Thirty-one years ago today I was a young bride getting married to the man of my dreams.  He was literally my Prince Charming, who had come in and snatched me and my heart away!   I am blessed beyond measure to have a husband who is godly, a romanticist, loving, thoughtful, appreciative, tons of fun, and still my best friend!  All I wonder is where did those years go?  They have truly flown by. 

I have no regrets of the decision to marry Dale Cunningham, but if I had to do it all over again, I would do a few things differently from the start of our marriage.    I would…

• Keep a journal of each anniversary – what we did, where we went.  Maybe keep a scrapbook with cards and celebrations from each one.
• Be more careful to show respect to Dale in my words and actions .
• Forgive quicker.
• Learn his mode of communication and learn to wait for him to speak.
• Be more flirtatious with my hubby.  Yep!

Too many of those things weren’t learned until many years into our marriage.  Our marriage has truly gotten better every year – maybe it’s because we’re both willing to keep learning about each other and how to make our marriage – not perfect, but better. 

If we get to be married another 31 years, I pray it will continue to get deeper and sweeter with each passing day.

From my parsonage windows,

Recently as I read through the book of Job,  Job is asking lots of questions, but he doesnt’ receive any answers at this point in his trial.  Then I read – “My desire is that the Almighty would answer me.” (Job 31:35)  When you’ve been in a trial have you ever said the same thing?  Have you asked,  “Why is God not talking to me right now?  Why am I not understanding why this is happening?”  Recently in a church service my husband said this – “When you were taking a test, did your teacher talk?”  The answer is, of course, “no! The room was always quiet!” 

As I sat and thought all this through after reading this verse in Job, I realized that during testing time when it’s quiet…

• I’m able to really think. 
• I have time to reflect
• I’m not interrupted by someone else’s opinion
• I’m able to think about what I’ve learned
• I’m able to appreciate my Teacher and all He’s said to me prior to the test
• I’m able to apply what I’ve already learned to what I’m experiencing now

If it’s quiet right now during your test, remember that the greatest Teacher hasn’t left you; He’s watching over you like the best Teacher would.  He’s letting the quiet be a part of your learning experience.  He loves you…even when He’s quiet.

Is your Teacher quiet right now?  What have you learned?

With love,

My Father’s Day table and fun napkin fold.

What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with dad’s favorite food?  I couldn’t be with my dad this weekend, but if I had been, I would have churned homemade ice cream.  My dad teasingly says he’s getting to where he kind of likes the stuff (ice cream).  I’m pretty sure he eats it almost every day and sometimes more than once a day.  A favorite memory of my dad is seeing him turning the crank on the wooden ice cream churn.  He knew just how stiff it should be, and how to pack it so it would cure properly.  I’ve inherited his love for ice cream – I just don’t let myself indulge like he can!

However, here at the parsonage, I made a couple of my husband’s favorite things for Sunday dinner.  We had grilled pork chops but they were marinated in coffee and molasses (two favorites of his!).  I fixed a baked bean dish he loves, and then finished the meal with his favorite cake – Carrot cake.  He was a happy guy!

On Saturday he got an early gift of breakfast made by Alli.  I was ecstatic  pleased to get to join them for this great meal!  She is a pancake lover, who pins all kinds of great pancake recipes onto her Pinterest, where she found this recipe for Mini German Pancakes.  Take a peek at my plate…

Doesn’t that look delicious?  It was!  Here’s the recipe:

Mini German Pancakes
1 cup milk
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest (optional)
1/4 cup butter, melted

The blueberry sauce was simple – 1/3 C sugar and 1 Tbl cornstarch in a sauce pan.  Add 1 cup water and mix with whisk.  Add 1 Cup blueberries and cook until thickened.

• 1/4 cup molasses
• 6 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 4 bone-in pork loin chops (1 inch thick)

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Pour 1/2 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the pork chops. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate remaining coffee mixture until ready to cook.
• For glaze, place remaining coffee mixture in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup.
• Drain and discard marinade. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. Grill chops, covered, over medium heat or broil 4-5 in. from the heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 145°. Let meat stand for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon glaze over chops. Yield: 4 servings.

Carrot Cake:

Preparation

The larger size was to be used to cut up for my ruffles.  The side of the shirt was cut open to allow for strips to be cut.

After the neck ruffle was on, I put the wide layers on, spacing them 1 1/2″ from the row of ruffles above it.

I basted the ruffles on, then did a little adjusting, then went back and sewed them in place with smaller stitches.

Folding the strip in half, I began rolling up the flower, hand stitching it underneath as I went.
See the two strings above?  Those are made by cutting 1/2″ strips, then pulling it tightly.  They are attached with the roses.  So cute.

It was a simple job – I was weeding out the flower beds.  But it seemed at every turn there was trouble lurking.  One bush that has huge thorns on it had dropped a small limb.  I thought I was clear of its prickliness, but didn’t see the dead limb lying in the path of my hands.  With no warning, it got me when I reached out my hand to pull a weed.  Pain shot through my finger while the blood quickly surfaced.  I pulled the half inch thorn out, and even afterwards, my digit throbbed.  I should have put my work gloves on, but I jumped into this task without thinking ahead or really preparing.

As I continued to work, I thought about how we’re all prone to run into prickly situations.  Sometimes they are people.  Sometimes they are consequences of our own sin.  Other times they are trials of finances or illness.  We never know when those barbed times will come and we never know in what form we will discover them. 

How important it is that we prepare ahead of time.  How do we do that?

• Just like I should have covered my hands, we must cover our hearts with the Truth of God and His Word.  The more we know of Who God is, the stronger we will be when that painful thing hits us.  That means we need a daily intake of the Word of God.  His Truth will guard our hearts and help us think correctly; biblically instead of fleshly.  That means instead of lashing out or desiring to get even, we will let God handle the results.

How should we respond to the prickly people and/or situations?

• After finishing my weeding task, I came in and washed my hands, freeing the hurt finger of the dirt and blood and washing it to prevent infection.  We must bring our “pricks” to the Lord and lay them at His feet.  If we need to confess sin, then we must let the washing of the Spirit cleanse us (I John 1:9).  This also means not dwelling on the hurt.  Thinking about how undeserving we are and holding our wound will only bring self-pity and perhaps the pain of bitterness.  Let it go.  If there’s another person involved, forgive them.

That prick in my finger happened several hours ago, and right now I’m not really positive which finger it was that got hurt!  Time brings healing.  Ecclesiastes 3 says, To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: …there is a time to heal.  All healings may not come on this side of heaven, but many of them will. 

Instead of us sitting and holding onto our pain, let’s look up at the blessings God has brought all around us. Abraham Lincoln said, “We can complain that roses have thorns, or we can rejoice that thorn bushes have roses!”  Look at all the people who aren’t  prickly!  Focus on the parts of your body that are working today!  Rejoice in all that you see God doing that bring blessing and watch your own pain be diminished! 

How are you rejoicing in the Lord today?  I’d love to hear about  your (roses) blessings! 

By the way, you, dear reader, are one of mine!  Thanks for stopping by today.

With love,