A Certain Blackmail Photo

He's all boy. And someday he will thank his aunt. He will thank her that although she witnessed his Thanksgiving weekend bath and captured said event on camera, she did utilize the power of strategic photo cropping. Got the Elvis look on the hair, got rid of...well, you know. Kind of makes you want to suds up now, doesn't it?

An Arranged Marriage Gone Right or How I Came To Wear a Sari

I am not of India or anywhere remotely exotic. I was born in Chicago and have spent most of my life up till now in the great Midwest. So I gain culture from my friends and acquaintances. At least I try.

A few weeks back, we were attending a church gathering of our Sunday School class...a really vibrant, challenging group of people, and our friends Oe and Mariam decided they wanted to do a sari presentation.

That is, being from India, and having recently returned from an extended missions trip there, Mariam wanted us to see these beautiful displays of silk and color. And I was voted in as the manikin. I didn't complain, though. I've always admired Mariam's Indian outfits. And so she wrapped me up. And everyone admired my new look.

But at the time, I was thinking more about the fact that Oe and Mariam, being from India after all, must have had an arranged marriage of some fashion. And so I asked the question and was rewarded with a fascinating love story.

That is, it all started out rather beningly, but when you realize what become of the arrangement, it's quite stunning. Two young Christian people in India, waiting to find their life's mate. He was 28, she 20, which is not uncommon. Their fathers met and discussed their personalities, their Christian values, and...well, the possibilities. It was decided they should meet. But going in, Mariam knew she could say no if she wasn't excited about the prospect. She knew she had veto power, which made it a little easier.

So they met for a 1/2 hour, discussed personal and spiritual values they held dear, and decided to do it. Her only hesitation? "Mother," she said, "He is a Christian worker and I am afraid on his salary he will not be able to afford many saris for his wife." And if that is your only red flag, well then, marriage must be imminent. And it was.

What became of their union? 44 years later, it is vibrant and true. They became missionaries to Kenya, where Oe taught at a Bible institute. He is now a very well-respected Bible teacher--his partner, Mariam, has a Christian spirituality that runs deep and a heart of gold. And so, several children and grandchildren later, after Oe (72) and Mariam (64) have been settled near children in the states, they have decided to take trips to India to help a Bible institute there. For much of the time I have known them, they have been in India or just returning. It was hard there, quite difficult at times and very trying, but God was faithful. The reward is knowing you've been obedient and seeing God work in amazing ways. Even opening up a well for drinking water, in an area that had been without water for as long as anyone knew. An area that was in desperate need.  This Sunday in church I looked over at OE and leaned over to see the pin on his lapel. Do you know what it said? "Expect miracles."

I guess the arrangement worked out alright, eh? I love a good story where love conquers all. And when a union is based upon the pure, true love of Christ, miracles do happen. And we should expect them.

(Sorry, I don't have a pic of this happy couple; perhaps I can post one later!!)

VEGAN HOLIDAY TREATS: Almond Carob Bars

They make your mouth water. With a delectable blend of honey, coconut, peanut butter, carob. No one I know can keep their hands off them. And the fiber content insures your blood sugar won't drop to your ankles while you are nibbling on these rich treats. You don't have to think of them as healthy...just think yummy. And everything in moderation. They're actually quite rich! (And don't say I told you so, but you can probably just as easily substitute chocolate/cocoa for carob. Just make sure you use the healthy dark stuff!)

Almond Carob Bars

-1 c. honey                                                      -3 c. oat bran

-2 c. unsweetened coconut                              -1/4 c. carob powder

-2 T. water                                                       -1/2 c. soy milk powder

-1/2 c. peanut butter

1. Mix above ingredients.
2. Spread oat bran mixture in a 9”x12” glass dish, packing it down, and frost.
3. Sprinkle with coarsely chopped almonds.

Frosting:

-2 T. peanut butter                                 -1 c. carob chips

-2 c. roasted almonds (or less)

1. Microwave peanut butter and chips for a few seconds to melting point and mix.
2. Spread immediately with metal spatula and quickly sprinkle chopped almonds.

Store in refrigerator and will last at least a week. Yum-o. The man of the house and I have started making them every other week. Our friends and family can't get enough of them. Sometimes we don't even mention that they use all "foods as grown." Our little secret...

A quote from Mother Teresa

She served the poorest of the poor in India. The rejectables. She loved Jesus and devoted her life to him, while also struggling with her own dark night of the soul. I love this woman.

"Spread love everywhere you go...Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

-Mother Teresa, Catholic missionary, 1910-1997

A Most Magical Evening

Sunday night almost always finds the husband and I home. Eventually, he will find his way to the navy blue leather couch and lie down. Snoring ensues in about 2.7 minutes. (Here's the part where I'd love to describe it as "a gentle, whiffling snore," but...) I haven't timed how long it takes for the snoring to start, but let's just say it's a pretty accurate guesstimate.

So last night he was laying there in his thick cotton navy blue robe, matching the couch, no less. And his legs were sticking out the bottom, all hairy and cute. The homemade granola was cooling on the top of the oven, and a healthy vegan apple crumbcake was on the counter. I had already consumed one piece, fresh from the oven.

No doubt about it, I was in an expansive, even joyful, mood.

After spending some lovely days with friends and family in Michigan, I was HOME. And it feels like home. I have days when I get restless, and I wonder what direction God is steering me in sometimes, but I'll admit, there's no place I'd rather be than our home. With my HUSBAND. It feels like a luxury I have been waiting for my whole life. Wait just a sec, I guess I sort-of have been waiting that long!

But what made the night especially magical was that I had talked the husband into taking a walk in the dark. I'd guesstimate the walk was almost two miles, me bundled in a thick padded coat with a hat, scarf and warm gloves...the husband in a lightweight jacket. He still had his hat and gloves, though, which was providential.

Because as we rounded a bend on the trail, white fluffy stuff came floating down. Yes, snow has arrived.  And it even began to accumulate on his black hat. Which made me smile and stick my tongue out to catch a flake. And I almost started skipping, I think.

It felt like Christmas and my birthday and a hug by a loved one all rolled into one. I felt hope and promise in the air. And my love was by my side, his breath visible in the night air, his hand holding mine through our gloved fingers.

And then we tripped and fell on our faces. Kidding! Just trying to lighten the sappiness, friends.

We headed toward our little gray house on our quiet little street, and we bustled in, discarding our coats and things, our noses red and our hearts warm. But the best part of this magical evening was the ending. And I am not about to get all romantic on you. Puh-leease. This is even better.

The husband and I sat side by side and we prayed. Up till now, we haven't done this that often, but we've recently been reminded of how important it is to keep our marriage grounded, to keep us sticking together through thick and thin. We prayed for married friends who desperately need a miracle in their relationship, we prayed for another friends' daughter who so badly wants to feel her legs again so she can walk. We prayed for our pastors and our neighbors, our families, and finally, we prayed for ourselves.

We thanked God for each other and the change each of us has brought to the other's life. We prayed about our future, about David's job at GM, which seems uncertain in these times. We prayed about the directions God is leading me in, and about whether our family will grow or just remain the two of us.

We talked to God about all of this. And my tears flowed. And then I dried them. And then I kissed my husband on his head before he drifted off into dreamland.

And that is one magical evening, friends. Magical, indeed.

A Confession of the Literary Kind

I have a confession...gulp! I shamelessly, mindlessly, tend to read about 6 books at a time. I do this because I have many needs, people, and the one-book-at-a-time approach simply cannot meet them all.

I need an escape, which for me includes what I personally deem to be literary candy. For me, this means Jan Karon or Philip Gulley, served up chapters at a time, producing many smiles and sighs. Allowing me to put my brain on "coast." If I'm sick or even feeling down I could Real Simple, More, Good Housekeeping, Reader's Digest, etc. all day long. With a cup of tea. It's utter relaxation to me.

I need challenge or encouragement, which I sometimes find myself ravenous for, with my appetite satiated by books like The Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Custis James. See if that title doesn't expand your feminine horizons, ladies! Oh, the amazing plans God has for us!

Quite frankly, I need HELP. This is why I read books like Get Rid of Clutter, Organizing Magic, The Firstborn Advantage (book review coming) and Sheet Music (good choice for any of my married friends).

I need to grow spiritually. So sometimes I read a very straightforward (I wouldn't say it's dry exactly) book that outlines the 16 articles of my church's doctrine. I'll be honest--I have to be disciplined to do this, but when I did, I gained knowledge I need.

NOW FOR THE BIG CONFESSION: I have not finished For Whom the Bell Tolls, even though it is on my "blog reading list." It just hasn't totally captured me, so I might do something some of my friends would frown at. I might just...not finish it! Life is too short, people...

Now, confession time for you--what are you reading, and why??

We're on eharmony.com!!

Hey peeps:

You'll never believe it, but the husband and I are a success story on eharmony.com under the "Nearly Gave Up" link.  What was I thinking when I didn't add "meet your spouse" to the benefits of the internet below. Yeah, howdy, I'll definitely have to fix that...

Want to see for yourself? Click here.

Next thing you know we'll be wearing those cheesy "bride 08" and "groom 08" tshirts they sent us and I'll be posting a photo. But only if my hubbie agrees. :)

What the Internet can do for you

Intrusive, mechanical, removed...the Internet often feels this way to me. And so I often feel that my facebook/email/blogging persona is a different person. And the part of me that's real and longs for connection with a real person sitting next to me sometimes wishes for more.

And yet.

And yet the Internet has transformed my life, practically speaking. And I can be a very practical girl.

Consider some of these technological wonders:
-Wedding jewelry for $20 on ebay. Check.
-Long torso swimsuits from the clearance section of landsend.com. Check multiple times.
-Keeping in touch with 50 friends around the country courtesy of facebook. Priceless.
-Discovering how to properly fold a fitted sheet on about.com. Yes, I actually did this. I'm not ashamed.
-Posting wedding pics for the world to see on this very blog. Pure sappiness...er, happiness!
-Looking up "football" on wikipedia to show my husband I love him. Nope, I'm still clueless there.
-Google search of available ingredients to find perfect recipe. I'm a pretty doggone good pseudo-cook now.
-Amazon.com. Need I say more?
-Freelance work courtesy of an old colleague on linkedin. Bonus!

-Meeting your husband. (Duh, can't believe I forgot this one. Thank you, eharmony!)

How about you? How have the wonders of the Internet changed your life for the better...please post!

Explaining our new eating

A boring title, but I thought I should elaborate. If you see the post below, it will give you some context.

We basically came to learn, through the CHIP program, that eating excessive amounts of animal protein contributes to the three big killers--heart attack, stroke, and cancer. It began to make sense to us that our diets are typically WAY too weighted on the side of animal protein and fat. Then there's the fact that cow milk really isn't created to be digested by humans. It's created to be digested by calves who will grow to be humongous cows.

So what I'm not saying is that one should never eat meat or dairy. All I can tell you is that since we cut way back on the aforementioned, our bodies are working beautifully. Less sugar, more fiber, less fat and animal protein = really good health.

Others who are on the chip program have been able to get off all or some of their prescription medicines. And the program has also helped many people to get rid of type 2 diabetes. Not to mention making everyone much more regular! :)

Anyway, lest you think we're wasting away, we get plenty of protein through nuts, soy, and grains that are quite high in protein. Don't get me wrong, I still like meat and dairy, but if we do eat it, it's more of a condiment or a side dish.

Not buying it? You like your meat and cheese too much? Just try one thing, then--learn how to cook oat groats for breakfast or fix a big bowl of oatmeal with only a little maple syrup. After a few days, you'll be surprised how it keeps you going throughout the morning.

Cheers!

A little bit vegan or how we became crunchy granola types

You might not believe this, but the man of the house and I have been eating vegan. Seriously. Most of our meals no longer include meat and dairy. Except for the weekends and the moderate amounts of cheese we use when we make pizza.

You might not believe this either, but we make our OWN granola. I suppose that makes us crunchy granola types now. David eats it every morning for breakfast, and I just know it will be a long-term habit. (Considering he ate the same breakfast cereal each morning for four years prior to that.) As for me, I eat oat groats. Sounds appetizing, doesn't it? Quite simply, it's the whole oat kernel, not the "cut oats" most of us are used to eating. And for me, a big bowl of oat groats ensures that I will not be hungry again for five hours at least. A big change for me--and I am a lot less grumpy before lunch these days. :)

What has possessed us? We joined a CHIP (coronary health improvement program) program a few months back and took a 30-day eating challenge. We were going to clean up our diet and eat foods simply prepared, foods as grown. Something went terribly right with both of us on this program, as I stopped getting those dastardly "blood sugar swings" that make me grumpy. David, well, he's in a league by himself--having lowered his blood pressure and dropped twenty pounds total. (He had started losing some weight before the program.)

So, anyhoo, I'm a nicer person now, and David, well, he's fit into a suit he hasn't worn in years. The one I was insisting should go to Good Will only a few months ago.

Just to give you an example of what we eat, here are some of our new recipes:
-pasta primavera (sauce made from cashews)
-mediterranean lentil soup
-carob almond peanut butter bars (to die for! we make them almost every week)
-millet cheese (an amazing nacho cheese substitute-made with cashews & pimientos--that is great with mexican)
-spicy beans, tomatoes, and rice
-tamale pie (with cornmeal, kidney beans, and olives)

And, wow, how our shopping list has changed! We're really enjoying our vanilla silk soy milk, but we have yet to dive into the tofu world, although we're considering it now. We've also found that when we occasionally do eat meat we eat less of it, since we're filling up on grains and fruits and veggies. Anyway, I'm seriously considering posting the best of our recipes very soon, since some facebook friends also want them.

And I'd simply love to post a picture of my hubbie making granola. He's got it down to a science--and oh, the smell of honey and cinnamon in our kitchen. As Mr. Food would say, "Oooo...so good."

facebook, discovered

I totally caved. It happened when I was the youngest in my Biblestudy and the only one NOT on facebook. Don't plan on becoming a total junkie, but I am live now. Part of the rest of the world online community. Had several friends waiting for me, too. Kind of like instant gratification, eh?

My tall, loveable, goofball of a guy

The man of the house is a cutup. Proof #1: we hosted a fun event at a local coffee house last night where my friend Cal made some outstanding music, and David decided to ham it up. His excuse? It's Halloween. And that's why he went from this...

To this...

In case you're wondering, that's my famous "Serena" wig. Quite a contrast, eh? And so thought the rest of the people at the coffee house. Including a few stunned acquantainces who were meeting him for the first time. Including a fellow-chaplain's wife!

Nope, you never know quite what will happen with David around. My friend Janet told me before we were married that she believed David's goofiness would be a perfect match for my seriousness. She believes he is just what the Dr. (or the Creator) ordered. I'm in complete agreement.

And in case you're wondering about the seriousness of the goofball claim, here's further supporting evidence:

You gotta love a man in uniform. So sorry, ladies, but this goofball of a guy is all mine!!