"As pertaining to good deeds therefore, do the best thou canst, and desire God to give strength to do better daily; but in Christ put thy trust, and in the pardon and promises that God hath made thee for His sake; and on that rock build thine house, and there dwell. For there only shalt thou be sure from all storms and tempests, and from all wily assaults," William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man.
Sometimes on this journey to becoming a better person, I feel quite lonely. When I read hundreds of years old quotes as above, I am lifted. It's the same struggle for all who wish to see God again. It's a good road.
Showing posts with label Walk With God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walk With God. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
marvel time and again
I marvel time and again that I live in this time and place with its wealth of the written word and liberty of thought, word, and religion. Each evening I listen to Alexander Scourby read the Bible. Each morning I read a bit of William Tyndale's biography. Since before Tyndale's great work common people were forbidden to read the Bible, which wasn't even translated into English, these two directly correlate. What a blessing to have scripture!
"I vehemently dissent from those who are unwilling that the sacred scriptures, translated into the vulgar (common) tongue, should be read by private persons. Christ wishes His mysteries to be published as widely as possible. I would wish even all women to read the gospel and epistles of St. Paul, and I wish that they were translated into all languages of all Christian people, that they might be read and known, not merely by the Scotch and the Irish, but even by the Turks and the Saracens. I wish that the husbandman may sing parts of them at his plow, that the weaver may warble them at his shuttle, that the traveller may with their narratives beguile the weariness of the way." Erasmus translated from Latin by William Tyndale.
Some say these sentiments of Erasmus began William Tyndale's desire to translate the Bible into English. I'm so grateful for his sacrifice.
"I vehemently dissent from those who are unwilling that the sacred scriptures, translated into the vulgar (common) tongue, should be read by private persons. Christ wishes His mysteries to be published as widely as possible. I would wish even all women to read the gospel and epistles of St. Paul, and I wish that they were translated into all languages of all Christian people, that they might be read and known, not merely by the Scotch and the Irish, but even by the Turks and the Saracens. I wish that the husbandman may sing parts of them at his plow, that the weaver may warble them at his shuttle, that the traveller may with their narratives beguile the weariness of the way." Erasmus translated from Latin by William Tyndale.
Some say these sentiments of Erasmus began William Tyndale's desire to translate the Bible into English. I'm so grateful for his sacrifice.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
the sum
"Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction. And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," Alma 10:19-20.
Although this (and all scripture) is a history of people long ago, it was recorded for our day. A representative government cannot work if the people are not virtuous. It is impossible to save a wicked people from itself. The time has come in the U.S. that the voice of the people choose iniquity and transgression. Are we then ripe for destruction? Is there still time to repent? The whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. If the majority of the people repent and choose righteousness, we may yet retain our liberty.
Although this (and all scripture) is a history of people long ago, it was recorded for our day. A representative government cannot work if the people are not virtuous. It is impossible to save a wicked people from itself. The time has come in the U.S. that the voice of the people choose iniquity and transgression. Are we then ripe for destruction? Is there still time to repent? The whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. If the majority of the people repent and choose righteousness, we may yet retain our liberty.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
peace and happiness
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8.
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20.
We live in that day, when good is called evil. People lose their jobs or worse for defending the commandments of God. Fornication, murder, and all manner of sin is heralded as good, while those who fight to keep the commandments are called narrow-minded, backward, bigots. I've yet to meet a happy addict, whether food, alcohol, tobacco, sex, gambling, or drugs. Single parenthood or foster care isn't better than an intact family with father, mother, and children. Killing unborn children isn't the good 'choice' some trick women into believing. Bending 'truth' to the situation is still lying. Forcing people to support evil or idle lifestyles of others is stealing. Allowing teachers to propagandize children without regard to their parents wishes usurps the sanctity of the family and the community. Boys growing up without fathers run rampant in the streets, killing, raping, and stealing. Girls dress provocatively but are incensed when someone looks. Men won't commit to family life. Women act macho and attempt to raise children alone.
God gave us commandments to promote peace and happiness.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
quite refreshing
Praying For...Sammy that she will gain a close relationship with Jesus Christ and learn the joy found in feasting upon the Word...that she and other children around the world will be blessed with freedom from evil influences, hunger, and danger during childhood...that leaders of nations will soften their hearts and embrace peace.
Ponderizations..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8. It is so easy to slip away from the straight and narrow and fall into sin.
Yorkie Yarns...traveling up for tax season, Dash was a champ...except in the hotel...every time someone walked by the room, she barked like one possessed of a demon. Although I don't sleep with animals as a rule, I put the leash on her and brought her to bed. This settled her down so we could all sleep. She loves the cottage and park here.
Teaching Little Children...I miss my little friends very much. Maybe I can find a place to volunteer here.
I Write...I finally figured out a problem for the new book I'm writing. Because I'm the optimistic type and love my characters as if they were real, I have a terrible time giving them problems. Painting a picture of the characters and setting is no problem. I love researching each little piece to the puzzle, which always has something to do with teaching children, planting a garden, and raising dogs in some exotic location.
Cucina Fresca...you've heard of i-pads and i-phones, but I bet i-pots boggle a bit. Since this place only has a hot plate, I decided to try out the instant pot: rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker, saute pan, yogurt maker, warmer, and steamer. Apparently, it will cook dry pintos in 30 minutes or soaked ones in 10. There will be no more scrambling to come up with dinner when the pintos are still hard in the slow cooker. I can't wait to steam some fat-free, plant-perfect, blue corn calabacitas y frijoles negros tamales, mmmm.
Bibliophilia...sent Sammy Blue Willow by Doris Gates, a Newbery honor book. Since I haven't read it yet, a used copy is coming here, too. I also got her and some of the other grands Scripture Power! Book of Mormon Journal for Children by Elizabeth Dorathy. It's a great journal that I tried out last fall. Although it is a bit too juvenile for me, it had some thought provoking questions. It will be great for Sammy, Cole, Gayle, and Oakley if they choose to utilize it. I hope to be some sort of example for good with my grands, which is why I send them letters, great literature, art books, science kits, and now scripture journals.
Sound of Music...I also sent Sammy the first DVDs in the Piano for Life series by Mark Almond. It's a great way to learn to play the piano, because they gain an understanding of the basic structures of harmony before learning to read music. With traditional (and very expensive methods), many people give up out of exasperation and frustration. With Mark Almond's method, people can play beautiful music and improvisation on their journey to reading music. No more Hot Cross Buns for months on end. Two of my children learned the harmony method intuitively. In fact it was hard to get S to focus on his lesson material each week as he improvised chord structure to Nintendo tunes. I enjoyed the method immensely until access to a piano stopped. Finally, my arthritis pain is gone, which will allow me to play my uke again. However, the frozen shoulder prevents violin at all. It seems every time I pick up my violin, something forces me to lay it down again. Maybe, that pastime will need to remain a lovely memory.
Needle News...I have come up with a design for a new crossover bag. I bought one that is almost right, but now I know exactly what I want. Also, the skirt I'm working on is almost perfect. I have a cheap skirt from Walmart with a great fit. I'm using it as the basic pattern but adding a front kick pleat instead of the back slit--plus I might put in a couple, concealed, zipper pockets. Sewing by hand is slow process but more rewarding.
Movement...the park a couple doors down is right on the river. It's a nice walk but only feels safe in the afternoons, when it's filled with mothers and their small children. I'm such a scaredy cat. There is another park the other direction with a dog park. I haven't tried that one, since I didn't have a dog last year. Essentrics is still a wonder for me. Each hour I like to take ten minute stretch breaks, which I plan to use to reintroduce yoga poses alternating with outdoor mini walks. I'm also going to incorporate Dr. Kim's shoulder exercises, as his foam rolling completely healed my back and hip pain. Frozen shoulder is a bear.
Cottage Life...I have the best of both worlds. Up here I live in a tiny house and down home my home is spacious. Cottage living forces one to focus on needs vs wants. As I select items to include in a 350 square foot life, I focus on quality over quantity. It's quite refreshing.
Ponderizations..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8. It is so easy to slip away from the straight and narrow and fall into sin.
Yorkie Yarns...traveling up for tax season, Dash was a champ...except in the hotel...every time someone walked by the room, she barked like one possessed of a demon. Although I don't sleep with animals as a rule, I put the leash on her and brought her to bed. This settled her down so we could all sleep. She loves the cottage and park here.
Teaching Little Children...I miss my little friends very much. Maybe I can find a place to volunteer here.
I Write...I finally figured out a problem for the new book I'm writing. Because I'm the optimistic type and love my characters as if they were real, I have a terrible time giving them problems. Painting a picture of the characters and setting is no problem. I love researching each little piece to the puzzle, which always has something to do with teaching children, planting a garden, and raising dogs in some exotic location.
Cucina Fresca...you've heard of i-pads and i-phones, but I bet i-pots boggle a bit. Since this place only has a hot plate, I decided to try out the instant pot: rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker, saute pan, yogurt maker, warmer, and steamer. Apparently, it will cook dry pintos in 30 minutes or soaked ones in 10. There will be no more scrambling to come up with dinner when the pintos are still hard in the slow cooker. I can't wait to steam some fat-free, plant-perfect, blue corn calabacitas y frijoles negros tamales, mmmm.
Bibliophilia...sent Sammy Blue Willow by Doris Gates, a Newbery honor book. Since I haven't read it yet, a used copy is coming here, too. I also got her and some of the other grands Scripture Power! Book of Mormon Journal for Children by Elizabeth Dorathy. It's a great journal that I tried out last fall. Although it is a bit too juvenile for me, it had some thought provoking questions. It will be great for Sammy, Cole, Gayle, and Oakley if they choose to utilize it. I hope to be some sort of example for good with my grands, which is why I send them letters, great literature, art books, science kits, and now scripture journals.
Sound of Music...I also sent Sammy the first DVDs in the Piano for Life series by Mark Almond. It's a great way to learn to play the piano, because they gain an understanding of the basic structures of harmony before learning to read music. With traditional (and very expensive methods), many people give up out of exasperation and frustration. With Mark Almond's method, people can play beautiful music and improvisation on their journey to reading music. No more Hot Cross Buns for months on end. Two of my children learned the harmony method intuitively. In fact it was hard to get S to focus on his lesson material each week as he improvised chord structure to Nintendo tunes. I enjoyed the method immensely until access to a piano stopped. Finally, my arthritis pain is gone, which will allow me to play my uke again. However, the frozen shoulder prevents violin at all. It seems every time I pick up my violin, something forces me to lay it down again. Maybe, that pastime will need to remain a lovely memory.
Needle News...I have come up with a design for a new crossover bag. I bought one that is almost right, but now I know exactly what I want. Also, the skirt I'm working on is almost perfect. I have a cheap skirt from Walmart with a great fit. I'm using it as the basic pattern but adding a front kick pleat instead of the back slit--plus I might put in a couple, concealed, zipper pockets. Sewing by hand is slow process but more rewarding.
Movement...the park a couple doors down is right on the river. It's a nice walk but only feels safe in the afternoons, when it's filled with mothers and their small children. I'm such a scaredy cat. There is another park the other direction with a dog park. I haven't tried that one, since I didn't have a dog last year. Essentrics is still a wonder for me. Each hour I like to take ten minute stretch breaks, which I plan to use to reintroduce yoga poses alternating with outdoor mini walks. I'm also going to incorporate Dr. Kim's shoulder exercises, as his foam rolling completely healed my back and hip pain. Frozen shoulder is a bear.
Cottage Life...I have the best of both worlds. Up here I live in a tiny house and down home my home is spacious. Cottage living forces one to focus on needs vs wants. As I select items to include in a 350 square foot life, I focus on quality over quantity. It's quite refreshing.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
get it
This is the lesson God has been trying to teach me over the last few years. I hope I get it this time.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
becoming
Alma 13:28-This
scripture tells us how to avoid temptations beyond the breaking point. However,
in following these directions, we must not be puffed up or arrogant. Instead, we
must choose charity and meekness.
Mosiah 3:19- Here again we are told we cannot become like God or emulate the character of Christ unless we are meek and gentle as a little child.
2 Nephi 30:9-The world has told men for eons that fighters are winners. Women seem to be embracing that idea now as well. God tells us the opposite is correct. When all has been said and done, meekness, charity, kindness, and such will prove victorious in the end. What a victory that will be.
2 Nephi 28:13-Here poor, meek, and poor in heart seem to be lumped together. How the rich hurt these people is the real question.
Some women I meet are aggressive, harsh, and indelicate; they are anything but meek. Am I in that category? I may be more than I desire. Although others see meekness as weakness, I see it as the ultimate strength. As a daughter of God, one way to stand as a witness of Christ is to patiently listen and quietly model this characteristic.
Mosiah 3:19- Here again we are told we cannot become like God or emulate the character of Christ unless we are meek and gentle as a little child.
2 Nephi 30:9-The world has told men for eons that fighters are winners. Women seem to be embracing that idea now as well. God tells us the opposite is correct. When all has been said and done, meekness, charity, kindness, and such will prove victorious in the end. What a victory that will be.
2 Nephi 28:13-Here poor, meek, and poor in heart seem to be lumped together. How the rich hurt these people is the real question.
Some women I meet are aggressive, harsh, and indelicate; they are anything but meek. Am I in that category? I may be more than I desire. Although others see meekness as weakness, I see it as the ultimate strength. As a daughter of God, one way to stand as a witness of Christ is to patiently listen and quietly model this characteristic.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
state of being
Praying For...Gayle, whose 11th birthday is this week. It's so hard to believe she is in her last year of childhood...I pray that she will choose to grow her faith in Jesus Christ, stay close to her family, find friends that support her values, and turn from sinful, rebellious wolves in sheep's clothing, which is my prayer for all my grands and children all over the world...that the enemies of truth and right and more specifically the enemies of Christianity will be stifled in their efforts but blessed as they soften their hearts...that the servants of God will be blessed and preserved in their efforts to expand the kingdom and save souls.
Ponderizations..."And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Mark 4:40. I fear for this and worry about that. Does it every help? No...This statement of Jesus gives me pause. Where is my faith that He can bind up wounds and heal hurts?
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...I feel so great, a state of being that has eluded me for a couple months. My pain is under control except for the frozen shoulder. I forgot all about taking turmeric and black pepper capsules for inflammation, which I began again. Also, my order of chickpea miso arrived a week or so ago. Miso and rice veggie soup each morning does something wonderful to my allergy problem. Gut swelling is totally gone, when I eat this each day. The large amount of vegetables satiates my need to eat and eat and eat without excess consumption. It takes a long time to chew up a large bowl of veggies. Some sort of mental need is filled that doesn't go away with a full stomach. Like a puppy, I must chew. Weird! We added cayenne to hubby's ginger/honey shots with even greater success.
Cucina Fresca...Around here we really love Mexican food. Because we lived away from the Southwest and its great Mexican restaurants for most of our 34 year marriage, I learned to make most of my favorites at home. After I got ill, I further tweaked my recipes to exclude oils and animal products. Now we are hard pressed to find Mexican restaurants we like. Hubby asked for quinoa tacos, which I haven't made for ages. I wanted change up the recipe to add my shamburger, but found I was out of nearly all the ingredients. That's when the best new recipes are born.
Shamburger Tacos (soft or crunchy)
serves 3 or 4
6 medium mushrooms, minced
3-4 cauliflower flowerets, minced
1/4 t each garlic and onion powders
1 T water
1/2 c quinoa
3/4 c cooked black beans
8 oz can El Pato Jalapeno Salsa
4 oz water
lettuce
tomato
orange bell peppers
avocado (if you are at your best weight and have no heart disease)
cilantro
salsa
2 limes
unfried refritos (mashed seasoned pintos)
12 corn tortillas
2-4 mangos
Cook quinoa, el pato, black beans, and water in a rice cooker. Meanwhile, mince mushrooms and cauliflower. (I've found this quite easy with a regular chef's knife and enjoy it over the food processor of blender method of mincing mushrooms.) Put the mince in a small dry frying pan over high heat with a pinch of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. When they start to sizzle, turn it down to low. Add a Tablespoon of water if they are sticking. When all liquid has evaporated and it is browned, remove from heat and set aside. Shred lettuce, dice avocado, tomatoes and peppers, and mince cilantro; toss this together like a salad. Cut up mangos and quarter limes. When quinoa is finished, stir in the mushroom/cauliflower mixture. Heat tortillas to soften or crisp them in oven. Serve as fajitas with small dishes of shamburger, unfried refritos, salsa, mango, lime, and salad on each plate with the tortillas on a common covered platter. This is a fun meal to eat as each person assembles their tacos as they go.
Ponderizations..."And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Mark 4:40. I fear for this and worry about that. Does it every help? No...This statement of Jesus gives me pause. Where is my faith that He can bind up wounds and heal hurts?
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...I feel so great, a state of being that has eluded me for a couple months. My pain is under control except for the frozen shoulder. I forgot all about taking turmeric and black pepper capsules for inflammation, which I began again. Also, my order of chickpea miso arrived a week or so ago. Miso and rice veggie soup each morning does something wonderful to my allergy problem. Gut swelling is totally gone, when I eat this each day. The large amount of vegetables satiates my need to eat and eat and eat without excess consumption. It takes a long time to chew up a large bowl of veggies. Some sort of mental need is filled that doesn't go away with a full stomach. Like a puppy, I must chew. Weird! We added cayenne to hubby's ginger/honey shots with even greater success.
Cucina Fresca...Around here we really love Mexican food. Because we lived away from the Southwest and its great Mexican restaurants for most of our 34 year marriage, I learned to make most of my favorites at home. After I got ill, I further tweaked my recipes to exclude oils and animal products. Now we are hard pressed to find Mexican restaurants we like. Hubby asked for quinoa tacos, which I haven't made for ages. I wanted change up the recipe to add my shamburger, but found I was out of nearly all the ingredients. That's when the best new recipes are born.
Shamburger Tacos (soft or crunchy)
serves 3 or 4
6 medium mushrooms, minced
3-4 cauliflower flowerets, minced
1/4 t each garlic and onion powders
1 T water
1/2 c quinoa
3/4 c cooked black beans
8 oz can El Pato Jalapeno Salsa
4 oz water
lettuce
tomato
orange bell peppers
avocado (if you are at your best weight and have no heart disease)
cilantro
salsa
2 limes
unfried refritos (mashed seasoned pintos)
12 corn tortillas
2-4 mangos
Cook quinoa, el pato, black beans, and water in a rice cooker. Meanwhile, mince mushrooms and cauliflower. (I've found this quite easy with a regular chef's knife and enjoy it over the food processor of blender method of mincing mushrooms.) Put the mince in a small dry frying pan over high heat with a pinch of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. When they start to sizzle, turn it down to low. Add a Tablespoon of water if they are sticking. When all liquid has evaporated and it is browned, remove from heat and set aside. Shred lettuce, dice avocado, tomatoes and peppers, and mince cilantro; toss this together like a salad. Cut up mangos and quarter limes. When quinoa is finished, stir in the mushroom/cauliflower mixture. Heat tortillas to soften or crisp them in oven. Serve as fajitas with small dishes of shamburger, unfried refritos, salsa, mango, lime, and salad on each plate with the tortillas on a common covered platter. This is a fun meal to eat as each person assembles their tacos as they go.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
chased it out
"When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." Matthew 13:19.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little," Isaiah 28:10.
"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise," John 5:19.
This week I studied It’s Never Too Early and It’s Never Too Late By Bradley D. Foster which was both devastating and hopeful. With my oldest children, I failed although I worked and tried. However, I didn't understand that I chose the adversary's method of force along with all the time, teaching, and sacrifice I gave them. Jesus is ever gentle, charitable, and inviting. I guess my words and testimony went in one ear and out the other of a couple of my dear children. It's as if the yelling chased the time, teaching, loving, and sacrifice right out of their memories.
Here is the hope I find from this talk. "I know I can’t turn back time, but this I now know—that it’s never too early and it’s never too late to lead, guide, and walk beside our children, because families are forever. I can't be like Pablo's father in Brother Foster's anecdote, but I can continue a little activity I started years ago. I imagine myself at the age of a child or grandchild. Then I write fun, newsy letters with a bit of gospel advice attached to a reminiscence or recent experience. AND I pray and pray and pray for the one who gets my letter that week. Of course I pray for each one of them every day, but I make a strong focus of the child or grandchild during their week. God will hear and answer my prayers. Maybe He will intervene and undo the damage I did during my misguided parenting tenure.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little," Isaiah 28:10.
"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise," John 5:19.
This week I studied It’s Never Too Early and It’s Never Too Late By Bradley D. Foster which was both devastating and hopeful. With my oldest children, I failed although I worked and tried. However, I didn't understand that I chose the adversary's method of force along with all the time, teaching, and sacrifice I gave them. Jesus is ever gentle, charitable, and inviting. I guess my words and testimony went in one ear and out the other of a couple of my dear children. It's as if the yelling chased the time, teaching, loving, and sacrifice right out of their memories.
Here is the hope I find from this talk. "I know I can’t turn back time, but this I now know—that it’s never too early and it’s never too late to lead, guide, and walk beside our children, because families are forever. I can't be like Pablo's father in Brother Foster's anecdote, but I can continue a little activity I started years ago. I imagine myself at the age of a child or grandchild. Then I write fun, newsy letters with a bit of gospel advice attached to a reminiscence or recent experience. AND I pray and pray and pray for the one who gets my letter that week. Of course I pray for each one of them every day, but I make a strong focus of the child or grandchild during their week. God will hear and answer my prayers. Maybe He will intervene and undo the damage I did during my misguided parenting tenure.
Friday, January 1, 2016
emulate His character
Although I've studied his later works, I enjoy the writing style of Leland Ryken's How to Read the Bible as Literature much more. As Professor R. B. Allen of Western Seminary said of the book, '...[it will] increase or knowledge about the Bible...enable us to read the Bible with renewed appreciation and excitement and to give us ultimately a more profound grasp of its truths.'
Because I love Jesus Christ, I love the Bible. Appreciation, excitement and a profound grasp of the Bible's truths are certainly goals worth pursuing.
Ryken compares and contrasts expository and literary writing. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill.' The definition of neighbor, whom Jesus commanded we love as ourselves, was explained in such a way so that nobody could misunderstand in the parable The Good Samaritan. So...we pray for enemies that despitefully use us, do good to them that hate us, because Jesus taught us it is the most mature and spiritually advanced way for His disciples to act. In doing so, we emulate His character.
Because I love Jesus Christ, I love the Bible. Appreciation, excitement and a profound grasp of the Bible's truths are certainly goals worth pursuing.
Ryken compares and contrasts expository and literary writing. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill.' The definition of neighbor, whom Jesus commanded we love as ourselves, was explained in such a way so that nobody could misunderstand in the parable The Good Samaritan. So...we pray for enemies that despitefully use us, do good to them that hate us, because Jesus taught us it is the most mature and spiritually advanced way for His disciples to act. In doing so, we emulate His character.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
a new pathway
I'm back to long days of retirement to purposely fill with meaningful activities. Although I will miss the joyful activity of teaching for a season, I know I made the best decision.
“A [woman] only begins to be [great] when [she] ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates [her] life. And [she] adapts [her] mind to that regulating factor, [she] ceases to accuse others as the cause of [her] condition, and builds [herself] up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to [her] more rapid progress, and as a means of the hidden powers and possibilities within [herself]," James Allen, As a Man Thinketh.
A year ago last October, I began keeping a paper prayer/scripture journal, a habit that dramatically improved my prayer life. Lately, writing has become more difficult again. Because my arthritis is caused by reactions to food allergens, I must have a new, still unknown allergen. Too stiff to write by hand, my journaling will take a new/old direction again; I plan to keep my gospel study journal on this blog. While I know I probably only have no readers on this passe forum anymore, blogging continues to be a meaningful backdrop for journal keeping for me. Now that I know the power of writing prayers, I'm glad that I can also have a private blog, a closet if you will, to write out my daily prayers.
Beginning January 1, I plan to center my devotions around scripture with these resources as study guides, journaling on this blog as the Spirit guides.
1. General Conference-Talk (Sermon) of the Week
2. Treasures from the Book of Mormon series (I'm nearly through the second volume of four.)
3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter
4. Church History-Fire in the Bones: William Tyndale, Martyr, Father of the English Bible by S. Michael Wilcox AND Fires of Faith: The Coming Forth of the King James Bible by Lee Groberg, Mark Goodman, Mitch Davis
5. How to Read the Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken and The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter...Sadly, I waited too long to take the Bible Lit course from BYU online, as it's been discontinued. Even though I worked through it and quizzed S during his turn, I didn't get the benefit of my own in depth study...oh the sacrifices of mothers.
My intentions this year are also to focus on some secular learning. After caring for relatives with Alzheimer's, I've learned one way to stave off dementia is to keep the mind active. With my tendency to procrastinate or peter-out, I decided online university courses with their expectations, deadlines, and financial commitment are my only hope. I can take courses until the cows come home in so many areas.
1. It's been years, since I taught higher maths. This knowledge is slipping from my cranium. With that in mind, I intend to go through all the Video Text course as well as RightStart Geometry again. After that if I'm still of a mind, I might seek out online calculus courses.
2. I want enroll in an online literature, biology, chemistry, and history course or two as well. So much of what I studied years ago is melting out of my memory.
4. These along with exercising, playing with Dash, cooking great food, keeping house, church and temple worship, researching (or compiling) family history, and writing my latest lousy novel should keep me plenty busy.
5. Perhaps, my greatest goal is to see people differently than before. Instead of always finding fault, I'd like to adopt this attitude. "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no 'ordinary' people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whome we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously -- no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner -- no mere tolerance or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment," C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory. I imagine this is the way God views His children.
“A [woman] only begins to be [great] when [she] ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates [her] life. And [she] adapts [her] mind to that regulating factor, [she] ceases to accuse others as the cause of [her] condition, and builds [herself] up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to [her] more rapid progress, and as a means of the hidden powers and possibilities within [herself]," James Allen, As a Man Thinketh.
A year ago last October, I began keeping a paper prayer/scripture journal, a habit that dramatically improved my prayer life. Lately, writing has become more difficult again. Because my arthritis is caused by reactions to food allergens, I must have a new, still unknown allergen. Too stiff to write by hand, my journaling will take a new/old direction again; I plan to keep my gospel study journal on this blog. While I know I probably only have no readers on this passe forum anymore, blogging continues to be a meaningful backdrop for journal keeping for me. Now that I know the power of writing prayers, I'm glad that I can also have a private blog, a closet if you will, to write out my daily prayers.
Beginning January 1, I plan to center my devotions around scripture with these resources as study guides, journaling on this blog as the Spirit guides.
1. General Conference-Talk (Sermon) of the Week
2. Treasures from the Book of Mormon series (I'm nearly through the second volume of four.)
3. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter
4. Church History-Fire in the Bones: William Tyndale, Martyr, Father of the English Bible by S. Michael Wilcox AND Fires of Faith: The Coming Forth of the King James Bible by Lee Groberg, Mark Goodman, Mitch Davis
5. How to Read the Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken and The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter...Sadly, I waited too long to take the Bible Lit course from BYU online, as it's been discontinued. Even though I worked through it and quizzed S during his turn, I didn't get the benefit of my own in depth study...oh the sacrifices of mothers.
My intentions this year are also to focus on some secular learning. After caring for relatives with Alzheimer's, I've learned one way to stave off dementia is to keep the mind active. With my tendency to procrastinate or peter-out, I decided online university courses with their expectations, deadlines, and financial commitment are my only hope. I can take courses until the cows come home in so many areas.
1. It's been years, since I taught higher maths. This knowledge is slipping from my cranium. With that in mind, I intend to go through all the Video Text course as well as RightStart Geometry again. After that if I'm still of a mind, I might seek out online calculus courses.
2. I want enroll in an online literature, biology, chemistry, and history course or two as well. So much of what I studied years ago is melting out of my memory.
4. These along with exercising, playing with Dash, cooking great food, keeping house, church and temple worship, researching (or compiling) family history, and writing my latest lousy novel should keep me plenty busy.
5. Perhaps, my greatest goal is to see people differently than before. Instead of always finding fault, I'd like to adopt this attitude. "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no 'ordinary' people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whome we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously -- no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner -- no mere tolerance or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment," C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory. I imagine this is the way God views His children.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
boggle
This morning I began reading Fire in the Bones: William Tyndale--Martyr, Father of the English Bible. Years ago, I and my high school students studied his life during our study of Medieval History. O'Dell's The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day as well as Coffin's Story of Liberty enlightened us in such a way we can never forget the contribution of Tyndale and others in the pursuit of liberty around the world. Maybe this work won't give any more insight, but I highly enjoy the inspiring nature of history of this sort.
So far, I've only read the first chapter. Bringing to life the plight of ordinary people in 1500s, I can tell this will at least rekindle my love of history. How did I miss that ordinary people were burned at the stake for teaching their own children scripture in the English language? How is it possible that such events occurred at all? I'm a spoiled American indeed, taking for granted religious liberty and the ease of obtaining my own English bible...plus any other book I care to read. These are true marvels. How is it I'm so blessed to live at this time in this place with these freedoms? It boggles the mind.
So far, I've only read the first chapter. Bringing to life the plight of ordinary people in 1500s, I can tell this will at least rekindle my love of history. How did I miss that ordinary people were burned at the stake for teaching their own children scripture in the English language? How is it possible that such events occurred at all? I'm a spoiled American indeed, taking for granted religious liberty and the ease of obtaining my own English bible...plus any other book I care to read. These are true marvels. How is it I'm so blessed to live at this time in this place with these freedoms? It boggles the mind.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
six generations of fiber artists
Praying For...Cole, our half-grown man-child...that he will stand aloof from examples of contention and rebellion that get as thick as flies between 12 and 18ish...that he will hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the love of his family...that he will be safe from ravening wolves and designing men...that he will continue to love personal daily devotionals and grow in his dependence upon the Spirit...that other youngsters around the world will know the peace and joy he knows from a testimony of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Bibliophilia...sending Cole Scripture Power! Book of Mormon Journal for Children by Elizabeth Dorathy and Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson both of which I found worth the time and effort.
Talk of the Week...Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God by Von G. Keech...“'Don’t be too critical of the barrier,” he said. “It’s the only thing that’s keeping you from being devoured.'...With our new understanding of the danger that lurked just below the surface, the barrier now offered protection, safety, and peace...God’s commands and standards—like the barrier—can sometimes be difficult to understand. They may appear rigid and unyielding, blocking a path that looks fun and exciting and that is being followed by so many others." I've learned that commandments are not for the benefit of God; he gave them to us to protect us from physical and spiritual death. Though the sins of immorality, drunkenness and other chemical addictions, gluttony which the world now calls obesity, theft, idol/idleness, ect. seem so much easier or more fun than the straight/strait and narrow way, God commands us to follow the course He charted. Why? To save us from misery during life and damnation afterward. It shows us how to be happy.
Ponderizations..."For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known," 1 Corinthians 13:12. Following the commandments of God sometimes doesn't make sense, because we don't know and see all the God sees and knows. I'll trust Him. After over 5 decades of life on this earth, some of the sins that used to look fun to me are now repugnant. I've seen loved ones ruin their lives and die from sins of excess. I can have just as much fun as the drunk or druggie without ruining my body or chaining my spirit to the devil. I can enjoy health giving foods in moderation without giving in to gluttony and the diseases that follow it. I don't need as much stuff to be happy as I once thought; envy and greed only make one discontent. Going to church and helping others is ever so much more gratifying than modern idolatry aka known as the entertainment and shopping industries. The next pasture is not greener; no sir.
Thimble News...Nine-Year-Old Sammy loved our sewing activities last summer, when we made lavender strawberries. For Christmas she got a sewing kit, lesson book, several craft project kits, and a fabric stash. She loves it so much, she's been at it constantly only stopping to sleep last night and attend church this morning. She falls right in with her maternal line of at least six generations of fiber artists. If she keeps going, I'll send Sew What! Skirts, a book that teaches the rudiments of design. All the excitement reminds me of a skirt I've been designing in my mind. Maybe I'll work on it for next spring.
Movement...my frozen shoulder seems to be helped some with the hole digging. Digging is pretty slow going for me, but I enjoy it very much. Love essntrics, too.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman..I'm not a medical professional of any type but a novice student of natural healing and nutrition. Every time it works; I'm amazed. Elderberry syrup stopped my recent stuffy, congested, froggy, raw throat before it even got started. I ran out of elderberry juice and forgot all about taking it until the other day. I got that tingly, clear-your-throat constantly feeling something was coming on, so I bought a new bottle. Dosing myself every two hours, I felt fine by the end of the day. J didn't tell me soon enough but his cruddy ick is pretty mild compared to how hard it hit. I don't know how it works, but I'll take it.
Cucina Fresca...After looking at red lentil marinara sauces with carrots and sweeteners and mushroom ragus that were too, too strong, I knew I had to develop my own stick to your ribs sauce. Although I'm not Italian, my best friend in second grade was. Whenever I was around during mealtime, I was invited (aka ordered) to stay and partake. Every meal there was savory, spicy, and delicious without a hint of sweetness---but not overpoweringly strong either. That's how I expect Italian food to taste, so here's my attempt to vegefy, legumify, and shroomify red sauce into nutrient dense, flavor heaven.
Best Ever Plant Ragu (vegan, no-oil, high nutrient/calorie ratio)
Serves 4-8 depending on appetite and sides
Shamburger:
3 medium white or brown mushrooms
2-3 cauliflower florets
1/2 small yellow onion, pureed
1 garlic clove
1 t tamari (South River is soy and wheat free)
1 T tomato paste
Sauce:
1/2 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 medium red bell pepper
1 celery top, the leafy part
small pinch red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
1 t Italian herb blend
salt and black pepper to taste
1 package Pomi strained tomatoes or 28 oz canned (fire-roasted) tomatoes, pureed
can minus 1 T tomato paste
1-2 c water
2 c store-bought mushroom or homemade veg broth (onion, leek, celery, mushrooms, spinach, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme (sing as you add these), peppercorns, and green beans--store bought is too sweet)
1/2 cup red lentils
1/4 t smoked paprika
1/2 c fresh moringa leaves or minced spinach
1-2 T fresh basil (in season)
2-4 T fresh parsley (in season)
1 T white miso (South River is soy and wheat free)
1 T nutritional yeast (miso and nutritional yeast combo add a parmesan/romano type flavor without all the detriments of dairy products-cancer, digestive issues, diabetes, acne, and heart disease aren't worth a little flavor punch)
Puree onions and garlic; set aside. Pulse mushrooms and cauliflower in the food processor or blender until you get small mince /ground meat sized bits. Put mushroom and onion mixtures in a pan. Turn heat to high. When it begins to sizzle, turn down to medium. Stir constantly until all moisture is reduced and mixture is crispy and browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
Meanwhile, put a pot of water on to boil; then puree onion, garlic, celery, red bell pepper, and a sprinkle of salt in a bit of water. Cook over high until it begins to bubble hard, then turn it down and simmer until liquid is absorbed. Add pomi, water, paprika, broth, paste, dried herbs, and lentils. Simmer for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender. Boil pasta to desired tenderness. When lentils are tender, stir in meatless bits, moringa, fresh herbs, yeast, and miso. Adjust salt and pepper. Ladle some on top of your favorite pasta or spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini. This meal is especially company worth when started with a green salad, paired with green beans or asparagus, and ended with cherry pineapple yonana sorbet (or even a simple fruit platter).
Bibliophilia...sending Cole Scripture Power! Book of Mormon Journal for Children by Elizabeth Dorathy and Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson both of which I found worth the time and effort.
Talk of the Week...Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God by Von G. Keech...“'Don’t be too critical of the barrier,” he said. “It’s the only thing that’s keeping you from being devoured.'...With our new understanding of the danger that lurked just below the surface, the barrier now offered protection, safety, and peace...God’s commands and standards—like the barrier—can sometimes be difficult to understand. They may appear rigid and unyielding, blocking a path that looks fun and exciting and that is being followed by so many others." I've learned that commandments are not for the benefit of God; he gave them to us to protect us from physical and spiritual death. Though the sins of immorality, drunkenness and other chemical addictions, gluttony which the world now calls obesity, theft, idol/idleness, ect. seem so much easier or more fun than the straight/strait and narrow way, God commands us to follow the course He charted. Why? To save us from misery during life and damnation afterward. It shows us how to be happy.
Ponderizations..."For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known," 1 Corinthians 13:12. Following the commandments of God sometimes doesn't make sense, because we don't know and see all the God sees and knows. I'll trust Him. After over 5 decades of life on this earth, some of the sins that used to look fun to me are now repugnant. I've seen loved ones ruin their lives and die from sins of excess. I can have just as much fun as the drunk or druggie without ruining my body or chaining my spirit to the devil. I can enjoy health giving foods in moderation without giving in to gluttony and the diseases that follow it. I don't need as much stuff to be happy as I once thought; envy and greed only make one discontent. Going to church and helping others is ever so much more gratifying than modern idolatry aka known as the entertainment and shopping industries. The next pasture is not greener; no sir.
Thimble News...Nine-Year-Old Sammy loved our sewing activities last summer, when we made lavender strawberries. For Christmas she got a sewing kit, lesson book, several craft project kits, and a fabric stash. She loves it so much, she's been at it constantly only stopping to sleep last night and attend church this morning. She falls right in with her maternal line of at least six generations of fiber artists. If she keeps going, I'll send Sew What! Skirts, a book that teaches the rudiments of design. All the excitement reminds me of a skirt I've been designing in my mind. Maybe I'll work on it for next spring.
Movement...my frozen shoulder seems to be helped some with the hole digging. Digging is pretty slow going for me, but I enjoy it very much. Love essntrics, too.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman..I'm not a medical professional of any type but a novice student of natural healing and nutrition. Every time it works; I'm amazed. Elderberry syrup stopped my recent stuffy, congested, froggy, raw throat before it even got started. I ran out of elderberry juice and forgot all about taking it until the other day. I got that tingly, clear-your-throat constantly feeling something was coming on, so I bought a new bottle. Dosing myself every two hours, I felt fine by the end of the day. J didn't tell me soon enough but his cruddy ick is pretty mild compared to how hard it hit. I don't know how it works, but I'll take it.
Cucina Fresca...After looking at red lentil marinara sauces with carrots and sweeteners and mushroom ragus that were too, too strong, I knew I had to develop my own stick to your ribs sauce. Although I'm not Italian, my best friend in second grade was. Whenever I was around during mealtime, I was invited (aka ordered) to stay and partake. Every meal there was savory, spicy, and delicious without a hint of sweetness---but not overpoweringly strong either. That's how I expect Italian food to taste, so here's my attempt to vegefy, legumify, and shroomify red sauce into nutrient dense, flavor heaven.
Best Ever Plant Ragu (vegan, no-oil, high nutrient/calorie ratio)
Serves 4-8 depending on appetite and sides
Shamburger:
3 medium white or brown mushrooms
2-3 cauliflower florets
1/2 small yellow onion, pureed
1 garlic clove
1 t tamari (South River is soy and wheat free)
1 T tomato paste
Sauce:
1/2 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 medium red bell pepper
1 celery top, the leafy part
small pinch red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
1 t Italian herb blend
salt and black pepper to taste
1 package Pomi strained tomatoes or 28 oz canned (fire-roasted) tomatoes, pureed
can minus 1 T tomato paste
1-2 c water
2 c store-bought mushroom or homemade veg broth (onion, leek, celery, mushrooms, spinach, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme (sing as you add these), peppercorns, and green beans--store bought is too sweet)
1/2 cup red lentils
1/4 t smoked paprika
1/2 c fresh moringa leaves or minced spinach
1-2 T fresh basil (in season)
2-4 T fresh parsley (in season)
1 T white miso (South River is soy and wheat free)
1 T nutritional yeast (miso and nutritional yeast combo add a parmesan/romano type flavor without all the detriments of dairy products-cancer, digestive issues, diabetes, acne, and heart disease aren't worth a little flavor punch)
Puree onions and garlic; set aside. Pulse mushrooms and cauliflower in the food processor or blender until you get small mince /ground meat sized bits. Put mushroom and onion mixtures in a pan. Turn heat to high. When it begins to sizzle, turn down to medium. Stir constantly until all moisture is reduced and mixture is crispy and browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
Meanwhile, put a pot of water on to boil; then puree onion, garlic, celery, red bell pepper, and a sprinkle of salt in a bit of water. Cook over high until it begins to bubble hard, then turn it down and simmer until liquid is absorbed. Add pomi, water, paprika, broth, paste, dried herbs, and lentils. Simmer for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender. Boil pasta to desired tenderness. When lentils are tender, stir in meatless bits, moringa, fresh herbs, yeast, and miso. Adjust salt and pepper. Ladle some on top of your favorite pasta or spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini. This meal is especially company worth when started with a green salad, paired with green beans or asparagus, and ended with cherry pineapple yonana sorbet (or even a simple fruit platter).
Sunday, December 20, 2015
good better best
Praying For...love and joy for children all over the world...also received an answer to a private prayer that was different than I wanted; it changes everything. I must choose best over good and better...although it is sometimes hard, it is vital to listen to Heavenly counsel and follow the will of God. Years ago I rationalized away inspired counsel with devastating results, so have learned the hard way to always listen, go, and do the things which the Lord commands.
Ponderization..."The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him," Psalm 28:7.
Sermon of the Week...Behold Thy Mother by Jeffrey R. Holland, is a inspiring comparison between the love of the Savior and the love of a mother. Maybe if I had come to this world perfect like my dear Savior, I could have been a better mother. But I am not perfect; my failures had disastrous consequences. With my experiences in mind, I wish I could open the eyes of young parents. We have such a short time with them and no second chances. We simply must put aside selfish pursuits and selfish reactions in favor of devotion and charity if we are to build a strong family and lead children into the arms of Jesus Christ.
Cucina Fresca...I think I inherited my Dad's noodle addiction. At my favorite Thai restaurant, I always order steamed vegetables, steamed noodles, chili sauce, and peanut sauce. I found it extremely easy to duplicate with Annie Chun's Brown Rice Pad Thai noodles and plenty of yummy veg. Peanut sauce recipes abound so I won't post one here. It's also a good meal with brown/red rice.
Garden Gate...because of the three nighttime freezes this week, I had to cover my mango trees. I plan to get the big mango in the ground during the coming weeks, because I almost fell off the ladder covering that potted monster.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...nope not a real doc but a student of natural and nutritional healing. After decades of obsessing with food and weight, I am throwing out my scale. Eating plant foods all these years, I've learned a great lesson. The scale is not a true measure of one's fatness or lack thereof, but it can exacerbate eating disorders. When I exercise and drink plenty of water, I gain muscle weight in proper places and the wrinkles on my face fill out...but belly fat melts away. When I eat fatty foods, I gain chub and belly weight. When I count calories, a deprivation mindset for sure, I lose muscle mass and water well before any fat comes off...so I look wrinkly, old, stooped, and pudgy before the skeletal look kicks in. Excluding added fats and animal products in favor of beans, grains, starchy veggies, greens, other veggies, and fruits, weight is distributed correctly. So....the conclusion of my one person study is this...Eat a diet of totally satisfying starches such as grains, beans, and starchy veggies with plenty of greens, other veggies, and fruits but devoid of added oils and animal products. Drink lots of water and exercise gently 30-60 minutes six days a week. Oh wait! Didn't Dr. John McDougall say the same thing? “The list of health problems I think it would very hard to live with is SO much longer than the list of foods I previously thought I couldn’t live without” Merrill Alley.
This week I read Dr. Gregor's new book, How Not to Die. While I think the title is silly, the material inside is interesting, important, and backed up by scientific studies. One little tidbit that is helping my family is the use of ginger root for migraines. One family member suffers constantly. According the the research he found, ginger root powder in water works as well as expensive migraine medications. Even though I only had fresh ginger root, I made a concoction with a bit of honey and water in the magic bullet. My guinea pig skeptically sucked it down. Within 15 minutes or so, he felt a marked reduction of the pain. I gave him a second dose, which ended the headache for a time with zero side effects. We repeated this procedure again and again over the last week with similar results. Dry powder didn't work as well for him. At first he didn't like it much, because it is a pretty strong concoction. After the a couple doses, he now loves it. While this doesn't address the cause, it allows him to function better; the cause is being addressed, too.
Teaching Little Children...this week I presented Language Works independent phonogram work to 12 of my readers at school (three are either not past the first pink work or were on vacation). Amazed at their excitement and success, I watched them patiently wait for a turn to do another set (there is only one set of each work in a Montessori classroom to teach the children patience). In effect, I took myself out of their learning picture, as they only need to show the booklet to any teacher or aid to discover the sound of the phonogram. With that information in place, the self-teaching materials give them plenty of practice reading and writing words with the particular phonogram. One little boy didn't do so well, because he didn't pay attention during initial instruction. After a reminder lesson, he accomplished the work with accuracy and joy. They are especially proud of the little booklets they make for each phonogram but a little frustrated that they must leave the learning journal at school. These kindergarteners can complete the whole program by the end of the year if they complete three phonograms per week. If this happens, reading will be solidly in place before look-say, pseudo-phonics can stifle their reading abilities. What this program accomplishes used to be the first semester of first grade, I know because I have my old first-grade, 100% phonetic reading program on my library shelf. Today, this is considered third-grade level. Isn't that horrendous! Plus, 4 and 5 year olds have been using this work in some American Montessori schools for 27 years. Anyway, our next group of four-year-olds, will be ready to begin this work in a couple weeks but at a much slower pace. If they attend the school during their kindergarten year, they will leave with a complete phonetic toolbelt.
I had a serendipitous teaching moment during cubs this week. The outgoing leader took the us to a gingerbread house display, which was enjoyed by all. In the car on the way home, we all talked about our various Christmas traditions. One little boy grew from quiet to sullen until he finally said. 'I hate it when people talk about things I don't know about. I get so jealous.' I explained the jealousy was a form of the sin envy, which Heavenly Father commanded us against. Further I pointed out that everyone has some cool stuff in their lives, and we shouldn't get angry and jealous because others have different cool stuff from us. 'Be happy for them, and be happy for yourself.' After this brief soapbox, I asked him to tell us the cool stuff his family did at Christmas. Visibly happier, he told us of traveling to snow country each year to play and pajamas on Christmas Eve and several other things.
Puppy Prattle...our favorite game to play with Dash is hide and seek. One of us runs off to hides in a part of the house, while the other one keeps her attention. Then the hider whistles. She looks and looks until she finds us. Usually it's within seconds, but sometimes she has a little trouble. Anyway, we all love this.
Ponderization..."The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him," Psalm 28:7.
Sermon of the Week...Behold Thy Mother by Jeffrey R. Holland, is a inspiring comparison between the love of the Savior and the love of a mother. Maybe if I had come to this world perfect like my dear Savior, I could have been a better mother. But I am not perfect; my failures had disastrous consequences. With my experiences in mind, I wish I could open the eyes of young parents. We have such a short time with them and no second chances. We simply must put aside selfish pursuits and selfish reactions in favor of devotion and charity if we are to build a strong family and lead children into the arms of Jesus Christ.
Cucina Fresca...I think I inherited my Dad's noodle addiction. At my favorite Thai restaurant, I always order steamed vegetables, steamed noodles, chili sauce, and peanut sauce. I found it extremely easy to duplicate with Annie Chun's Brown Rice Pad Thai noodles and plenty of yummy veg. Peanut sauce recipes abound so I won't post one here. It's also a good meal with brown/red rice.
Garden Gate...because of the three nighttime freezes this week, I had to cover my mango trees. I plan to get the big mango in the ground during the coming weeks, because I almost fell off the ladder covering that potted monster.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...nope not a real doc but a student of natural and nutritional healing. After decades of obsessing with food and weight, I am throwing out my scale. Eating plant foods all these years, I've learned a great lesson. The scale is not a true measure of one's fatness or lack thereof, but it can exacerbate eating disorders. When I exercise and drink plenty of water, I gain muscle weight in proper places and the wrinkles on my face fill out...but belly fat melts away. When I eat fatty foods, I gain chub and belly weight. When I count calories, a deprivation mindset for sure, I lose muscle mass and water well before any fat comes off...so I look wrinkly, old, stooped, and pudgy before the skeletal look kicks in. Excluding added fats and animal products in favor of beans, grains, starchy veggies, greens, other veggies, and fruits, weight is distributed correctly. So....the conclusion of my one person study is this...Eat a diet of totally satisfying starches such as grains, beans, and starchy veggies with plenty of greens, other veggies, and fruits but devoid of added oils and animal products. Drink lots of water and exercise gently 30-60 minutes six days a week. Oh wait! Didn't Dr. John McDougall say the same thing? “The list of health problems I think it would very hard to live with is SO much longer than the list of foods I previously thought I couldn’t live without” Merrill Alley.
This week I read Dr. Gregor's new book, How Not to Die. While I think the title is silly, the material inside is interesting, important, and backed up by scientific studies. One little tidbit that is helping my family is the use of ginger root for migraines. One family member suffers constantly. According the the research he found, ginger root powder in water works as well as expensive migraine medications. Even though I only had fresh ginger root, I made a concoction with a bit of honey and water in the magic bullet. My guinea pig skeptically sucked it down. Within 15 minutes or so, he felt a marked reduction of the pain. I gave him a second dose, which ended the headache for a time with zero side effects. We repeated this procedure again and again over the last week with similar results. Dry powder didn't work as well for him. At first he didn't like it much, because it is a pretty strong concoction. After the a couple doses, he now loves it. While this doesn't address the cause, it allows him to function better; the cause is being addressed, too.
Teaching Little Children...this week I presented Language Works independent phonogram work to 12 of my readers at school (three are either not past the first pink work or were on vacation). Amazed at their excitement and success, I watched them patiently wait for a turn to do another set (there is only one set of each work in a Montessori classroom to teach the children patience). In effect, I took myself out of their learning picture, as they only need to show the booklet to any teacher or aid to discover the sound of the phonogram. With that information in place, the self-teaching materials give them plenty of practice reading and writing words with the particular phonogram. One little boy didn't do so well, because he didn't pay attention during initial instruction. After a reminder lesson, he accomplished the work with accuracy and joy. They are especially proud of the little booklets they make for each phonogram but a little frustrated that they must leave the learning journal at school. These kindergarteners can complete the whole program by the end of the year if they complete three phonograms per week. If this happens, reading will be solidly in place before look-say, pseudo-phonics can stifle their reading abilities. What this program accomplishes used to be the first semester of first grade, I know because I have my old first-grade, 100% phonetic reading program on my library shelf. Today, this is considered third-grade level. Isn't that horrendous! Plus, 4 and 5 year olds have been using this work in some American Montessori schools for 27 years. Anyway, our next group of four-year-olds, will be ready to begin this work in a couple weeks but at a much slower pace. If they attend the school during their kindergarten year, they will leave with a complete phonetic toolbelt.
I had a serendipitous teaching moment during cubs this week. The outgoing leader took the us to a gingerbread house display, which was enjoyed by all. In the car on the way home, we all talked about our various Christmas traditions. One little boy grew from quiet to sullen until he finally said. 'I hate it when people talk about things I don't know about. I get so jealous.' I explained the jealousy was a form of the sin envy, which Heavenly Father commanded us against. Further I pointed out that everyone has some cool stuff in their lives, and we shouldn't get angry and jealous because others have different cool stuff from us. 'Be happy for them, and be happy for yourself.' After this brief soapbox, I asked him to tell us the cool stuff his family did at Christmas. Visibly happier, he told us of traveling to snow country each year to play and pajamas on Christmas Eve and several other things.
Puppy Prattle...our favorite game to play with Dash is hide and seek. One of us runs off to hides in a part of the house, while the other one keeps her attention. Then the hider whistles. She looks and looks until she finds us. Usually it's within seconds, but sometimes she has a little trouble. Anyway, we all love this.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
let it begin with me
Praying For...peace on Earth...I know this will never be while Satan can tempt the hearts of men. However, I can choose to be more charitable, meek, and peaceful towards others. At the school where I teach, the children are learning a variety of Christmas carols as well as Let There Be Peace On Earth. It's my new Christmas favorite and lifetime mantra.
Ponderization..."Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," Luke 2:15. "In the scriptures, peace can mean either freedom from conflict and turmoil or the inner calm and comfort born of the Spirit that God gives to his faithful Saints." I want both for me and all mankind.
Talk of the Week...In his sermon, Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World, Robert D. Hales reminds us that our choices shape our eternal destiny. I like the idea of personal councils and hope to incorporate it into my life.
Cucina Fresca...After J saw me using two dinner plates to press corn tortillas, he sent away for the most beautiful tortilla press. Now making this favorite bread will be easy again. I haven't had a tortilla press for ages.
Teaching Little Children...I didn't know there was a whole story curriculum for teaching handwriting. A few weeks ago, I came up with a cute story to teach a, d, and g after a few of the children couldn't get the proper formation. The round part of 'a' is our nice huggable mommy. The downward motion is her little boy (or girl) who hugs her tightly. He doesn't run away, because he loves to hug his mommy. He also has a tall, tall brother that loves to hug mommy (d). They have a lazy brother that likes to drag his feet below the line before swooping off (g). Anyway, I plan to incorporate all these cute stories, because the children love the 'a' family stories so much. AND when I found this I also discovered the same company's integrated curriculum for science, handwriting, and language. It's so beautiful and peaceful.
Yorkie Yarns...For awhile I fed Dash vegan kibble. The other day J and I ate lentil soup for dinner, and Dash nearly went wild sniffing the air. After we were through eating, I gave her soup instead of kibble. She's never eaten with such gusto. Since I prefer a diet of lentils, rice, vegetables, and greens for dogs, I saved the leftovers for her. I used to feed Lentil soup to Gucci all the time, who also thought it was the best stuff ever. When I must crate this sweet little creature, I fill her Kong with a teaspoon of peanut butter mixed with a pinch of diatomaceous earth, flaxseed meal, dried moringa, and vegedog vitamins. I'm glad to have this cuddly little companion.
Garden Gate...frost is expected M-W, so J and I erected a mini greenhouse around our mangos. We'll keep it in place until all danger of frost has past. Everything else should do fine. I don't feel a need to put up a Christmas tree anymore, because my backyard decorates itself for christmas. We have yellow and orange balls hanging from trees, as well as quail, finches, and hummingbirds flitting or running about.
Movement...we did it! We finally got our bikes out for an early morning ride. Dash nearly froze, so I'll leave her home next time. Although I enjoyed the ride, I was horrified at my steeply declined fitness level. I peddled as hard as I could but barely moved at all. After nearly two miles, I decided it must be the bike. Yup! The tires were nearly devoid of air. Whew! I'm not as weak as all that after all. At school, the children can choose to get out the yoga mat and exercise. Sometimes I want to get right down there with one or another of them and stretch. Yoga (like Essentrics) is so delightful and peaceful as an exercise form.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...I'm not a medical doctor at all but a student of natural and nutritional healing. Got a killer headache to match my killer shoulder. I've tried massage for this, which helps tremendously. This time, however, I chose chiropractic. I saw a woman chiro, whom I've never met before. She released the headache with accu-pressure as well as got my shoulder to move six inches further than before. She's probably the best chiro I've ever seen. I'll go back until this issue is resolved. Grandma told me getting old isn't for sissies, and she was right. Really though, I don't think my shoulder thing is age related, I hurt it lifting dumbbells and dropping a can of beans on it. What? Yes, I'm under five feet tall. Reaching to get a can of organic black beans from the top shelf at Walmart, I caused a few cans to fall. One of them hit me squarely on my shoulder.
Ponderization..."Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," Luke 2:15. "In the scriptures, peace can mean either freedom from conflict and turmoil or the inner calm and comfort born of the Spirit that God gives to his faithful Saints." I want both for me and all mankind.
Talk of the Week...In his sermon, Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World, Robert D. Hales reminds us that our choices shape our eternal destiny. I like the idea of personal councils and hope to incorporate it into my life.
Cucina Fresca...After J saw me using two dinner plates to press corn tortillas, he sent away for the most beautiful tortilla press. Now making this favorite bread will be easy again. I haven't had a tortilla press for ages.
Teaching Little Children...I didn't know there was a whole story curriculum for teaching handwriting. A few weeks ago, I came up with a cute story to teach a, d, and g after a few of the children couldn't get the proper formation. The round part of 'a' is our nice huggable mommy. The downward motion is her little boy (or girl) who hugs her tightly. He doesn't run away, because he loves to hug his mommy. He also has a tall, tall brother that loves to hug mommy (d). They have a lazy brother that likes to drag his feet below the line before swooping off (g). Anyway, I plan to incorporate all these cute stories, because the children love the 'a' family stories so much. AND when I found this I also discovered the same company's integrated curriculum for science, handwriting, and language. It's so beautiful and peaceful.
Yorkie Yarns...For awhile I fed Dash vegan kibble. The other day J and I ate lentil soup for dinner, and Dash nearly went wild sniffing the air. After we were through eating, I gave her soup instead of kibble. She's never eaten with such gusto. Since I prefer a diet of lentils, rice, vegetables, and greens for dogs, I saved the leftovers for her. I used to feed Lentil soup to Gucci all the time, who also thought it was the best stuff ever. When I must crate this sweet little creature, I fill her Kong with a teaspoon of peanut butter mixed with a pinch of diatomaceous earth, flaxseed meal, dried moringa, and vegedog vitamins. I'm glad to have this cuddly little companion.
Garden Gate...frost is expected M-W, so J and I erected a mini greenhouse around our mangos. We'll keep it in place until all danger of frost has past. Everything else should do fine. I don't feel a need to put up a Christmas tree anymore, because my backyard decorates itself for christmas. We have yellow and orange balls hanging from trees, as well as quail, finches, and hummingbirds flitting or running about.
Movement...we did it! We finally got our bikes out for an early morning ride. Dash nearly froze, so I'll leave her home next time. Although I enjoyed the ride, I was horrified at my steeply declined fitness level. I peddled as hard as I could but barely moved at all. After nearly two miles, I decided it must be the bike. Yup! The tires were nearly devoid of air. Whew! I'm not as weak as all that after all. At school, the children can choose to get out the yoga mat and exercise. Sometimes I want to get right down there with one or another of them and stretch. Yoga (like Essentrics) is so delightful and peaceful as an exercise form.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...I'm not a medical doctor at all but a student of natural and nutritional healing. Got a killer headache to match my killer shoulder. I've tried massage for this, which helps tremendously. This time, however, I chose chiropractic. I saw a woman chiro, whom I've never met before. She released the headache with accu-pressure as well as got my shoulder to move six inches further than before. She's probably the best chiro I've ever seen. I'll go back until this issue is resolved. Grandma told me getting old isn't for sissies, and she was right. Really though, I don't think my shoulder thing is age related, I hurt it lifting dumbbells and dropping a can of beans on it. What? Yes, I'm under five feet tall. Reaching to get a can of organic black beans from the top shelf at Walmart, I caused a few cans to fall. One of them hit me squarely on my shoulder.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
celebrate the season of the Savior's birth
The other day another teacher and I discussed Christmas and decorating. A few years back, I gave up putting out a tree in favor of the Nativity, because it expresses what I find meaningful during this season and always. Instead of lights and Santa, carols and scriptures make the season bright for me.
I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, was born, lived, died, and lives again. He brings me peace in this violent, confusing world. He will never desert me, but waits patiently for me to discover and accept Him. He blesses me abundantly, which blessings will be multiplied by unimaginable proportions at the conclusion of my "third act, when all when the mysteries are solved and everything is put right." After experiencing a taste of the love that is to come, I will do everything in my power to sup at that table of love again.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
vision
Praying For...citizens of the US and the Western World to embrace Christian worship and virtues, because it is the only way we can save law, order, and liberty in this country. God will not stand by us, as we travel the road to hell. We can't have decadence and His blessings. If we choose to retrench, we must be more charitable and unoppressive, learning from past mistakes.
Ponderizations..."Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him," Acts 10:33-34. Fear doesn't mean to be afraid, tremble, and shrink but to respect and revere. There is no room in God's kingdom for persecutors or racists. Jesus taught us through example and Paul (and other prophets) exhorted us to treat ALL others with Charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ. Charity is patient, dignified, serene, kind, strong while meek, and forbearing, is not jealous, boastful, angry, selfish, resentful, or proud, and strongly but uncontentiously stands as a witness of Christ's truth and righteousness. Boy, do I have a long way to go, but the point is I will make it WITH the atoning grace of Jesus Christ.
Garden Gate...Who decided that crushed granite makes a beautiful yard? Yuck! I've been shoveling this stuff up a bucket full at a time. It might take a year, but eventually it will be gone from the back yard and replaced with cool and kind to the feet wood chips. Even tiny food forests need pollinator attractors, so I am slowly digging holes for two brilliant, red hibiscus. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are supposed be attracted to them, plus they are on my list of favorite flowers. I plan to alternate them with grapes and kiwi against the wall behind the moringa, pole bean, acerola, asparagus, calendula, snapdragon, lupine, strawberry, and comfrey guilds. My imagination makes this a glorious sight, when in fact it looks very bare with only six tiny moringa and a very old, scraggly jasmine plant at present. Nevertheless, without vision a gardener fails.
Movement...I forgot how wonderful I feel, when I use gardening as my main form of exercise. Where I live, I can comfortably use this favored activity for six to eight months each year. Digging, carrying heavy buckets, dragging hoses, raking compost, laying wood chips, etc, I bend, lift, and squat out in the fresh air and sunshine. However, I've learned not to over do things and keep my little garden jobs to an hour or so. I still enjoy Essentrics because it sort of sucks pain out of the body, improves posture, and increases mobility. Uuuugh! I sound like some old lady doing a arthritis relief commercial...but it really does work so much better than Mobisyl and aspirin. Another week went by, and I still didn't take a bike ride. This week is THE week for sure.
Teaching Little Children...Although they are making good progress with sandpaper letters, Bob Books, slates, and rainbow letters, I've been working on a couple projects to help me do a better job of teaching reading and writing. Because I need things organized, complete, and systematic, I'm printing, tweaking, cutting, gluing, laminating new reading and grammar work. Along with Language Works Spelling, this should help me help my lovely children become strong, solid readers before other schools can stifle their intellects with look/say pseudo-phonics without a stitch of grammar. Plus, I want to help the children become more self-directed. Bob requires me to sit right there and listen to every word read. It takes too long and progress isn't what it could be with a more self-directed, systematic approach. Each little drawer is a lesson to give in small groups, which they practice individually until ready for the next lesson. The Montessori way is ingenious!
Cucina Fresca...My husband says I'm aptly named, because I love spicy food! AND I love bread. It's been a frustrating journey to discover good breads that don't trigger reactions, but one great discovery is idli. I waited for my new idli cooker for some time; the wait wasn't in vain. These are the best I've eaten anywhere. Sambar and Idli are traditional breakfast foods in Southern India but can be eaten for any meal.
Hotel Style Rice Cooker Sambar
1/2 c moong dal (rice maker cup not standard cup)
3 c water (on the white rice marker)
1 T curry powder
2 T sambar powder
dash pumpkin pie spice
dash mustard powder
garlic powder
onion powder
8-10 torn curry leaves
2 tomatoes, diced
2 wedges winter squash (eliminates need for tamarind and jaggery)
1 c moringa leaves or chopped spinach (reserved)
1 c cut, very thin asparagus, green beans, drumsticks, or cauliflower (reserved)
1/4 c minced cilantro
Mix dal, lentils, water, curry, sambar, garlic, onion, curry leaves, and tomatoes in a rice cooker. Place squash wedges on top. Cook on timed white rice or quick setting. At the completion of the cycle, stir in moringa and green beans. Close rice cooker and let steam while you cook idli. Place several idli in a shallow pasta bowl, ladle sambar over top, place a wedge of winter squash along side, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve. Sambar is a spicy vegetarian answer to carnivor dumpling soup. It can also be served with idli along side instead of in the soup...or a scoop of rice. All are delicious. BTW-Hubby gave this meal a 100% absolute redo; it's going to be our new after church luncheon, utilizing the timer on the rice cooker.
Ponderizations..."Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him," Acts 10:33-34. Fear doesn't mean to be afraid, tremble, and shrink but to respect and revere. There is no room in God's kingdom for persecutors or racists. Jesus taught us through example and Paul (and other prophets) exhorted us to treat ALL others with Charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ. Charity is patient, dignified, serene, kind, strong while meek, and forbearing, is not jealous, boastful, angry, selfish, resentful, or proud, and strongly but uncontentiously stands as a witness of Christ's truth and righteousness. Boy, do I have a long way to go, but the point is I will make it WITH the atoning grace of Jesus Christ.
Garden Gate...Who decided that crushed granite makes a beautiful yard? Yuck! I've been shoveling this stuff up a bucket full at a time. It might take a year, but eventually it will be gone from the back yard and replaced with cool and kind to the feet wood chips. Even tiny food forests need pollinator attractors, so I am slowly digging holes for two brilliant, red hibiscus. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are supposed be attracted to them, plus they are on my list of favorite flowers. I plan to alternate them with grapes and kiwi against the wall behind the moringa, pole bean, acerola, asparagus, calendula, snapdragon, lupine, strawberry, and comfrey guilds. My imagination makes this a glorious sight, when in fact it looks very bare with only six tiny moringa and a very old, scraggly jasmine plant at present. Nevertheless, without vision a gardener fails.
Movement...I forgot how wonderful I feel, when I use gardening as my main form of exercise. Where I live, I can comfortably use this favored activity for six to eight months each year. Digging, carrying heavy buckets, dragging hoses, raking compost, laying wood chips, etc, I bend, lift, and squat out in the fresh air and sunshine. However, I've learned not to over do things and keep my little garden jobs to an hour or so. I still enjoy Essentrics because it sort of sucks pain out of the body, improves posture, and increases mobility. Uuuugh! I sound like some old lady doing a arthritis relief commercial...but it really does work so much better than Mobisyl and aspirin. Another week went by, and I still didn't take a bike ride. This week is THE week for sure.
Teaching Little Children...Although they are making good progress with sandpaper letters, Bob Books, slates, and rainbow letters, I've been working on a couple projects to help me do a better job of teaching reading and writing. Because I need things organized, complete, and systematic, I'm printing, tweaking, cutting, gluing, laminating new reading and grammar work. Along with Language Works Spelling, this should help me help my lovely children become strong, solid readers before other schools can stifle their intellects with look/say pseudo-phonics without a stitch of grammar. Plus, I want to help the children become more self-directed. Bob requires me to sit right there and listen to every word read. It takes too long and progress isn't what it could be with a more self-directed, systematic approach. Each little drawer is a lesson to give in small groups, which they practice individually until ready for the next lesson. The Montessori way is ingenious!
 |
| Montessori Print Shop pink, blue, green, and grammar series. |
Cucina Fresca...My husband says I'm aptly named, because I love spicy food! AND I love bread. It's been a frustrating journey to discover good breads that don't trigger reactions, but one great discovery is idli. I waited for my new idli cooker for some time; the wait wasn't in vain. These are the best I've eaten anywhere. Sambar and Idli are traditional breakfast foods in Southern India but can be eaten for any meal.
Hotel Style Rice Cooker Sambar
1/2 c moong dal (rice maker cup not standard cup)
3 c water (on the white rice marker)
1 T curry powder
2 T sambar powder
dash pumpkin pie spice
dash mustard powder
garlic powder
onion powder
8-10 torn curry leaves
2 tomatoes, diced
2 wedges winter squash (eliminates need for tamarind and jaggery)
1 c moringa leaves or chopped spinach (reserved)
1 c cut, very thin asparagus, green beans, drumsticks, or cauliflower (reserved)
1/4 c minced cilantro
Mix dal, lentils, water, curry, sambar, garlic, onion, curry leaves, and tomatoes in a rice cooker. Place squash wedges on top. Cook on timed white rice or quick setting. At the completion of the cycle, stir in moringa and green beans. Close rice cooker and let steam while you cook idli. Place several idli in a shallow pasta bowl, ladle sambar over top, place a wedge of winter squash along side, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve. Sambar is a spicy vegetarian answer to carnivor dumpling soup. It can also be served with idli along side instead of in the soup...or a scoop of rice. All are delicious. BTW-Hubby gave this meal a 100% absolute redo; it's going to be our new after church luncheon, utilizing the timer on the rice cooker.
 |
| Idli Maker |
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| Rice Cooker |
Thursday, December 3, 2015
joyful noise
Praying For...all me dear ones and children all around the world, may they have peace, plenty, health, hope, safety, security, and faith.
Ponderizations..."Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms," Psalm 95:2.
Garden Gate...I purchased two hibiscus, which I'll plant Friday. Ever since I was a little girl, hibiscus has been a favorite. All along the south wall of my school cafeteria where we stood in line for food, hibiscus bloomed beautifully and enticed little girls to put them behind the ear. Of course we were forbidden to pick the flowers. After all if every little girl in the 1200 student, 1-4 school picked a flower, it would have been stripped.
Movement...digging dirt is excellent physical exercise and medicine for the soul. Walking the dog is a real pleasure. The new Essentrics videos for posture, pain, mobility, and bone strength are helping me get back into movement, too. In fact, I feel so good, I want to ride my bike again. However, I don't think I'll ever walk the dog far from home again after being stalked by coyotes in the wee smalls. They don't bother me on my bike.
Sound of Music...with the new Essentrics videos, my stiffness is lessening. I hope I can pick up my violin and uke again soon. If not, I can still sing hymns in the mornings.
Teaching Little Children...When I was at my worst physically, this volunteer project is what kept me going. I love, love, love teaching and watching these babies blossom into capable, competent, peaceful creatures.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...I am neither a trained doctor nor medicine woman; I am simply a student of natural, nutritional healing. As many who read my blog know, I adopted this way of eating under my doctor's advice because of multiple allergies that led to auto-immune issues. When others eat wheat, soy, oils, animal excretions, or dead animals, they don't have immediate, violent reactions similar to ingesting poison. Mostly, oil and animal products do their damage silently; the person suddenly presents with arthritis, vascular or kidney disease, cancer, or acne out of the blue so they think. I suppose one could argue that I'm lucky my reactions are so violent, because following a plant-perfect lifestyle isn't a hard choice. In my family, one particular individual with many health maladies insists on making unkind comments about my diet whenever we eat together. You can just bet if I were a diabetic, he would be very supportive of a special diet; his mother died of complications from diabetes. Why do people insist on rudeness, when gatherings might be so pleasant otherwise? I try to avoid and ignore this constipated, obese, arthritic, diabetic person with heart disease, hemorrhoids, and diverticulitis, when on these rude kicks, secretly reciting my mantra: "Eat like that, look like that, feel like that, die like that." This mantra is kryptonite for my resolves not to eat what amounts to poison.
So, if the above person wants to understand why my current doctor speak on the diet he prescribes for those with autoimmune problems, watch this:
Cucina Fresca...In the winter, I drink green smoothies for lunch, because I just get too cold drinking them for breakfast. Instead I make all sorts of hot breakfasts from savory or fruity polenta to various oat dishes to fajita sweet potatoes to veggie miso soup with rice to this savory low-calorie, oil-free, cholesterol-free, stick to your ribs lentil dal with or without idli.
Rice Cooker Curry Dal with Rice
1/4 c each brown lentils, brown rice, and red rice (this is the cup that comes with the rice cooker and not a standard US cup)
water to the 2 line in the cooker
1/2 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 inch chunk ginger root, minced or grated
1/2 inch chunk turmeric root, minced or grated (optional)
2 tomatoes, diced
1/2 serrano pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t garlic powder
1 T curry powder *
1/8 t pumpkin pie spice (it's pretty close to garam masala but usually fresher in the store)
6-8 curry leaves, chopped (use twice as much if dried)
2 wedges of un-peeled Kabocha or other sweet winter squash
1/4 c moringa or spinach
1/4 fresh, minced cilantro
Put lentils, rice, onion, garlic, ginger, pepper, water, and spices in cooker. Top with squash wedges skin side down. Cook on brown rice setting. Stir in moringa or spinach and let steam with lid closed for a couple minutes. Put into two bowls. Garnish with cilantro and coarsely ground salt. *-I've tried lots of varieties and even mixed my own, Spice Hunter is the best one I've tasted by far.
Ponderizations..."Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms," Psalm 95:2.
Garden Gate...I purchased two hibiscus, which I'll plant Friday. Ever since I was a little girl, hibiscus has been a favorite. All along the south wall of my school cafeteria where we stood in line for food, hibiscus bloomed beautifully and enticed little girls to put them behind the ear. Of course we were forbidden to pick the flowers. After all if every little girl in the 1200 student, 1-4 school picked a flower, it would have been stripped.
Movement...digging dirt is excellent physical exercise and medicine for the soul. Walking the dog is a real pleasure. The new Essentrics videos for posture, pain, mobility, and bone strength are helping me get back into movement, too. In fact, I feel so good, I want to ride my bike again. However, I don't think I'll ever walk the dog far from home again after being stalked by coyotes in the wee smalls. They don't bother me on my bike.
Sound of Music...with the new Essentrics videos, my stiffness is lessening. I hope I can pick up my violin and uke again soon. If not, I can still sing hymns in the mornings.
Teaching Little Children...When I was at my worst physically, this volunteer project is what kept me going. I love, love, love teaching and watching these babies blossom into capable, competent, peaceful creatures.
Doctor Ginger, Medicine Woman...I am neither a trained doctor nor medicine woman; I am simply a student of natural, nutritional healing. As many who read my blog know, I adopted this way of eating under my doctor's advice because of multiple allergies that led to auto-immune issues. When others eat wheat, soy, oils, animal excretions, or dead animals, they don't have immediate, violent reactions similar to ingesting poison. Mostly, oil and animal products do their damage silently; the person suddenly presents with arthritis, vascular or kidney disease, cancer, or acne out of the blue so they think. I suppose one could argue that I'm lucky my reactions are so violent, because following a plant-perfect lifestyle isn't a hard choice. In my family, one particular individual with many health maladies insists on making unkind comments about my diet whenever we eat together. You can just bet if I were a diabetic, he would be very supportive of a special diet; his mother died of complications from diabetes. Why do people insist on rudeness, when gatherings might be so pleasant otherwise? I try to avoid and ignore this constipated, obese, arthritic, diabetic person with heart disease, hemorrhoids, and diverticulitis, when on these rude kicks, secretly reciting my mantra: "Eat like that, look like that, feel like that, die like that." This mantra is kryptonite for my resolves not to eat what amounts to poison.
So, if the above person wants to understand why my current doctor speak on the diet he prescribes for those with autoimmune problems, watch this:
Cucina Fresca...In the winter, I drink green smoothies for lunch, because I just get too cold drinking them for breakfast. Instead I make all sorts of hot breakfasts from savory or fruity polenta to various oat dishes to fajita sweet potatoes to veggie miso soup with rice to this savory low-calorie, oil-free, cholesterol-free, stick to your ribs lentil dal with or without idli.
Rice Cooker Curry Dal with Rice
1/4 c each brown lentils, brown rice, and red rice (this is the cup that comes with the rice cooker and not a standard US cup)
water to the 2 line in the cooker
1/2 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 inch chunk ginger root, minced or grated
1/2 inch chunk turmeric root, minced or grated (optional)
2 tomatoes, diced
1/2 serrano pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t garlic powder
1 T curry powder *
1/8 t pumpkin pie spice (it's pretty close to garam masala but usually fresher in the store)
6-8 curry leaves, chopped (use twice as much if dried)
2 wedges of un-peeled Kabocha or other sweet winter squash
1/4 c moringa or spinach
1/4 fresh, minced cilantro
Put lentils, rice, onion, garlic, ginger, pepper, water, and spices in cooker. Top with squash wedges skin side down. Cook on brown rice setting. Stir in moringa or spinach and let steam with lid closed for a couple minutes. Put into two bowls. Garnish with cilantro and coarsely ground salt. *-I've tried lots of varieties and even mixed my own, Spice Hunter is the best one I've tasted by far.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
going to love it
Praying For...Claire and children all over the world to be blessed with peace, plenty, happiness, health, and love...to be honest, slow to anger, quick to listen, and love the truth...to enjoy school and work diligently...to find and love Jesus and always strive to follow Him and be like Him...to enjoy life and try to find joy (or at least the point of learning) in all the experiences...to enjoy doing hard things, because learning from hard things make one wise and smart...
Ponderizations..."Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman walketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep," Psalm 127:1-2. This prophecy sure is telling for our time. If we don't turn back to God, we won't be able to keep anything safe; we won't have peace.
GC Sermon of the Week...Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ by Dallin H. Oaks reminds us that we are not alone, because Jesus suffered all our pains, heart ache, and more. He understands and wishes to lift us; He stands waiting for our invitation.
Garden Gate to Movement...Yesterday, I talked to a wonderful gardener, who gave me a great, though not original, idea. He told me about his mother, who used gardening to regain lost strength. I go up and down with my ability to exercise with my Adrenal issues. Anyway, his mother is 78, and over the last two years has planted 200 trees on her property. Nearly every day, she digs a bit for an hour. It might take three days or a week, but eventually her 3X3 hole is dug. Then she builds a one foot deep compost pile in the bottom, covers it up, and waits for spring or fall planting season. After planting a tree in excellent compost and covering it with mulch, she plants herbs, flowers, and vegetables around it. Two years ago, she had one of those horrible, sterile dirt 'pastures' so famous around here. Now she has a veritable oasis, which provides all her fruit and vegetable needs plus an abundance to share. I don't have acreage, but I still have some room to put in more trees, herbs, flowers, and so forth. Being outdoors and playing in the dirt in good weather, I can heal my body and lighten my spirit, God willing.
Teaching Little Children...this week I made Rainbow Letter work, so the youngest children can practice penmanship in a new way. I made handwriting work for those who have mastered penmanship. My oldest daughter loved botany and zoology booklets between ages 4-5. To make these, we print pages of the same black outlined bird, flower, leaf, tree, fish, child, and so forth. Then we make and laminate a booklet with the specific part colored in red and its nomenclature written underneath: eye, head, wing, breast, feet, beak, tail. The parts of flowers and leaves get a bit more technical than this. The child will take a couple sheets that has four of the same subject to be studied. Next they cut it into quarters, color and label the specific part, then staple it together between two pieces of construction paper. Because children usually learn to write before they learn to read, this gives them practice with the former and eases them into the latter. I can't wait to share these with the children; they're going to love the work.
Cucina Fresca...I'm trying to perfect my stuffing recipe today. Everything has to be home cooked. I can't stand veggie broth in a can, so I'm making my own with onions, celery, mushrooms, herbs, pepper, and other vegetables. That's how I've always been about broth.
If it turns out the way I hope, the big day of thanks will find me preparing gluten-free cornbread (not the sweet kind). I'll cube, dry, and toss it with poultry spice. I like to use this as everything is ground to a powder for optimum flavor without little dried bits, and no it has no poultry in it. They I dry saute a mushrooms and onions until they are very soft adding in celery for the last few minutes. Next I mix this all together with diced water chestnuts, put it in a round souffle dish (or medium pumpkin), and bake it for 60 to 90 minutes at 350F. It should make a lovely centerpiece on a platter, surrounded by roasted portabellas and frilly kale for our all-plant Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of the broth will be thickened to make gravy for our mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. Roasted savory garnet yams, steamed baby green beans, 3-sisters stew, green salad, cranberries, and various pies will complete our table. I will make a few things before hand like the stew and gravy. I'll buy the pies from a little vegan bakery down town. Without the turkey mess, it really isn't a huge job to cook or clean up.
Ponderizations..."Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman walketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep," Psalm 127:1-2. This prophecy sure is telling for our time. If we don't turn back to God, we won't be able to keep anything safe; we won't have peace.
GC Sermon of the Week...Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ by Dallin H. Oaks reminds us that we are not alone, because Jesus suffered all our pains, heart ache, and more. He understands and wishes to lift us; He stands waiting for our invitation.
Garden Gate to Movement...Yesterday, I talked to a wonderful gardener, who gave me a great, though not original, idea. He told me about his mother, who used gardening to regain lost strength. I go up and down with my ability to exercise with my Adrenal issues. Anyway, his mother is 78, and over the last two years has planted 200 trees on her property. Nearly every day, she digs a bit for an hour. It might take three days or a week, but eventually her 3X3 hole is dug. Then she builds a one foot deep compost pile in the bottom, covers it up, and waits for spring or fall planting season. After planting a tree in excellent compost and covering it with mulch, she plants herbs, flowers, and vegetables around it. Two years ago, she had one of those horrible, sterile dirt 'pastures' so famous around here. Now she has a veritable oasis, which provides all her fruit and vegetable needs plus an abundance to share. I don't have acreage, but I still have some room to put in more trees, herbs, flowers, and so forth. Being outdoors and playing in the dirt in good weather, I can heal my body and lighten my spirit, God willing.
Teaching Little Children...this week I made Rainbow Letter work, so the youngest children can practice penmanship in a new way. I made handwriting work for those who have mastered penmanship. My oldest daughter loved botany and zoology booklets between ages 4-5. To make these, we print pages of the same black outlined bird, flower, leaf, tree, fish, child, and so forth. Then we make and laminate a booklet with the specific part colored in red and its nomenclature written underneath: eye, head, wing, breast, feet, beak, tail. The parts of flowers and leaves get a bit more technical than this. The child will take a couple sheets that has four of the same subject to be studied. Next they cut it into quarters, color and label the specific part, then staple it together between two pieces of construction paper. Because children usually learn to write before they learn to read, this gives them practice with the former and eases them into the latter. I can't wait to share these with the children; they're going to love the work.
Cucina Fresca...I'm trying to perfect my stuffing recipe today. Everything has to be home cooked. I can't stand veggie broth in a can, so I'm making my own with onions, celery, mushrooms, herbs, pepper, and other vegetables. That's how I've always been about broth.
If it turns out the way I hope, the big day of thanks will find me preparing gluten-free cornbread (not the sweet kind). I'll cube, dry, and toss it with poultry spice. I like to use this as everything is ground to a powder for optimum flavor without little dried bits, and no it has no poultry in it. They I dry saute a mushrooms and onions until they are very soft adding in celery for the last few minutes. Next I mix this all together with diced water chestnuts, put it in a round souffle dish (or medium pumpkin), and bake it for 60 to 90 minutes at 350F. It should make a lovely centerpiece on a platter, surrounded by roasted portabellas and frilly kale for our all-plant Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of the broth will be thickened to make gravy for our mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. Roasted savory garnet yams, steamed baby green beans, 3-sisters stew, green salad, cranberries, and various pies will complete our table. I will make a few things before hand like the stew and gravy. I'll buy the pies from a little vegan bakery down town. Without the turkey mess, it really isn't a huge job to cook or clean up.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
please share this
September 5th marks the 18th anniversary of the second worst day of my life, the day my nine-year-old Katie had a terrible accident. Late as usual, she raced off on her bike but forgot to buckle the strap to her helmet. She also forgot to look both ways before crossing the street. A truck traveling too fast for a residential area glanced the back wheel of her bike, sending helmet flying into the air and her body sliding across the road. She stopped when her head struck the curb. After brain surgery and six torturous days, she was removed from life support. As life drained from her body, I whispered love to this sweet girl. September 11, 1997, the worst day of my life, she died. Even though I know I'll see her and love her again in Heaven, I miss this girl every day.
Please, share this story with all children you know. Help them understand how important it is to wear and buckle their helmets and how equally important it is to use their eyes and ears near motor vehicles.
Please, share this story with all children you know. Help them understand how important it is to wear and buckle their helmets and how equally important it is to use their eyes and ears near motor vehicles.
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