Just around the bend...

This blog, up to now, has been about recipes and short stories about people I love and admire. Usually it has something to eat but instead this one is about something to digest.. the miracles of dreams. The song is from a collection of Susan Boyle and the story includes my friend and heroine, Katreena. Thank you for being you.

Who I was Born to Be by Tim Mikael

When I was a child
I could see the wind in the trees
and I heard a song in the breeze
It was there singing out my name.

But I am not a girl
I've known the taste of defeat
and I've finally grown to believe
it will all come around again.

Though I may not know the answers
I can finally say "I am free"
and if the questions led me here then
I am who I was born to be

And so here am I
open arms and ready to stand
I've got my world in my hands
and it feels like my turn to fly.

Though I may not know the answers
I can finally say "I am free"
and if the questions led me here then
I am who I was born to be

When I was a child there were
flowers the bloomed in the night
unafraid to take in the light
unashamed to have braved the dark

And though I may not know the answers
I can finally say "I am free"
and if the questions led me here then
I am who I was born to be... I am who I was born to be.

Visions, Dreams, Goals and Accountability


This past Sunday our pastor spoke on accountability and I wanted to look above my head to see if there was a spotlight on me. His words hit so close to home for me. Nobody can really see into our hearts but we all have accountability for our choices and actions or lack thereof. In her book "Dream Circles", Katreena speaks of the connections between us and others as we seek to be a light for them. It is not something she just decided one day to write about. It is how she has lived her life. In the book we are taken into the world of young child who witnesses another child hurting as the victim of teasing. The little girl did not stand by silently but sought to be a light in a dark corner and a positive influence on others. With the cooperation of a wise teacher, she held the other children accountable for their choice to tease then gave them a choice to change their behavior and be a friend to the little girl. Katreena lives her life reaching out to the ones who are the last chosen for the team or who are seeking answers to life. She works with students and business people who are at crossroads and don't know which way to turn. Gently she guides them in a positive direction. We can all do that, if we will seek the opportunity. A frest start is just around the bend... sometimes we just need the courage to go a little further in the right direction.

Who we are and how we think as children influences what paths we choose in life. The dreams we have, the goals we set, our visions and our actions all begin when we first "heard the song in the breeze". I pray for courage, wisdom and guidance as I step outside of my familiar circle that I will see the person who struggles that I can help. It may mean I have to go around my own bend in the process. I gain courage as I encourage others to keep trying.

As this song says "although I may not know the answers, I can finally say 'I am free'". I know I can't change the past... not the things within my control then or things that never were that I tried to control. I am accountable to God for who I am and what I do with my life. Katreena has the right idea. For you to have a richer fuller life, you need to draw others to you.

No, I don't know the answers and maybe that is what actually makes me free... for "if the questions led me here then, I am who I was born to be".

Proverbs 27:1"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"

Love,
Nana

Sweet Tea and Things That Are Hard to Do

This blog is dedicated to my sons Phil and Scott who were strong in recent months when it would have been so easy to be angry. They did the only thing they could... hold their wives close and try to dry their tears.





Sweet Tea

Place 10 tea bags in quart of water. Bring to a boil. Take off the stove and let steep for 5-10 mins. Remove tea bags and place in gallon container. Add ice and water to fill container. Add sugar or favorite sweetener and lemon if desired.

That sounds so simple. A speaker in a seminar a few years ago said "Americans are crazy... they boil water to make tea hot then add ice to make it cold. They then add sugar to make it sweet then lemon to make it sour". When you look at it that way.. it does sound crazy but it is the way we are.

In Ephesians 4:32 we are instructed to "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you". That sounds so simple. We have all made mistakes in our life and asked God to forgive us but sometimes we want to have the last word... and is not a very kind word when we say it.

When I was in first grade in school my mother brushed my curly hair into Shirley Temple curls. To adults I was cute... to other children, I was "different" and they teased me about that. By the time I was in fourth grade I had no idea what to do with the curls and I was teased even more. One day a little boy who had teased me the day before came to me and told me "what I did was wrong yesterday. Others teased you and I took part in that. Can you forgive me?" If this was a "made for TV" story I would have said "yes" and we would have been best friends forever but that is not what I did. I said "No you are only doing this because the teacher told you to." He tried but could not convince me otherwise. He walked away and I saw the teacher trying to console a very upset little boy. I knew at that moment his apology was sincere but pride kept me from going to him and accepting his apology.

Now if this were a made for TV movie, he would have grown up to be an axe murderer or we would have met as adults and talked about that day again. Neither happened. He grew up to be a respected attorney. We never had another conversation and we never had another class together. Sometimes you only get one chance to do the right thing. He tried to and what I did was worse than what he did by teasing me. I do remember he never joined the other children again who teased me but I missed my chance to give something very valuable... forgiveness.

In the recent months I have seen so much sorrow between people that I care about. Richard had tremendous courage when he came to me and tried to take responsibility for what he thought was wrong. Sometimes when we do something that hurts another, we try to make it right. When others are willing to forgive and we both grow from it but sometimes that does not happen. If you have hurt someone... say you are sorry and if they choose not to forgive you pray for God to help you with your weaknesses so you will not hurt them or others. If someone hurt you... don't wait for them to say they are sorry to forgive them. It will make you stronger and release you from the chains that anchor you to your pain.

Psalms 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer.

Love,
Nana

Desert Pizza and The Free Ice Cream

This blog is dedicated to Tim. Today is his birthday and it is a time of celebration and hope.

Desert Pizza

Sugar Cookie Dough (your favorite recipe or pre-packaged mix works fine)
2 cups confectionery sugar
2 packages cream cheese
sliced or diced fruit (kiwi, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple look good)

Spread cookie dough on greased cookie pan about 1/4 inch thick. Cook in 350 degree oven until slightly crisp (about 10-15 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool. Beat with mixer the sugar and cream cheese until creamy. Spread on cooled cookie crust and cover with fruit. Slice and serve.** bananas not recommended unless serving immediately as they turn brown quickly**

Free Ice Cream

Sometimes I wonder how God pairs up moms and babies. Every single time I became aware that I was going to have a child added to my life I have asked how God could He possibly trust me with the life of one of his precious little ones. I felt then and today tremendously honored that God chose me to serve Him as a mother. I want to share with you a story that happened on Tim's fourth birthday.

We were visiting with his grandmother and her home is about two city blocks from a busy railroad track. The usually quiet street was packed with cars to see the train that had jumped the tracks and landed in a field. Nobody was hurt... it was a freight train but cars lay on their side in the deep ravine and the men were working to salvage any cargo they could and to keep away curious people. Suddenly one of the men started walking toward the crowd and pointed to several teenage boys to come with him to a train car. He then started handing them cartons of ice cream to take into the crowd. They formed a chain and gave ice cream to any family who wanted it. My mother-in-law started laughing and when we got our carton we walked to her house to have Tim's birthday cake with the ice cream. The carton was too big to fit in her freezer so she called neighbors to bring something to put ice cream in for their families. A few days later, Tim tried to tell the teacher and children in his Head Start class what happened. Of course by the time he told the story, Tim was driving the train. He has always had an imagination that kept us on our toes!

Happy birthday, Tim. May your life be blessed as you continue to love and bless others.

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.

Love,
Nana