Archive for January, 2012

Where I Come From

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

…It’s cornbread & collard greens! I hear your groans from here. These are not your average boiled up greens! I mean it! These are special! Like knock your socks off good!

Here’s a peek–>

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This is before they cooked down and turned dark green. I can’t even describe the yummy smell. It’s like going to Grandma’s! Okay, a southern Grannie! No lie.

Before you write me off here…let me convince you to at least give them a try. Someday, mm’k?

It will be life changing. You might even want to become full-time southern bumpkin! WE WEAR SHOES! πŸ˜‰

C O L L A R D G R E E N S & H A M H O C K S
Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups thinly sliced yellow onions (I used less)
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (I left this out)
4 bay leaves
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
8 cups chicken stock
3 pounds ham hocks (about 4 medium-sized hocks)
2 bunches (about 2 1/4 pounds) each of collards and mustard greens, thoroughly washed, picked over for blemished leaves, and tough stems removed
1 cup water

Directions

STOCKING TIP: A roux is a mixture of oil and flour that, after being slowly cooked, is used to thicken mixtures such as soups and sauces. A blond roux is cooked until it is a pale golden color.

1. Combine the oil and flour in an 8-quart pot over medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, to make a blond roux, about 8 minutes.

2. Add the onions, celery, salt, cayenne, bay leaves, garlic, stock and ham hocks. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the hocks are very tender, about 2 hours.

3. Add the greens, by the handful, until all of them are combined in the mixture. They will wilt. Add the water. Simmer until the greens are very tender and the mixture is thick, about 45 minutes.

4. Remove the bay leaves and serve warm. (I left mine in)

Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Recipe kuddos to [Emeril Legasse]

Do not be intimidated by making the roux. I’m not kidding when I say, these are so easy to prepare (first I typed “fix” because that’s what we call it when we cook something). We fix it! See, I told you….bumpkin.

My Sunday night meal was one of the best I’ve fed my family in a long time. If you make this recipe be sure to bake up a pan of cornbread. They clearly go hand-n-hand.

Let me know if you decide to make a pot. I’ll be out on the porch fannin’ flies. Teehee!

TWELVE ANGRY JURORS

Monday, January 30th, 2012

This has been a weekend of shows. Gates played Juror #12 in the courtroom drama, Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose. Her character was sophisticated, cool and an obvious chain smoker. Poor kid, she smoked her little heart out while everyone around her argued their heads off. Geez, lots of body part issues there.

Sorry. Just speaking dramatically. You know, for the sake of the art! πŸ™‚

I wish I had better pictures. First, I’m a crummy photographer and second, my camera is a bum of a tool! The two of us end up wrecking any memories that we could’ve captured! Boo!

Take a peek at my attempts of documenting my baby’s big show…


A little black & white for fancy effects. Like?


Oh the smoking…

Everyone performed so well. The story brings to light how easily one can toy with another’s life. The justice system doesn’t always play out fairly. Something to think about next time you’re called in for jury duty!

It was a great weekend! Let’s hope this week goes as fast as the weekend did.

A Lesson For Me

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Do you remember high school? For me, it was about 28 years ago….except I’m still there, really. I walk the same halls as my youngest everyday. I see the struggle of choices teens face and the sadness of wrong direction in their lives. Not a day goes by that I’m not witness to the depravity of sin in our world. It crushes my heart and knocks me silly in disbelief.

My youngest missed her winter homecoming last night, on purpose. It was one of those “teachable moments” in a parents life. I found her in the bathroom crying. Friends can be everything to a teenager and when you can’t find one that holds the same values as you…..it’s devastating! I think she had folded her heart up and stuffed it in her pocket in hopes of protecting herself from feeling the stuff that poured out last night.

She hurts for the friends that are choosing to be like the world.

How do I encourage my girl whose trusting me with information that is ugly and shameful about her Christian friends? Those moments don’t “just happen” in the life of a teen. Sins are kept secret and giggled about around unsuspecting parents. I’m her confidante and she needs me. She’s relying on me to direct her and hand over sound advice. She doesn’t need my judgement or self-righteousness. Even though my flesh wants to spew it!

It takes a strong person to walk away from sin. Sometimes it means not having friends. The effects of doing it can cost you. “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) If you’ve ever had to stand up for something you believed in…then maybe you know what it’s like to be ridiculed or excluded from a group. It can mess with your self-worth big time!

Unless, you’re absolutely clear about your worth in Christ Jesus!

God,
Thank you for my girl who chooses you, even when I’m not around to push her in your direction. I feel ashamed of myself for only trusting so far. Forgive me. She’s different because of YOU and I like it. Use me to love and remind her that these moments are molding her into the follower YOU WANT HER TO BE. Souled Out, no matter who’s doing what around her!
Amen

Gates is a lover of life. She’s fun and daring. She makes everyone around her laugh. Her confidence is evidence that she’s the baby of a family that spoiled her. She makes friends easily and she’s beautiful. But she’s intolerant of what she knows to be wrong behavior and she won’t compromise herself just to be friends. She’s wise beyond her 17 years and she taught me a great lesson–staying home with your family is better than going along with the crowd any day!

PARENTS: Give your kids a solid foundation. Teach them God’s truth, every single day! Then hand them over and allow God to direct their path. Let them see your own struggle to live a life that’s pleasing to God. Don’t forget to share with them your victories in faith as well. Every day there is a lesson for each of us. Learn & grow because of it.

Little Big Things

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Life can be full of tiny little moments that have monumental meaning. It’s easy for us to miss them sometimes. I try everyday to live with intention and eyes wide open to what God has in store for me….but I still fall short.

Tell me I’m not the only one.

For the last few weeks I’ve been fighting a rotten infection. It’s kept me miserable and grouchy! Most illnesses are best slept off, but this particular one would have nothing of it! I couldn’t sleep and ended up exhausted every single day. Pain and fatigue together make an ugly cocktail for crazy train!

I felt hopeless.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling terrible. I tried to call in sick and missed all the call deadlines (in the school world, the sub call only lasts so long). So, I trudged off with another sense of dread. I knew if I called into the doctor, he would want to see me. This seems reasonable, but not if you’re trying to be very careful what you spend on medical care (hello, uninsured lifestyle). So, I just continued to feel miserable and sorry for myself.

I’m really good at that, if you haven’t picked up on it. πŸ˜‰

After school, I drove straight to Walgreens and threw my body on the feet of the pharmacist (not literally, but in my mind…I was hugging her and calling to her “Mama” help me!?). Once I told her what was going on she recommended I have my doctor call in ___________! What? Geez, why haven’t I thought of that 2 WEEKS AGO?!! I’ve taken this prescription before and completely forgot all about its miracle workings!

Jesus take the wheel! I clearly cannot drive!

Within 30 minutes, I was on my way with the ONE LITTLE MIRACLE PILL that would change my life for the better! It was one of those tiny little moments that had monumental results in my life. TODAY, I FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON!

Thank you Lord!

Oh and bonus? It was priced at around $15 for the generic (another total miracle, since we only seem to need $150 Rx normally) and with my new discount card it turned out to be $8!

I am not worthy, Lord! But thank you…..you take care of every little detail! All of which are monumental to me!

What’s Worthy

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

What will $3 dollars buy? In my world (high school) it might be something like this—>

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It’s smell deceived me. It was rather disgusting! Which brings me back to my school rule…Don’t buy school lunch, ever! It was only $3, right? Still, a ripoff!

While I’m bearing my lunch choice soul it’s only fair to show you my most turned to meal—>

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It’s actually tasty! I like the cost too, $1.00 for a fast easy meal. The only problem is that it’s small and I still want to eat after I’ve licked my fork clean. Not that I’m revealing poor manners…I’m just that hungry!

What is a good value? Lunches are quick for me so easy is my motto. It helps to be affordable as well. I wish I could say that I’m putting forth good effort to eat a good lunch…. The truth is I’m too rushed and just grab something as I go.

Hence my value issue.

What’s a hungry girl to do?

Signed,
I need a chef

So, tell me…what are other busy mom’s eating for lunch?

Can I Do It?

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Ever feel like a misfit? God can still use you. Each of us carry our own baggage of something that fills us with doubt. I know for myself….I’ve felt many times like my usefulness to God was limited. Because of me, not anyone else. I think satan enjoys dangling that carrot of confusion in the face of Christians. Many never step out and live their faith best because of the weaknesses satan continuously brings to mind.

If you need a little encouragement….read on!

Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zachaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health and Timothy was timid!

Need more?

Noah got drunk, Zachaeus was short, Miriam was a gossip, Sarah was impatient, Jonah ran from God, Peter denied Christ and Lazarus was dead!

It really doesn’t matter what your shortcomings are….GOD STILL WANTS TO USE YOU!!

And me!

It’s January 25th and I’m already behind on some important (TO ME) goals that I had committed to. They’ve been hanging over me with a neon failure sign blinking brightly! I imagine I’m not the only one who does this, right? After reading that excerpt above from Pastor Rick Warren, I felt encouraged to get back up and try again! Maybe it will do the same for you!!

Pick up & start again. There is no flaw big enough to stop you!