Happy Friday, friends!!! I’m sitting here at my desk at work, about ready to begin another day and end another week in fine style – it’s been a bit of a slow work week here, but no complaints, just been steadily working away. Also been recovering my sleep all week after an awesome weekend in Canada with Robbie, Ryan and friends! I wish I had more time to describe the vacation, but alas, I do not. Anyways, a relaxing night was had last night – ate my dinner(fish, chips and peas!) and watched an episode of Angel. Also read a little more of Communion with God by Owen. I always forget how good and encouraging that book is. At some point, I’ll try to post another excerpt, but right now read about how deeply important the Holy Spirit is to our lives as Christians – and how we should seek the comfort and encouragement and sanctification and gifts that He brings – do not understate the importance of the Spirit in our everyday lives as we seek to glorify God in all that we do. And wow, that was said so much more poorly than Owen stated it. Still hopefully you get the idea!
Now, I’m off. Going to continue drinking my yummy peppermint mocha and dominate this work day and then…drive up to Dallas for a weekend with Mikaela. Y’know. A good weekend is at hand – but first, going to enjoy the Lord in His work this day! Peace, my friends. Peace and love.
Morning friends!! Just about to start work here…but thought I’d say hi quickly! It’s the middle of the work week and I’m already starting to get a bit worn out(guess waking up at 4:30 will do that to a person…). Tonight is planned to be a quiet night in(complete with delicious chicken/leek/potato dinner and most certainly an episode of Angel!)…because tomorrow night I know is going to be a late one, me and James going to go to the Rockets-Warriors playoff game. I’m sure the Rockets will get utterly destroyed, but it’s still always fun to see some playoff basketball!! This weekend is also planned to be a quiet one…especially since it’s going to be my first weekend in Houston in a month. Shocking, I know, but that’s what happens when I spend the last three weekends in either Dallas or New Orleans. I am very very tired of driving. So this is a super random post and I really do need to start work, so I’m off! May your day be full of light and love, my friends.
Hey friends – happy Monday!! I have just enjoyed a hearty lunch of…well, peanut butter and jam sandwiches. It will tide me over to dinner, at least! And as of two minutes ago, I’ve bought symphony tickets for a few weeks from now(Faure’s Requiem, which I’ve never heard, but excited about!).
Now, in the few minutes I have left before I resume work, thought I’d post a recipe I made last night and also begin a new tradition called “Hungry Monday”. Oh wait no. That is truly a most terrible name. And I also fully expect this tradition to last exactly one week as I doubt I’ll remember it next week…but nonetheless, I made a pretty good dinner last night(if I do say so myself!) and I want to write down the recipe now before I forget what I did. And…well, just in case anyone is reading this and wants to try and mimic this utter delight of a meal. Without further ado…
This recipe shall be entitled: Chicken and Leek Creamy Goodness, which if that’s not too much to scare you off, then…read on!
Basically, this is a super easy meal. I just wanted chicken and leeks and rummaged through a bunch of online recipes(None of which had what I wanted!) so I ended up combining a few recipes and doing my own thing(like adding peppercorns because I like peppercorns!)
Ingredients: -Some chicken breast pieces(preferably boneless/skinless) -Bottle of some kind of white wine -Leeks! I used three, because they came in a bunch of three. -One regular sized white onion -2 lemons -Ground black peppercorns -Garlic powder(or if you’re less lazy than I, just get actual fresh garlic!) -Some dijon mustard -A very little bit of olive oil -2 cans of coconut milk
And that’s it. I hope you like the precision of my ingredient list…truly, you can play with this and alter as you see fit…
Directions: 1) Brown the chicken(I had three breast pieces, cut them in half) in the olive oil. Don’t use very much oil, just enough so the chicken won’t be sticking to the pan! Once chicken is done, take out of the pan and place on a plate for a while. 2) While chicken is cooking, chop your onion into small pieces and place aside. Also chop up your leeks into pieces and place the pieces in a bowl of water and rinse to get all the dirt out. Let them sit in that water for a while – you won’t need the leek until the end. 3) Throw the onion pieces into the frying pan with the oil remnants and add a cup of white wine. Add a bunch of peppercorn and garlic powder and let the onion pieces cook for a little while! 4) Add a little bit of mustard(however much you want, really) and the coconut milk, stir and let boil for a while. 5) Add the chicken and let the chicken pieces cook in the sauce as it continues to boil. Squeeze the lemons into the sauce, continue to add spices and mustard to taste and really…just let it simmer until it starts to thicken. It may take a little while(but worth it!!) 6) Once sauce starts to thicken, add all the leek pieces and stir(maybe adding more spices too, mmm!). 7) Once the sauce reaches desired consistency, turn off heat and you’re done. Chicken and leeks and creamy goodness! I served over a potato(because I *really* wanted a baked potato…), but I think this would also go great over rice. Enjoy. (I hope)
And again, I really only posted this for my benefit, because I tend to forget my recipes if I don’t write them down and I don’t have my handy little notebook with me…but I thought I may as well post it on here too. For posterity! Oh and side-note…credit to whom credit is due. This whole idea was pretty much entirely inspired by Chris, who mentioned making having chicken and leeks a few weeks ago and it sounded so good I thought I needed to give it a try. So thanks Chris. (This would probably be even better with a glass of Tokaji, which sadly is hard to find at a reasonable price around here…)
Hey friends!!! It has indeed been far too long since I’ve posted anything here…And I can promise this will be short, since I’m using my unwieldy phone to write this. But I just wanted to say hi this beautiful Sunday evening!! I’m just about to have a yummy dinner of leftover pizza and a tomato salad…after having enjoyed a wonderful Palm Sunday concert at church!! Hearing lovely voices being lifted up to our God in praise – oh what rapturous delight filled my soul. And as I think about what Jesus did on this wounded weary earth over two thousand years ago…He gave of Himself and emptied all that we might live. He bled and suffered and died. For us. Think on that, my friends. And rejoice. We who have done nothing but scorn the God of all things. Jesus weeps over us as He wept over Jerusalem…He longs to gather us all to Himself…but we are unwilling. Oh how foolish are we!! So now before I say more, just think on Jesus and who He is. God Himself who died. For us. That we might be called children of God. And such we are. Is that not wonderful my friends?? Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Rejoice in our salvation – sing a song of love and hope and wonder!!
Peace, my friends – peace and love. Now…dinner time for me.
Hey friends!! Just writing a few words, I promise! Mainly because I’m at John’s place right now, one of the few opportunities I have with Internet, so thought I’d better take advantage of it. Had a sweet morning today…oh I can’t complain!! Got up around 8(sweet sleep!!) and had a great coffee and reading time before going to pick up some breakfast tacos from Las Locas and heading over to John’s. Obviously the first order of business was eating said tacos(with very much delicious green sauce)…and then we finished building a shelf that we’d started the other night. Victorious in that endeavor(a couple of technical wizards, that’s us!), he made some tea and I’ve just been catching up on online stuff since. He’s reading Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the other couch…possibly a better use of time? Well…I’ll read when I’m home and *don’t* have internet! He just read a statement from it about our enduring…and our chastening that we receive from God. And that although we often feel it doesn’t have a point, God knows what we need. And this chastening we receive in this life is. For. Our. Good. Remember that, let’s?
Now I’m off – want to get to HEB quick and pick up some groceries…because I’ve decided I really want to make some homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs for tonight!! Peace, my friends – have a most glorious day in our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been crucified for us and who has risen from the dead with power…for us. Peace and love.
Hello friends!! I am at Starbucks in Houston…and really wanted to write something good and proper on this second day of the year 2016. But I can’t think of what to say. Tragedy of tragedies. And so just to fill this space, will post the track list for my most recent mix CD(one I gave to Maryanne and Laura for Christmas! Oh, and to John too. And Julie). And we’ll see if it stands the test of time, but I am very pleased with it and think it may be my most favourite mix yet. Thus, I present:
the tragic fall and most surprising Redemption of anakin skywalker
1. Thus Always to Tyrants – The Oh Hellos 2. Pressing Flowers – The Civil Wars 3. Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars 4. Tip of My Tongue – The Civil Wars 5. Flume – Bon Iver 6. Master of None – Beach House 7. Danse Macabre – The Oh Hellos 8. Auburn and Ivory – Beach House 9. Re: Stacks – Bon Iver 10. Seven Swans – Sufjan Stevens 11. Paths – Seryn 12. I Was Wrong – The Oh Hellos 13. Hold On – Seryn 14. To The Desert – The Branches 15. Going Home – The Branches 16. Lay Me Down – The Oh Hellos 17. At the Table – Josh Garrels 18. The Sower’s Song – Andrew Peterson 19. Revelator – Josh Garrels 20. Trees – The Oh Hellos
And you may notice quite a bit of repetition..but I just couldn’t help it. This list very much reflects my new favourite artists and albums of 2015 – you’ll see Beach House, Bon Iver, Sufjan, Branches, Josh Garrels, Andrew Peterson, etc…and what I’m saying is my very favourite of this past year – The Oh Hellos(many many thanks to John for introducing me to them and persuading me to go to a most awesome concert of theirs in Austin!!! I am most grateful). This mix is also very much thematically arranged. My sisters and Caisson had much fun trying to figure out how this mix mapped to Anakin’s journey…and while that somewhat works, this mix is most of all designed to show the journey of a lonely broken person from darkness into light…from the great sickness of the soul(complete with pride and sorrow and supreme self love…) to the realisation that we cannot save ourselves and that we are totally broken and lost…and there is only One who can save. And that is the story and metaphor of this mix. Although it’s not perfect, I do love it and it also happily matches my current music tastes as well. What can I say?
And that was a bit longer than I even thought I could write today!! Now it’s already far too late in the afternoon and I am off to Trader Joe’s to do some food shopping(thinking sausage and mash tonight for dinner!) and then back to my place to enjoy a relaxing Saturday afternoon. Will most likely read some more of my George Whitefield bio…it’s so so good. I can now un-categorically state that it is my favourite ever biography(sorry Edwards!!) and I am very sad that I am already almost halfway through Volume 2. So good and so encouraging. Oh that I could be blessed by God in such manner as Whitefield! Oh that I could serve my God in so wholehearted a fashion and with such pure and passionate love! And I then muse upon my current state and realise how very blessed I am. I am known by God. I am loved by God. This I know and in this I rejoice. And now I pray – in this knowledge and joy may I live my life and walk day by day. May my heart’s song ever be raised up to my Lord and my God. Forever and always I sing, Oh for a thousand tongues to sing – my great Redeemer’s praise!
Hey friends!! A very quick post indeed, since I’m posting from my phone and my fingers are not as nimble as I would like. All I really want to say is.. a very awesome afternoon is being enjoyed here and I am ever so thankful. Right now a pot of chili simmers on the stove and my all time favorite movie plays on the TV(The Two Towers…*of course*…) and I’ve had some quality poolside time reading and soaking in the sun and good times were spent with friends – Ernie, Mandy, Abby, Claire and Angela!! – laughing and talking and reading/reciting scripture…and while I know this world is broken and is ever groaning…Right now I simply see those gifts God has given me and I must and shall lift up my voice in praise to Him – oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!!!
And now…Two Towers and hot chili. Not much better, y’all. Peace friends.
Hello friends!! A quick post here…just making the most of the opportunity as I sit in Starbucks this relaxing Saturday evening. I really do mean to leave soon so I can go to the store and then go home and make some delicious tomato sauce! Thinking tonight sounds like a night for homemade sauce complete with Italian sausages, peppers and onions(and plenteous spices). Y’know. Delicious? Yes. I’m also thinking I might put on some Ben Hur for cooking accompaniment, but we shall see.
Anyways! Today has been a delightful Saturday, especially after a long and crazy week. This morning after a sweet reading and coffee time, went over to help Chase and Sarah move!! We had a good group of guys as manual labor(Jared! Peter! Donnie!) So the move was efficient and relatively pain free! Afterwards, came back and…well, I really meant to come here to Starbucks right away(needed to catch up on bill-paying, work emails…such fun!), but it’s so gorgeous outside, I couldn’t help myself. Ended up outside by the pool with my book(Lord of Chaos, book six of Wheel of Time!) enjoying the radiant sun and picturesque blue sky. God is good to me. Truly.
And now it’s going on six o’clock, so I really should be off. Store to grab the necessary supplies, then dinner-making time.
Happy Saturday, y’all!!! I seriously am only going to write a few words, because my feet are tapping and I’m eager to get out in the bright sunshine…and leave Starbucks behind, where I’ve spent far too much time today(shocking, I know!). But – it has been a most productive morning…got lots of little online chores done(having no Internet at home means Saturday Starbucks is my best time for online tasks, naturally…). I also mostly got my community group lesson for next week done, which is a pleasant surprise as I didn’t think I’d be able to complete it today. I probably will work on tightening it up a bit tomorrow…but it’s in good shape so I am happy. Looking at prayer and Philippians 1:9-11. Good words. I really did want to write a little something beautiful…like a poem or something…but I’ve been here too long and since I’m getting antsy – my heart is not in the poem-writing mood. Alas.
Quickly, before I fly! Last night! Spent a marvelous night with friends – reminded again as always of how much I’ve been blessed. Went out north to the Woodlands for a concert(of course accompanied by a fine tex-mex pre-show meal at Chuy’s…). Ernie, John, Michelle, Abby, Claire and Julie and I had such sweet times…talking, laughing, being silly…and then enjoying a quality rockin’ show by The Avett Brothers – they’re a folksy band that really knows how to rock!! I’d never heard them before, but not at all sorry I was there.
And oh I said I would only write a few words…how has it spilled to three paragraphs? Oops. Anyways, I’m going to leave and continue enjoying my Saturday. This is my last Saturday in Houston for a couple weeks…as next week, I’m going to be going on a fine Maryland adventure – return to my homeland indeed!! Will be some quality times with a quality friend…and I’m pretty psyched, cannot deny! Now I’m off for real. Need to do some shopping(thinking a fine dinner tonight of chicken, baked potatoes and homemade stuffing). But I can’t end this without simply stating how thankful I am for the blessings of my God. He has blessed me much. Peace, my friends. Peace and love!!!
Hello friends!! It’s a calm Saturday afternoon here at the house…at least now it is! I’ve been happily productive today – got up and a had a sweet reading time with my coffee – then drove around Houston, doing various errands. One of them involved being at work for an hour. Joy. But hey – I’m actually glad I went in, because I got all my necessary work done and I can now relax this fine evening! After work, went to the grocery store to get necessary items…then I came back home(in the pouring rain, naturally) – all the way listening to my new mix CD – “Starlight City”. A thing of beauty if I do say so myself. I’ll post the tracklist here eventually, but not yet – just in case Daniel does read this entry! It’s his farewell present…not that I want to think about him moving away. You know. Because I’m silly and I love music, I also sent the CD to a few other far-away people! Anyways, once home, I made coffee to go with my lunch of pineapple and saltines(unorthodox meal, I know…) and then I turned on the TV to watch Eurovision 2015. Because yes. Oh Eurovision, never stop being weird. I watched the first few songs(Armenia being my favorite…but as is usual, my favorite is never the popular one…sadness) but then got interrupted by Caroline on Skype. Because we have not talked in far too long!! Two hours(and a cup of tea) later, and after some quality chat, we finally decided it was her bedtime and my dinnertime. But oh do I love good friends such as her…being able to talk on all matter of subjects even though we haven’t seen each other in months….quality friendship. Thank you, Lord – for dear friends such as her!!
And now my dinner is in the oven(another…interesting meal – a burger, green beans, and yellow squash, seasoned by garlic, black pepper, rosemary and lemon juice…and baked in the oven. Don’t judge). I’m going to walk to the mailbox now – hoping to see a parcel from Chris and Jo – according to Chris, it should be here soon! And it’s lovely outside now, all clean and fresh after the rain shower. So I’m going to take a walk and close this entry. Be well, my friends. Peace, always!
Something Weird 