Silence is Golden

   As one who has a love of words, it's taking me some time to learn the value of silence.  Not everything that springs to mind should be uttered.  It's hard.
   The other day I was in line to receive my food at a Chinese fast food restaurant.  The lady ahead of me had asked for a bit of special treatment and they obliged her.  When she got to the cashier, the young woman didn't quite know how to ring it up and was questioning her co-workers.  The customer explained and the cashier must have felt stupid because she tried to defend herself again and again as to why she was confused about how to price the item.  She just couldn't let it drop.  She wanted the customer to know that she wasn't dumb, but that things hadn't been packaged right by someone farther up the line.  It wasn't her fault that she appeared clueless.
   Lately the Holy Spirit has been showing me that silence is golden.  He's been trying to show me that for some time, but I've not been comfortable enough in my own skin to heed His warnings.  Just like the poor cashier, I've tried to explain myself and it usually ends in utter ruin.  I try to convince people that I'm not stupid, but it only confirms in their minds that I am.  (I'm not by the way, but I can sometimes appear less than "with it".  Hey, everyone has their moments!)
   As I was standing on the outside of this scene looking in, I was struck by how terribly defensive the cashier was.  She really didn't have a need to defend herself, but she persisted.  The customer stopped just short of rolling her eyes at the young cashier.  I just stood there and wondered at the cashier.  What had happened to her in the past that made her bristle at the small misunderstanding?  Had someone (or multiple someones) told her that she was stupid?  Did someone verbally abuse her?  Was she abandoned by those who were supposed to love her?  I dunno.  I probably never will.
   The thing I'm getting at is this- I can identify with her.  The difference is that God has been working on me lately and showing me things from His Word about being silent.  I'm learning too about who I am in Christ.  He values me.  Though some down here may not, He does.  I'm learning to recognize the signs of pride in my life.  I realize that, although some might think that my elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, God knows exactly my mental capacity and He made me who I am and I'm grateful.  I'm becoming comfortable being me.  I'm learning that God enjoys me for me!  Just as I enjoy my children because of who they are.  They are precious, and so am I to my Heavenly Father!
   So anyway, I'm learning to shut my trap and surrender the situation, whatever it may be, to God.  I am allowing Him to be my defense.  I'm learning to run to Him as my refuge.  I'm learning that He really will take care of me.  (Psalm 91)  Sure, sometimes I try to take control and I screw things up, but I'm getting better at letting go.
   What does this look like?  I always ask that question because I get kind of frustrated with pat answers which are sometimes really non-answers.  So I shall give you my non-answer: surrender looks like whatever the Holy Spirit directs in the unique situation I find myself in.  There is not a set-in-stone answer.  Sometimes it's shutting up when everything in me really wants to snap a witty retort.  Sometimes it's speaking up when I'm  scared spitless.  It might be ceasing my works that are good, but maybe not what God has called me to do.  Or it could be that God is trying to get me to do something that is uncomfortable and I don't wanna.  I'm glad that I have the avenue of prayer and I know that God is faithful to answer if I am willing to listen.  I know that sometimes surrender is almost a physical reflex.  I pray and then my body relaxes as I begin to praise.  I choose to remember that the situation in God's loving hands.  He knows exactly what to do.  Then I get my mind off of my problems and onto His goodness.  It's hard at first, but I'm getting the hang of it.
   Can surrender really be true surrender without praise?  It's always OK to open my mouth in praise!  I think that sometimes God is just waiting for us to praise Him before He changes our situation.  How great it would be if I would surrender and praise right away instead of trying to figure things out and sometimes blaming God for my circumstances.  Think of Paul and Silas; there they were in physical chains, beaten and bloody, but when they began to pray and praise, the chains fell to the ground.  It works the same way in the spiritual realm.  Praise makes the chains of doubt, fear, anger, and judgment fall away.
   Recently I found myself speeding to the ER in the wee hours of the morning.  My daughter was in her car seat shaking with a rapidly climbing fever.  There was nothing I could do for her.  I had done all I knew to do.  I had called a nurse who instructed me to take her to the hospital.  As I backed out of our garage, I remembered the lesson that God is teaching me about surrender and praise.  Right away I surrendered the situation to my Heavenly Father.  "God, I don't want this.  I don't want my baby to have spinal meningitis.  I don't want her to have appendicitis.  But I surrender this whole situation to You.  If this is where you want us right now, then I accept it, but You are gonna have to help us through it.  I will follow You wherever You lead.  I know that You are in control whatever comes."  I began to sing and pray (This works because I'm a woman and I can do three things at once!  Just thought I'd get that clarification in there. *sly little grin*).  Peace filled my soul.  We went 5 miles and my girly quit shaking.  We got to the city limits 10 min. later and she was talking more normally.  God had stabilized her climbing fever.  It had not come down, but it wasn't going up either.  I began to praise again!  I took her to the ER and the doctor checked her out.  No spinal meningitis!  No appendicitis!  Praise the Lord!  The kind doctor told me what to do if the fever began to spike again.  By the time we left the hospital, she wasn't running a fever at all.  Her tummy had settled and she was fine!  Her fever came back after the meds wore off, but it didn't get so high again.  I am SO grateful to my Heavenly Father!  It could have been bad, but it wasn't and I'm convinced that it's because I surrendered and began to praise.  I don't want you to think that it's a formula to get what you want though.  It's not.  You have to mean it from the heart.  Your situation may not turn out the way you want, but surrender means that you put total control in God's hands and you hang on to Him for the ride.  Scary, but what else are ya gonna do?
   Complete surrender has a way of changing the way I view the trouble that is sitting on my doorstep.  It removes the disabling fear that makes me feel anxious and helpless all at once.  I'm starting to realize that whatever comes, I am cradled in the mighty palm of His hand.  I can see my name written there.  It's a great comfort. (Isaiah 49:16)
   So, back to the cashier, as I watched her and listened, I felt encouraged.  (A bit sad for her, but encouraged for me!)  I'm no longer that individual who feels it absolutely necessary to convince everyone within ear shot that I'm not stupid.  My worth is not in what others think about me no matter how poorly or good they may feel about me.  Had I been the cashier, I would have shrugged at the mistake and moved on.  I'm growing, but it's a process.  I still mess up.  There are times when my pride gets the best of me and I speak out in spite of the little voice hovering close to my ear telling me to zip it.  And there are times when I burn on the inside because I want to make someone see a particular issue differently.  But I can't make anyone see anything.  It's only God who can do that.  Maybe by my silence I can be more convincing than if I state my case and argue it until I turn blue.  I might as well relax and get out of the way and allow God to work on me and the person with whom I disagree.  Perhaps God is just waiting for me to back off so that He can get to work in someone's life.  He doesn't always need to use my mouth.  He's pretty resourceful!
    As I correct my daughters, I notice that sometimes it's what I don't say or when I shut my mouth instead of belaboring the point, that speaks volumes to them.  I want to be the type of person who is able to make my words count and who can be eloquent in silence.
   Yes, surrender to God works in whatever situation I find myself.  Whether it's rushing to the ER or talking to someone who has a vastly different opinion than I.  Or when pride pushes me to defend myself.  When I am disciplining my children.  Silence is golden and praise is powerful.
 

Recipes

   OK, so I don't really like to cook, but I do have a few favorite recipes that are pretty tasty.  I thought I'd share 'em with you because I know how monotonous it can get when it seems like you have made all your recipes a hundred times.  Here we gooooooooo.......!

 Land Gate Sticky Buns

The pudding must be cook and serve or it will not turn out very
gooey.  I didn't have cook and serve on hand and that is why
this batch doesn't look as yummy as normal.  Please be assured that
it is very gooey and very yummy!

1 pkg. frozen dinner rolls (20-24 rolls)
(I use Rhodes white dinner rolls)
1 pkg. cook & serve butterscotch pudding
1/2 to 1 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Spray a bundt pan with nonstick shortening.  Place pecans in bottom of pan. Next put in frozen rolls.  Sprinkle the dry pudding mix over the rolls. Melt butter and stir in brown sugar and cinnamon and pour over the top of the rolls. Cover the pan with foil and let it sit on the counter to raise overnight.  In the morning uncover and bake at 350 for 40 min. Cover with foil if they are browning too quickly.  These are great for a Sunday morning breakfast.  All you have to do on Sunday morning is stick 'em in the oven and enjoy!

   Ok, so I hesitate to add this next one because it's a recipe that I made up from a couple of other recipes and from eating out at Red Lobster.  We love Red Lobster and so I decided to try to make something similar to our favorite dish there.  Anyway, this is the mess I came up with.  Please excuse the lack of exact measurements.  I just dump.  This recipe keeps you hopping so it's not for the faint of heart.  Just so you know!

Shrimp & Linguine
1 lb uncooked shrimp (preferably peeled, and deveined)

You can get Red Lobster biscuit mix at
Sam's.  I highly recommend them!

1/4 cup olive oil
1 TBS minced garlic
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pepper
pinch of parsley
Put all ingredients into a ziploc bag and allow to marinate for 2 hours.

Saute over medium heat in a large pan:
2 TBS butter
2 TBS olive oil
1 box of brown mushrooms
Season with onion salt and garlic salt.
Here's where it gets dicey because I don't time it nor to I measure the salts (seems like it takes quite a bit of the salts).  I just know that it takes mushrooms a long time to get to the point where I like 'em.  Maybe 15-20 min.?  After the mushrooms get close to being tender, I add as much asparagus as I want to.  (You might have to add a bit more butter and oil and you will definitely have to add more onion and garlic salt.  Just taste it.  You'll know when to quit.)  Usually it's just one bunch the size of what you can buy at the grocery store.  Cook until just about tender.

Meanwhile cook as much linguine as you need to feed your crew.

Put the shrimp on the skewers (I use metal skewers because that's what I have.  Be sure you soak wooden ones in water before you try to use them or they will burn up.)  Shrimp only takes 5 minutes total to grill.  You flip 'em over at the halfway mark.  Don't over cook or they get a bit rubbery.

Add:
1/4 cup table cream
2 TBS parmesan
To the mushroom and asparagus mixture.  Add your noodles and shrimp.  I sometimes like to cut up grape tomatoes and add them too.  You have to wait until the very last on those or they turn to mush.

  I like to make this when it's cold.  It's not cold here anymore, but it's easy and so I'm gonna add it.  I like it better than the traditional tomato soup.  We also like to have grilled ham & cheese sandwiches with our soup.
Tomato Soup
3 TBS butter
1 med. onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic
Melt butter and add onions and garlic.  Cook until soft.
Add:
1 quart tomato juice
3 cups of chicken broth
Salt & pepper to taste





  Very yummy desert.  Rhubarb is about done here, but you can keep the recipe for next year!
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
1 1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour
4 cups rhubarb
2 cups strawberries
2 TBS butter cubed
Mix and put into a greased 9x13 pan.  Dot with the butter
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup oil
1/3 cup warm water
Stir until it forms a ball.  Roll out between two pieces of wax paper.  Dump the crust on top of the fruit mixture in the pan.  Brush with cream, sugar, and cinnamon.  Bake 375 for 30 min.

Hope you enjoy these!  Please excuse the poor quality pictures.  I don't have a lot of time to mess with the blog now that summer is here.  Have a splendid day my friends!

The Wedding

  This past weekend I witnessed my Mom get married.  It's strange to be at your Mother's wedding, but it's also kind of neat.  She's happy and that makes me happy.
   I went home earlier last week to help with last minute details.  It didn't seem like there was much that I could help with since I am in charge of two active little girls, but I did the best I could.  It was so much fun to be with family again.  I miss them terribly when I'm at home and can't easily insult my nieces or plan things with my sister.  I enjoy my nieces and nephews a lot and my girls enjoy being with their cousins.

This little girl fell in love with her tallest cousin.  He was a
life saver because he entertained her for a while so that
I could have a break!

My little doll with her little doll.

All the girl cousins minus the one taking the picture.

   We were scurrying around all week trying to get set up for the backyard wedding.  Mom wanted pie and ice cream instead of cake, so me, my sister, and my two oldest nieces had spent a day making pies two weeks before and we stored them in the freezer.  Those had to be taken out and baked and the yard had to be made to look beautiful.  The reception was held in the machine shed and my niece was put in charge of decorations.  We raided our flower gardens and our neighbors flower gardens and had flowers stashed everywhere!  It really was beautiful!  My niece has a knack!

Getting flowers for the reception.

Imagine walking through a field of
heavenly perfume.  That about sums up this picture!

My home state is beautiful.

   Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the shed all decorated for the reception.  It truly is a sad thing because it looked spectacular!  There were dead branches hung from the rafters with christmas lights twined through them.  On the walls of the shed, she had shutters painted all different colors and decorated with things like little bow ties, ladies white gloves, old hats, doilies, christmas lights, pictures of the couple, and anything cute and old fashioned that she could scrounge up.  The tables were decorated with a hodge podge of glassware filled with either a candle or flowers.  It was quaint, and old fashioned, mismatched, but full of charm!  I loved it!  There were flowers strewn around everywhere.

Two of my favorite people in their wedding finery!

   The back yard looked great!  We (I use that term a bit loosely because I didn't have a much to do with the outside work.) had worked hard and planted a lot of flowers and finally we were ready!

The expectant groom.

The jittery bride.

     My big bro walked her to the groom and gave her away which I thought was sweet.  (He would roll his eyes if he knew that I said that!  He's too manly to be termed "sweet", but he'll get over it!) 

The whole motley crew.  I was privileged to be in the back!
It's one of the perks of being tall!

    So, now my Mom is remarried and no longer a lonely widow.  It's weird, but good.  The groom is a good man and a kind man.  He treats my Mom like fine china which makes me glad.
   Since his home is in Alaska, they will be jetting off this week to go to his territory for the next 3 months.  They will come back for the winter.  I'm hoping to get an Alaskan vacation out of this whole deal, but who knows!  It's pretty expensive to fly and there is NO way I wanna drive it with my little pipsqueaks!  We'll have to see.
   Anyway, that's what we've been up to lately!