Help from friends

 November's Cooking Light Lunch... See the Thanksgiving Plate

Last week I sent out an email requesting help with a recipe. I was  preparing dressing for Thanksgiving dinner.  I could tell something was wrong. To the rescue…Cooking Light BFF Ruth Anne.   Yes, add more chicken broth!   Yes! It works.  Turn off the computer. Later in the day, I turn on my computer. Ginny shares add chicken broth and butter. Becky… yes…. In the midst of the day, they took time to help me. 

For years, I would ask my mother for her recipe. I never got it right. After she was no longer available, I tried many recipes. This year, Jerry gently suggested I try a recipe he found.  This brings me to Thanksgiving morning and the email. Who do I contact in the middle of preparing a recipe? Cooking Light friends! Who do you call when you need help?   Who supports your efforts? Who is your prayer partner? 

Friends, Christie and Stan...
Wonderful friends who traveled to support my exhibit earlier this month.

Friendship Tea

Do you begin your day with a cup of tea? Or maybe you enjoy your tea in the afternoon. What is more comforting and relaxing than a cup of tea? My answer is to share a pot of tea with a friend.

On Tuesday afternoon, I enjoyed  tea and lunch with a friend. We lingered over our tea and salads.

Shopping after tea is always a good idea. 

Reflections...

Traveling for two days...road weary.  Sometimes I get tired thinking about another trip… then I have a burst of excitement thinking about sharing time with loved ones.  I had a lovely visit with family and friends. Then I had a moment to reflect…on friends that have a blog connection…

My favorites

•       Christie’s  ~ A few of my favorite poems …friends, yearning, prayer song, turtle, jara, decoration, responsibility…and more
•       Ruth Anne ~ Travels from Key West, Dahlias, Still Around, Home, Anniversary …
•       Mary Beth ~ In Praise of Teachers and Granddaughter  ~
•        Dama ~ Friends, Courage, Living for a Cause, Honoring a Living Legend –
•         Charlene ~ Thank you for your continued friendship and prayers
•          Lisa ~ Thank you for your gift of hospitality and friendship

A special prayer to Mary Beth, May the God of all Comfort continue to give you peace. Remembering your son, Chris.

being there

it's the kind of relationship

where you had to be there

if you weren't there then

you can't go there now

so much happened

eyewitnesses and participants both

we speak in half sentences

knowing what is meant

the reference point---fixed

constant in our minds and hearts

we know where we were on that boat

just before it went down

we were moving chairs and singing

when nothing else could help love lifted me

trying to save the ship passengers crew

but the captain was going

headlong for the berg

we made it to the shore

lived to tell the story

we are stronger for it

other ships and seas

are smooth sailing

compared to that voyage

these years later

meeting under the star

still singing John 3:16

we remember the ride

talking as good friends

should and do

with humor only survivors

can understand

our hearts go on

it's the kind of relationship

deep friendship

where you had to be there

and she was . . .

**************************

for Jacqueline

with profound appreciation

and abiding love, 11-21-10

Christie

Organizing lunch with friends...

Having lunch with friends doesn't just happen... someone has to organize the lunch, make phone calls, check  schedules, decide where to eat... It has been months, since I have had the chance to visit with Carol and Angela.  At the end of our time together, I posed the question... how are we making a difference in the lives of people? As mothers, we strive guide to available to our adult children. Listening... encouraging... and sharing... We share our volunteer experiences... Over the past few weeks, I have a longing to do something more.... I don't know what that is... but I am praying about how to mentor young mother, tutor students.... I think this longing is a God desire to do more...

While we long to serve, in many ways, we already are... caring for grandchildren, visiting a family member whose memories are slowly fading, being available to our adult children, teaching children...  my heart is serve God's people and reach out to those in need... meeting with friends is more than having lunch. What a blessing... Carol did the organizing...

Let's MEET....and GREET...VIRTUALLY!

I Have an Idea!

Hello Jacqueline, Dama, Edie, Lisa and MaryBeth! Hope each of you are doing well.
I can't believe how fast the months are passing; we're nearly half-way through the year!

Speaking of time...
It's been a few months since Jacqueline inspired us to blog. What a G-R-E-A-T idea. I'd like to suggest that we meet and greet virtually to become acquainted....introduce ourselves, share our thoughts about how to continue the blog, laugh and whatever else we might want to do for 30-minutes.

I've checked the possibility to Skype, but each of us would need a camera on our computers to do this - - So, let's make this easy. Let's do a "Meet-Me-Line" conference call. It's fast, easy and nothing to connect.

All I need is your availability for SUNDAY, JUNE 27....that's it!

Blog me back by Saturday, June 19 with the time you're available to chat for 30 minutes on June 27 and I'll set it up!

Blog me with:

- - Time frame you're open to chat on Sun. June 27 (including your time zone)

- - Any ideas/suggestions that you'd like us to do during the 30-minutes

...Don't forget, I'll need your response by June 19 to set everything up.

Looking forward to our "Meet and Greet!"

"F" Doesn't Always Stand for Failure!

Ten years ago, I had just moved into a new home, and had no idea how to begin to put the house in order, much less take on the task of decorating. Let me just say that I'm not much of an interior decorator, so the house stayed in a state of chaos for months.
I would often babysit my nephew Logan, who then, was 10 years old. Logan was, and is, a most creative and entertaining kid. He brought many blessings and joy with him each time he came into my home. One day, Logan came up with the bright idea that since my last name begins with "F", we should decorate the house with things that begin with the letter F: "Fish, Feathers, Flowers, and Fun". To this day, my house is full of fishy, feathery, flowery, and fun decorations, which actually, look pretty good.
This method of labeling in order to keep a theme, started me thinking that there are certain things, and certain people I need to remember daily, or at the very least, a few times a week. Keeping the "F" model, I decided the following seven "F's" would be my priorities in life:
1) FAITH. Absolutely my first priority. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"(Heb. 11:1, NIV). Clearly, there is no hope without our faith in our Heavenly Father. We must always place our lives in His hands, and believe that He has control of our lives. What am I doing to strengthen my faith in my Creator, and to grow closer to Him?
2) FAMILY. Right up there with our Lord is our family. Too many verses on family to quote here, but I acknowledge that our Father has given each of us unique talents and gifts. What am I doing to nurture those gifts and talents? Am I striving to keep in touch, not with my immediate family, but also with my extended family, who have played, and still play, very important roles in my life?
3) FRIENDS. Now that my family is grown and gone, I realize how important my friends are. They are my second family. "A friend loves at all times..." (Prov. 17:7 NIV). Baby Boomers (those born between 1943 and 1964) have an average of three to four friends. Friendships take time and energy. What am I doing to cultivate deep friendships? Am I taking time from busy day to check on friends? Am I lifting my friends up in prayer?
4) FINANCES. I really have to work hard on this one! "On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come." (Cor. 16:2). Six weeks ago I started attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes for the 3rd time in 15 years, and I still can't get it right! Am I being a good steward over my money? Before I make a purchase, do I think; "is this a want or a need?". Am I going to be able to leave an inheritance? Can I stop splurging???? I don't need another pair of shoes!
5) FITNESS. I struggle with keeping fit, as I am sure most people living in the USA do too. We're all tempted to Supersize food orders, fall to advertising gimmicks, and worse of all, become stagnant over time. Am I eating healthy? Avoiding fast foods and alcohol? Too much sugar? Am I exercising on a regular basis?... "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ("1 Cor. 6:19).
6) FUN. Last but not least is fun, fun, fun! Although there are not many verses in the Bible that refer to fun (and about 125 of them have a negative connotation), I believe God wants us to have fun as long as we keep Him in the equation. "Discipline is not fun, though later it yields positive benefits - (Heb. 12:11. (MSG). Do I have too much fun? Am I taking time to take a few breathers? When I'm having fun, do I remember to give thanks for the opportunities to have fun?
7) FUTURE. Planning for the future... how am I doing in this area? Am I living day to day, paycheck to paycheck? Am I keeping God as my priority? Acknowledging my family and helping them grow in Christ? Am I cultivating important friendships? Am I being conscious about how I spend my money? How about my health and fitness? And when does the fun begin and end?
Each and every day I try to incorporate those seven F's with my values and morals. Although it is impossible to act them out all at once, reviewing those goals through prayer and meditation, helps me live the life God intended for me, and be the type of Christian I want to be.
Shine on through Him,
~Edie