Frozen

Several of you asked for details when my sweet Katie thanked me on FB for the freezer meals I recently brought her.
So here goes - what's up with freezer meals??

I use the term "freezer meals" when referring to anything I've prepared one day and stashed in my freezer to use at a later date.  A batch of muffins. A lasagna to be thawed and heated up. A concoction of chicken cacciatore ready for the slow cooker.  And everything in between.


When I had my second baby, I found myself ill equipped for family meal time.  The bottle for the baby I could handle but the food for the rest of our mouths was all too often carryout pizza or a microwaved potato and as many Tabs as were needed at the moment.  And trust me, that was a lot! The thing was, my family just kept wanting to eat!  Day after day after day.  Really!!!! 
My dear and wise MIL knew I needed help and figured out that an infusion of instruction might make a difference --- she gave me a book that changed the direction of mealtime at our house.  And I am forever grateful!


That book, Once a Month Cooking, presents a plan to cook an entire month's worth of meals in a day. It is phenomenal - complete with step by step instructions, recipes, and menu suggestions.  I think this book propelled an entire industry of make ahead meals. It rocks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312534043/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1891400614&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1N8F1S3VJ19P0A6W8JT0




I, however, have never been able to master an entire day of cooking.  I think I have K-ADD (that would be "Kitchen Attention Deficit Disorder) and cannot keep focused on meal prep for that long.  But the principle of "cook now, eat later" stuck.  And it's been a lifesaver!



You don't have to carve out an entire day or purchase 31 freezer containers in order to employ this tactic.  Just work it into your life a bit at a time and pretty soon you'll wind up with a freezer ready to meet the needs of breakfast when you slept late, a homecooked meal during Little League playoffs, and dinner to deliver to the new mom on your street.  Right now, my freezer's contents include several loaves of homemade strawberry bread, chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, Salisbury steaks, homemade meatballs, chicken cacciatore, thai pork, lasagna, baked ziti, breakfast casserole,chicken enchiladas, ground beef for tacos, and cooked shredded chicken for casseroles.
All without a large expenditure of time or effort - that's the best!


I invite you to try your hand at equipping your freezer to meet the demands of your family.

Assignment #1-
Sometime today or tomorrow, make a double batch of muffins.  Whichever kind your family likes.  Chocolate chip or blueberry or yummy morning glory muffins http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-morning-glory-muffins/
Serve some for breakfast and package the rest for the freezer, ready to be pulled out one morning when you are pressed for time.  Add some bacon and a piece of fruit and you will bless your family!


Assignment #2 - make a double loaf of breakfast bread.  My family loves banana chocolate chip or strawberry and both are frequent short term guests in my freezer.  I love having them on hand not just for our breakfast but especially to gift to friends!


Assignment #3 is really easy and especially handy - don't stress out over the fact that I want you to do two things :) 
1.  Cook 2-3 lbs chicken breasts in the crock pot, seasoned however you like, all day.  Before you head to bed, shred the chicken and package in meal sized portions in freezer bags
2.  Brown 3 lbs of ground beef (with onions if your family likes them) and package in three separate freezer bags to use for tacos or spaghetti sauce on nights you won't have time to prepare dinner.


Assignment #4 - plan to serve a recipe one night this week that can be doubled or tripled and stash the rest in your freezer.  Suggestions - chili, lasagna, spaghetti casserole, chicken enchiladas, poppy seed chicken, ravioli soup.       

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

                      

This is a link to Love for my Living Letters ,a few of my family's favorite dishes, including several that freeze great (cheese grits, ravioli soup, granola, cookies, etc)https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ywkj3xxyvq9eg8/Love%20for%20my%20Living%20Letters.docx?dl=0

If this link doesn't work, just look for the link on the right side of the blogsite.

One last suggested assignment to get you started -

Prepare 2-3 meals ready to be plopped in the slow cooker and simmered all day. I found several really easy and inexpensive ones here http://www.iamthatlady.com/aldi-slow-cooker-meal-plan/

Another book that is a handy resource for me is called Frozen Assets   http://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Assets-How-Cook-Month/dp/1891400614

You don't have to prepare a whole month's worth of meals....just get some muffins baked and you'll be on your way to stress-free homecooked meals!!

Are you ready?

The tragedy in Charleston has us all contemplative.  These people were surely in the safest possible place - church on a Wednesday night.


It takes a committed Christian to be at church on a Wednesday night.
Surely, we think, they would be protected from evil.


My guess, though, is that they weren't there to be protected.  They were there to love Jesus and one another.


Because of that, they were ready to face even the deepest of evil.  When it confronted them,disguised initially as a friend.  Because they walked with Jesus in the ordinary days, they were ready to face evil and fear and death with confidence and peace.


They were ready.


Evil didn't send an advance notice.  No warning was issued to alert them of terror and untimely death.
But they were ready all the same.


What a lesson to us all.


We have no promise of tomorrow, much less of peace and comfort and protection.


The readiness of these nine heroes (I don't refer to them as victims) speaks to me, for sure. They were ready to die. But something else stands out.


The readiness of the survivors.


I was astounded at the responses of the families of these heroes.  They, too, were unaware that pure evil would upend their lives that fateful day in June.  They, too, had no warning of what would confront them.


But they were ready.

They had no time to prepare a mature, well-thought out response to evil.  They were given no notice that the microphones of the world would be thrust in their face to capture this intensely personal reaction. 


But they were ready.


They were ready, yes, to grieve, but also to respond with grace and forgiveness.


They were ready to lean completely on the love and sovereign grace of their Savior even in - especially in - the face of unspeakable tragedy. 


Because of how they lived on the "ordinary" days, they were ready to live a life that makes Christ known to an unbelieving world.  A life that exude peace and love and grace. And hope. 


A life like this is ready to die...and ready to live, whichever God numbers for that day. A life like this cannot be explained apart from the glory of God.


What we have observed in this Charleston community is a result of a group of people who were ready.


Ready to die.


And ready to live.


Are you ready?


I Peter 3:15 - Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

Love is an Apple Pie

Life has inevitable valleys. 


Some darker and deeper than others.  But there's no escaping the valleys.


There are just gonna be some in every life.  We all have to walk them.


And in those valleys, there are some places that have to be walked in single file.  Places where no one can walk beside you or even carry you - you have to walk through certain spots in the valleys alone.


I know that Christ is always with us, of course, but there are places we simply have to pass through solo.  Narrow canyons where not even the closest friends or dearest of family can join us.


It's hard to see someone you love traversing those treacherous ravines.  So often we just don't know how to help.  Responses can range from avoidance to offers of "let me know if I can help" to finding excuses for non-action.  Intuitively we know that some places in the valley are single file...but we fail to realize that we are not helpless to empower those who find themselves there.


There are things that can be done that help.


I am finding those places lonely indeed.  But bearable because of those who stand on the rim of the canyon, pouring out love in a thousand different forms.


Love in the form of


texts that assure me of love and prayers
VIP treatment at my favorite pharmacy
cards in the mailbox
videos of adorable babies that I long to squeeze and kiss
an extra long hug from one who's already navigated this particular canyon
a quick phone call that says "I care about you and yours"
flowers
impromptu prayers in the Publix parking lot
homemade muffins and energy balls and a casserole
CFA milkshakes and a jitterbug dance
reaching out to wipe my tears...and crying with me
the sharing of a funny moment or saying from a kid I adore
a simple "how are things today"
a homemade apple pie, delivered warm from the oven
even the kindness of a stranger who has no clue of the journey I'm on


All these things are strangely...beautifully...powerful aid for the solitary places in the valley.


I am grateful.  For love.  Always.  But especially now.

A Dating Tip

It's VBS at our church this week.  That's "churchspeak" for "Vacation Bible School" - a fun, crazy, hectic, glorious 5 days where kids get to hear the incredible Good News of God's love.


It is my privilege to get the chance to hang out with middle schoolers.


This has to be the greatest age.


A cataclysmic mix of emotions and energies and enigma.


Tonight I am going to share with them a really really cool bit of dating advice that I found in Proverbs.


If you happen to read this and then run into some 6th-8th grade girls from Watkinsville, don't spoil my lesson.  I'm looking forward to being the one to give them this tip.


Here it is:

Proverbs 4:26 says - Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established


So what does that have to do with dating????


Well, I came upon this verse while preparing to teach on Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Such a fabulous verse.  Underscoring the importance of what goes on in our heart - because that is the source of all that happens in our life.
Then the next four verses that tell us how to guard our hearts


Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
 Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.


We take care of our hearts (and therefore our very lives) by being careful about what comes out of our mouths, what our eyes focus on, and where our feet go.
Life-altering.  Truly. 
Every single verse is a post of its own.


But what I uncovered in verse 26 is something I'd never seen before.
Truly, truly God's Word is living and active!


Watch the path of your feet....and all your ways will be established -
The verse was originally written in Hebrew.  And the word for "ways" is the word "derek".  It means course of life, actions, behaviors.  But it is specifically used for ....
Dating!
Seriously!


Ponder what that means for a minute.
Where we go (places, people, activities) determines the course of our dating life.
Probably 99.99% of the time, the person we marry is someone we've dated.
And the person we've dated is someone we've met in places we've been.


So, I plan to ask those middle school gals tonight - what kind of husband do you dream about?
A man that cherishes you?  Values your mind and your heart?  Protects you - physically and emotionally?  Defends your honor? Sees you as a treasured life partner? Sacrifices his own comfort and desires for your good?  Loves you unconditionally and completely...like Jesus does the Church?


Then you need to take care that your feet don't go to places where those kind of men don't hang out.
And spend your time where those kind of husbands are being groomed.


And then be the kind of woman
that the kind of man you dream about
would want to love.

To the grandmother at Cookout

I assume you're a grandma. Considering the difference in our ages and the incredulous fact that I'm a grandma you may even be a great grandma!

You had the look about you   Your mannerisms were gentle and easy. Your temperament was sweet and the way you insisted on going last at the drink station let me know you've had lots of practice being selfless. We had a fun albeit quick little chat about how confusing the drink dispenser was.  Your smile was engaging.


I went on to my table and enjoyed my burger with Betsy.  As she set out to conquer her cookie dough milkshake, I took a moment to scan the restaurant, wondering about the hubby I expected to see you sitting across from.


I found you.


But not him.


Not anybody.


You were alone.
Eating your burger and fries.  In solitude.


I think my heart stopped beating for a few seconds as my mind covered the gamut of the possible scenarios of your life.


To lots of young Moms, getting to eat alone - even if only a Cookout burger and fries - sounds like an unattainable luxury!  But I wonder if that maybe isn't how you felt at all.  I don't know what circumstances surround your alone-ess but I think your being here by yourself takes courage.


Maybe you were out running errands and your hubby is at home but it was time for lunch and so you just came in to eat. 
It still takes courage to sit by yourself, surrounded by people.


Maybe you are driving to visit family and this was a stop along the way.
It still takes courage to sit by yourself, surrounded by people.  And to figure out the drink refill thing.


Or maybe your story is that you're alone every day.  That your hubby of a lot of kids and years is gone.  And you're out to eat to beat the alone-ness.
That takes an awful lot of courage.


While Betsy made sure that she left no molecule untouched in her delectable dessert, I wondered if you'd been alone long.  If you'd had a happy marriage, the blessing of children, and a good life.  If you have dear friends that you get together with regularly.  If you feel loved and valued.


Or if you're really lonely and if the prospect of eating by yourself surrounded by people sounded better than eating by yourself all alone.


 The tears that were welling up in my eyes as I considered that this might be your story mean that I admire you.


And that my brief goodbye and watery smile as Betsy and I passed by your table on our way out were meant to pay homage to your courage.


I hope you enjoyed your lunch.  And I hope somehow that you're on your way to a great party to celebrate you.
And I really really really hope that you're not lonely.