Shining

"Love is an opening of the heart. It's like the sun shining. The sun just naturally shines. It doesn't discriminate, shining on this person but not on that one. It just shines, because it's the nature of the sun to give warmth. Some people go inside and close the doors and windows; that's their problem. The sun is shining anyway. And it's that quality of heart which we have to develop. That quality of open, unconditional loving, no matter what."
--Tenzin Palmo

In light of the kick-off of Beth's blog carnival, "Ladies of Grace," I thought this was an interesting quote!

I even found another example of being aware of the condition of my heart on the way to work this morning... A woman, in an obvious hurry, totally cut me off in traffic this morning - almost running me into the wall of a bridge! Now, I normally can't stand bad drivers... and sometimes have used some choice words to describe my distaste for their behavior... But this morning, as my first reaction was to get mad, I found myself wondering what was she in such a hurry for?

Was it work? Was she going to her child? Was someone in the hospital? Was she emotionally upset and just unaware of her surroundings on the road? I found myself praying for her... for her safety the rest of the way to her destination, for other peoples' safety while she was driving in this state of hurriedness, and for the rest of her day to be filled with blessings that will help her to take more time in her journeying...

Totally not my usual reaction to such rude behavior while driving! But it was interesting to feel myself notice my hardened heart once again... and to do something about it.

I hope your day is filled with the shining of the sun, with the unconditional love of God, and with an amazing joy!
Megs

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Not getting into a car accident this morning.
2. A softened heart.
3. Funny responses to the snack at VBS today.
4. The other VBS volunteers - it's been so fun getting to know them better!
5. The dog's cuddles when I don't feel good.
6. Beth and Jason graciously letting me re-schedule our meeting for next week.
7. Open Sanctuary tonight. Wow. Read about it here.
8. My hubby made the snacks for tomorrow's VBS while I was at church tonight. What a sweetie!
9. He also picked up the house, left me a nice note, and took care of the dog when she wasn't feeling well either... I love him.
10. Hopefully, going to bed early.

Yummy Wednesday - Tiramisu

Mmmm... Who can resist some Tiramisu?! I tried this recipe, from Pioneer Woman, earlier this summer - and have already made it twice! If you like the stuff you get at restaurants - you'll LOVE this! And guess what?! It's so easy to make! So have fun and enjoy the deliciousness of this wonderful creation...Tiramisu

5 large egg yolks

1/4 cup + 4 tbsp sugar

3/4 cup Marsala wine, Brandy, or Rum (we use rum)

1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled

1 lb Mascarpone cheese, softened to room temperature

1 1/2 cups espresso or very strong coffee

1 tbsp vanilla

2 packages Savoiardi cookies (ladyfingers)

Cocoa powder

Chocolate shavings (optional - but yummy!)

First, make the zabaglione:

In a bowl that will fit over a pot of hot water (or a double boiler), beat eggs and sugar together until mixture is a pale yellow, about 3 minutes.

Bring water to a boil in pot, then reduce to a simmer.

Place bowl with eggs yolks mixture over water and gradually beat in the wine, brandy or rum.

Keep beating continuously.

Cook about 7 minutes, stirring to scrape sides and bottom of bowl.

Mixture will be thick. (It always takes me a lot longer than 7 minutes - so be patient! You'll know when it's thick and ready!)

Cover bowl and refrigerate 45 minutes.

When zabaglione is chilled:

Whip the heavy cream and 4 tbsp sugar together to form whipped cream.

Gently fold Mascarpone cheese and zabaglione into the whipped cream. (Be very gentle! If you over do it, you will get a watery mess!)

Set aside.

Now mix together the espresso, 1/4 cup wine, brandy or rum, and vanilla.

Set aside.

To assemble:

Arrange ladyfingers in a single layer in a 9 x 13 pan.

Spoon about 1/2 to 1 tbsp coffee mixture over each cookie.

Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the cookies.

Sprinkle with cocoa powder.

Repeat two more times: cookies, coffee, cheese mixture, cocoa.

If you wish, you can add chocolate shavings on top - it looks pretty, and it tastes nummy!

Refrigerate and serve! I let it set up in the fridge for about 3-4 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Ladies of Grace - August 5th

Today is the kick-off of the "Ladies of Grace" blog carnival at WalkAMile! We're encouraged to look back over the week and recognize a moment when our hearts were opened, or warmed - or a time when we noticed our hearts closed, or hardened. It's an experiment in awareness - awareness of the grace that God offers us, and the grace that we can offer to others. When we take a moment to notice our reactions to the world around us, we can experience God's grace in new ways. If you'd like to share an experience you have had recently, feel free to link up to Beth's blog!

My experience for this week happened last night. My pastor and I were invited to the National Night Out block party that was taking place in our church's neighborhood. Both of us being shy introverts, we were pretty nervous and a little intimidated by the idea of walking into a neighborhood party without really knowing anyone. I have to admit, I started out with a somewhat closed heart...

We arrived (after driving around the block several times, due to the party getting going much later than we were told!) to a crowd of people who were obviously friends, and not the friendliest to the new visitors at first. We introduced ourselves to a couple of people... Only to have them say "hi" and turn back to the person they were talking to. My heart continued to harden. I felt so unwelcomed, and as though I was intruding... I wondered, how often do people enter my church and feel this way? (Lesson #1.)

Finally, after a half hour or so, a few more people began to talk to us - and once they did, they really opened up about who they were and what was going on in their lives. We talked about some fascinating careers and hobbies, some who had lost jobs recently (a few, actually), one person who's husband had a horrific accident last winter... My heart began to warm as these people saw us as caring friends in the neighborhood and shared their burdens.

I even finally got to meet the mom that I wave at several days a week when her little girls are riding their bikes on our street or in our church parking lot, as she protectively looks on.

It's amazing how resistant you can be to an experience - whether it's out of shyness or skepticism... and how a situation can unfold in such a positive way. (Lesson #2.) I hope this has been the first step to a relationship between our neighbors and the church - a sense of community where we can all experience God's grace!

So where has your heart been warmed or hardened this week? How is God's grace working in your life? I'd love to read your stories!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Excedrin. Ugh. Headache all day.

2. Madison, a little girl at VBS, running out to greet me when I arrived. Nice to feel wanted!

3. A fairly low-key day at VBS today.

4. Being able to come home early today. Nice to work and rest at home... I miss that!

5. Going to the "Cottage House" antique market with the hubby this afternoon. Got a couple of fun decorations - a HUGE black bowl (it might get painted... we'll see), and a pretty barn-red and yellow wall bucket thingy... Fun fun fun.

6. A funny response to my "Ladies of Grace" story - a man who wrote a book about introverts in the church emailed me to tell me about the book! LOL I'll have to check it out! Thanks, Adam!

7. The hubby helping me make treats for VBS tomorrow - he's so much better at certain things!

8. A beautiful night for a walk - gorgeous sunset!

9. Offers to do cool giveaways and product reviews on the blog. Kind of fun!

10. This picture of my goddaughter, Elly, and me swimming and making fishy faces!

Ladies of Grace

Earlier this summer, my new blogger friend, Andrea (at thelittlecollection) sent me the book, "A Heart Like His." The book speaks about an experiment that focuses on being aware of the condition of your heart (is it hard and gray or soft and large). I thought it was such an interesting idea, that I mentioned it at my book group. And lo and behold, my friend Beth (at WalkaMile) decided to run with the idea and start an experiment of her own! She has developed a blog carnival, named "Ladies of Grace," focusing on the premise of each of us examining our hearts and the ways we are open or closed to the world and people around us every day.

Here is a run down of the purpose and how it works, taken from "A Heart Like His":

1. To be more aware of the condition of our hearts and with that awareness to keep them more open toward others.

2. To do this in the normal course of our lives, in other words, not put any extra activities into our day--no extra visits, no preparing of casseroles, etc. Above all, people should not become "projects" and our lives should not to be filled with more things to do.

3. Notice the Spirit and be willing to blog and honestly report what did or did not happen.

More explanation: This experiment is meant to help us explore and experiment with the simple concept of opening our hearts-simply making space for God and others. Because this experiment is more about becoming than doing, it is simple, doesn't consume time, actually creates energy and therefore self-perpetuating ... This should be easy to do, but I believe the results will be more profound...because we are in search of a new heart...a heart like His!

Beth is starting her blog carnival tomorrow - so be sure to check it out and take some time to notice your own reactions and feelings to events and people around you! She'll have a "Mr. Linky" so you can link your story to her post! I'll be looking forward to reading about your experience! (I already know what I'll be sharing this week... Check back tomorrow!)

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Coffee - again. The hubby is so good to me!
2. Energetic kids.
3. Birthday cupcakes. (No, I did not have one - but the kids were sure excited!)
4. Getting to know the VBS teachers better - and having a lot of fun with them.
5. Being sore from working out 2 days in a row!
6. Learning that my pastor is just as - if not more - nervous than I am when meeting a bunch of new people.
7. Meeting the neighbors of our church at their National Night Out block party - some cool people, and LOTS of kids!
8. Lightning bugs.
9. A cool evening walk.
10. A small fudgey brownie. Not on the eating plan - but SO worth the points! Ha ha ha.

A Simple Woman's Daybook - August 3rd Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... Night time has come... I'm a little late on this today. A slight breeze. Crickets chirping. A beautiful almost full moon.

I am thinking... of the weekend already... A quiet weekend at home with no plans sounds SO wonderful to me right now!

I am thankful... for a quiet night at home last night... I need some more of those, I think.
From the kitchen... Hmmm... Healthy stuff. I'm re-starting Weight Watchers today. Bummer. I am wearing... Pjs. Geesh. I either write this on Mondays when I don't leave the house and am in my pjs, or late at night when I've already changed back into the pjs! I think they are my blogging uniform!
I am creating... snacks for Vacation Bible School. Pickles, cream cheese, and ham wraps for tomorrow - to symbolize God's love embracing us, even when we're in a pickle! Ha ha ha. They're yummy, anyway....
I am going... to enjoy this week of VBS. I get to wear camping and hiking gear to work everyday (we're doing "Discovery Canyon"), play with little kids, and be goofy with both the kids and adults! It's an early morning and a long week - but so worth it!
I am reading... "The God I Never Knew" by Marcus Borg, and something about congregational development (sounds fascinating, I KNOW!). Oh! And a Dean Koontz book in those rare moments when I can read for fun.

I am hoping... I can stick to my eating and exercising plans this week!

I am hearing... crickets.

One of my favorite things... hearing one of the little girls at VBS tell me, "I really like this place!" So cute!

A few plans for the rest of the week... VBS every morning, book group, a National Night Out block party, shopping at the Cottage House junk market with my hubby, Open Sanctuary, and a very quiet weekend...

Here is picture thought I am sharing... I don't have my camera! It's still off being fixed... So here's something old from the picture folder: A picture of the Cliffs of Moher from our trip to Ireland last March. I would love to be sitting on those cliffs right now! Absolutely breath-taking!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. The hubby made me coffee this morning - and I needed it!

2. I got a thumbs up on snacks at VBS today - strawberry sherbet and nilla cookies. We simulated parting the Red Sea! Ha ha ha.

3. Little Willow being so excited about VBS. Adorable.

4. A good workout.

5. Going for a late night walk.

6. Imagination.

7. The hubby cleaned the bathrooms! Nice!

8. Paninis for dinner. So good.

9. Simply Lemonade. Delish!

10. An ipod full of good workout tunes.

Gentle Lessons

"What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner."
--Colette

"If we are willing to learn our lessons gently, they patiently await us in countless ways. Today, try listening to the wisdom of children; accepting the loving kindness of a friend; reaching out to those in need; asking a colleague for advice; acting on your intuition; laughing at your foibles and frailities and accepting them with love; observing how your pets live so contentedly in the present moment; rediscovering the surprising healing power of spontaniety; focusing on the good in any situation you are now encountering; expecting the best of everyday; and realizing what a wonderful life you're living - sooner rather than later.
"Of course, the unexpected often catches us by surprise. But if we are open to and grateful for gentle lessons, new teachers will appear in our path."
--A Simple Abundance

On my way to church this morning a bi-plane flew over my car and I smiled. Ten years ago, I was starting my first full-time youth ministry job at a church in small-town Wisconsin. It was a warm summer morning, and I was far enough from friends and family to feel a little isolated on such a beautiful day. But, many of the members of my new church were going to the nearby county airport for a pancake breakfast and to see the old planes that fly in once a year on their way to the Oshkosh Air Show. So I hitched a ride with one of the older couples - determined to have a fun morning and a free, yummy, breakfast!

After breakfast I was chatting with the mom of one of my youth group kids, when she said, "You should go up for a ride!" I knew the boy scouts were getting free rides from the "safer-looking" planes... But if I was going up, I REALLY wanted to go in the open-air bi-plane! Before I knew it, Gena had snuck over, talked to the pilot, and had convinced him that I needed a little adventure that day.

I got to have the ride of my life! He took me up, flew me all over the county letting me point out all the landmarks I knew, then he started the stunts! We got to go upside down, roll over, go really fast, and... he flew as high as he could, cut the engine, and we got to experience a spinning nose dive until he pulled us out of it and we rose really fast and high again! It was awesome!

I couldn't thank him enough when we were done. It had been one of the most thrilling experiences of my life... I walked on air for a month, at least!

Spontaneous. Risky. Exciting. It made me realize that all it took was asking. Up until that point I had always been too shy to think someone would do something like that for me. But my friend, Gena, wouldn't let me sit back and miss this experience - and I thank her for that!

Lessons learned: Have fun. Try new things. Be spontaneous. Speak Up. Ask. Trust a friend. Take risks once in awhile. Get out of the house! Ha ha ha. Everytime I see an old bi-plane, I think of that day. And I smile.

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Good memories.
2. Adventure.
3. Risk-taking.
4. We had a wonderful musician perform at church today - he had a beautiful voice! Thanks, Peter!
5. Spouses that get nervous for their partners.
6. Easy set-up for Vacation Bible School.
7. Pool time. (I even fell asleep. Wonderful!)
8. A yummy dinner - salmon and green beans.
9. Friendships.
10. Talking to my sister on the phone yesterday.
11. Oh! I almost forgot! The best thing that happened today - I was asked to officate a wedding of one of the former youth group kids at my current church... Unfortunately, I had to say no. Alas, I am not ordained... But what a nice thing to be asked!

Saturday

More traveling today - back to MN. Rain and storms follow us to the IL border - and then SUNSHINE! A great day for a drive!

Things I am thankful for:

1. Farmers' Markets - so fun. Nice to see Kankakee has a good one now.
2. Lindsey made us delicious turkey sandwiches before we hit the road.
3. Mark always packs us a "goody-bag" for our drive home. So cute.
4. The hubby is always sad and quiet after he leaves his friend. It's a wonderful thing to have a friendship that runs that deep.
5. Fields of sunflowers! (I wish I had my camera!!!!)
6. Stopping at McDonalds... Strawberry shake. Yum.
7. Singing and dancing in the car to my goofy songs on my ipod. I got a few smirks from the hubby...
8. Getting home at a decent hour.
9. A long hot shower in my own shower!
10. Sleeping in my own bed.