Adventures in Cooking

Mr. M and I are remodeling our kitchen. We have decided we are going to become culinary experts, too. As you may or may not know, we at the M house eat out 7 nights a week. HOWEVER, we plan to change that. Our first at-home dining experience was to eat out, and then come home and watch a DVD about our new mixer. (We are starting out slowly.) Our next foray into the fabulous world of food consisted in measuring the surface temperature of the artificial grass in the back yard, the surface temperature of our dog's tail, plants, carpet, our feet, and various other objects lying around. Then I went to a birthday dinner for a friend, and Mr. M made himself an amazing steak. We finally had an evening at home together last night, and Mr. M made some great mashed potatoes with goat cheese and some steak. Aside from the small fire inside the oven, it was a perfect culinary experience.

Content To Remain Complacent

I've been helping in a 3rd grade class. I am constantly consternated at the kids' apathy, and their complete lack of any desire to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities to learn that are available to them. This makes me think of The Church. Are we so foolish as to be content with mediocrity and lukewarmness when we have so many opportunities to get to know and love our God better? Are we content to get in to Heaven by the skin of our teeth? Do we want to do only the bare minimum?

Another Day of Loss

"He was just a dog," some may say. True enough, but the beautiful 80-pound golden retriever was my dad's only companion since my mom, his wife of 52 years, died. My dad and Luke drove down to take me to breakfast. Nothing was different. Luke was running around the yard just like always. We all got in the car to go. We drove for 5 minutes and then parked in front of the restaurant. My dad opened the back door to let Luke out again, but he was dead. That was it. Not a sound, not the faintest idea that anything was amiss.
Death seems to be a constant companion in my life these last few years. As I write this, a good friend of mine is "on Heaven's front porch", not expected to live more than a week. I pray that when my friend takes her last breath, it will be as painless as uneventful as Luke.

More Money in My Pocket Thanks To Scary Creepy Guy

Yes, I do realize that might not be the kindest and gentlest way to refer to someone. But let it be known now and for always that I am not the only one who refers to him by that moniker. A friend that works in a shop adjacent to the Starbucks that Scary Creepy Guy frequents knew exactly who I was talking about when she asked me why I was so obviously stalling for time in her shop.

An Adventurous Life

I am an unashamed story collector. Nothing makes me happier than telling a good story. The laughter of my friends is something I cherish. I go about my life, doing this and doing that, and usually it all ends up as a good story to share with my friends. The absurd and the absolutely ridiculous situations I find myself in don't bother me; contrariwise, they offer great fodder for a good story. I live the life of a story teller, not shying away from odd and ridiculous scenarios. This is my form of art, and boy do I sometimes suffer for my art! But that's OK, it will be a good story and end with my friends' laughter, so all the crazy people I meet serve to make my life more interesting. And for me, that's what it's all about.

My Favorite Member of the Early Church

"In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive." ACTS 9:38-41

I have always loved the story of Dorcas for many reasons, but mostly because she was just a faithful church member who loved Jesus and loved others. She was always doing good and helping the poor. That is a great thing to be known for. As much as I'd love to be a published writer, what I'd really like to be remembered for is doing good and helping the poor.

My Dad

Because I was born on the day before Halloween, my dad has always teased me about being a witch. This year, he had all the more reason to do that, as I called him a month or so ago to ask him for some of his blood. Yes, some of his blood. There is research going on in Minnesota on ataxia, and they already have a sample of my blood, so the researchers asked for samples from close family members.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

My Mom

My mom was extraordinary. She was the ultimate modern Proverbs 31 woman, caring for her family, growing always in faith and love, and cherishing her friendships. My mom was a great friend. She made a special effort to befriend the women she worked with, and also the women my dad worked with. This is the reason I go out of my way to maintain the friendships I've made throughout my life. I admit I struggle to understand those who don't value friendships as I do. Putting forth effort to grow and maintain friendly relations with those in my world, with all those who have a role to play as actors on the stage of my life, is something I will always do.