Monday November 16 2015  EVEN IN CHAOS GOD REIGNS

So much tragedy happening every day in the world we live in.  It is beginning to become clearer and clearer as to what the Bible says about what is coming in the days and years ahead.  These last two week’s sermons (City Church Madison Wisconsin) have given me even more insight as to what the future holds.  God’s plan is in progress and some events must happen before Jesus’ second coming. Through all the chaos and bedlam it is encouraging to know that God is in control even in the midst of all the evil that prevails in men’s hearts.  I read the Calendar Wisdom for tonight and it is so appropriate for this day and time.  “HOW CALMLY MAY WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE HANDS OF HIM WHO BEARS UP THE WORLD!”  And that is what I do.  I commit myself to God daily and call on Jesus when I am in need of anything.  It is through my relationship with my loving Heavenly Father, that I find peace and joy and fulfillment in this life.  Regardless what comes my way, I need never fear.  I would only hope that you have the same hope in your heart that I cherish.  The best part?  It’s free!

I think sometimes we take for granted the normalcy of each of our days.  This is something I never want to do.  I am so grateful and thankful for every single day I arise and I look forward to all the routine and regularity of what my day may hold for me.  I find that it is the little things that I enjoy so much.  Standing at the kitchen widow viewing the outdoors as I wash dishes and clean up the kitchen. Even picking up an apple and being able to peal it with my aging hands.  Being able to go to the fridge and decide what I would like to prepare for lunch from all the plethora of food that sits on the shelves patiently waiting to be eaten.  Do we ever stop to realize what a privilege that really is?  There are so many in this world who do not have enough to eat.  I thank God for every bite I put in my mouth.  That is one thing Dave and I do not ever take for granted.  Each meal we eat together we hold hands across the kitchen table and one of us prays to God, giving Him thanks for Who He Is, for what He has done for us, and thanking Him for our food in the name of His Son Jesus.  A bite of food, that is cause to celebrate and give thanks. 

So, thankfully today was a “normal” day.  A bit different than what I have been used to  recently, but normal.  I actually worked!  I did get the wedding album sent through the magic wires of the internet.  And I also was able to send off all my school pictures for color correction.  How about that!  I accomplished two things in one day.  That’s pretty good for an “older” lady.  The only reason I was able to accomplish it however, was because of all the help my lab was able to give me over the phone.  Use it or lose it.  Well, I haven’t been using the program (a lot to remember) lately and I needed a little direction to get back on track.  Had a great little helper named Corey.  I was also pleased about how quickly my computer was finished with the wire transfer.  Things have come a long way since I started digital photography. In the beginning it was laboriously slow.  Now things are changing so rapidly that I am having trouble keeping up with it because of the infrequency of which I use it.  Oh well, soon it will be over and I can go back to reading my books and doing more writing. 

I literally worked pretty much all day (except for gym time) on the wedding, office work, and the school.  Now I will be free for a few days until I get the school photos back from color correction.  Then I will need to key in all the packages each student ordered.  That is what takes up my time. 

I did do one other accomplishment today.  I have lots of honey crisp apples that need to be used up so I can have some refrigerator space back.  I created a new concoction (Dave calls me the chief concoctor) from the recipe I made last week using squash, apples and cranberries.  Dave cleaned and cut two large acorn squash for me so I could bake them and then stuff them with a filling.  I did a double recipe ALMOST exactly like the recipe said to do.  The only difference I did was to add the juice of one small lemon to the ingredients.  I like the tartness.  The recipe makes a lovely dish to serve, both in taste and presentation.  Well, I thought it was so pretty I took a picture and enclosed the recipe on a photo so you can use it if you like.  It is very easy and very delicious.  Dave does not like winter squash and he really enjoyed eating this recipe last week when I made it.  Well, today I decided to dig everything out of the skins and then blend it the blender.  Dave really loved that taste.  One blending I did to the consistency of a thick apple sauce.  I also did one consistency to a thick liquid by adding coconut water.  Dave loved the “applesauce” blend the best but said he thinks the liquid blend would make a delicious hot drink for the holidays.  I have two or three more batches to make in order to use up the squash I have sitting on my counter.  And I just found out in an email that in my winter vegetables that will be delivered this Thursday, there will be 5 more acorn squash for us to eat or prepare for the freezer.  We actually will receive five more boxes in this delivery.  It is like Christmas morning to me when I rummage through all the boxes and think of all the creative ways to prepare the coming meals.  This week we will receive lots of Brussels sprouts still on their stalks.  I would say that is pretty fresh.  Speaking of fresh, I ordered a fresh turkey that I will pick up the day after Thanksgiving.  The turkey I ordered was raised on a local Amish farm and has no preservatives, antibiotics, or additives.  It will just be a plain dead turkey already plucked!  We are going out for Thanksgiving dinner and we won’t have any leftovers.  So, I decided I wanted to make some leftovers.  Besides,  just think of all the excellent turkey stock I’ll be able to boil from the bones.  More broth means more soup.  Lucky me!  Tragedy for the freezer space!

I guess it has really been a normal day now.  I have again accomplished saying a lot about nothing much important.  Just wanted you to realize how normal I am.  My husband sometimes ponders that statement when it refers to me, especially if I am the one saying it.  Oh well, I guess we each have our own normal.  I enjoy my normal, I hope you enjoy yours.

Time for me to shower and prepare for bed.  I ate so much squash and apples while I was taste testing that I am not hungry for dinner.   I guess I should force myself to eat some of that delicious Salmon leftover in the fridge.  I don’t want it to spoil.  Besides, I need the protein!  But most of all because I love it!

NORMAL IS…

By Kathleen Martens

November 16, 2015

What I see as normal

May differ from yours.

We each have our own way

Of opening our doors.

I enjoy some things,

You enjoy another,

Just as do siblings,

Sisters and brothers.

What I have found

Is that it is okay,

To be who you are

In your own way.

As long as you’re kind

And not judgmental,

Appreciating differences

And the sentimental.

We should each love ourselves,

And then others the same.

And though someone is different

There should be no blame.

We have all been fashioned

By God’s beautiful design,

He fashioned each person,

As one of a kind.

Good night.  There is so much more I could write but I refrain, for your benefit.  After all, I don’t really want to become TOO boring!

God bless you and keep you!