Saturday, October 29, 2011

On the Journey Home

As I travel into the unknown,

I don’t have to be troubled

or afraid,

because Jesus is both with me and ahead of me,

making preparations.

(Jesus, preparing for my homecoming!  What a thought that is!)

He is THE WAY

for me to get to where He is.

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Be blessed today.

Linking up at Scripture and a Snapshot.

Ginger

 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Signage and Verb-age

Verbs for the week:

1. Yawned: all day!  My nemesis insomnia was back yesterday.

2. Waited: 2 hours in the doctor’s office with sick DD#1.  She’s still my baby, even if she is only an inch shorter than I am.

3. Melted: record albums into bowls.  Why, you may ask?  What, you don’t do that at your house?  Smile  The answer will come later this week!

4. Devoured: Pumpkin spice latte cupcakes!  Oh. my.

5. Weighed: two pounds more this week. Grr. See #4.

6. Studied: Feast of Tabernacles.  Ladies’ Gathering coming up in November at our church.

7. Overwhelmed: See #6.

8. Pinned:

this

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this:

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and this:

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That about covers it.

Be blessed,

Ginger


 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Making Sad Vegetables Happy

Sometimes I have a refrigerator full of sad vegetables:

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wilting cabbage, limp onions, tired turnips.

I know how they feel.

What’s one to do?

Preheat the oven to 425*.

Chop ‘em up in big chunks.

Drizzle a little olive oil.

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Sprinkle with some sea salt.

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Squeeze on the juice from a geriatric lemon. (Fresh ones are fine, too, but remember our goal is cleaning out the vegetable bin.)

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Top with some fresh herbs, and roast away for about 45 minutes.

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Look at all that crispy, fragrant goodness.  This elevates frozen green beans and okra to new heights of culinary excellence as well.

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Happy vegetables.

(Blurry picture.  It was a quick photo session; hungry family was waiting.)

Be blessed today!

Ginger

 

 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Of Mousse and Men

Before seeing Courageous this weekend, I sat through the trailer for the remake of Footloose.

I might be the only 40ish woman in America who did not see the original back in the ‘80’s.

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(photo from here)

For the record, I never saw The Breakfast Club either.

What can I say, I grew up 30 miles from the nearest movie theater, and my parents still watched Lawrence Welk on the weekends.

All this 80’s revival going on has gotten me thinking about growing up and growing old.

Lately, I’ve been hearing some 80’s music in the grocery store.

Browsing the bakery aisle, I’ll catch myself humming along with Huey Lewis and the News or John Cougar Mellancamp.

Back in the day, my friends and I were die-hard Air Supply fans.

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(from here)

“I’m All Out of Love” belted out with appropriate teenage angst will bring a tear to the eye.

The perfect man would be Australian or maybe British.

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(image here)

Those were the days of Remington Steele, after all.

(BTW, I had a fedora just like hers, because Stephanie Zimbalist was, like, cool.  Totally.)

For you young folks among us, here’s how it works:

after you’ve been out of high school a few years, the songs you listened to your senior year end up on late-night TV as a two-disc collection (or in my case, two cassettes) for $19.95

plus shipping and handling.

It’s the first sure sign that you’re OUT.

The world has moved on.

Then, around the time your kids are teenagers,

you’ll start hearing all those songs on the classic rock station.

Then you’re retro.

Another word for that is OLD.

Now all we’re missing is a true 80’s fashion revival.

Though I’m surrounded by leggings and tunics and shirts that droop over one shoulder at the middle school, I’m still waiting for the return of

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(image here)

big hair.

My senior year, I stuck 27 hot rollers  and half a can of mousse in my hair every. single. morning.

Instead of forehead burns from the flat-iron, we sported ear blisters.

On second thought, maybe youth is overrated. Winking smile

Be blessed!

Ginger

 

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Scripture and a Snapshot: Living Water

This morning, I spent some time reading a commentary on the punctuation in John 7.

That’s the sort of thing English teachers do when they are speaking in a few weeks.

Long story short, now I have one more reason to be amazed at the richness of His promises.

Me, a channel for Living Water.

Me, a conduit of the Holy Spirit.

LORD, how amazing that You would pour Yourself on and in and through Your children, those who have received the atoning work of Your blood!

To be refreshed by You, to refresh others in You--

this is our privilege as Your beloved.

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Linking up at Scripture and a Snapshot.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Friday, October 7, 2011

5 Minute Friday: Ordinary

With apologies to VeggieTales, this is the part of the post where I tell you that I am participating in  Five Minute Fridays over at Gypsy Mama.  Today’s topic: Ordinary.

Go.

What is it about “ordinary” that scares me?

I am even pondering how to make a post about ordinariness extraordinary,

how to wow you with wisdom and insight that will convince you to love your ordinary life,

celebrate your ordinary blessings,

revel in the revealed gifts of children, husband, laundry, work, food.

Ordinariness scares me because of good old-fashioned pride, most likely, but also because of something more latent within me.

My heart wonders, What if this is all I am?  A parent, a teacher, a homemaker,

a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker.

In my ordinary day, I am offered a glimpse of that which is truly extraordinary.

A God Who loves me, makes me significant, if only by His willingness to touch my world.

Stop.

Didn’t really finish that, did I?

I won’t cheat; I’ll stop and wish you the best of ordinary weekends.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Because I Needed Something Else to Do

Finally!

A solution for creative, overwhelmed, recovering perfectionists who collect ideas like a kid collects pebbles!

Yes, it’s Pinterest!  I’ve succumbed!  I’m addicted!  I confess!

One day, one day, I will put some of these cool ideas into practice.

I will.  I will. I will.

Like these:

Figs stuffed with goat cheese and drizzled with warm honey

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Nutella Cupcakes—what’s not to love?

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Ginger and Cilantro Baked Tilapia—because all food can’t be chocolate.

 

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Believe it or not, I have boards that are not food related! 

This neato couch-thingy may will end up on my porch one day:

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How about this on my back steps?

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Or these?

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My “Things to Do” board has about 872 pins, which might be a tad ambitious for someone who can barely manage two blog posts in a week.

However, I saved this for last: the ONE Pinterest project I have actually done!

YESS!!

This:

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looks like this in my freezer:

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and this:

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There it is, folks: proof that Pinterest projects can be done!

Perhaps this gives you hope.

Be blessed,

Ginger

 

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Victory

A sinus infection took me down for the count this week and thwarted my best-laid bloggy plans.

Next week, I’ll make it up to you with a giveaway,

but for today I’ve got something better.

Jesus’s blood IS my victory.

Be blessed,

Ginger