Sunday Sabbath July 12, 2015  EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS!

I have finally figured out how to exceed my expectations of what I am going to accomplish in one day’s time.  I simply do not make any expectations!  Yesterday I told Dave that all I wanted to do today after attending church and going to Costco was to come home and do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day.  Well, so far Dave carved a chicken off the bone, I cooked the bones for broth, Dave strained it and bottled three quarts of broth that now is cooling to be put in the freezer.

While the chicken was boiling I made broccoli/cauliflower salad (take into mind that everything must be cleaned and cut up).  Baked a pan of broccoli with lime juice (delicious recipe my daughter-in-law made up).  Stir fried a zucchini pepper pie double size (without the pie crust to lower the carbs) and baked it in the oven. Cut up a mango (the kind that has the perfect taste) and refrigerated it for later.  Dave husked the corn on the cob for dinner. Prepared several vegetables for cooking later and washed and prepared fruit to have ready to eat.  Dinner is ready to serve up when we are ready to eat.

Maybe you think I am obsessing about food but I just want to tell you something.  I probably am obsessing about food because I have so much of it come into my house at once that if I am not obsessed with getting it cooked, cleaned for later use,  prepared for later dinners or freezer, it would go to waste.  Those who have a vegetable garden to tend to probably know what I mean.  At certain times it consumes you.  And people ask me what do I do to call myself busy?  Part of it is the food prep from the farm boxes I receive each week.  Thursday comes around fast and fortunately for me Thursday is not every day like Saturday is. So, I tell you about my food because it is what I accomplished today.  I had no plans to do so (remember my expectation was to do absolutely nothing today).   So…since that was my expectation I am just “bragging” a little bit by telling you how much I exceeded my expectation.  It is a good feeling to have it all done.  Yes, it is never ending and there is more to do tomorrow.  I still need to make a cucumber salad.  And yes, we will eat all this good food throughout the week as well as next winter from the freezer.  Can’t remember if I told you but I made 13 quarts of soup a day or so ago.  Nine made it into the freezer, we are in the process of eating the two in the fridge and the other two went to a neighbor.  And I have lots more soup to make.  Now you know why I had to get home.  Oh yes, I almost forgot.  I want to make a huge coleslaw tomorrow.  Lots of cabbage in this house this week!

Dave is slowly feeling better.  He is down most of the time with his leg elevated and comes knocking on the kitchen door volunteering to do short tasks so he can be upright for a while.  He can only be up for a few moments at a time.  But hey, I take all the help I can get.  He did not go to church today as he needs to be isolated from close contact with other people for a while, more for his benefit that the other people.  He did go in for his antibiotic infusion and is able to drive.  Tomorrow he has two appointments, one of which I will need to be in attendance.

Our pastor is doing a three week series about how to pray.  The first one was the last Sunday in June and the second one was today.  I listened to the first one online because I wasn’t home yet.  An excellent series.  The second one was today because of last week being a holiday weekend.  I especially enjoyed today’s message.  To hear google City Church Madison Wisconsin.

Our “new normal” is slowing coming to surface.  I think it will take about a year for it to evolve.  One thing we have agreed on is that we do not plan to take on any new commitments in the next 12 months to give us time to accomplish a few things that will help make our life a little simpler.  I didn’t know just how many opportunities would come knocking.  I love being involved with people and doing things and going places but we are saying no to the commitments of weekly or monthly participation.  We will still have fun with our friends on occasion and maybe even entertain a bit when things settle down with Dave’s health situation.  It is a great relief to know that we do not “have to” take on new responsibilities if we do not want to.  We do want to be in the Lord’s will and have a close relationship during these next few months.  We are taking this time to rest in his presence and invite His Holy Spirit to come into our lives in a mighty way.  I feel a poem coming to surface:

THANK YOU FATHER FOR YOUR AMAZING PLAN

By Kathleen Martens

July 12, 2015

Come Holy Spirit as I sit at your feet.

Speak to my heart so I hear Your voice.

Allow me to rest in Your loving presence

As I come to You by my choice.

I seek Your face and You draw nigh unto me

Your compassion and love like a blanket spread.

I ask for Your favor and You pour out Your peace

And You set the table where I am fed.

Fed from Your word written in my heart

And the words Jesus spoke on earth.

Your love is greater than I can comprehend,

More valuable than Gold is Your worth.

You are my comforter sent from the Son

That I would never be alone,

But would have all eternity with You

Worshiping around God’s throne.

Thank you Father for your amazing plan

That a way would be made for me

That I would be able to live with You

Worshipping throughout eternity.

I give You my heart, I give You my love

I give you all that I am.

Thank you for giving to me

Your Son as the righteous lamb.

Thank You Lord for the poem you just gave to my heart.  May it bless another.

Hey this has been a record time.  I have only been at the computer for 50 minutes.  It will take a bit to publish and proofread so I will end soon, eat dinner, and be ready for another early night.  If I do nothing else I will still have exceeded my expectations!  That’s a good feeling.

Have a great evening!