Day Six Hundred Ninety Two

Jessie is quite the little ham and loves to perform the Itsy Bitsy Spider.  Typically, once finished she signs "more" and says "'pider!" But of course, once I got the video going, she was done after one performance.

Impatience

Isaiah 8:16: I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in God.

I spend way too much time waiting for something to happen.  I spend my weekdays wishing for the weekends.  I spend my daughters’ lives wishing they were x [usually older] age so we can do X [really big thing]. I spend winter wishing for warmer weather and summer wishing for cooler weather.  My impatience does not make it happen any sooner than it will and all I do is spend time in worry or want when I could spend that time in the moment. Enjoying my work, enjoying my daughters, enjoying my life.  Abba, when I get into those modes of want or worry, remind me of what I do have.  Remind me of your blessings you have already given.  Remind me to step out in faith and that you will richly bless me and my family when I do.

This blog post was inspired by Rachel at Faith & Water and her weekly prayer writing prompts.

April Wine Club

At the end of March, I was debating changing my wine club selection from the Simply Wine Club to the Adventurer's Club.  The Adventurer's Club is 2 bottles and would save me $5/month.  I met some girl friends at Simply Wine March 31 and asked Sue if it was too late to change clubs.  She suggested that I see what the 3 bottle club had to offer first.  And while I haven't opened anything yet, I'm very happy that I did! 

On the very left is Senda 66 Tempranillo.  It is Spanish and to have lots of cherry flavor.  I'm not sure if I've had a Tempranillo before, but I'm rather getting into all these reds lately!

Next is the Siegel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  Per Sue, more cherries and perhaps some pepper.  And it appears to include both Cab grapes and a few Syrah (probably what brings in the pepper!)

Finally, is the one that I know is why Sue suggested staying in this club: the Reginato Sparkling Rose of Malbec.  I've had a few Malbecs lately and have enjoyed them.  And I'm very much looking forward to this one!  Especially as it is sparkling!  My friend Diane & I are saving this for June when her sister comes to visit so we can enjoy it together, and with some pizza.  And bonus: it's Argentinean [I love South American wines and don't drink them as often as I should]!

Happylujah!

Easter makes me happy.  Easter signifies the renewal of the spring and summer, trees are budding, tulips are blooming (someday I’ll remember to plant them in the garden in the fall when we clean it up).  We had a quiet Easter celebration that started with church on Thursday & Friday, celebrating Rocky’s dissertation completion with friends on Saturday, and, of course, church on Sunday.  While the girls are little [and maybe continue when they are a bit older], the Easter Bunny will continue to hide little outdoor presents and we’ll stuff our own eggs with candy.  I did keep the candy to a minimum this year and that seemed to work out well.

I think the Easter Bunny may have met the Tooth Fairy as they both visited our home the night before :)

Shall Not Be Moved

Some reflections on Psalm 15 because, once again, I looked at these verses in a new light and instead of becoming frustrated or feeling unworthy, grace, wonderful grace, has turned these words around for me.  I now find comfort in the knowledge that while by man's standards I am completely unworthy, God's grace and forgiveness makes me worthy and I will not be moved from God's presence, from His Holy hill.

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on  your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellow man,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things
will never be shaken.

New International Version

That list is so incredible and impossible.  I know I am not blameless nor do I consider myself righteous.  The rest of the list is definitely not easy, and probably more difficult.  I am blameless because of God's grace and forgiveness.  The rest of that I can only hope to accomplish because of his forgiveness and only with his assistance.  I cannot go it alone.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.  Acts 3:19, King James Version

Preparing For Today ... And Tomorrow

The past few days, I've been feeling a familiar tug of wanderlust.  We've been in Billings for almost 5 years and really do not have a desire to move again. We like our house, our church, our community. Maggie likes her school.  I like my job (most of the time!)  But with Rocky's dissertation done and graduation around the corner, I've started wondering ... [and yes I'm going to leave it at that]

So, today, I ran across a "letter from Jesus" I received during my walk and am making this my prayer today.

Let me prepare you for the day that stretches out before you.  I know exactly what this day will contain, you have only vague ideas about it.  You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey.  You'd feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead.  However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today: Spend quality time with Me.

I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.  My living presence is your Companion each step of the way.  Stay in continual communication with Me, whispering My name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts.  Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on Me.  My abiding presence is the best road map available. 

Love, Jesus

Maundy Thursday

Last night, I attended Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, services at church.  This service has long been one of my favorites.  The Last Supper itself is a fascinating event.  The Passover Meal, shared amongst Jesus' followers, and Jesus calling out Judas.

From Twitter last night: David Hansen ‏ @rev_david  #thatawkwardmoment When your friend calls you out at dinner for plotting to kill him. #maundythursday

As part of my experience of the evening, last night I tweeted through the service [Rocky thought I shouldn't have done that as I should have been "paying attention." I feel like I was just taking notes.] and I have decided I want to "keep" those tweets by preserving them here. 

#MaundyThursday a new commandment given so long ago on this holy day

All are welcomed to His table tonight

Come, be a part of His story. Of his feast.

John 13:1 The full extent of His love for us. He allowed the events to transpire. [It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ]

Peter's unbridled enthusiasm! John 13. [v 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” ]

Am I just going through the motions of Easter? Or am I participating fully?

Is it I Lord? How have I betrayed my Lord today?

Have I washed my hands of the responsibility today? Where have I been inactive?

How have I been changed by this meal? By His sacrifice?

Change my heart oh God may I be like you.

Holy communion is the family of God coming together, where our hands & hearts come together

RT Jeff Rudy ‏ @jmrudy81 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends." - Jesus #MaundyThursday
Thank you Lord for that unspeakable gift that is ours.

The mandatum "new commandment" Love each other as I have loved you.

There were a lot of Tweets with the #MaundyThursday hashtag and I thought about checking the #HolyThursday hashtag, but the ritual person in me prefers to call this day "Maundy Thursday." And now seeing that Maundy is actually from the Latin Mandatum for a "New Commandment," I think I prefer it even more.

I leave this post with a verse from a song Dave Oltrogge, one of our music ministry leaders at church, wrote a few years ago for this very service.  The song is called "The Upper Room."

Please remember this night and what we do
The broken bread and cup and the life poured out for you
Please remember that in this upper room
You were with Jesus the Lamb God gave for you.
You were with Jesus.

Celebration!

This has been a week of celebration!  On Friday, March 30, Rocky defended his dissertation and is now officially Rocky Dailey, Ed.D.  This has been a long time coming and I’m so proud of him having reached this goal.  And on Tuesday, Rocky turned Jessie’s car seat around and found my wedding rings! So, to celebrate [mostly Rocky’s dissertation completion] I made a special meal for us: Cocoa Rubbed Strip Steak, twice-baked potatoes and for dessert Towering Flourless Chocolate Cake; the entire meal inspired by the March issue of my Food Network magazine.

The steak was wonderful!  The cocoa powder in the rub added a new level to the golden brown & deliciousness of the crust.  I let the steaks sit for about 30 minutes with the rub on before searing in a cast iron skillet.  8 minutes per side, about 10 minutes in the oven and 5 minutes resting prior to carving.  We all enjoyed the steak, and Maggie even enjoyed it without Ranch!  Rocky has stated that this can be added to the go to list with the Ribs.

For dessert, I thought this might be a good time to try something I have wanted to try for a while, and wanted to attempt for some friends, one who has allergies and I have heard good things about flourless chocolate cakes.  I love almost anything chocolate and the picture in the magazine was amazing!  Now, obviously, my cake is not “Towering.” My folding skills suck, but mostly because I don’t do it often enough to be any good at it.  So, my meringue fell.  I think if, when, I attempt this again, I will get a stiff peak on the meringue before folding.  The cake is a bit more bitter than we like [the recipe has bittersweet chocolate and unsweetened chocolate and very little sugar], but it’s not bad with the meringue. 

Rocky enjoyed Moose Drool with his meal.  I enjoyed a glass (or 2) of Hecula, a nice Spanish red wine with a nice berry flavor and a wonderful floral finish.