Monday, January 31, 2011

friends

we must consider this
he called us friends
not servants
not subservient
but friends

he leveled
the ground
spoke not from
podiums pulpits
sat with us
on hillsides
came to our houses
broke bread at
round tables
walked not in front
side by side
teaching us
to love one another
in acts of care
not of duty but
holy privilege

she
our friend
heard it got it
that radical message
of friendship
put her hand her pen
to the writing
a theology of friendship
ours to claim

justice equality respect
hope joy life
in the company of
the community of
friends

good news
good news

Christie with gratitude to Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, 1-31-11.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Words With Friends App


My friend Patty introduced me to this great "app" for my iPhone. The Words with Friends (FREE) App is like Scrabble. You can play against your friends at your own leisure. It is a great way to pass the time, take your mind off of things and interact with others. You can play multiple games at the same time. You can chat back and forth via text during the game.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Who needs friends?

" Friendship is the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts or measure words, but pouring all right out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of comfort, blow the rest away."  George Elio
Who is your most trusted friend ? Are you a trusted friend to someone?  I love thinking about this... He (God) calls me his friend.
John 15: 13 - 17

"He calls me friend....

I am a friend of God... He calls me friend...."
Lyrics Phillips~Craig~ Dean




Afternoon tea with friends...

Monday, January 24, 2011

grandchildren

someone said this is

grandchildren's week

as if there is a week that isn't

grandchildren

daniel and emma anne

interpret and fulfill

our dreams

every day

every week

they write on

our hearts

the good news of childhood

new life constant discovery

joy of play the moon the stars

pride in accomplishment

money from the tooth fairy

they tell us stories of

the presence of elves gnomes

leprechauns

imaginary friends and

friends next door

school and church

games swimming sledding

adventures from books

adventures from travel

they give us

the love of fish

the love of dolls

the music of guitar

the twirling of dance

the magic of wonder

it may be

grandchildren's week

in the world

but in my heart

which they make glad

it is grandchildren's week

year decade century

grandchildren all the time

grandchildren eternally!

for them,

thanks be!

grandma christie, 1-23-11

Friday, January 21, 2011

A walk in the park

Today, we have a fresh white blanket of snow.  Walking at the park this morning, 
I was taking it all in…crisp morning air, snow crunching under my boots and listening to the distant sound of cars. Jackson was off the leash and enjoying his freedom… running… rolling in the snow… and eating snow. 

We are enjoying the beauty of this winter. I have a bonus… I am able to enjoy the beauty of Florida…  vicariously via Ruth Anne.   Ruth Anne mentioned a Key Lime Pie in her post. I have included this recipe from Creating a Stir In the Bluegrass and Beyond.  The Lexington Medical Society Auxiliary publishes this cookbook.  Proceeds from the cookbook are dedicated to charities that serve children of Kentucky. Click here to discover more:  www.creatingastir.com

Interested in trying Key West Lime Cheesecake you can try…this recipe is from Creating a Stir on page 258

Key West Key Lime Cheesecake
 Crust
I cup finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
½ cup walnut pieces, coarsely chopped
¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted Key Lime Filling Glaze
  • Prepare oven to 350 degrees
  • Combine graham cracker crumbs, walnuts, sugar, and melted butter; press onto the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool.
  • Prepare Key Lime Filling and pour into cooled crust.
  • Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes
  • Prepare glaze; pour over cake. Bake an additional 10 minutes 

Key Lime Filling
3               (8 ounce) package plus 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 ½         cups sugar
4               large eggs
1/8          teaspoon salt
1-teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup Key Lime Juice

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer; gradually add sugar, beating until smooth.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.  
Add salt, vanilla, and Key Lime juice to cream cheese mixture, beating well.

Glaze
1               (16 ounce) container sour cream
½                      cup sugar
2               teaspoons vanilla extract
To prepare glaze container combine sour cream, sugar, and vanilla, stirring well.
Serves 12 to 16

Portions should be small because it is so rich. 

I will try this recipe this weekend.  A Snapshot  of the recipe.... look for one next week. 













Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Sunset and Ernest at Key West




Overnight trip to Key West
Never been before, even though
A FL resident for almost 10 years
Packed it in
The famous sunset
Delicious seafood
Stone crab, snapper, conch chowder
Pecan pancakes at a former bordelo!
Roosters and chickens everywhere
Duval Street
Ernest Hemingway House
Key West Art and History Museum
Southernmost point in the US
The best Key Lime pie I ever put in my mouth
A fun but brief visit to an eclectic part of Americana
Great place to visit but not to stay too long!




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

yearning

the poet
still rises
lifting her lamp
lifting her voice
calling us always
to keep open
the golden door

her words
ring the bell
tolling truth
if one of us
is bound
not one of us
is free

tears stream
down her cheeks

she stands hoping
in the harbors
awaiting admittance
awaiting acceptance
awaiting justice
for every one of
her children

a golden opening
of our minds
a true repentance
of our souls
a pure homecoming
of our hearts
a far more perfect union. . .

for emma lazarus
emma christie, 1-17-11

Monday, January 10, 2011

Prayer Song

The Spirit

Has promised

To intercede

With sighs

Too deep

Too deep

For words


Our words are

Too shallow

Our pauses

Too brief

Our hearts

Too broken

Our power

Too weak


Intercede

Intercede

We pray. . .


Intercede

Intercede

We pray. . .


Amen.


Christie Smith Stephens

Pondering human tragedy

January 10, 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

God Rejoices in you...

God Rejoices in you..

The Lord your God is with you...
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17


Not once upon a time, but all of the time..
God rejoices in your life.

He believes in you...
watches over you...
and tenderly keeps you in His constant care.

You are valued and loved.
not only by those who know you,
but by the One who created you!

Charlene, Happy Birthday




Wording from DaySpring Card

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

silence

the old monk
pushes open the door
drives his scooter
into the sanctuary
the whirring of the motor
the only sound
in this silence please place

he disappears
behind the pews
soon returns
through another door

we watch
wondering
who he is
how long he has
lived in this abbey
what his story is

we glance at
each other
as the late afternoon sun
shines through the
geometric windows

mysterious
mystical
this contemplative
gethsemani
where merton
once put his
poetic pen
into service
calling us
to deeper lives
work sacred reading prayer

the walls speak
god alone
pax

we are drawn
to cathedrals
temples
basilicas
churches
missions
abbeys
sanctuaries of all kinds
magnets of the soul
pull us off our
direct paths
to out of the way
retreats hideaways
chosen by the few
for lives religious

the sun sets
behind
st. joseph
holding little jesus
on his shoulder
then paints
the sky pink red
as hushed we walk
hand in hand
back to the car
and the gift shop
walnut fudge

miles to go
miles to go



christie smith stephens
on stopping by gethsemani
on a winter’s afternoon
january 3, 2011