Cookbook Page

Yes, another page. This is for recipes. Feel free to check it out every now and then to see if there are any good recipes for you.

Joy in the Form of Sunshine

It is a beautiful day. 

This morning I went for a 4.5 mile walk. It was so nice to be outside in the sun. I think I even got a bit of a sunburn. There was a good amount of other people out walking or running or biking. I brought my camera along to document the beauty of it all. 

The train tracks. I love trains and train tracks. They're kind of nostalgic. 

The other way.

Yep! I was in short sleeves. That's how warm it is. 

This is one of the beautiful houses on Nicolette Island. They actually painted it since I last lived here. 

This is the same house two years ago. Look how much they changed it. Which one do you prefer? I like the colors it used to be, but it also looks really elegant and pretty now. 

They also painted this one. I really like the colors now, but the old one (below) is kind of fun. 

Once again, which is your favorite?

The old style playground brings back memories of my childhood. 

So much water.

This little girl was just walking down the street with one of those bubble machines, and I thought it was really precious.

The city even looked happier in the bright sunshine.

Little girl on a bike. So much pink going on here. Haha! Gotta love it. 

Well, if you ain't havin' the kind of weather we are here, I hope it comes your way soon. 

Still Can't See

I look in vain. I still can't see the land. I feel I am adrift out at sea. Were the moon and stars to shine, I might would know where to go.

But, all seems dark, lost, wondering, and wandering. If I make it in time, will there be anything there for me?

I scan the darkness. Nothing.
I still can't see.

I sit back down. Depressed. I have been on this open sea for too long now. The storms that have ravished this ocean, the bleakness. Who knows? Maybe I have been near land all the time, but I just couldn't see it.

But now it is calm. Almost too calm. Maybe I have given up. Maybe I am so tired I don't even care. Alone, in the dark, far from hope. I let out a loud, deep sigh. I breathe in the ocean air, thick with salt. Somehow, I almost feel refreshed. Maybe heaven is near.

Over the past several days, I have been lost. I left shore with ideas, too many I suppose, and I ended up getting lost. Very lost. The deep sea went into a battle against itself and nearly dumped my little boat into its bottomless grave. Now that it is calm, I would have thought I could make out something. But, no. Nothing.

Have I been stupid to go alone? Were they all right? I have nothing to say.

I am tired, but I can't seem to close my eyes.

Do I see something? Light? A little speckle, a little spark.

I stand up. Land? A house? Something.

I pick up an oar and row fast. But, I still cannot make out any land. It's seems strange that any other boat would be taking a cruise at this hour. I keep rowing, faster, faster, faster. The light grows, brighter, brighter, brighter.

I stop mid row. It is not land, it is no house, no boat.

It is a man.

Now I am afraid. Do I row faster than ever, in the opposite direction? I cannot move, nor can I take my eyes off that light, or rather, the face of the man who holds the light. Then I cock my head. He doesn't hold a light, he is the light. He is the very source of light. I blink.

Then He speaks.

"It is I; do not be afraid."*

Ah, yes, why did I not call You? Tears trickle down my cheeks, but You have forgiven me already.

I will remember next time.

*John 6:20

An Unexpected Goodbye

Yesterday I hugged two dear friends goodbye. One of them was an old house mate from freshman year, and the other was her husband.

Leuxie and Sam have been such a blessing to me, and when I made plans to move back here, I looked forward to many more adventures and good times with them. Thankfully in the last month or so, the Lord has blessed us to be able to spend quality time together. From the conversations Leuxie and I shared in my living room to the trip into nowhere and last night's final farewell, it has been a good time.

The problem is that they weren't supposed to leave so soon, at least it wasn't expected. Yet God has a plan and had a plan before the foundation of the world, and sometimes early goodbyes are a part of His plan. We'll miss each other as friends, but we also know that someday we won't have to say goodbye anymore.

It's times like these that remind me once again how much I should cherish every moment I get with someone. you never know when someone will be snatched from your life. I think losing a brother has done that for me. Once you lose someone so close and so dear, you realize how wonderful life is and how precious friendships and relationships are.

So, we hug each other close and say goodbye until one day we all say hello again, standing in the presence of our King.

Counting the Days

This was a draft from a while ago, and I just finished it today.

Time keeps going, and it seems each year that it goes faster and faster. It reminds me how short this life is.

I have been thinking a lot about this lately because I am planning to move to Minnesota again. It's a big step in my life and planning. I have in the past gone to MN because of school, but this time is different. I think in some ways that makes it scarier. I have a list of questions. Will I be able to get a job? Will I miss home more than usual? Will I be able to get plugged in even though I'm not a student? Will I be happy? Will it just be a waste of money?

Honestly, I really can't know the answer to any of those questions when I'm not even there.

"Fear tends to try to stop me."

Yesterday I was home alone for the greater part of the day. At one point I started to sing the words I just wrote above. There were more words to the song I made up along the way, but those 7 words stuck out to me because that has been my life for a number of years. I fear everything.

I fear doing things, making plans, stepping into the water as it were. Fear tries to stop me from living sometimes. But the time is running out. I want to learn to count the days so that I might be more useful in the time I am given, and I don't want fear to stop me from living to the fullest.

And it won't this time.

So, with a jump and a splat, I land in Minnesota for likely the final time. It's has been over a month now since I moved back. It has been crazy. I do have a job. I did miss home terribly at first, and I still get spasms. Church has been canceled and everything else I hoped to be a part of due to uncontrolled circumstances. Am I happy? Yes. I am living with my old room mate, and I have other people around that have made me very happy. It's funny how I asked that question because though it has been rough, I have found that God always brings joy when we seek Him first. I don't think this is a waste of money. I've been blessed by others and been able to bless them back.

So, I believe the jump was worth it, and I count each day a blessing and a gift. I don't think I'll ever forget these gifts and the lessons I've learned.

Flowers

I started this poem a while ago, but couldn't think of how to finish it, so today was the day. It's spring now, and some of you are probably getting many blossoms these days. This poem is for those flowers that make us all so happy.

They were fragrant, fresh, pink

Now they're droopy white

Fragrance turned to death's stink

They used to shimmer in light.

They come and go

They sparkle and glow

Here today, gone tomorrow

All withered in a row.

But, while they're around

What joy and cheer they bring

Splashing color on the ground

Make the world wake up and sing.

So, thank You, God, for flowers

Thank You for sun and rain

And the blooms after the showers

A balm of kindness in the pain. 

Help Her

She is sorrowful, she is broken

She’s tired and sore, she ain’t jokin’

Her world caved in, darkness fell down

Her life is spent, droops her crown.

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer”*

Your lovingkindness holds me in Your care

“When my heart is overwhelmed”* and scared

In your mercy and grace, I am spared.

She has “found trouble and sorrow”^

What will become of another tomorrow?

But, “God shall help her, and that right early”~

He will come find her and help her surly.

She weeps, but He knows her tears

She cries alone, but He knows her fears

She is lonely, sore, tired, scared, and weak

He comes to her, opens His mouth to speak.

“Be of good cheer; it is I, be not afraid”/

He comes to her in His kindness arrayed

“He stretched forth His hand, and caught” her/

He pulls her out, His own blood-washed daughter.

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”/

You are Mine forever, I will never blot you out.

He comforted her with His love, carried her to shore

Calmed the storm that raged her life and tore.

“I love the LORD because He has heard my voice”^

I will be glad and praise Him and rejoice

“Gracious is the LORD and righteous”^ and just

In His will and way, I have learned to trust.

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul”^

He has bought you and made you whole

“God is our refuge and strength”~

He carries us through every rough length.

“Be still, and know that I am God”~

I will guide you with my shepherd’s rod.

God has helped her, come to her aid

“God is our refuge”~ and our shade.

*Psalm 60

^Psalm 116

~Psalm 46

/Matthew 14

More Sketches

The other day, a friend came over to work on some letters while I drew. I have been such in the drawing mood that I produced several little sketches, including a picture of his little sister. It was fun. I'm going to post all the pictures I drew just to keep me humble and remind myself that I'm not that great of an artist. I'll also have the original photo below each drawing for your reference (and mine).😀

The mountains of NC.

Me with Buttercup when she was a kitten. This one is especially humbling. Haha! It's pretty bad.

My friend Brooke.

I like the way Quinn's eyes turned out. I was more pleased with this one.

Poor Lydia. For some reason I have a hard time drawing you. 😕

And this is the drawing of Joy, my friend's sister. I don't have the photo of her available. 

And that's it for today, folks!

Spring

I have been in the drawing mood lately, which is good because I don't always have it. I was sitting at the table the other day and looked at our living room windows. This idea came to my mind, and I really like how it turned out. It's kind of cheery. In reality, there is a university dorm building outside our window, but I personally like this view better. 😉

Kinda Sketchy

Yesterday I got really into sketching. I like sketching with a pen, even though you can't really afford to make mistakes with pen. Oh, well! I make mistakes anyway, but I guess that just adds character.

My notebook with random sketchings in it. 

This is supposed to be me. It comes from a picture I took about a year ago. 

Another little sketch of myself.

The view out my dining room window. This picture is kind of eery. 

This is the chair I am sitting on right now. 

Dark and shadowy, kinda sketchy. 

This is supposed to be Lydia, but it doesn't really look like her. 

A sketchy plate of rice, eggs, and spinach topped with cheese and, of course, highly spiced. It was delicious!

There you have it. 

COVID-19 and Sunshine

Yes, I am posting about COVID-19. I know everyone is talking about it, but it is a part of this blog's history. It's a part of my history, a part of my life. I like to be able to look back over the years of this blog's existence and see what was going on throughout the years. This is just another such thing.

At this time, the virus is a pandemic. It's all over the world and continues to spread. However, it's very similar to the flu, and people are probably over-reacting. What can you do? The world can't just shut down. Anyway, I have mixed thoughts. The deal of this post isn't to analyze the virus; it's actually to put a spin on things.

Sunshine.

It still happens. Every day, across the globe, through hospital windows, across the faces of fear-stricken people, blinding people as they drive to work worried, the sun still shines.

It's kind of crazy to think about. God, in His wisdom, allowed a virus to cover the earth in a matter of months. God, in His wisdom, allowed the sun to rise again on a new day.

I took a walk around the block a couple evenings ago. It struck me just how beautiful everything was. The sun was a golden yellow, sending streaks of bright across the city. Everything lit up as it shimmered brightly through the low clouds. The wind filled me with energy and excitement as it tossed a littered paper plate into the air. The sun beams brightened every corner and every blackened, silhouetted tree limb.

The city was alive. People were out and about for an evening stroll. Children rode happily on their bikes. People smiling, walking, living, moving, breathing.

What stark contrasts.

The world is caught in the throws of a virus, and yet the sun still shines.

"Whatever the LORD pleases, 

he does, 

in heaven and on earth, 

in the seas and all deeps."

Psalm 135:6

Duluth Inspires Me

Poetry has kind of been flowing through my veins recently. So many things inspire me to write. The most recent inspiration was our random trip to Duluth on Wednesday. It was just me and a couple other friends who up and went to the north. There was still a lot of snow on the ground, but it wasn't too cold. It felt good to be away.

So, that little outing produced this. Not much, but a bit how I feel about the country.

Wind

I walk out into the breeze

The wind on my cheeks

My ears turn red and freeze

I skip past little creeks.

The wind in my face

The taste of the woods

I walk at a faster pace

Away from busy hoods.

I skip, run, and jump

Happy, twinkling, carefree

Past an old tree stump

Buzzing in my heart like a bee.

Then I stop to look and gaze

The scene so still and serene

People-free, a tree-maze

Full of gray and evergreen.

The white of winter snows

The gray of sullen sky 

The wind that brightly blows

The silent birds winging by.

It’s quiet, it’s soft, it’s wild

It’s cool and sharp, alive

Running about like a child

Full of joy, I revive.

And that’s the wind that blows

And fills your lungs with life

Captures you in its joyful throws

Sings like a song, cuts like a knife. 

A picture from my first trip to Duluth back in 2018.