I have this book that Joel and I read together our second advent season. It was so wonderful, that I still love it and bring it out read snippets of it and wish that it didn't have things that were so real that I want to protect my daughter from them for just a little while longer. The book is Tracks in the Straw by Ted Loder
Here's a snippet that I feel in love with the other day:
That night I learned what power really is: It is choosing to come close, to break through the fences that separate us, to share yourself whatever the cost, to be vulnerable. A simple, complicated choice. That's all...and that's everything. Honestly sharing yourself is being willing to let yourself be a jackass...or a child, or a friend, or a lover. That is what love does.
One of the interesting things about this Advent reading is that it is not told from the normal perspectives. It's not the third person clean and tidy account that we get in scripture and Christmas plays, it's about the real grittiness that occurred and that we rarely think of. This particular passage is taken from the story of a donkey that was present at the birth of Jesus. I think in fact it was Mary and Joseph's stealth donkey (stealth because there is no donkey in the scripture accounts).
This week just so happens to be the week of Love with our Advent celebration at church. It is wonderful to be reminded in unexpected ways that love is not just a word that we say to one another but a chance that we take with every decision we make.
I personally do have problems with allowing myself to be a jackass for the sake of love. It is difficult to love when you have been damaged by the world. But it helps me to settle into times like this one leading up to Christmas and to remember that Love is exactly what was born on Christmas Morn.
This video from Jars of Clay is a little silly, but its message is one that I can't deny.
First off, my copy of Sweet Caroline (aff link) is not a gifted review book, I spent my well earned Amazon No-Rush Rewards money on this book. Second of all, this is not my standard close door kind of romance. Third of all, this is a really fun read. Caroline is a hard working young lady that is doing all that she can to make ends meet and to get her graduate degree. Part of that work is renting out the room above her garage. When she answers the phone of an unknown number, believing it's a future tenant, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. The young man on the other end of that call, Hashim, is tall, dark, and mysterious in all the right ways. The story quickly moves from the girl next door falling for a stranger to a fight for their lives. And in true real life fashion, those fights aren't just with external enemies but the ones we carry within. It's an entertaining story of Caroline and Hashim, discovering their love for each other and ...
If you're human, which I'm assuming you are if you found your way here, there will come a moment in your life when you're right and they're wrong and you're going to have to not win because the relationship is more important than your rightness It might be over where to go to dinner, which type of coat to wear for the weather, what ever it may be, you're going to find yourself there. Khang and Mikalatos have got together and written Loving Disagreement for that exact moment, especially if that exact moment isn't occurring with a loved one but with someone you encountered on the internet or maybe the break room at work, the where and who don't really matter because we can be loving towards anyone, even when we're not in relationship with the offending person. The book uses the concept of the fruit of the spirit to go through different ways to handle conflict. Khang and Mikalatos take turns writing the meat of each section but there's a quite enj...
I've had loaded baked potato soup on the menu most of the month of November, not really knowing when I was going to make it. Last night was the night. I started with this recipe from Betty Crocker as an idea but as I saw that it served 15 and looked at the various quantities while I cooked, some things changed, and wanted to share the final recipe here so you can enjoy it and I won't forget it. Loaded Baked Potato Soup serves 3 with seconds and a serving left over 1/2 package of bacon 1 small onion chopped 3 cups chicken broth (I use Better Than Boullion) 2 large baking potatoes, peeled, cubed 2 tbsp butter 2 heaping tbsp all-purpose flour 2 cups milk divided 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2teaspoon freshly ground pepper A generous helping of sour cream 4 oz sharp Cheddar cheese shredded (half a block) separated 2 sliced green onions separated In skillet, cook bacon over medium heat 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp; drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons ...
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