Making a Joyful Home

Sharing on Infertility

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:43:00 +0000

Image from aroyaldaughter.com

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. That's probably not a remembrance many of us want to celebrate. For those who have walked this painful road, infertility can be isolating, scary and sometimes even a challenge to our faith. It can be hard to find God's purpose in a life where we don't have those pregnancies and children we long for, but God is there nevertheless.

I have written some about my own infertility struggle here on this blog at various times and reviewed a book on the issue. Today, as part of National Infertility Awareness week, I am so honored to be able to share with others as Amanda over at A Royal Daughter discusses Lies Women Believe about Infertility. There are some emotional and encouraging testimonies over there from several women, and I encourage you to check them out HERE.

As we move through this week, what are some ways that you can think of to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with infertility? Have you faced an infertility struggle yourself? How did God show Himself to you there?

All That Tomato Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:33:00 +0000

Earlier I posted on how to make a good, basic tomato sauce. As I mentioned, it's a great staple to store and use in your other cooking. So, what are some things to do with all that tomato deliciousness?

Well, making pasta sauce is probably the easiest and most obvious. Sometimes I'll find myself with odds and ends of food left over from other cooking that would go perfectly in a sauce. For instance, I recently found myself with a single sausage link, an onion, and most of a container of shiitake mushrooms. No way was I letting that go to waste!

Pasta sauce

Note: That's right. There's no set ingredient list for this one. Just go with what you have. In this case, it's going to be sausage, onion, and mushroom sauce. You can just as easily do something mouthwatering with spinach, squash, ground turkey or beef - the possibilities really are almost endless here. If you can envision it going with tomatoes, it probably will!

1. If you're using meat, brown that first over medium heat and then saute items such as onions or mushrooms in the juices.

2. Turn your heat down to medium-low and add tomato sauce until you've got things to a consistency that you like. This is also where you might want to add softer veggies like squash, spinach, etc.. so that they can heat up along with the sauce but not get overcooked.

3. Season the sauce to taste. For instance, since sausage already carries a lot of flavor, I just threw in a little oregano and marjoram and called it a day. If you're using more vegetables and little/no meat, you might want to add in more herbs such as basil, rosemary or sage. Some folks also like the zing that comes from a dash of red pepper.

Bon appetit!

And where there's pasta, there's

I usually try to get a pretty, pristine food shot, but my husband was in a big hurry to get into this dish! :)

Basic lasagna

Lasagna can be a bit of a production, so most folks wouldn't think of it as a way to dispose of leftovers. However, in its most basic and nonfussy form, it really makes a delicious leftovers dish!

1 pkg. lasagna noodles
at least 1 cup tomato sauce, plus addition 2 T. of sauce
veggies of your choice - I had an eggplant and container of artichoke hearts on hand so guess what I used?
1/2 - 1 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped - red onion gives best flavor here
1-2 cups shredded mozzarella

1. If using vegetables such as eggplant or squash, cut into cubes and steam in steamer basket on stovetop, about 6 minutes. Drain and set aside in colander to cool.

2. Heat the olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.

3. Take skillet off heat and cover. Let sit for about 5 minutes to steam onions. While onions steaming, if you are using mushrooms or artichoke hearts, take this time to coarsely chop them.

4. Combine eggplant/squash with onion, tomato sauce and artichoke hearts. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.

5. Cook lasagna noodles as directed on package, drain and leave sitting in colander for assembly.

6. Spoon 2 T. of tomato sauce into bottom of your baking dish and spread it out.

7. Assemble as follows: layer of noodles, layer of sauce/veggie mixture spooned over noodles, layer of shredded cheese. I like to finish with extra shredded cheese on top. Fresh basil or oregano is also nice, but not 100% necessary.

8. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 50-60 minutes. Uncover and bake additional 5-7 minutes. Enjoy!

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you're feeling creative, you could also use your sauce in chicken parmesan, as a base for a good tomato-vegetable soup - have fun!

Bloggers' Meet and Greet Week

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:48:00 +0000

Blogging fills a number of needs for me. I enjoy writing, and this is one way to hone my craft. Putting ideas down in writing also helps me think them through, as does discussing them with readers, and in the end, I think this helps me better understand faith, life and serving God.

There's also the community side of things. Being online(with discernment - there are some scary corners of the internet!) lets me have fellowship with and learn from believers from different places and in various stages of life. What a blessing! I have met some wonderful women of God online since I began blogging, and I am so thankful for them.

This week, one of those ladies is hosting a Meet and Greet on her blog so that we can learn more about each other and perhaps find some new bloggers to follow! You can find the details at Raising Mighty Arrows:

And as for me? You'll find my "About Me" page here, along with all the various places (email, Pinterest, Facebook, etc..) you can contact me. Hope you see you there!

Here and Now

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:23:00 +0000

In my dreams, I still roam valleys barefoot, smiling into the sun and smelling the grass, flowers and water that sing spring.

Here and now I live in a small city, a beautiful green corner of it, but still not the wide open spaces my heart knows as home. And yet there's beauty here.

There's the joy of recognizing a friend as we go about errands in town.

The unexpected delight of seeing sun hit water as one turns a corner, going from city streets to wide open river.

I can live in memories and dreams, and let my mind's eye vividly open pictures of spring spent elsewhere. And at times, I love to do that. But living in the here, the now, creates new memories and delights. It's a different place than what I'm used to, but it's become home over time. Here I have a loving church family, my much-beloved husband, and a little city to explore. Walking among Civil War battlefields and historic buildings, one finds treasure here - a coffee shop that makes some of the best lattes I've ever tasted, a thrift store that looks more like a cozy cottage than a garage sale, unexpected glimpses of beauty as trees and gardens peek out amidst the downtown streets.

I treasure my memories, but I give thanks for the joys of life here and now.

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This is a piece written in five minutes with no editing as part of Five Minute Fridays. Want to try writing free for five minutes? Join in here!

I Didn't Deserve That

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:57:00 +0000

"(F)or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,"
- Romans 3:23-24

My grandfather was always fond of saying that everything has a flip side. And so it is with fairness. Often when we complain we don't deserve something, it's because we at least perceive ourselves as being treated unfairly. While I do not downplay the importance of justice, it's impossible to think on just outcomes and fairness without remembering the other side of things we don't deserve.

After all, none of us ever deserved a Savior.

All of us have sinned, and all of us would be dead in our sin were it not for Christ's salvation. I can cook and clean and even if I somehow made myself into the perfect picture of a homemaker, I would not deserve salvation. My sin is real and cannot be erased. And so it is with all of us.

As I read Romans during my devotional this morning, I could not help but be struck anew. As a believer, it can become too easy to think of ourselves as the saved, the elect, and too difficult to remember the dark sinfulness of heart from which we came.

And yet, the more one thinks upon this amazing unfairness, this unearned salvation - how can we not fall to our knees in wonder? How can we not let our hearts sing with praise? In our sinful hands, we can break others with undeserved acts but in the hands of God, undeserved grace and love makes us whole. We don't deserve God's love, but learning of it, how can we not want to seek His face and learn His ways?

Kitchen Basics: Making a Good Tomato Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:59:00 +0000

Tomato sauce doesn't have to come out of a jar or can! In fact, canned tomato sauce can be dangerous as many brands use BPA to line their cans, and BPA has been linked to a variety of health issues. Making a good tomato sauce is relatively easy and takes little time, so I like to make big batches and freeze it for use later in as it's a good base for a whole host of dishes.

Curious? Well, here's how to make the sauce. Please note that this recipe will make enough sauce to serve 8, but can easily be doubled or even tripled.

The Tomato Sauce

4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 chopped garlic cloves
kosher salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
a pinch or two of red pepper flakes
52 oz. canned tomatoes (these can be home canned or storebought - if storebought, I recommend using a BPA free brand, such as Muir Glen)
1/2 tsp. sugar
4 T. coarsely chopped fresh basil
balsamic vinegar (optional)

1. Heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering.
2. Add garlic, 1 1/4 tsp. salt, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
3. Add tomatoes sugar and black pepper to taste. Increase heat to high and bring to a strong simmer.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover pan. Simmer for 20 minutes or until thickened(if you increase recipe, you may need more time on this step.)
5. Remove from heat, and stir in basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you want to give your sauce a little extra zing, add a teaspoon or two of balsamic vinegar.

Now you have a good sauce to use as a base for chicken parmesan, lasagna, pasta sauces - the possibilities are endless!

And I will be exploring some of those possibilities in blog posts to come, so please keep an eye out!

In the meantime, if you want to store tomato sauce to use for later, it can be kept in non-metal containers or even large freezer bags. It will keep in the refrigerator for about a week and can be frozen for 12-18 months. Just be sure to let the sauce cool completely before refrigerating or freezing.

Book Review: Modest: Men and Women Clothed in the Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:33:00 +0000

The Book - Modest: Men and Women Clothed in the Gospel by Tim Challies and R.W. Glenn
Cruciform Press, $9.99 (2012)

I initially read Modest for the Book Club at Desiring Virtue, but it has taken me a little while to think through it. Though a very short book, there is a lot packed into it and I found myself thinking about modesty in different ways as I read.

One thing I really like about this book is that the authors go to great pains to emphasize modesty as a heart issue for Christian believers. So many times I have heard talks on modesty or read articles that spend much time discussing tightness of blouses, length of skirts, etc.. - and then they stop. If I want to know how to look modest, I can find lots of guidance, but it's a lot more difficult to be modest. As I read the authors' words in this book, I have to admit that I felt uncomfortably convicted on occasion. After all, if I'm feeling smug as I sit there in my modest skirt, I'm not exactly going into this modesty thing with the right attitude.

I also appreciated that the authors addressed their topic to both men and women. I think both men and women struggle with modesty issues, even if we tend to do it in different ways.

In a way, though, this book makes the issue of modesty more challenging because we are reminded that modesty deals not only with outward appearance(though that's part of it), but also with our inner hearts. While we as Christians are urged to examine modesty in light of the gospel, the authors go out of their way to avoid providing a concrete checklist of do's and don'ts with regard to the mix of outward dress and behavior and inward heart. I could understand why they would do that because it can be easy to fall into legalism in this area, but I do wish that this book had a little more concrete guidance. I felt as if very important questions were raised, but then the practical application somewhat glossed over. Even so, the subject is an important one and given what I see in modern American culture, I am glad to get a biblical perspective on the subject.

Walking the Path of After

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

As much I love pretty pictures, sometimes the very prettiest pictures of Christian faith just don't tell the whole story. You know the ones I mean, the portrayals of Christianity as the happy club where everyone's always smiling. The knowledge that we are dead in our sins but given life because Christ died for us is the most amazing miracle there is. It's knowledge that brings deep and abiding joy and it would be nice to be perky and happy happy happy every day, but I still live in this world.

And that path of life after receiving Christ still has struggles. I've walked it through stressful days, the decision to move from career to making serving God from home the center of my life, watching my grandmother grow ever feebler, and a devastating miscarriage. The way of Christ is not easy street in this world. Things still happen that hurt so much they turn me inside out. But you know what? I don't walk it alone. My God is with me and comforts me, and He strengthens me day by day.

Walking that path of life after becoming a Christian and acknowledging Christ as my savior has not been a 24 hour party but even in the darkest of days, I can feel the warmth of hope and the knowledge that there is a Savior. And that hope is the part of after that I treasure.

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This is a piece written in five minutes with no editing as part of Five Minute Fridays. Want to try writing free for five minutes? Check out this week's writing prompt, and join in here!

Midweek Links - Same Sex "Marriage"

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:47:00 +0000

Same sex "marriage" is not strictly a homemaking topic, I know. However, it is a type of relationship which does not fit any biblical definition of marriage and the laws surrounding these relationships definitely have a bearing on what type of society we will be building into the future. In that light, I cannot help but pray about and study this issue. Ignoring it will not make it go away, so what are we as Christians to do?

First of all, if you are unfamiliar with biblical teachings on marriage and homosexuality, I would urge you to consult your Bible. This list gives some places to start, and this Bible study also has some helpful information.

You may also want to listen to the American Supreme Court arguments for yourself, so you know what is being debated from a legal perspective in my country. One case deals with whether or not a state law banning gay marriage in California is legal. That case is called Hollingsworth v. Perry, and you can access it here. The other case deals with whether or not the nationwide, federal Defense of Marriage Act is constitutional. That case is styled United States v. Windsor and can be found here.

In addition, Kelly Reins from Ah the Life has compiled some research regarding biblical teachings on this issue, and she has made it available on LAF/Beautiful Womanhood.

I also found this message from a gay sister in Christ very moving. I'd highly encourage reading this one - I even pinned it to my Pinterest boards because I didn't want to forget it! It's a good reminder that what the world preaches as "compassion" does not bring the peace and healing that so many people need and will only find in Christ.

Lastly, over at True Woman is posted an action plan on how we, as Christian woman, can confront this issue.

And I'm sure people want to know what I think, too. After prayerfully seeking guidance, I cannot come to any conclusion other than that which teaches engaging in homosexual behavior is a sin. I am also very much aware that gays are sinners in need of God's love every bit as much as the rest of us. "Hate the sin but not the sinner" is a phrase that has unfortunately become cliched as well as shamefully misused to excuse all manner of distinctly un-Christlike treatment of others, but it is also a phrase that really does fit this situation. The people at the heart of this debate are God's creation and I think we need to remember that, but I cannot in any way condone the false "marriage" that they seek to promote because it goes against the teachings of God with regard to marriage and the family.

Holy Week

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:31:00 +0000

Don't worry! I haven't fallen off the face of the earth again. We're just having a quiet, contemplative Holy Week here. May you all have a blessed week and a happy Easter!

"Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." - John 13:1

Midweek Links: Materialism and Greed

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:49:00 +0000

My pastor recently spoke of the many subtle ways love of things, or materialism, can creep into our lives. For instance, we may pride ourselves on the fact that we're not always chasing after newer things, but we may be hung up on living in the "right" neighborhood or we may seek to lord our lack of trendy toys over our neighbors. Either way, we're focusing on the material of this world and not on God. I've been thinking about that a lot over the past couple of weeks, and in my travels online, I've also found some articles that made me think.

I read this blog piece last month, but I immediately thought of it when I heard my pastor's sermon. There really are a lot of thoughts and assumptions that can go into our discount shopping, and some of the comments on this piece made me think,too. For instance, are we shopping the clearance rack because we're trying to be good stewards of what God has given us or do we do it for "good Christian girl" bragging rights? I've encountered both from others and I've probably gone in with both attitudes, too.

Ligonier Ministries is a wonderful source, and on this topic, they have proven helpful yet again. In this short article, we learn more not only about how easily we can get our priorities out of whack, but also what the heart of a good steward looks like.

I came across this article from Vanity Fair magazine via a friend's Facebook page. The article discusses the super-rich of London and how they came to buy into the city in the way that they have. It's actually an unsettling(though very interesting) read when one really starts to think about it. Essentially, the author points out that we have a small, very wealthy group of people who buy property in London because of its status as a tax haven, but then they leave the properties deserted much of the time. I got the distinct impression of a group of people driven primarily by their desire to accumulate and protect more material treasure than they could possibly need.

And since it's #WriteTheWord Wednesday, here is what I've been finding as I search the Bible for wisdom:

I realize that my handwriting looks like something from a codebreaking game, but those are passages from Matthew 6 and Matthew 16 that I have written out during my morning Bible reading. So, Matthew was a tax collector and he wrote down a lot of what Jesus had to say about the material world versus life in Him. Funny how God works, eh?

Do You Have Leftovers? Make Soup!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:29:00 +0000

Do you end up with pesky little odds and ends of leftovers? You know the sort I mean - too much to throw away but too little to make a substantive dish? It happens to me all the time. When I look in my cabinets and see little odds and ends of stuff, I like to make soup.

The varieties are endless - I just mix in whatever vegetables are hitting their "Use me now!" date, perhaps some dried beans, rice or pasta and some kind of stock. This time around I had some chicken gravy in the fridge as well as a tiny (1/4 cup) leftover portion of beef gravy, so I threw those in and they gave the soup a richer than usual flavor. More proof that leftovers don't have to be boring!

To give you ideas, here's what I did with the leftovers I found this past weekend:

Olive Oil(light)
1 onion, diced
1 or 2 celery ribs, diced
handful of shiitake mushrooms, diced (any kind of mushrooms will work)
2 bay leaves
3-4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
3 1/2 cups gravy (I mixed chicken and a small amount of beef)
1 cup cooked lentils or small beans
1 cup cooked wild rice (or brown rice or white rice, or even pasta)
1 cup canned, diced tomatoes
fresh parsley or grated parmesan

1. Heat the olive oil in a stock pot and saute onion for about 3-4 minutes on medium heat. Add other vegetables and the bay leaves, and saute, stirring often, for another 4-5 minutes.

2. Add the stock and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered for 10 minutes.

3. Stir in gravy, lentils, rice and tomatoes. Simmer over low heat until heated through, at least 10 minutes. Serve hot and garnish with parsley or parmesan, as you like.

Get creative! And if you come up with a particularly good combo, let me know!

Resting in Him

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:53:00 +0000

Lately I've been cherishing Christ's promise that all of the weary and heavy-laden who come unto Him shall find rest for their souls. I have been desperately in need of rest and peace, you see. As I've written here before, I had a miscarriage back in June that shook me to the core. Going years of believing I would never have a child, to thinking it just might be possible, to losing it and wondering why was a cycle that left me shaken and weary. I've been stressed before, I've been sad before, but never so bone-deep with weariness as this.

This rest, this being able to be at peace is no easy process. My human self rebelled at first. I saw it as my pain and my loss. This was my child taken from me too early. I didn't want to acknowledge what I knew about this child being God's gift or that He did indeed have a purpose and a hand in my life. But there was this still small voice and it got to me through the storming in my heart...

And you know what? As I sought God and just let myself wander through His word, seeking, or let myself come before Him in prayer, longing, I did find rest. I found hope and peace, and the reminder that even as the storms of this life come my way, God has plans for me. We don't get a free pass on suffering in this life, but neither do we go it alone. He let me remember, and deep in my heart and soul, I can rest.

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This is a piece written in five minutes with no editing as part of Five Minute Fridays. Want to try writing free for five minutes? Join in here!

Titus 2 for Bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:08:00 +0000

As I've gotten back into blogging, I have to admit that I've been thinking of all kinds of things - and wishing I had a a great blog mentor or several. I imagine I'm probably not the first blogger to ever think this. I occupy a small little corner of internet, but I love to write and most of all, to share ideas with people, and stepping out online seems to raise all kinds of questions that I wouldn't have thought of beforehand.

One thing I've struggled with, quite frankly, is trying to figure out how much to share online. Obviously, I wouldn't post my home address and all my contact info online for anyone to see. And I try to be mindful about sharing stories that aren't entirely my own unless I have the permission of the other person involved. However, I don't want to go too far in the opposite direction and let nothing of myself show through in my writing. I've seen many different approaches online, but I'm still trying to figure out which would work best, and I could certainly use guidance with that.

Related to that is the issue of how to deal with commenters. Keeping down spam is relatively easy. I can't stand verification boxes or captchas, so I don't use them. I just set up comment moderation and check it a couple times a day. As a general rule, unless something is either spam or a personal attack, I go on and approve the comment. I don't mind debating issues because, done respectfully, I think we can bring out the best in each other and sharpen our skills and understanding.

However, I do wonder about how to deal with some of the more hostile folks out there. I hadn't realized it until it was brought to my attention in a recent email from a friend, but apparently there are groups online that pretty much exist for the purpose of mocking and sometimes even attacking Christian bloggers. I looked into what I was told and most of it looks harmless (though very rude), but knowing that there are some folks out there who hate various Christian bloggers enough that they would go digging through blogs and researching us online so that they could post private information, report bloggers to the authorities for various things, hound them to the point that they have to take their blogs private, etc... made me feel a little nervous. And perhaps a bit exposed and vulnerable. And, I'll admit, I'm not quite sure how to handle that sort of thing.

While I've used Facebook in the past, and I'm feeling my way around Twitter and now Pinterest, interaction with people that I don't know offline, but whom I have come to enjoy reading and whose wisdom I respect is very new to me. I feel comfortable with the basics of online etiquette (don't update your Facebook status 50 times a day, don't plagiarize other blogs, be responsive to commenters, etc...) but navigating the maze of relationship building online can be tricky. And as an introvert by nature, I sometimes still get that tongue-tied middle schooler feeling.

With all of that, it's hard not to wish for a relationship with a more experienced blogger/teacher. Am I the only one? Or have some of you been looking for that, too? If you've found good teachers, please share that in the comments, too! I feel like I am still exploring my way around the internet, finding new sites and checking to see what their teachings are like, so I may very well have missed a resource.

Midweek Links: Prayer for the Persecuted

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:19:00 +0000

My husband's parents served as missionaries to a Muslim population in a closed country, so the persecuted churches around the world are a subject very close to my heart and we pray for them as a family. We may not all be called to go minister in countries where Christians are in danger, but I believe very strongly in supporting and praying for those who face persecution for their faith. It's an issue that does not get much coverage in the secular, mainstream media so I think that many Christians do not even realize what is happening to their brothers and sisters in faith. However, a number of stories have come to light recently that are informative.

Just today, I saw an editorial discussing the arrests of Ethiopian Christians who worshipped in a home church in Saudi Arabia. The strongly Islamic regime that rules Saudi Arabia is well-known, but as the writer points out, the persistent abuse of Christian guest workers in that country receives far less coverage. Sadly, in its dealings with this country, the United States (and most other Western countries for that matter) fail to raise the issue of human rights abuse.

Elsewhere in the Muslim world, hopeful news has come from Iran in the form of news of increased conversions from Islam to Christianity. As much as I am thankful to hear that, my heart aches for those who face arrest and violent reprisals for following Christ. Churches in Iran must meet in secret and Christians face harsh persecution, yet they continue to come to Christ - how can we not be moved to prayer for them?

Persecution is not limited to the Middle East. Many know Burma/Myanmar is currently ruled by a repressive military regime. However, far fewer know the story of the Christian minorities living there who face persecution and church burnings by government forces. Thanks to a presentation at a church meeting I was able to learn about the work of groups such as Farthest Corners in this region, and I continue to keep these groups in my prayers.

And then there's Africa. So much goes on there, I could do posts just on that region of the world alone. One of my dear college friends is married to a missionary whose work has taken their ever-growing family all over Africa, from the Congo to Kenya to Sudan. I know that they and the people they serve frequently encounter danger as a result of their beliefs. Christians in Kenya have faced rising persecution from Muslim groups, and Christians in Sudan have faced a Muslim campaign to wipe out the faith. I am thankful for organizations such as Persecution Project, World Vision and others that work with persecuted Christians and also work to shine a light on the abuses some Christians face.

How do you pray for Christians facing persecution? How do you teach your children about it? Do you have any stories of the persecuted church to share?

A Different Sort of Bean Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Growing up in the South, my idea of bean salad usually consisted of the three-bean variety with a sweet n' tangy apple cider vinegar-spiked dressing. Then one day I encountered the yumminess that is Stella's in Richmond. Eating there is something of a rare treat for me, but when I do, they have a bean salad that I just love. I've never been able to figure out exactly how it's made, but this is my closest approximation. And in early March, when the farmers' market isn't in full swing yet, this dish definitely hits the spot. Just add a loaf of bread, some extra-virgin olive oil to dip it in, and you've got a light but satisfying Mediterranean style meal.

Mediterranean-Style Bean Salad

Green beans, cut into 2 inch pieces - I use about 1/4 or 1/3 pound to feed 3-4 people; the recipe is infinitely expandable, though

frozen lima beans(thawed) - about 1/3 pound

Half of a can of chickpeas (15 oz. can)

2 ribs celery, chopped fine

1/3 red onion, cut in half and sliced paper-thin

sea salt and black pepper to taste

1 lemon

1/3 cup (or more, if you like) freshly chopped herbs - parsley, mint, maybe even a little dill (use what tastes good to you!)

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil

1. Put about 1 1/2 inches of water in a saucepan and heat to boiling over medium heat. Add steamer basket and steam lima beans,covered, for about 7-8 minutes.
2. Add green beans to the steamer basket with the limas, cover pan again, and steam for another 4-5 minutes.
3. Remove steamer basket, but leave saucepan and water boiling on stove. Turn heat up to high and boil, uncovered, until water reduced to about 1 Tablespoon.
4. Rinse beans in cold water and place in salad bowl.
5. Add chickpeas, celery, and onion to beans in salad bowl. Stir to combine, add salt and pepper and toss salad again.
6. Squeeze lemon into salad. Stir in herbs, oil and the reduced steaming liquid. Blend together, cover bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours to overnight.
7. Crumble feta cheese across the top when serving, and enjoy!

Where is Home?

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:35:00 +0000

I've never entirely liked that Robert Frost quotation, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." The grimness of the duty implied in that sentence always leaves me cold. It's a begrudging sort of charity implied there. For me, home is the place where, when you have to go there, they want to welcome you in.

Home has warmth to me, it has welcome. I'm truly an introvert and yet I still want my own home to be warm and welcoming to others. I don't ever want anyone to feel brought into my house out of duty alone. I have been promised home as an example of warmth and love, and how can I not try to share that warmth and love with others even if my ways are human and flawed?

Goodness knows, our Father in Heaven does not take us into His home out of cold duty alone. We are told in John that God so loved the world, He gave His only son for us. We are told in Luke's parable of the lost sheep how God will go after our lost selves and in Galatians 4, Paul writes of how God saved us so that He could adopt us as His children. And going back to John, how can we forget Christ in Chapter 14 telling of His father's house with many mansions and of the place He goes to prepare for us there. None of what God gives us comes from duty. He is almighty and all that He showers on us is given out of love for His children.

And when I think on that example of home, I remember. As heartbreakingly beautiful as this place can be, this is not my home. There is more than what my human eyes see on Earth and home with God stretches into eternity. Seen like that, the word "home" feels a little less commonplace, doesn't it?

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This piece was written in five minutes (and goodness, I hope I got my citations right since I did them from memory! Correct me gently in the comments if I'm wrong.) for Five Minute Friday.

The Chicken Soup Un-Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:07:00 +0000

As far as I'm concerned, chicken soup is one of those dishes that can exist in infinite variation. Some give it an Asian twist, with rice noodles, fresh cilantro and sriracha sauce. Others stick to the traditional version, flavoring the broth with salt, pepper, perhaps a few herbs and some carrots. When I'm craving comfort, I often turn to chicken soup and I find it's also the perfect dish for experiment with whatever I have in my pantry and refrigerator. So, what do I do to get to this?
1. I start with chicken (obviously.) I'm fortunate enough to have a good butcher shop nearby that offers local and organic meat, so I will often buy chicken from them. Depending on the size of your family, you can get a little or a lot. There's just two of us at home, so a small package of chicken thighs works nicely. A quick note: dark meat will give your soup more flavor than white.

2. I cut up the chicken and then sear it briefly to enhance the flavor. After that, I add several cups of stock (anywhere from 5-6 cups to a couple of quarts depending on how much soup you want to make.) You can use your own homemade stock or if you don't have any on hand, mix up something pre-prepared. I like to use Wildtree's Chicken Bouillon Base because it doesn't have MSG or some of the other scary-sounding chemicals I encounter elsewhere.

3. Bring everything to a steady boil, and then add in some veggies, salt and pepper. Be creative! This time around, I had carrots and celery on hand, so that's what I used. And of course, an onion or some garlic is a must. Whatever vegetables you think would make for a satisfying soup, chop them up and throw them in. Chicken goes with almost anything!

4. If you like your soup to have a little more substance, see what kind of grains you have in the pantry. If you have pasta, you will want to wait until about 10 minutes before serving to toss it in, but if you want to use rice or something that takes longer to cook, toss it in now.

5. If you plan to add any spices, add those, too. A pinch of cumin or even cinnamon can add a hint of interesting flavor if you're feeling adventurous. And if you like heat, throwing in a dried pepper, such as one of these chipotles, makes for a tasty broth.

6. Turn the heat down to low or medium-low, cover the pot and let everything simmer for 40 minutes or so.

7. After things have simmered for about 40 minutes or so, throw in any herbs that you might want to add. Their flavor can turn bitter or dissapate if added to early, so I usually wait to throw mine in later. Thyme, fresh parsley and rosemary go well in chicken soup. If you're going for a southwestern flavor with hot peppers and the like, chopped fresh cilantro makes a nice addition, too.

8. Cover the soup again and let it simmer for 10-20 minutes or so.

9. And the final trick? Right before I serve the soup, I like to add something that will give the broth a little zing and make the flavors sparkle a bit. Lemon or lime juice is good for this, and sometimes I've used just a dab of apple cider vinegar and that's been good, too. This time around, with the hot pepper and other flavors I had going in this soup, I just squeezed a lime over it, and that worked nicely.

Have fun creating and bon appetit!!

Midweek Links: They Comfort Me

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:12:00 +0000

As you know from my last post, I've been healing from a miscarriage, an experience that probably scars my heart more than my body at this point. It brought about a lot of soul-searching, prayer and some very difficult days. And in the midst of it all, there were things I read, that comforted me a lot.

My friend Jessalyn over at Desiring Virtue knows this place of hurt and healing, and her story moved me the first time I read it,and inspires me now. Her reflections on prayer in the wake of having gone through miscarriage also gave me great comfort and reassurance in my own prayer life.

And if you search through other Christian websites, many other wonderful women have walked this path before and I have found a number of helpful testimonies and devotionals. This post from At the Well was a good resource as well.

I mentioned before that I found it helpful to read and meditate upon Scripture. Psalms especially spoke to my soul, and in addition to reading my Bible, I appreciated some of the art I found here. A word of caution - there can be some unsavory things on Tumblr at times, so explore with discernment.

And there was music. My brother sent me this song because he thought the lyrics would speak to me even if it wasn't my usual style of music. And it did - in some ways this one was a psalm of comfort in modern language - a cry to God of anguish and a hymn of thanksgiving for His faithfulness, both of which I feel keenly.

And what about you? What have you found comforting in times of loss?

Emerging from the Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:09:00 +0000

I know I've been offline for a bit. I suppose it's fair to say that I had one of those times of turning inward, where I just did not have the words to blog. I needed simply to rest, to be and to seek God's will in ways that I just couldn't while blogging.

It's been quite a summer/fall/winter here. I had what I thought was a much worse than usual allergy season and then I started feeling just as sick as could be. I could barely drag myself out of bed in the mornings(and I'm usually a very high energy person!), drifted in a fog through the day, and kept getting dizzy and/or sick to my stomach.

Finally I broke down and went to the doctor. And after having been told for 8 years that I would not have children of my own, the incredible had happened. I was pregnant - and immediately my mind was filled with visions of miracles. I wasn't sure when I wanted to go public about it, but caution told me to at least get through that first trimester - and then, when I was not quite 12 weeks along, I miscarried.

I still don't even know enough words to really describe all that dark time. I couldn't make sense of why any of this would happen. Why would I by some miracle conceive and then lose this so-wanted child? Was it my fault somehow that this happened? Was there some lesson God was trying to teach me that I just couldn't understand? At first there really wasn't much I could understand, though I developed an all new appreciation for those portions of Psalms wherein the psalmist cries out to God from the most anguished corners of the heart. I could cry those words aloud, too, because they had taken on new meaning, just as the words of comfort that so often accompany these passages went deeper into my heart than ever before as well.

I sat down to write so many times, but the will to craft words just would not come to me. I needed comfort and I needed God, even though much of the time I could only sit in His presence weeping. I know that I had friends praying for me even if I wasn't the most communicative, and to this day, I treasure that because I know I needed(and still need) their love and prayers. There's nothing that really prepares one for this rollercoaster of hope and disappointment and grief, and it's the sort of agony I couldn't wish on anyone.

And I developed an all-new appreciation for my husband. He's not the most emotionally demonstrative person, but he was the one who prayed with me and for me, and grieved with me over this child of ours that we only got to see in a single ultrasound. I've never felt so close to him as when we walked through those dark days of mourning for a dream and a life that we'd only just begun rejoicing for.

Finally, I've reached a point where I feel like I'm really back and fully present in my life again. I still have some dark, sad days but I have my words and music again. I'm homemaking and working from home once more, and with renewed purpose that makes me feel more focused than before. I don't even pretend to know all the whys of what happened and I often think I won't truly understand it all this side of heaven.

But sometimes I think God gives me glimmers - like the one I heard this Sunday as our pastor preached from Ecclesiastes, reminding us that God has a time for everything. He mentioned specifically that in Christian circles, we are often exhorted to do many things in service to God, but he reminded us that God has His own timing and that there will be times when we may speak and do much outwardly in service of God but there are also times when God calls us to be silent. I needed to hear that because this time of mourning and growth has been one of those times of listening and meditating.

It has been difficult and dark, and I expect I will talk about part of it in more detail as I blog again(there's just too much that goes through my head for me to put it all in one post), but there has been good in the darkness. More importantly, there was God. I may have been offline but I was never truly alone.

Memorial Day - 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:37:00 +0000

In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- John McCrae

This poem, some might call it <i><b>the</i></b> poem of World War I may feel a little dated now. Wars have come and gone and the trenches of World War I feel far removed from the deserts where soldiers bravely serve today. And yet, these words capture that spirit of solemn remembrance like no other work I know.

There are so many ways to remember on Memorial Day: parades, church services, cemetery walks, and some would argue that just living celebrates the day because it shows that the sacrifices of our militaries around the world have not been in vain. On this day, I think of how much I respect our armed forces here in the United States and try to honor the sacrifices they and their families make.

And I pray...
Pray for the soldiers deployed to war, that they may serve as God has called them and return safely home,

Prayers of thanksgiving for all who have served over the years to preserve our freedom,

Pray for military families and all of the sacrifices they make, even in peacetime, as they move every few years and live through soldiers going out to drill, sailors at sea for months at a time, and all of the other challenges of military life,

Pray for the families of those called into service who did not make it safely home again,

Pray for God's blessing on all of those whom he is calling into service in the military, that they would be able to serve Him as they protect our country,

and praying for all of those in our military that they would know God's saving grace for while I love my country, God's love and salvation are infinitely greater.

Thank you to all who have served in our armed forces!

Creamed Chicken and Biscuits

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:33:00 +0000

Sometimes life just calls for a little bit of comfort food. This nice, creamy chicken sauce mixed up with biscuits just hits the spot. Even better, this recipe serves 6-8 people, and can easily be doubled to accomodate a larger family or table full of guests.

Creamed Chicken and Biscuits1 stick unsalted butter
about 2/3 - 3/4 pound of carrots, onions and celery, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (I use White Lily, but most brands work fine)
6 cups chicken stock, either homemade or from a base (if you use bouillion, try to find one without MSG) 1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
3 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast
about 4 oz. of frozen peas, thawed

1. Melt butter on medium heat, add veggies and turn temperature up to medium-high. Stir and cook until vegetables begin to soften, 7-10 minutes.

2. Add the flour and stir until combined. Lower heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Don't let flour burn!

3. Add 1 cup stock to the pasty mixture and stir until smooth.

4. Keep adding stock 1/2 - 1 cup at a time, stirring until smooth, until all stock has been added.

5. Bring mixture to a boil and then turn heat to medium-low.

6. Slowly stir in heavy cream, and add salt and pepper.

7. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in peas 10-12 minutes before serving.

A note on the biscuits: Just about any drop biscuit recipe will do here. I've made this with everything from superfast Bisquik biscuits to the made-from-scratch variety. They're all good with this chicken sauce. I will normally set the chicken aside after it's cooked, make up my biscuits, and then add the peas to the chicken sauce while the biscuits bake. After that, serving up the dish is easy. Enjoy!

Book Review: From Dust and Ashes

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:31:00 +0000

The Book: From Dust and Ashes by Tricia Goyer
Moody Publishers, $13.99 (2003)
In From Dust and Ashes, Tricia Goyer tells a story of faith and hope set against one of those dark times most people try not to think of - the aftermath of the Holocaust. Set in St. Georgen, Austria as World War II draws to a close in Europe, the author does an absolutely fabulous job of bringing the confusion and tragedy of that time to life. And even better, she lightens her story with hope of healing for her characters.<

The characters in this book are a disparate lot. The story opens as the pregnant wife of an SS concentration camp guard watches her husband flee their housing in the dead of night. They know that Allied troops approach, and much of the story focuses on what happens when they arrive. Unlike many of the SS wives, Helene comes from St. Georgen and her father takes her in after her husband leaves. When the troops arrive, Helene is moved by pity over what she discovers in the now-liberated camp and she and her father take two of the concentration camp survivors.

From there much of the story focuses on the recovery of the two women taken in by Helene as well as on Helene's own healing. Given the hatred of the SS among the survivors, the American troops and many of the townspeople, Helene keeps her past a secret. Some of the Americans befriend Helene and her family and one of them, Peter Scott, seems to take a special interest in Helene and her guests.

From some of the incidents in the book, it becomes obvious early on that even though the camp at St. Georgen is liberated, this is still a dangerous time. War has left the country quite unstable and in Austria, one also sees the tug of war between the Americans and the Soviets over the occupation of territory - a power struggle with huge day to day consequences for the Austrians being governed. And then there are the SS who have evaded capture and still cause trouble here and there. Amid all the intrigue, we see Helene, her friends from the camp, and Peter all learned to find hope in God and to rebuild. That message of faith and hope comes through this story loud and clear, and it's truly inspirational rather than preachy.

The author tells a very big, wide-ranging story in this novel and a huge cast of characters is required to weave all those strands of story together. One can tell that the author thoroughly researched her story and that she enjoyed her subject. It shows in the strong storytelling, and both the characters and the high adventure of this story kept me flying through the pages. Not only does Tricia Goyer tell a good story, but she tells one that uplifts and inspires the reader. While some of the details in this book are probably not for young children or for the squeamish, it's an excellent story and I recommend it.

Taco Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Well, I love soup and I love the seasonings that go into tacos, so when faced with leftover ground beef and some random odds and ends of vegetables, I came up with...

Taco Soup
8 oz. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 T. flour
2 cups water
about 1 lb. whole kernel corn (I used thawed, frozen corn but canned should work)
1 can kidney beans
1 lb. canned/bottled diced tomatoes*
2 T. taco seasoning
1 T. taco sauce - pick your spice level :)
1 tsp. non-salt seasoning salt (Tony Chachere's makes a good no-salt seasoning salt, and Penzey's Forward is also quite good, though I take issue with some of Penzey's politics)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

1. Brown ground beef and onion in skillet, stirring frequently. Drain.

2. Add flour and stir until dissolved. Add water and pour mixture into large saucepan.

3. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, taco seasoning, taco sauce, seasoning salt alternative, and garlic powder. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

4. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Serve hot. This is great garnished with shredded cheddar, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, etc... Serves 8.

*With tomatoes, it can be hard in some areas to find tomatoes that aren't canned. I try to go BPA-free, though, for health reasons. Muir Glen is BPA-free and I'm sure there are other brands, too.

Happy Easter and Giveaway Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:01:00 +0000

I hope that everyone had a happy and blessed Easter. It was a beautiful day here, and we had a wonderful time sharing it with my in-laws and our church family. Christ is risen indeed, and may we continue living in that promise even after Easter Day has passed.

And now we have a winner in my Wee Sing musical giveaway. Thanks to the good folks at Random.org, the randomly drawn comment winner is....#6 - Tami of A Godly Homemaker! Congratulations!