Dust

Now, I'm the first to say that I think some aspects of Christiandom are cheesy.  If you asked me to sit down and watch a Christian video, I'm sure I'd toss some sarcastic remark your way.  However, my sarcastic-laden butt was flipped upside down this past Sunday.  I recently joined a ladies small group -- it is composed of women younger than me, my aged gals, a few ladies in their late 30's/early 40's and one sweet 60 year old female that lives in cottage!  So fun!  Anyway, this past Sunday we watched this Rob Bell video.  It was awesome -- the message, the graphics, the whole thing.

I learned a lot.  Go Rob Bell!  I found the video in two parts on YouTube.  I really encourage you to check it out.



It seems the second part has Portugese subtitles...



So...what did you think?

Bling

One of my dearest friends in the whole world got engaged this past Saturday! There really isn't any way I could be happier for her (and Ryan)!

I (somewhat randomly) moved in with Jenn just out of college. It was a challenging transition period for me...and that may be putting it mildly. I missed college A LOT and spent months adjusting to the real world. Jenn walked me through it and we became close friends. Since then, she's become one of my best friends. She makes me laugh, lets me pick on her, is someone I can call and I know she'll listen to me, she prays for me, she encourages me, she shows me more of who God is. She and I are geared towards different things and it is really fun to learn about the things that she enjoys (yet I don't...or wouldn't naturally).

After a rough season in her life, the Lord brought this guy, Ryan, into her life. They started dating and after a few dates, we had this converation:

Me: Jenn, when am I going to meet him?!?!
Jenn: I guess Mary's wedding? (End of March).
Me: I feel like you might be engaged by then and I HAVE to meet him before you get engaged!
Jenn: Yeah...ok, what about when you have Martin Luther King off?
Me: Perfect.

We met and it was fun. They continued to date...and I figured he'd ask her parents when they were at her parent's house for her birthday. He did. I figured he'd propse the first weekend in March. He did!

What I didn't figure was him letting me be involved...you know, since we don't really know each other that well. To be honest, tears are coming as I write this. I truly felt HONORED to be a part of the engagement planning (even talking on the phone with Ryan and emailing and it was so fun to be a part of!)...AND getting to be their on their special day.

Here was the game plan: Jenn's Ryan had her friends Ryan & Anna lure them to Charleston, so they could meet her Ryan. They got to Charleston, went to supper, hung out, and spent the night with Ryan & Anna. Then EARLY Saturday morning Ryan woke Jenn up and drove her to the beach.

Per Ryan's request, Nicole and I were hiding and taking pictures of their engagement. It was so fun and so special to be a part of their special day.  Then we surprised Jenn once again by having his and her families at lunch later in the day!  Such a fabulous day.  Loved loved loved it!!

Follow Up

So Tasty Thursday still turned out tasty, but there were a few hiccups along the way!

First off, the James Island Piggly Wiggly is right on my way home, therefore, it is where I buy food. However, it does not have all the things I'd like to purchase. i.e. they were out of brussels sprouts yesterday. So I opted for broccoli and made this:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-roasted-broccoli-recipe/index.html

It was, perhaps, the best broccoli I've ever had...if I do say so myself. And the curry chicken tasted great, too! But here's what went down in the kitchen in order to have this good meal.

The broccoli required the oven to be at 425. No big deal...but what is that smoke you wonder? Oh, it is my two cast iron frying pans in the oven (with grease)*. Normally this isn't a problem when you heat the oven to 350, but I guess 425 was too much for these bad boys with nothing in them cooking. Smoke detector going nuts. Turn it off, remove pans, and continue cooking.

The whole grain rice is cooking, the broccoli is in the oven, the onions have been sauteed for the chicken curry. Now I'm sautéing the chicken and I notice the smoke. At first I think it is the smoke from before. I think this for quite a while, actually, until I remove the chicken from the pan and realize the spices have burned on the bottom of the pan. Blerg! Now there is smoke everywhere!  The fire alarm is going off again!

I remove the pan as quickly as possible and try to salvage the non-burned onions. In doing so I put the pan on the butcher block. Then transfer the goodies into another frying pan and continue cooking. I grab the original pan to move to the sink and realize it has left a black burn mark on the butcher block. Don't worry, my roommate that owns the house, yeah, her dad made that block. Praise the Lord it wasn't on her (dad made and gorgeous, yet unfinished) butcher block counters. Such a mess...

A few fans and open doors later and the smoke finally cleared. The meal was completed. And 20 or so minutes later the fiance and the other roommate arrived home. Let's be honest, an ice cold Blue Moon was well deserved! I think that people cook differently in different kitchens, with different pans...after several mishaps in this kitchen, I'm not sure if this one is the best for me.

* I think that all good Southern cooks keep a cast iron skillet or two. The great ones keep bacon grease in theirs. Just another way I am my mother's daughter.

Tasty Thursday

I'm cooking supper tonight for my roommates and Rob (the fiance).  One dish I've made before and one will be a new adventure for me tonight.  I made the chicken curry in Raleigh and it was awesome and easy to make.  I'm branching out for the side dish and making brussels sprouts.  I've never even eaten these before...so not only do I hope they turn out well, I hope that I like them!

Chicken Curry in a Hurry Recipe

http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/005132chicken_curry_in_a_hurry.php 

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp corn, grapeseed, or olive oil
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1/3 cup golden raisins (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow curry powder, or to taste
• 4 skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves (1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
• 1 cup sour cream
• Minced fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish

Method

1. Put the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When hot, add the onions (and optional raisins), sprinkle with some salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium, sprinkle with half of the curry powder, and continue to cook a minute or two.
2. Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle it with the remaining curry powder. Move the onion to one side of the skillet and add the chicken in one layer. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add the sour cream and stir constantly over medium-low heat until the mixture is nice and thick. Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for a couple more minutes, or until cooked through, turning once.
4. Garnish with cilantro or parsley and serve with rice. - I use dried cilantro because that's what I have and serve with whole grain rice.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-brussels-sprouts-recipe2/index.html

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
• 3 tablespoons good olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• I think I'm going to add a bit of garlic and parm cheese.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt ( I like these salty like French fries), and serve immediately.
3. I think I'm going to add parm. cheese to them when they come out of the oven.

Anonymous Quote

Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.

I read this quote on page 115 of The Shack. I don't have anything wise or fabulous to say about this quote other than I like it. A lot. And, I think it's so true.

(Last) Friday Funny

Warning: This post is for females and mature males. If you're grossed out, sorry.  But, I warned you.


Thank you, God, for g-chat and the help and humor it provides throughout the day.  A conversation with my good friend Maggie last Friday afternoon:
me: so would you like to hear about an awkward situation?
Maggie: omg I would love to!
me: haha ok
so i work in a house did you know that?
there are 7-8 of us here
and today 3
and the bathrooms/plumbing are old b/c its an old charleston house
Maggie: natch
me: so theres one bathroom that several girls use
men happen to have private bathrooms in their offices
Maggie: wow
fancy pants
me: insert = offices are what used to be bedrooms at one point
haha
so i just used the bathroom and as i was leavng i noticed that my tampon didnt flush. but the toilet paper did. so i flushed again...still didt go down.
awkward
i couldnt stay in ther any longer
and just keep flushing the toilet
but they always go down, maggie
what do you think i should do?
Maggie: ok are there any other females there today
me: email the only other girl thats here? go back in like 45 min?
Maggie: would she typically use that restroom?'
me: yes
Maggie: ok so you've come out obvs
how long has it been?
me: like 5 min
just b/c i chatted you
Maggie: I'd go back
try again
me: well the only reason i dont want to is b/c wayne the male here is right there...
and he always talks to me when i come out
Maggie: omg this is so awkward
does wayne ever get up/
me: the bathroom is right at his office door
Maggie: would you know if he did?
me: yes
i'll listen for that!
ok good...
Maggie: also maybe the next time you go back you could take an out of order sign
just in case
so that way you would't have to go back again
me: haha true
Maggie: if it still doesn't go down
maybe you should email your female coworker and be like hey I was having trouble with the bathroom earlier I'd use a diff one
me: yeah
me: ok i emailed:

Stacy,

I have to be honest with you. As I was leaving the restroom earlier I noticed that my, ahem, feminine product, did not flush. So I waited a minute, flushed again...and still nothing. Damn the old pipes in this house! :) I kind of panicked b/c I didn't want Wayne to think I was creepy or something. So I wanted to give you a heads up to either (a) use another restroom next time you need to go (b) not be shocked. The good thing is that I go to the bathroom a lot (thanks water!) and will most likely rectify this situation before it involves you.

Sorry!
ea

her response:

EA,


OMG...you crack me up! I can' t stop laughing. Fortunately for you, I grew up in a really old house that didn't have adequate water pressure so you never knew what you were going to find in the toilet. I'm sure I can handle it. Thanks for the heads up :)


I'm still laughing.....

Have you read it?!?

I feel as though I’m the last Christian to read this book, even though I know it’s not true. I purchased The Shack in November 2008 with the intention of reading it over my Christmas break (remember when I went to grad school and had a Christmas break again?!?! It was awesome.). I was having a hard time with the Lord and thought reading this book would “fix” that. I remember talking to one of my dearest friends, Leigh Stuckey, about it – sharing my hopes for this book to restore me in my faith. And also sharing with her how I’d read the forward and was not impressed in the least. So I never made it to Chapter 1.

Well I’ve been on a reading kick lately and decided to give it another try. I’d heard it was awesome and that you can “look past the iffy theology”. Having been around conservative, reformed Christians* since my early college years, I was not surprised by this type of comment. However, I was surprised when I devoured The Shack and LOVED it. And honestly, I think I learned more “good theology” from this book than any conservative, reformed, “right” conference or talk or sermon I’ve ever heard. Perhaps that makes me less deep than others, but if this is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

For me, William Young captures the heart of Christianity and humanity and God more than anything else I’ve ever read. Period. He brilliantly tells a tale that made me fall more in love with Jesus. I don’t want to share details, in case you have not read the book, but I would highly encourage you to give it a whirl. It’s not often that I re-read books, but I think I’ll be re-reading this one for years to come.

* I, too, am reformed in my theology and consider myself to be conservative in my theology. Not trying to dog anyone…