through your thoughts and feelings. If you haveever kept a journal, you know that you can often read back through olderentries and see a progression of thoughts as you work your way through youremotional process.

For individuals facing illness, whether it is a rareuncommon disease like a mesothelioma prognosis or an illness faced by many people,like asthma, dealing with the challenges of beingill can be difficult. Writing in ajournal allows you to write down your feelings, good or bad, and express thosefeelings outside of yourself. Treatments may be overwhelming, but throughgoal setting and writing, one can relieve stress, tension and emotionspositively--leading to beneficial rewards and wellness.

A journal, whether it is a physical journal, an onlinejournal such as LiveJournal or a blog, is also a place to write about yoursuccesses. It is a place to write downthe positive things that happen in your life and celebrate them. This can be a wonderful resource for you togo back to on bad days, and remind yourself that it will get better and thatyou have things to look forward to.

Setting Goals

A journal or blog is also a good place to begin setting positive goals for yourself. These may be specific goals related to your illness, or they may beoverall life goals that are part of your “bucket list” of things you want toaccomplish during your life. You canwrite simple goals for yourself, such as “I will walk around the block everyday.” You can also integrate largergoals for yourself in your blog, such as “I will walk my daughter down theaisle on her wedding day.”

Goals are also an important part of maintaining a positive outlookon life. They give you something to worktoward and look forward to in the future. And when you accomplish your goal, then you can cross it off the listand move on toward the next one. If youhave a continually evolving list of goals, then you will also have an onongoing list of things to be looking forward to in the future.

No matter what your health prognosis is for the future, youcan use blogging, writing in a journal and goal setting as a tool tohelp you maintain a positive and healthy attitude. And maintaining a positive attitude will helpyou in life overall, not just with your health challenges.

The Yearboard

2012-01-10T10:13:00.000-06:00

I've discovered from my reader survey (thanks to all who have filled it out so far!) that some of you guys and gals like personal stories and practical tips. Today I'm going to share with you something that I've been doing for several years, and every year I'm glad that I kept it up.

It's a yearboard, a fantastic way to express yourself and treasure the memories that you make throughout the year. It's unplanned, unstructured, and totally you. All you have to do is keep an eye out for little things that signify the events of your year, then pin them to your yearboard. In 2011 I collected a newspaper from England, a Choc-o-lait stick, the order of service from a friend's wedding, a green and yellow ribbon stick from our Superbowl victory celebration, and much more. Some months you might not have anything to pin up, at other times you might have dozens of items. At the end of the year you've got a wacky collage that is full of beautiful reminders of the past months.

The photo at the top is what my friend's yearboard looked like in 2010. You can see that she's the artistic type who painstakingly arranges all kinds of beautiful little snippets of her life. The picture to the right shows what my board looks like right now: completely blank except for a few cute thumb tacks. It's ready for 2012!

I have the tendency to just throw the bits and pieces onto my board, but I'm going to try to be more creative and deliberate about it this year. Will you do this with me? All you need is a cork board or similar palette on which to pin paper, stickers, photos, pamphlets, buttons, napkins, CDs--whatever suits your fancy. Maybe you'll choose to tape them to a mirror, or sticky-tack them to cover your wall. At the end of the year I'll post what my board looks like and I'd love to see yours as well!

Our Universal Language: How Poetry Speaks

2012-01-07T18:49:00.000-06:00

Karnak Temple, Egypt, a photo by landscape photography - sebastien-mamy.fr on Flickr.

Ancient Egyptian Literature: who knew that I would ever write on such a topic? College will make you do some interesting things....

Paul Engle, noted American teacher and literary critic,once called poetry “ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is bonedwith ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by thedelicate, tough skin of words.” He obviously thought that poetry is somethingspecial, complex, inexplicable—and he is not alone. The poetic devices ofmetaphor, simile, and hyperbole have the power to stimulate our imagination;poetry’s rhythms can synchronize our breathing and heartbeats; brain researchseems to suggest that poetry is actually a paradox, “…language is apredominantly sequential activity, of a conspicuously logical character,typically associated with the left cerebral hemisphere; whereas diffuseemotional processes are typically associated with the right cerebralhemisphere…. Accordingly, emotional poetry, or mystic poetry ought to be acontradiction in terms” (Reuven). But it is not a contradiction. The poetry oflove, for example, may be structured and logical, but also highly emotional,conveying feelings of longing, disappointment, anxiety, and admiration. Poetrystretches our minds in ways that few art forms can.

Thoughts and emotions are able to travel through themedium of poetry to virtually any destination. Verses written thousands ofyears ago in China, Israel, or Greece can change the life of a twenty-firstcentury Guatemalan, and a poem written today may very well influence the fateof future generations. Ancient Egyptian Poetry, for example, is full of imagesand emotions that a modern reader can easily identify with, and is an exampleof the “universal language” of poetry. Though inscribed on papyrus thousands ofyears ago, these poems are still capable of communicating with us, offeringboth knowledge and enjoyment.

Poetry is a great communicator, meeting the ordinaryreader on his or her own level. Someone with no interest in Egyptian theologymight dive into the beautiful verses of the “Leiden Hymns”; those who mightnever read a textbook on ancient religions can learn about Horus, Amun, Nun,and Hapy, through the beauty of the“Hymns’” lyric verse. But what if the author of this group of poems had writtenthem in dry, dull prose? The glory of the Egyptian sun god might have beenadequately conveyed by a religiouscreed, but poetry is rich in symbolism and descriptive power that conveys theemotion behind the words. Poetic devices, like personification, are able tomake something that is unique to one culture relevant to everyone. One hymndescribes the Egyptian sun god, Amun, in relatable terms, “The mind of God isperfect knowing, / his lips its flawless expression, / all that exists is hisspirit, / by his tongue named into being; / He strides, and hollows under hisfeet become Nile-heads—” (“Ancient Egyptian Poetry” 87). These vibrant imageswould be instantly recognizable to medieval Britons and postcolonial Indiansalike. Though these readers have never seen Amun, the poet communicates amental picture of a magnificent figure, with human characteristics butsuperhuman power, that would be familiar to any culture.

The language of poetry helps us understand one another ata very deep level. The universal concepts of love, loss, worship, and heroism,shaped by the beauty of diction, work like intercultural magnets. When a 12thcentury BC Egyptian poet writes “My love is one and only, without peer”(“Ancient Egyptian Poetry” 89), even a teenager from modern New York canidentify with him. When Pharaoh Akhenaten expounds on the glories of the oneand only God (“When in splendor you first took your throne / high in theprecinct of heaven, / O living God, / life truly began” [“Ancient EgyptianPoetry” 83]!), people of every religious background can catch a glimpse of hisfaith and contrast it with their own. But why did Akhenaten write a hymninstead of an article? Why compose a piece of poetry when he could have said thesame thing more concisely with prose? The impressions he is trying tocommunicate to his readers are so strong, so ethereal, that he must appeal tothe heart as well as the mind. For an idea to be properly understood, it mustbe transferred complete with all its associated feelings, vibrations, andperceptions. The devices and elements of poetry are tools to convey the kind ofmeaning which no prose, however fresh and vibrant, can.

From this we see that the power of poetry lies in muchmore than left-brain logic; its meaning is only complete when it is madeenjoyable. The words of a poem—as opposed to words in a newspaper—arepainstakingly selected and skillfully arranged in meter, synchronized inrepetition, and composed into a beautiful work of art. One Egyptian love songis translated thus, “So there she stands, epitome / of shining, shedding light,/ Her eyebrows, gleaming darkly, marking / eyes which dance and wander.” Thecaesura and imagery of that descriptive passage stir the imagination, conjuringfantasies of bright, perfect beauty and delicate features. Dusty hieroglyphsmay still bring pleasure after all this time, showing modern readers that this is beauty, this iswhat thrills the heart.

Thoughts concerning human emotion are as old as mankind,and the communication of them almost as ancient. From Grecian epics, toEgyptian love songs, to Victorian rhymes, poetry has played a major role inconnecting cultures, promoting understanding, and providing enjoyment tohundreds of generations. Some might believe that archaic poetry has no bearingon the practicalities of everyday life, that it is little more than a waste oftime. But the extreme longevity of poetry, its captivating style, and itsthemes that span millennia, make it clear that even papyri from ancient Egyptmight have more to offer us than first meets the eye.

Works Cited

“Ancient Egyptian Poetry.” The Norton Anthology of WorldLiterature. Shorter 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2009. 81-92.Print.

Engle, Paul. "Poetry Is Ordinary Language Raised tothe Nth Power." New York Times Book Review. 17 Feb. 1957. Print.

Tsur, Reuven. "Aspects of Cognitive Poetics."The Boston College Personal Web Server. Boston College, 2 Nov. 1997. Web. 04Jan. 2012.

Altogether Separate

2012-01-02T11:53:00.002-06:00

To all of you Different Ones:

If you're a Christian homeschool girl, if you sometimes wonder if there's anyone else out there like you, if you long for friends who share your vision, hope, and struggles, who will inspire and encourage you, then know that there is now an online community just for you! For several months I've been inspired to spearhead something like this, and I've been blessed with some awesome collaborators who have helped make this community a reality.

The blog is at www.AltogetherSeparate.com, the discussion boards are at AGirlSetApart.proboards.com, the Facebook group is here www.facebook.com/groups/altogetherseparate. Subscribe, follow, sign up, read, join, spread the word, get involved! I can't wait to see where this thing goes :)

God Bless,

Abigail

The User's Manual for M&M's

2011-12-23T13:57:00.002-06:00

M&Ms, a photo by FlyNutAA on Flickr.

My friend Cameron is attending the same online college that I am, and when we exchanged Christmas presents today I gave him a bag of his favorite candy, M&M's, with a twist! They came with a user manual (which I wrote at about 1:30 this morning) which I thought I would share with the rest of you. Feel free to use this, alter it to apply to someone else, and generally have fun with it. Merry Christmas!

User’s Manual for Magical College M&M’s:

Brown

Seriousness and Support: Too many latenights? Feeling detached and unstable? Chomp down on brown. Don’t eat too many, though, as you might risklosing your sense of humor and all sophistication.

Blue

Intelligence and Inspiration: This isthe go-to M&M for those impossible assignments that make your eyes waterjust to read them. Take it all in stride with a dose of blue and soar throughwith straight A’s! Negative side-effects may include aloofness and a tendencyfor your nose to turn up in the air.

Green

Balance and Restoration: When yourschedule is crazy and your priorities are off kilter, meditate on a littlegreen to bring it all back into alignment. Side-effects include stagnation,boredom, and an unhealthy fascination with Al Gore.

Yellow

Optimism and Confidence: If you’re in a funk, there’s nothinglike a yellow M&M to get you up. But take care! An overdose of yellow cancause emotional unbalance and suicidal tendencies.

Orange

Fun and Passion: If your essay leavesyou feeling drained and dispirited and you feel the will to live being suckedout of your very bones, get some emergency orange as soon as possible. Be forewarned:one too many can induce symptoms of wanton frivolity.

Red

Strength and Vitality: Are you losing youredge? Pop a few red M&Ms and feel the warmth and energy surging throughyour veins! Overdoses can lead to eye-strain and fanatic aggression towardhamsters, so be careful.

Be Ambiguous: A Satire

2011-12-16T16:36:00.001-06:00

As we speed through this December at full throttle, rushing through packed shopping malls to the tune of "Happy Holidays", let us keep in mind something very important. There are pitfalls to be stumbled into this season, and in places you might not suspect. The checkout counter, the town parade, and especially the stacks of company greeting cards are all hazards. Please remember this vital rule of thumb (write it on your bathroom mirror, stuff it in your wallet, memorize it and say it like a mantra): always be trite, general, vague, but most of all, please be ambiguous.

You never know who might read that company card (she could be a Muslim), you don't want to break a municipal code (all holidays are created equal), you don't want to offend your cashier (he could be a Hindu), and you certainly don't want to sound like you believe in something, like you might actually celebrate one holiday in particular and expect others to celebrate it too.

"Happy Holidays" is a very acceptable phrase, no one's going to disagree with it. Images of roaring fires, laughing children, and gifts (with snowflake wrapping paper) are just fine. So to keep spirits bright and smiles merry this season, please remember that everyone is offended when you celebrate a single holiday to the exclusion of all others. Be careful, be selective, be paranoid...be ambiguous.

85/365..., a photo by QuEpAsA Boy! on Flickr.

Marinating in Insanity

2011-12-08T00:16:00.001-06:00

y2.d40 | worry lines, a photo by B Rosen on Flickr.

I just heard this phrase used in the context of an interview* and was immediately hooked. The context was someone taking the leap from steady employment to entrepreneurship, and he was scared stiff thinking of all the terrible possibilities. What if this fails? What if I'm wrecking my future? What if my parents are right to be skeptical? He basted himself with the juices of fear for years.

Then he took the leap. In a cold sweat, with the doubt of coworkers ringing in his ears, he turned in his two-week notice and leapt into the world of freelance design. The rest, as they say, is success. He is now doing very well for himself, is incredibly good at what he does, works with clients around the world (some big names, I might add), and spends $0 on marketing--it's all word of mouth from satisfied customers.

This isn't just a business success story, though, it's a wake-up call for all of us who have been marinating in our own insanities: the insanities of worry, doubt, worst-case-scenarios, and second guessing. What does marination do? The acids of a marinade break down the tissues in raw meat, tenderizing it, making it mushy. What will happen if you marinade in the insanity of uninformed, unnecessary fear? You'll break down. You'll eventually get so soft and muddle-headed that you won't be able to make any progress. Your wings will collapse before you even try to take flight.

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.

Dale Carnegie

Note to self: Get out there and stop worrying about what might happen.

*This interview was on an awesome podcast, Coach Radio, with Justin Lukasavige (coachradio.tv) and Charlie Pabst (charfishdesign.com).

100 Reasons I Give Thanks

2011-11-24T01:00:00.000-06:00

I have a merciful Savior who loves me, warts and all.
The leaveschange color in the fall; they don’t have to, but they do.
My motheris a creative person who “gets” me on so many levels and who loves me todeath.
My fatheris a humorous and loving man who provides well for our family and would doanything for us.
My littlebrother may be a twerp sometimes, but he’s my twerp and I know that he loves me…deep down.
I have a part-time job with my family that allows me to make a regular paycheck andhave plenty of time to listen to books on my iPod.
I am incredibly blessed to have so much extended family living nearby; mygrandparents are amazing.
Foggymornings.
While I may not have many friendships, the ones I have are deep and full of meaning, purpose,beauty, and laughter.
I am in on the Goodwill Secret—and am not afraid to utilize my knowledge.
I havethe freedom to experiment, toexplore, to create a future that’s perfectly suited to me.
I haveaccess to an awesome public libraryfilled with thousands and thousands of books, DVDs, and audio CDs.
Mycountry grants me freedom of religion,and I need have no fear to worship.
I amphysically fit, capable of doingeverything I want to do.
There arePanini sandwiches and gallons ofpesto in the world.
I havebeen able to pursue a non-traditionaleducation through homeschooling, CLEP and DSST tests, and online college.
Despitethe fact that my body does not like my fingers and frequently attempts to severthem, I have never been seriouslyinjured.
KrispyKreme makes glazed doughnuts.
The Internet: one of man’s mostbrilliant creations.
Pizza, fresh out of the oven.
I lovepeople who can make history comealive.
Thosededicated souls who read my blogs J
I’mdiscovering the wonders of photography,the potential, the artistry.
The blogosphere!
I’m sograteful for the amazing creativity andimagination of the wonderful fiction authors I enjoy so much.
Sunsets are never the same, and theytransform the world into a fairyland.
We have fairy tales.
I relishthe pleasure of going out to a nicerestaurant with my family or girlfriends.
I lovewatching so many wonderful filmsfrom the past and present eras, from It’sa Wonderful Life to The Lord of theRings.
The joysof cooking.
Walmart: where you can buy sparkplugs, cheese, and a bikini at the samestore.
I amthankful for the thrill of doingsomething that’s frightening, then looking back and feeling satisfied.
Smoked brisket—the way my Granddaddymakes it.
I’m soglad that I don’t have Bieber-Fever.
My littleiPod, Cranmer, has served me well.There are times I’d be bored to death without it.
I hadcrooked teeth, I got braces, and nowthe braces are off and my smile is beautiful!
We recentlygot a lot of new furniture,purchased on Craigslist for a rock-bottom price.
My acne isn’t nearly as bad as some otherpeoples’.
The boardgame Moods: awesome times.
The waythat cars on the interstate create aribbon of red and white lights.
I’m gladthat I have enough self-control tosave my money and not buy too many things I don’t need.
Theamazing creativity of entrepreneurs;I’m constantly amazed.
We have family dinners where I can get stuffedsilly on good food, laughter, fun, and precious memories, not to mention awkwardold stories about my uncles.
Iappreciate little towns withcharacter, especially when they also have thatched roofs.
There’s agas station near our home that sellsBritish food, and I love them for it.
Children who can smile in the midst ofwar, filth, and deprivation.
Christmas Carols!
Beautifulmusic that thrills the soul andstimulates the imagination.
Mybrother’s random, impulsive hugs.
Whilechildren are starving in Africa, I have way more than enough to eat (I know it’s typical, but I really meanit!).
Chocolate.
People who have conquered greatobstacles, rising above their beginnings and becoming huge successes.
Alan Rickman. Need I say more?
The decisions my parents and I have madeabout my life so far have built a firm foundation that can be a launching padto great things.
I greet theappearance of Christmas lights—indue season.
Those people who inspire me to do greaterthings.
I’mthankful for the world-class museum that’s recently opened near my home, Crystal Bridges.
Red Mini-Coopers: because they’re justthat cute.
Those fewsane people involved in politics.
Thesharpness of stars on a clear night.
Rainy days, hot tea, and pumpkin cake orfresh banana bread.
My littlebeta fishies, Romanov and Plantagenet,were lovely during their lifetimes.
Beautiful houses—it’s hard to get tiredof seeing them.
I’mthankful for makeup, even when Idon’t wear it.
My friendand I have a face painting business(www.chromaart.com), and I love the extra income andcompanionship.
Isn’t itgreat that my favorite pro football teamjust won the Superbowl and are doing so well in this year’s playoffs?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels—is thereanything sweeter?
I givethanks for the talents God has givenme, especially my gift of writing.
Holidays: what could be better thangetting off of work for a weekend and spending time with those you love?
Atmospheric ruins.
Barnes & Noble has a greatatmosphere and I love browsing, even if I’ve only ever bought a calendar.
I givethanks for the amazing island of GreatBritain.
I canlisten to podcasts that interest andinspire, open new worlds, and introduce me to subjects I might never be exposedto otherwise.
I’mgrateful for my hair; it might bethin, straight, and oily, but it’s relatively carefree and very versatile.
Cell phone service when you need it.
Clothing. I’m not a fanatical shopperby any means, but I do enjoy looking snappy and buying something special.
Mylaptop, Britannia, is my pride andjoy!
Learning experiences, not failures.
Acting on the theater stage: one of themost thrilling experiences of my life. There’s nothing like playing your heartout in front of a full audience.
My imagination has been a comfort to mesince I was a little girl.
I love our church, a little home fellowship ofclose-knit friends and family.
Seeing a stranger smile.
Makingwild and crazy plans that just mightcome true.
Eatingeggnog ice cream in the middle of along night of cleaning.
Getting flowers, however rare that maybe.
I’mthankful for the fact that I will probably never need to work at a fast food restaurant, but if I do Iwill be well-quipped to be a stellar employee.
I alwayslook forward to our annual girls’ campingweekend in October.
The feeling of the wind through my hair asI coast down a hill on my bike.
British comedies from the 1980s.
It’s niceto want to remember something and actually rememberit.
Thosemoments when I’m struck with a rush of artisticinspiration.
I havethe chance to learn from some of the greatestthinkers of history through the miracle of the written word.
Leftovers—they make this world a betterplace.
Laughing myself silly.
Making great grades on my college assignments.
The sense of accomplishment after adifficult task’s successful completion.
Twirlingaround in the Regency Era dress thatmy Mamage made for me.
The quietjoy of walking around our beautifulproperty, savoring God’s creation.
Learningto appreciate something for thefirst time.
Thanksgiving!

How about you?

Heart of Darkness

2011-11-09T12:41:00.000-06:00

One of the classes I'm taking is called Nonwestern World Literature, and it examines the relations between the cultures of the West and non-West through the literature of both sides. My first graded assignment was to write a post for the class discussion board comparing and contrasting my experiences with culturesother than my own with the adventures described in Joseph Conrad’s Heartof Darkness. I've reproduced my work here for your insight and comments, you can read a short summary of Darkness here.

Myown experiences with other cultures show little similarity with the adventuresdescribed in Heart Of Darkness, butupon comparing myself with the characters in Joseph Conrad’s novel, I findstriking similarities in my reactions to a different culture living in my owncommunity.

UnlikeMarlow, I have never been immersed in a Nonwestern country, but where I live youdon’t have to cross the border to have experiences with other cultures. I amexposed on an almost daily basis to the world of Hispanic immigrants, whose language,customs, appearance, and ethnic heritage are so different from my own that itis hard to see any common ground between us. There is a temptation to see thesepeople as “foreigners”, no matter how long they’ve lived in America, and theirnationality seems to set them apart from the rest of us. In an all-too-humanway, this separation can cause us “locals” to feel somewhat superior to therelative newcomers.

Thisreaction echoes what Marlow said about foreigners being “veiled…by a slightlydisdainful ignorance” to Western eyes. The classic reaction of Westerncivilization to the “exotic” and unfamiliar seems to have been contempt,stemming from an outrageous sense of pride. My own reaction to my Hispanicneighbors is somewhat similar to Marlow’s own—they seem set apart, different,simply “other.” I certainly don’t hate or resent them, but I’m not taking painsto interact with them either. This is where Conrad gives us a great warning: atiny seed of disdainful ignorance can grow into racial hatred, even insanity.

Thereis danger in the moment we define ourselves as “us” and “them”. I may live mylife on a separate plane from my Hispanic neighbors, without many activities orexperiences in common, but the moment I imagine that they are on a lower plane,or even one that is very different from my own, that is when the darkness Conradwarned against can take hold. When I look inside myself and back at someoneelse who is part of another culture, I can see that their hopes, dreams, loves,strengths, and weaknesses deserve every bit as much respect as mine, and theydemand not my pity but my understanding. In HeartOf Darkness, Conrad wrote about whatcan happen—what has happened—when a root of disdain spawns the brutalization ofan entire continent.

Collegiate Adventures

2011-11-06T21:03:00.003-06:00

A Clock - and a Remembrance of Love, a photo by Tony the Misfit on Flickr.
This clock is the symbol of my school, Thomas Edison State College

It's the time I've been working toward for years: I am officially a college student! It's probably something that every homeschool kid wonders about, "Will I be able to keep up? What will it be like working with strangers? Am I really ready for this?" It's the first time I've been responsible to a stranger for my grades, and having a strict schedule is something of a shock since I've been doing little else but taking CLEP and DSST tests for the past couple of years. Suddenly I have deadlines, grading rubrics, classmates, and reading assignments!

Thankfully, the shock is not too severe since I'm not attending a physical college; I'm taking my classes online. Does that sound like a cop out? I'm sure that it's not any easier than taking traditional college classes. I'm taking three courses, two of them upper-level, and since last Sunday I have read Heart of Darkness, researched photography, practiced my photography, studied postcolonialism, written numerous posts on multiple discussion forums, and read about three quarters of Pride and Prejudice as well as a study guide on that novel.

So far I have been able to submit my assigned work on time or even early, but other areas of my life may suffer in consequence. My blogging, for example, may become less and less frequent. Some of my writing assignments are quite interesting, however, and perhaps I'll post them for your reading pleasure :)

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog, however infrequently. Your views and comments are certainly an encouragement and brighten my day!

Crazy Life? Evernote to the Rescue!

2011-10-26T23:08:00.001-05:00

I join the ranks of many wayward bloggers in apologizing for a longdelay in posting. I was doing so well for a little while! Then life caught holdof me. So often it is not the climactic, mind-reeling events that mess up one'sschedule, it’s the nit-picky little things that crowd out non-essentials.

But now I'm back, with a review of a product that is capable oforganizing even my hectic life! It's called Evernote, and it's perfect fororganizing the untidy proliferation of notes I've recently accumulated (seephotographic evidence above). When I clean offices in the evenings, I listen topodcasts, books, and lectures on my iPod, and very often I'm struck with abrilliant, groundbreaking thought in the middle of wiping fingerprints off of adesk. So what do I do? I steal a pink Post-It note and scribble the thoughtdown before it escapes, then stuff it in my pocket. My memory bearsan unattractive resemblance to a sieve, so it's important for me tokeep these notes around—somewhere—lest I lose all those magical epiphanies, so Ipitch them into the rising tide of multi-colored sticky notes I keep on mywindow seat.

This pile of notes grew to be quite overwhelming, before Idiscovered the wonder of Evernote (no, they are not paying me to write thispost, I'm just giving my personal testimony). Now I can store all of thosescattered thoughts in a program that's accessible from my computer or theinternet! I can organize them in virtual “notebooks”, add descriptive tags, and(perhaps best of all) easily record information from websites I’ve stumbledupon in my internet travels. In the old days I’d bury a URL in my hugebookmarks folders for future reference, but now I can eliminate dozens ofbookmarks by recording the URLs or articles in Evernote!

It’s a fantastic product for remembering bits of information thatmight otherwise get lost in the mix, and it’s a free program that can be installed on virtually any device. Watchthis video and see if you don’t become a fan!

My Bucket List In Progress

2011-10-04T12:06:00.000-05:00

A couple months ago I wrote a post about bucket lists, where I wrote about lifelong goals, living to the fullest, the magic of thinking big, etc. Well, I have since created a list of my own.

In case you're not familiar with Heritage Makers, it's an awesome online program that gives you the ability to create gorgeous custom storybooks, calendars, canvas prints, greeting cards, invitations, and even personalized playing cards (watch the video introduction here). I used HM to create a 14x11 poster of my bucket list (see the image above) to frame and hang on the wall above my bed as a reminder of my goals.

I call this my "Bucket List in Progress" because it is by no means a concrete thing. I've listed such goals as "write a textbook" and "own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel" that I may not want to do someday for a myriad of reasons. But this is an outline, a rough sketch, something to aim for. I intend to alter it every few years to accommodate new goals and cross out the ones I've already accomplished, honing it to a razor-sharp edge of intention.

So without further ado I present to you my current bucket list, with goals listed in no particular order:

The old streets of Saltaire Village, a photo by Paul Stevenson on Flickr.

1. Keep it simple

2. Stay under 130 lbs.

3. Deep relationships

4. Create a self-study program for lifelonglearning

5. Find or create work that I love

6. Live in England

7. Make a friend in every European country

8. Fall in love

9. Discover my reasons for living

10. Work for myself

11. Get good at tennis

12. Ride a horse “in the rough”

Les Miserables West End, a photo by mart wegman on Flickr.

13. Learn another language

14. See a show on Broadway/the West End

15. Learn to dance

Grayson.., a photo by Bruce Tuten on Flickr.

16. Scuba dive in a coral reef

17. Sleep in a British castle

18. Own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

19. Spread the Gospel

20. Always tithe at least 10%

21. Become influential in a godly ministry

It is Finished, a photo by abcdz2000 on Flickr.

22. See the Northern Lights

23. Visit

• The British Museum

• The Uffizi Gallery

• The Smithsonian

• The Louvre

24. Live at least six months in a foreign country

25. Tour New England

26. Live in my “dream cottage” (a white cottage on aNew England beach)

27. Create a lovely garden

cutting loose, a photo by SqueakyMarmot on Flickr.

28. Become a semi-professional photographer

29. Become a connoisseur

30. Read the complete works of Shakespeare

31. Discover my strengths, weaknesses, passions, andgifts

32. Never take on a lifestyle of debt

33. Be a major influence in a child’s life

34. Prison ministry

35. Become an expert

36. Win a prestigious blog award

37. Write a textbook or study guide

Flags!, a photo by Paul Kehrer on Flickr.

38. Be a New York Times bestselling author

39. Go to a Green Bay Packer Game

40. Make mistakes

41. Learn to not take offense

And what is your personal opinion of these goals? Do you have a bucket list of your own? Are you willing to post it for the world to see?

Can You Give for 10 Days?

2011-10-01T12:03:00.000-05:00

Check out the website here.

Daring, Different, Impractical

2011-09-27T23:19:00.002-05:00

I have just discovered an amazing, motivational, and potential life-changing quote from someone I've never heard of before.

"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary."

- Sir Cecil Beaton

Fear of Naïveté

2011-09-20T11:58:00.003-05:00

Naïveté: the state or quality of being naive; ingenuousness; simplicity

This word comes from the French language, and originally denoted a state of naturalness or innocence. At one time people used it positively, with no stigma attached. How about now? When you describe someone as naive you are usually condemning them for their inexperience, lack of knowledge, or downright ineptitude. It's certainly not a compliment. This change in meanings signals a change in mindset that has sunk so deeply into our brains that it is hardly recognized as an opinion.

I'm not certain whether or not this mindset is isolated in modern-day America or if it is common to most men in all places in all times, but it has certainly permeated many areas in our culture. This is the mindset of sophistication, characterized by a downright fear of naïveté. We try to sophisticate everything: investing, relationships, education, art, generosity, fashion, careers, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Sure, there are a few lazy slobs who couldn't care less, but the prevailing theme in our culture seems to be that if it isn't complicated, isn't dramatic, isn't mature, then it's not worth having or doing.

No simple, fun-loving, childish abandonment for us, no sir! No belief in a God we cannot see, no sir! No real joy in living in this wondrous world, no sir! We need to be sophisticated, we need to sexualize preteens, we need to invest in opportunities we can't even understand, we need to have the best and most expensive of everything.

Innocence is way out of vogue.

What would happen if we weren't afraid to be natural and innocent? What if we weren't afraid to put up blinders and neglect the seedy headlines for once and indulge in a little childish wonder? “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Our Lord calls us to humble ourselves, a novel and largely unwelcome concept. We are to be as innocent as doves. While not forgetting to also be as shrewd as serpents, we must realize that we are not called to be sophisticated, we are called to be childlike. The sophisticate is proud because he lives in a world he claims not to understand, the naif is humble because he lives in a world he knows he understands completely. Which one are you?

(17) impromptu adventures....the child is still in all of us, a photo by fishgirl7 on Flickr.

Reading: Who Will You Become?

2011-09-11T10:32:00.000-05:00

They say that you will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read. It can be (but is not necessarily) difficult to determine which people you will meet. It is, however, the matter of a few mouse clicks to determine exactly which books you will read in the coming days, months, and years. There are millions of books are at your fingertips thanks to sites like Amazon.com, and you haven't an excuse in the world not to buy, beg, borrow, or steal something that could possibly revolutionize your life for the better.

Anne Lamott, author of such works as Bird by Bird and Traveling Mercies, said that her life was changed by The Only Dance There Is by Ram Dass. U.S. Senator John McCain says that Ernest Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls "seized (his) attention." World-famous career coach Dan Miller credits Earl Nightingale's book The Strangest Secret as giving him the vision to go beyond his family's Mennonite farm to pursue an amazing life.

Which books will you read before the end of the year?

If you look at the next five books on your reading list, you will find an uncannily accurate foretelling of the kind of person you will soon be. If you don't have a reading list, the same holds true.

Who might I be after reading these books?

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller = a better Christian
Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson = a better Anglophile
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky = someone with a better understanding of social alienation, Nihilism, and the idea of the superman
Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk = a social-media-savvy girl who cashes in on her passion
On Writing by Stephen King = a better writer

Read about The Book That Changed My Life at Suite101.

Notturno, a photo by gualtiero on Flickr.

Can We Be Original?

2011-09-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

Is creativity possible in a world where there is nothing new under the sun?

Are all our favorite books, movies, and songs just regurgitations of the author/screenwriter/musician's prior experiences?

Are we all "inspired" by others, or just shameless hacks?

You tell me!

P.S. I apologize for the substandard audio/visual quality. I'm working on it! If you wonder how I had the gall to post this anyway, watch my other video on learning to fail.

9-20-11
P.S. Here's an insightful quote from Mark Twain that might answer my dilemma:

There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages.

The Dresser Project

2011-09-07T01:00:00.000-05:00

Before

After

I'm pretty picky about some things. It's a downfall of mine. So when it came time to purchase a dresser for my room, I wanted the perfect piece. Unfortunately (just in case you hadn't realized it yet) life isn't perfect, so I ended up with a dresser that was the perfect shape and size, but the finish was in sad shape. For years the prospect of sanding and refinishing the dresser loomed in my future, until Mom finally pushed me over the edge, I decided what I wanted, and we took the leap.

I'd always dreamed of having a piece of furniture with a shabby-chic crackle finish, but thought that was asking a little much. Mom encouraged me, however, and we purchased the supplies, hauled the thing into the garage, and set to work. I would love to take credit for this project, but my darling Mamage did 95% of the work. Thank you, Mama! I love you.

Ripe for revolution

That's right: Abby the sanding girl

Here's what a drawer looked like before sanding--dark brown stain and lots of scuff marks. Once Mom, Aaron, and I hit it, though, it was smooth and light and ready for primer.

It ain't seen nothin' yet.

This is the surface once it's been primed with Kilz.

Once it was primed, we coated every surface with flat black paint (if you ever do this yourself, remember to use flat paint and nothing but). Then Mamage applied the special (read: expensive) crackle finish. It looks just like a shiny clear coat, but does amazing things once you add the final layer of paint....

This is what happens when you roll satin paint over that clear crackle coat! Amazing, isn't it?

So this is the finished product. Though labor intensive, the actual process was not as difficult as one might think.

Now I have a piece of furniture that I can be proud of, thanks to my wonderful family!

Our Modern Vocabulary and the Atrocities Therein

2011-09-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Listen closely to the next podcast or interview that you come across. Practice active listening, and you might be as shocked as I was. In the dock today are 10 primary offenders that have been degrading and decimating the fluency and coherence of English speaking peoples for decades.

Umm/Err
Umm-uh
Like
So...
Yeah
Stuff
Whatever
Sort of
You know
I mean

There are many more accomplices waiting in the wings, shaking in their inarticulate boots as they await their sentence (and it won't be a sentence that ends with "but").

People have always been like this, right? This enlightened age does not hold the monopoly on a pathetic vocabulary, does it? Read this, my dear, and say that again:

...when ascending ‘next the seat of God’ even the Muse ofMilton falters and grows weak, and the same diction that is so grand andterrible in the hate and defiances of Satan seems not yet grand enough for adiscussion between the persons of the Trinity. Milton’s intellect could get ashigh as the Devil’s, but no higher.... The glorious or terrible images whichalmost every line calls up are such as no reader can forget, but which remainwithin him, a cycle of mystical and eternal pictures....

That was written by a young schoolboy about a hundred years ago. Granted, it is only one example of one man's writing (G.K. Chesterton, if you're interested), but it shows a capacity for expression that one has to hunt and peck for nowadays. Forget about hearing it on the streets.

Have we lost the ability to verbalize abstract thought? Are our minds so full of holes that we feel compelled to fill the gaps with "umms" and "you knows?" Is text-speak the new enemy of the people? In City Journal Clark Whelton wrote, "(Inability to say things is) shifting the burden of communication from speaker to listener. Ambiguity, evasion, and body language . . . were transforming college English into a coded sign language in which speakers worked hard to avoid saying anything definite. I called it Vagueness."

To my shame, I admit that I am a constant offender in this area. My arch nemesis is "I mean". Why do I feel compelled to drop these words into every other sentence? Why do I hardly ever notice when I do it?

What are your arch nemeses? What habits are keeping you back from speaking fluent English?

You're kidding me?, a photo by AlexanderVisuals on Flickr.

Is This Art?

2011-09-03T01:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I see a piece of "artwork," hear a "song," or read a "book," and think to myself, That's just not art/music/literature. There's something wrong with it.

art

noun /ärt/
arts, plural

The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

Works produced by such skill and imagination

What is your definition of art?

I'll tell you what mine is.

Art is not art which is meaningless or merely depicts reality. A can of Campbell's soup is not art. Dead silence is not art. In-congruent words typed on a page is not art.
Art is not art which is merely whatever form an artist's whimsy takes. The free-flowing of artistic passion was not what made da Vinci and Mozart and Shakespeare great.

Art must point to God. This does not mean that its subject matter must be spiritual, but it must point us either to Heaven or to Hell, to the fullness or the absence of God. If it points elsewhere, it points nowhere.

True art lies in self-discipline. Seeing an end and bravely going to meet it.

Art means order and purpose. Without purpose art is a blotched canvas or a discordant jumble of notes or a ruined sheet of paper. If we showcase the world's sores and do not offer to dress them, or call others to dress them, or show them how to dress them, we have failed. Not every story must have a moral, but it must have a point and a hope hidden behind every brush-stroke and note and word.

I am not in the camp that says, "True art and music must conform to a precise mathematical formula or it's rubbish." I chime in with Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, "I know it when I see/hear/read it." As I said at the beginning of this post, I just know.

So what is your threshold for true art? Have you ever considered it?

New York. MoMA. Andy Warhol, a photo by Tomas Fano on Flickr.

Book Review: Bonhoeffer - Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

2011-09-01T01:00:00.001-05:00

" Thefirst call which every Christian experiences is the call to abandon theattachments of this world.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

My Alternate Title:

TheLife of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Abandoned to Christ

Doyou have any idea who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was? He was a Germantheologian and pastor who lived from 1906-1945. He had something to do with aplot against the Nazis, and his death was decidedly from unnatural causes. Thatwas about all I knew when I embarked uponreading his biography.

Oneof my new year goals was to read some biographies of famous Christians. As Isearched the internet for titles I came across this one, found that our libraryhad the unabridged audiobook, and checked it out. I knew so little of thisman’s life and legacy, and now my view of the Christian walk has been changedforever.

Bonhoefferwas born into a decent, upper-class German family at the turn of the twentiethcentury. He had all the advantages of a good upbringing, fine education, andclose friendships. His father was an areligious man, his mother a devotedChristian, and Dietrich decided to study theology in school. His doctoralthesis, Sanctorum Communio(which he wrote at age 21), concerned the theology of the church and delvedinto the complex subjects of authority, freedom, ritual, and eschatology. Hiscareer would only climb from there.

Becominga pastor and mentor to many, Dietrich seemed poised for a life of academic andreligious achievement—when the unthinkable happened. Hitler came to power andthe church began to buckle. German Christians had just as much patriotic fervoras their neighbors and began backing the Fuhrer (a man gifted in speaking“Christian-ese” at appropriate times). Dietrich saw trouble and began gatheringtogether men who were dedicated first of all to Christ, not Germany.

DietrichBonhoeffer’s life story is the story of the church in Germany during the periodof the second world war. What he did was far from easy. He was patriotic too,and recently engaged to the love of his life, Maria von Wedemeyer. As thingsprogressed, however, he found himself fighting against his country and goinginto more and more danger. “Christians” were caving in all around him, therotten girders of their theology giving way under the pressure of escalatinghostilities. Bonhoeffer wrote of his identification with Jeremiah, who “wasupbraided as a disturber of the peace, an enemy of the people, just like allthose, throughout the ages until the present day, who have been possessed andseized by God, for whom God had become too strong . . . how gladly would hehave shouted peace and Heil with the rest.”

Hisfriends became heavily involved in the resistance against Hitler, and Dietrichjoined the fray. Making contacts, sending urgent letters, signing petitions,organizing secret seminaries, and becoming a double agent—he did what he couldto combat evil in God’s name. It was exceedingly dangerous work, but he knewthat this was where The Lord wanted him.

Asthe hazards increased and he was almost forced into the Nazi military, Dietrichwent to America He intended to stay there for a long while—perhaps until thetime came to help rebuild the shattered German church after Hitler’s demise.But he felt no peace there. He longed for his brethren back in Germany. Knowingfull well what kind of perils threatened him, Dietrich threw away the safetynet and followed his conscience, acting out of allegiance to God and the livingtruth.

Thingswent rather well until the fatal failure of the Valkyrie plot against theFuhrer’s life, which had involved some of Dietrich’s closest associates. Bonhoefferwas arrested, and intentionally rejected the chance of escape in order toprotect those he loved most. During his time in prison he labored ceaselessly,both as a pastor to his fellow prisoners and as an author and theologian. Hetrusted solely in a God whom he believed to be much bigger than others imagined.To Bonhoeffer, He was more than a God of the “gaps,” or “the unexplained;” Hewas God of everything.

AsI read this book, I kept feeling that God certainly meant for Dietrich to be a martyr, even going out of His way toensure it. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong; there were numerousmiscommunications and precious opportunities were lost. There were so many timeswhen it would have been easy for Bonhoeffer to have escaped the Nazis and leftthe country to marry Maria, returning to help bring German Christianity backaround again after the war. Instead, he was hanged without trial about onemonth before Germany’s surrender.

Themessage of Bonhoeffer’s life could never have been conveyed with the sameimpact if he had lived. He sacrificed everything to Jesus—everything. His deathand his legacy are inextricable. He was a man who fully embraced his humanityand joy on this earth, at the same time fully embracing complete submission toChrist and His Will. As it is with so many other great people, Dietrich didmore in his one short lifetime than many do in full ones.

Icame away from this book with a deeper conviction about what it means to be a truedisciple of Christ. It is more than going to church on Sundays, voting for theright politicians, tithing a portion of your income, and sharing the gospel, thenleaving the serious sacrifice to dedicated pastors and missionaries.Discipleship is not for only a few Christians—it is for all of us—and it isintensely difficult. But it is all worth it all in the end, when we can hearJesus Christ say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Don't Look Up!

2011-08-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

For several years, maybe longer, I've had this somewhat strange habit. It doesn't matter where I'm walking--in the pasture or in the living room--I never take my eyes off the ground.

I have to consciously force myself to look up and around me, otherwise I stare one or two steps in front of my feet. Maybe I have an irrational fear of straying off the path, or a subconscious terror of stepping on something icky. Whatever it is, I think it could be dangerous, or at least the mentality that it represents could be dangerous.

Do you do this in your life? Are you so focused on "the next thing" that you forget to see the big picture?

We don't go on walks through the woods to see the dirt and rocks beneath our feet. We go to see grandiose mountains, towering trees, and lakes sparkling like glitter in the sun. I'm all for living in the moment, but sometimes we need to break away! We shouldn't be afraid to look up, and turn our attention to something bigger than the everyday mundane.

Untitled, a photo by E.Baron on Flickr.

A Light in God's Places

2011-08-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

In response to another post, Total Abandonment, I’ve received some wonderful answers and insights! I put the same post on another blog, The Britophile Diaries, and got answers over there as well, so I thought I’d share them for anyone who’s in the same pickle as I’ve been in!

Ana Mari reminded me that no one person can have all the answers, only God. She is a woman who became a missionary to Costa Rica a little over a year ago, sacrificing much but with no regrets! She could have had a life of leisure, but decided that that wasn’t what she wanted. God answered her prayers and gave her the desires of her heart. She said that if my desire is to go to Britain to study, then I can serve the Lord there the same as if I give it all up and go serve the unreached right away. Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Don and Shelly responded to my comment, "Is this what following Christ is like, or is this what fighting against Him is like?" They say it's a little of both. Sometimes we try so hard to follow the will of God that we miss it entirely. I should just keep praying to seek His will. They gave a great example: perhaps Noah wanted at first to build a monument to God that would testify to many, but God told him to build an ark instead. Perhaps Britain is my ark, and while donating my money toward a cause could be a good thing, following God’s plan could be a great thing! They reiterated what I’ve heard before on this subject: I mustn’t be “guilted” into or out of anything. I especially liked this point, “Perhaps the test for you here is not as much about making the ultimate "correct" choice, but being able to wait upon Him to give you direction.” I should have patience; hard, but necessary!

Liberty reminded me of something very important: the third world is not the only place that needs missionaries. While the UK is a prosperous country (few are starving and naked in the streets) it is still filled with people who have no idea of God’s love and grace. “God always has a plan, and that plan often includes the unlikeliest of places.” I can be a light for Christ in England. What an awesome idea!

Olivia struggled something similar in the past. She wondered if her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian would conflict with helping the desperate condition of the people in this world. But then it was revealed to her that she could use a veterinary degree to serve God in less fortunate regions of the world where people rely on animals for income and transportation. So it’s possible the Lord has kindled this love of Britain in my heart for a reason! I mustn’t forget that people who live in luxurious homes surrounded by worldly goods can be as empty on the inside as impoverished villagers toiling in Africa. As a Christian, the Light within me can shine brightly wherever I go. Whether I’m in a village in Tanzania or going to school in Lancashire, I will be given opportunities to serve.

Duta shared with me two principles that guide her:

1. Charity begins at home. There's lots to do in our immediate surroundings , town, or village.
2. I'm not in charge of the world. God is, and He knows what He's doing. I'm just a tiny dot in the universe.

How true that is! I have to trust the Lord and remember that He holds the world in His hands, not me in mine.

Last but not least, Judeann wrote that she believes that if I’m living a Christian life, praising God and asking His help for all His children, and yielding myself to His will, He will let me know in an unmistakable way if I need to change my plan.

Wow, that’s a lot of great advice! I’ll try to take it all in, take it to heart, and then apply it to my life. For now the desire of my heart is to go to Capernwray Bible School in England. Things are falling into place beautifully for this, and I’m very excited about it! I will purpose to be a witness for Christ in whatever theater of life I’m in, and shine His Light to all men in all circumstances.

Candle, a photo by spcbrass on Flickr.

The Best Banana Bread in the World (No Kidding)

2011-08-26T00:08:00.000-05:00

My dad will be the first to tell you that his mother wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs. I never knew my paternal grandmother, but apparently she was one of those "we're poor, always have been and always will be" kind of people. Depressing and pessimistic, in other words. Let's just say that she didn't leave many happy memories behind when she passed away about thirty years ago.

However, she did leave behind a yellowed, brittle, spotted and splotched card with a handwritten recipe for The Best Banana Bread in the World. I have literally grown up on this stuff, and verily, verily say unto you--it is wonderful. Comfort food in the extreme, it's good hot, it's good cold, and it's especially good two days old! Age only increases its moistness, and the top gets all glossy and mmmm.... Impossible to describe.

So, do you want to make it now? I'll spare you the trouble of deciphering my grandmother's outdated methods, and transcribe it myself. Here it is, what you've been waiting for all your life:

INGREDIENTS:

3 bananas (The riper the better; I usually peel and freeze ourbananas when they start to brown, then once a few have accumulated at the backof the freezer I haul them out and squish them into oblivion.)
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 cups of flour (I lovethis with whole wheat. White is OK, but is more cake-ey and less bread-ey.)
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thoroughly mashbananas. (If they've been frozen, just zap them in the microwave; they willlook absolutely disgusting but it’s worth it.)
Combine dry ingredients in onebowl, mix well with a wire whisk (or sifter, if your heart so desires).
Whiskthe eggs lightly in a separate bowl, add oil and vanilla, then when the oven isfinished preheating add the wet to the dry.
Pour into a loaf pan that has been generously greased with vegetableshortening.
Bake for 60 minutes (it can take 15-20 minutes longer than this) oruntil a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Youdon’t want your bread to be too dry (it’s supposed to be lovely and moist), so tryto get it out just when the tester comes out clean, don’t leave it in the oventoo long after that.

It’s kind of hard to go wrong with this one. And believeme, no matter how many utensils you dirty or how much flour you spill all overeverything, this stuff is gonna be worth it!

A Question for All of You "Different Ones"

2011-08-24T00:54:00.000-05:00

Maybe after reading my last post you thought, "Wow, that's me!"

Maybe you're a different (living for Jesus, against the flow of the world) homeschool (have been or are being homeschooled) girl (21 years old or younger). You're confused sometimes, maybe even depressed. You wonder if there's anyone else quite like you.

Well there is.

I was listening for God the other night and this thought came to me: why don't we all find each other? Why don't we start a group, community, blog, whatever, and get in touch? Who wants to be part of an online group of likeminded girls who are living differently for the Lord, for the purpose of mutual encouragement and just plain fun?

Do you fit that description? Would you like to help me form this group? Please leave a comment below and tell me if you're interested!

1/1/12: This group is now a reality! Check out
www.AltogetherSeparate.com

The Different Homeschool Girl

2011-08-22T00:10:00.000-05:00

This extremely insightful and encouraging article waswritten by Chris Davis (www.chrisdavis.wordpress.com). If you're a homeschoolgirl like me, or you're a homeschooling parent, you probably want to read this,if only to know that you're not alone!

She lives in a small town in Tennessee, or in asubdivision in North Carolina, or on a ranch in Montana.

She may be 15 or she may be a college graduate. Eitherway, odds are not many boys have ever paid much attention to her. She maywonder if she will ever get married. She is lonely.

What’s her problem? The answer is (not so) simple: She isdifferent.

She doesn’t particularly like being different. She maytell you she doesn’t care; but she does.

Behind her back, her peers say she is a snob. Her momsays the other girls are jealous. That doesn’t help much. So she tries to befriendly and kind but that doesn’t help much, either. She may be shunned byother girls and ignored by boys.

She is different and who wants to be different? Nobodylikes others who are different and nobody likes being different, either.

I have met many homeschooled girls like her as I havetraveled and spoken at conferences around the world. Each girl thinks she isthe only one with these feelings. But, there are many, many just like her. Ifthey ever found one another, there would be a huge group hug. And, yes,probably lots of tears.

If they ever found one another, they would talk. Notabout what girls normally talk about because they don’t care about the samethings other girls care about. Their talk wouldn’t center around boys or moviesor how stupid some other girl is (or their parents are). They would talk abouttheir families and about what interests them and about God. They would praytogether and for one another.

The girl from Tennessee who is 15: one of her “problems”is that she is more like 15 going on 21. The girl who has graduated fromcollege without meeting her future husband: she has been told many times tohave faith. Mister Right will surely show himself soon. She struggles tobelieve it and to trust God for her future family.

These girls are different. Not because of how they dressor how much makeup they do (or don’t) wear. It has little to do with externals.But it has everything to do with their Father and what He has done inside them,what He has made important to them. They are just different, whether they likebeing different or not. Everyone can tell.

Why do I keep using this word different? It is because ofwhat the word implies. In the Bible, the word holy means to be separate, andthe kind of “separate” about which the Bible speaks makes a person different.This separation is not so much a separation from something as it is aseparation unto some One. Simply put: being separate unto the Lord causes oneto be different.

So, being different is the obvious expression of the wordholy (hagios). These kids are different in that the Lord has placed within themsomething which makes them holy[separate] unto Him. It’s not so much that theyare trying to be something they are not. Rather, because this is something Godhas done in them, it is something they are!

God has separated them from the kind of things normalyoung people find important. The 15 year old seems to have skipped teenager-ism(what our culture labels those years young people separate themselves fromtheir families and the values in which their families believe). She maystruggle with what God has done. It certainly often makes a girl lonely. Butshe is different and it is the work of God, Himself.

It is not always easy to encourage these girls.Loneliness is no fun. Telling a girl to “have faith” can sound pretty shallow,even if she knows it’s the truth.

This is a holy generation. It is a generation set apartunto Him. It is a generation of young people the world has not seen in so longit doesn’t remember what holiness looks like; acts like. The purposes of Godrest on our children being willing to walk “in the world” but, at the sametime, separated from it. The world waits for a people to show them that arelationship with God isn’t a religious put-on, but is worth giving one’s lifeto.

Our girls have been created by God to show everyone whatthe Bride of Christ looks like, sounds like, acts like, believes like. This isan honorable occupation. We need to deeply respect our girls for what they havebeen called to be and do (as well as not be and not do). They need to beencouraged to understand who they are to a world (and, yes, even to a Church)who desperately needs to see the kind of Lady Jesus is returning for.

DSC_7753, a photo by Chloester on Flickr.

NMS Covenant: Sweet/Spicy Chicken and Rice

2011-08-20T00:07:00.000-05:00

This might look like some of my previous creations, but it's very different, really!

Most of the ingredients were leftover from chicken quesadillas (and boy, were those tasty), so if you're going to be having burritos or quesadillas in the near future, consider this as a way to use up whatever's left.

Here's my ingredient list, but of course you could put anything you wanted in here:

Basmati brown rice
Black beans
Mexican-seasoned chicken
Green onions
Cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Sweet/spicy toppin’

I piled the rice, beans, chicken, and cheese onto aplate, nuked it, then sprinkled with green onions, Mexican seasoning and a plopof sour cream. The “sweet/spicy toppin’” is simply a mixture of Mama’s homemadesalsa and a spoonful of strawberry jam. The jam adds a subtle sweetness to thedish that tones down the salsa zing.

It only took a few minutes to throw together and I foundit delicious! It’s bulky, it’s satisfying, and it’s not a sandwich. Missionaccomplished!

Featured on my food blog: www.WeTheNibblers.wordpress.com

Total Abandonment

2011-08-18T00:17:00.002-05:00

Poverty. Persecution. Suffering. Lostness. Addiction. Darkness. These are things that consume our world, hold happiness in a stranglehold, and suck the life out of billions of people. This planet we call home is riddled with pain, and those of us who are blessed enough to be removed from such horrors as starvation, disease, and filth so easily ignore it all. It’s so easy to sit inside our air conditioned houses on cushy couches and make grandiose plans about our futures.

But don’t we have a responsibility to the lost and suffering? As a Christian I believe that Jesus has called me to follow Him in making disciples, bringing the gospel to all nations, and helping the suffering. It is my purpose in life to know, love, and serve Him. Where does a trip to Britain fit into all that?

For a long time I’ve struggled with the difficult question, “Is this really how God wants me to spend my time and money?” Couldn’t my Britain fund be put to a better use in saving someone’s life in Sudan or feeding a hungry child in Guatemala? Should I be flying to Tanzania instead of England? Should I work with the unreached masses in India rather than attend a Bible school in Lancashire?

The answer seems obvious—of course bringing the gospel to the world is more important than a pleasure-trip for me. But then how do I go about it? Do I relinquish all my dreams of European travel and immediately dedicate myself to the lost and starving? Which lost and which starving? African, Asian, American?

Is it going overboard to give up my lifelong dream for Christian service, or is it exactly the kind of radical devotion and total abandonment that Jesus requires?

Have you ever been faced with this dilemma—to pursue something for yourself or to give it up for others, or if you’re a Christian, for Christ? I don’t want to live a self-consumed life where I am the end and the means and Jesus is just a friendly spectator. I don’t want to go to Britain if it isn’t His will.

And so I’m back to square one. Confused, worried, depressed, unsure. Is this what following Christ is like, or is this what fighting against Him is like?

London Eye &amp; Big Ben at sunset, a photo by Harshil.Shah on Flickr.

Pink Patang, a photo by Meanest Indian on Flickr.

The Legs

2011-08-16T00:02:00.001-05:00

I have a dirty little confession to make: I hate my legs.I think I’ve probably hated my legs for as long as I can remember. My knee capsare tilted to the outside so I’m a little knock-kneed. Ever since I was 9 I’vebeen self-conscious about my feet turning in (though I’ve pretty well curedmyself of that with years of purposeful effort). My legs are also alittle—shall we say—chunky. Oh, and did I mention that I’m a recluse who neversees the light of day? (How did you think I keep up with all these blogs?) Sothey’re also pale, with vibrant blue veins that would make a needle-totingnurse squeal with joy. All in all, a very bad picture.

So maybe you’ll be surprised (or appalled) when I tellyou what I bought the other day: a white eyelet skirt that comes above myknees. I almost never wear clothes that don’t shroud my legs in anunoffending sheath. That day, however, I decided that it was time to face thefear and hatred. And the thing was less than $5 at Kohl’s so who’s gonna arguewith that?

How could I be so bold and brazen? How dare I exposethose lily-white-knock-knees to an unsuspecting world? Simple—I decided to stoptaking myself so seriously. Honestly, who is staring at my legs (except you,right now)? I’ve been watching other girls for a long time now, and I figurethat if they’re brave enough to show off what they’ve got then I can be bravetoo.

Plus, there’s a deeper aspect to all this. When you thinkof all the people out there who have been burned, tortured, starved, orotherwise deformed, what right do I have to be self-conscious about my legs? Ihad a look at what real knock knees look like and it shocked me. There are more important things to careabout.

What are youself-conscious about?

How does thatstack up to real deformities and is it denying you really cute additions toyour wardrobe?

NMS Covenant: Ooey Gooey Potatoes

2011-08-14T00:54:00.002-05:00

Here's a random NMS experiment (because I was starving):

Leftover roasted potatoes
Homemade ranch dressing
Spicy Dijon Mustard
Parsley for garnish

Here’s what you do:

Nuke the potatoes in the microwave (or—if you have time—or no microwave—or you want them to be crispy—you can pan fry them). In a small cup mix a glob of ranch dressing (a little if you’re on a diet, a lot if you’re not) with a dollop of spicy Dijon mustard (a little if you’re scared, a lot if you’re not).
Garnish with a flourish of fresh or dried parsley leaves, crushed.

And there you have it--a little snack to be proud of. I found that the combination of tangy ranch and spicy mustard was quite pleasant. The gooey, comforting sauce covered up that “reheated potato” flavor. It took about 1 minute 28 seconds to make (1:00 minute to nuke the potatoes, 0:20 to mix the sauce, 0:08 to sprinkle the parsley). Great use of leftover roasted potatoes (or fresh ones from the Walmart deli).

Tip: Make it decadent with crumbled bacon as a topping.

P.S. My brother and I have started a Wordpress blog for all of our food experiments! Check it out if you're interested :)

"A Bit of Earth"

2011-08-12T00:41:00.003-05:00

"Might I," quavered Mary, "might I have a bit of earth?"

If you've never read the book The Secret Garden, then in my opinion you're missing out on a very great pleasure. It's a marvelous little novel, peopled with charming characters, beautiful scenery, an intriguing mystery, trials of the human heart, and a writing style that is not to be missed. The plot centers around an orphan girl named Mary Lennox who has been sent to live with her reclusive uncle in the English countryside. While there she discovers a "secret" garden, one that has been locked up for many years. She falls in love with the place and sets about reclaiming the weed-choked beds. When her uncle asks her if she needs anything (toys, dolls, etc.) she insists that all she wants is "a bit of earth" to grow things in.

This concept of "a bit of earth" has stuck with me over the years. I am currently enjoying a Women of Faith study guide (Understanding Purpose by Carolyn Custis James) in which the author brings up the idea in the context of God giving each of us a bit of earth, "a territory entrusted to us where He calls us to represent Him and to advance His kingdom."

Where is your bit of earth, your sphere of influence? Perhaps it's your home as a housewife, your workplace as a breadwinner, your school as a student, or your family as a child. It's so easy to feel that we are unwanted, or that we're working for something that really has very little significance, or that no one notices us (if you feel this, watch this awesome video). We sometimes feel that we aren't making a difference in this very big world.

But God doesn't necessarily call us to change the world--at least not the whole world and certainly not all at one time! Instead, He calls us to change our bit of earth. If you leave this life having grown a wonderful family, served the community, blessed your friends, created something helpful and amazing, or shared the love and word of God in your little area of life, you have cultivated your bit of earth.

I struggle with this, big time. But I'm learning! I have my own bit of earth (in Arkansas and in the blogosphere), and it's up to me to serve God and represent Him in that place. I don't have to jet-set to the Serengeti anytime soon (though the Lord may call me there someday), just bloom where I'm planted, in my little patch of God's secret garden.

Child Tending Broken Baby Seedling, a photo by Pink Sherbet Photography on Flickr.

LIFE

2011-08-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Helen Keller

"If you're bored with life - or you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals."

Lou Holtz

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well-preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!”

Attributed to Bill McKenna

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement."

Patricia from Joe Versus the Volcano

“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”

William Ross Wallace

Life Quote images from Here

NMS Covenant: Veggie Tortilla

2011-08-08T00:42:00.000-05:00

It happened again. There I was, all alone in the house (Mom and Dad had gone on their anniversary trip and Aaron was at summer camp), and I was very, very hungry. Believe it or not, I was tempted to slap together one of those evil sandwiches, but the NMS Covenant held me accountable. So I grabbed a Taste of Home magazine and got to work.

I had drooled over a certain recipe for grilled veggie tortillas, but unfortunately I have absolutely no idea how to grill (I'm not sure that my parents would trust me with live flames and propane, either). So I had to alter the recipe, and fast. It was a challenge, but I believe I passed the crisis with flying colors. I created my own version of this vegetable delight, and though I had expected it to be good, I had no suspicion that it would be remarkable!

Here is a very flexible list of ingredients:

A tortilla (duh)
Oil for the skillet
Zucchini (plenty of that from our garden, use some squash if you have it)
Sliced bell peppers
Onions
Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese
Basil (for garnishing)
Fresh garlic, mushrooms, and tomatoes would also be great additions!

The process is very simple--stir fry or saute (What's the difference?) your veggies and seasonings on high heat long enough for your zucchini or squash to soften but not so long that it burns or gets squishy. In a separate skillet heat up your tortilla in a bit of butter until it's crispy. Pile the veggie-goodness onto the tortilla, douse it with Parmesan cheese (or any other cheese you've got on hand) and garnish with fresh snipped basil leaves (I used purple basil. Mmmhmm, I'm just that good.). Cut into slices and scarf it down!

Voila, you have an absolutely delicious, crispy, healthy, pizza-like-thingy on your hands (be careful, it's messy). I hope that you can enjoy this delicacy for yourself and be spared the pain of yet another heinous sandwich!

Learning to Fail

2011-08-06T16:33:00.001-05:00

My first "vlog post". You might think it's awful, but that just proves my point!

One Dress. 100 Days. For Orphans.

2011-08-04T09:48:00.004-05:00

This girl is doing something radical. Let's help her.

If you've ever meant to support a good cause--head up a fundraiser, start a movement, whatever--and haven't taken action on it, this is your chance to help a girl who has taken the plunge and is doing something wonderful.

Miss Elaini has suffered terribly, a passionate love for Jesus, and a big dream. Her goal is to raise $50,000 for orphans in India by wearing the same dress for 100 consecutive days, dressing it up with different accessories to make each day unique. She's put so much time, love, and effort into this project, and has been rewarded with over $20,800 in donations so far! But she's on day 96 now, and time is running out.

So I'm reaching out to whatever audience I might have and asking that you do something--however small--to help further Elaini's dream. You only have four days left to throw a party, or just donate $10, $15, or $500. This is a worthwhile cause, something fun, creative, and beautiful that we can get behind!

Her website is www.misselainious.com.

Book Review: More Postcards From Across the Pond

2011-08-02T00:22:00.000-05:00

Order a signed copy here

Looking for a light summer read? Feel like laughing yourself silly over someone else’s awkward problems? Enjoy reading about what public transportation in modern Britain is really like? Here are 60 adventures from the life of Michael Harling—the accidental expat—that will give you something to smile about.

More Postcards from Across the Pond: Dispatches From an Accidental Expatriate is the sequel to the similarly titled Postcards from Across the Pond. I haven’t read the first book, but after finishing this one I think I’ll have to! More Postcards is written by an American man living in England and is chock full of his hilarious personal experiences (including a frightening trip to Nottingham) and humorous musings on British (and American) eccentricities. Every chapter thrilled me with the nitty-gritty peculiarities of British life (for instance, the strange idea of taking off half your clothing when near a body of water, and of course the lovable NHS).

One test of a good book is the “read-aloud”—while riding in the car I’ll read portions of a book to my family to get their reactions. More Postcards kept even my non-Britophile friends in stitches (for a while my Mom thought I was reading Bill Bryson)! I admire Michael Harling’s wit, humor, and depth of insight. He dwells on the sweet oddities of British life, as well as the stark reality of its slow but sure “American-ization”.

Even an enthusiastic Britophile can learn a thing or two about British culture from Michael Harling. (I learned that not only is a parka-type coat with a hood called an anorak, but that’s also slang for avid trainspotters or nerds in general.) This all comes from the guy who delights in the experience of watching a game of football while eating a pork pie in the cold drizzle, and will spend years searching for the quintessential English scone.

It’s $8.99 for 193 pages of what might be the funniest stuff you’ve read in years (and that includes the glossary). To sum it all up, this book almost makes me want to pick up and move to Horsham, where the Krispy Kremes are invading, we see The Flat Where Nobody Lives, and Mike has missed the train again.

Read an excerpt here!

A Bucket List

2011-07-30T15:53:00.008-05:00

No, I don't want to skydive. Sorry.

I must have heard the term “bucket list” at least four times in one day. It’s the title of an Oscar award winning movie, but more than that is a popular concept among positive-thinking, life-changing, entrepreneurship-type blogs and podcasts. It’s the idea that you should make up a list of a hundred, fifty, or even a dozen things that you want to do before you kick the proverbial bucket. Basically you ask yourself, “If I was lying on my deathbed right now, what would I regret not doing?”

Setting down your lifetime goals is such an important task, I think it would be hard to overstate it. Not that you have to map out exactly what you’ll be doing in February 2028, but not even setting a few major goals on paper is like going out on a grand adventure without so much as a compass. You might not need a road map complete with little symbols for every rest stop, but a list of “big rocks” gives you landmarks to help you keep track along the way, so that you don’t get to the end of a year—God forbid, the end of your life—and say, “Gosh, I didn’t really do much that was worthwhile and life-changing.”

For me this is a very big list. I’ve yet to put in down in writing, though; at the moment it’s just a haphazard, unformed idea of uninitiated opportunities and vague dreams. I have a feeling that my list (when I actually write it) will be less a series of concrete goals and more a collection of abstract experiences—serving God, building solid relationships, a lifestyle of continual learning, fulfilling work, helping others, creating something beautiful, etcetera. However, here are some solid goals I’ve come up with so far:

Living in England (yes, spending 2 whole months at a Bible school would count, in my opinion)
Making at least one friend in every country in Europe (yes, I know that there are 52)
Publishing a book (fiction or nonfiction, and if through self-publishing I’d like to sell several thousand copies)
Falling in love (if that’s God’s will)
Discover my passion and reason for living (no biggie, right?)
Work for myself (and do more than survive)

That’s it for now. What about you? Do you have some half-formed ideas, are you completely clueless, or are you ahead of the game and have your list all written out already? I challenge you bloggers to put some time, spiritual energy, and serious thought into your own bucket list, then post it on your own blog. Then you can link to your post in the comment section of this post. I’d love to see what some of you want to accomplish.

And remember, it’s never too late to start! In 1966 Lou Holtz was just an unemployed, penniless assistant-coach. He read the book The Magic of Thinking Big and then sat down to write out a list of 107 things he wanted to do before he died. Years later he has retired from a phenomenal football coaching career (2x coach of the year), and he's accomplished at least 85 of those goals so far.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

P.S. Here are 1,000 ideas for your bucket list!

One giant leap for Matt! (one small step for mankind), a photo by Muddy Funkster on Flickr.