Recipe for Easy Cheddar Biscuits Using Pancake Mix

Hello all!  Zach and I are getting ready to start our Christmas Vacation in 2 days and counting.  We are seriously excited!  In preparing to leave our home for 2 1/2 weeks, I'm in the process of cleaning and semi-organizing so that we can return to a peaceful apartment at the end of it all.  Part of my cleaning process has been to buy the bare minimum at the grocery store this week and use up the food we have.  I have a box of Great Value (gotta love the Wal-Mart brand!) pancake and waffle mix that I have been finding ways to put to good use in our meals.  I came across this recipe for cheddar biscuits using pancake mix and it is really yummy!  We had them with dinner a few nights ago and I thought I'd share the recipe with you guys here.

Cheddar Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups Great Value Complete Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix (or any pancake mix you prefer)
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. dry mustard

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 425°F. In medium bowl, stir together pancake mix and remaining ingredients until dough forms. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. 
Yields nine biscuits. 


Well, there you go!  If you're looking for an easy, delicious biscuit recipe I recommend you give this one a try.  Alright, I'm off to get some more cleaning and packing done!

The Importance of Meeting God in the Morning

Something the Lord has been reminding me about lately is the importance and joy of the discipline of communing with Him in the morning.  Beginning the morning with God is a sweet reminder of our relationship to him as his children.  I notice a huge difference throughout the day in my attitude, my relationships, and my thought life when I have sat down and spent time with God as opposed to when I haven't.  Making it a priority to sit at the feet of Jesus, laying the plans of the day before him, and listening to him speak through his Word helps us to grow as believers and prepares our hearts and minds for the day ahead.  John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing".  

Christ is our source of life.  How can we live our day experiencing the fullness of Christ if we are not remaining "plugged in" to the One who gives us abundant life?  

I find that morning time is the best time for me to spend with God. I know that if I don't get in the Word and pray in the morning, most likely it won't get done.  If I jump into the tasks of the day first or get distracted with something else, it's more difficult for me to quiet my heart, be still and commune.  

“We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune.”
~ Charles Spurgeon

Several Scriptures point to the morning as being an important time to commune with God.  

 Mark 1:35 – Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Psalm 5:3 – In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Isaiah 50:4 – The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

Getting God's Word in the morning allows us to meditate on it, letting it soak into our hearts, and apply it throughout the day.  

Simple, more focused living begins with making our relationship with Christ our first priority in the day!

Making New Friends: Getting Over the Intimidation Factor

Have you ever found yourself in a place in life when you realize it’s about that time to start making new friends?  Whether it’s a move to a new city, having recently graduated from college and all your friends are now scattered about or some other transition that life can often bring, most of us have probably been in a position of searching for new friendships. And, for some of us, this can be an intimidating process.

Having moved many times in my life, with the most recent move being 3 months ago, I would love to say that I am in expert in the area of building new relationships.   However, being an introvert at heart, putting myself out there in order to form relationships has not always (and still doesn’t) come naturally for me.  I’ve had to learn to open up more and invite people into my life.  There are periods where I’ve done really well at this and periods where I haven’t done so well.  So, here are a few things I have learned, in my victories and my failures, to remember in pursuing new friendships. 

Be intentional and take the initiative.  Don’t always wait for someone to come up and try to get to know you first.  This will happen sometimes, but remember, you’re the one who knows you want to meet people.  Take that first step.

Just invite. Don’t over think it.  See if they would want to get together sometime.  My sister and I recently had a funny phone conversation about how awkward it can feel when considering asking a new acquaintance we’d like to build a friendship with if she wants to grab a cup of coffee and chat sometime.  If you’re anything like me, you start to wonder, “What if they really aren’t interested but feel pressured to say yes?” or “What if they aren’t looking for anymore friends?” or “What if they say thanks, but no thanks?” or… or… the worried questions create themselves.  Get rid of those insecurities (and we’ve all got ‘em) fast! 

Think about how you feel when someone wants to get to know you.  Most likely you are happy about it.  Who doesn’t like to be asked if they want to hang out? 

Plant yourself where you’re at.  No matter how long you plan on staying in a certain area (6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or longer), invest yourself there fully for the time that you are there.  The time you spend there can be precious and you will look back on it with a lot more fondness and joy if you make it a point to build friendships. 

What has been your experience with building new friendships?  Any other insights on this topic? I'd love to hear them since I'll be moving again in just over 5 months!

Visit to a Friend's Home

As I walk arm and arm with my friend Dina* through the small town and down the dusty roads, I see the evidence of a simple life all around me.  Men lay out in the fields as their sheep graze, ladies wash clothes with a basin of water and a scrub board, children play together in the streets and stop to look at me as I walk by.  I wave to them and say hello.  Some smile while others just stare, not knowing what to make of this foreigner.  We enter into a small, one room house to say hello to a family Dina knows well.  They invite us to stay and have some tea, but we graciously decline.  We make our way to the barn where the animals are kept.  Dina laughs when I mistakenly call a cow a "blessing" (the Arabic words for cow and blessing are very similar).  As we walk back to her house I am once again captivated by the beautiful mountains that surround us.  As I enter into the home the smell of spices overtake my senses.  Dina's mother and sisters are in the kitchen busily preparing couscous for the afternoon meal.


Couscous is a staple North African cuisine made from semolina wheat and coated with finely ground wheat flour.  It is served in a pile on a platter with beef, chicken, or fish and vegetables.  This dish is usually prepared on Fridays but it is also often served to guests when they come.

While lunch is being prepared, Dina and I sit in the living room area where we watch her sister's wedding video as she proudly points out her family members.  Videos of weddings and special occasions are often shown when entertaining foreigners.  A little while later I hear voices at the front door.  The house quickly fills up with family members and neighbors.  As is customary, greetings are exchanged by lengthy handshakes with  all the men and many kisses on each cheek with all the women.  We sit and visit for a while and, finally, the food is brought out.  Everyone gathers around a small round table where a large platter of couscous is waiting.      Using your hands or a spoon, whatever your preference may be, we all eat directly off of the same platter.  I see that the meat served with this particular couscous is lamb.  Not being a huge fan of lamb meat, I try to eat only the vegetables and grain.  Of course, the hostesses cannot let this happen!  Some of the choice meat is picked off and placed in front of me.  I notice that the heart is on the menu as well.  Hoping silently that I do not have to eat this I chew slowly, giving the appearance that I am eating more than I actually am.  But, alas, the heart is cut into different pieces and some is given to everybody.  Dina's mother hands me a piece of the heart, encouraging me to eat more by saying "Kuli, Kuli!"  I put it in my mouth graciously and feel my stomach lurch.  Chewing slowly, I say the old prayer, "Father, I'll get it down, you keep it down!".  Finally, the couscous is gone and I am stuffed, but lo and behold, here come the chicken.  A whole chicken is served along with bread and everybody digs in.  Small glasses of coca-cola and mint tea are served after the meal.  Then, to top it all off, fresh fruit for dessert.  After another hour of visiting it is getting late and I must go home.   Dina's family invites me to come over anytime and tells me that I must stay the night the next time.  I happily agree and say that I will see them next week "Insh allah" (God willing).  No plans are ever made without using this phrase.  Dina and I walk to catch a "grand taxi" and we squeeze into the crowded car where people are practically sitting on top of one another.  By the time I get home I am exhausted.  After 6 hours of speaking and listening to Arabic my mind is tired.  Reflecting on the day though, my spirit is full and my heart is content. Once again, I thank the Lord for this incredible adventure, these amazing experiences, and these wonderful people!  

   

* Name has been changed

This was a story that I had written to friends and family almost 3 years ago.  I was living in North Africa at the time and falling in love with the people there.  I wanted to share this (maybe again) with you all today because the time I spent there is still a treasure to me and I love remembering it.  I hope you enjoyed!  

November at Our Home

November was the first month since we’ve moved here that seems to have had a sense of normalcy and routine to it.  So much has happened in the last couple of months with Zach and I getting married, our honeymoon, moving in and setting up our apartment, job-hunting (for me), and just adjusting and settling in to a new place.  Of course, we are still adjusting and settling in, but things have been a little more stable this past month. 

Having a part-time job has helped me by establishing a bit more routine to my week.  I’ve also begun using these free printable calendars and weekly planning sheets from Kristen's Guide to organize and plan for my week ahead.  I really love these sheets because not only are they great for helping me to think about and see what I need to accomplish that week but they also allow me to balance and focus on different value areas I want to be intentional in.  Planning out my week like this has been very helpful to me in creating good routines. 

Another event that has been new for us this month is we have started sponsoring a child from Peru through Compassion, an organization that seeks to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children living in poverty.  Something Zach and I have been starting to think about very recently is how we are to fulfill our role in Jesus’ command to love and help the poor (1 John 3:17-18) and obey The Great Commission to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).  What does being a Great Commission couple look like for us right now?  In the future?  These are questions we are considering and praying over. 

I also read the book Radical by David Platt.  I can’t recommend this book strongly enough!  It really challenged me to take a look at my current view of the Christian life (especially American Christianity) and examine how much of it is founded on the Word of God.  Much of the above thoughts and questions Zach and I are dealing with on living out the Great Commission have been directly sparked from this book.  Read it if you desire to be challenged in your faith and your Christian walk!

Finally, at the end of the month, we celebrated Thanksgiving with Zach’s family in the Greensboro, NC area.  We spent actual Thanksgiving Day with Zach’s mom and her side of the family.  I had my first experience at shooting a rifle. However it’s merely a Southern activity, still not a Southern girl. ;-)  I also had my first experience participating in over-night Black Friday shopping.  We were in the line at Kohl’s by 2:30 in the morning and Target by 3:30 A.M.  Then, home and in bed by 7:00 A.M.  I don’t know if I would want to brave that again, but we did end up getting a fantastic deal on a new GPS for Zach’s mom for Christmas!  Saturday evening was spent celebrating Thanksgiving with Zach’s dad and his side of the family.  We had a wonderful time!

Now, we are getting into the Christmas season and are looking forward to a month full of traveling, spending time with family, and reflecting on the greatest gift we have in Christ!

A Time to Give Thanks

Family, friends, Macy's Parade on T.V. and PIE!!!  These are my favorite things about Thanksgiving.  I love gathering around a table full of food with the people I care for.  Every year I am reminded of how many reasons there are to have a thankful heart.  The past few years I have enjoyed some great Thanksgivings with very special people in different parts of the world.  This year, I am looking forward to spending this holiday with my husband and his side of the family.  

Thanksgiving 2007 in Morocco

Taking a moment to consider what I am thankful for this year, I am overjoyed with how much there is to be grateful for.  A few things I am thankful for this year are: 

1.)  My husband.  I remember very well this time last year persistently asking God to "give me to be a wife to a good, godly man".  He answered this prayer in a way that was beyond my imagination.  He is a good God and I am so thankful for the man he brought into my life at just the right time.  

2.)  God's grace and sanctification in my life.  He has forgiven me far beyond what I deserve and loves me with an everlasting love.  And I realize that if it weren't for Him taking the initiative in the process of making me holy, I would forever continue in my sin without a second thought.  I am thankful for his discipline, kindness, and love as he continues to bring me to completion.

3.) My family.  I have a family that always loves and supports me.  Much of the person I am today is because of the influence they had on me.

4.)  The freedom we have in the U.S.  Never again will I take this one for granted.

5.) My tutoring job.  I absolutely love my current tutoring position and find great satisfaction in it.  I enjoy the other ladies I tutor with and the kids are so special.  Even before moving out to the mountains we were praying for a job to open up that would be a good fit for me for the time that we are here.  This job was an answer to prayer.

Thanksgiving 2008 with family & friends in Ohio

What are you thankful for this year?  Happy Thanksgiving!!  

Vegetarian Chili

When I was single I was not much of a cook, meaning dinner for me often times meant sticking a frozen pizza in the oven or pouring 2 bowls of cereal.  However, marriage has brought about within me a desire to learn how to cook better and to cook more frequently.  One of my recent goals has been to discover and prepare one new dish a week.  I've actually had a lot of fun doing it and have ended up with  a lot of yummy meals!  I thought I would share a simple recipe for Vegetarian Chili that I adapted from The Williams Sonoma Cookbook.  I made this today and both Zach and I loved it!  It was easy to make and very affordable (as long as you have all the spices on hand).  The original recipe called for 2 cups of dried pinto beans, allowing them to soak for at least 4 hours.  Instead, I opted to use 2 cans of black beans (the most nutritious bean) and 1 can of navy beans (for some variety).  I also used 1 less onion than what the original recipe said. And, since we like our chili to have a thicker texture, I used less broth than what the original recipe called for.   I used regular pre-ground pepper as opposed to cayenne pepper (because it's what I had on hand) and, if you prefer less spicy, I recommend adding less chili powder and/or forfeiting the chipotle chilis (although they do give it a really nice smoky taste).  Here is the adapted version of the recipe that I used.


Makes 6-8 Servings


2-3 cans (15.25 oz.) of black beans  (you can use any kind of bean you prefer)
3 Tbsp canola oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup (1 oz) chili powder)
1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper (or cayenne pepper)
11/2 cups (12 oz) canned diced tomatoes, with juice
1/2 - 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo, minced
3 cups Vegetable Stock or low-sodium broth (feel free to use more if you like a soupier chili texture)
1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and saute until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add the minced garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, and pepper, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring so the mixture cooks evenly to release the flavors, about 3 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with their juice, chile to taste, the stock, and the drained beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer. Add vinegar and cook for 1 min. longer.  Ladle chili into bowls.

We topped our chili bowls with sour cream (well, I did.  Zach hates sour cream) and shredded cheese.  Isn't sour cream the most delicious thing ever?  It just adds a scrumptious tang flavor to your food.  Although, I wouldn't recommend it on all things!

Top 20 Reasons Why I Love Being Married To My Best Friend!

1.       He’s my ministry partner

2.       He never gets tired of eating PIZZA!

3.       He dances with me

4.       He likes to play video games with me even though I’m really bad.

5.       He’s my favorite person to hang out with.

6.       He helps me clean the apartment.

7.       He drinks coffee with me.

8.       He tells me he loves me and that I’m beautiful every day.

9.       He’s FUN to watch UFC with!

10.   He likes to crank up the music in the car.

11.   He encourages me to read and learn more.

12.   He likes to pull into Krispy Kreme when we see the “HOT” sign on

13.   He prays with me.

14.   He’ll watch musicals with me.

15.   We laugh together!

16.   He makes awesome smoothies for us J

17.   He leads me to grow in Christ.

18.   He’s HONEST with me.

19.   ONE DAY we will be great Euchre partners, I just know it!

20.   He’s always there for me.

Confession of an Idol Worshipper

Next to temperance, a quiet conscience, a cheerful mind and active habits, I place early rising as a means of health and happiness.

- Timothy Flint

I remember telling a mentor of mine in college that I often felt like my biggest struggle of the day was getting out of bed.  I would love to say that over the last several years this is a habit that I have since left behind, but, honestly, it is still something I would consider to be the biggest struggle of my day.  I used to say that I was a night person to excuse my tendency to sleep in late.  And, while there have been periods in my life when I have had to get up early (either for a job or a class), my schedule for the most part has permitted me to sleep in late.  While I have known the benefits of being an early riser for quite a while it hasn't been until recently that I have been convicted about it.  It is so easy for me to set my alarm for an early hour the night before and fall asleep with the best intentions of actually springing out of bed in the morning, ready to tackle the day!  So, of course, by 8:00 a.m the next morning I've already had my coffee, done my Bible study, gotten a work out in, eaten breakfast, and am dressed for the day.  Um... reality check:  I'm usually still in bed at 9:30, sometimes 10:00 a.m.  (Eek... I know I just totally ratted myself out there.)  But it's true.  My tendency to make sleep and idleness an idol in my life is something the Lord has really been showing me lately.  There are a few Scripture verses He has brought me to lately that really speak to this area of sin in my life.  One of them is Proverbs 31:15  , "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens".  My friend N pointed this out to me when I was telling her about my habit of sleeping in.  This is King Lemuel's mother describing to him the character of the kind of wife he should seek after.  This woman rises early and is diligent in her work and with her time.  I saw in this passage of Scripture how rising early allows us to get a good start on the day.  When I sleep in late, by the time I get up I often end up feeling like I don't have time to spend with the Lord that day (a form of pride that says "I got this day without you God.  I think I'm strong enough to handle it on my own, thanks.  I'll let you know when I need you"). I value sleep and laziness more than I value Christ.  I also end up feeling like half my day is gone and often times accomplish very little.  Most importantly, I'm not giving myself to the Lord to be used to the fullest.  So, I've been asking the Lord for discipline in that area of my life.  I've decided that a good starting point for me is to set my alarm for 7:30 a.m. and, no matter what time I go to bed the night before, to consistently get up at that time every single day.  Today was day one of forming the healthy habit of rising early and I have noticed a huge difference already.  I've been able to accomplish more and feel more energized.  Here's what my day has looked like so far:

7:30 a.m. - woke up/got out of bed

7:30 - 8:00 a.m - made coffee and ate breakfast

8:00 - 9:00 - Bible study and prayer

9:15-9:45 - worked out at the gym

10:00-10:30 - showered and got dressed for the day

10:30-11:00 - checked and answered emails

11:00-11:45 - wrote new blog post

12:00-1:00 p.m - prepared for afternoon tutoring session

I feel blessed to have such a flexible and open schedule right now and know it won't always be this way.  I am thankful for this time the Lord has given to prune me and grow me in many things, but especially with regards to rising early and being useful with my time.  One last Scripture verse that has spoken truth into my life repeatedly and can be applied to what the Lord is teaching me now is Hebrews 12:11 which says, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it".  I love the wording of that verse.  Discipline, whether it is studying the Word, training for a competition, or waking up a few hours earlier, is not always fun and can be hard at the time but we reap the benefits of it as we go.  And, as believers, we are more equipped and spiritually mature to take part in God's kingdom work.   

October at our Home

So, as you can see, I took a little hiatus from blogging the last couple of weeks.  I feel like October was a whirlwind of activity.  We started off the month by taking a day trip down to Georgia where Zach went to college.  The department he had studied in was hosting a breakfast for past and present students.  It was an interesting experience to get a glimpse of what his college experience was like.  Zach went to a very small Christian liberal arts school whereas I went to one of the largest state schools in the country.  It was neat to think about how the Lord took us down two different paths in that aspect.

We also celebrated our one month wedding anniversary this past month!  Marriage has been such a joy and a blessing!  It has been sanctifying in so many ways already but being together seems to make every day better.  I honestly believe that God provided the perfect match for me in Zach.  We're very similar in a lot of ways, yet very different in other ways.  Zach is extremely laid back and I have a tendency to stress out easily - so he helps me to relax when I need to and I help him by giving him that extra push when he needs it.  Things like that we can balance each other out in.  One of the things I love and appreciate most about him is that he accepts and loves me for exactly who I am and I continually pray for the grace to always love, respect and support him the way he needs.

As I mentioned in my last post, we took a week long trip to Raleigh.  It was so nice to be back in familiar territory and be able to see and catch up with many of our friends there.  We stayed with our friends J & S who just recently had a baby.  It was fun to watch them be parents and couldn't help but start thinking about starting our own family one day. :)  I know I said I'd share pictures, but I don't think I took one picture the whole time we were there.

Another thing this past month brought was a part-time tutoring job for me!  I'm tutoring 5th and 6th graders in reading for an hour and a half after school on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I've really enjoyed it so far and it's a good fit for me because with working only part-time I still have an adequate amount of time to be involved with the collegiate ministry on campus and the job is temporary.  It only goes through the middle of January (there may be a possibility of continuing on through May, but we'll see) and since Zach's internship with the BCM is over in May the timeline is perfect.

My first week of tutoring was this past week and it was eventful.  Oh, let's just say it. It was CRAZY!  I've worked with kids before and it's always a bit of a challenge when you come in as a new "authority figure" and they're testing to see how much they can get away with. The first day I must have looked like I had "SUCKER" stamped across my forehead.  Kids standing on desks , kids laying on the floor refusing to participate, and kids texting on their cell phones after I told them to put their phones away.  All this amidst constant chattering.  Now, if you will allow me to just pause here.  I have an equation in my head.  KIDS + CELL PHONES = WHY??  or KIDS + CELL PHONES = CRAZY PARENTS or KIDS  + CELL PHONES = RIDICULOUS.  Is it really necessary to give your 10 year old a cell phone?  They're in school with their teachers all day long.  Who are they going to call?  I could understand if it's a 16 year old who is driving around by himself, but a 10 year old?  Seriously.  [Sigh]...But I digress.  I can't blame the kids for being a little rowdy when they're having to stay after school and their friends are outside playing.  But they had to learn the boundaries that were set.  So, by the end of the 2nd day when I was referred to as a "monster" by one of the students to another tutor, I figured they were starting to get the point that I was no pushover.  And, I'm happy to report, that by the 3rd day the kids had made a vast improvement in listening and following directions. Which makes me happy. :)  I do really like the job so far though and it's a nice break from being around the campus all the time.

We ended the month with some fun fall activities like going to a corn maze and pumpkin patch, a Halloween party and breaking out the sweaters and scarves!  Now, we are settling down into the end of the semester with BCM and getting ready for a fun and simple holiday season!

Wake Forest/Raleigh Bound!

We are looking forward to our first weekend away since we moved to Cullowhee, NC.  The university we are working with has fall break this Thursday to Tuesday of next week, so we are packing up our suitcases and going to the Wake Forest/Raleigh area for a mini-vacation!  This place is special to us because it is where we both lived for a little while (Zach for 3 years, me for only 1 year).  It's also where we met and were married.  So, it holds a special place in our hearts.  We're ready to do some relaxing and see some of our friends there.  Hopefully when we get back I'll have some fun pictures to share with you!  Happy fall break!

The building with the black awning on the far left of this picture is where we had our wedding.

The Awesomeness that is Travel

Travel has always been a big part of my life.  Spending my childhood as a third-culture kid in Ecuador, I was exposed to the world at a young age.  After living in the U.S. for all of my teenage and college years, I spent six weeks in East Asia where I got my first taste of travel as an adult.  It was exhilarating.  I was on sensory overload with all the new smells, sights, sounds, tastes.  It was the same when I moved to North Africa for two years.  Of course, traveling came with its challenges.  I was stretched endlessly, taken out of my comfort zone, and had to find my identity as a person being in a cross-cultural context.  However, my heart for travel has been ignited and I will venture to say it is a passion that will never die.

Sometimes I feel like I was born to travel.  I don’t mind airports and time changes.  Feeling out of place is pretty normal for me.  I can make do with minimal hygiene and be flexible when I find myself in less than preferable circumstances (a hole in the ground to pee in or when the water goes out for several days at a time).  I can deal with getting lost in a city as long as I have a map or a language dictionary to help me direct a taxi.  As much as I love the thrill of being in a new place, travel has brought a lot of richness to my life. 

o   Travel has broadened my view of the world.  I am daily aware of the reality of the bigger world we live in.  From traveling I know that the way America lives is not the way most of the world lives.  I understand that there is hunger, pain, beauty, lostness, creativity all over.  My context for living has changed. 

o   Travel has stretched my ability to live simply.  Going beyond the lines of what was comfortable for me has helped me to adapt to a simpler way of living.  I have learned that I really don’t need much in this life, that satisfaction and joy are found in Christ and in loving and serving others and not in luxury. 

o    Travel has allowed me to see my True Home.  I have lived many places in my life thus far.  In the past 4 years alone I have lived in 4 different countries.  In the midst of all this moving and traveling, there were times I got weary and longed to be ‘settled’ somewhere.  Through traveling the Lord has continually reminded me that we are sojourners on this earth and our True Home is with Him in heaven and He is the home of our heart.  This world is not our home and we are on a journey.  There is something about travel that reminds us of this truth.

o   Travel has deepened my wonder of the Gospel.  Travel reveals a world that God created.  Lands he created. People he created and loves.  Nations who worship in darkness and desperately need the hope of the Gospel.  In my travels, my eyes have been opened to the fact that there are so many in our world who have NEVER heard the Gospel story.  Travel has also gloriously allowed me to see how God is moving all over the world.  Believers from all different cultures and backgrounds worshipping and claiming the name of Christ.  God is at work redeeming the world to Himself!  There is still much work to be done though and He calls his children to GO! and be a part of his wondrous work.  Travel has deepened my belief and knowledge that the Gospel is for ALL people, all nations. 

Fall Reading

I love, love books!  I love the smell of the pages and the feel of the covers.  One of my favorite Saturday afternoon activities is to just curl up with a quality cup of coffee and a good book in my hands for a few hours.  My husband loves to read too.  He often likes to tote a book around when he's going somewhere just in case there is an opportunity to read.  As kids we both grew up enjoying reading alot and I hope it is something we can encourage in our future children one day. 
Now, I'm the kind of reader who goes through "reading spurts".  While I always have the page(s) of some book(s) dog-eared, sometimes it can take me months to finish a book.  Other times, I get the reading itch and I can sit and fly through a book within a few days (I'm rarely the type of reader who can finish a whole book in a day).  Well, I dont' know if it's the cooler fall weather that's approaching, bringing along with it the lovely thought of hot chocolate, scarves, and bonfire season.... but I  have got the reading itch!  Yay!  I have many a books that have been sitting in my "to be read pile" for quite some time and my goal is to actually get some of those read this fall.  So, I wanted to share with you all my Fall Reading List that I put together, hopefully to inspire you to read more this fall, but if for nothing else to keep me on track with my plan. :-)  Here's my list:

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (I'm over half-way through with this one already)
Doctrine by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears (this is one that Zach and I are reading together)
Life of Pi by Yann Martell
Radical by David Platt
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands by Gary Thomas
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (I'll start reading this one around the beginning of December)

7 books.  I don't think that is too lofty of a goal.  Especially with the free time I have right now, I need to take advantage of it!  I tried to get a good mix of fiction and non-fiction in there.  We'll see how I stick to it.  Most importantly though, I just want to have fun reading and learning in the process!  Okay, I'm off to read some more now!

Home is Where the Heart Is

     It has been two and half weeks since Zach and I have moved into our new apartment together.  Our new home for the time being.  Our little home is a safe haven – a place of rest and peace.  It has personality and character.  It has life surrounding it throughout the week – it is never lonely.  It is witness to many first time cooking experiments.  It fills with the aroma and sound of coffee brewing in the morning.  It is our first home together.  This little place has been good to us.  However, if you were to ask me the question, “Was it love at first sight?” my answer would be, “Absolutely not”.  I thought I would use this next post to tell you a little bit about my journey (even if it has only been a very short one) towards cultivating a thankful heart for our apartment. 

The kitchen is really not this dark, the lighting was just bad.

As some of you know, Zach started the process of applying and interviewing for an intern position with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) on the campus of Western Carolina University (WCU) back in early June of this year.  As things started progressing, we came over in late June to visit the campus and have a personal interview.  We arrived at WCU, saw the beautiful campus and met some of the students.  Everything was going just right.  And then… we walked into a small, two room space on the bottom floor of the BCM building and were told, “This is the apartment you guys would be living in.”  As I looked around, honestly my first thought was, “No, this is not going to work.”  Deal breaker.  Every place I’d lived in before seemed like a palace compared to this tiny, cement walled, pipe-exposed, basement apartment!  And that included the flat in the ghetto of Cairo, Egypt where my roommate and I had to jimmy-rig one of the doors that led to the outside in order for it to stay shut!  Nope, this was not the lovely vision of a cute one bedroom, cozy kitchen, newlywed apartment that I had in my head.  Where was I supposed to cook?  There was no counter space!  Needless to say, I went away from the apartment feeling a bit discouraged. 



This is where I will speed up my story (maybe).  As we went on throughout the afternoon and discussed details of the ministry and what our roles there would be, we were very affirmed that the Lord was leading us to be here.  However, I was still stuck on the issue of the apartment: its size, its location, its seemingly dingy atmosphere.  And while I was thinking through all of this, the Lord really spoke to my heart and I was convicted of my American, consumerism, “more is better”, mind-set.  I was reminded of how many people there are all over the world who live in homes even smaller and more simple than this.  And many times they will have 5 people or more living in one space.  I was very humbled by this thought and realized that if the Lord wanted us here, I could live in this apartment – and I definitely could for the 10 months that we will be here.  Later that afternoon Zach and I went to look at the apartment again and this time I saw a whole different place than what I had seen the first time.  I saw an apartment big enough for the two of us, with many possibilities of how we could arrange furniture and decorate, and a place to do ministry.  I mentioned there was no kitchen counter space earlier, and there isn’t.  But what I did not mention is that right across the hall is a very large kitchen that is used to make dinner for 80 -100 students each week and we have complete access to it whenever we want to prepare our own meals.  I love that.  I love that we live right on campus and Zach’s office is just right upstairs!  Not only do we save a ton of money on gas, but I get to walk up there and see him anytime I want to (and vice versa)!  There are events in the building – it’s never a boring place!  And the students have been very respectful of our private space.  And I have learned that you can make anyplace a home.  We have been able to make it quite homey and comfortable.  I am thankful for this place and I’m sure we’ll both look back on this time with fond and funny memories. 

Honeymoon!!

We have been married for 2 weeks now and it has been absolutely wonderful.  Newlywed bliss!  For our honeymoon we spent a week in Gatlinburg, TN.  We stayed at my aunt Cindy and uncle LD's cozy chalet, Cloudy Dreams.

This is the view we saw from the balcony every day.                            

I was hoping to see some black bears while we were there.  Zach, however, was not super stoked about the idea of meeting up with "Smokey".  Turns out we both got our wish.  The very first evening there we saw (from the safety of the car) a bear walking up the road in front of us on our way back to the chalet.  It turns out that was the one and only bear we saw the whole week, but I was glad to see it!  Neither one of us had our cameras at that point or else there would be a picture to show you. (Yes, I got way to excited about the bear).  So, moving right along throughout the rest of our honeymoon week....

 

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 A Few Highlights

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

 

All the yummy food!!!                        

Hiking to Abrams Falls

Spending the afternoon at Splash Country!  We had planned on the water park being our "fun splurge", but while we were in line to buy tickets a very generous lady came up to us and offered to get us into the park for free with some extra passes she had.  It was an unexpected blessing from the Lord. :)  And finally, just being together was the best part of the whole week!