Stick to the facts!

I'm sitting typing a sermon, and Pastor Mark says we're not to let our emotions be dictated by rumors or half the facts. I thought, "Do I do this?" Nah. Not me. Um, wait. Yeah. I totally do. And I don't think I have ever put it in that context. Letting my emotions run roughshod over me is always a bad idea. Letting them run roughshod over me based on rumors, suspicions, hunches, gut feelings, educated guesses (which are still guesses, after all) is a double super duper bad idea. Actually, it's downright dangerous. I came across an article that, for me, goes hand in hand. (Here's a link, and I encourage you to read it! http://theaquilareport.com/i-felt-led-to/) Basically, if it isn't based in Biblical fact - whatever "it" may be - discard it.

If I find that I'm making decisions based on any sort of emotion, I'm headed the wrong direction, especially since I just discovered my emotions aren't always even based on solid facts. That led me to II Corinthians 2:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." If I'm doing what the online article said and "instead of going by [my] gut feelings, promptings, or some kind of leading, [I] go by the word [of God] first and foremost," I'm setting myself up for spiritual success and eliminating my human need to over-analyze, fret, worry - call it what you will - over circumstances and situations that I don't control to begin with.

So I have a checks and balances system for my thoughts. I check the source of the emotion that produced the thought, then I take that thought captive "to make it obedient to Christ." Done and done. Now, I end up operating in Biblical wisdom and knowledge instead of being at the mercy of my faulty emotions.

Man, God is so awesome.

Turkey Avocado Burgers

Okay, it's been a year since I posted anything here. I'm trying again. We'll see how I do. I'll start easy today and just post a recipe for you.

Turkey Avocado Burgers

Ingredients:

- 2 lbs. ground turkey (85/15)
- 1 small onion, grated
- 1 large garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 tsp. ground corriander seed
- 1/2 tsp. ground mustard seed
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 5 hamburger buns (something a little fancy)
- 2 avocados, sliced
- 10 slices gruyere (1" x 2" slices)
- 1 head butter lettuce
- 1 large tomato
- mayonnaise (optional)
- butter (NOT optional)

Directions:

- Combine all ingredients. Mix well, but don't over-mix!
- Make five (large) patties and place on a hot griddle. [Each patty will be approx. 6.5 oz. each and will be "loose." Eew. I know.]
- Cook for 5-10 minutes on each side until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (Only flip ONCE!)
- During the last minute of cooking, place 2 slices of cheese on each burger. Remove from griddle when cheese is melted.
- Butter the insides of the buns and lay them butter side down on the griddle; 10-20 seconds should do the trick.
- Spread a thin layer of mayo on top and bottom of bun so everything stays in place.
- Place patties on buns; top with avocado, lettuce, and tomato.
- Serve hot!

Hand Print Turkey Place Card Holders

This is a super fun and simple craft. My son LOVED this project! Getting to paint his hands and stamp them on paper, using a paint brush without assistance to paint the egg carton pieces and then finally, seeing his own hands as artwork - he had a blast!

What we're making: A set of six Thanksgiving place card holders (or use them to label "mysterious" food dishes! You know those show up at Thanksgiving!)

What you'll need:

- The bottom portion of a cardboard egg carton

- Brown, red, green, orange and yellow acrylic paint

- Paint brush

- Three or four pieces of white card stock, 110 lb. (# of pieces you will need depends on the size of your child's hand)

- 12 mini brads (brown or black)

- Scissors

** You can make this craft without these last two, but they sure do make life easier:

- Mini hole punch

- Sharp knife

Let's do this!

Step 1: Carve that turkey! Using the knife (or scissors if you don't have a sharp knife - I actually used scissors the first time I made these. A knife was just easier and faster) cut the egg carton in half lengthwise. Cut between each "cap" then break them all apart. (No need to be too gentle. We're going to trim these up!)

Step 2: Trim each cup as shown in the picture, even the little knobs on the sides. We only need six for this craft, so save the others for another craft or double up and make 12 little turkeys. Up to you!

Step 3: Paint the "caps" brown, and let them dry completely! These will be the turkeys' bodies.

Step 4: Paint your child's palm and thumb with the same brown paint you used on the "bodies," and paint a different color on each o

f your child's four remaining fingers. QUICKLY stamp their hand on the white card stock. (Acrylic paint likes to dry fast!) Repeat five more times, and let the hand prints dry completely.

Step 5: Paint then stamp five extra thumb prints for the turkeys' heads. Be sure to paint a little orange beak and a gobbler! (I actually forgot the gobblers on mine, so do a better job than I did!) :)

Step 6: Cut out the hands and the thumbs.

Step 7: Position the cut out hands on the "back" of the turkey body, and pre-hole punch all the way through the hand and the body. (If you don't have a mini hole punch use a small nail and just hammer it on through!)

Step 8: Repeat step seven for the turkey head.

Step 9: Secure the turkey's head and tail with the mini brads.

Step 10: Last but not least use the knife to cut a very shallow slit straight across the top of the turkey's body to hold the name card (or mysterious food identifier) in place!

Have fun!

Rain, Rain go away

Rain, Rain go away.

Beg you pardon? What’s that you say?

You say you do not know the way?

There now, I will you fears allay.

I’ll help you now, Rain my dear

And tell you how to make way for skies that are clear.

Pack up your clouds and hold them near,

(You simply cannot leave them here)

If only for a day or two

So I can see the sky when blue.

But stray not far from your rightful place.

Please, only a short reprieve from this soggy face.

Then I’ll ask you no more to lonely roam,

This cheek you can once more call your home.

I expect it won’t be long. I’ll need you again.

When this face dries I doubt not that I'll miss you, my friend.

Look out behind you!

Look out behind you! There are memories galore! Be careful not to wish too hard for them.

Look out behind you! Don't fall in the trap of wanting to reclaim them.

I have an idea. Look forward (instead) to the memories that await you.

Don't live for the past, but live for what's to come, for what He has in store for you.

I've lived with desire to go back to what was, to live there never changing a thing.

Then I spy my left hand, and there I find smiling at me my cherished wedding ring.

Would I go back and make any changes? Would I do things differently somehow?

Would I go back and change what was, knowing it would change what is now?

No, forward I must look to "come what may," to those memories that await,

And patiently here in this present I'll idle 'til past memories learn to abate.

I miss her

Be forewarned. This is not a happy entry. I miss my grandmother. Every single day, I miss her. Today's an especially hard day for some reason. It goes back and forth like that. I know it's selfish to want her back, but I really can't help it today. Today, I need her. I need to be able to go sit at her kitchen table and hear her voice. Hear her encouragement. Hear she's praying for me and feel it. She was such a tangible source of God's love for me. I know he loves me even though she's not here, but it was always easier to grasp it when she was.

I love her so much, and today I need her.

I lost you!

Please forgive me, dear blog; I lost you today.

I thought that, perchance, you had run away.

I looked high and low but to no avail,

'Til finally I thought to look back through my email.

And there you sat waiting patiently for me

Until I could think of where you might be.

I'll be more careful with you from now on, this I vow.

I'll henceforth remember your url; I promise I shall.