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birthday pie, spicy sausage pasta pie, that is…

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Today is my husband’s birthday.  Michael is thirty something today.  And in honor of his special day, he took the day off from his day job, to begin building out the steps on his workshop.

It was a hot and sweaty job – with lots of measuring twice maybe even three times and then cutting…  But, a lot of progress was made and he is content this evening.

Contentment from hard and successful work = a happy birthday, at least for my husband anyway.

so, I decided to make him a yummy dinner.  His (new) favorite, in fact.

Spicy Sausage Pasta Pie.   It turned out so well this time, that I felt sure you might want to try it too.  We had a little bread and salad with ours, but you can serve it however you’d like!DSC_0131

Here’s the dish:

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb italian sausage (I used adele’s)
1 cups diced onion
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, Mild
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz bow tie pasta
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
2 cups of Pepper Jack cheese, shredded

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1. Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage, onions and peppers and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.  Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

2. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup of  cheese. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Broil until cheese is melted, spotty brown, and bubbly.

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(This recipe is revised from another recipe on the blog: kevinandamanda.com)

friends and loved ones · who knows?

things that don’t fit anymore…

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She stood over the piled-high laundry basket of clean clothes.  wailing.  loudly.  From the opposite end of the hall I had this feeling, this gut-instinct, that we were going to be late.    That, or my littlest daughter, who had turned into a  puddle of tears, would suddenly find something suitable to wear and we would miraculously be on our way.

I walked quietly to the bedroom and kneeled down beside her.  For once on my part, there was no gusto.  No booming robust voice.

And I whispered, “What’s wrong baby doll?”

And she half-sniffled, “I can’t find anything to wear that I like!”

(please, keep us in your prayers, after all she is only four… )

So, I said – “But, sweet girl, here is your favorite outfit!”  and I pulled out a new dress that her grandmama had given her recently.  But, it was to no avail.  Nothing was going to work because the only pieces of clothing she had in mind were not appropriate for our day out – old and worn out, or too small.  Maybe they could be okay for playing in the backyard, but not for public viewing.

After sifting and sorting through the very large pile of clothes in the basket, and also experiencing an equal amount of wailing, we found something acceptable for her to wear.  And we were off.

I’ve been thinking about this event all day today.  Mostly because I feel a bit of a kinship to my daughter in this way.  Lately, my course has changed in some ways – no biggie, really.  But, some of the hats I used to wear, I’ve put away – they don’t fit me like they used to.  And there are some new garments, hats or accessories if you will –   some new opportunities the Heavenly Father has given me.

Truthfully, I’ve been walking around wearing these new pieces, feeling like I’m not sure if they fit – and I really, really really just want to go dig thru the basket of my recent history and pull out something old and comfortable.

I’ve shed a few tears, in fact.  I may have even wailed…

But, when I look at the old, compared to the new – whether we’re talking about my life as a mother, a wife, a friend, a teacher to my children, as a musician and worship leader, a baker or simply as a woman who wants to live a healthy life –  I can see one thing clearly.

Stepping firmly into these new roles, I am also putting on new qualities (or you may call them fruit of the spirit):  like patience, kindness, humility.  All of the “uncomfortable” I’m experiencing that comes with the newness seems to be rubbing away some of the old confidence, the self-reliance, the pride.

The reality: All of these new garments He’s given me, are means He’s using to make me look more like Jesus.

Staring at these snapshots of my heart – the old versus new- I am drawn closer to the truth of God’s Word:

from Isaiah 42:8-9
I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

 

and from 2Corinthians 5:17:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

While there may be pain or discomfort while it comes to fruition, the promise remains true:  with Jesus there is always redemption in the wings.  In Him “new” and “more glorious”  are always at hand.  And there is coming a day, when every piece will fit perfectly, just as we’d always hoped.

Bless His name.  amen.

friends and loved ones · home schooling

from day 1

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DSC_0309Emily, my 6th grader!  I can hardly believe it…

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Isaac, my second grader, and a very happy 2nd grader at that!

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My Mackenzie, sweet girl, was a bit nervous – so, we took pink bear with us.  

Today was the first day of our 2013-14 school year.  It was also our first day of Classical Conversations, our one day of the week that we do school work with a community of like-minded families.

At the end of the school day, on the way home, everyone was quite satisfied with their teachers, their performance and the coming assignments.  And I – I breathed a long sigh of relief.

If you could have peeked in our living room window, later this afternoon, you would have found Emily and I at the piano.  We’ve been working on the last page of Fur Elise and Emily has made significant progress over the last week.  I’m really proud of her at the little pianist she’s becoming.

When she finished, I played for a moment.  And let me say: this never happens, mostly because I don’t make the time.  It seems that someone, somewhere, at almost every given moment at our house needs me.  At any rate, there we were, like two peas in a pod, snuggled together on my piano bench.  And I played a song that has been ringing in my ears all week.  I sang the words, and Emily listened intently.

Do you know it?

Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be.
All of my ambitions hopes and plans, I surrender these into Your hands.
For it’s only in Your will that I am free.
Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be.

I don’t think there could have been a better song for us to sing together today.  What a perfect ending to our first day of school.  just perfect.

Heavenly Father,
All of our plans, our hopes, our dreams – we surrender them all to you.  Our school year is Yours. amen.

a bit of history · who knows?

Jump in.

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Yesterday I sat at the edge of the pool, beside my littlest baby girl who was trying to jump in to her dad who was down in the water, not many feet away.  She would squat down and stand back up over and over.  She would count to 3, then to 10, then to 3 again… Trying to encourage her, we’d say, “Jump!”  and “You can do it!” and “Daddy will catch you!” Finally after great indecision she would fly into Michael’s arms in the water.

all of this drama brought a memory to mind…

When I was five, during the winter of my kindergarten year,  I took swimming lessons.  In fact, the YMCA was at the other end of the parking lot, behind my school.  So, my whole class enjoyed swimming instruction together.

Parents could come and watch from the observation deck, while all of us little five year olds were down in the pool below.

I remember just a few things about the lessons at the Y.  We put our faces in the water. We made bubbles with our lips.  We held onto the edge and kicked our legs.  We plugged our noses and ducked our heads under water.  We played. We floated on our backs.  We floated on our bellies.  However, I do have one particular event etched in my memory.

Our swim instructor had us all line up along the edge of the pool.  One by one we were each supposed to hold onto a fireman pole and slide down into the water with the help of our teacher.  Then, move to the ladder, climb out and walk to the back of the line.  As the activity moved along, and my place in line moved forward, every time I was one or two places from actually grabbing that pole, I would tiptoe to the back of the line.  I don’t remember if they caught me, or how it all played out. But I do know, I was too afraid and I never actually did it.

These scenarios are comparable to my life now.  Jesus offers opportunities to follow Him regularly. He presents new ways to grow and become more like Him; simple steps to walking closer with Him. I can recount a few situations where when it was almost my turn to jump in the deep end with Him and take Him seriously…  what did I do?  Fearful, I ran to the back of the line and waited for a few others to follow first.

Maybe next time…

In the last chapter of John, after a miraculous breakfast on the beach, Jesus asks Peter several times if he loves Him.  Obviously Peter has a past that is shady (-as do we all, so I’m not judging in any way-)  But, Jesus clearly feels the need to ask him three times.  Of course Peter affirms his love for Jesus.    Each time Jesus tells Peter that if he truly does love Him, he should feed His lambs.

 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Every time I read this account I’m aware of something.  Peter missed the first chance to jump in- he made some mistakes.  But here, in the last moments before Jesus ascends to Heaven,  Peter gets another chance.  And we can see by His testimony thru the rest of Scripture, he takes it!

Oh man!  I’ve made so many mistakes, and I’ve missed opportunities.  I can’t really compare myself to Peter or say that someday be a follower of his caliber.  It is very unlikely.   But I am so relieved to know that I serve a loving and merciful God who continues to call me, with outstretched arms, saying, “Jump in!  You can do it!  I’ll catch you!”

friends and loved ones · home schooling

the eventual materialization of year #7…

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I said we would squeeze the last drops of summer into a glass and sip on it as long as we could… and that’s what we’ve been doing.  There is a strong affection in my heart for summertime, which makes it hard for me to acknowledge school work much before Labor Day.  And  even though most folks have been celebrating all of their back to school traditions, we have been making trips to the pool, staying up late and avoiding eye contact with our new curriculum as much as absolutely possible.

But alas…

The school year starts soon here in our household.  I enjoy home schooling my children and I’m grateful that I get to do it.  However, with my tiptoes at the threshold of beginning another year, #7 in fact, I’m sure of one thing. and one thing only.

Do you want to know the truth?  (And I hear the words resonate in my ears from a familiar movie, “You can’t handle the truth!!!”)  but seriously, do you?

Over the summer, as per my usual, I’ve been evaluating life.  I’ve taken account of how things run around here; school, church, home, health, music lessons, grocery shopping, art classes, archery, you name it, I’ve put it on a list somewhere in an effort to consider all the different categories that make up “us.”

And this is what I’ve realized:

I don’t know if I’m doing any of it right.  More than ever, I have more questions than answers.    Is this the right curriculum for Isaac’s learning style?  Should we be eating this food, or that?  Am I terrible mom because not one of my kids eats enough fruits and veggies?  What about this class for Emily?  How can I be sure of proper development without this activity for Mackenzie?  The questions pile up and the choices are overwhelming.  I feel like throwing my hands up in the air and saying, “I don’t know!  Somebody help me!”

I’m reminded in Scripture that, I don’t have to know it all.  In fact, He didn’t intend for me to know it all for the very purpose that I would need to rely on Him.  Because He does know all of the answers.  all of them.    The only thing that I do know for sure is this: everything done in my home, is best when I do it abiding in Him.

The beauty of being on the doorstep of year #7 is, I’m more prepared to admit my complete need of Him.  With my start date on the calendar a little more than a week a way, I’m aware that I’m not capable on my own and it is a very freeing feeling indeed.

My heart’s desire is that here, in our homeschool, we become His disciples, growing in the knowledge of Him and His wisdom. I can’t help but apply these verses from John 15 to my heart and mind:

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw theminto the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Heavenly Father,   It is my prayer that You will be glorified in our lives this year.  Will you come and be with us each day?  Will you help us to abide in You, so that all of the gaps are filled and everything that is inadequate is made complete?   This is my heart’s desire for our school year.    amen.

friends and loved ones

our guinea pig (love) story

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We sat in the parking lot, the van completely quiet.  The silence was deafening.   “Well, here we are.  Should we get out?” Michael asked.

The kids just stared at us.  Doubt and confusion on their faces.   “Why are we here?”  No one said it, but it was printed across their expressions as plain as day.

We all got out of the van, all 5 of us, and walked into the pet store.  I walked through the doors, holding Isaac’s hand, right up to the guinea pigs.  We stood there staring for a while.

Finally, after a long pause, Michael said out loud the words that our children could not believe, “How about a guinea pig guys?”  And even though Michael and I were standing there, with money in hand prepared to pay the price, offering what they had been asking for, no, begging for,  Emily responded, “Is this a joke?  This is really mean, Daddy.”

Of course we weren’t joking! We aren’t that mean.  After all the tears and heart break of wishing to be pet owners, we would not do that to our children.  But, we had waited a long time before giving them this gift ; waited to be sure they were ready to do the right thing.  And they were not prepared to receive.

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

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about Jesus’ life account in the book of John.  In chapter 14 He makes wild and crazy claims:  that He is  “the way, the truth and the life.”  And I can’t get over it, how all encompassing those words are.  He is everything.  And He will deliver on that promise.

The problem is that I am a lot like my own kids.  My response to my Heavenly Father is incredulous. Even though He regularly and consistently is who He says He is, living up to His Words, I don’t understand.  My heart struggles to respond with belief to His truth.

I pray for things, as His daughter, and when He responds with truth and love, I stare at Him and say, ” Are you sure?  Is this it?”  Because I don’t know what to do with real love.  I can’t comprehend His truth in its most clear, unobstructed form. Sometimes, I’ll admit, I  I don’t walk through the door He’s opening because I am skeptical.

In spite of my weakest human characteristics, my unbelief is met with His most perfect, righteous character and His victory over death.  Those moments of question are answered with the fact that He is not only able, but that He also has already has paid in full for every moment of my life, and every need has been accounted for.

He is the way, the truth and the life.  He loved me enough to be all of those things for me – and for all who believe.   This knowledge, when it settles in the depths of my heart, brings the beginning of understanding real love and being able to receive it.

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

My children have eagerly welcomed this newest member to our family.  His name is Wally Rascal Day.  Yep.  We bought them a guinea pig.  Because they asked a lot.  Because at this point we know it will be really good for them.  Because we love them.

When they are all grown up and think of it, I hope they will have lots of have happy memories of Wally. But maybe, just maybe, they will also see our love shown to them as a demonstration of the truth of their Heavenly Father’s love for them.   Most important of all, I pray that they will know and receive His love!

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who knows?

Isaiah 61, sort of…

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These beautiful photos were taken by my father-in-law, John Day.  The flowers and the butterfly remind me of a brilliant creator, who is also the consummate gardener of my soul.  Praise be to Him!

I have been lingering over Isaiah 61 tonight. Every once in a while I need a little something extra to get me through. As the mama of my house I need nourishment and encouragement more often than I’m willing to admit.

The words from chapter 61 are incredibly refreshing for my soul. When I read this chapter with the job description of “mama” in mind, it speaks volumes. So, I’m sharing these portions from Isaiah 61, reading between the lines, if you will. In a new way this passage seems to be describing my calling as a mother…

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the He has anointed me for the work of a mother,

to live out the good news of the gospel with my little ones.

He has sent me to bind up their broken hearts, explaining to them that they are free from sin.

I can hold their hands when there is sadness and kiss away their tears, knowing His promise of beauty for ashes.

For days that are filled with hopelessness and despair, there are garments of praise in my closet. We can dress in them and sing a new song of hope and joy together.

This work going on here at home, its not just mine – I work along side the master gardener himself. I know there is coming a day when these children of mine will stretch up tall skyward, displayed like giant oak trees of righteousness. Everyone will take notice and see His glory.

There is a time coming when this rising generation will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, bring rejuvenation to places that have been devastated by sin and darkness. They will be known as His ministers. Their inheritance from Him will be blessing upon blessing in double portions and His joy will be theirs forever.

Because the Lord loves justice and He is faithful to His promises, I know I can rely on this covenant that he has made with our family. It is my prayer that people who get to know us will also come to know the Lord.

(vs 10 and 11 are my favorites, straight from Scripture)

10 I delight greatly in the LORD;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise

spring up before all nations.

Heavenly Father,

All I can say is thank you for giving me the grace to be the mother to my children that You’ve called me to be, amid the work that you are doing in our home. May you be glorified in it all!

amen

(originally written July, 2010)

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in my kitchen

what to do with zucchini…

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It is the best time of year to make one of my very favorite dishes:  zucchini lunch.  Oh man! It is cooking on my stovetop right now, as I type.  The aroma is starving me, and launching my memory back 20 years…

It was the summer of 1991, just before my junior year in high school and my family had just moved to Bowling Green, Ohio.   There was a lot of “new” happening;  new house, new town, new church, new school, new classes and hopefully soon, new friends.

That summer passed by pretty slowly. In fact, it dragged on.   I remember specifically an older couple from the church my dad was pastoring invited us over for dinner one evening.  At just under 16, I remember thinking this would not be very exciting. In fact, I recall wishing Mom and Dad would let Marilyn and I stay home.  No luck.

So we went to dinner at the Harris home, not knowing what to expect.  And really, to most people, it wouldn’t seem as though anything extraordinary happened.  Except, it was special to me.  Mrs Harris had prepared Zucchini Lunch, along with several different kinds of salads and a good ol’ fashioned relish tray including some of her pickles.  She was an extraordinary cook and it was delicious.  But, more than that it was kind of reminiscent of eating  at my grandmothers home.  In short -for this young girl it was an evening of comfort.

In the middle of days and weeks of uncomfortable and adjustments, that little bit of hospitality, and zucchini, went a long way towards putting my heart at rest.

Long after that evening, before I left home and moved to Tennessee, I made sure that I had Mrs. Harris’ recipe for Zucchini Lunch in my possession.  Without fail, I make it several times every summer.  And I make it for others, because you never know how necessary that “zucchini kind of hospitality” might be for someone else!

So, what should you do with your zucchini?   Share it, bake goodies with it, cook it, soup it, sautee it, garlic-butter-parmesan broil it.  But whatever you do, give it with grace and love to someone, because your hospitality may be more important than you could possibly know.

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Here it is!  Zucchini Lunch

This recipe is one of my favorites.  Its a calorie and a carb saver. I make it a lot in the summer because it is seriously delish with fresh veggies, but is good in the winter too.

ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (browned and drained)
2 c tomato – chopped and seeds removed
1 c diced onion
1 c diced celery
1/2 c diced green pepper (I added some red pepper this time, too)
3 c diced zucchini
1 pkg of sloppy joe seasoning
(maybe a tsp of sugar if your tomatoes are not very sweet – I never add sugar.)

Directions –
Chop all the stuff up. Brown the meat – in a larger pot, or electric skillet. Then add all of the ingredients into the skillet. Let it cook down to your desired consistency. I tend to let it cook on low for several hours til it is the consistency of a really thick sort of sauce or stew and all of the chunks kind of soften and disappear. When it reaches the thickness you like, you just stop the cooking.

I serve it over whole wheat pasta or brown rice. You could put it over a baked potato or eat it with tortilla chips, wrap it in a tortilla or eat it over a salad.  Completely versatile!

YUM!  Enjoy, from my heart to yours!

a bit of history · friends and loved ones

no need to tarry…

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I’ve been trying to put this into words for more than a week…

Last Sunday I had the privilege of worshiping from the piano, under the leadership of our good friend, Wade Williams.  Michael and I were in Atlanta for the week, and we finished up our time there at Perimeter Church’s Sunday service in the chapel.

For many reasons that I don’t have time to explain here, it was a beautiful and meaningful time of worship. Wade and Michael playing their guitars together, it was exquisite music from their instruments the likes of which most of us musicians only dream of playing. I just chimed in on the keys here and there.

I hope I don’t forget those moments any time soon….

But, sitting at that piano, next to that stain-glassed window with the cross at the center, I was reminded of one of the first times I ever heard Wade lead worship at Northshore Fellowship in the Woodland Ave. sanctuary.  His mellow voice sang a song that I had never heard before.  It is a worship service that is etched in my memory.

This is the song:

Come, Ye sinners, Poor and needy.
Weak and wounded, Sick and sore.
Jesus ready, Stands to save you.
Full of pity, Love and power.

I will arise and go to Jesus, 
He will embrace me in His arms.
In the arms of my dear Saviour, 
O, There are ten thousand charms.

Come, Ye thirsty, Come and welcome.
God’s free bounty glorify.
True belief and true repentance.
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Come, Ye weary, Heavy-laden.
Lost and ruined by the fall.
If you tarry ’til you’re better.
You will never come at all.

It was a pivotal moment for me as a believer. Standing next to my husband, singing out full-voice mid the congregation I realized in a completely fresh way this one thing:  Jesus is prepared to receive me, no matter the shape I’m in or what I’ve done. Whatever the burden, I can go to Him.   His irresistible grace draws me close.  And that same grace  provides relief when I believe and repent.   What a freeing moment it was in my life!

The picture from last Sunday of the piano next to the cross is a beautiful illustration of my heart’s desire.  It is my prayer that I hover near the cross, and that my life and my music points people to Jesus.   For there is one truth I’m learning more and more each day :  “In the arms of my dear Savior, oh, there are ten thousand charms.”

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click the “help” button

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A few months back I took a part-time gig as a worship leader at Brainerd Presbyterian Church.  It is very minimal, I suppose, but it keeps me active and growing musically, spiritually and emotionally.  Providentially, it was offered when I least expected it and I had no idea that I would need it so much.

In short : I love it.

The experience of falling in love with what God has called me to do has been nothing short of life changing.  I play the piano and sing while pointing others to Jesus.  I’m not sure I could find anything to do, short of caring for my family or baking cookies, that I’d love more.

But today, I’ve been grumpy.  I’ll admit that it is my own doing that has brought me to this point.  The source of my irritation?  A little web-site called planning center…  That’s right.

You see, part of my job involves administration – organizing music and band members and singers.  I’m constantly trying to keep track of who’s available which Sunday to lead worship, and what songs we’re doing and five thousand other tiny pieces of praise team information besides.  So, I thought a little organizational assistance might be necessary.

Planning Center Online is used by numerous churches that I’ve been a part of, so I was vaguely familiar with it, as a “viewer.”  However, I had not used it as the administrator.  I began using it several days ago and realized something:  PCO is not my kind of “user friendly” website.  and by “my kind of user friendly” I mean it needs to be simpler than what my preschooler can figure out on the computer.

The thing is, there are “help” buttons and “question” buttons EVERYWHERE on the site.  But, as I began setting up my account, I resisted. “Who, me?  I don’t need help.  I can totally figure this out. ”

It wasn’t until more than two hours later, when I had created nothing more than a big mess, that I decided to cancel everything and start over.  I prepared myself to watch tutorials and  click the help button as much as I could.

I wish that this wasn’t such a clear demonstration of how I live my life.  No instructions needed.  Like the dad on a family road trip who won’t ask for directions when he’s lost, I’m the worst version of myself when I act on my “know-it-all” instincts.

But, there are instructions for my life – wisdom for the best and most effective living.  God’s Word is available for my every day situations, the good, the bad – the complicated and the simple; His instruction is always appropriate for living life.

Almost literally, I’ve known this my whole life – but sometimes it is easy to act a completely different way and ignore the knowledge and wisdom in God’s Word.  It isn’t purposeful, but just a part of my human nature to act apart from His will.  Truthfully, I’ve had several situations recently where I’ve had a hard time looking for His wisdom, too consumed with my own desires and my own solutions.

The good news, (and with Jesus there is always good news,) is that His Word is alive, and always applies to every adventure, every decision, every “which way now?” question.  I just need to read and appropriate it to my life.

I love these words from Proverbs 2:

1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.

So, tomorrow I begin again – with fresh zeal, seeking the Lord’s wisdom first, looking for His paths to follow, humbly asking for His help in every decision.  Seeking Him first, He promises to give the blessing of understanding.

While I’m working, I may click a few “help” buttons on Planning Center too…