Strawberry Fields Forever

Nothing is more quintessentially (one of my favorite words-hard to use right) summer than strawberries...

They are usually in season here in The Mitten over summer solstice. Long-hot days, short nights, delicate white blossoms and bursts of juicy, sweet redness.

I head off to the strawberry patches once a summer.  I have since I was very young, maybe 5 or 6 years old. I think I only missed the summer Meres was born. Neither my hugely pregnant state, nor my condition as a new mother were conducive to strawberry picking that summer.

I slip on some jeans (never shorts-who wants to get their knees dirty?) and my sandals, tuck a check in my pocket, and head out before 7:00. The sun is up, but the air still has its early morning crispness.

I don't bring my kids because I don't want them trampling plants. It is me and the berries in sweet solitude.

Well, except for the other ladies and gents, and kiddos in the patch. Usually I just listen in on conversations around me. This year I was picking in a row close to a bunch of other solitary and chatty women. We had a blast. We bemoaned the size of the berries, and swapped recipes and tips. That's how berry picking should be...with girlfriends or sisters or moms.

I made it home before 9:30 and started hulling those gorgeous berries. I sliced a bunch for the freezer, and made a batch of jam. Today I am making pies.

Now, some people (ahem...Erin...), seem to think that a pie is a pie is a pie. Whether store bought or homemade, it doesn't really matter. Well, I agree that lemon meringue is pretty good either homemade or not, and apple pie is apple pie wherever you get it. But I have never had a store bought strawberry pie that remotely holds a candle to my strawberry pie. Just sayin'. All strawberry pies are not created equal. Especially not Big Boy's and Barefoot Hippie Girl's.

My boys' termed this "strawberry goodness" way back when they were 2 and 3. The moniker has stuck...

Even if you are a buy a pie kind of person, I'd urge you to make a strawberry pie. The crust is the most finicky part so buy a Pilsbury crust if you don't want to make your own. The filling is super easy and the only other thing that has to happen is hulling the strawberries. Anyone can do that! Trust me...this recipe is easy as pie...

Strawberry Pie
1 9" pie crust
Bake at 450 degrees for 9-12 minutes, until crust is golden. Cool

1-2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and washed
Arrange (or not) in the cooled crust.

Filling
1-1/3 cup water
1-1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 box strawberry jello

Cook the water, sugar and cornstarch until thick and clear. Add the jello, and cook one more minute. Cool slightly. Pour over strawberries in crust. Refrigerate until firm and cold.

Top with a nice dollop of whipping cream...

Strawberry goodness!

can anyone say "wow!"

What are your thoughts on pie? Buy them or make them? Or both?

What I am Learning: Elijah Edition

What a relief to sit down with my cup of tea and rest! I picked 24 pounds of strawberries this morning. It was end of season picking, and I had to really work for those 24 pounds.

Yesterday Elizabeth asked on Twitter, "who is your favorite OT example of someone God cared for through suffering?" I answered Elijah.

I think Elizabeth was a bit baffled with my answer. Elijah is not usually the person who comes to our minds when we think of suffering. But his issues of depression and weariness are ones I face. Here's my not 140 twitter character answer of why I picked Elijah.

I love Elijah. He was a firebrand prophet of God. God spoke to him, gave him a message to speak to others, and he did it boldly despite the consequences.

Of course, we all are familiar with the story of Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal. The altars, sacrifices, showmanship and prayers, and how Elijah's sacrifice was thoroughly consumed by fire sent from the only true God in heaven. Triumph of heady proportions!

That day wraps up with Elijah killing 850 prophets of Baal, the first rain in almost 3 years, and a death threat. Jezebel was going to kill Elijah.

Now, you'd think, that this threat would have been like water off a duck's back. God burned up His own sacrifice. He could easily protect Elijah.

Instead of trusting, Elijah runs away. He is rather depressed and suicidal. "Just kill me, God!" His perceptions are way off. He can't see the good. He is exhausted, hungry, and needy. He sleeps and eats  and then he runs for 40 days.

I know I have been rather hard on Elijah. Really? It was that bad? Where's your faith in God?

One thing I have learned by experience is that there are seasons of ministry where you give your all. And then you have nothing left. You are completely depleted.

Case in point: my last two weeks. What with the retreat (planning, grocery shopping, carrying, cooking and leading a session one night), leading the 4 hour long training session on how to teach kids' Bible clubs, teaching everything the first evening of our VBS, and the supervising the other four nights, I am whipped.

Absolutely drained. I am tired-physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually. Honestly, I want to run away. (interesting co-inky-dink...Mr. Hippie and I are absconding to Chicago sans offspring for three days this weekend. I guess you could call that running away.)

This is not a one time occurrence either. Every time we do a week long VBS or a weekend children's conference, or have some other period of intense ministry, I am exhausted afterwards.

Does this mean that seasons of focused ministry are wrong? Does it mean that we shouldn't be tired after seasons of focused ministry? I don't think so.

God cared for Elijah when he was suffering weariness and depression. God is dealing with me this week the same way He dealt with Elijah. He is still caring...

God fed Elijah. Physically and spiritually. God gave Elijah real food, and He spoke to him.
After seasons of focused ministry we need to take care of our physical bodies. I find when I am weary and cranky it can be because I haven't eaten and my blood sugar is low. I have forgotten my daily vitamins. We also need to take time to be bathed in Scripture, in God's words. We need to read the Bible, and think about it. Not just a five minute to-do, but a real heart to heart. We need to listen for His still small voice of encouragement and provision.

God allowed Elijah to rest and sleep. God gives His people sleep. He gives them periods of rest.
I can probably do it all, but I can't. Meaning, I can manage to do a whole lot each day. I can cram my days from early morning to late night with to-do's. I can actually make those to-do's, all-done's. I can do the list, but something will suffer. If only my sanity. I am learning that just because I can, doesn't mean I should.

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to pick all I wanted in free strawberries. It was a very tempting offer, that I turned down. I had brunch planned with the BFF and we had VBS that evening. I would have had to pick the strawberries quick between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., rush home to meet the BFF, visit, and then instead of having quiet time in the afternoon, I would have been dealing with strawberries. And I would have had to deal with them all day Saturday. Could I have done that? Yes. Would it have saved me money? Yes. Would it have pounded me further into the ground? Yes.

Instead I had a wonderful visit with the BFF, wrote a blog post and shopped with LC Friday afternoon, went to a bonfire Friday evening, slept in until 10:30 on Saturday, took a nice bike ride with Mr. Hippie Saturday afternoon, and went for a picnic with the offspring on Saturday night.

This fed my soul, rested my body, and was the better choice.

God gave Elijah a renewed mission and a friend. He had him anoint his successor and co-worker.
The older I get, the more I am comfortable in my own skin. With this comes the perspective and excitement and ability to embrace other's gifts, whether similar or different than my gifts. Life and ministry are no longer a competition. They are the opportunity to serve together so that all can use the gifts God has given them. There are no celebrities, only co-workers. As the work is shared, more gets done. The joy is multiplied. God is glorified. God has provided people to work together. If only we will.

So, now I have to stop resting and finish hulling my 24 pounds of strawberries. And make jam. And pies. But those can wait until tomorrow.

I will be linking this post up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky Link Up Things I learned in June.

That's Ironic. Seriously

Of all brands of humor, irony is my favorite. And then corny jokes. My friend, Catherine, keeps me well supplied with corny jokes. Follow her for a daily dose of humor.

But, for irony, well, regular old life supplies plenty of irony. Situations that if you didn't laugh you'd have to cry. Irony is the things you see and hear that can always have a seriously? attached to them.

Such as...

I've been shaving for what, over 20 years of my life? And, no matter how careful I am, I always miss a patch somewhere on one my knees. Every time. That's inevitability and irony, right there folks.

Isn't it ironic that there can be a 99% chance of rain, but if you skip watering your garden, it won't rain? And, if you do water, it will. Always.

Or how about hot flashes? I think it is ironic that If I have blankets on any time of the year, I sweat buckets. But if I sleep without blankets, I freeze. Perfect solution? Sleeping with one leg outside the covers. Keeps me at an ideal temperature. Darn those hormones!

I find it ironic that everything stays relatively clean until after you clean on the day you clean. Hello muddy footprints and milk spills and shaving residue in the sink.

I also find it ironic that my husband loves hot showers in the summer and not very hot showers in the winter. Yes, you read that right. I am a winter=hot showers, summer=cold showers, kind of gal.

Is it ironic that I love crunching on chocolate covered coffee beans, but I completely dislike any coffee grounds in my cup of joe?

I also find it ironic this current obsession of folks with dry shampoo. I mean, maybe it is just because I have short hair, and it doesn't take long for me to wash, dry and style it. But, it really sounds like dry shampoo takes as much time as actually washing your hair. So why not just wash it?

It is absolutely ironic that we have a house full of books, and yet I feel like I have nothing to read.

ironically enough, Meres is throwing a fit bc she didn't want to sit on this rock.
She wanted to stand on another one.

It is definitely ironic that this Barefoot Hippie Girl is writing this post while sitting at Urgent Care waiting for an X-ray on her left foot. There is a painful spot under my arch. Wondering if it is an injury or if something is stuck in there. Hoping it is the later. It would be a quicker fix. Or maybe it will be nothing. That would be awesome!!!

What do yo find ironic? Leave me a comment...

Purity Vs. Virginity

I said a while back that I am a thinker. I stew over things until I arrive at a conclusion. Well, lately I have been stewing a lot over the huge topics of purity and modesty and how these relate to Christian girls and guys, men and women.

Modesty and purity are both heart issues. As are immodesty and impurity. If the heart is not dealt with, the outward reality is just perceptions and facades. That's all.

Recently I read a post (I would send you to it, but I can't remember where I read it), that broke my heart. In an evangelical church, a full figured girl was chastised regularly for how she dressed, and how it was causing provocative thoughts and sinful actions in men.

Based on her descriptions of what she was wearing, I would say that the problem wasn't her problem. She was not dressing immodestly. The problem was in the disgusting hearts of the men and boys in her church. No matter how she dressed, their minds still would have been in the gutter.

Why?

Because purity starts in the heart. And so does impurity.

In conversation recently, someone made the comment to me that if a boy loved a girl, he would not have taken her purity away from her.

Purity. Not virginity-purity.

Well, I am here to tell you, no one can take your purity away from you-EVER.

I am no longer a virgin. I waited until I was married before I ever had sex. Because I am no longer a virgin, does that mean I am impure? That I have been impure since the first time I had sex? Absolutely not! No one, no Christian, would ever say that. The Bible certainly does not teach that.

Furthermore, a woman or man, boy or girl, who have been molested or raped, have not had their purity taken from them. They have been violated. They have been sinned against. They have been wronged. They probably feel impure or dirty, but they aren't. They have not sinned. We shouldn't treat them like they are impure. The Bible certainly does not teach that either.

I do believe the Bible teaches that sexual sin is wrong. Sex before marriage and outside of God's parameters is sin. 1 Corinthians 6:18 emphasizes that sexual sin is on a different plane than other sin. Every sin that a man does is outside the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his body. I would hazard an opinion that generally those who live out impurity in their lives were impure in their thoughts beforehand. Sexual sin and impurity are extremely serious and have far reaching consequences, but they are not the unforgivable sin.

Purity starts in the heart. This is the key thought. Furthermore, the Bible places a premium on purity-purity of the heart.

Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat nor with the wine he drank. (Daniel 1:8)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

To the pure all things are pure. (Titus 1:15)

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth what is good; and an evil man, out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth what is evil. For out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

Your virginity is precious. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. But our virginity is not our purity.

If we equate our virginity with our purity, then what happens when we lose our virginity in any context besides marriage? Are we then impure? For how long? Forever?

While your virginity cannot be restored, your purity can be. Psalm 51 resonates with this thought. After some pretty memorable sexual sin, David is confessing his sin and asking God to wash him and make him whiter than snow.

This is the thought that has been taught in our churches to our youth that I think is decimating our ranks: when purity and virginity are equated, and you lose your virginity, you become damaged goods. There is no room for forgiveness, grace, or a comeback. You may as well throw in the towel and live however you want because as far as the church is concerned, you are through.

Women are the ones with more visible and tangible consequences of sexual sin. Guys don't get pregnant. The whole physical setup of sex makes for a penetration of the woman. It is in our bodies. Not so the males. Women are much more invested in the sexual act. We equate sex with love.

We need to love the sinner and hate the sin, not allow the sin because of the sinner. We also need to make room for repentance and forgiveness and complete restoration. We need to allow room for grace and a way home. When the prodigal son repented of his sin and came home, his father RAN to meet him. He didn't have a laundry list of issues, he killed the fatted calf, clothed him in the best robe, and restored the son to his position of sonship.

I think we do need to teach sexual purity and modesty, but we need to emphasize the purity of thought and heart. We need to be less concerned with how this sin makes us look on the outside, than how the inside is reflected on the outside. We need to be more concerned with reaching hearts than buffing up facades.

I don't know exactly what the answer is. I am wrestling. Repentance and grace. Forgiveness. How does it all fit? Where do we, as Christians, who desire to uphold the teachings and standards of the Bible, fit into the equation? What is the balanced approach? The Christ-like approach?

WWJD?

None Should Mow the Grass There

The older I get, the more my soul resonates with poetry. I used to not have time for figuring it out. Now, I enjoy taking time to read it and contemplate what pictures the poet is painting with his words.

As I've said before, Robert Frost is my favorite poet. Maybe because he is the only poet that I've really read. (Besides Mother Goose. Does Mother Goose count?) Mr. Hippie bought me a book of Robert Frost's poetry for Mother's Day. It sits on my bedside, and every little while I haul it out and read a poem or two.

 It isn't just a book of poems, it is much more. The author, Tim Kendall, compiled poems, Robert Frost explanations of why he wrote each poem, and what each poem means. I think I may need an additional book to explain the explanations.

Nevertheless, the poetry feeds my soul when I am feeling dry and depleted. Somedays I feel like I have given and given, and I have no more to give. That is when I need to step back and receive. Recharge in order to give out again.

Poems aren't meant to be read once and you're done. Most poems require more than a quick perusal. Poems require thought and concentration in order to pick up the nuances and rhythm. Poems generally have the literal and obvious interpretations that should be pictured first. After you get that, then dig a little deeper for the ulterior meaning. How it applies to life.

 In honor of summer being full upon us, and the beauty and laziness it brings, here is a popular Frost poem written earlier in his career.

Rose Pogonia

A saturated meadow, 

Sun-shaped and jewel-small, 

A circle scarcely wider 

Than the trees around were tall; 

Where winds were quite excluded, 

And the air was stifling sweet 

With the breath of many flowers-- 

A temple of the heat. 

There we bowed us in the burning, 

As the sun's right worship is, 

To pick where none could miss them 

A thousand orchises; 

For though the grass was scattered, 

Yet ever second spear 

Seemed tipped with wings of color 

That tinged the atmosphere. 

We raised a simple prayer 

Before we left the spot, 

That in the general mowing 

That place might be forgot; 

Or if not all so favored, 

Obtain such grace of hours 

That none should mow the grass there 

While so confused with flowers.

-Robert Frost

What is your favorite summer poem? 

Stripping Away the Layers

Some days I feel spent. Worn out. Those are the days I try to recall my blessings...

I am thankful for so many things...so many unique summer things.

I am thankful for the sound of my wind chimes tinkling in the breeze.

I am thankful for cups of tea after long mornings of cooking.

I am thankful for tomato plants that are thriving, and cherries that are almost ready to be picked.

I am thankful for the flowers in my garden. And that this year's planting seems to be doing very well. We're getting closer to the idea of more flower than wild.=)

I am thankful for my kiddos, who have stepped up to the plate quite a bit lately, in our busy lives.

I am thankful for the time I had away at camp.

I am thankful for the sound of the birds chirping in the trees including the new babies in the nest out front.

I am thankful for my bike, and my pool, and my two functioning legs, and functioning arms.

I am thankful for my health. I have nothing to complain about in that area. What a blessing!

I am thankful for Elizabeth's new book, how God is using her words, and for the chance I have to read and review it.

I am thankful for the outlet of writing.

I am thankful it is strawberry season, which means it is also strawberry pie and strawberry jam season.

I am thankful for sunshiny days and crisp nights. I am thankful that our summer isn't crazy hot yet.

I am thankful that God speaks to my heart the truth-good, bad and ugly. And that He is about grace and restoration.

I am thankful for ceiling fans.

I am thankful for old, clean television series. And for Duck Dynasty. Best laughs we have had in a while.

I am thankful for good food and friends to share it with.

I am thankful for our village, and for those who have invested in my life and my kids' lives.

I am thankful for 7 Layer Salad.

No joke.

times 4

As I was brainstorming about 2:00 a.m. on the way to OKC, I knew I wanted to have Chicken Tacos for the retreat's Thursday night dinner. The chicken tacos have corn and beans and rice in the filling, so I was trying to figure out what else to have as a side.

My favorite Mexican-ish salad contains more beans and corn. It is fresh, colorful, and beautiful, but also too similar to the taco filling.

My next thought was a regular lettuce salad. Boring. 

And then I hit on 7 Layer Salad. Colorful, different, reasonably healthy, and totally delicious! I find that the only pain in the butt step of this recipe is grating the carrots. Everything else is a breeze. My dressing is not sweet, and requires mayo not miracle whip. This is a great recipe to make up to 24 hours before serving. The longer chilling time melds the flavors.

7 Layer Salad
In a clear glass bowl of about 8" diameter, Layer...
#1-4 cups torn lettuce, any kind or combo
#2-1 cup frozen peas
#3-1 cup shredded carrot
#4-2 hard cooked eggs, sliced
#5-6 slices of bacon, crisp cooked, drained and crumbled
#6-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
#7-2 green onions, sliced

Mix 3/4 cup of mayo, 1-1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and spread carefully over the top layer. Cover and chill for 2-24 hours. Serve as it, or toss to coat the vegetables.

This pairs perfectly with a whole lot of summer things-burgers, brats, grilled chicken, pork, or....

Maybe you should plan to bring it to your Fourth Of July party...

By Comparison, This Summer...

When I read Amanda's post on Life with a Mission, Every Summer is Different, my mental wheels started turning. Thanks for the inspiration, Amanda.

2 summers ago...
On the first day of summer, the day the first lily in my garden bloomed, I birthed a certain Meres. And she defined my entire summer. Adjusting to life with a new born with the practically sleepless nights and nursing.

I was huge. I gained the most weight with Meres of any of my babies, and it didn't just fall back off either. I tried to get back into running and swimming after the 4 week mark and I was just so tired and discouraged. My hips weren't where God designed them to be, and running just wasn't happening. But, I got adjusted towards the end of July, and all became right in that part of my world.

We had planned to stick close to home that summer, but we decided in May to book a cabin in the Smokey Mountains for the last week of August. We figured by that time our baby would be almost 10 weeks old, and would have settled into the routine of things. It was the best decision we could have made. We spent over a week relaxing and visiting our favorite haunts in the mountains. It was a balm for our souls.

Meres and me at the pool...

kids and I at the Creation Museum

Last summer...
Was a crazy busy summer! It was full of work for Mr. Hippie, and ministry for both of us. We ran a retreat together (same one as last weekend), plus 4 VBS, two of which were out of town. We spent the first half of August in Chicago for a week, and then out east in Pennsylvania, Delaware and DC. I loved visiting Philly and DC and seeing our national culture and heritage. It was absolutely amazing in this history buff's books.

Last summer is also when I feel like my blogging and blog went through its puberty stage. I made changes and started writing with a definite purpose. I started writing less for people who know me and need news, and more for strangers who need encouragement. And strangers became friends.

me and my man

Longwood Gardens

This summer...
Has had a crazy start. I can't believe we have already been done with school for a month, made a trip to OKC, finished our retreat, and now are in the midst of our one VBS of the summer.

Actually, after tomorrow, this summer looks fairly laid back. Our only planned trip is a weekend getaway for Mr. Hippie and I. We are going to visit the Windy City, and I am planning to bring our bikes. I always love seeing people using the trail along the lake front. Well, that is going to be the Barefoot Hippies in another week or two. My sister in law is taking the offspring, and I am very excited to have time just the two of us!

One of my bros and my parents will be up during the first couple weeks of July. Then I am hiring out the painting of my living room towards the end of July/beginning of August. The price is right. The painters will fill holes, paint the walls, trim and ceiling in the living room and up through the hallway upstairs. That is worth a whole lot of money in my book. I don't have to keep a certain two year old out of paint for days on end. To say nothing of keeping dirty little hands off freshly painted walls. We will set up HQ in our camper north of town for the time the painters are here.

It is a slower paced summer. Idyllic really.

Growing up, summer was laid back. In our married Barefoot Hippie lives, this has not generally been the case. Evenings and weekends get filled with family. Mr. Hippie is working hard on roofs. Roofing season is spring, summer and fall. Not winter so much. Which is why we skip town in February fairly regularly. We also tend to squeeze in a lot of ministry. Summer is generally anything BUT relaxing. This summer, however, we are sticking close to home. We joke that we have to recoup our loses from our Asia Pacific trip this winter. We are doing things in our home town, and our home state. And that is just fine by us.

We also are training for our fall triathlon. This is taking up a bit of time. But I am loving hopping on my bike and feeling the wind in my face. Rather exotic.

As for my blog, I feel like it has aged right along with me. It is about in its 30s. It is confident in its own skin, and we are not really in the comparison game anymore. We are still learning new things and trying to improve, but most of my features have held the same for months now. No new headers or buttons or sidebar distractions. My blog has grown numerically, and settled into rhythms. I am laughing with you, and sharing my heart. Sometimes it is pretty and sometimes it is ugly, but hopefully God is glorified in all of it.

a literary lunch. we usually take them outside in the summer, but today we had soup. Not good picnic food.

And this girl is 2 today! The time has flown!
She calls Mr. Hippie and I both "babe!" very insistently when she wants our attention.

Next summer...
Honestly, I have no idea what next summer holds. Mr. Hippie wants to run a marathon in the fall of 2014, so I am sure we will be running our little hearts out.

And we are contemplating a trip out west. The farthest west I have ever been is OKC. We would camp, and visit some of the national sites away out there over yonder. Hmmm...I'm totally NOT a fan of camping. At all. It rains every time. Inevitably.

I have heard somewhere that comparison is the thief of joy. So, I am not going to compare what I have this summer with what I had last year, or what I may have next year. I am just going to embrace whatever this summer holds. Fun and sun, relaxation, reading, writing, biking, and family. 

How are you embracing this unique summer of 2013? What plans do you have?

10 Intelligent Sounding Words For Everyday Use

I have many loves. Chocolate, flowers, coffee and chocolate covered coffee beans. Camp fires, books, and sunshine. My husband and my kids. Desserts and bread. I love a lot.

One of my secret loves is to use big words. You may actually call it a propensity. Oh yeah! It makes me sound intelligent-until I pronounce one of them wrong. I always use them properly, I just mispronounce them.

Proper use/mispronouncing are funetickal and mind-reading characteristics. Not that I can read your mind, or anyone else's. I just read in my mind, you know? So, I don't have to really sound anything out. Though I do know what the word means. Anyway, that was a rabbit trail.

Here is my list of 10 favorite words to instantly make yourself sound intelligent-if you pronounce them properly. Haul them out regularly to get some conversational bang for its buck, with out being labelled a total nerd.

1. Pontificate. To express your opinion on a subject. This word can be slipped into everyday conversations "Today I pontificated on my blog about the use of big words." Substitute in place of talk or wrote.

2. Culpable. Deserving blame. "I feel they are equally culpable in the burning down of the barn."Use in  place of blame or responsibility.

3. Mollify. To appease. "The customer was somewhat mollified when I offered him a gift card after his poor service experience." Slip it in for appease or soothe. If you have issues with needing to appease people, you can also vary placate with mollify.

4. Proclivity. A tendency to do something regularly. "Barefoot Hippie Girl has a proclivity of drinking coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon." Much more colorful than tendency or habit.

5. Bloviate. To use many words. "I have the proclivity to bloviate, not abbreviate, my speeches." This is a polite way to say someone talks too much. (like me)

6. Segue. To move without interruption from one thought or activity to another. "I'd say that was a smooth segue from the entree to the dessert concourse." Hey, it is shorter than transition. I think it would be perfect in describing labor. We segued from stage two labor to stage three labor with just a couple of pushes. (Snort!) If I ever have another baby, I will post that phrase in my birth story.

7. Abscond. To leave hurriedly or secretly to avoid detection . "I absconded from our house early this morning to get in a crispy run." This would be a great word to use in place of sneaking off.

8. Enervate. To drain of vitality or energy. This one can be thrown into conversations about kids, animals or activities. And people might actually think you are saying something positive. "My kids enervate me. By the time 1:00 comes around, I am ready for a cup of tea."

9. Plethora. (favorite word EVER) An abundance. "I had a plethora of dessert today!" Let roll off your tongue in place of lots or plenty.

10. Copacetic. Completely satisfactory. You wouldn't be using this word while using placate or mollify.  "Our date night was copacetic." Use copacetic in place of good or great when describing an experience or taste.

What are your favorite intelligent sounding words to sprinkle into conversations? Share with me in the comments.

Looks Something Like This

I cooked for a men's retreat this weekend. It was a lot of work, and a ton of fun.

We have done this retreat for 6 years now. I have my favorite items on the menu, but this year I decided to shake things up just a bit.

I wanted to prepare Thursday evening's meal of Chicken Tacos on Wednesday, because it is a crockpot meal, and it wouldn't have time to fully cook once we got to the camp on Thursday.

Based on our head count, I decided to make my recipe times 6! Yes, 6. I don't really know what I was thinking. I started out chopping ingredients into my huge IKEA bowl. It was pretty full with just the onions and corn.

So, I hauled out the old turkey roaster (rectangle). I figured I put the rest of the ingredients in that, and mix it all together. Obviously I mis-guessed on that one too.

turkey roaster, large bowl, HUGE bowl

 I ended up combining all the ingredients in my canner. The biggest container I own...

my canner is HUGE also. It holds 9 quart jars instead of the standard 7.
I think capacity wise, it probably holds 8-10 gallons.
It was only half full.

See, I'm feeding MEN, you know. And I have a mortal fear of anyone leaving my table hungry. Do you think I overcompensated? All I know is that I ended up with 4 full crockpots of filling.

There is also one more large crockpot that didn't fit on this counter. Not enough sockets or counter space.

cooking for 40 does not look like this, but I thought you'd enjoy it nonetheless.
Meres first time eating corn on the cob. She loved it.
She kept mmmmm-ing. Reminded me of What About Bob?

I planned for 40 and I ended up feeding about 30-35 each meal, with 40 for Friday lunch. But, seriously, guys eat and EAT and EAT. Until the food is gone. I had some leftovers, but not a lot.

No joke. (btw, Meres has two new words, joke and cook. I guess I say no joke quite a bit around her.)

Everyone seemed to like all the meals, but the Mediterranean bar on Saturday got the overwhelming favorite response. I took pictures of most of the other meals, but forgot that one. Suffice it to say, my homemade hummus, alioli, pork pitas, greek salad and couscous were edible.

food for the retreat. Everything edible except for the 2 suitcases and the pack and play.

taco bar. The 7 layer salad was a surprise hit. I mean, I like it. That's why I make it.
But, the guys liked it too.

the filling. There was plenty. And then some...

oatmeal for baked oatmeal.

baked potato bar.

large tubers

Meres at camp. She lived the weekend filthy.

meal time

photo source: Dervin Witmer, our officially unofficial photographer

Besides cooking, I got to train this group of girls so we can work together in our VBS this coming week. We talked a lot about the why's and wherefore's of teaching kids' Bible clubs. I had fun. I hope they did...

most of the guys. Well fed guys make for happy guys.

piles of clean laundry. This doesn't include half of one child's pile.
Nor does it include a dozen towels that got washed.

Now it is recovery time. Camp is great, but my Tempur Pedic is (almost) better (best of both worlds=camps with Tempur Pedics). I've been waxed, shorn and adjusted this morning. I am drinking my cup of tea and letting my thoughts flow.

My favorite thing about this particular retreat we put on, is not just the cooking. I love cooking. I love feeding hungry and enthusiastic eaters. Men are a much better crowd than women. They eat with gusto and fervor. Appreciation. Men aren't concerned about their figures. That makes them a blast to cook for. And I love it.

But, even more than that, I love serving with my husband. This retreat is his baby. He prays over it, and plans. He lines up the speakers plus he speaks too. He shepherds and mentors. And, I have the privilege of serving him and with him in a small way. I think it is a privilege for our kids to be around these godly young men, who are good role models. It is a privilege for my children to see their dad serving the Lord. For them to be there with us. It makes this mama's heart overflow with happiness.

Camp life is great. It is wonderful to unplug from regular, busy life and from technology and to sit and listen to the sound of the wind in the trees. They sound different at camp. Maybe because there are more trees. I don't know. It is the sound of peace and refreshment.

Yes, I am tired, and my hips are sore. But I feel blessed.

The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it...Proverbs 10:22

Cultivating Your Marriage

I love the word cultivate. I don't use it too much, but I should. It is pleasant on the ear and rich in meaning. To prepare and use for crops and gardening. To acquire or develop.

Personally, when I am gardening, I like flowers and plants that don't require much cultivation. Flowers like day lilies. You plant a single bulb once, and it grows, spreads and multiplies. You really don't have to do anything to it ever again. 

Orchids, on the other hand, need cultivation. I chuckled today at Aldi when I saw an orchid labelled easy. I personally have never met an easy orchid. I manage to kill even the 2 ice cube a week varieties.

But, orchids are gorgeous. They may be some of my most favorite flowers. Each blossom is amazing. Those who can cultivate orchids give the rest of us a feast for the senses.

Marriage is a lot like orchid cultivation. It requires preparation and work to produce a crop of love for each other and glory to God.

I hope you all will join me today over at Womanhood With Purpose to read ways I cultivate my marriage. I have been asked to join the monthly contributor team there, and today is my first post. 

Have a marvelous Monday, and I will see you over at Womanhood with Purpose.

Garden Fresh Herbs

My herbs have gone nuts the past week or so. (and just as a random side note, I like to purposefully mispronounce herbs with a hard h, not a silent one)

I do container gardening for my herbs. I have two big stainless steel tubs, and two lime green tubs, that I fill with my favorites. It is ascetically pleasing to the eyes, and it gives me more garden space.

I can't use too much of my yard for a garden plot, as the kids also need room to play. Herb gardening was always a dream of mine, and the past few years I have been able to dabble in it a bit. It is so much fun to walk out to your herbs and cut some fresh leaves for use in your recipes-right then and there.

As a side note, ascetically, I think container gardening packs the most punch for your_____. Look at those containers lined up! Don't they look beautiful! And filled with gorgeous and succulent herbs. Oh yes! I feel a rhapsody coming on....Happiness in a pot. (not in pot. that is another subject entirely.)

Growing up it seemed like we used a lot of combinations of herbs. Dump it all in for maximum effect. Nowadays, most of my recipes showcase one particular herb. Except for my marinara sauce. That has a bit of everything.

Herbs fall into one or two families, with a couple lone rangers:

Mint Family includes basil, oregano, marjoram, sage, thyme, and savory. All of these herbs pair very nicely with chicken.

Parsley Family includes parsley, fennel, dill, and chervil.  All of these pari nicely with eggs and potatoes.

Rosemary is the leaf of an evergreen shrub. It has the appearance of a curved pine needle and has a slightly pine taste. Rosemary highlights potatoes and lamb very well.

Bay Leaf is the leaf from the laurel tree. It is used to flavor sauces and soups, but you don't want to eat it. Yuck! Discard after use.

Tarragon stands on its own also, with a pungent flavor resembling licorice. I have found it to go well with chicken and tomatoes.

I have learned that you have to use herbs, or you lose them. Within the next few days I am going to cut back all my plants. Here are some recipes I may use my fresh herbs in.

Tarragon (champagne chicken)
Basil (chicken marengo or pesto)
Oregano (charro beans)
Thyme (scarpariello)
Cilantro (chicken tacos)
Parsley (sage sausage stuffing)
Chives (anything egg or potato)

Do you grow any of your own herbs? What are your favorites-to grow and to use? How can you use some fresh herbs this weekend?