July 31, 2009 - Posted by Val - 0 Comments
Hopefully, you are already off celebrating your Friday afternoon and not at a desk somewhere reading this. But, for those of you who are counting down the next 57 minutes, here are a couple good reads to tide you over.
My husband, a truly talented writer, addresses the president on one of his favorite subjects, beer:
“Dear Mr. President,
A laurel to you for your willingness to roll up the sleeves and help bury that hatchet between Messrs. Gates and Crowley. Boy that one almost got out of control on us!
The reason I even clicked on the link to the story about this patio diplomacy, was because the headline said something about you and Joe and these two guys having a beer together. “This is great!” I thought. “Our youthful President with his blackberry will shed light on the important matter of beer in America!”
(Click here for full blog)
Anna Maria Horner, an artist and mom, and probably the 2nd happiest person I know, wishes herself a happy birthday:
“I went into Eleni’s (5) room yesterday morning to wake her up with a hug. Leaning in to her sleeping bubbly face, I scooped my arms underneath her pillow and my right hand ran across about 6 marbles that she had tucked under pillow. How awesome, I thought. She has marbles under her pillow. I wanted marbles under my pillow. I didn’t know why I wanted marbles under my pillow in that instant. It just seemed so fun. Youthful. I never asked why they were there, or told her to get the marbles out of her bed. I was just glad she is little. And happy.”
(Click here for full blog)
July 31, 2009 - Posted by Val - 0 Comments
July 30, 2009 - Posted by Val - 0 Comments
Have you seen the infomercial for ShamWow? Megan told me about this survey that gives you 2 free ShamWow cloths. I’m thinking Young Life Christmas exchange.
It is now 9:20 AM and Carver is still asleep. I keep going in to check on him because he has never slept for 13 hours before. I need to go take advantage of this by doing something crazy, like getting dressed.
July 29, 2009 - Posted by Val - 2 Comments
Double Word Wednesday! Lucky you.
Repent therefore and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.
Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents from sending calamity.
I came across these verses in the Bible study I’m doing. I love how scripture can reveal new things each time you read it. I know I had read the first verse, from Acts before because it was highlighted in my Bible. But when I read it yesterday, it spoke of new refreshment. The verse from Joel sang the same tune, so I included both. I pray that as you read this, you will hear God’s eager invitation and respond wholeheartedly.
July 28, 2009 - Posted by Val - 1 Comment
1. With chicken breast side up, pull each leg away from body, then slice through skin between breast and drumstick.
2. Turn chicken on its side. Bend each leg back until thighbone pops out of its socket. Cut through joint and skin to detach leg completely.
3. With chicken on its sdie, pull each wing away from body. Cut through joint and remove wing.
4. Lift up chicken and cut downward through rib cage and then shoulder joints to separate breast from back (save back for stock).
5. Place breast skin side down. Split center bone using a chopping motion, then slice through meat and skin to separate into 2 pieces.
6. To cut breast havles into quarters, turn each skin side up and cut in half diagonally through bone.
7. To divide the legs, turn each skin side down and cut through joints (along with fat line) to separate thigh from drumstick.
8. You should end up with 6-10 parts, depending on whether you divided the breast halves and legs.
Traversing the anatomy of a chicken sounds easier than it is. But if you practice a little, you’ll be guest starring on Good Eats in no time. I suggest buying a couple whole chickens and setting aside the time and counter space to do them both at once. You will have a much easier time with the second one once you’ve practiced with the first. Freeze the parts you don’t use. Or, apply any of these steps to individual pieces and notice how much you save. Last week, I made a pasta recipe that called for boneless skinless breasts and bought double the amount of breasts with ribs and skin for half the price.
July 28, 2009 - Posted by Val - 1 Comment
It was another very (welcomed) low-key weekend here in Gator Nation. Sunday we went to camp to visit Uncle Sam. It was great to spend time with my little brother; he always brings out the kid in me. The little guy has a fever, so I’m going to skip each days’ details, but I’ll leave you with this video of some uncle/nephew bonding:
July 24, 2009 - Posted by Val - 0 Comments
There is nothing like half a year of inconsistent sleep that can make 8 solid hours transform you. What did I do by 8:15 this Friday morning? Drank some coffee, dropped Ethan off at work, went grocery shopping and sang in the car at the top of my lungs. Happy weekend!
July 24, 2009 - Posted by Val - 0 Comments
July 23, 2009 - Posted by Val - 0 Comments
Picture People is offering a free portrait package! We’ve had some really cute photos of Carver taken there. Of course, I’m bias…
And don’t forget to get your free McAlister’s tea today!
July 22, 2009 - Posted by Val - 1 Comment
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart…
What powerful words! The Lord DECLARES! I see the lion of Judah, Aslan roaring that promise! Plans for wholeness! And hope! I could jump up and down in our dining room as I read those words, if there wasn’t a sleeping baby 20 feet down the hall. Life has a funny way of throwing Plan A back into the picture as soon as Plan B is starting to look pretty nice. In such a transitional time in our lives, I couldn’t be more reassured than to know I will find Him when I seek. We will find direction.
I also find it comforting that God shows us a sense of His faith in us. “You will call upon me…You will seek me…”
My friend Laura and I were camp counselors together. One day at camp, she came to me to talk about this passage of scripture. The first verse is something we hear all the time, even see on bumper stickers. What she pointed out was the end of verse 13- “When you seek me with all your heart.”
Lord, please help us seek you with everything we have.
